It was nearly four o'clock in the morning as they all sat in the corner room
Office – Sonny, Michael, Tom Hagen, Clemenza and Tessio. Theresa Hagen had
Been persuaded to go to her own home next door. Paulie Gatto was still waiting in
The living room, not knowing that Tessio's men had been instructed not to let him
Leave or let him out of their sight.
Tom Hagen relayed the deal Sollozzo offered. He told how after Sollozzo had
Learned the Don still lived, it was obvious that he meant to kill Hagen. Hagen
grinned. "If I ever plead before the Supreme Court, I'll never plead better than I did
With that goddamn Turk tonight. I told him I'd talk the Family into the deal even
Though the Don was alive. I told him I could wrap you around my finger, Sonny.
How we were buddies as kids; and don't get sore, but I let him get the idea that
maybe you weren't too sorry about getting the old man's job, God forgive me." He
Smiled apologetically at Sonny, who made a gesture signifying that he
Understood, that it was of no consequence.
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Michael, leaning back in his armchair with the phone at his right hand, studied
Both men. When Hagen had entered the room Sonny had come rushing to
Embrace him. Michael realized with a faint twinge of jealousy that in many ways
Sonny and Tom Hagen were closer than he himself could ever be to his own
Brother.
4 "Let's get down to business," Sonny said. "We have to make plans. Take a
look at this list me and Tessio made up. Tessio, give Clemenza your copy."
5 "If we make plans," Michael said, "Freddie should be here."
6 Sonny said grimly, "Freddie is no use to us. The doctor says he's in shock so
Bad he has to have complete rest. I don't understand that. Freddie was always a
Pretty tough guy. I guess seeing the old man gunned down was hard on him, he
always thought the Don was God. He wasn't like you and me, Mike."
7 Hagen said quickly, "OK, leave Freddie out. Leave him out of everything,
Absolutely everything. Now, Sonny, until this is all over I think you should stay in
The house. I mean never leave it. You're safe here. Don't underrate Sollozzo, he's
got to be a pezzonovante, a real .90 caliber. Is the hospital covered?"
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8 Sonny nodded. "The cops have it locked in and I got my people there visiting
Pop all the time. What do you think of that list, Tom?"
9 Hagen frowned down at the list of names. "Jesus Christ, Sonny, you're really
Taking this personal, The Don would consider it a purely business dispute.
Sollozzo is the key. Get rid of Sollozzo and everything falls in line. You don't have
to go after the Tattaglias."
10 Sonny looked at his two caporegimes. Tessio shrugged. "It's tricky," he said.
Clemenza didn't answer at all.
11 Sonny said to Clemenza, "One thing we can take care of without discussion. I
don't want Paulie around here anymore. Make that first on your list." The fat
caporegime nodded.
12 Hagen said, "What about Luca? Sollozzo didn't seem worried about Luca.
That worries me. If Luca sold us out, we're in real trouble. That's the first thing we
have to know. Has anybody been able to get in touch with him?"
13 "No," Sonny said. "I've been calling him all night. Maybe he's shacked up."
14 "No," Hagen said. "He never sleeps over with a broad. He always goes home
when he's through. Mike, keep ringing his number until you get an answer."
Michael dutifully picked up the phone and dialed. He could hear the phone ringing
on the other end but no one answered. Finally he hung up. "Keep trying every
fifteen minutes," Hagen said.
15 Sonny said impatiently, "OK, Tom you're the Consigliori, how about some
advice? What the hell do you think we should do?"
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16 Hagen helped himself to the whiskey bottle on the desk. "We negotiate with
Sollozzo until your father is in shape to take charge. We might even make a deal if
We have to. When your father gets out of bed he can settle the whole business
without a fuss and all the Families will go along with him."
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17 Sonny said angrily, "You think I can't handle this guy Sollozzo?"
18 Tom Hagen looked him directly in the eye. "Sonny, sure you can outfight him.
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