“The Godfather” By Mario Puzo 255
he must implicate the police captain in narcotics. Then the waiter at the Luna Restaurant
must be persuaded to identify Felix Bocchiochio as the murderer. This would take some
courage, as the description would change radically, Felix Bocchicchio being much
shorter and heavier. But Don Corleone would attend to that. Also since the condemned
man had been a great believer in higher education and a college graduate, he would
want his children to go to college. And so a sum of money would have to be paid by Don
Corleone that would take care of the children’s college. Then the Bocchicchio clan had
to be reassured that there was no hope for clemency on the original murders. The new
confession of course would seal the man’s already almost certain doom.
Everything was arranged, the money paid and suitable contact made with the
condemned man so that he could be instructed and advised. Finally the plan was
sprung and the confession made headlines in all the newspapers. The whole thing was
a huge success. But Don Corkone, cautious as always, waited until Felix Bocchicchio
was actually executed four months later before finally giving the command that Michael
Corleone could return home.
Chapter 22 Lucy Mancini, a year after Sonny’s death, still missed him terribly, grieved for him more
fiercely than any lover in any romance. And her dreams were not the insipid dreams of a
schoolgirl, her longings not the longings of a devoted wife. She was not rendered
desolate by the loss of her “life’s companion,” or miss him because of his stalwart
character. She held no fond remembrances of sentimental gifts, of girlish hero worship,
his smile, the amused glint of his eyes when she said something endearing or witty.
No. She missed him for the more important reason that he had been the only man in the
world who could make her body achieve the act of love. And, in her youth and
innocence, she still believed that he was the only man who could possibly do so.
Now a year later she sunned herself in the balmy Nevada air. At her feet the slender,
blond young man was playing with her toes. They were at the side of the hotel pool for
the Sunday afternoon and despite the people all around them his hand was sliding up
her bare thigh.
“Oh, Jules, stop,” Lucy said. “I thought doctors at least weren’t as silly as other men.”
Jules grinned at her. “I’m a Las Vegas doctor.” He tickled the inside of her thigh and was
amazed how just a little thing like that could excite her so powerfully. It showed on her
face though she tried to hide it. She was really a very primitive, innocent girl. Then why