TOMMY LEONE WAS NEW, a young man whom Benedetti had met by chance while working on the streets, years before. He worked making deliveries for an accounting company, which in turn took care of the financial services for the shell companies of Anthony Capretti's organization. In addition to smuggling weapons, Tony Capretti earned money in various ways, and his main activity was laundering his own money.
In an articulated chain of interests, his hand extended from foreign smugglers, through corrupt police officers and some local politicians, with the final destination being companies that solved the "problem" of money. The employees did not need to know what was happening in the final balance sheets and profit sharing, they just did their honest work, which avoided the risk of exposure to the authorities. The Organization was consolidated in New York.
Once, while Carl Benedetti was visiting one of these companies, he came across the young delivery man who was at the reception, with a bag of documents in his hands, ready for yet another delivery. Everything was calm and nothing would make him have any kind of dialogue with the young man, because his experience not only in the mafia, but also in his life before it, had taught him to be an introspective man. They would not have met if they had not been surprised by an announcement of a robbery.
The bandit, some kind of drug addict in despair, either due to withdrawal or debt problems with drug dealers, pointed his rusty gun in any direction and shouted nonsense, his sweaty hands and his finger on the trigger visibly shaking. Carl, as always, was armed, but between thought and instinct, he decided to stay back like one of the victims among others, to avoid problems.
If he took any action against the criminal, he would be exposed to a series of subsequent procedures with the police, having to explain and prove himself. Mainly because his methods were not very subtle, he would not hesitate to decide to save the strange robber's life. He just watched everything, quietly.
The man walked around the place in order to get to a kind of cash register that was in the room. As he approached the cash register, he passed by Tommy, who was standing, leaning against the counter. There was no time for any kind of reaction, the young delivery man waited for the bandit to pass him and struck him with his foot, right on the back of the neck, knocking him down at first. Everyone watched, dumbfounded, as the mere paperwork delivery man quickly acted, picking up the fallen revolver and handing it to the manager, saying, with a smile:
— It's better to stay with you until the police arrive.
After the tense moment, people tried to help each other and calm each other down until the police arrived. Tommy just went to the cashier to make the delivery he had come for.
Before leaving, however, Carl cornered him at the exit, starting a conversation:
— I have to say I'm surprised. — It's not that common, is it? — the young man asked, flattered.
— We never expect someone to end a robbery like that. I must congratulate you, kid, you have a future.
— Thank you. — the young man replied, trying to be polite while forcing the end of the conversation.
TOMMY WAS ALREADY GETTING ON THE delivery motorcycle to leave, when Carl interrupted his social escape:
— You have the potential to do more than deliveries. What do you think about changing jobs?
— Well, if they pay better, why not... — he said, thoughtfully.
That was the answer Carl most wanted to hear. The mind that considers the money to be received as the first factor of importance is more susceptible to the moral molds that jobs in the mafia demand. Although financial interest was separated from betrayal by a thin and tenuous line called honor, it was still a differentiating factor for Capretti, and Carl Benedetti knew that.
Carl had learned from his father:
Get things done and pay well for them, honor will come soon after satisfaction...
From then on, Tommy began to do small jobs with him, and at each step he taught him the procedures and responsibilities that the family required.
Carl Benedetti was the main piece on Francesco's board. Discharged from the military at a young age, at a troubled end to his career, disappointed with the events of his life, he then became a soldier on the streets, without pity, without life, but with the same seriousness and discipline that he maintained in the military.
The gray-haired man with a harsh humor was already over sixty years old, but his age didn't seem to make any difference to him. Even after so many years, he still enjoyed street work; he wasn't like the others who just wanted to be behind a desk giving orders to subordinates.
Although his humor wasn't the best, he was always concerned with giving his teachings and advice to Tommy, who now had the opportunity to join the Organization, potentially becoming one of the youngest members of the Capretti Family.