Mario Puzo - The Last Don

«An unbribable public official,» Cross said with a shrug. «It happens.»

He thought of David Redfellow again. Redfellow would violently disagree that there was any such animal. And Cross envisioned how Redfellow had managed everything. Redfellow probably said to the DA, «I'm bribing you to do your duty?» And as for the money, Redfellow would have immediately gone to the limit. Twenty, Cross figured. On a ten-billion buy of the Studio, what the hell was twenty million? And with no risk for the DA. He would be acting strictly according to law. It was really elegant.

Claudia was still talking, fast. «Anyway, Bantz had to step down,» she said. «And Dora and Kevin were happy to sell the Studio. Plus the deal for five green lights on their own movies, a billion dollars cash in their pockets. And this little Italian guy appears at the Studio, calls a meeting and announces he will be the new owner. And then right out of the blue, he makes me head of the Studio. Skippy was pissed. Now, I'm his boss. Is this crazy?»

Cross just watched her with amusement, then he smiled.

Suddenly, Claudia stood back and looked at her brother. And her eyes were darker, sharper, more intelligent than he had ever seen before. But she had a good-natured smile on her face when she said, «Just like the boys, right, Cross? Now, I'm doing it just like the boys. And I didn't even have to fuck anybody… .»

Cross was surprised. «What's the matter, Claudia?» he asked. «I thought you were happy.»

Claudia smiled. «I am happy. I'm just not dumb. And because you're my brother, and I love you, I want you to know that I haven't been fooled.»

She walked over and sat on the couch next to him. «I lied when I said I went to Daddy's funeral just for you. I went because I wanted to be part of something that he was part of, that you were part of. I went because I couldn't stay away any longer. But I do hate what they stand for, Cross. The Don as well as the others.»

«Does that mean you don't want to run the Studio?» Cross asked.

Claudia laughed aloud. «No, I'm willing to admit I'm still a Clericuzio. And I want to make good movies and make a lot of money. Movies are great equalizers, Cross. I can make a good movie about great women… . Let's see what can happen when I use the Family talents for good instead of evil.» They both laughed.

Then Cross took her in his arms. He kissed her on the cheek. «I think it's great, really great,» he said.

And he meant it for himself as well as for her. For if Don Clericuzio had made her head of the Studio, he did not connect Cross with the disappearance of Dante. The whole scheme had worked.

They had finished dinner and had been talking for hours. When Claudia rose to leave, Cross took a purse of black chips from his desk. «Take a shot at the tables on the house,» he said.

She gave him a soft slap on the cheek and said, «Only if you're not going to get into that big brother thing again and talk to me like a child. That last time I wanted to deck you.»

He hugged her, it felt good to feel her so close. In a moment of weakness, he said, «You know, I left a third of my estate to you in case anything happens. And I'm very rich. So you can always tell the Studio to fuck off if you want to.»

Claudia eyes were shining when she said, «Cross, I appreciate you worrying about me, but I can tell the Studio to fuck off anyway, without your estate …» Then suddenly she looked worried. «Is anything wrong? Are you sick?»

«No, no,» Cross said. «I just wanted you to know.»

«Thank God,» Claudia said. «Now that I'm in, maybe you can get out. You can break away from the Family. You can be free.»

Cross laughed. «I am free,» he said. «I'm going away very soon, to live with Athena in France.»

On the afternoon of the tenth day, Giorgio Clericuzio appeared at the Xanadu to see him, and Cross felt a sinking sensation in his stomach that he knew would lead to panic if he did not control it.

Giorgio left his bodyguards outside the suite with Hotel Security. But Cross was under no illusions, his own bodyguards would follow any order Giorgio gave. And he was not reassured by Giorgio's appearance. Giorgio seemed to have lost weight, and his face was very pale. It was the first time that Cross had seen him look as though he was not in complete control.

Cross greeted him effusively. «Giorgio,» he said, «this is an unexpected pleasure. Let me call down and get a Villa ready for you.»

Giorgio gave him a tired smile and said, «We can't locate Dante.» He paused for a moment. «He's gone off the map and the last time he was seen was here at the Xanadu.»

«Jesus,» Cross said, «that's serious. But you know Dante, he was not always under control.»

Now Giorgio didn't bother to smile. «He was with Jim Losey and Losey is gone too.»

«They were a funny combo,» Cross said. «I wondered about that.»

«They were pals,» Giorgio said. «The old man didn't like it but Dante was the guy's paymaster.»

«I'll help any way I can,» Cross said. «I'll check all the Hotel employees. But you know Dante and Losey weren't officially registered. We never do that for anyone in the Villas.»

«You can do that when you get back,» Giorgio said. «The Don wants to see you personally. He even chartered a plane to bring you back.»

Cross paused for a long moment. «I'll pack a bag,» he said. «Giorgio, is it serious?»

Giorgio looked him squarely in the face. «I don't know,» he said.

On the chartered plane to New York, Giorgio studied a briefcase full of papers. Cross did not impose himself, though this was a bad sign. In any case Giorgio would never give him any information.

The plane was met by three closed cars and six Clericuzio soldiers. Giorgio got into one car and motioned Cross into another. Again a bad sign. Dawn was breaking when the cars rolled through the security gates of the Clericuzio compound in Quogue.

The door of the house was guarded by two men. Other men were scattered around the compound, but there were no women or children to be seen.

Cross said to Giorgio, «Where the hell is everybody, in Disneyland?» But Giorgio refused to acknowledge the joke.

The first thing Cross saw in the Quogue living room was a circle of eight men, and inside that circle two men were talking in a very amiable way. His heart gave a jump. They were Petie and Lia Vazzi. Vincent was watching them and he looked angry.

Petie and Lia seemed to be on the best of terms. But Lia was dressed only in slacks and a shirt, no jacket or tie. Lia usually dressed formally, so this meant he had been searched and disarmed. And indeed he looked like a cheerful mouse surrounded by merry, menacing cats. Lia gave Cross a sad nod of acknowledgment. Petie never glanced his way. But when Giorgio led Cross into the back den, Petie broke off and followed, as did Vincent.

There, Don Clericuzio was waiting for them. Seated in a huge armchair, he was smoking one of his crooked cigars. Vincent went to him and handed him a glass of wine from the bar. Cross was offered nothing. Petie remained at the door, standing. Giorgio sat down on the sofa next to the Don and motioned to Cross to sit with him.

The Don's face, drawn thin with age, had no trace of emotion. Cross kissed him on the cheek. The Don looked at him and his face softened as if with sadness.

«So Croccifixio,» the Don said, «it was all cleverly done. But now you must explain your reasons. I am Dante's grandfather, my daughter is his mother. The men here are his uncles. You must answer to all of us.»

Cross tried to keep his composure. «I don't understand,» he said.

Giorgio said harshly, «Dante. Where is he?»

«Christ, how should I know?» Cross said as if surprised. «He never reported to me. He could be down in Mexico having a good time.»