Крестный отец

           Hejottedsomenotesdownonapad,thensaid,"OK,he’llbethere,"andhungupthephone.

           Sonnywaslaughing."ThatsonofabitchSollozzo,hereallyissomething.Here’sthedeal.AteighttonightheandCaptainMcCluskeypickupMikeinfrontofJackDempsey’sbaronBroadway.Theygosomeplacetotalk,andgetthis.MikeandSollozzotalkinItaliansothattheIrishcopdon’tknowwhatthehelltheyaretalkingabout.Heeventellsme,don’tworry,heknowsMcCluskeydoesn’tknowonewordinItalianunlessit’s‘soldi’andhe’scheckedyouout,Mike,andknowsyoucanunderstandSiciliandialect."

           Michaelsaiddryly,"I’mprettyrustybutwewon’ttalklong."

           TomHagensaid,"Wedon’tletMikegountilwehavethenegotiator.Isthatarranged?"

           Clemenzanodded."Thenegotiatorisatmyhouseplayingpinochlewiththreeofmymen.Theywaitforacallfrommebeforetheylethimgo."

           Sonnysankbackintheleatherarmchair."Nowhowthehelldowefindoutthemeetingplace?Tom,we’vegotinformerswiththeTattagliaFamily,howcometheyhaven’tgivenustheword?"

           Hagenshrugged."Sollozzoisreallydamnsmart.He’splayingthisclosetothevest,soclosethathe’snotusinganymenasacover.Hefiguresthecaptainwillbeenoughandthatsecurityismoreimportantthanguns.He’srighttoo.We’llhavetoputatailonMikeandhopeforthebest."

           Sonnyshookhishead."Nah,anybodycanloseatailwhentheyreallywantto.That’sthefirstthingthey’llcheckout."