You have to remember that Vito still controlled the drug routes in and out of Montreal, and I imagine they were paying a pretty big tribute to Massino. He knew more than likely that if Vito found out they clipped Sciascia that they would either retaliate or quit kicking up. I'm sure he didn't quite worry about going to war with them, but he knew he would be losing a LOT of money if they pulled out which with that meeting and the empty chair it seems Sal got the idea with Vito turning down the promotion and when he seen the empty chair he knew their relationship was over.
Surely they knew what the situation was in Montreal
You have to remember that Sal even admitted in court that they had no idea how many guys were even in the Montreal crew and that goes back to Vito keeping a low profile and his guys keeping a low profile.
The drug routes kept running, but the Bonanno's lost control after Sciascia and of course that catapulted Vito into what the family was just before Massino testified against him....
But if we operate under the knowledge that Montreal was establishing itself as an autonomous family with less connection the Bonnanos then there is strong motivation to want to off both Sciascia and Rizzuto
Sciascia had to come to NYC to report to Massino, Vito at that point did not. After Sciascia was killed there was no way he could get Vito into the U.S. to even kill him. Vito had too many ears and eyes in Canada for Massino to get anyone in there to get to Vito. Nobody in Canada would even try to clip Vito at that point and time.
But really all we can do at this point is guess because nobody has ever flipped up there and probably won't for a while. Until then almost everything is up in the air except Desjardins killing Montagna since he pled guilty to it and there is a publication ban on it....lol
