Episode Two

In the aftermath of the shooting, Tony becomes convinced Destiny was involved with drug dealers. Lisa brings in her ex, Stevie Savage, a former crook turned lawyer, and together the motley crew tracks down a dealer who might know something about Destiny, only to wind up with a murderer in their backseat.

The novel this series is based on has been published and is available on Amazon, here: https://www.amazon.com/Red-Meat-Village-Crime-Thriller/dp/B0DYP2DRJ5/ref=sr_1_1?crid=XXR35BASP3U7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Uj7dmdgVs7md8Qt3597vMQ.1KGFa38PJMCP5InjoiKJ0D9YJ086g80ajz6Sfh_fGyU&dib_tag=se&keywords=tris+power+red+meat+village&qid=1742329315&s=books&sprefix=tris+power+red+meat+village+%2Cstripbooks%2C83&sr=1-1

Red Meat Village is a production of Voyage Media. The series is produced by Nat Mundel, Robert Mitas, and Dan Benamor. Directed, produced and adapted by Dan Benamor, based on Andrew Bernstein’s upcoming novel of the same name.

Starring Ryan Heppe as Tony, Catherine Bell as Lisa, Malik Yoba as Reggie, Rachel Pate as Monjurrie, Abel Soto as Cortez, Kareem Ferguson as Chill, Luca Malacrino as Stevie, and Tracey Leigh as Destiny. Edited, sound designed, and mixed by Nick Messitte. Original music by Derlis Gonzalez.

If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a five star review in Apple Podcasts or anywhere you’re listening and subscribe now for future episodes.

Episode Transcript

(00:01):
Voyage meet Village fullegee. I satacross from Tony heart racing, trying not

(00:21):
to think about what I'd put intomotion and what he'd think if he knew
the truth. She's dead. Threeslugs in the chests tend to do that
to people, She said, maybedestiny herself. Does that make any sense
to you? I looked Tony deadin his eyes and lied to his face.
No, Reggie searched this heavy shoppingbag Monserie carried. She had cash,

(00:44):
lots of it. There were threemore bags of its stowed in a
bedroom closet, tens of thousands,easy drug money. Did you call the
police? I saw the sunrise outthe seven three precinct window. Tony's bleary
eyes affirmed his story. I knewTony had many personal relationships law enforcement.
If he hadn't, he likely wouldn'tbe sitting here. Did I ever tell
you my real name? No?You never told me, squat, But

(01:07):
I looked you up. Tony smiled. That shows a definite attraction to your
future man. Interest in I noticedyou didn't deny your future man pot Keep
dreaming, big boy, I've gotmy man. You don't want to be
missus Manitopolis, our Terro Manitopolis.Can't imagine why you changed it. I

(01:27):
shouldn't have. Greeks are the greatphilosophers. Oh, of course, Plato,
Aristotle you everyone knows that, andyou're still Greek. Born in Astoria,
family moved to Brooklyn when you werethree years old, went to the
public schools, graduated high school atseventeen, worked at a fast food dump

(01:49):
at eighteen, legally changed your nameand enlisted in the US Army. Yeah,
I thought it had toughened me up. Tony was no pushover, but
he was soft in some ways.I found myself wondering if he would still
be so enamored at me if heknew who I really was. You think
Destiny has handled up with drug dealersone way or another. Victim perpetrator,
both gonna find out. Did shehave a best friend, a boyfriend?

(02:15):
People she runs with, sure,but no one that seems like they'd have
anything to do with this. Howabout a white guy, tall, lean,
well groomed. Now where does thatdescription come from? I showed a
picture around the neighborhood. Brian Rogers, You're kidding, Chair of the psych
department. Tony wrote his name downon a small pad. He always carried

(02:36):
former chair. He's the one thathired me. What was she doing with
him discussing psychology? I presume he'sa brilliant teacher. So where'd you see
him in the hall outside Brian's classroom. There was a semester when I'd be
hurrying from my practice to class andthey'd be talking after his class ended.
You stopped and chatted many times.Yeah, briefly I had to get to

(02:59):
class. Did they say to eachother? I was just saying hi,
I told us Sinacier tomorrow, excitingstuff like that. They didn't say anything
to each other. His eyes hardenedas he stared at me, scrutinizing my
demeanor, my tone, my bodylanguage. But he didn't know anything.
Really, what would happen when hedid? He would never forgive me.

(03:19):
I wanted to tell him everything.I wanted to tell him how this all
started and my part in it,but the words wouldn't come out of my
mouth. No, I was justthere for a second. They said hi
to me. No one else comesto mind that I should look at Taylor
McAdams. You just remember that.Yes, I was sick to my stomach.
I just needed him to find destiny, not learned her life story,

(03:42):
but he wouldn't stop. So who'sTaylor McAdams? A student? Smart,
pretty, foul mouth, troubled criminalfamily. Oh nice recommendation. What about
it? They were in my classtogether A number of times. I saw
them speak after class. I don'tknow that's okay. I'll find that.
You'll need me to identify her.What I need is for you to tell
me the truth. He was smartenough to know something was wrong. A

(04:06):
second I told him what I haddone, he'd be gone, and no
one else was good enough to finddestiny and kind enough to want to You
got something to say, say it. Let me help you. I'll go
home and change pick you up frontentrance in forty minutes, time enough for
me to get Reggie. Hi,Reggie, you can push the seat all

(04:30):
the way back. Reggie was sixto five, two hundred and forty pounds.
I remembered from the announcer at oneof his boxing matches. My car
was of average size. Reggie madeit look like a clown car. I
put the car in drying. Whoare we pursuing Taylor McAdams? Enlighten me,
Lisa. She's a student at BrooklynUniversity knows Destiny has a brother inside

(04:56):
for armed robbery, and the restis just rumor? What is the rumor?
Father abandoned the kids, mother hasa drug problem. You seem to
know a hell of a lot aboutthis kid. Now hear stuff from Brian.
You know where she lives. Guesswhere we're going. We made the
lights and got there fast, slowlywe slid past the address. A wooden
fence devoid of one thirded slats saggedaround the property. Trash bags and junk,

(05:20):
rusted appliance sat forlornly outside of thefence. An uncut grass grew in
the front yard, and thin andirregular like weeds. The house was a
brown bungalow with paint peeling off itsside facade. A distinct smell of slow
rot was in the air. Whata lovely vacation, spy fun for the

(05:41):
whole white trash family. We circledthe block and parked across the street.
Who's knocking on the door? Nobody? We watch and wait why? Because
a family like that, she's morelikely to lead us to persons of interest
than tell us, Tony, youhave a magnet for zimbray. You would
have made a great professor. Wewaited. It was past six thirty,

(06:06):
it had been a cloudy day,and it was dark. Lights were on
in the bungalow. At eight o'clock, a middle aged woman came out.
She was painfully thin, with reddishhair going gray. She wore a shapeless
coat over what looked like a robe. The dog she walked with some kind
of terrier who looked healthier than her, and who barked at anything that moved.

(06:29):
She went back inside, and wewaited for long minutes. Nothing moved
on the block. Reggie looked forlornlyout the window. Detective work is too
exciting for most people. Fortunately,I can stand the stray. Nine o'clock
came and went, and then ninetyscrawny cat nosed through the mcadam's garbage bags.

(06:53):
The front door opened. There sheis Taylor, a slender redhead maybe
twenty one, stepped through the door. She wore a denim jacket and jeans.
Her hair was up in a bun. She carried a large cloth shopping
bag. She turned left out ofher house in the opposite direction from us,
walked three doors down, got intoa battered brown sedan and fired up.

(07:15):
She pulled away from the curb.Her left tail light was out.
I let her reach the corner andtook off after her. We rolled out
as Taylor left turned onto the avenue. A game Taylor's zigzag through traffic and
we followed two or three cars back. The missing tail light made her easy
to follow. She's going up tothat dive on the creek opens onto Jamaica

(07:36):
Bay, point of mariners, water, rats, drunks, and local tufts.
It's pretty clannished, so they're nowwelcoming of outsiders. It's avoided by
cops who let the folks inside resolvetheir own disputes, often with knives and
brass knuttles. What a perfect spotfor a nightcap. Taylor is going there
for the ambia. A working girlwould be my guess. We eased into

(08:01):
the gravel parking lot at the bar. The dump sat partly on solid ground
and partly on pilings built into thebrackish creek. The smell of tar rotting
pilings dead fish filled the air.With the cold march breeze delivered a fresher
scent off the ocean a mere severalmiles away across the widened bay. The

(08:22):
bar's gruffled exterior almost seemed welcoming.Reggie pulled his knit cap low over his
forehead and donned the aviators and hunkereddown like he was six inches shorter.
We crossed the lot and Reggie andTony stopped inside. I waited for them
outside. I checked the slim lineautomatic pistol in my jacket. Tony and

(08:46):
Reggie didn't know I was carrying.To be fair, they didn't ask.
I knew Tony would learn the trutheventually. I just hoped he'd find destiny
before then. I knew this wasthe kind of bar where I wouldn't even

(09:07):
on the person with the gun.I meant Tony needed my help, don't.
I pointed my pistol at the bouncer'schest. He had a hand in
his jacket going for a gun.Another local had clearly come to Taylor's defense
and stood half cocked over Tony,who looked like he'd already taken a couple

(09:30):
of punches to the face. Ifelt pride and shame at the fact that
my hands, as always in situationslike this, were completely steady. Slowly
your hand out of the jacket,or the last thing you see is his
dirty floor with a relaxed smile.The hunk of muscle did as he was
told. He held his hands inthe air. Boys, it might be
time to leave. Tony gesture tothe owner posted up at the end of

(09:54):
the bar. Nice place. I'llbe sure to recommend him. Reggie and
Tony advanced to the door. Lovelyto see you again, Taylor. I
smiled at Taylor. Taylor looked readyto hurl an avalanche of the sadies,
but didn't say a word. Westepped outside into the cold air. I
still held the gun in my righthand. With my left I took Tony's

(10:15):
arm. You sure know how tomake a girl feel special. I noticed
a bruise on his cheek starting toform where he got punched by the local
tough Tony. I'm thinking it wouldbe best if we decant. I gave
Reggie my keys. He got behindthe wheel, Tony and I got in
the back. Reggie roared out ofa lot. My hands probed Tony's face
gently for a break. We needice on this. It's just a bruise,

(10:39):
Honny, I'm fine. And therear view Reggie spotted my hands on
Tony's cheek. All in all,I think Tony should be thanking the goon
that swattered them. Who's next,Let's get home. Champ five am arrives
quickly, too quickly from my sparingpartners. Why do any of them get
in the ring with you? Theyheavily armor, heavily pay. Oh,
I must learn stuff. I meanthey learned his best to dub. After

(11:03):
a moment of genial silence, Reggiegot serious. That wasn't a college football
washout. Balancing at that bar.I could tell by the way he carried
himself. Former military probably specializes forsomebody Russia. How do you know he
was Russian? First? The accentwas Russian. He talked before you came
in my intelligence outfit on leave,A few of us spent ten days of

(11:26):
Russian, talked to a lot ofRussians, spoke English. Second, did
you notice the tat on his neck? No, I was looking at his
hands. Wise, Champ looked likea wolf. It was emblem of the
Killer Wolves, an elite outfit ofthe Specs. Not actually they're a biker
gang, but they have former commandomembers. The way he carried himself,

(11:48):
you're right, and his calm whenLisa had him seconds from death, He's
seen combat, lots of it anddesperate struggles of that former commando for sure.
What's he doing here? How manyworking girls can't be Jesse Taylor?
There must be more in the backrooms, or they work different shifts or
nights, so it's a big timeoperation. Different dives and dumps all the

(12:09):
way from Coney Island to the Queen'sLine, probably skirting the line of the
bay. Our friend wasn't the bouncer. He's the local sales manager, would
be my guess, making the roundson a weeknight. We were lucky enough
to hit the joint when he wasthere. He's not the brains of the
outfit, just the chief muscle.Who's he working for? Russian mafia?

(12:31):
Without a doubt? We were quiet. All we could hear was the thrumb
of the tires as Reggie drove.Who wants bitch enemies? Anyway? My
Upper west Side lady, you havea hell of a way with words.
You're forgetting my teenage years. Willyou handle a gun? I won't forget
it again. We approached Reggie's apartment, Who's added a light a block and

(12:54):
a half from Reggie's building in therear view. He caught my eyes,
Lisas there's some connection between Taylor andDestiny. They know each other from my
course, nothing more, Tony,what do you think? Nothing more?
Destiny hooked up with drugs, Taylorwith prostitution, Destiny with the cartel,

(13:16):
Taylor with the Russian mafia. Theydon't responding. Some gangs is dabbling both.
Muldoon had an Irish mob in Hell'skitchen. Certainly does true, but
the Irish mob is diversified in differentbusinesses. The cartel specializes one product and
they do it superbly. We pulledup in front of Reggie's building. Reggie

(13:37):
left it running and leaned back overthe driver's seat. What is Destiny is
moonlighting for the Russians? Too dangerous? She disappeared. Reggie looked carefully at
Tony and I Tony she did.Tony had no response. I had no
response. I dared say aloud.Reggie eases through the narrow door and out

(14:01):
onto the sidewalk. It rained.I drove Tony into his place. So
Taylor can't help us on this case. Probably not, but we'll circle back
to her later. Meantime, I'llfollow up the lead. I'm sorry I
let you in a false direction.I truly was sorry. Sometimes you stumbled
down a blind alley and get punchedin the face. But I'm glad you

(14:24):
were hid to night, Lisa,I'm glad I was too. Tony took
my right hand in his. Ididn't resist and drove with my left.
Would you learn to handle a gunlike that? Where was in Hell's kitchen?
The real question is from home,okay, from whom Stevie Savage?
Who my first love? I wasseventeen hearing that he released my hand?

(14:48):
Who was he drug dealer in Hell'skitchen? Yes? So how did the
megabright kid it would grow up tobe a PhD in psychology and an expert
psycho therapist get tangled up with streetthugs and drug dealers? My parents had
met at your all, the modernTony At Princeton, I was an only

(15:09):
child. I was sent to NewYork City's most exclusive prep schools. Expectations
were high, pressure, remorseless.I did very well until I got sick
of it, you rebel. Iwas sixteen, seventeen at planned, I'm
going to Stanford, maybe Harvard.I had the grades to get in,
we valedictorian, all that stuff,and then I just didn't care what you

(15:33):
do. I had undo a lotof fights. My teacher on the Upper
west Side. Tell my parents therewas a devil inside me. If there
was, I was born with it. My parents gave me far too much
love to be responsible for it.I played basketball all the time in Riverside
Park near my house. They're badboys were there. Their leader, tall,

(15:54):
lean man, big knuckled hands.Showed me a fifty bag of blow
in his pocket. He had darkeyes, dark blonde hair. Stevie Savage.
We smoked dope. He introduced meto blow. We did the West
Side clubs. We stayed out allnight. Love blossoms among the drug dealers.

(16:15):
I eventually came to my senses.How long did that day? Three?
Maybe four years? Stevie and I. Stevie Savage, that his name.
He was twenty one when I methim. Was hooked in with the
Irish mob. In Hell's Kitchen.Terrence Muldoon's crowd bought off rival thugs,
brutally packed a brace of forty fivesand twin shoulder holsters under windbreaker or leather

(16:37):
jacket. They were not for show. Believe me, Stevie Savage today,
bone Yard or the joint. He'sa lawyer, silly Steven Savage dealing put
him through Fordham Law. He's ahot shot, some big firm in the
city. So what happened between thetwo of you? Yeah, it's never
gonna last forever. I'd always knownit. Stevie two A couple of years

(16:59):
my next birthday, it would bemy twenty first. There was time I
pulled in across the road from Tony'swalk in apartment. I reached my right
hand across the seat and took Tony'snear remind me of him. After that,
I didn't move, I didn't speak, neither did he. His hand

(17:21):
was still in mind. Lisa,how are things with Nikki? I mean
really not good. You're sleeping inseparate bedrooms. Yeah, for several years,
he said, my other hand andgently pulled me to him. He
kissed me. I responded for amoment, but only a moment. Tony.

(17:41):
I can't soon, Lisa, We'llwaste in our lives. You need
sleep. How will you find Destiny? Oh? Reggie and I asked around
at Betsy Head Park. We thinka guy there, Blaze, knows what
Destiny and Monsourie were up to.Basically, we're going to kidnap a drug
dealer and beat him for nation outof him. O fun, Can I

(18:02):
help sure? Bring Stevie Savage inhis brace of forty five's Tony was joking,
but I did bring Stevie. Wepicked him up the next night in
front of his building heln drugs basTony admired the Doorman building and the unscaled
of cord. So there's lawyerer.Stevie shook Tony's hand. He had a

(18:26):
double make care smile. He wasin his mid forties but looked thirty.
He was tall and lean as aray pier, taller than Tony, which
Tony seemed annoyed by. He hadmischief etched in his eyes. He wore
a black turtleneck, battered brown leatherjacket, black jeans, and dark running
shoes. He looked ready to commanda squadron of US Navy fighter jets.

(18:48):
All he needed was the scarf.I jumped into his arms. Tony turned
away. I didn't do it tomake Tony jealous. Steve and I had
history. Stevie recognized Reggie Reggie hr D. I've seen you fight at
the garden, but I ain't checkJames Bonk crushes Smith three times in the

(19:10):
second round. He was tough,but not tough enough. Well, I
SHO, didn't know your champ.We headed to betsy Head Park. The
dealer we were after Blaze had adiamond chain in the shape of a crowd.
I pulled my slim line automatic cystolout of my jacket. We spread
out and stalked through the park.The avenue was to avoid a foot traffic

(19:32):
and just a loose crew of dealerschatting. A dark suv approach from the
opposite direction. It's passenger side windowrolled down an A R fifteen thrust through
the open window, and for aflash of time, everything came to a
standstill, and then with a gratingroar, the auto cut loose, spitting
naked steel at the dealers. Ihit the deck, my chin, scraping

(19:56):
pavement, stunning me. The ARfifteen hit its tar. I get the
blaze so much for our source.Multiple slugs tore his chest, spinning him,
driving him backward, hurtling him tothe cold sidewalk, where he lay
on his back unmoving. I huggedthe ground, hands around my head,
and then the suv picked up speedand the thunderous noise ceased. I crawled

(20:19):
toward blaze. Reggie was already crouchedby his side. Reggie shook his head,
he's gone. From behind me.I heard the roar of a heavy
handgun firing multiple shots at the rearof the accelerating death car on the ground.
I whirled Stevie Savage crouched on oneknee, held a heavy forty five
and two hands, and pumped roundafter round into the vehicle's tires. Tires

(20:41):
burst with an explosive snap. Thesuv careened wildly, skid past my car,
slammed at high speed into a parkedvehicle two cars in front. I
was on my feet, racing towardsStevie. The driver of the death car
was thrown clear the impact with theground on his back with a sickening thud,
and lay still. The day's shooterstaggered from the vehicle, still clutching

(21:03):
the ar but down by his side. He struggled to stand upright. I
was five feet away. I heldmy pistol lined up on his chest in
a two handed grip, drop it. The ar cladded to the ground.
The shooter leaned against the car,steadying himself When he looked up and focused,
he raised his hands in surrender.He took a step forward, and

(21:25):
then he swung a wild right handat my head. I ducked under him
and came up swinging. I laidthe barrel of my pistol hard across his
temple. He fell back against thewrecked car and slid down its surface to
the asphalt. Rachel came up tome. He reached down and hoisted the
unconscious shooter to his feet. FormStevie and Tony conferred over the driver's body.

(21:48):
Driver is not gonna make you.Lights were starting to come on in
the surrounding buildings. Tony strode aroundthe vehicle, get him in the call
let's get the hell out of here. We stuffed the shooter in the back
between Reggie and Stevie, fired up, angled out, and searched on to
the avenue. Stevie was talking tothe nine one one dispatcher by Betsy had
need mt quickly. Yeah, I'llbe here. My name Errol Flynn.

(22:15):
We drove off, certainly having committedmultiple felonies. The murderer in the backseat.
It might be our best shot atfinding destiny. Redmead Village is a
production of Voyage Media. The seriesis produced by Nat Mondel, Robert Midas,

(22:37):
and Dan Bennamore, directed, produced, and adapted by Dan Bennimore,
based on Andrew Bernstein's upcoming novel atthe same name. When a link to
the novel is available, it willbe listed in the show notes. Starring
Catherine Bell as Lisa, Malik Yobaas Reggie, and Ryan Heavy as Tony.
Additional cast credits are available in shownotes. Edited sound design and mixed

(22:59):
by Nick Missi, original music byDerlas Gonzalez. If you're enjoying the show,
please leave us a five star reviewand Apple Podcasts or anywhere you're listening,
and subscribe now for future episodes.