When Michael got out of the cab in front of the French Hospital he was
Surprised to see that the street was completely deserted. When he entered the
Hospital he was even more surprised to find the lobby empty. Damn it, what the
Hell were Clemenza and Tessio doing? Sure, they never went to West Point but
They knew enough about tactics to have outposts. A couple of their men should
Have been in the lobby at least.
Even the latest visitors had departed, it was almost ten-thirty at night. Michael
Was tense and alert now. He didn't bother to stop at the information desk, he
Already knew his father's room number up on the fourth floor. He took the self-
service elevator. Oddly enough nobody stopped him until he reached the nurses'
Station on the fourth floor. But he strode right past her query and on to his
Father's room. There was no one outside the door. Where the hell were the two
Detectives who were supposed to be waiting around to guard and question the
Old man? Where the hell were Tessio and Clemenza's people? Could there be
Someone inside the room? But the door was open. Michael went in. There was a
Figure in the bed and by the December moonlight straining through the window
Michael could see his father's face. Even now it was impassive, the chest heaved
Shallowly with his uneven breath. Tubes hung from steel gallows beside the bed
And ran into his nose. On the floor was a glass jar receiving the poisons emptied
From his stomach by other tubes. Michael stayed there for a few moments to
Make sure his father was all right, then backed out of the room.
3 He told the nurse, "My name is Michael Corleone, I just want to sit with my
Father. What happened to the detectives who were supposed to be guarding
him?"
The nurse was a pretty young thing with a great deal of confidence in the
power of her office. "Oh, your father just had too many visitors, it interfered with
the hospital service," she said. "The police came and made them all leave about
Ten minutes ago. And then just five minutes ago I had to call the detectives to the
Phone for an emergency alarm from their headquarters, and then they left too.
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249
But don't worry, I look in on your father often and I can hear any sound from his
room. That's why we leave the doors open."
5 "Thank you," Michael said. "I'll sit with him for a little while. OK?"
6 She smiled at him. "Just for a little bit and then I'm afraid you'll have to leave.
It's the rules, you know."
Michael went back into his father's room. He took the phone from its cradle
And got the hospital operator to give him the house in Long Beach, the phone in
the comer office room. Sonny answered. Michael whispered, "Sonny, I'm down at
The hospital, I came down late. Sonny, there's nobody here. None of Tessio's
people. No detectives at the door. The old man was completely unprotected." His
Voice was trembling.
There was a long silence and then Sonny's voice came, low and impressed,
"This is Sollozzo's move you were talking about."
9 Michael said, "That's what I figured too. But how did he get the cops to clear
Everybody out and where did they go? What happened to Tessio's men? Jesus
Christ, has that bastard Sollozzo got the New York Police Department in his
pocket too?"
10 "Take it easy, kid." Sonny's voice was soothing. "We got lucky again with you
Going to visit the hospital so late. Stay in the old man's room. Lock the door from
The inside. I'll have some men there inside of fifteen minutes, soon as I make
some calls. Just sit tight and don't panic. OK, kid?"
11 "I won't panic," Michael said. For the first time since it had all started he felt a
Furious anger rising in him, a cold hatred for his father's enemies.
He hung up the phone and rang the buzzer for the nurse. He decided to use
His own judgment and disregard Sonny's orders. When the nurse came in he said,
"I don't want you to get frightened, but we have to move my father right away. To
Another room or another floor. Can you disconnect all these tubes so we can
wheel the bed out?"
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13 The nurse said, "That's ridiculous. We have to get permission from the
doctor."
14 Michael spoke very quickly. "You've read about my father in the papers.
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