The Godfather

 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
65
“Sure,” Sonny said. “And as soon as Luca Brasi checks in they’re gonna be dead meat. 
We still have all the horses.” 
“I’ll be out in a hour,” Mike said. “In a cab.” He hung up. The papers had been on the 
streets for over three hours. There must have been radio news reports. It was almost 
impossible that Luca hadn’t heard the news. Thoughtfully Michael pondered the 
question. Where was Luca Brasi? It was the same question that Hagen was asking 
himself at that moment. It was the same question that was worrying Sonny Corleone out 
in Long Beach. 
* * *
At a quarter to five that afternoon, Don Corleone had finished checking the papers the 
office manager of his olive oil company had prepared for him. He put on his jacket and 
rapped his knuckles on his son Freddie’s head to make him take his nose out of the 
afternoon newspaper. “Tell Gatto to get the car from the lot,” he said. “I’ll be ready to go 
home in a few minutes.” 
Freddie grunted. “I’ll have to get it myself. Paulie called in sick this morning. Got a cold 
again.” 
Don Corleone looked thoughtful for a moment. “That’s the third time this month. I think 
maybe you’d better get a healthier fellow for this job. Tell Tom.” 
Fred protested. “Paulie’s a good kid. If he says he’s sick, he’s sick. I don’t mind getting 
the car.” He left the office. Don Corleone watched out the window as his son crossed 
Ninth Avenue to the parking lot. He stopped to call Hagen’s office but there was no 
answer. He called the house at Long Beach but again there was no answer. Irritated, he 
looked out the window. His car was parked at the curb in front of his building. Freddie 
was leaning against the fender, arms folded, watching the throng of Christmas 
shoppers. Don Corleone put on his jacket. The office manager helped him with his 
overcoat. Don Corleone grunted his thanks and went out the door and started down the 
two flights of steps. 
Out in the street the early winter light was failing. Freddie leaned casually against the 
fender of the heavy Buick. When he saw his father come out of the building Freddie 
went out into the street to the driver’s side of the car and got in. Don Corleone was 
about to get in on the sidewalk side of the car when he hesitated and then turned back 
to the long open fruit stand near the corner. This had been his habit lately, he loved the 
big out-of-season fruits, yellow peaches and oranges, that glowed in their green boxes. 

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