The Godfather

 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
94
trouble. It was all sort of an accident anyway. I’ll explain when I see you.” 
“When will that be?” she asked. 
Michael pondered. “How about late tonight? We’ll have a drink and supper in your hotel 
and then I’ll go to the hospital and see my old man. I’m getting tired of hanging around 
here answering phones. OK? But don’t tell anybody. I don’t want newspaper 
photographers snapping pictures of us together. No kidding, Kay, it’s damned 
embarrassing, especially for your parents.” 
“All right,” Kay said. “I’ll be waiting. Can I do any Christmas shopping for you? Or 
anything else?” 
“No,” Michael said. “Just be ready.” 
She gave a little excited laugh. “I’ll be ready,” she said. “Aren’t I always?” 
“Yes, you are,” he said. “That’s why you’re my best girl.” 
“I love you,” she said. “Can you say it?” 
Michael looked at the four hood sitting in the kitchen. “No,” he said. “Tonight, OK?” 
“OK,” she said. He hung up. 
Clemenza had finally come back from his day’s work and was bustling around the 
kitchen cooking up a huge pot of tomato sauce. Michael nodded to him and went to the 
corner office where he found Hagen and Sonny waiting for him impatiently. “Is 
Clemenza out there?” Sonny asked. 
Michael grinned. “He’s cooking up spaghetti for the troops, just like the army.” 
Sonny said impatiently, “Tell him to cut out that crap and come on in here. I have more 
important things for him to do. Get Tessio in here with him.” 
In a few minutes they were all gathered in the office. Sonny said curtly to Clemenza, 
“You take care of him?” 
Clemenza nodded. “You won’t see him anymore.” 
With a slight electric shock, Michael realized they were talking about Paulie Gatto and 
that little Paulie was dead, murdered by that jolly wedding dancer, Clemenza. 
Sonny asked Hagen, “You have any luck with Sollozzo?” 
Hagen shook his head. “He seems to have cooled off on the negotiation idea. Anyway 
he doesn’t seem to be too anxious. Or maybe he’s just being very careful so that our 

---