jg.thefirm-第25部分

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nd　weak。　Running　would　require　more　strength　than　he　could　possibly　muster。　He　wanted　to　just　sit　and　maybe　she　would　go　away。　Maybe　she　would　drown。　Maybe　the　tide　would　suddenly　materialize　and　sweep　her　out　to　sea。
　　〃e　on；　Mitch。〃
　　He　removed　his　shirt　and　waded　into　the　water。　She　watched　him　with　a　smile；　and　when　he　reached　her；　she　took　his　hand　and　led　him　to　deeper　water。　She　locked　her　hands　around　his　neck；　and　they　kissed。　He　found　the　strings。　They　kissed　again。
　　She　stopped　abruptly　and；　without　speaking；　started　for　the　beach。　He　watched　her。　She　sat　on　the　sand；　between　the　two　chairs；　and　removed　the　rest　of　her　bikini。　He　ducked　under　the　water　and　held　his　breath　for　an　eternity。　When　he　surfaced；　she　was　reclining；　resting　on　her　elbows　in　the　sand。　He　surveyed　the　beach　and；　of　course；　saw　no　one。　At　that　precise　instant；　the　moon；　ducked　behind　another　cloud。　There　was　not　a　boat　or　a　catamaran　or　a　dinghy　or　a　swimmer　or　a　snorkeler　or　anything　or　anybody　moving　on　the　water。
　　〃I　can't　do　this；〃　he　muttered　through　clenched　teeth。　〃What　did　you　say；　Mitch？〃
　　〃I　can't　do　this！〃　he　yelled。　〃But　I　want　you。〃
　　〃I　can't　do　it。〃
　　〃e　on；　Mitch。　No　one　will　ever　know。〃　No　one　will　ever　know。　No　one　will　ever　know。　He　walked　slowly　toward　her。　No　one　will　ever　know。
　　There　was　plete　silence　in　the　rear　of　the　taxi　as　the　lawyers　rode　into　Georgetown。　They　were　late。　They　had　overslept　and　missed　breakfast。　Neither　felt　particularly　well。　Avery　looked　especially　haggard。　His　eyes　were　bloodshot　and　his　face　was　pale。　He　had　not　shaved。
　　The　driver　stopped　in　heavy　traffic　in　front　of　the　Royal　Bank　of　Montreal。　The　heat　and　humidity　were　already　stifling。
　　Randolph　Osgood　was　the　banker；　a　stuffy　British　type　with　a　navy　double…breasted　suit；　horn…rimmed　glasses；　a　large　shiny　forehead　and　a　pointed　nose。　He　greeted　Avery　like　an　old　friend　and　introduced　himself　to　Mitch。　They　were　led　to　a　large　office　on　the　second　floor　with　a　view　of　Hogsty　Bay。　Two　clerks　were　waiting。
　　〃Exactly　what　do　you　need；　Avery？〃　Osgood　asked　through　his　nose。
　　〃Let's　start　off　with　some　coffee。　I　need　summaries　of　all　the　accounts　of　Sonny　Capps；　Al　Coscia；　Dolph　Hemmba；　Ratzlaff　Partners　and　Greene　Group。〃
　　〃Yes；　and　how　far　back　would　you　like　to　go？〃
　　〃Six　months。　Every　account。〃
　　Osgood　snapped　his　fingers　at　one　of　the　clerks。　She　left　and　returned　with　a　tray　of　coffee　and　pastries。　The　other　clerk　took　notes。
　　〃Of　course；　Avery；　we'll　need　authorization　and　powers　of　attorney　for　each　of　these　clients；〃　Osgood　said。
　　〃They're　on　file；〃　Avery　said　as　he　unpacked　his　briefcase。
　　〃Yes；　but　they've　expired。　We'll　need　current　ones。　Every　account。〃
　　〃Very　well。〃　Avery　slid　a　file　across　the　table。　〃They're　in　there。　Everything's　current。〃　He　winked　at　Mitch。
　　A　clerk　took　the　file　and　spread　the　documents　over　the　table。　Each　instrument　was　scrutinized　by　both　clerks；　then　by　Osgood　himself。　The　lawyers　drank　coffee　and　waited。
　　Osgood　smiled　and　said；　〃It　all　appears　to　be　in　order。　We'll　get　the　records。　What　else　do　you　need？〃
　　〃I　need　to　establish　three　corporations。　Two　for　Sonny　Capps　and　one　for　Greene　Group。　We'll　follow　the　usual　procedure。　The　bank　will　serve　as　registered　agent；　etc。〃
　　〃I'll　procure　the　necessary　documents；〃　Osgood　said；　and　looked　at　a　clerk。　〃What　else？〃
　　〃That's　all　for　now。〃
　　〃Very　well。　We　should　have　these　records　within　thirty　minutes。　Will　you　be　joining　me　for　lunch？〃
　　〃I'm　sorry；　Randolph。　I　must　decline。　Mitch　and　I　have　a　prior　mitment。　Maybe　tomorrow。〃
　　Mitch　knew　nothing　of　a　prior　mitment；　at　least　none　he　was　involved　in。
　　〃Perhaps；〃　replied　Osgood。　He　left　the　room　with　the　clerks。
　　Avery　closed　the　door　and　removed　his　jacket。　He　walked　to　the　window　and　sipped　coffee。　〃Look；　Mitch。　I'm　sorry　about　last　night。　Very　sorry。　I　got　drunk　and　quit　thinking。　I　was　wrong　to　push　that　woman　on　you。〃
　　〃Apology　accepted。　Don't　let　it　happen　again。〃
　　〃It　won't。　I　promise。〃
　　〃Was　she　good？〃
　　I　think　so。　I　don't　remember　too　much。　What　did　you　do　with　her　sister？〃
　　〃She　told　me　to　get　lost。　I　hit　the　beach　and　took　a　walk。〃
　　Avery　bit　into　a　pastry　and　wiped　his　mouth。　〃You　know　I'm　separated。　We'll　probably　get　a　divorce　in　a　year　or　so。　I'm　very　discreet　because　the　divorce　could　get　nasty。　There's　an　unwritten　rule　in　…what　we　do　away　from　Memphis　stays　away　from　Memphis。　Understand？〃
　　〃e　on；　Avery。　You　know　I　wouldn't　tell。〃
　　〃I　know。　I　know。〃
　　Mitch　was　glad　to　hear　of　the　unwritten　rule；　although　he　awakened　with　the　security　that　he　had　mitted　the　perfect　crime。　He　had　thought　of　her　in　bed；　the　shower；　the　taxi；　and　now　he　had　trouble　concentrating　on　anything。　He　had　caught　himself　looking　at　jewelry　stores　when　they　reached　Georgetown。
　　〃I've　got　a　question；〃　Mitch　said。
　　Avery　nodded　and　ate　the　pastry。
　　〃When　I　was　recruited　a　few　months　ago　by　Oliver　Lambert　and　McKnight　and　the　gang；　it　was　impressed　upon　me　repeatedly　that　　frowned　on　divorce；　women；　booze；　drugs；　everything　but　hard　work　and　money。　That's　why　I　took　the　job。　I've　seen　the　hard　work　and　money；　but　now　I'm　seeing　other　things。　Where　did　you　go　wrong？　Or　do　all　the　guys　do　it？〃
　　〃I　don't　like　your　question。〃
　　〃I　knew　you　wouldn't。　But　I'd　like　an　answer。　I　deserve　an　answer。　I　feel　like　I　was　misled。〃
　　〃So　what　are　you　going　to　do？　Leave　because　I　got　drunk　and　laid　up　with　a　whore？〃
　　〃I　haven't　thought　about　leaving。〃
　　〃Good。　Don't。〃
　　〃But　I'm　entitled　to　an　answer。〃
　　〃Okay。　Fair　enough。　I'm　the　biggest　rogue　in；　and　they'll　e　down　hard　when　I　mention　the　divorce。　I　chase　women　now　and　then；　but　no　one　knows　it。　Or　at　least　they　can't　catch　me。　I'm　sure　it's　done　by　other　partners；　but　you'd　never　catch　them。　Not　all　of　them；　but　a　few。　Most　have　very　stable　marriages　and　are　forever　faithful　to　their　wives。　I've　always　been　the　bad　boy；　but　they've　tolerated　me　because　I'm　so　talented。　They　know　I　drink　during　lunch　and　sometimes　in　the　office；　and　they　know　I　violate　some　more　of　their　sacred　rules；　but　they　made　me　a　partner　because　they　need　me。　And　now　that　I'm　a　partner；　they　can't　do　much　about　it。　I'm　not　that　bad　of　a　guy；　Mitch。〃
　　〃I　didn't　say　you　were。〃
　　〃I'm　not　perfect。　Some　of　them　are；　believe　me。　They're　machines；　robots。　They　live；　eat　and　sleep　for　Bendini；　Lambert　&　Locke。　I　like　to　have　a　little　fun。〃
　　〃So　you're　the　exception…〃
　　〃Rather　than　the　rule；　yes。　And　I　don't　apologize　for　it。〃
　　〃I　didn't　ask　you　for　an　apology。　Just　a　clarification。〃
　　〃Clear　enough？〃
　　〃Yes。　I've　always　admired　your　bluntness。〃
　　〃And　I　admire　your　discipline。　It's　a　strong　man　who　can　remain　faithful　to　his　wife　with　the　temptations　you　had　last　night。　I'm　not　that　strong。　Don't　want　to　be。〃
　　Temptations。　He　had　thought　of　inspecting　the　downtown　jewelry　shops　during　lunch。
　　〃Look；　Avery；　I'm　not　a　Holy　Roller；　and　I'm　not　shocked。　I'm　not　one　to　judge…I've　been　judged　all　my　life。　I　was　just　confused　about　the　rules；　that's　all。〃
　　〃The　rules　never　change。　They're　cast　in　concrete。　Carved　in　granite。　Etched　in　stone。　Violate　too　many　and　you're　out。　Or　violate　as　many　as　you　want；　but　just　don't　get　caught。〃
　　〃Fair　enough。〃
　　Osgood　and　a　group　of　clerks　entered　the　room　with　puter　printouts　and　stacks　of　documents。　They　made　neat　piles　on　the　table　and　alphabetized　it　all。
　　〃This　should　keep　you　busy　for　a　day　or　so；〃　Osgood　said　with　a　forced　smile。　He　snapped　his　fingers　and　the　clerks　disappeared。　〃I'll　be　in　my　office　if　you　need　something。〃
　　〃Yes；　thanks；〃　Avery　said　as　he　hovered　over　the　first　set　of　documents。　Mitch　removed　his　coat　and　loosened　his　tie。
　　〃Exactly　what　are　we　doing　here？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Two　things。　First；　we'll　review　the　entries　into　all　of　these　accounts。　We're　looking　primarily　for　interest　earned；　what　rate；　how　much；　etc。　We'll　do　a　rough　audit　of　each　account　to　make　sure　the　interest　is　going　where　it　is　supposed　to　go。　For　example；　Dolph　Hemmba　sends　his　interest　to　nine　different　banks　in　the　Bahamas。　It's　stupid；　but　it　makes　him　happy。　It's　also　impossible　for　anyone　to　follow；　except　me。　He　has　about　twelve　million　in　this　bank；　so　it's　worth　keeping　up　with。　He　could　do　this　himself；　but　he　feels　better　if　I　do　it。　At　two…fifty　an　hour；　I　don't　mind。　We'll　check　the　interest　this　bank　is　paying　on　each　account。　The　rate　varies　depending　on　a　number　of　factors。　It's　discretionary　with　the　bank；　and　this　is　a　good　way　to　keep　them　honest。〃
　　〃I　thought　they　were　honest。〃
　　〃They　are；　but　they're　bankers；　remember。〃
　　〃You're　looking　at　close　to　thirty　accounts　here；　and　when　we　leave　we'll　know　the　exact　balance；　the　interest　earned　and　where　the　interest　is　going。　Second；　we　have　to　incorporate　three　panies　under　Caymanian　jurisdiction。　It's　fairly　easy　legal　work　and　could　be　done　in　Memphis。　But　the　clients　think　we　must　e　here　to　do　it。　Remember；　we're　dealing　with　people　who　invest　millions。　A　few　thousand　in　legal　fees　doesn't　bother　them。〃
　　Mitch　flipped　through　a　printout　in　the　Hemmba　stack。　〃Who's　this　guy　Hemmba？　I　haven't　heard　of　him。〃
　　〃I've　got　a　lot　of　clients　you　haven't　heard　of。　Hemmba　is　a　big　farmer　in　Arkansas；　one　of　the　state's　largest　landowners。〃
　　〃Twelve　million　dollars？〃
　　〃That's　just　in　this　bank！〃
　　〃That's　a　lot　of　cotton　and　soybeans。〃
　　〃Let's　just　say　he　has　other　ventures。〃
　　〃Such　as？〃
　　〃I　really　can't　say。〃
　　〃Legal　or　illegal？〃
　　〃Let's　just　say　he's　hiding　twenty　million　plus　interest　in　various　Caribbean　banks　from　the　IRS。〃
　　〃Are　we　helping　him？〃
　　Avery　spread　the　documents　on　one　end　of　the　table　and　began　checking　entries。　Mitch　watched　and　waited　for　an　answer。　The　silence　grew　heavier　and　it　was　obvious　there　would　not　be　one。　He　could　press；　but　he　had　asked　enough　questions　for　one　day。　He　rolled　up　his　sleeves　and　went　to　work。
　　At　noon　he　learned　about　Avery's　prior　mitment。　His　woman　was　waiting　at　the　condo　for　a　little　rendezvous。　He　suggested　they　break　for　a　couple　of　hours　and　mentioned　a　caf6　downtown　Mitch　could　try。
　　Instead　of　a　caf