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or the all…important button man who was first in the front line when trouble arose； but the Don had put him off。 If Paulie had been making more money； he might have been able to resist the blandishments of the wily Turk； Sollozzo。
Clemenza finally narrowed down the list of candidates to three men。 The first was an enforcer who worked with the colored policy bankers in Harlem； a big brawny brute of a man of great physical strength； a man with a great deal of personal charm who could get along with people and yet when necessary make them go in fear of him。 But Clemenza scratched him off the list after considering his name for a half hour。 This man got along too well with the black people； which hinted at some flaw of character。 Also he would be too hard to replace in the position he now held。
The second name Clemenza considered and almost settled on was a hard…working chap who served faithfully and well in the organization。 This man was the collector of delinquent accounts for Family…licensed shylocks in Manhattan。 He had started off as a bookmaker's runner。 But he was not quite yet ready for such an important promotion。
Finally he settled on Rocco Lampone。 Lampone had served a short but impressive apprenticeship in the Family。 During the war he had been wounded in Africa and been discharged in 1943。 Because of the shortage of young men； Clemenza had taken him on even though Lampone was partially incapacitated by his injuries and walked with a pronounced limp。 Clemenza had used him as a black…market contact in the garment center and with government employees controlling OPA food stamps。 From that； Lampone had graduated to trouble…shooter for the whole operation。 What Clemenza liked about him was his good judgment。 He knew that there was no percentage in being tough about something that would only cost a heavy fine or six months in jail； small prices to pay for the enormous profits earned。 He had the good sense to know that it was not an area for heavy threats but light ones。 He kept the whole operation in a minor key； which was exactly what was needed。
Clemenza felt the relief of a conscientious administrator who has solved a knotty personnel problem。 Yes； it would be Rocco Lampone who would assist。 For Clemenza planned to handle this job himself； not only to help a new； inexperienced man 〃make his bones；〃 but to settle a personal score with Paulie Gatto。 Paulie had been his protégé； he had advanced Paulie over the heads of more deserving and more loyal people； he had helped Paulie 〃make his bones〃 and furthered his career in every way。 Paulie had not only betrayed the Family； he had betrayed his padrone； Peter Clemenza。 This lack of respect had to be repaid。
Everything else was arranged。 Paulie Gatto had been instructed to pick him up at three in the afternoon； and to pick him up with his own car； nothing hot。 Now Clemenza took up the telephone and dialed Rocco Lampone's number。 He did not identify himself。 He simply said； 〃e to my house； I have an errand for you。〃 He was pleased to note that despite the early hour； Lampone's voice was not surprised or dazed with sleep and he simply said； 〃OK。〃 Good man。 Clemenza added； 〃No rush； have your breakfast and lunch first before you e see me。 But not later than two in the afternoon。〃
There was another laconic OK on the other end and Clemenza hung up the phone。 He had already alerted his people about replacing caporegime Tessio's people in the Corleone mall so that was done。 He had capable subordinates and never interfered in a mechanical operation of that kind。
He decided to wash his Cadillac。 He loved the car。 It gave him such a quiet peaceful ride； and its upholstery was so rich that he sometimes sat in it for an hour when the weather was good because it was more pleasant than sitting in the house。 And it always helped him think when he was grooming the car。 He remembered his father in Italy doing the same thing with donkeys。
Clemenza worked inside the heated garage； he hated cold。 He ran over his plans。 You had to be careful with Paulie； the man was like a rat； he could smell danger。 And now of course despite being so tough he must be shitting in his pants because the old man was still alive。 He'd be as skittish as a donkey with ants up his ass。 But Clemenza was accustomed to these circumstances； usual in his work。 First； he had to have a good excuse for Rocco to acpany them。 Second； he had to have a plausible mission for the three of them to go on。
Of course； strictly speaking； this was not necessary。 Paulie Gatto could be killed without any of these frills。 He was locked in； he could not run away。 But Clemenza felt strongly that it was important to keep good working habits and never give away a fraction of a percentage point。 You never could tell what might happen and these matters were； after all； questions of life and death。
As he washed his baby…blue Cadillac； Peter Clemenza pondered and rehearsed his lines； the expressions of his face。 He would be curt with Paulie； as if displeased with him。 With a man so sensitive and suspicious as Gatto this would throw him off the track or at least leave him uncertain。 Undue friendliness would make him wary。 But of course the curtness must not be too angry。 It had to be rather an absentminded sort of irritation。 And why Lampone？ Paulie would find that most alarming； especially since Lampone had to be in the rear seat。 Paulie wouldn't like being helpless at the wheel with Lampone behind his head。 Clemenza rubbed and polished the metal of his Cadillac furiously。 It was going to be tricky。 Very tricky。 For a moment he debated whether to recruit another man but decided against it。 Here he followed basic reasoning。 In years to e a situation might arise where it might be profitable for one of his partners to testify against him。 If there were just one acplice it was one's word against the other。 But the word of a second acplice could swing the balance。 No； they would stick to procedure。
What annoyed Clemenza was that the execution had to be 〃public。〃 That is； the body was to be found。 He would have much preferred having it disappear。 （Usual burying grounds were the nearby ocean or the swamplands of New Jersey on land owned by friends of the Family or by other more plicated methods。） But it had to be public so that embryo traitors would be frightened and the enemy warned that the Corleone Family had by no means gone stupid or soft。 Sollozzo would be made wary by this quick discovery of his spy。 The Corleone Family would win back some of its prestige。 It had been made to look foolish by the shooting of the old man。
Clemenza sighed。 The Cadillac gleamed like a huge blue steel egg； and he was nowhere near the solving of his problem。 Then the solution hit him； logical and to the point。 It would explain Rocco Lampone； himself and Paulie being together and give them a mission of sufficient secrecy and importance。
He would tell Paulie that their job today was to find an apartment in case the Family decided to 〃go to the mattresses。〃
Whenever a war between the Families became bitterly intense； the opponents would set up headquarters in secret apartments where