Крестный отец

           HethoughtforamomentofcallingtheDon’shouseatLongBeachtotellhimofthisnewdevelopmentbutheknewtheDonnevertalkedoverthephone,toanyone,andtheDonhadgivenhimthisassignmentinsecretandsodidnotwantanyone,notevenHagenorhiseldestson,toknowaboutit.

           Lucaalwayscarriedagun.Hehadalicensetocarryagun,probablythemostexpensivegunlicenseeverissuedanyplace,anytime.Ithadcostatotaloftenthousanddollarsbutitwouldkeephimoutofjailifhewasfriskedbythecops.AsatopexecutiveoperatingofficialoftheFamilyheratedthelicense.Buttonight,justincasehecouldfinishoffthejob,hewanteda"safe"gun.Onethatcouldnotpossiblybetraced.Butthenthinkingthematterover,hedecidedthathewouldjustlistentothepropositiontonightandreportbacktotheGodfather,DonCorleone.

           Hemadehiswaybacktotheclubbuthedidnotdrinkanymore.Insteadhewanderedoutto48thStreet,wherehehadaleisurelylatesupperatPatsy’s,hisfavoriteItalianrestaurant.Whenitwastimeforhisappointmenthedrifteduptowntotheclubentrance.Thedoormanwasnolongertherewhenhewentin.Thehatcheckgirlwasgone.OnlyBrunoTattagliawaitedtogreethimandleadhimtothedesertedbaratthesideoftheroom.Beforehimhecouldseethedesertofsmalltableswiththepolishedyellowwooddancefloorgleaminglikeasmalldiamondinthemiddleofthem.Intheshadowswastheemptybandstand,outofitgrewtheskeletonmetalstalkofamicrophone.