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't be himself get the sun with a winter vacation in Florida？ After all； he risks his life and that is no joke。
But usually he draws the line against accepting dirty graft。 He will take money to let a bookmaker operate。 He will take money from a man who hates getting parking tickets or speeding tickets。 He will allow call girls and prostitutes to ply their trade； for a consideration。 These are vices natural to a man。 But usually he will not take a payoff for drugs； armed robberies； rape； murder and other assorted perversions。 In his mind these attack the very core of his personal authority and cannot be countenanced。
The murder of a police captain was parable to regicide。 But when it became known that McCluskey had been killed while in the pany of a notorious narcotics peddler； when it became known that he was suspected of conspiracy to murder； the police desire for vengeance began to fade。 Also； after all； there were still mortgage payments to be made； cars to be paid off； children to be launched into the world。 Without their 〃sheet〃 money； policemen had to scramble to make ends meet。 Unlicensed peddlers were good for lunch money。 Parking ticket payoffs came to nickels and dimes。 Some of the more desperate even began shaking down suspects （homosexuals； assaults and batteries） in the precinct squad rooms。 Finally the brass relented。 They raised the prices and let the Families operate。 Once again the payoff sheet was typed up by the precinct bagman； listing every man assigned to the local station and what his cut was each month。 Some semblance of social order was restored。
**********
It had been Hagen's idea to use private detectives to guard Don Corleone's hospital room。 These were； of course； supplemented by the much more formidable soldiers of Tessio's regime。 But Sonny was not satisfied even with this。 By the middle of February； when the Don could be moved without danger； he was taken by ambulance to his home in the mall。 The house had been renovated so that his bedroom was now a hospital room with all equipment necessary for any emergency。 Nurses specially recruited and checked had been hired for round…the…clock care； and Dr。 Kennedy； with the payment of a huge fee； had been persuaded to bee the physician in residence to this private hospital。 At least until the Don would need only nursing care。
The mall itself was made impregnable。 Button men were moved into the extra houses； the tenants sent on vacations to their native villages in Italy； all expenses paid。
Freddie Corleone had been sent to Las Vegas to recuperate and also to scout out the ground for a Family operation in the luxury hotel…gambling casino plex that was springing up。 Las Vegas was part of the West Coast empire still neutral and the Don of that empire had guaranteed Freddie's safety there。 The New York five Families had no desire to make more enemies by going into Vegas after Freddie Corleone。 They had enough trouble on their hands in New York。
Dr。 Kennedy had forbade any discussion of business in front of the Don。 This edict was pletely disregarded。 The Don insisted on the council of war being held in his room。 Sonny； Tom Hagen； Pete Clemenza and Tessio gathered there the very first night of his homeing。
Don Corleone was too weak to speak much but he wished to listen and exercise veto powers。 When it was explained that Freddie had been sent to Las Vegas to learn the gambling casino business he nodded his head approvingly。 When he learned that Bruno Tattaglia had been killed by Corleone button men he shook his head and sighed。 But what distressed him most of all was learning that Michael had killed Sollozzo and Captain McCluskey and had then been forced to flee to Sicily。 When he heard this he motioned them out and they continued the conference in the corner room that held the law library。
Sonny Corleone relaxed in the huge armchair behind the desk。 〃I think we'd better let the old man take it easy for a couple of weeks； until the doc says he can do business。〃 He paused。 〃I'd like to have it going again before he gets better。 We have the go…ahead from the cops to operate。 The first thing is the policy banks in Harlem。 The black boys up there had their fun； now we have to take it back。 They screwed up the works but good； just like they usually do when they run things。 A lot of their runners didn't pay off winners。 They drive up in Cadillacs and tell their players they gotta wait for their dough or maybe just pay them half what they win。 I don't want any runner looking rich to his players。 I don't want them dressing too good。 I don't want them driving new cars。 I don't want them welching on paying a winner。 And I don't want any free…lancers staying in business； they give us a bad name。 Tom； let's get that project moving right away。 Everything else will fall in line as soon as you send out the word that the lid is off。〃
Hagen said； 〃There are some very tough boys up in Harlem。 They got a taste of the big money。 They won't go back to being runners or sub…bankers again。〃
Sonny shrugged。 〃Just give their names to Clemenza。 That's his job； straightening them out。〃
Clemenza said to Hagen； 〃No problem。〃
It was Tessio wbo brought up the most important question。 〃Once we start operating； the five Families start their raids。 They'll hit our bankers in Harlem and out bookmakers on the East Side。 They may even try to make things tough for the garment center outfits we service。 This war is going to cost a lot of money。〃
〃Mabe they won't；〃 Sonny said。 〃They know we'll hit them right back。 I〃ve got peace feelers out and maybe we can settle everything by paying an indemnity for the Tattaglia kid。〃
Hagen said； 〃We're getting the cold shoulder on those negotiations。 They lost a lot of dough the last few months and they blame us for it。 With justice。 I think what they want is for us to agree to e in on the narcotics trade； to use the Family influence politically。 In other words； Sollozzo's deal minus Sollozzo。 But they won't broach that until they've hurt us with some sort of bat action。 Then after we've been softened up they figure we'll listen to a proposition on narcotic。〃
Sonny said curtly； 〃No deal on drugs。 The Don said no and it's no until he changes it。〃
Hagen said briskly； 〃Then we're faced with a tactical problem。 Our money is out in the open。 Bookmaking and policy。 We can be hit。 But the Tattaglia Family has prostitution and call girls and the dock unions。 How the hell are we going to hit them？ The other Families are in some gambling。 But most of them are in the construction trades； shylocking； controlling the unions； getting the government contracts。 They get a lot from strong…arm and other stuff that involves innocent people。 Their money isn't out in the street。 The Tattaglia nightclub is too famous to touch it； it would cause too much of a stink。 And with the Don still out of action their political influence matches ours。 So we've got a real problem here。〃
〃It's my problem； Tom；〃 Sonny said。 〃I'll find the answer。 Keep the negotiation alive and follow through on the other stuff。 Let's go back into business and see what happens。 Then we'll take i