Chapter 28

           OntheplaneridebacktoNewYork,MichaelCorleonerelaxedandtriedtosleep.Itwasuseless.Themostterribleperiodofhislifewasapproaching,perhapsevenafataltime.Itcouldnolongerbeputoff.Everythingwasinreadiness,allprecautionshadbeentaken,twoyearsofprecautions.Therecouldbenofurtherdelay.LastweekwhentheDonhadformallyannouncedhisretirementtothecaporegimesandothermembersoftheCorleoneFamily,Michaelknewthatthiswashisfather’swayoftellinghimthetimewasripe.

           ItwasalmostthreeyearsnowsincehehadreturnedhomeandovertwoyearssincehehadmarriedKay.ThethreeyearshadbeenspentinlearningtheFamilybusiness.HehadputinlonghourswithTomHagen,longhourswiththeDon.HewasamazedathowwealthyandpowerfultheCorleoneFamilytrulywas.ItownedtremendouslyvaluablerealestateinmidtownNewYork,wholeofficebuildings.Itowned,throughfronts,partnershipsintwoWallStreetbrokeragehouses,piecesofbanksonLongIsland,partnershipsinsomegarmentcenterfirms,allthisinadditiontoitsillegaloperationsingambling.

           ThemostinterestingthingMichaelCorleonelearned,ingoingbackoverpasttransactionsoftheCorleoneFamily,wasthattheFamilyhadreceivedsomeprotectionincomeshortlyafterthewarfromagroupofmusicrecordcounterfeiters.Thecounterfeitersduplicatedandsoldphonographrecordsoffamousartists,packagingeverythingsoskillfullytheywerenevercaught.