To Hunt Men

By Gary Smith

SYNOPSIS  

Author Gary Smith once again serves up a generous portion of suspense. With descriptive scenarios and commentary on the psyche of both terrorist killers and those honorable few who are “willing” to step forward when action is called for.

In this latest novel by author Gary Smith, Warren has been pulled away from the quiet, contemplative evenings on the veranda and writing. He is compelled to investigate a suspicious young art dealer on behalf of Catherine Ricci who is Warren’s friend and ex-lover.

Follow Steelgrave carefully as he uses courage and skill to uncover a murderous scheme of international proportion. Led by men willing to sacrifice their own lives to resurrect a once “noble” cause long festering in their hearts. He must maneuver through a world of corrupt art sales, drugs, and Chinese gangs. Warren uses his trusted resources of old friends, the FBI, and the local Carabinieri to deduce and anticipate what these “perceived” patriots are about to unleash.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Publishdrive
• Release date: Sep 30, 2022
• ISBN: 1662930607

Gary Smith

Gary Smith received his B.S. in Mathematics from Harvey Mudd College and his PhD in Economics from Yale University. He was an Assistant Professor of Economics at Yale University for seven years. He is currently the Fletcher Jones Professor of Economics at Pomona College. He has won two teaching awards and has written (or co-authored) seventy-five academic papers, eight college textbooks, and two trade books (most recently, Standard Deviations: Flawed Assumptions, Tortured Data, and Other Ways to Lie With Statistics, Overlook/Duckworth, 2014). His research has been featured in various media including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Motley Fool, NewsWeek and BusinessWeek. For more information visit www.garysmithn.com.

Book preview

Dedicated To

Friends and Family in Italy and America.

Your support and contributions are immeasurable

Acknowledgements

Beta reader and synopsis:      Ken Meirovitz:

Proofreading:      Andrea Rezzonico

Proofreading:      Janice Olson

Photographs:      Gary E. Smith

Special Thanks to Angie Maserati for permission to use the lyrics to her song Kiss You.

Table of Contents

Jack

The Book

Approval

Saint Francis Memorial Hospital

The Tre Re

Catherina and Samuel

Jack’s Apartment

The Restaurant

The FBI

Samuel Hunt

Lucca

The Trap

The Aftermath

Sean

Meeting with Samuel and Catherina

Jim Dempsey and Brigadier Mattia

Back to Jack’s Apartment

The File

Belfast

Captain George Mercy

The Surrender

Jerry Marian

Jackie Steven

Roisin McGregor

Restaurant Paradiso

The IRA Peace Accord

The Hospital

Return to Italy

Where is Samuel

The Hunt for Fong

Back to Lucca

The Capture

London

The Hunt for Samuel Hunt

Uncertainty

The St Ermin’s

Arresting Captain Mercy

The Meeting

Marty

A Plan

Where is the Bomb

The End to the Hunt

The Escape

The Interview

Cindy’s Tour

Italy and Jack

Nice France

The Empty House

Castellamonte

Springing the Trap

Catherina                                                            

Chapter One

Jack

I was sitting out on the second-floor terrace with Cindy enjoying a cold martini. It was late afternoon. We would sit and watch the sunset most afternoons. It was late summer, cool and relaxing on the terrace after it started to cool down. A car pulled up and parked across the street from the house. A familiar face got out and started across the street, headed for my front gate.

Why it’s Jack, Cindy said. It has been a year since we last saw him, Warren.

It’s been longer than a year, Cindy. Closer to eighteen months.

Jack is a retired Santa Rosa police detective who became a writer. He writes nonfiction, and I write fiction. We met two years ago. He was researching the murder of an artist, and I was investigating the murder of a close friend who I was the prime suspect of murdering and wanted to clear my name. The artist and my friend had mutual friends and acquaintances, and we partnered up in the investigations. Unfortunately, it ended up involving the mafia and a Chinese espionage ring. We found ourselves in over our heads. Working together, luckily, we broke up the espionage ring, solved both murders, and survived with our lives. Jack was going to write a book about it all.

I got up to meet Jack at the front door. Opening the door, I greeted him. Jack, it’s good to see you, come in. Cindy and I are having martinis on the terrace. Care to join us?

Of course.

Jack walked out to the terrace. Hello, Cindy. Leaning down, he gave her a kiss on the cheek and sat down.

It’s good to see you, Jack. What brings you by?

At that moment, I stepped out of the house, walked over, handed Jack his drink, and interrupted the conversation.

I came by to talk to Warren about something.

I sat. How’s the book going?

Jack took a sip of his drink and set it on the table. That’s what I came to talk to you about. It’s going to be published soon. Unfortunately, someone in my publisher’s office leaked the synopsis. The Chinese are upset and trying to stop the book's publication.

Jack, the FBI warned you the Chinese wouldn’t take it lightly.

I started being followed, Warren. The other night someone tried to abduct me; I barely got away.

Great, I thought. What did you do? You came back to Italy and brought it all to my doorstep.

I came to Italy to seek your advice. I remember you saying once the mafia didn’t like a lot of drama in their area of influence, it was bad for business.

Jack, did it not occur to you that the local crime family could just kill you, and that would put an end to any drama?

Yes, but I am not sure it wasn’t them who tried to abduct me. I know you have connections and could find out. I am not too worried about the Chinese once the book gets published.

I took a sip of my martini, thinking through what Jack had said. Jack, you did send an advance copy to Signor Moretti?

Jack looked down sheepishly at his drink. No. I sat there with nothing to say, just staring at him for a moment, then replied, No! I told you that you needed to do that. He was concerned you might implicate his family in some way in the book.

I know you did. I didn’t implicate the family, and I thought it would be okay because I was in America. There was pressure to publish the book. I thought the book would publish, and his concerns would be relieved.

What about the leaked part; did it hint a crime family might be part of the story?

Jack looked up, moving his head around slightly as if trying to remove a kink, and answered, It did. That is why I am here. I brought a copy of the manuscript. I need to get it to him while still having time to hold up the book’s publication. Once he reads the book, I am sure it will be fine. However, I need to get it done soon because of the Chinese. They want to get to me and have me stop the publication completely.

I understood. The Chinese would torture Jack until he agreed to give up the book. Once published, they would have to lay off him, which was Jack’s plan all along until the leak.

Jack, do you have a place to stay?

Not yet. I was going to see if the Tre Re had a room.

Maybe not so good an idea. We have a spare room; you can stay here until we get things sorted. The village is so small that any strangers will be noticed instantly. Let’s the three of us walk up to the restaurant La Terrazza Sul Canavese for dinner.

It was now dark, and little did we realize a person had slipped into the village and watched us leave the house from a darkened doorway across the street. We ordered dinner and were enjoying our conversation when my phone dinged. I picked it up off the table and looked at the screen. Someone had approached the house, entering through the gate triggered the motion sensor, turning on a light for the front stairway and camera.

Someone just entered the yard and approached the house, I said.

I looked up and could see the concern on Jack’s and Cindy’s faces. Entering the yard at night lights the front yard. I also have a camera under the house’s roof that records any movement entering the yard and going up the stairs. I handed the phone to Jack.

Playing back the video, we watched as a man wearing dark clothes and a cap entered the yard. When the lights came on, he turned and left. Jack handed back my phone.

He must have realized he might be on camera and didn’t want to take a chance he was, I commented as I took the phone. When we get back to the house, I will add you to my account, Jack. The house has only one entry door at the top of the stairs. Your phone will alert you and me as soon as anyone enters the yard and send images to our phone. It’s good you are staying with us until we conclude this thing. Tomorrow, I will call Signor Moretti and arrange to drop off the manuscript.

We had a great dinner at the restaurant with friends and neighbors stopping by the table. Jack caught on right away, being an ex-cop. It was as much about finding out who my guest was as it was to be friendly. Jack began to relax. Not much was going to sneak up on him in this village.

We returned home, and while Cindy showed Jack to the guest bedroom, I walked over to the closet to get something. I walked into the guest bedroom and handed Jack a baseball bat.

Don’t forget, there is only the front door. I will see you in the morning.

Here, Warren. Taking a manuscript from his suitcase, he handed it to me. I took it and headed off to bed.

When I got into bed, Cindy was reading. She set her book down and said,

What do you think?

I shook my head slightly. I am not sure yet. I don’t think Jack would have brought the manuscript if it had implicated the Moretti family. Signor Moretti wouldn’t have someone watching the house. He would have picked up Jack before he got here. So, whoever approached the house tonight better be careful. If Signor Moretti gets wind of an activity that will cause focus on his business areas, he will quickly end it. I will call him tomorrow and try to get a meeting. I opened the manuscript and began to read.

Chapter Two

The Book

I was sitting out on the terrace, having my morning coffee when Jack walked out with a cup of coffee and sat down.

Good morning, Warren.

Good morning. I read your manuscript last night. Nice job. I didn’t see anything that might concern Signor Moretti. You did make me a bit of a hero.

Warren, it was really you that broke up that espionage ring with the help of Marty.

Still, I don’t like that much notoriety.

Warren, you of all people should know you have to be careful hanging around with a writer. Especially a nonfiction writer working on a book. What’s the plan?

I will have my cousin contact Signor Moretti to let him know I have the manuscript for him. I will ask to meet him because of some complications with it, and I need his advice. So, until I hear back, we will just hang out here.

Jack, Cindy, and I had just sat out on the terrace to have a martini that afternoon when Gino, my cousin, started across the street. We all watched as he approached the house, and as he entered the yard, I stood and headed for the front door and opened it.

Buona Serra, Gino. Would you like to join us and have something to drink?

No, Grazie. I must get back. Maria and I are going to her mother’s for dinner. Signor Moretti says he will meet you tomorrow at noon in Milan. He says you know where. I nodded. Gino turned and started down the stairs.

I went back to the terrace, and all eyes watched and waited with anticipation. Then, as I sat back down, I said, I will meet with Signor Moretti tomorrow at lunch.

Where are we meeting him, Warren?

We’re not. I will go alone with Cindy. You need to stay put here until we know what’s going on.

Jack thought for a second, then nodded; he understood. At least let me buy dinner tonight up the street. I really enjoyed the food. It will be good to get out of the house for a while.

The following day, Cindy and I left early for Milan. We made our way through the village and onto the highway that would take us to the autostrada. We were both deep in our own thoughts when finally, Cindy broke the silence. Warren, do you think Signor Moretti’s family is involved somehow?

No.

Then why are we meeting him?

I had promised him Jack would give him a copy of the manuscript to look over before the book was published, and I want to keep things straight between us. I wouldn’t want Signor Moretti to think I can’t control the people I speak for. Besides, he might know who is involved.

Why didn’t Jack come? It’s his manuscript.

Two reasons. First, I didn’t want those following Jack to abduct him on the way to the meeting. Second, I will need your help when we get there. I told Jack in the beginning to write the book as fiction. All his books are nonfiction, but a book involving murders, espionage by the Chinese Government, and the FBI is still a great book if you fictionize it. You’re stepping on too many toes if you don’t.

What was he thinking?

First, the FBI would not allow printing until they approved the manuscript. Second, the more Jack implicated the Chinese, the better from the FBI’s point of view. They love exposing them. Jack was confident any danger from the Chinese would go away once the book was completed and printed. There would be nothing to gain, and it would only bring more attention to the book. Better to try to discredit the author. He didn’t count on being kidnaped and forced to sign documents and keep the book from being published.

The Chinese would do that?

Of course. This is a very complicated story implicating a myriad of organizations and people. Any one of them could have an ax to grind.

Cindy nodded and reached for the radio to put on some music.

After arriving in Milan, I pulled into valet parking at a central hotel near the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Cindy looked at me with an inquisitive look. It’s a three-block walk, Cindy. I don’t want to be followed downstairs into a parking garage.

We got out. As the attendant took the car, we went inside the hotel’s lobby. This is what we will do. I will go out a side entrance and to the meeting. After a few minutes, you go out of the front. The restaurant is in the Galleria next to Prada, Restaurant Rizzoli. Have lunch and keep watch for anyone watching the restaurant. I will be inside in a back dining room. After my meeting, I will join you for a coffee. Got it? She nodded and smiled. Cindy loves to be involved in the intrigue. I gave her a kiss and a smile and was off to my meeting.

I got to the restaurant just before noon and addressed the maitre d’. Please follow me, Mr. Steelgrave; the rest of your party is already here.

Following him, we went into and through the restaurant’s central part to a small private room in the back. Entering the room, I saw Gino, Moretti’s bodyguard, sitting near the door dressed as always in an impeccable dark suit. In the center of the well-appointed room was a dining room table for six with place settings for two. Signor Moretti was sitting at the head of the table, checking emails on his phone with a place setting to his left. My place to sit.

I sat and a waiter appeared from nowhere and asked for our drink orders. Signor Moretti ordered a glass of red wine, and I ordered a bourbon old-fashioned.

Shall we order first, Mr. Steelgrave?

I nodded as I looked over the menu. The waiter returned with our drinks to take our order in just a few minutes. We both ordered the Risotto, and as soon as the waiter left, I slid the manuscript over to Signor Moretti. Mr. Steelgrave, I will go through it and get back to you in a couple of days.

I sat there, taking a sip of my drink, thinking of the rehearsed words I had prepared. Jack Sullivan is being tailed and was almost abducted in America before coming to Italy. Do you have any knowledge of this?

No

Signor Moretti became intense, and his demeanor changed. He was waiting for more. His concern, as always, had to do with how this would impact his business.

I went on. Jack was keeping the book a secret until after publishing. His concern was the Chinese. If they knew the book’s content, they would want to stop him from writing and publishing it; he would be in danger. After printing, they would discredit the book. Harming him would only give it more credibility. But someone in the publisher’s office leaked news that the book was coming out and what it entailed. He was concerned the leak might have gotten back to you before you had a chance to read the manuscript and make changes if you want.

Signor Moretti was concerned, but harming Jack before making changes wouldn’t make sense. Our lunch came, and there was no conversation as we ate. Signor Moretti was in deep thought, carefully thinking through all I had said. Pushing his plate forward a little and leaning back, Signor Moretti picked up his glass of wine and said: Mr. Steelgrave, thank you for coming. Tell your friend it is not us following him. The art business is full of unsavory people. Some use it to launder money. Many are interested in keeping prices high for paint and paper called art. Anything like espionage would take away the magic of art and the high prices. Many people might want to harm him.

He stood, signaling the meeting was over. I stood and thanked him for seeing me and said I looked forward to his thoughts on the manuscript. I walked into the central part of the restaurant and saw Cindy sitting near the front. I pulled out a chair and sat down.

How was your lunch, Cindy?

Great, and your meeting?

It went well. I will explain over martinis with Jack on our return home. See anything unusual?

Not a thing, Warren.

We had coffee and left for home.

Chapter Three

Approval

We got to the house just before five o’clock. We went into the house, and the evening ritual began. I walked to the small bar to start martinis and Cindy to the kitchen to prepare a plate of cheese and prosciutto, coppa, and pancetta. Jack walked in from the terrace. Would you like a martini, Jack?

Absolutely. How did it go today?

It went great. Here take one of these drinks, and let’s get settled on the terrace, and I will give you, my thoughts.

When we were all settled on the terrace, I began: Signor Moretti was pleased to get the manuscript. It isn’t his men tailing you. He hadn’t heard about the leak. You would never have gotten here if he was upset about the book; however, he was very concerned about you being followed.

What did he say, Warren?

"It’s not what he said, Jack. It’s what he didn’t say. Signor Moretti never shows his cards. After I explained the situation, our lunch came. All through lunch, not a word. He was in deep thought, and I could tell he was formulating a plan. He pushed his plate away, stood, and thanked me for coming. The meeting was over.

What’s your thoughts, Warren?

"Knowing him like I do, he is concerned. If something happens to you in Italy, it will