Крестный отец

           Shehadneverfeltsoclosetohim,neversomuchinloveandifsomeonehadtoldhershewouldnotseeMichaelagainuntilthreeyearspassed,shewouldnothavebeenabletobeartheanguishofit.

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           WhenMichaelgotoutofthecabinfrontoftheFrenchHospitalhewassurprisedtoseethatthestreetwascompletelydeserted.Whenheenteredthehospitalhewasevenmoresurprisedtofindthelobbyempty.Damnit,whatthehellwereClemenzaandTessiodoing?Sure,theyneverwenttoWestPointbuttheyknewenoughabouttactictohaveoutposts.Acoupleoftheirmenshouldhavebeeninthelobbyatleast.

           Eventhelatestvisitorshaddeparted,itwasalmostten-thirtyatnight.Michaelwastenseandalertnow.Hedidn’tbothertostopattheinformationdesk,healreadyknewhisfather’sroomnumberuponthefourthfloor.Hetooktheself-serviceelevator.Oddlyenoughnobodystoppedhimuntilhereachedthenurses’stationonthefourthfloor.Buthestroderightpastherqueryandontohisfather’sroom.Therewasnooneoutsidethedoor.Wherethehellwerethetwodetectiveswhoweresupposedtobewaitingaroundtoguardandquestiontheoldman?WherethehellwereTessioandClemenza’speople?Couldtherebesomeoneinsidetheroom?Butthedoorwasopen.Michaelwentin.TherewasafigureinthebedandbytheDecembermoonlightstrainingthroughthewindowMichaelcouldseehisfather’sface.Evennowitwasimpassive,thechestheavedshallowlywithhisunevenbreath.Tubeshungfromsteelgallowsbesidethebedandranintohisnose.