The Godfather

 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
98
opposition without your father. He’s the only one who can stand against the Families. He 
has the political connections they always need and he can use them for trading. If he 
wants to badly enough.” 
Clemenza said, a little arrogantly for a man whose top button man had recently betrayed 
him, “Sollozzo will never get near this house, Boss, you don’t have to worry about that.” 
Sonny looked at him thoughtfully for a moment. Then he said to Tessio, “How about the 
hospital, your men got it covered?” 
For the first time during the conference Tessio seemed to be absolutely sure of his 
ground. “Outside and inside,” he said. “Right around the clock. The cops have it covered 
pretty good too. Detectives at the bedroom door waiting to question the old man. That’s 
a laugh. The Don is still getting that stuff in the tubes, no food, so we don’t have to worry 
about the kitchen, which would be something to worry about with those Turks, they 
believe in poison. They can’t get at the Don, not in any way.” 
Sonny tilted back in his chair. “It wouldn’t be me, they have to do business with me, they 
need the Family machine.” He grinned at Michael. “I wonder if it’s you? Maybe Sollozzo 
figures to snatch you and hold you for a hostage to make a deal.” 
Michael thought ruefully, there goes my date with Kay. Sonny wouldn’t let him out of the 
house. But Hagen said impatiently, “No, he could have snatched Mike anytime if he 
wanted insurance. But everybody knows that Mike is not in the Family business. He’s a 
civilian and if Sollozzo snatches him, then he loses all the other New York Families. 
Even the Tattaglias would have to help hunt him down. No, it’s simple enough. 
Tomorrow we’ll get a representative from all the Families who’ll tell us we have to do 
business with the Turk. That’s what he’s waiting for. That’s his ace in the hole.” 
Michael heaved a sigh of relief. “Good,” he said. “I have to go into town tonight.” 
“Why?” Sonny asked sharply. 
Michael grinned. “I figure I’ll drop in to the hospital and visit the old man, see Mom and 
Connie. And I got some other things to do.” Like the Don, Michael never told his real 
business and now he didn’t want to tell Sonny he was seeing Kay Adams. There was no 
reason not to tell him, it was just habit. 
There was a loud murmur of voices in the kitchen. Clemenza went out to see what was 
happening. When he came back he was holding Luca Brasi’s bulletproof vest in his 
hands. Wrapped in the vest was a huge dead fish. 

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