Michael Marra

Author Michael Marra grew up in New York City. His family were Italian immigrants and some had ties to organized crime. In High School he was recruited to work as a Special Operative. This required a lot of testing and training but young "Luca" was up to the task. The objective was to get heroin off of the streets of New York. He refused any official position because he already knew that much of the corruption stemmed from law enforcement. He therefore worked as what was referred to as a Ghost.

The reality was that the Attorney General and two Senators knew of this secret operation long before any other individual was successful at doing something like this. Knowing where to gather information and where the biggest operations were running Luca weaved his way into a life where he had to adapt to a given role at a moments notice.

He was a big man at six feet tall and almost two hundred pounds but he was skilled in fighting that included boxing, wrestling, forms of martial arts but most importantly, street fighting. Early on he was taught, "you lose, you die." With a memory that was pretty much eidetic it allowed him an advantage few possessed.

When information was obtained the first and most trusted man in his life was a Capo in an organized crime family. It was made known that Luca was a Made Man which offered him a shield of protection from others.

Living in Greenwich Village lends an eclectic insight to a world that was rapidly evolving. Anti-establishment fervor was at its height and revolution was in the air.

Walking a fine line between the Clergy, Organized Crime. Politicians and corruption was an often times brutal balancing act.

This is a brutal and graphic account of the times with difficult language and racial slurs because that is the way people spoke. It would be a dishonor to not tell this story as it unfolded.

Beneath all of the horror and violence there is a tender love story.

There was a time when I did not believe in Ghosts, but now all I need is a mirror to see one.