The Gino Gambona Matter

Originally Aired: November 3, 1953Johnny Dollar #187, "The Gino Gambona Matter,"Johnny Dollar is hired by an insurance company to investigate the murder of Barney Rico, a former racketeer who went straight seven years ago and built a successful chain of barbershops. Rico's death is particularly suspicious because he was the man whose testimony sent mob boss Gino Gambona back to Sicily. Lieutenant Briggs fills Dollar in on the details, noting that Gambona threatened revenge at the trial. The case seems straightforward until Dollar visits Rico's main barbershop and discovers Dave Rico, Barney's brother, fatally stabbed. With his dying breath, Dave names Gambona as his killer, which seems impossible since Gambona is supposedly still in Sicily.Dollar begins investigating Gambona's former associates still in New York, including Virginia Barrett, a singer who was once romantically involved with the mob boss. As Briggs cables authorities in Sicily to confirm Gambona's whereabouts, Dollar heads to the Pirates Den nightclub on East 34th Street to track down Virginia. The question remains: is Gambona somehow back in town seeking revenge, or is someone else eliminating the Rico brothers while hiding behind the gangster's fearsome reputation?