The Godfather

 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
196
be able to give us a lead.” 
Kay said coldly, “I don’t believe a word of it.” But she felt a bit sick knowing the part 
about Mike getting his jaw broken must be true. Not that that would make Mike commit 
murder. 
“Will you let us know if Mike contacts you?” Phillips asked. 
Kay shook her head. The other detective, Siriani, said roughly, “We know you two have 
been shacking up together. We have the hotel records and witnesses. If we let that 
information slip to the newspapers your father and mother would feel pretty lousy. Real 
respectable people like them wouldn’t think much of a daughter shacking up with a 
gangster. If you don’t come clean right now I’ll call your old man in here and give it to 
him straight.” 
Kay looked at him with astonishment. Then she got up and went to the door of the study 
and opened it. She could see her father standing at the living-room window, sucking at 
his pipe. She called out, “Dad, can you join us?” He turned, smiled at her, and walked to 
the study. When he came through the door he put his arm around his daughter’s waist 
and faced the detectives and said, “Yes, gentlemen?” 
When they didn’t answer, Kay said coolly to Detective Siriani, “Give it to him straight, 
officer.” 
Siriani flushed. “Mr. Adams, I’m telling you this for your daughter’s good. She is mixed 
up with a hoodlum we have reason to believe committed a murder on a police officer. 
I’m just telling her she can get into serious trouble unless she cooperates with us. But 
she doesn’t seem to realize how serious this whole matter is. Maybe you can talk to 
her.” 
“That is quite incredible,” Mr. Adams said politely. 
Siriani jutted his jaw. “Your daughter and Michael Corleone have been going out 
together for over a year. They have stayed overnight in hotels together registered as 
man and wife. Michael Corleone is wanted for questioning in the murder of a police 
officer. Your daughter refuses to give us any information that may help us. Those are 
the facts. You can call them incredible but I can back everything up.” 
“I don’t doubt your word, sir,” Mr. Adams said gently. “What I find incredible is that my 
daughter could be in serious trouble. Unless you’re suggesting that she is a”– here his 
face became one of scholarly doubt– “a ‘moll,’ I believe it’s called.” 

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