Book 3 The Poison Chef: Lion The Leo Hennessy Series, #3

By Kurt Theodore

Book 3: The Poison Chef

TV’s most popular chef, Sal Tedesco, is being "framed” for murder. But as Leo tries to help, he finds himself being lured into the scandal by a media mogul who is out to destroy Hennessy Bank. Leo is forced to distance himself from Sal by having a high-visibility affair with the luscious/hilarious Honey Lamb. But with no way to protect Sal – in court and in prison – Leo watches helplessly as a well-meaning mob lawyer makes things even more deadly. Until...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kurt Theodore
• Release date: Sep 14, 2015
• ISBN: 9780985715410

Book preview

Leo: A Prologue

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New York was in shock.

THE LION QUITS THE JUNGLE.

The Times worried. Leo Hennessy has made $6.8 billion by taking risks and turning them inside out. Why has the man some call ‘the last of the honest bankers’ decided to call it quits?

Bloomberg TV wondered. A small army of clients and friends has come to count on Hennessy’s ‘ingenious’ solutions to ‘impossible’ problems. So the question is: Will he turn off the ‘miracles’ in retirement?

Even Page Six chirped. As an widower of fifty-three, the man who invented the Risk- Reverse is New York’s most eligible goldmine. How risky is that?

What the media never knew was that Padraig Liam Leo Hennessy had learned – in Hell’s Kitchen, in the Marines, in the CIA and in too many Fortune 500 board rooms – to sense danger the way an animal can sense a coming earthquake.

So, on the day he sensed that the people he called the Bastards of the Universe were about to let their delusion of financial entitlement crush the markets under the weight of their own greed — again — he quit.

And his retirement speech was vintage Hennessy.

My grandmother used to say, ‘We were so poor for so long... we got good at it.’

He made his roughhouse-to-riches rise sound easy – never mentioning the scholarships, the medals, and the close calls with a world full of dangerous people. The speech was humble, thankful and over in three minutes — while, in the back of his mind, Leo calibrated the odds that the parade of people with impossible problems would ever really let him retire.

It wouldn’t.

• MURDER ON TV

Let’s watch it again!

An ocean of tourists surged and wallowed through Times Square past the McMallis Media building – then stopped at the famous one-hundred-foot MMM-TV screens as they flashed BREAKING NEWS and replayed a murder, while headlines streamed below:

VENDETTA!... TV CHEF SAL TEDESCO KILLS PRODUCER BARRY BELLOWS  ...  MURDER WEAPON... A PIECE OF CAKE!!!

The familiar TV voice of Tim Noonan described the action.

Yesterday, after weeks of threatening, Sal Tedesco carried out his long-planned ‘Vendetta’ against the TV producer who made him famous, Barry Bellows. Here you can see the murderer, approaching his victim with what looks like an innocent piece of birthday cake, but is in reality... the murder weapon.

The gigantic screens showed a portly young man wearing a chef’s apron and toque blanche handing a large piece of cake to a man seated among friends at the center of a long birthday party table in a TV studio.

Both men were smiling.

But, as the Guest Of Honor took a large bite of the cake, he pointed at the chef and began to choke and clutch his chest falling back into his chair. The video cut to several shots of people trying to revive the man – then to a final shot of the chef, leaning over to feel his victim’s pulse – then walking away – running from the room – escaping from the building – being caught by police – fighting them off – until he was apprehended.

Women gasped, men winced, mothers turned their children away – others pointed and laughed.

The screens shifted to the familiar format of the Noonan & O’Toole show.

The hosts appeared in two red-white-and-blue frames – Tim Noonan in New York and Jack O’Toole in Washington – surrounded by American flags and a Statue of Liberty holding the scales of justice.

Tim Noonan, his face puffy and pugnacious, stared at the camera and angrily commented on a series of pictures of Sal Tedesco.

"The secret life of Salvatore Tedesco came out today, much to the shock of everyone at the Cuisine Machine show. Tedesco – a man who lied about his credentials and past accomplishments in order to get a job here at MMM-TV– can be seen here on our video, killing Barry Bellows, the much beloved producer of the popular cooking shows, Battle of the Kitchens, Chef-on-Chef Combat, The Unkindest Cut and the new Down in Flames cooking contest which, rumor has it, Tedesco had recently lost.  Some say that the loss is what set Tedesco off on his vendetta."

Jack O’Toole, with his famous slack-mouthed certainty, sneered. It seems Salvator-ee ‘lost it’ when he lost the competition and ended up in a shouting match with Barry Bellows. Police say that, in the past, Tedesco had threatened the mild-mannered producer with his chef’s knife, saying he would ‘cut his heart out.’

But instead, Salvator-ee took the cowardly path and poisoned Bellows at a birthday luncheon that Barry was throwing to celebrate his promotion to the new post of Senior Vice President of MUM, the parent company of this network.

Noonan read from the teleprompter. Witnesses say Tedesco prepared his boss’s favorite dessert. And then, in an act of treachery, killed him by giving him a piece of cake... laced with cyanide.

The police say they have ‘Clear Motive, Ample Opportunity’ and MMM News has this exclusive video of Sal Tedesco handing Barry Bellows the poisoned murder weapon, and callously watching him die. Let’s watch it again.

As the edited video played, O’Toole continued his monologue. Tonight, Salvatore-ee Tedesco is where he belongs — behind bars. Will he avoid his just desserts for this cowardly vendetta murder?

Not! 

The voice is followed by the sound of a loud hammer Clang! on an anvil, accompanied the word NOT! stamped across a close-up of Sal Tedesco, whose eyes have been darkened to make him look desperate and criminal.

Then the letters N-O-T spread out to form the initials of the familiar logo of Noonan & O’Tool. We’ll be back after these messages.

The crowds moved on.

––––––––

Hennessy Tower. 5:30 a.m.

The tower caught the first of the morning sun, like a lighthouse standing at the shore of Manhattan’s Battery Park City. Its gracefully curved, 60-story, column of white-onyx was topped by a glass-over-steel penthouse — part luxury home, part high-tech office — surrounded by broad terraces and beautiful plantings.

On the North Terrace, two men stood in ancient, tattered jerseys — one grey/white Gleason’s Gym for Leo Hennessy, one blue-and-red King’s College Football Club for Reginald Pete Peters — both shirts faded beyond illegible and drenched in sweat as the men took a break from their punishing 5:00 a.m. workout.

They stood before the giant screen, watching a replay of last night’s Noonan & O’Toole TV News. As Leo growled.

"Vendetta my ass!"

Now, the huge screen was filled by an old face, creased with hatred and disdain, and identified as Malcolm A. McMallis, President, Chairman & CEO, McMallis Media Internatonal.

All of us in the McMallis family are shocked and outraged!  

Leo mocked. Family? More like a pack of hungry jackals!

Then a bloated self-import face, Warren Sulls, VP Programming, appeared and pontificated. This disloyal man has robbed MMM of one of television’s most talented executives — Barry Bellows.

Hah! Leo roared. Barry had a hell-of-a-lot more talent than you’ll ever have, Warren! You’re lucky he’s gone!

And now, a narrow face with a slack smile, made more ominous by eyes that darted between fear and fury, William R. Flood, Chief of Security, MMM Studios, who gloated, We nailed that greaseball... that greasy little... that... murdera... before he could get away. I and my people done our up-most to save Mista Bellows, but the cyanide was too much for him. I can tell yiz one thing — Tedesco is goin’ down!

Leo muted the sound. So, what do you think, Pete? Would you have felt comfortable with that clown, Flood, heading your security team?

I should say not, Colonel! He reminds me of that little KGB bloke in Dusseldorf who tried to stab you in the back with a shish-kabob skewer.

Leo kept watching Noonan and O’Toole’s talking heads move their mouths with the sound turned off. What bothers me, Pete, is that, for years McMallis and his people made a great deal of money from the fact that they owned The Most Popular Chef on TV. Sal Tedesco, the-loveable-teddy-bear. The one chef you want in your kitchen when company’s coming."

And with good reason, Colonel. The man has a large and loyal following.

Right! That’s what I mean! Suddenly! Everybody at MMM is calling him a murderer. No explanations. No question about it. Nothing but Guilty. Guilty! Guilty!

So, do we think Malcolm McMallis has some hidden agenda up his sleeve for chef Tedesco?

That’s the way McMallis works. He doesn’t believe in competition. He’d rather just ruin a guy’s reputation. A few lies, a couple of phony scandals, and the next thing you know the best people in business are going broke for no reason.

Leo pointed to the screen.  And look at these two buffoons — Noonan and O’Toole — they’ve been the hatchet men for McMallis schemes for years. Margaret used to call them ‘Captain Smugnacious,’ and ‘Lord of the Lies.’ She said they were like a couple of hot-air balloons, leading a parade of the ignorant into the desert of fools.

Indeed, Colonel. Mrs. Hennessy had a sharp eye for highly-paid frauds, especially those of the talking-head variety.

Leo scowled at the sunrise. She and I knew Sal Tedesco in his restaurant days. In fact, she was one of the people who encouraged him to take his love for good food and fun and share it with people on television.

Peters could see Leo was starting to mist over thinking about Margaret, and changed the subject. Didn’t you invite Mr. Tedesco to bring his unique talents to CLTV several months ago, Leo?

Right. Marty Klein and I could see that Sal was a much better fit for our CLTV audience than he was for MMM. His sense of fun and enjoyment was natural on Clear Light. In fact, Sal told Marty and I that he hated the way Warren Sulls tried to pressure him into turning his food programs into competitions. Sal wouldn’t do it. He said it took the joy out of eating.

Poor chap. What kept him from leaving MMM?

His friendship with Barry.

Pete winced, Irony of ironies.

Exactly. Leo agreed. That’s what makes me think there’s more to this ‘Vendetta’ story than McMallis is letting on. After breakfast, I think I’m gonna call Marty and see what he thinks about all this.

Leo stood for a moment watching the two talking heads on the TV screen. Ever notice that Noonan and O’Toole both have the same laugh. Not really a laugh. A kind of open-mouthed sneer.

He switched the TV off and headed for the penthouse apartment.

Never trust a man whose smile turns down.

––––––––

Hennessy Tower. North Terrace. 6:30 a.m.

The morning air was laced with the hefty aromas of coffee, baked rolls, orange juice and the generous breakfast that the redoubtable Mrs. Gridley set out every morning for the Hennessy staff — all of whom lived in the building.

The first to step off the elevator was Sterling Reginald Pete Peters, Colonel (RET) of Her Majesty’s Military Intelligence Section Six (MI-6). He and Leo had spent several years as invisible guests of the soviets in Cold War Europe. Now he served as Leo's chauffeur, pilot, security chief and closest advisor.

Then came Mac — Mary Alice Campbell. Marines, Secret Service, and now Leo’s bodyguard —whose girlish beauty belied her black-belt attitude.

Followed by Wayne duPre — Leo’s corporate council and new-business assistant — who stood six-foot-ten and wore a tiny lapel pin, No. I never played.

As Mac and Wayne stepped off the elevator, Leo handed each a copy of the tabloid News-Post, with it’s screaming Vendetta! headline.

What do you guys think of this?

Mac shook her head. I’ve been a fan of Sal Tedesco since college. I can’t believe this is true. 

Wayne did the same. These people don’t seem to believe in the ‘innocent until proven guilty,’ part of the law, do they? I’d be his defense attorney — pro bono — any day.

Leo tossed his copy of the paper onto the table.

"I’ve known Sal since Margaret and I went to the opening of Sally’s in Soho — before he went on TV.  He wouldn’t hurt a puff-pastry, much less his friend Barry. They were great friends – and hilarious at a party." 

The Lobby Phone buzzed and Leo grabbed it. Fernando! What’s up?

Mr. Hennessy. We have a Mr. Klein down here to see you?

Marty Klein? Holy smokes! I was just about to call him. Thanks Fernando, send him up.

Wayne rubbed a big hand over his shaven head. "We read about Martin Klein in Business School. I remember the Journal calling it a ‘Major Management Coup’ when you hired him to run Clear Light TV."

That’s right. Leo gave Wayne a winking smile. Smartest thing I ever did. Marty’s the reason I invested in Clear Light in the first place. Eight years ago, he had the idea of creating a genuine New-York-Class operation... broad... sophisticated... using the smartest people... to attract the smartest viewers. And he did it. Ever since he started, he’s been winning prizes and building audiences for great shows. Smartest guy I know in the business.

Leo pointed to the newspaper’s screaming headline as he headed for the elevator.

"I wonder what's up. Marty never comes here for no reason. He doesn't do anything for no reason."

***

The elevator opened and two tiny, dark-haired young women stepped off. Followed by a tall, dark-haired man, young at fifty, handsomely graying at the temples and dressed right out of Men’s Vogue.

Marty! Leo grabbed his hand. What a great surprise! I was just about to call you! 

Klein glanced around. This place looks great. How’s retirement? 

What retirement? Leo just shook his head. I see you’ve met M-and-M... Mirella Lapaz and Miranda Chin... they’re the brains of the office.

Yes. On the way up, they gave me their ‘elevator speech’ about how their new PowerHouse works.

Take a look. Leo walked Klein into a large circular office with glass walls and a desk-top filled with computer screens. Pete dubbed it the PowerHouse. M-and-M can do anything from here... trade stocks, do research, order tickets... anything.

Come to breakfast. Mirella and Miranda led the two men out to the North Terrace and Leo introduced the others.

Marty Klein, this is my new team. Mary Alice Campbell, my chief of security.

Call me Mac.

And this is Wayne DuPre, my new legal counsel... and, no, he never played basketball... but he was summa cum laude, President of the Law Review at Columbia.

Honored to meet you, sir. Wayne was as tall as M-and-M were tiny, but his handshake was as gentle. We studied your management philosophy in B-School.

Thanks, Wayne. You sure know how to make a guy feel old.

Then Klein’s smiling voice turned to an urgent whisper as he grabbed Leo’s elbow. Can you and I talk alone for a minute?

Sure. Leo led him to the South Terrace where the wind muffled all conversation.

***

What  is it, Marty?

I’m afraid this thing with Sal is more dangerous than it looks.

Dangerous for who?

All of us, Leo.

Tell me.

Well, I wasn’t going to tell you. I was going to surprise you, but two days ago, Sal and I had a long phone conversation and...

He agreed to join us, right?

Right. Marty was troubled. We were going to keep it quiet till we had all the details worked out for Sal's coming over from MMM to CLTV. He planned to start a production company of his own. He planned to create new cooking and travel shows for us. Plus a cartoon series for kids and parents. But there was one hang-up...

Which was?

His partner. He was going to name the guy yesterday so we could make the announcement. But, well, yesterday...

"...he became The Poison Chef."

Right. Sal called me last night... asking for help... said he’s innocent... and I believe him. But we don’t have a signed contract yet. So, legally we have no real obligation to help him...

Yeah, but I know you, Marty. You went ahead and said you'd help him, right?

Well, the poor guy’s in a trap. That whole bunch over at MMM — from McMallis on down — is treating him like he's a murderer. The only people who could have helped him have suddenly become his enemies.

Klein was silent for a moment. And it gets worse... They took him to Rikers.

My god! He should be out on bail! He could get killed in there!

I don’t know how McMallis arranged it, but a judge denied bail. McMallis lawyers claimed that Sal’s first act as an employee of CLTV was to kill Barry Bellows...

That’s bullshit!

Well, it turns out that McMallis was about to announce that he planned to make Barry ‘Number Two’ in the whole MMM Empire.

Uh-oh.

McMallis even wondered out loud yesterday, if that wasn't the cause of Sal’s vendetta...

Oh, my god! Leo step back and looked across the river. What crap! Then leaned in again to ask, Who’s Sal’s lawyer? Does he even have one?

Klein shook his head. Sal said they offered him a guy from Legal Aid, but he was so scared, he called the only lawyer he knew... the guy who negotiated his contract with us, Ed Blunt, not really a defense lawyer. In fact, not much of a lawyer at all.

But Sal is a TV star, righ? He’s in the restaurant business, he has a website, he must have a million friends.

"That’s what I told him. But he just