Крестный отец

           Michaelturnedawayfromthewindow."Theoldmanplannedalotofit.Ineverrealizedhowsmarthewas.ButIguessyouknow."

           "Nobodylikehim,"Hagensaid."Butthisisbeautiful.Thisisthebest.Soyoucan’tbetoobadeither."

           "Let’sseewhathappens,"Michaelsaid."AreTessioandClemenzaonthemall?"

           Hagennodded.Michaelfinishedthebrandyinhisglass."SendClemenzaintome.I’llinstructhimpersonally.Idon’twanttoseeTessioatall.JusttellhimI’llbereadytogototheBarzinimeetingwithhiminaboutahalfhour.Clemenza’speoplewilltakecareofhimafterthat."

           Hagensaidinanoncommittalvoice,"There’snowaytoletTessiooffthehook?"

           "Noway,"Michaelsaid.

           UpstateinthecityofBuffalo,asmallpizzaparloronasidestreetwasdoingarushtrade.Asthelunchhourspassed,businessfinallyslackenedoffandthecountermantookhisroundtintraywithitsfewleftoverslicesoutofthewindowandputitontheshelfonthehugebrickoven.Hepeekedintotheovenatapiebakingthere.Thecheesehadnotyetstartedtobubble.Whenheturnedbacktothecounterthatenabledhimtoservepeopleinthestreet,therewasayoung,tough-lookingmanstandingthere.Themansaid,"Gimmeaslice."

           Thepizzacountermantookhiswoodenshovelandscoopedoneofthecoldslicesintotheoventowarmitup.Thecustomer,insteadofwaitingoutside,decidedtocomethroughthedoorandbeserved.Thestorewasemptynow.