The Heart of an Assassin by Tony Bertot Page A

need you guys on this one. Rumor is that a professional hit
man has been hired to take this guy out. It is believed that he is
already in town. I am giving you full authorization to do what is
necessary to keep this guy alive. I don’t care if you take him home
with you, or if you move to another state, just as long as you have
him in the Manhattan courthouse at eight o’clock, Monday morning,
the sixth of August, to testify against the Giordano family.”
    “Why us?” asked Eric. “Why not the feds?”
    “’Cause they believe there is an informant in
the FBI, which they haven’t been able to flush out, with ties to
the Giordano family. Your assignment is sitting somewhere safe, for
now, and we need you to pick him up and disappear for a few weeks.
Simple as that,” O’Malley concluded.
    “Where exactly is he?” asked Eric.
    “Before I tell you where your assignment is,
I need you two to let your loved ones know that you’ll be out of
touch for several weeks. Be back here tomorrow morning bright and
early,” responded O’Malley.
    Tyler had no one to call. His aunt now lived
in a nursing home. He would check in on her every once in a while;
things weren’t the same after Uncle George was killed in a street
shootout. Tyler was there when it happened, just like he was there
when his mother was gunned down. This time, though, the killer did
not get away. Tyler was by his uncle’s side in an alley, with his
head in Tyler’s arms. As his uncle said his last words, Tyler heard
click, click.
    It was the assailant in the darkness, lying
between a garbage bin and a tenement wall. He was aiming a pistol
at Tyler, pulling the trigger; it was empty. Tyler had reached for
his uncle’s gun and, with uncontrollable rage, fired two shots into
the assailant, and then replaced the gun in his uncle’s hand.
    Tyler again felt the emptiness and loss of
love. He held his uncle’s lifeless body with tears streaming down
his face. They fell silently, caressing the only father he ever
knew. He felt no remorse for the life he took. He would leave it in
the alley to be absorbed by hell.
    A quick investigation proved that Officer
George Santiago died in the line of duty, killing his assailant
before taking his last breath. His uncle was awarded for heroism
and died a hero. Shortly after that, Tyler passed his detective
test and was reassigned to the Manhattan precinct.
    The loss of his uncle had changed him. He now
approached his job with fearless intent and defiance. He could be
challenged, but never intimidated. His job was now his life, and
the streets of Manhattan his home.
    Eric called his sister, Lucille, and asked
her to take Fudge, his chocolate lab, for a few weeks. “Are you out
of your mind?” Lucille responded.
    “Come on, it’s only for a little while. I got
a special assignment, and I can’t get out of it. Anyway your kids
love Fudge,” Eric pleaded, knowing Lucille would relent. She always
did.
    “Oh, okay . . . and you are right. The kids
do love Fudge. But you owe me, big time,” said Lucille. “Eric,
please be careful.”
    “I will, little sis, promise,” he
responded.
    Having put their affairs in order, Tyler and
Eric returned to O’Malley’s office. The captain wrote down the
address and handed it over to them without saying a word, just in
case someone was listening. “Don’t trust anyone,” O’Malley said.
Both Tyler and Eric got up, staring at their captain and
nodded.
    “Captain, I need a favor before
disappearing.”
    “What is it, Tyler?” he asked.
    “The victim of this morning’s shooting. I
promised to help out with the arrangements and funeral cost,” Tyler
said.
    “No problem, Tyler, I’ll handle it and will
advise the family accordingly. You can see them after you’re done,”
the captain promised. “Tyler, we’ll get the punks who shot this
kid. I promise.”
    “Thanks again, Captain,” Tyler responded.
     
     

 
Missing in Action
    May
28, 1984 (Giordano Estate, New