Крестный отец

           Hewatchedherturnoffthegasunderthepanfulofpeppersandthengooutanduptothebedroom.Hetookpeppersfromthepanandbreadfromthebasketonthetableandmadeasloppysandwichwithhotoliveoildrippingfromhisfingers.Hewentintothehugecornerroomthatwashisfather’sofficeandtookthespecialphonefromalockedcabinetbox.Thephonehadbeenespeciallyinstalledandwaslistedunderaphonynameandaphonyaddress.ThefirstpersonhecalledwasLucaBrasi.Therewasnoanswer.Thenhecalledthesafety-valvecaporegimeinBrooklyn,amanofunquestionedloyaltytotheDon.Thisman’snamewasTessio.Sonnytoldhimwhathadhappenedandwhathewanted.Tessiowastorecruitfiftyabsolutelyreliablemen.Hewastosendguardstothehospital,hewastosendmenouttoLongBeachtoworkhere.Tessioasked,"DidtheygetClemenzatoo?"Sonnysaid,"Idon’twanttouseClemenza’speoplerightnow."Tessiounderstoodimmediately,therewasapause,andthenhesaid,"Excuseme,Sonny,Isaythisasyourfatherwouldsayit.Don’tmovetoofast.Ican’tbelieveClemenzawouldbetrayus."

           "Thanks,"Sonnysaid."Idon’tthinksobutIhavetobecareful.Right?"

           "Right,"Tessiosaid.

           "Anotherthing,"Sonnysaid."MykidbrotherMikegoestocollegeinHanover,NewHampshire.GetsomepeopleweknowinBostontogoupandgethimandbringhimdownheretothehouseuntilthisblowsover.I’llcallhimupsohe’llexpectthem.AgainI’mjustplayingthepercentages,justtomakesure."