Крестный отец

           AndthenMichaelrememberedthatinthesixthgradeheandPauliehadbeeninthesameclassinschoolandhedidn’twantittobePaulieeither.

           Heshookhishead."Neitheroneofthem,"hesaid.ButhesaiditonlybecauseSonnyhadsaidhehadtheanswer.Ifithadbeenavote,hewouldhavevotedPaulieguilty.

           Sonnywassmilingathim."Don’tworry,"hesaid."ClemenzaisOK.It’sPaulie."

           MichaelcouldseethatTessiowasrelieved.AsafellowcaporegimehissympathywouldbewithClemenza.Alsothepresentsituationwasnotsoseriousiftreacherydidnotreachsohigh.Tessiosaidcautiously,"ThenIcansendmypeoplehometomorrow?"

           Sonnysaid,"Thedayaftertomorrow.Idon’twantanybodytoknowaboutthisuntilthen.Listen,Iwanttotalksomefamilybusinesswithmybrother,personal.Waitoutinthelivingroom,eh?Wecanfinishourlistlater.YouandCtemenzawillworktogetheronit."

           "Sure,"Tessiosaid.Hewentout.

           "Howdoyouknowforsureit’sPaulie?"Michaelasked.

           Sonnysaid,"WehavepeopleinthetelephonecompanyandtheytrackeddownallofPaulie’sphonecallsinandout.Clemenza’stoo.OnthethreedaysPauliewassickthismonthhegotacallfromastreetboothacrossfromtheoldman’sbuilding.Todaytoo.TheywerecheckingtoseeifPauliewascomingdownorsomebodywasbeingsentdowntotakehisplace.Orforsomeotherreason.Itdoesn’tmatter."Sonnyshrugged."ThankGoditwasPaulie.We’llneedClemenzabad."