Крестный отец

           Andwiththatpolitecaptainhelpinghimwhoknowswhatthehellmighthappen.Wecan’ttakethatchance.WehavetogetSollozzorightaway."

           Sonnywasscratchinghischinthoughtfully."You’reright,kid,"hesaid."Yougotrighttotheoldnuts.Wecan’tletSollozzogetanothercrackattheoldman."

           Hagensaidquietly,"WhataboutCaptainMcCluskey?"

           SonnyturnedtoMichaelwithanoddlittlesmile."Yeah,kid,whataboutthattoughpolicecaptain?"

           Michaelsaidslowly,"OK,it’sanextreme.Buttherearetimeswhenthemostextrememeasuresarejustified.Let’sthinknowthatwehavetokillMcCluskey.Thewaytodoitwouldbetohavehimheavilyimplicatedsothatit’snotanhonestpolicecaptaindoinghisdutybutacrookedpoliceofficialmixedupintheracketswhogotwhatwascomingtohim,likeanycrook.Wehavenewspaperpeopleonourpayrollwecangivethatstorytowithenoughproofsothattheycanbackitup.Thatshouldtakesomeoftheheatoff.Howdoesthatsound?"Michaellookedarounddeferentiallytotheothers.TessioandClemenzahadgloomyfacesandrefusedtospeak.Sonnysaidwiththesameoddsmile,"Goon,kid,you’redoinggreat.Outofthemouthsofinfants,astheDonalwaysusedtosay.Goahead,Mike,tellusmore."

           Hagenwassmilingtooalittleandavertinghishead.Michaelflushed."Well,theywantmetogotoaconferencewithSollozzo.Itwillbeme,SollozzoandMcCluskeyallonourown.