Chosen answer:No, and this is explained in the book. Everything was pre-arranged, and the entire trip was a ruse solely to execute Paulie for him helping set up the hit on Don Corleone. Clemenza had Paulie drive them in Paulie's car on the pretense of looking for apartments to house Corleone "soldiers" in the event of a gang war. He directed him to drive and then stop at that specific isolated location (supposedly to relieve himself) where Rocco then shot him. Another car is waiting nearby to pick up Clemenza and Rocco.
Chosen answer: No, and this is explained in the book. Everything was pre-arranged, and the entire trip was a ruse solely to execute Paulie for him helping set up the hit on Don Corleone. Clemenza had Paulie drive them in Paulie's car on the pretense of looking for apartments to house Corleone "soldiers" in the event of a gang war. He directed him to drive and then stop at that specific isolated location (supposedly to relieve himself) where Rocco then shot him. Another car is waiting nearby to pick up Clemenza and Rocco.
raywest ★