Swimming to Catalina

use his influence in the company to prevent such an action, if he could count on me for other work.”
    “What other work?”
    “He made an appointment for me to see Mr. Onofrio Ippolito the following day. At Mr. Ippolito’s office at Safe Harbor Bank I was searched for weapons and recording devices, then I met with Mr. Ippolito alone.”
    “What was the substance of that meeting?”
    “He first told me that he had evidence, in the form of witnesses, that I had participated in illegal actions when I was a police officer.”
    “What actions?”
    “He said he had witnesses who could testify that Ihad accepted bribes from members of organized crime.”
    “Had you accepted such bribes?”
    “Yes.”
    “Then what transpired?”
    “Mr. Ippolito said that he had a use for me, and that if I did as he asked I would become rich beyond my wildest dreams. He said he had business plans that would increase the value of my Albacore stock by a factor of fifty, perhaps a hundred, and that if I served him well, I would be allowed to buy more stock at favorable prices. He also offered me a salary of two hundred thousand dollars a year in cash, tax free, and said that I could continue to collect my salary at Centurion.”
    “Did you accept his proposal?”
    “Yes, I did.”
    “What work did you do for Mr. Ippolito?”
    “I searched the employee files at Centurion and made a list of all stockholders and gave it to Mr. Sturmack. I transported large sums of cash from a Mr. Martin Barone to the offices of Albacore, which are on the floor below Mr. Ippolito’s office in the Safe Harbor building. I did many other routine jobs for Mr. Ippolito, including the disciplining of a loan shark who reported to Mr. Barone.”
    “What was his name?”
    “Ralph DiOrio.”
    “How did you discipline him?”
    “I beat him into unconsciousness with a black-jack.”
    “Did Mr. Ippolito ask you to commit any other violent crimes?”
    “Yes, he ordered me to arrange three murders.”
    “Did you do so?”

    “Yes.”
    “Who were the victims?”
    “The first was Mr. Stone Barrington, who I now realize escaped death.”
    “And who carried out the attempt on Mr. Barrington’s life?”
    “Vincent Mancuso and Manolo Lobianco.”
    “Did Mr. Ippolito subsequently learn that Mr. Barrington had escaped death?”
    “Not to my knowledge.”
    “Who were the other two murder victims?”
    “Vincent Mancuso and Manolo Lobianco.”
    “Why were they murdered?”
    “They had been arrested on other charges, and Mr. Ippolito was concerned that they might connect him to Mr. Barrington’s death.”
    “Who carried out these two murders?”
    “Thomas Cosenza and Joseph Zito.”
    “How were they murdered?”
    “On Mr. Ippolito’s specific instructions, they were shot in the head and dumped into the Pacific Ocean with weights attached.”
    Rick wrote something on a piece of paper and showed it to O’Hara. “I show you a name; is this a name you recognize?”
    “Yes.”
    “For the purposes of this interview, you will refer to this person as Mr. X.”
    “All right.”
    “Did anyone ask you to do anything with regard to Mr. X?”
    “Yes. Mr. Ippolito instructed me to have the wife of Mr. X kidnapped and held until I received further instructions from him.”

    “Did you do so?”
    “Yes.”
    “Who conducted the kidnapping?”
    “Vincent Mancuso and Manolo Lobianco.”
    “Where was she taken?”
    “She was moved daily from one location to another.”
    “Did Mr. Ippolito ask you to contact Mr. X to arrange the return of his wife?”
    “No, I believe others did that.”
    “Do you know who?”
    “Other employees of Mr. Ippolito. I don’t know their names.”
    “Did Mr. Ippolito ask you to do anything else with regard to the kidnapping of Mrs. X?”
    “When Mr. Regenstein asked me to help in the recovery of Mrs. X, I told Mr. Ippolito. He instructed me to pretend to help Mr. X, but to report all communications to him or Mr. Sturmack.”
    “Was Mr. Sturmack involved in the kidnapping?”
    “He was aware of it.”
    “What was the purpose of the kidnapping?”
    “To persuade Mr. X to sell to Albacore his stock in Centurion Studios. Mr. X is a large stockholder.”
    “Was there any other purpose?”
    “I believe Mr. Ippolito wanted Mr. X to participate in other of his business activities, but I am not familiar with those.”
    “I ask you again, Mr. O’Hara, have you given this interview without duress, and with only the seeking of