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"You have to eat something first," Freddie said. "We've got a great chef in the hotel,
you'll get the best food you ever ate. Go take your shower and change and everything
will be set up right here. I have all the people you want to see lined up, they'll be waiting
around for when you're ready, I just have to call them."
Michael said pleasantly, "Let's save Moe Greene to the end, OK? Ask Johnny
Fontane and Nino up to eat with us. And Lucy and her doctor friend. We can talk while
we eat." He turned to Hagen. "Anybody you want to add to that, Tom?"
Hagen shook his head. Freddie had greeted him much less affectionately than
Michael, but Hagen understood. Freddie was on his father's shit list and Freddie
naturally blamed the Consigliori for not straightening things out. Hagen would gladly
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have done so, but he didn't know why Freddie was in his father's bad graces. The Don
did not give voice to specific grievances. He just made his displeasure felt.
It was after midnight before they gathered around the special dinner table set up in
Michael's suite. Lucy kissed Michael and didn't comment on his face looking so much
better after the operation. Jules Segal boldly studied the repaired cheekbone and said
to Michael, "A good job. It's knitted nicely. Is the sinus OK?"
"Fine," Michael said. "Thanks for helping out."
Dinner focused on Michael as they ate. They all noted his resemblance in speech and
manner to the Don. In some curious way he inspired the same respect, the same awe,
and yet he was perfectly natural, at pains to put everyone at their ease. Hagen as usual
remained in the background. The new man they did not know; Albert Neri was also very
quiet and unobtrusive. He had claimed he was not hungry and sat in an armchair close
to the door reading a local newspaper.
After they had had a few drinks and food, the waiters were dismissed. Michael spoke
to Johnny Fontane. "Hear your voice is back as good as ever, you got all your old fans
back. Congratulations."
"Thanks," Johnny said. He was curious about exactly why Michael wanted to see him.
What favor would he be asked?
Michael addressed them all in general. "The Corleone Family is thinking of moving out
here to Vegas. Selling out all our interests in the olive oil business and settling here.
The Don and Hagen and myself have talked it over and we think here is where the
future is for the Family. That doesn't mean right now or next year. It may take two, three,
even four years to get things squared away. But that's the general plan. Some friends of
ours own a good percentage of this hotel and casino so that will be our foundation. Moe
Greene will sell us his interest so it can be wholly owned by friends of the Family."
Freddie's moon face was anxious. "Mike, you sure about Moe Greene selling? He
never mentioned it to me and he loves the business. I really don't think he'll sell."
Michael said quietly, "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse."
The words were said in an ordinary voice, yet the effect was chilling, perhaps because
it was a favorite phrase of the Don's. Michael turned to Johnny Fontane. "The Don is
counting on you to help us get started. It's been explained to us that entertainment will
be the big factor in drawing gamblers. We hope you'll sign a contract to appear five
times a year for maybe a week-long engagement. We hope your friends in movies do
the same. You've done them a lot of favors, now you can call them in."
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"Sure," Johnny said. "I'll do anything for my Godfather, you know that, Mike." But there
was just the faint shadow of doubt in his voice.
Michael smiled and said, "You won't lose money on the deal and neither will your
friends. You get points in the hotel, and if there's somebody else you think important
enough, they get some points too. Maybe you don't believe me, so let me say I'm
speaking the Don's words."
Johnny said hurriedly, "I believe you, Mike. But there's ten more hotels and casinos
being built on the Strip right now. When you come in, the market may be glutted, you
may be too late with all that competition already there."
Tom Hagen spoke up. "The Corleone Family has friends who are financing three of
those hotels." Johnny understood immediately that he meant the Corleone Family
owned the three hotels, with their casinos. And that there would be plenty of points to
give out.
"I'll start working on it," Johnny said.
Michael turned to Lucy and Jules Segal. "I owe you," he said to Jules. "I hear you
want to go back to cutting people up and that hospitals won't let you use their facilities
because of that old abortion business. I have to know from you, is that what you want?"
Jules smiled. "I guess so. But you don't know the medical setup. Whatever power you
have doesn't mean anything to them. I'm afraid you can't help me in that."