Крестный отец

           Hejumpedinandthecarspedoff.

           RoccoLamponeansweredthephoneinstalledononeoftheironpillarsofthegate.Heheardsomeonesaying,"Yourpackageisready,"andtheclickasthecallerhungup.Roccogotintohiscaranddroveoutofthemall.HecrossedtheJonesBeachCauseway,thesamecausewayonwhichSonnyCorleonehadbeenkilled,anddroveouttotherailroadstationofWantagh.Heparkedhiscarthere.Anothercarwaswaitingforhimwithtwomeninit.TheydrovetoamoteltenminutesfartheroutonSunriseHighwayandturnedintoitscourtyard.RoccoLampone,leavinghistwomeninthecar,wenttooneofthelittlechalet-typebungalows.OnekicksentitsdoorflyingoffitshingesandRoccosprangintotheroom.

           PhillipTattaglia,seventyyearsoldandnakedasababy,stoodoverabedonwhichlayayounggirl.PhillipTattaglia’sthickheadofhairwasjetblack,buttheplumageofhiscrotchwassteelgray.Hisbodyhadthesoftplumpnessofabird.Roccopumpedfourbulletsintohim,allinthebelly.Thenheturnedandranbacktothecar.ThetwomendroppedhimoffintheWantaghstation.Hepickeduphiscaranddrovebacktothemall.HewentintoseeMichaelCorleoneforamomentandthencameoutandtookuphispositionatthegate.

           AlbertNeri,aloneinhisapartment,finishedgettinghisuniformready.Slowlyheputiton,trousers,shirt,tieandjacket,holsterandgunbelt.Hehadturnedinhisgunwhenhewassuspendedfromtheforce,but,throughsomeadministrativeoversighttheyhadnotmadehimgiveuphisshield.