Chapter 4

           WhenMichaelCorleonearrivedathisfather’shouseinLongBeachhefoundthenarrowentrancemouthofthemallblockedoffwithalinkchain.Themallitselfwasbrightwiththefloodlightsofalleighthouses,outliningatleasttencarsparkedalongthecurvingcementwalk.

           Twomenhedidn’tknowwereleaningagainstthechain.OneofthemaskedinaBrooklynaccent,"Who’reyou?"

           Hetoldthem.Anothermancameoutofthenearesthouseandpeeredathisface."That’stheDon’skid,"hesaid."I’llbringhiminside."Mikefollowedthismantohisfather’shouse,wheretwomenatthedoorlethimandhisescortpassinside.

           Thehouseseemedtobefullofmenhedidn’tknow,untilhewentintothelivingroom.ThereMichaelsawTomHagen’swife,Theresa,sittingstifflyonthesofa,smokingacigarette.Onthecoffeetableinfrontofherwasaglassofwhiskey.OntheothersideofthesofasatthebulkyClemenza.Thecaporegime’sfacewasimpassive,buthewassweatingandthecigarinhishandglistenedslicklyblackwithhissaliva.

           Clemenzacametowringhishandinaconsolingway,muttering,"Yourmotherisatthehospitalwithyourfather,he’sgoingtobeallright."PaulieGattostooduptoshakehands.Michaellookedathimcuriously.HeknewPauliewashisfather’sbodyguardbutdidnotknowthatPauliehadstayedhomesickthatday.Buthesensedtensioninthethindarkface.