jg.thefirm-第35章

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　　〃I'm　in　shock　now。　I'm　not　believing　this；　Mitch。　This　is　like　a　bad　dream；　only　much　worse。〃
　　〃And　this　is　only　the　beginning。　The　FBI　is　dead　serious。　Why　else　would　the　Director　himself　meet　with　me；　an　insignificant　rookie　lawyer　from　Memphis；　in　fifteen…degree　weather　on　a　concrete　park　bench？　He's　assigned　five　agents　in　Memphis　and　three　in　Washington；　and　he　said　they'll　spend　whatever　it　takes　to　get　。　So　if　I　keep　my　mouth　shut；　ignore　them　and　go　about　my　business　of　being　a　good　and　faithful　member　of　Bendini；　Lambert　&　Locke；　one　day　they'll　show　up　with　arrest　warrants　and　haul　everybody　away。　And　if　I　choose　to　cooperate；　you　and　I　will　leave　Memphis　in　the　dead　of　the　night　after　I　hand　　to　the　feds；　and　we'll　go　off　and　live　in　Boise；　Idaho；　as　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Wilbur　Gates。　We'll　have　plenty　of　money；　but　we'll　have　to　work　to　avoid　suspicion。　After　my　plastic　surgery；　I'll　get　a　job　driving　a　forklift　in　a　warehouse；　and　you　can　work　part…time　at　a　day　care。　We'll　have　two；　maybe　three　kids　and　pray　every　night　that　people　we've　never　met　keep　their　mouths　shut　and　forget　about　us。　We'll　live　every　hour　of　every　day　in　morbid　fear　of　being　discovered。〃
　　〃That's　perfect；　Mitch；　just　perfect。〃　She　was　trying　hard　not　to　cry。
　　He　smiled　and　glanced　around　the　room。　〃We　have　a　third　option。　We　can　walk　out　that　door；　buy　two　tickets　to　San　Diego；　sneak　across　the　border　and　eat　tortillas　for　the　rest　of　our　lives。〃
　　〃Let's　go。〃
　　〃But　they'd　probably　follow　us。　With　my　luck；　Oliver　Lambert　will　be　waiting　in　Tijuana　with　a　squad　of　goons。　It　won't　work。　Just　a　thought。〃
　　〃What　about　Lamar？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　He's　been　here　six　or　seven　years；　so　he　probably　knows。　Avery's　a　partner；　so　he's　very　much　a　part　of　the　conspiracy。〃
　　〃And　Kay？〃
　　〃Who　knows。　It's　very　likely　none　of　the　wives　know。　I've　thought　about　it　for　four　days；　Abby；　and　it's　a　marvelous　front。　　looks　exactly　like　it's　supposed　to　look。　They　could　fool　anyone。　I　mean；　how　would　you　and　I　or　any　other　prospective　recruit　even　think　of　such　an　operation。　It's　perfect。　Except；　now　the　feds　know　about　it。〃
　　〃And　now　the　feds　expect　you　to　do　their　dirty　work。　Why　did　they　pick　you；　Mitch？　There　are　forty　lawyers　in　。〃
　　〃Because　I　knew　nothing　about　it。　I　was　a　sitting　duck。　The　FBI　is　not　sure　when　the　partners　spring　the　surprise　on　the　associates；　so　they　couldn't　take　a　chance　with　anyone　else。　I　happened　to　be　the　new　guy；　so　they　set　the　trap　as　soon　as　I　passed　the　bar　exam。〃
　　Abby　chewed　her　lip　and　held　back　tears。　She　looked　blankly　at　the　door　across　the　dark　room。　〃And　they　listen　to　everything　we　say；〃　she　said。
　　〃No。　Just　every　phone　call　and　conversation　around　the　house　and　in　the　cars。　We're　free　to　meet　here　or　in　most　restaurants；　and　there's　always　the　patio。　But　I　suggest　we　move　farther　away　from　the　sliding　door。　To　be　safe；　we　need　to　sneak　behind　the　storage　shed　and　whisper　softly。〃
　　〃Are　you　trying　to　be　funny？　I　hope　not。　This　is　no　time　for　jokes。　I'm　so　scared；　angry；　confused；　mad　as　hell　and　not　sure　where　to　turn。　I'm　afraid　to　speak　in　my　own　house。　I　watch　every　word　I　utter　on　the　phone；　even　if　it's　a　wrong　number。　Every　time　the　phone　rings；　I　jump　and　stare　at　it。　And　now　this。〃
　　〃You　need　another　drink。〃
　　〃I　need　ten　drinks。〃
　　Mitch　grabbed　her　wrist　and　squeezed　firmly。　〃Wait　a　minute。　I　see　a　familiar　face。　Don't　look　around。〃
　　She　held　her　breath。　〃Where？〃
　　〃On　the　other　side　of　the　bar。　Smile　and　look　at　me。〃
　　Sitting　on　a　barstool　and　staring　intently　at　the　TV　was　a　well…tanned　blond　man　with　a　loud　blue…and…white　alpine　sweater。　Fresh　from　the　slopes。　But　Mitch　had　seen　the　tan　and　the　blond　bangs　and　the　blond　mustache　somewhere　in
　　Washington。　Mitch　watched　him　carefully。　The　blue　light　from　the　tube　illuminated　his　face。　Mitch　hid　in　the　dark。　The　man　lifted　a　bottle　of　beer；　hesitated；　then；　there！；　shot　a　glance　into　the　corner　where　the　McDeeres　huddled　closely　together。
　　〃Are　you　sure？〃　Abby　asked　through；　clenched　teeth。
　　〃Yes。　He　was　in　Washington；　but　I　can't　place　him。　In　fact；　I　saw　him　twice。〃
　　〃Is　he　one　of　them？〃
　　〃How　am　I　supposed　to　know？〃
　　〃Let's　get　out　of　here。〃
　　Mitch　laid　a　twenty　on　the　table　and　they　left　the　airport。
　　Driving　her　Peugeot；　he　raced　through　the　short…term　parking　lot；　paid　the　attendant　and　sped　away　toward　midtown。　After　five　minutes　of　silence；　she　leaned　across　and　whispered　in　his　ear；　〃Can　we　talk？〃
　　He　shook　his　head。　〃Well；　how's　the　weather　been　while　I　was　away？〃
　　Abby　rolled　her　eyes　and　looked　through　the　passenger　window。　〃Cold；〃　she　said。　〃Chance　of　light　snow　tonight。〃
　　〃It　was　below　freezing　the　entire　week　in　Washington。〃
　　Abby　looked　flabbergasted　at　this　revelation。　〃Any　snow？〃　she　asked　with　raised　eyebrows　and　wide　eyes　as　if　enthralled　with　the　conversation。
　　〃No。　Just　raw　cold。〃
　　〃What　a　coincidence！　Cold　here　and　cold　there。〃
　　Mitch　chuckled　to　himself。　They　rode　silently　on　the　interstate　loop。　〃So　who's　gonna　win　the　Super　Bowl？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Oilers。〃
　　〃Think　so；　huh？　I'm　for　the　Redskins。　That's　all　they　talked　about　in　Washington。〃
　　〃My；　my。　Must　be　a　real　fun　city。〃
　　More　silence。　Abby　placed　the　back　of　her　hand　over　her　mouth　and　concentrated　on　the　taillights　ahead。　At　this　moment　of　bewilderment；　she　would　take　her　chances　in　Ti…juana。　Her　husband；　number　three　in　his　class　（at　Harvard）；　the　one　with　Wall　Street　firms　rolling　out　the　red　carpet；　the　one　who　could　have　gone　anywhere；　to　any　firm；　had　signed　up　with　the　。　。　。　Mafia！　With　five　dead　lawyers　notched　on　their　belts；　they　most　surely　wouldn't　hesitate　with　number　six。　Her　husband！　Then　the　many　conversations　with　Kay　Quin　swirled　around　her　brain。　　encourages　babies。　　permits　wives　to　work；　but　not　forever。　　hires　no　one　with　family　money。　　demands　loyalty　to　。　　has　the　lowest　turnover　rate　in　the　country。　Small　wonder。
　　Mitch　watched　her　carefully。　Twenty　minutes　after　they　left　the　airport；　the　Peugeot　parked　in　the　carport　next　to　the　BMW。　They　held　hands　and　walked　to　the　end　of　the　driveway。
　　〃This　is　crazy；　Mitch。〃
　　〃Yes；　but　it's　real。　It　will　not　go　away。〃
　　〃What　do　we　do？〃
　　〃I　don't　know；　babe。　But　we　gotta　do　it　quick；　and　we　can't　make　mistakes。〃
　　〃I'm　scared。〃
　　〃I'm　terrified。〃
　　Tarrance　did　not　wait　long。　One　week　after　he　waved　goodbye　to　Mitch　at　the　Wall；　he　spotted　him　walking　hurriedly　in　the　cold　in　the　direction　of　the　Federal　Building　on　North　Main；　eight　blocks　from　the　Bendini　Building。　He　followed　him　for　two　blocks；　then　slid　into　a　small　coffee　shop　with　a　row　of　windows　facing　the　street；　or　the　mall；　as　it　was　called。　Cars　were　prohibited　on　Main　Street　in　Memphis。　The　asphalt　had　been　covered　with　tile　when　the　boulevard　had　ceased　being　a　street　and　had　been　transformed　into　the　Mid…America　Mall。　An　occasional　useless　and　desolate　tree　rose　from　the　tile　and　stretched　its　barren　limbs　between　the　buildings。　Winos　and　urban　nomads　drifted　aimlessly　from　one　side　of　the　mall　to　the　other；　begging　for　money　and　food。
　　Tarrance　sat　at　a　front　window　and　watched　in　the　distance　as　Mitch　disappeared　into　the　Federal　Building。　He　ordered　coffee　and　a　chocolate　doughnut。　He　checked　his　watch。　It　was　10　A。M。　According　to　the　docket；　McDeere　had　a　brief　hearing　in　Tax　Court　at　this　moment。　It　should　be　very　brief；　the　clerk　of　the　court　had　informed　Tarrance。　He　waited。
　　Nothing　is　ever　brief　in　court。　An　hour　later；　Tarrance　moved　his　face　closer　to　the　window　and　studied　the　scattered　bodies　walking　quickly　in　the　distance。　He　drained　his　coffee　cup　for　the　third　time；　laid　two　dollars　on　the　table　and　stood　hidden　in　the　door。　As　Mitch　approached　on　the　other　side　of　the　mall；　Tarrance　moved　swiftly　toward　him。
　　Mitch　saw　him　and　slowed　for　a　second。
　　〃Hello；　Mitch。　Mind　if　I　walk　with　you？〃
　　〃Yes；　I　mind；　Tarrance。　It's　dangerous；　don't　you　think？〃
　　They　walked　briskly　and　did　not　look　at　each　other。　〃Look　at　that　store　over　there；〃　Tarrance　said；　pointing　to　their　right。　〃I　need　a　pair　of　shoes。〃　They　ducked　into　Don　Pang's　House　of　Shoes。　Tarrance　walked　to　the　rear　of　the　narrow　store　and　stopped　between　two　rows　of　fake　Reeboks　at　4。99　for　two　pairs。　Mitch　followed　him　and　picked　up　a　pair　of　size　tens。　Don　Pang　or　some　other　Korean　eyed　them　suspiciously　but　said　nothing。　They　watched　the　front　door　through　the　racks。
　　〃The　Director　called　me　yesterday；〃　Tarrance　said　without　moving　his　lips。　〃He　asked　about　you。　Said　it　was　time　you　made　a　decision。〃
　　〃Tell　him　I'm　still　thinking。〃
　　〃Have　you　told　the　boys　at　the　office？〃
　　〃No。　I'm　still　thinking。〃
　　〃That's　good。　I　don't　think　you　should　tell　them。〃　He　handed　Mitch　a　business　card。　〃Keep　this。　There　are　two　numbers　on　the　back。　Use　either　one　from　a　pay　phone。　You'll　get　a　recorder；　so　just　leave　a　message　and　tell　me　exactly　when　and　where　to　meet　you。〃
　　Mitch　put　the　card　in　his　pocket。
　　Suddenly；　Tarrance　ducked　lower。　〃What　is　it！〃　Mitch　demanded。
　　〃I　think　we've　been　caught。　I　just　saw　a　goon　walk　past　the　store　and　look　in。　Listen　to　me；　Mitch；　and　listen　carefully。　Walk　with　me　out　of　the　store　right　now；　and　the　instant　we　get　out　the　door；　yell　at　me　to　get　lost　and　shove　me　away。　I'll　act　like　I　want　to　fight；　and　you　run　in　the　direction　of　your　office。〃
　　〃You're　gonna　get　me　killed；　Tarrance。〃
　　〃Just　do　as　I　say。　As　soon　as　you　get　to　the　office；　report　this　incident　to　the　partners。　Tell　them　I　cornered　you　and　you　got　away　as　soon　as　possible。〃
　　Outside；　Mitch　shoved　harder　than　necessary　and　yelled；　〃Get　the　hell　away　from　me！　And　leave　me　alone！〃　He　ran　two　blocks　to　Union　Avenue；　then　walked　to　the　Bendini　Building。　He　stopped　in　the　men's　room　on　the　first　floor　to　catch　his　breath。　He　stared　at　himself　in　the　mirror　and　breathed　deeply　ten　times。
　　Avery　was　on　the　phone；　with　two　lights　holding　and　blinking。　A　secretary　sat　on　the　sofa；　ready　with　a　steno　pad　for　the　onslaught　of　mands。　Mitch　looked　at　her　and　said；　〃Would　you　step　outside；　please。　I　need　to　speak　with　Avery　in　private。〃　She　stood　and　Mitch　escorted　her　to　the　door。　He　closed　it。
　　Avery　watched　him　closely　and　hung　up。　〃What's　going　on？〃　he　asked。
　　Mitch　stood　by　the　sofa。　〃The　FBI　just　grabbed　me　as　I　was　returning　from　Tax　Court。〃
　　〃Damn！　Who　was　it？〃　'　〃Same　agent。　Guy　by　the　name　of　Tarrance。〃
　　Avery　picked　up　the　phone　and　kept　talking。　〃Where　did　it　happen？〃
　　〃On　the　mall。　North　of　Union。　I　was　just　walking　alone；　minding　my　own　business。〃
　　〃Is　this　the　first　contact　since　that　other　thing？〃
　　〃Yes。　I　didn't　recognize　the　guy　at　first。〃
　　Avery　spoke　into　the　receiver。　〃This　is　Avery　Tolar。　I　need　to　speak　to　Oliver　Lambert　immediately。　。。。　I　don't　care　if　he's　on　the　phone。　Interrupt　him；　and　now。〃
　　〃What's　going　on；　Avery？〃　Mitch　asked。
　　〃Hello；　Oliver。　Avery　here。　Sorry　for　the　interruption。　Mitch　McDeere　is　here　in　my　office。　A　few　minutes　ago　he　was　walking　back　from　the　Federal　Building　when　an　FBI　agent　approached　him　on　the　mall。　。　。　。　What？　Yes；　he　just　walked　in　my　office　and　told　me　about　it。　。。。　All　right；　we'll　be　there