Chapter 14: Roach RacesCHAPTER 14
ROACH RACES
Wilmington—19 Years Ago
It was an early morning meeting and everyone was there: Tony, Frankie, Mick, Paulie and me. Tony recruited Paulie because we needed extra help. I wouldn’t go so far as to call Paulie stupid, but Tony manipulated him like Gepetto did Pinocchio.
I got everyone’s attention then laid out the plan. “We do it just like the track. We’ll make odds and take bets.”
“People in this neighborhood will bet on anything,” Tony said.
Bugs lit a cigarette and handed one to Mick. “Yeah, Shoes and Patsy bet on what color gum balls come out of the machine—twenty bucks a pop.”
“Who’s gonna catch the roaches?” Mick asked.
“Bugs is—who do you think?” I said.
Five minutes later, Bugs headed down to DiNardo’s basement with a jar. He was
