It was Thomas Colfax whom Michael was concerned about. The Warner Crime Commission investigation was in full swing. When they reached Colfax, how long would the old man stand up to them before he cracked? He knew more about the Family than Jennifer Parker could ever know. Colfax was the one who could destroy them all, and Michael did not trust him.
Thomas Colfax was saying, “Send her away for awhile. Just until this investigation cools down. She’s a woman. If they start putting pressure on her, she’ll talk.”
Michael studied him and made his decision. “All right, Tom. Maybe you’ve got a point there. Jennifer may not be dangerous, but on the other hand, if she’s not with us a hundred percent, why take unnecessary chances?”
“That’s all I’m suggesting, Mike.” Thomas Colfax rose from his chair, relieved. “You’re doing the wise thing.”
“I know.” Michael turned toward the kitchen and yelled out, “Nick!”
A moment later Nick Vito appeared.
“Drive the consigliere back to New York, will you, Nick?”
“Sure thing, boss.”
“Oh. On the way I want you to stop and deliver a package for me.” He turned to Thomas Colfax. “You don’t mind?”
“Of course not, Mike.” He was flushed with his victory.
Michael Moretti said to Nick Vito, “Come on. It’s upstairs.”
Nick followed Michael up to his bedroom. When they were inside, Michael closed the door.
“I’d like you to make a stop before you get out of New Jersey.”
“Sure, boss.”
“I want you to drop off some garbage.” Nick Vito looked puzzled. “The consigliere,” Michael explained.
“Oh. Okay. Whatever you say.”
“Take him out to the dump. There won’t be anyone around at this time of night.”
Fifteen minutes later the limousine was headed for New York. Nick Vito was at the wheel, with Thomas Colfax in the passenger seat beside him.
“I’m glad Mike decided to sideline that bitch,” Thomas Colfax said.
Nick glanced sideways at the unsuspecting lawyer seated beside him. “Uh-huh.”
Thomas Colfax looked at the gold Baume & Mercier watch on his wrist. It was three o’clock in the morning, long past his bedtime. It had been a long day and he was tired. I’m getting too old for these battles, he thought.
“How far out are we driving?”
“Not far,” Nick mumbled.
Nick Vito’s mind was in a turmoil. Killing was a part of his job and it was a part he enjoyed, because of the sense of power it gave him. Nick felt like a god when he killed; he was omnipotent. But tonight, he was bothered. He could not understand why he had been ordered to blow away Thomas Colfax. Colfax was the consigliere, the man everyone turned to when they were in trouble. Next to the Godfather, the consigliere was the most important man in the Organization. He had kept Nick out of the slammer a dozen times.
Shit! Nick thought. Colfax was right. Mike should never have let a woman come into the business. Men thought with their brains. Women thought with their pussies. Oh, how he’d love to get his hands on Jennifer Parker! He’d fuck her until she cried ‘Uncle’ and then—
“Watch it! You’re going off the road!”
“Sorry.” Nick quickly steered the car back into his lane.
The dump was a short distance ahead. Nick could feel the perspiration popping out under his arms. He glanced over again at Thomas Colfax.
Snuffing him out would be a cinch. It would be like putting a baby to sleep but, goddamn it! it was the wrong baby! Someone was giving Mike a hand job. This was a sin. It was like murdering his old man.
He wished he could have talked it over with Salvatore and Joe. They could have told him what to do.
Nick could see the dump ahead to the right of the highway. His nerves began to tighten, just as they always did before a hit. He pressed his left arm against his side and felt the reassuring bulk of the short-barreled .38 Smith & Wesson nestling there.
“I could use a good night’s sleep,” Thomas Colfax yawned.
“Yeah.” He was going to get a long, long sleep.