Крестный отец

           Westillhaveallthehorses."

           "I’llbeoutinahour,"Mikesaid."Inacab."Hehungup.Thepapershadbeenonthestreetsforoverthreehours.Theremusthavebeenradionewsreports.ItwasalmostimpossiblethatLucahadn’theardthenews.ThoughtfullyMichaelponderedthequestion.WherewasLucaBrasi?ItwasthesamequestionthatHagenwasaskinghimselfatthatmoment.ItwasthesamequestionthatwasworryingSonnyCorleoneoutinLongBeach.

           ***

           Ataquartertofivethatafternoon,DonCorleonehadfinishedcheckingthepaperstheofficemanagerofhisoliveoilcompanyhadpreparedforhim.HeputonhisjacketandrappedhisknucklesonhissonFreddie’sheadtomakehimtakehisnoseoutoftheafternoonnewspaper."TellGattotogetthecarfromthelot,"hesaid."I’llbereadytogohomeinafewminutes."

           Freddiegrunted."I’llhavetogetitmyself.Pauliecalledinsickthismorning.Gotacoldagain."

           DonCorleonelookedthoughtfulforamoment."That’sthethirdtimethismonth.Ithinkmaybeyou’dbettergetahealthierfellowforthisjob.TellTom."

           Fredprotested."Paulie’sagoodkid.Ifhesayshe’ssick,he’ssick.Idon’tmindgettingthecar."Helefttheoffice.DonCorleonewatchedoutthewindowashissoncrossedNinthAvenuetotheparkinglot.HestoppedtocallHagen’sofficebuttherewasnoanswer.HecalledthehouseatLongBeachbutagaintherewasnoanswer.Irritated,helookedoutthewindow.Hiscarwasparkedatthecurbinfrontofhisbuilding.