Chapter 5

           Itwasnearlyfouro’clockinthemorningastheyallsatinthecornerroomoffice—Sonny,Michael,TomHagen,ClemenzaandTessio.TheresaHagenhadbeenpersuadedtogotoherownhomenextdoor.PaulieGattowasstillwaitinginthelivingroom,notknowingthatTessio’smenhadbeeninstructednottolethimleaveorlethimoutoftheirsight.

           TomHagenrelayedthedealSollozzooffered.HetoldhowafterSollozzohadlearnedtheDonstilllived,itwasobviousthathemeanttokillHagen.Hagengrinned."IfIeverpleadbeforetheSupremeCourt,I’llneverpleadbetterthanIdidwiththatgoddamnTurktonight.ItoldhimI’dtalktheFamilyintothedealeventhoughtheDonwasalive.ItoldhimIcouldwrapyouaroundmyfinger,Sonny.Howwewerebuddiesaskids;anddon’tgetsore,butIlethimgettheideathatmaybeyouweren’ttoosorryaboutgettingtheoldman’sjob,Godforgiveme."HesmiledapologeticallyatSonny,whomadeagesturesignifyingthatheunderstood,thatitwasofnoconsequence.

           Michael,leaningbackinhisarmchairwiththephoneathisrighthand,studiedbothmen.WhenHagenhadenteredtheroomSonnyhadcomerushingtoembracehim.MichaelrealizedwithafainttwingeofjealousythatinmanywaysSonnyandTomHagenwerecloserthanhehimselfcouldeverbetohisownbrother.

           "Let’sgetdowntobusiness,"Sonnysaid."Wehavetomakeplans.TakealookatthislistmeandTessiomadeup.Tessio,giveClemenzayourcopy."

           "Ifwemakeplans,"Michaelsaid,"Freddieshouldbehere."