Hiacin House
by
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Brooklyn
Agent Paul Gallagher always hated working in New York City—too many people, cops, buses, trains, planes, and choices—most of all, too many crime families, five in all. Six, if you count Newark. When you consider all of the overlapping and territorial disputes, it is almost impossible to travel throughout the city without stepping on toes and ruffling feathers. In short, New York is a logistical nightmare for an FBI agent assigned to the organized crime division. But this time, it was going to be different. This time it was the Marino family being torn apart from within. Gallagher would not have to concern himself with boundaries and relations between various mob bosses.
Now all of the fighting is being done by one family and inside one territory, and agent Gallagher has the key witness—Tom Conti. Conti is a captain in the Marino crime family, and he was instrumental in promulgating the aggressions, which led to an all-out war inside the family. Now to avoid certain indictment and criminal prosecution on various felony counts, Conti agreed to turn state's evidence on Don Marino and eleven other high- ranking members of the Marino crime family. This would, in effect, shatter the family and end their stronghold on illegal business operations in New York City.
"Are you in or out?" Diggins asked. Gallagher wasn't listening. His mind was running through all of the possibilities and variables. Had he forgotten anything? Was there a loophole he had overlooked? Was his contingency plan feasible?
"Paul, are you with us?" This Gallagher heard, but he didn't understand exactly what Diggins was referring to.
"What?" Gallagher asked without thinking.
"Paul, relax. This time we have all of our bases covered. I never felt so safe. You feel safe Tommy?" Diggins asked.
"Safe? Yeah, sure," Conti said, without really meaning it. In retrospect, he could not remember the last time he had felt safe. It seemed like a thousand years ago. In fact, he could not understand how he got to where he was right now. It seemed unreal.
"See. Paul, if Tommy feels safe, what the hell do you have to worry about?"
Agent Gallagher didn't answer the question, if it was a question. But he knew Agent Diggins was right. Nothing could go wrong. They were holding Conti in a McDonald Avenue apartment, third floor. The apartment belonged to a field agent, who was currently working in National City, San Diego. There were two agents out front in an unmarked car, two more on Avenue T watching the back alley, and Gallagher and Diggins in the room with Conti. Also the el line, which carries the F train, blocked a clear shot from the rooftops across the street. There were no holes. Even if the Marinos knew Gallagher had Conti, and also knew where they were holed up, and if they had a man brave enough to take on six federal agents, he still would not be able to get a clear shot at Conti. No way.
"Come on, Paul, I thought we were playing poker. Look, it's 2:00 a.m. In five hours we drive Tommy boy downtown to the District Court to testify against all of his old pals, and then we're out of it." Diggins was trying to be reassuring.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Five hours. Hell, we can do that standing on our heads," Gallagher said with a smile. Just then he heard the roar of the F train passing by the apartment. Gallagher's smile now broadened, and for the first time he began to feel confident and optimistic.
"Deal me in," Gallagher said assertively. But before Agent Diggins had the opportunity to deal a single card, the entire apartment exploded.
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About the Book
This novel depicts the inner workings of a safe house from its inception in the 1920's to its apex in the 1980's. The novel's main character-Peter Hiacin-is a solitary man, who reconstructed Hiacin House over the years to cater to a rapidly decaying economy. Some of the other characters in the book are CIA agents Ronin and Simon a.k.a. "The White Shadow", and professional hit man, Danny Foster.
The theme of the novel is to show the relevance of a safe house and the enormous scope of its operations. It also delineates the various types of safe houses and explains how and why Hiacin House is so different from the others.
The supplemental themes include the following: The Central Intelligence Agency; corporate embezzlement, counter terrorism; The New York Mafia; professional assassination. It shows how people who engage in these various endeavors have a need for the service Hiacin House provides. A position is never taken as to whether the acts committed by Peter Hiacin's clients are good or evil. Instead, the book portrays the individual's attempt to survive and flourish in the midst of perpetual turmoil.
About the Author
The author has recieved a Master of Arts in History from Brooklyn College. He also was a Doctoral Student in Contempory American History at the CUNY Graduate Center. In addition, he has taught History at Kingsborough Community College and Mercy College. He is currently a New York City Public School Teacher.