Quote
Originally posted by Turnbull:
Geary asked Cicci a question that was seemingly helpful to Michael: "Did you ever get a direct order from him? Or were there always buffers?" "No, I never talked to him," replied Cicci. Michael relaxed: Since (it seemed) no one could say they got a direct order from him, he was free to lie under oath about the charges the committee leveled against him.
Michael was at all the meetings with the capos, so he didn't need Cicci to say there were buffers. There were always buffers, so Michael would always be free to lie - that's why Vito set up the system the way he did in the 30's.


"All of these men were good listeners; patient men."