Originally posted by Turnbull:
As for Luca being killed:
As soon as Vito said no to Sollozzo, he figured he had to kill Vito to get his way. Period. Luca never had a chance because Tattaglia and Sollozzo had planned to kill him as soon as they decided Vito had to go. By killing Luca, they'd get rid of the Corleones' top enforcer--and by sending the dead fish at the appropriate time, they'd administer a body blow to Sonny and the others.
Well said my friend. To add to what you have said I believe that it was for several months that Luca was courting the Tattaglias for a position in thier family. This may have been enough time for Barzini to check Luca's real intentions out. Perhaps Paulie had somehow gotten wind of and informed them of Luca and Vito's plan. Let us remember that Connie's wedding takes place late summer/ early fall, Tom goes out to California immedeatly after the wedding to get Johnny the part in the movie and upon his return it is decided that a meeting would take place with Sollozo. This meeting had to take place in the fall at the latest and therefore Paulie was still around. Both the Don and Vito get hit near Christmas, so this leads me to believe that over those several months Luca had been trying to get a meet with Bruno Tattaglia and must have been talking with lower echelon of the Tattaglia family. Of course Barzini was a smart Don, and knew of Luca's loyalty to Vito. Barzini had to know of Luca's role in going after the Capone men, and single handedly taking out the Irish gang years earlier. Barzini knew all along that Luca was extremely loyal to Vito and therefore from the very first time that Luca sent word to The Tattaglias that he was no longer happy in the Corleone organization, Barzini definately smelled a rat and over time probably suggested to the Tattaglias that they should allow Luca to get a bit comfortable with meeting them and then just take him and Vito out around the same time.
Don Cardi
