The Godfather

 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
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as they were making up a list of men to be killed. 
When Sonny hung up the phone he said to Theresa Hagen and Michael, “Can you two 
wait outside? I got some business with Tessio we have to finish.” 
Hagen’s wife said, “Was that call about Tom?” She said it almost truculently but she was 
weeping with fright. Sonny put his arm around her and led her to the door. “I swear he’s 
going to be OK,” he said. “Wait in the living room. I’ll come out as soon as I hear 
something.” He shut the door behind her. Michael had sat down in one of the big leather 
armchairs. Sonny gave him a quick sharp look and then went to sit down behind the 
desk. 
“You hang around me, Mike,” he said, “you’re gonna hear things you don’t wanta hear.” 
Michael lit a cigarette. “I can help out,” he said. 
“No, you can’t,” Sonny said. “The old man would be sore as hell if I let you get mixed up 
in this.” 
Michael stood up and yelled. “You lousy bastard, he’s my father. I’m not supposed to 
help him? I can help. I don’t have to go out and kill people but I can help. Stop treating 
me like a kid brother. I was in the war. I got shot, remember? I killed some Japs. What 
the hell do you think I’ll do when you knock somebody off? Faint?” 
Sonny grinned at him. “Pretty soon you’ll want me to put up my dukes. OK, stick around, 
you can handle the phone.” He turned to Tessio. “That call I just got gave me dope we 
needed.” Hd turned to Michael. “Somebody had to finger the old man. It could have 
been Clemenza, it could have been Paulie Gatto, who was very conveniently sick today. 
I know the answer now, let’s see how smart you are, Mike, you’re the college boy. Who 
sold out to Sollozzo?” 
Michael sat down again and relaxed back into the leather armchair. He thought 
everything over very carefully. Clemenza was a caporegime in the Corleone Family 
structure. Don Corleone had made him a millionaire and they had been intimate friends 
for over twenty years. He held one of the most powerful posts in the organization. What 
could Clemenza gain for betraying his Don? More money? He was rich enough but then 
men are always greedy. More power? Revenge for some fancied insult or slight? That 
Hagen had been made the Consigliere? Or perhaps a businessman’s conviction that 
Sollozzo would win out? No, it was impossible for Clemenza to be a traitor, and then 
Michael thought sadly it was only impossible because he didn’t want Clemenza to die. 
The fat man had always brought him gifts when he was growing up, had sometimes 

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