The Watchman of Ephraim (Book Club Edition) by Gerard de Marigny Read Free Book Online Page A

Tompkins with a tongue-in-cheek expression.
    “ You want some ice cream?”
    Tompkins rolled his eyes, shaking his head.
    “ No, I don’t want ice cream, Cris. I want you to fly to New York and buy that building back from them!”
    “ What building? Ricci asked as he took a seat on the arm of the sofa next to Tompkins.
    De Niro scowled then looked over at his brother-in-law.
    “ Keith wants me to fly to New York and try to buy the property back from the Imam who wants to build the mosque at Ground Zero.”
    Ricci raised an eyebrow in Tompkins’ direction.
    “ What makes you think they want to sell it?”
    Tompkins glared at Ricci for a moment, then stood up in frustration and leaned his arm on the large fireplace mantle.
    “ I don’t know. Maybe Don De Niro over here can make them an offer they can’t refuse.”
    Ricci folded his arms in mock thought.
    “ Yeah, and I can be like … Luca Brasi. Let’s see, maybe I can cut off one of the horse’s head’s that pull those carriages around Central Park and put it in the Imam’s bed …”
    Tompkins pointed at Ricci as he looked at De Niro.
    “ SEE, THIS is why I wanted to speak to you in private!”
    De Niro laughed quietly as he stood up and winked at his brother-in-law.
    “ Keith, for one, for them to purchase that property, they knew in advance the resistance they were going to meet. They wouldn’t have gone into it if they intended to just sell out right. As a matter of fact, I think I read somewhere where someone already approached them and offered them four times what they paid for it and they turned the offer down. For another, I think it’s too premature. I told you, as far as I know they only purchased the property; they still have to raise the money to demolish what’s there and build their mosque.”
    Tompkins walked up to De Niro, put his hand on his shoulders and looked him straight in the eyes.
    “ Cris, for all my friends … all the firefighters that lost their lives … for all those innocent victims ... and for Lisa … these people can’t be allowed to build that mosque there.”
    Mentioning Lisa wounded De Niro. There weren’t many people that De Niro would have allowed to mention her name in that context, but Keith Tompkins was one of the few that could. He also knew that his friend wouldn’t have mentioned his wife’s name in a casual fashion. This meant a lot to Tompkins as it did many others … including him.
    Tompkins spoke first.
    “ All I’m asking is for you to go to New York and … do what you do. Look into it whatever way you feel is right. Then maybe you can speak to a bunch of us …survivors and families and friends of victims. We’ve been keeping in touch about this and I sort of told them that you and I were friends and that you’d look into it for us. Everyone respects you Cris. Just let us know what you think.”
    De Niro stood in thought a moment. What can it hurt?
    “ Alright, Mugsy and I have business in the east anyway. I’ll see if I can talk to a few people and get a handle on what’s really going on, but no promises Keith! There’s probably nothing I can do but let a few people know I’m against it being built so close to Ground Zero. I think speaking to the Imam or his wife will be a waste of time, their minds are made up, but I was friends with one of Mayor Giuliani’s advisors. I’ll meet with him and see if we can coax Mayor Bloomberg’s support away from it.”
    Tompkins smiled broadly and put his arm around De Niro.
    “ Fantastic. I knew you’d come through brother!”
    “ Mugsy and I will be flying east Monday. Why don’t you tag along? We’ll stop off first in Virginia. Mugsy, I’ll have you get things rolling there on your own, on Monday. Keith and I will fly up to Teterboro and take care of business in Manhattan. We’ll stay in the city overnight then fly down to you on Tuesday morning. You can fill me in, introduce me to your new staff and we can give Keith here a tour of our new