Originally Posted by jrp316
Lana, I agree with you about Tom. At best, he's on borrowed time, but since Tom advised Tessio that he couldn't come either, that tells me that he was due to take the fateful ride with Michael that day. Tessio planned to take out Tom as well, and for good reason: like you said, Tom's loyalty to the Corleones was absolute, and Tessio would believe that there's no way to flip Tom. Additionally, he may or may not have relished the idea of a non Sicilian in such a high position in what would soon be his Family,

In my alternate scenario, Tessio would have had a meet arranged with both Michael and Barzini, with each believing the other requested it. In the movie and book, it's questionable as to whether there was an actual meet scheduled; if there was, I don't think Tessio let Barzini in on it being a setup to whack Michael (and Barzini himself, if my theory holds water). If Barzini did know it was a setup and Michael found Tessio out as a traitor, surely Barzini wouldn't be running around out in the open for Neri to take him out on the steps like that.

As for Fredo and Anthony, I don't think they're of concern to Barzini or Tessio. Anthony is just a kid (doing anything to him would be infamita) and Fredo is out west at the time in Vegas; neither would be a threat to Barzini or Tessio.
Sure thing jrp316 I don't think “Tom going to the Tessio brokered 'meeting' with Barzini” is in dispute

We know! “there was [no] actual meet scheduled;” At Vito's funeral -
Tessio tells Michael “Barzini wants to arrange a meeting He says we can straighten any of our problems out”

Then after Michael agrees, Tessio goes to Barzini and presumably tells Barzini It's a deal!
Both Barzini and Tessio clasp hands sealing! their current and future friendship

I do believe “Barzini did know [or suspected] it was a set up”
Originally Posted by Evita
then no show Barzini knew Michael and his people Tom, Neri were all going to be massacred that Tessio was doing his dirty work for him
that's why Barzini was a no show Perhaps Barzini figured he was not safe either in Tessio's territory

Barzini - was running around out in the open, on the steps like that - because Barzini thought Neri [along with Michael and Tom] was being whacked by Tessio

Barzini was “smug he was going to be the Numero Uno Don shortly” and was already acting like the top Mafia Don, feeling invulnerable

Side questions, whether
1. Tessio knew? that Barzini knew [or suspected] it was a set-up
2. Tessio knew? that Barzini would be a no show [we'd never find out because at the end everybody was a no show!]
3. Tessio obviously thought Michael didn't suspect it was a set-up

I think every surviving member of any slain Mafia family “would be a threat” and “of concern” even Little boys Just ask! Don Ciccio and 'Civilians' Just ask! Sollozzo and McCluskey