The Godfather

 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
95
button men won’t nail him. Anyway I haven’t been able to set up a top-notch go-between 
he’ll trust. But he must know he has to negotiate now. He missed his chance when he 
let the old man get away from him.” 
Sonny said, “He’s a smart guy, the smartest our Family ever came up against. Maybe 
he figured we’re just stalling until the old man gets better or we can get a line on him.” 
Hagen shrugged. “Sure, he figures that. But he still has to negotiate. He has no choice. 
I’ll get it set up tomorrow. That’s certain.” 
One of Clemenza’s men knocked on the office door and then came in. He said to 
Clemenza, “It just came over the radio, the cops found Paulie Gatto. Dead in his car.” 
Clemenza nodded and said to the man, “Don’t worry about it.” The button man gave his 
caporegime an astonished look, which was followed by a look of comprehension, before 
he went back to the kitchen. 
The conference went on as if there had been no interruption. Sonny asked Hagen, “Any 
change in the Don’s condition?” 
Hagen shook his head. “He’s OK but he won’t be able to talk for another couple of days. 
He’s all knocked out. Still recovering from the operation. Your mother spends most of 
the day with him, Connie too. There’s cops all over the hospital and Tessio’s men hang 
around too, just in case. In a couple of days he’ll be all right and then we can see what 
he wants us to do. Meanwhile we have to keep Sollozzo from doing anything rash. 
That’s why I want to start you talking deals with him.” 
Sonny grunted. “Until he does, I’ve got Clemenza and Tessio looking for him. Maybe 
we’ll get lucky and solve the whole business.” 
“You won’t get lucky,” Hagen said. “Sollozzo is too smart.” Hagen paused. “He knows 
once he comes to the table he’ll have to go our way mostly. That’s why he’s stalling. I’m 
guessing he’s trying to line up support from the other New York Families so that we 
won’t go after him when the old man gives us the word.” 
Sonny frowned. “Why the hell should they do that?” 
Hagen said patiently, “To avert a big war which hurts everybody and brings the papers 
and government into the act. Also, Sollozzo will give them a piece of the action. And you 
know how much dough there is in drugs. The Corleone Family doesn’t need it, we have 
the gambling, which is the best business to have. But the other Families are hungry. 
Sollozzo is a proven man, they know he can make the operation go on a big scale. Alive 

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