Крестный отец

           Clemenzahadsuppliedhimwithanew.38PoliceSpecialthatcouldnotbetraced.Neribrokeitdown,oiledit,checkedthehammer,putittogetheragain,clickedthetrigger.Heloadedthecylindersandwassettogo.

           Heputthepoliceman’scapinaheavypaperbagandthenputacivilianovercoatontocoverhisuniform.Hecheckedhiswatch.Fifteenminutesbeforethecarwouldbewaitingforhimdownstairs.Hespentthefifteenminutescheckinghimselfinthemirror.Therewasnoquestion.Helookedlikearealcop.

           ThecarwaswaitingwithtwoofRoccoLampone’smeninfront.Nerigotintothebackseat.Asthecarstarteddowntown,aftertheyhadlefttheneighborhoodofhisapartment,heshruggedoffthecivilianovercoatandleftitonthefloorofthecar.Herippedopenthepaperbagandputthepoliceofficer’scaponhishead.

           At55thStreetandFifthAvenuethecarpulledovertothecurbandNerigotout.Hestartedwalkingdowntheavenue.Hehadaqueerfeelingbeingbackinuniform,patrollingthestreetsashehaddonesomanytimes.Therewerecrowdsofpeople.HewalkeddowntownuntilhewasinfrontofRockefellerCenter,acrossthewayfromSt.Patrick’sCathedral.OnhissideofFifthAvenuehespottedthelimousinehewaslookingfor.Itwasparked,nakedlyalonebetweenawholestringofredNOPARKINGandNoSTANDINGsigns.Nerislowedhispace.Hewastooearly.Hestoppedtowritesomethinginhissummonsbookandthenkeptwalking.Hewasabreastofthelimousine.Hetappeditsfenderwithhisnightstick.