Random Godfather(The novel) question...any fans?

[Mind Eroded]

After seeing the movie a bazillion times, I figured it would be natural to finally read the novel.

When Michael took out Sollozo and McClusky,for the purposes of that meeting, The Corleone family took a hostage from "The Bocchoicchio clan" as described in the book:

"the Bocchicchio Family became negotiators and hostages in the peace efforts of warring Mafia families."

My question is, why Sollozo did not do the same thing? In the book it said he was backed by the Tattaglias who would have access to that route of "negtioation security".

Maybe he felt that being accompanied by Officer McClusky was a safe enough precaution, since before that night, a police man was never taken out by the mafia. That's my guess...any other opinions?

[cheezewiz]

Even though Solozzo was backed by the Tattaglias, they didn't want the association known. In the end, Barzini was actually behind Solozzo. I would also assume that since Capt. McClusky was with Solozzo as "security", the hostage probably wasn't needed. Prior to McClusky's killing, cops were "off limits".