The Murder of Eddie Lino

American Scandal uses dramatizations that are based on true events Some elements, including dialogue might be invented, but everything is based on historical research It's a sweltering summer's day in nineteen eighty six outside the nineteenth wholeole bar in Brooklyn. Anthony Gaspipe Casso stands on the sidewalk in the shadow of the bar, deep in conversation with three associates from the Luckesy Cime family short, but powerfully built forty four year old Casso is a made man one of the Lukasy's top enforcers He and the other men have serious business to discuss. The boss of the family has been arrested by the police and it looks like he might be going away for a long time. But their conversation falls silent when the owner of a nearby Chinese restaurant rushes up He's agitated and tells the mobsters that a few drunk guys have brought a doberman into his place and the dog is terrorizing his customers The mobsters send one of their men from the bar to take care of it. And a few minutes later, he emerges from the restaurant with the two troublemakers and their dog But the doverman is still barking and snarling, jumping up at the Lukesy man. Casso recognizes the kid holding the leash. He's a tall, red headed guy named Jimmy Heideell. He's worked for Casso before on a few jobs. So Casso turns to his associates. All right, excuse me, fellowas. I gotta take care of this. Casso walks over Hey, Jimmy, you spoiling people's lunches now Tideell turns around, and Casso can tell from his swimming eyes that he's very drunk. I just wanted to eat low mane gas, and they threw me out. That's not what the owner says. Now why don't you take your dog and go sober up someplace else? Dog jumps at Casso. and control your animal, Jimmy Getting people upset, It's not good for business. Well, I don't care about his business. and what about mine I said hold that dog. We were just trying to eat. Get out of here, Jimmy. Hey, I'm just standing here, Cass. It's a free country. Casso studies Heideell, his expression unreadable, and the dog still barking between them. Then he turns around and strides back toward the bar By now, the commotion has drawn a small crowd outside the nineteenth poole, but they clear a path when they see Casso coming. Casso marches over to the bar and pulls out a semi automatic pistol and silencer from underneath the counter. Then he heads back outside, screwing on the silencer as he goes Without saying a word, he marches back toward Jimmy Hideell and his dog. Hideell's eyes flick to the gun. God, you gonna shoot me out here on the street? No, not you. Casso raises the gun, and too late, Hideell realizes it's not pointed at him. He tries to pull his dog back Hdll stares in shock. The leash suddenly limped in his hand. You shot my dog. I told you to control it. You shot my dog. You're lucky it wasn't you. Now pick up your dog and get out of here. It's bleeding on my sidewalk. Anthony Casso goes back inside the bar as if nothing has happened. He puts the pistol away and then pours himself a drink. No one asks him any questions. They know better But as Casso sips his whiskey and soda though, one of his men comes over to warn him that Jimmy Hidedell isn't stable. He'll be out for revenge Casso shrugs, he's not wored. Even threatening to come after a made man like him is a death sentence When a charming neurosurgeon rode into western towns selling a persona of confidence and care Patients trusted him He wore cowboy boots in the operating room and became sought after by patients He promised to heal them Instead, he left a trail of broken bodies. This is a story of greed, betrayal, and a fight for justice. Listen to doctor Death, the cowboy, wherever you get your podcasts, or binge the entire series right now, only with Audible I'm Leon Nafok What happens when only fans becomes more than just a side hustle Only fantasy is an in depth look at the world's newest profession how the rules of human intimacy are being rewritten online. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or binge all episodes of Only Fantasy, A free, Only on Audible Welcrom Audible Originals, I'm Lindssey Graham, and this is American Scandal In the mid nineteen eighties, New York's mafia famies still had a powerful grip on organized crime in the city They controlled unions and major construction projects, and they made millions of dollars from illegal gambling and loan sharking through bribes and extortion, they had government inspectors and politicians in their pockets. And they even had allies in the very institutions that were supposed to stop them. Two of those insiders were New York Police Department detectives Stephven Caracapa and Lewis Eppolito working through an intermediary named Burton Kaplan They started out by selling confidential police intelligence to the mob But when Kapathla needed to get rid of a troublesome business associate Kara Capa and Eppolito help track him down and snatch him off the street It wouldn't be the last time they'd help criminals make people disappear. And soon it would be the turn of Anthony Gaspipe Casso call on their unique services This is episode two Murder for hire is september nineteen eighty six in Brooklyn, New York A cold blast of an air conditioner hits Anthony Gaspipe Casso as he steps inside an ice cream parlor He's on his way to meet up with Jimmy Hideell But has some time to kill first, so he's decided to stop for a frozen treat Idell seems to have smartened up his act since Casso shot his dog. Just like Casso thought, he hasn't dared mention the incident to him again, and now he's even come to Casso with a business proposal Idell says he's acquired a large quantity of stolen blank checks he'd like to sell wants to cut Casso into the deal in exchange for his help Casso steps up to the ice cream counter He gets two scoops of strawberry soft serve, and then he heads back to his car and drives off, with the ice cream in one hand and the wheel in the other The restaurant where the meeting is to take place is just a few minutes away, and he parks his sedan outside But while Casso finishes his ice cream He hears a car pull up slowly alongside him The engine idles and something about it feels off Casso looks up just in time to see a shotgun pointed at him through the window He throws himself down as the gun goes off, and the window shatters, leaving the floor of his car covered in glass as well as strawberry ice cream Casso feels a sharp pain touches his hand to his neck and it comes away covered in blood He's been shot. Suppressing hard on the wound, he reaches over with his other hand to open the passenger door and then scrambles out onto the sidewalk Using his car for cover, Casso crawls to the entrance of the restaurant He pushes through the door and staggers to his feet shocked diners look up at him from the floor where they've taken cover ignores their stairs and pulls a cloth off one of the tables, sending glasses and plates crashing to the ground Casso presses the tablecloth to his neck to stop the bleeding Then he hurries toward the back of the restaurant, lurching between tables barges through a door and down some steps to the basement kitchen There, Cooks stare in amazement as Casso stumbles past them M straight for the walk in freezer He hauls open the heavy metal door and shuts himself inside No one's going to get him there Casso then slumps down against the wall, his breath fogging in front of him His neck and shoulder throb, and the tablecloth he took from upstairs has already soaked through He's lost a lot of blood and the shock and cold are making him shiver uncontrollably. teeth begin to chatter So he clampses Joshua tryrying to stay in control He's survived worse than this. He knows he'll live, but he's determined that the men who tried to kill him won't It's only when he's sure that the coast is clear that Casso emerges from the freezer. The police eventually catch up to him at the hospital They question him at his bedside after he's been stitched up, but Casso doesn't talk He may be the victim of an attempted hit, but he's also a member of the mafia Wise guys keep their mouths shut He says he knows nothing about organized crime and claims he doesn't have a clue why anyone would want him dead police leave frustrated Casso may not have offered the officers any help But as soon as he's out of the hospital plans to do some digging of his own. And he doesn't have to do it alone The arrest of the Lukase boss back in the summer created vacancies higher up in the organization Casso was one of the beneficiaries He was promoted to underboss And now men who used to outrank him are taking his calls So there are plenty of people on the streets who are eager to help someone like him get revenge. Informants soon come forward with a list of names, and one stands out It shouldn't be a surprise to Casso that Jimmy Heideell was involved in the shooting After all, he knew where Casso would be that day Casso did kill his dog. But still Casso struggles to believe that Heideel would take a shot at him on his own Mafia families have a way of doing things, and killing a made man without permission isn't one of them death sentence for the man who pulls the trigger Casso begins to think that if Heidedel did do it, and someone else must be behind him Casso's eyes, there's just one obvious set of suspects, the Lukese family's arch rivals, the Gambinos The Gambino's current boss killed his predecessor to get his job, so arranging a hit on Casso would hardly be beneath him But still, it's not an accusation Casso can throw around without proof. The other mafia families won't stand for it, so he needs to be sure. It's at this point that one of Casso's associates, the businessman Burton Kaplan makes the suggestion He has friends in the NYPD who could look into the case on Casso's behalf The two cops have helped Kaplan out in the past, and he knows they can be trusted Casso doesn't like the idea of relying on cops. evenven if they are corrupt, they're still the enemy But Castso also knows that as long as whoever backed Hdel's play is out there, he's in danger So reluctantly, he tells Burton Kaplan to get in touch with his friends on the Force. And a few days later, Kaplan comes to see him at a bar in Brooklyn He's carrying a mananila folder and grinning from ear to ear. Casto Frs. What are you so happy about Kaplan slaps the folder down in front of Casso. Oh, you're gonna want to take a look at this gaspipe. Eh? courtesy of New York's finest. Casso picks up the folder and opens it. It's full of crime scene photos and police paperwork relating to Casso's shooting. There's the license plate of a car he was shot from, as well as a list of suspects. Kaplan leans close I tell you, I knew they could help out. These set of prints there that they found, you see Casso glances over the page, Jimmy Hideell, Yep, and Nki Guido, and Bob Barron. You know, I got Jimmy a job once, a nice cushy deal through one of the unions I guess you really loved that doll. Casso looks up at Kaplin. What do I owe your friends for this? Caplan just waves him off, though. Someone was looking to hurt you and they won't take any money under those circumstances. This is just to show you the kind of thing you're capable of. Well, isn't that nice ofose He closes the file. Casso has never known a cop to do something for nothing, and he's sure there'll be a price to pay at some point. passass along my thanks. Sure thing. It's like I said, they're the real deal Anthony Casso leaves the bar, finally knowing exactly who tried to kill him. But even though he now has the names of his assailants, that doesn't mean they'll be easy to find He soon discovers that Jimmy Hideell and his accomplices have all gone into hiding. So Casso sends his soldiers out looking for them desespite an intensive search, weeks pass without any sign of the three men So once again, he turns to Burton Kaplan's friends in the NYPD. Perhaps they can succeed where his men couldn't Kaplan, of course, assures him that they'll be able to help for the low price of thirty five thousand dollars They'll find and kidnap Jimmy Heideell asso agrees to the terms, but emphasizes that Hidedel must be delivered to him alive He wants a chance to interrogate him Casso still thinks someone else was behind the attack And he has to know who it was But despite Kaplan's confidence in his friends, more weeks pass, and even with the cops on the case, there's still no sign of Jimmy Heideell Casso grows impatient with the lack of progress But just when he's beginning to think that these two cops of Kapl' aren't as impressive as he thought He gets a beep on his pager It's from Kaplan. He says his friends have finally picked up Hidedell and Casso is thrilled tells Kaplan to have Hyidedell delivered to the parking lot of a toys R Rus in Brooklyn Casso will take it from there By the time Casso and his driver get to the agreed location, it's dark and the toy store is closed. Casso's car is the only one in the lot A few minutes pass and then a few more Finally, Casso sees Bertt Kaplin' Sedan turn into the parking lot He stops his car next to Cassoos and gets out. tells Casso that the others are on their way, but Casso paces the lot impatiently He won't be satisfied until he gets his hands on Hidedell Eventually, the lights of a third car turn into the light It parks a short distance away and Kaplan goes over while Casso stays back The less contact he has with these people, the better They're still cops after all A few moments later, Kaplan comes over and hands Casso a set of car keys He nods back at the third car across the lot and says the cops have left Hyideel in the trunk They've cuffed him, bound his feet with duct tape, and stuffed his mouth with a handkerchief Still, despite all their precautions, they had to knock him out because he was making such a racket yelling and banging his feet against the inside of the trunk. Now he's got a bump on his head, but other than that, as promised, Hedell was unharmed Casso takes the keys and wanders over to the car As he's walking, he spots another vehicle by the entrance to the parking lot Standing by its hood are two men who are looking in Casso's direction One is tall and heavy set with gold chains that glint in the darkness The other man is skinny with sunken eyes. Casso glances at Kaplin who's just behind him and asks who they are Kaplan jokes that they're his police escort. Casso doesn't laugh He tells Kathln and his two friends to get out of here. He's got work to do The other men know when they're not welcome, so they get in their cars and drive away, leaving Casso alone with Jimmy Heideell Castle pops the trunk, and Hedell was curled up inside, not moving, his face bloody and swollen. Anthony Casso smiles. Whether Hydell talks or not, Casso is going enjoy this I'm Leon Nefo best known as the co creator of Slowburn and Fiasco. I had of course heard of O fans, but always with a distant and quiet skepticism A silent judgment, you might say Who is actually using this platform? U I am Hi, I'm Oly Fans creator and comedian, Gracie Kanan. I work from home now. I'm on Oly Fans and In case you guys don't know it only fans is, ask your husband My journalistic curiosity got the best of me when I found out that my own sister had started an only Fans account. I'm not a sister, just to clarify. It turns out a lot of what I thought I knew about Only fans was wrong wasted three point five years for something that wasn't real. What happens when connection comes with a price tag? Listen to Only Fantasy wherever you get your podcasts, or binge all episodes of Only Fantasy ad free right now, only on Audible. Start your Audible subscription in the Audible app or on Apple podcasts. Whether you're exploring your current fascinations or discovering new ones, Audawible has all the stories that'll introduce you to your most fascinating self. Tap into a whole new world of heated conversations with a saucy romantasy series. beccome your friend group's sci fi expert on the latest blockbuster book to screen adaptation Or find unexpected reveals through the exclusive episodes of a viral true crime podcast. However you choose to listen, Audible keeps you fascinated so you can be just as fascinating. All in one easy app, with plans now starting at eight do ninety nine cents, you'll get access to over one million audio books and podcasts, including trending bestsellers Hottest new releases and exclusive podcasts you won't find anywhere else. Sign up now to become a member and get any audio book every month plus exclusive podcasts. Plans now start at eight dollars ninety nineents Be fascinated, be fascinating After Burt Kaplin and the cops leave the Tys R us parking lot Anthony Casso drives Jimmy Hideell to the house of another associate who lives nearby Casso shows up unannounced and says he needs to borrow the basement for a few days. The owner quickly decides it's a good time to take his family out of town for the weekend And with the family gone, Casso takes Heidedell out of the car and drags him down to the basement The young man has been beaten badly by the police He's only semi conscious as Casso straps into a chair Casso unwraps the duct tape around Hidedell's head and takes out the handkerchief that was stuffed in his mouth He does want him to talk after all. But Casso tortures Hidedel all night And by the next morning the young man has confessed that he shot Casso claims that the hit was ordered by seni members of the Gambino family But it's not enough just for Casso to hear it He wants other mobsters to know that he's found the man who tried to kill him that he's smart enough and dangerous enough to track down his would be assassins. Then, no one will ever mess with him again So he invites senior members of both the Lukesy and Gambino families to the basement to hear Heideell's confession Only once that's done, does Casso prepare to kill him is just about to pull the trigger when Hideell asks Casso to do him one favor He asks Casso to dump his body in the street, so he's found and his mother can collect the insurance money. Casso solemnly promises he will and then shoots Hideel fifteen times But Casso doesn't keep his word. He tosses Hidedel's body into a nearby waterway where it will never be found Jimmy Hideell's family won't see a cent of the insurance money. but now that Hidedel has been dealt with Casso can turn his attention to the accomplices During his interrogation, Heidedell confirmed the information Casso got from the police He was working with Nicki Guido and Bobby Bering Sedo and Bering haven't been seen for weeks. But eventually, one of Casso's lookouts spots a red sports car outside Guido's house He gives license plate to his boss, and Casso then asks Kaplan to get his cop friends to run a check on the plate If the car belongs to Nicki Guido, then they can follow it Selling information from the criminal record database is a way many police officers make a quick buck It's One of the most common forms of corruption in the department But in theory, this information is tightly controlled Detectives are supposed to get approval from their superiors to look up a name and logs are reviewed regularly But Detective Stephven Karacapa is in the major Kase squad as a highly regarded detective few would think to question him anyway But conveniently, Karakaapa also acts as his unit's coordinator. He liaises between detectives and their sergeants and signs off on reports on behalf of his boss That means Karakapa is in a position to approve his own requests and ensure any suspicious activity on the system never gets flagged So Anthony Casso's latest request is an easy assignment for Karacapa And shortly before dawn on november eleventh, nineteen eighty six, he heads to NYPD headquarters He grabs a coffee and strolls into the major casequad room It's not yet six AM Karacapa is the only one there Most of the guys in his unit don't get in until after ten He sets his coffee down and logs into the squad's computer terminal The NYPD Ciminal History computer consists of a small black and white screen with a keyboard attached. The machine is state of the art It allows Karac Capa to see if someone has ever been arrested along with all their known addresses. To search the system, Karacapa must identify himself by his name and tax number This security measure means that all searches in the database can be traced back to a specific cop Next, he needs to enter the case number associated with his inquiry Karac Capa is here to run a search on Nicki Guido. But he isn't part of the team looking into Casso's attempted murder doesn't want to take any unnecessary risks. So first, Karac Kapa enters the number for a case he is working on and starts by running a few names connected to it Only then does he look up Nicki Guido using the same case numbers that way if someone ever audits the logs, they'll just assume Guido is connected to Karacapa's case Nothing more of it And just as the first of his fellow officers trickle into the squadroom Karacapa finishes his task and logs out of the system. Then, with the information from Karacapa in hand, Bertt Kaplan soon comes back to Casso and says they have what he's looking for but it's going to cost him. prriceices is four thousand dollars Casso is incensed. He gave the cops an extra five grand for the good job they did with Jimmy Heideel And now they're demanding almost as much for a license plate check Casso thinks they're getting greedy So he decides to find Nicki Guido on his own Castle wonders if perhaps Cuido has some other property where he's hiding. He talks to a contact at the local gas company and asks him to search their files The man soon comes back with a street address in Brooklyn Casso immediately sends some of his men to check the house, and they report seeing a guy who seems to fit Guido's description tall, dark haired and Italian American They've also seen a red car on the street just like the one seen outside Guido's other address. So Casso is sure he's found his man One of his deputies urges caution though, telling Casso that they need more intelligence to be sure they've got the right guy. Casso is too impatient. He orders his men to take Guido out and to do it when he'll be least expecting it And so a few weeks later, on Christmas day nineteen eighty six, three of Casso's men pull over outside the house in Brooklyn and wait Inside, Tony Guido is finishing up Christmas dinner with his family. Around the table are his siblings and their adult kids. His nephew, twenty six year old Nki, is sitting next to him Nickki has been talking Tony's ear off about the new car he just got, and the conversation continues as the family starts to clear their plates Nickki gets up from the table Hey want to check out the car now, Uncle Tony. Tony loves cars almost as much as Nikki Tony's just eatating He doesn't want anything more than to put his feet up on the couch and watch TV. tomorrow, maybe. it's raining C on and parked right across the street. Tony can see how much it means to Nicki, and he figures a couple of minutes can't hurt, even if it is raining. All right, all right. why me get my boos on. Niickki grins and grabs his jacket from the back of the chair and calls into the kitchen Hey Ma, I'm gonna to show Uncle Tony the new ride. I'll help clean up in a bit Nicky fishes his car keys out of his pocket, while Tony pulls on his boots. And they both head out onto the stoop It's getting dark and the sidewalk is slick with icy rain. Everyone else on the block is still inside enjoying Christmas dayay with their families, and Tony is tempted to turn back too, but Nki is already crossing the road and his new red Nissan Maxima is parked half a block up the street. Tony hurries down the steps after him. By the time he reaches the car, Niki is already in the driver's seat He reaches over and opens the passenger door for Tony. Tony rubs his wet hands on his pants. I'm getting rain on your seats. That's okay, I don't mind. Check this out. Nikki turns the ignition and the dashboard lights up in a futuristic green. Ooh, doesn't she pur? That pretty cool like we're in a jet plane or something. And look, it's got a fully digital instrument cluster. Even the fuel gauge is digital Yeah, Nicky sure is nice. Tony glances out the window as a man in a gry cap and dark jacket walks by him. The man turns and stares right at them. Tony doesn't recognize him and wonders what he's doing out alone on a rainy cold Christmas day. But Nicki is still focused on the car. Man, it's like something from the future. Look at this Tony looks back at the dashboard, and as he does, the man in the cap turns back, steps in front of the car, and pulls something from his coat pocket. Suddenly, Nicki grabs Tony, pushes him down. Uncle Tony, get down. As shots ring out, Tony covers his face with his hands. There's a screech of tires as a car pulls up beside them and then accelerates quickly away Tony feels Nicky's hand go limp on his back. Nicky, Nicky. Tony sits up. He peers out through the shattered windshield. The man in the c is nowhere to be seen. What was that? You okay, Niicky? Niicky is slumped forward in the driver's seat, his jacket stained with blood. Nicky, can you hear me? Niki doesn't respond Tony Guido checks Nicky's pulse, but it's clear he's dead. And if it weren't for Nicki holding him down, Tony would be dead too. His legs trembling, Tony runs back through the rain to the house to call for help. While the Guidos wait for the police to arrive, Tony sits on the stoop in shock. I can't understand why anyone would want to hurt Nicki. It was just a kid who liked cars. There must have been some mistake Whether you're exploring your current fascinations or discovering new ones, Audible has all the stories that'll introduce you to your most fascinating self. Tap into a whole new world of heated conversations with a Sucy romantasy series. Become your friend group's sci fi expert on the latest blockbuster book to screen adaptation Or find unexpected reveals through the exclusive episodes of a viral true crime podcast. However you choose to listen, Audible keeps you fascinated so you can be just as fascinating. All in one easy app with plans now starting at five pounds ninety nine c, you'll get access to over nine hundred thousand audioobooks and podcasts, including trending bestestsellers, the hottest new releases, and exclusive podcasts you won't find anywhere else Sign up now to become a member and get any audiobook every month plus exclusive podcasts Pans now start at five pounds ninety nine Be fascinated, be fascinating. Hello, I'm Matt Ford. And I'm Alice Levine. And we're the host of British Scandal. Yes we are and our new series starts with a loud, lovable woman from Bermondsey who becomes one of the most famous people in Britain. This is the story of Jade Goody, the reality TV star who built a fortune just by being herself. and then lost everything in one of the most public racism scandals Britain has ever seen. It's a story of fame and a change of the conversation around cervical cancer forever Follow British scandal wherever you get your podcasts or listen early and ad free on Audible When the cops arrive at Nicki Guido's home in Brooklyn, they interview his shocked family and neighbors. No one has any idea why Nicki Guido would be a target for the mob He was a quiet, well likeked young man who already had a steady job and no links to organized crime But the next day, the detective in charge of the case gets a call from the Brooklyn District attttorney's office The DA has been investigating the attempted murder of the Lukese family's underboss, Anthony Gaspipe Casso, and Nki Guido is one of the suspects, so this was probably a revenge hit But from everything the detective has learned so far, Nki Guido doesn't sound like a mobster And he soon realizes that there are two Nicki Guillos in Brooklyn One is an innocent young man who worked for a telephone company the other is a petty criminal with a string of convictions to his name It's clearly a case of mistaken identity. So the detective goes looking for this second Nicig Guido. His life is in danger But when he visits the address on file, he only finds Guido's mother. The detective tells her what he knows and advises her that Guido should turn himself in for police protection But when the real Nicki Guido hears from his mother that the cops are after him as well as the mob He doesn't hand himself in Instead, he flees New York and goes into hiding in Tampa, Florida. and with Jimmy Heideell already dead That leaves just one of Anthony Casso's would be assassins still in New York. Bob Bering is hiding out on Long Island when he sees the news about Nki Guido's killing on television He has no way of knowing that Casso got the wrong guy As far as Baring is concerned, his friend is dead, and he knows that Casso is just waiting for his chance to kill him too. Baring lives in a permanent state of fear. starts carrying his gun everywhere, even to bed. Eventually, Bering will do anything to get away from Casso, even if that means going to prison. So on january third, nineteen eighty seven, he turns himself into the police Hoping for a deal, Berring admits to the attempted assassination, as well as his involvement in several other unsolved murder cases It's an unusual confession, and he may be going to prison. But at least he'll be safe from Anthony Casso So while Baring eludes him. Casso at least tells himself the two of the three men who shot him are dead. But then the media picks up the story that the mafia killed the wrong man And when Casso learns that the Nicki Guido he had shot wasn't his intended target, he's furious The entire situation makes him look like a fool and that's bad for business. Casso demands an explanation from his men, who swear they had no idea they'd shot the wrong gy. The Casso doesn't believe them. Since the attempt on his life He's become deeply paranoid He begins to think that his soldiers deliberately killed the wrong man as a way to set up Casso So he orders a hit on one of the men responsible. On september third, nineteen eighty seven This Lu Kasey soldier is walking down a busy street in Brooklyn with a friend. when someone comes up behind them and shoots them both in a head Casso is satisfied He's shown once again that he's not a man anyone should cross. Then he gets a call from Burton Kaplan Kaplan is upset The friend who was shot alongside the Lukese soldier was Frank Santora Jr. He's the cousin of one of Kaplan's corrupt cops and a vital go between Kaplan doesn't even know how to get in touch with the police officers without him Casso tells Kaplan that he should have told him If he'd known who Santora was, of course he wouldn't have killed him Kaplan had good reason to keep Santora's identity a secret He's always feared that if Casso discovers his source, he might decide to cut out the middleman. And now his problem is even worse. Without his contact with the police, he's useless to Casso And he knows that Casso won't hesitate to get rid of him if he thinks he's a loose threat But a week after Frank Santoro Jr's funeral A woman stops by Burton Kaplan's clothing store in Brooklyn She introduces herself as Centur's widow and says that there's someone who wants to talk to them A few days later, Kapline goes to Santora's house Waiting for him in the dining room is Louis Epolito Oh look who it is Mr. Epolito Please call me Lou. Instead of a handshake, Epolito grips Kaplin's shoulders and kisses Kaplin's cheeks Mb stone. Kaplin returns to greeting. Well, it's good to see you again, despite the sad circumstances, of course. Yeah, takeake a seat. Kaplin and Eppoito sit down. Epolito clasps his hands. It was a real tragedy what happened to Frank And my condolences to your family once again. Thank you. But I don't see why it should affect the work we've been doing. Kaplin smiles. Well I'd hoped you'd say that. My partner is working on a special task force now. It's all very hush hush, working with the FBI. And That means he's got even more access than before. We can get your friends anything they want Intelligence on ongoing investigations, wiretaps, planned arrests, informs, the whole shebang. But of course, it would have to be worth our while. of course. But how much are we talking? We were thinking of a retainer situation, you know, like a rolling contract. Let's say four points a month. four thousand dollars is a small price to pay for almost unlimited access to NYPD files Kapln doesn't want Eppolito to know that. I don't know, Lou. I'd have to ask Casso, What we're offering is unique. He won't be able to get this anywhere else. Kaplin hesitates a moment longer before offering Lou his hand. Oh, I know, and I'll be sure to tell him that. After meeting with Louis Eppolito, Burton Kaplan immediately calls Anthony Casso Casso is happy to pay the retainer, but he demands that Epoolito and his partner work exclusively for him Having such access is a competitive advantage, and he doesn't want Epolito selling the information to anyone else. Epppolito agrees to the terms, but then tells Kaplin he wants to meet with Casso directly Kaplan is furious and frightened If Epolito builds a separate connection with Kazso, Kaplan will be expendable So he refuses to set up the meeting and he and Eppolito have a blazing argument. It's Eppolito's partner, Stephven Karakava, who saves the deal He arrives at Kaplan's house with a plate of homemade cookies and an apology for Eppolito's behavior Kaplan quickly comes to like Karakapa. He's smart and discreet, just like Kaplan. And soon he's meeting almost exclusively with him instead of Apolito And for the next two years, a steady stream of confidential police intelligence flows through Kaplan to Anthony Casso But the one thing Karacapa and Epolito cannot tell Casso is where the real Nicki Cuido has gone It's only at the beginning of nineteen eighty nine that he resurfaces in New York, where he's caught by the police in a cocaine bust. Alito is charged in connection with that crime