"Who are you, and why did you help me? I don't know you and I don't think we have met before", Pete asked the FBI agent. He was grateful for the help, but he was also curious. He adjusted himself on the truck's seat until he assured himself of comfort.
"I am Barry Moore, an FBI agent, although right now, I am kind of on a forced leave, and my job as an agent of the FBI is hanging on a thin thread because of the same man that abducted your girlfriend and her father"
It comforted Pete to find someone who wanted the same thing as him, to bring Raphael Mancini down.
"But how did you know about me?" Pete inquired. He had never met the man before, so he had no idea how he had found him, and even knew about Elena and her father. A wave of pain shot into his head and he winced, grabbing his broken nose with his hand, whimpering and cursing gently at the spasm of pain.
Barry Moore waited for the whimper to stop, then he began. "I was visiting a friend in the police station, when you came around to report your girlfriend and her father's abduction by Raphael Mancini, and from then on, I had taken an interest in you. I figured we could help each other with bringing Raphael Mancini down" he said.
The pain in his nose eased a little, and Pete released his hand to rest on the steering wheel, though he didn't start the car. He considered Barry's proposal. It was good, fair enough. Working with someone sharing the same goal as him could very much help his cause, especially when his enemy was someone like Raphael Mancini.
"I had followed you down here, suspecting that you would do something stupid, but I wasn't fast enough to stop you from it. It was reckless of you to attempt to break into Mancini's estate. It might not seem like it, but the security is very tight. It is to keep the police away from their illegal arms sale business as well as protect them from a rival mafia family, also their biggest competitor in the arms sale business, the Cuzellas. Not even a fly can enter or leave the estate without Raphael and his men knowing about it", Barry explained.
The talk of illegal arms sales caught Pete's attention first. He repeated the words in his mind just to be sure he had heard right, before he directed at Barry. "What do you mean by illegal arms sales. I thought he was running a paper producing company."
Barry chuckled lightly. "So you believe he runs only a paper producing company just because he owns one. What Mafia family have you heard runs just a paper company? Like all Mafia families, the Mancinis thrive in crime. They sell guns and other arms illegally to the richest buyers. If you have got enough money, and you need a gun without going through the legal journey as far as Brooklyn is concerned and much of the country, then Raphael Mancini is your guy. The paperwork company is merely a front to launder money made from illegal arms sales. To keep the business thriving, Raphael extended his control to the police, built a thriving friendship with the mayor and so many people at the top of the food chain. He has deep ties with some of my bosses, hence why I had so much trouble at my office, when I began to investigate Raphael Mancini. He has friends everywhere, and he has been smart enough to keep himself from the spotlight. Other than his illegal arms selling business, he is a respectable citizen, if you don't consider his playboy tendencies". Barry paused to swallow lightly, twirling his beard unconsciously. Pete tried to digest all he had heard. He realized Elena was now forcefully involved with a criminal.
Barry continued. "I would have gotten him since if his girlfriends hadn't been so smitten by his looks, wealth and power and refused to cooperate with me. This is the first time he has attempted to forcefully coarse a lady into submitting to him, and by the looks of it, your girl doesn't look smitten like the rest." Barry said.
"Elena isn't that kind of girl. She is a simple and smart lady", Pete told Barry, full of pride as he talked about Elena.
"If we use her well, we should be able to bring Raphael Mancini down. Then I would get Raphael Mancini, and you would get your girl back as well as your prospective father-in-law."
"What are you suggesting?"
"I managed to slip her a paper with an address for where to meet in two days, during the commotion of rescuing you from Raphael's claws. If she comes, then I will be able to tell her what to do to get evidence that can put Raphael Mancini away for the rest of his lifetime. I have maids in the house working for me, but there is a limit to the places they can go in the house. Being technically, his new girlfriend, your girl would be able to enter some places in the house that the maids couldn't, especially Raphael's bedroom. He should keep a ledger of some sort or a recording of his illegal dealings in his bedroom. If we can get our hands on that, then Raphael Mancini is looking at a long stretch in a federal prison."
The idea was great, but it was risky. Raphael might try to kill Elena if he caught her trying to steal evidence against him. "I can't risk Elena's life on this. I am sorry, Mister Barry"
"I can assure you she won't come to any harm. One of the reasons Raphael isn't in the spotlight is because he doesn't involve himself in things that would give him any publicity, positive or negative. And killing your girl is going to bring him a huge storm of publicity. The worst he could do was kill her father. No one cares about an old man who has been in a Mafia gang all his life, but people will definitely care about a recently graduated, beautiful, and young lady abducted by a Mafia boss and killed unjustly."
Pete considered Barry's words again. He hoped Barry was right, that Raphael wouldn't attempt to kill Elena. "Okay. I'll convince Elena to do as you say", Pete said, "But that can only happen if she is able to leave the estate."