Chapter 31

           OnthatsamedaytwolimousinesparkedontheLongBeachmall.OneofthebigcarswaitedtotakeConnieCorleone,hermother,herhusbandandhertwochildrentotheairport.TheCarloRizzifamilywastotakeavacationinLasVegasinpreparationfortheirpermanentmovetothatcity.MichaelhadgivenCarlotheorder,overConnie’sprotests.MichaelhadnotbotheredtoexplainthathewantedeveryoneoutofthemallbeforetheCorleone-BarziniFamilies’meeting.Indeedthemeetingitselfwastopsecret.TheonlyoneswhoknewaboutitwerethecaposoftheFamily.

           TheotherlimousinewasforKayandherchildren,whowerebeingdrivenuptoNewHampshireforavisitwithherparents.Michaelwouldhavetostayinthemall;hehadaffairstoopressingtoleave.

           ThenightbeforeMichaelhadalsosentwordtoCarloRizzithathewouldrequirehispresenceonthemallforafewdays,thathecouldjoinhiswifeandchildrenlaterthatweek.Conniehadbeenfurious.ShehadtriedtogetMichaelonthephone,buthehadgoneintothecity.Nowhereyesweresearchingthemallforhim,buthewasclosetedwithTomHagenandnottobedisturbed.ConniekissedCarlogood-byewhenheputherinthelimousine."Ifyoudon’tcomeoutthereintwodays,I’llcomebacktogetyou,"shethreatenedhim.

           Hegaveherapolitehusbandlysmileofsexualcomplicity."I’llbethere,"hesaid.

           Shehungoutthewindow."WhatdoyouthinkMichaelwantsyoufor?"sheasked.Herworriedfrownmadeherlookoldandunattractive.

           Carloshrugged.