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?"

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

 

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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?"

16 Hagen helped himself to the whiskey bottle on the desk. "We negotiate with