jg.thefirm-第40部分

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　　〃You　can　go；　Mitch；〃　Lambert　said。　〃And　keep　us　posted。〃
　　He　left　the　office　by　himself。
　　DeVasher　paced　behind　his　desk　and　ignored　the　partners。　〃He's　lying；　I　tell　you。　He's　lying。　The　sonofabitch　is　lying。　I　know　he's　lying。〃
　　〃What　did　your　man　see？〃　asked　Locke。
　　〃My　man　saw　something　different。　Slightly　different。　But　very　different。　He　says　McDeere　and　Tarrance　walked　sort　of　nonchalantly　into　the　shoe　store。　No　physical　intimidation　by　Tarrance。　None　at　all。　Tarrance　walks　up；　they　talk；　and　both　sort　of　duck　into　the　store。　My　man　says　they　disappear　into　the　back　of　the　store；　and　they're　back　there　for　three；　maybe　four　minutes。　Then　another　one　of　our　guys　walks　by　the　store；　looks　in　and　sees　nothing。　Evidently；　they　saw　our　man；　because　within　seconds　they　e　flying　out　of　the　store　with　McDeere　shoving　and　yelling。　Something　ain't　right；　I　tell　you。〃
　　〃Did　Tarrance　grab　his　arm　and　force　him　into　the　store？〃　Nathan　Locke　asked　slowly；　precisely。
　　〃Hell　no。　And　that's　the　problem。　McDeere　went　voluntarily；　and　when　he　said　the　guy　grabbed　his　arm；　he's　lying。　My　man　says　he　thinks　they　would've　stayed　in　there　for　a　while　if　they　hadn't　seen　us。〃
　　〃But　you're　not　sure　of　that；〃　Nathan　Locke　said。
　　〃I　wasn't　sure；　dammit。　They　didn't　invite　me　into　the　store。〃
　　DeVasher　kept　pacing　while　the　lawyers　stared　at　the　floor。　He　unwrapped　a　Roi…Tan　and　crammed　it　into　his　fat　mouth。
　　Finally；　Oliver　Lambert　spoke。　〃Look；　DeVasher；　it's　very　possible　McDeere　is　telling　the　truth　and　your　man　got　the　wrong　signals。　It's　very　possible。　I　think　McDeere　is　entitled　to　the　benefit　of　the　doubt。〃
　　DeVasher　grunted　and　ignored　this。
　　〃Do　you　know　of　any　contact　since　last　August？〃　asked　Royce　McKnight。
　　〃We　don't　know　of　any；　but　that　doesn't　mean　they　ain't　talked；　does　it　now？　We　didn't　know　about　those　other　two　until　it　was　almost　too　late。　It's　impossible　to　watch　every　move　they　make。　Impossible。〃
　　He　walked　back　and　forth　by　his　credenza；　obviously　deep　in　thought。　〃I　gotta　talk　to　him；〃　he　finally　said。
　　〃Who？〃
　　〃McDeere。　It's　time　he　and　I　had　a　little　talk。〃
　　〃About　what？〃　Lambert　asked　nervously。
　　〃You　let　me　handle　it；　okay？　Just　stay　out　of　my　way。〃
　　〃I　think　it's　a　bit　premature；〃　Locke　said。
　　〃And　I　don't　give　a　damn　what　you　think。　If　you　clowns　were　in　charge　of　security；　you'd　all　be　in　prison。〃
　　Mitch　sat　in　his　office　with　the　door　closed　and　stared　at　the　walls。　A　migraine　was　forming　at　the　base　of　his　skull；　and　he　felt　sick。　There　was　a　knock　at　the　door。
　　〃e　in；〃　he　said　softly。
　　Avery　peeked　inside；　then　walked　to　the　desk。　〃How　about　lunch？〃
　　〃No；　thanks。　I'm　not　hungry。〃
　　The　partner　slid　his　hands　into　his　trouser　pockets　and　smiled　warmly。　〃Look；　Mitch；　I　know　you're　worried。　Let's　take　a　break。　I've　got　to　run　downtown　for　a　meeting。　Why　don't　you　meet　me　at　the　Manhattan　Club　at　one。　We'll　have　a　long　lunch　and　talk　things　over。　I've　reserved　the　limo　for　you。　It'll　be　waiting　outside　at　a　quarter　till。〃
　　Mitch　managed　a　weak　smile；　as　if　he　was　touched　by　this。　〃Sure；　Avery。　Why　not。〃
　　〃Good。　I'll　see　you　at　one。〃
　　At　a　quarter　till；　Mitch　opened　the　front　door　and　walked　to　the　limo。　The　driver　opened　the　door；　and　Mitch　fell　in。　pany　was　waiting。
　　A　thick；　bald…headed　man　with　a　huge；　bulging；　hanging　neck　sat　smugly　in　the　corner　of　the　rear　seat。　He　stuck　out　a　hand。　〃Name's　DeVasher；　Mitch。　Nice　to　meet　you。〃
　　〃Am　I　in　the　right　limo？〃　Mitch　asked。
　　〃Sure。　Sure。　Relax。〃　The　driver　pulled　away　from　the　curb。
　　〃What　can　I　do　for　you？〃　Mitch　asked。
　　〃You　can　listen　for　a　while。　We　need　to　have　a　little　talk。〃　The　driver　turned　on　Riverside　Drive　and　headed　for　the　Hernando　De　Soto　Bridge。
　　〃Where　are　we　going？〃　Mitch　asked。
　　〃For　a　little　ride。　Just　relax；　son。〃
　　So　I'm　number　six；　thought　Mitch。　This　is　it。　No；　wait　a
　　'minute。　They　were　much　more　creative　than　this　with　their　killing。
　　〃Mitch；　can　I　call　you　Mitch？〃
　　〃Sure。〃
　　〃Fine。　Mitch；　I'm　in　charge　of　security　for　；　and…〃
　　〃Why　does　　need　security？〃
　　〃Just　listen　to　me；　son；　and　I'll　explain。　　has　an　extensive　security　program；　thanks　to　old　man　Bendini。　He　was　a　nut　about　security　and　secrecy。　My　job　is　to　protect　；　and　quite　frankly；　we're　very　concerned　about　this　FBI　business。〃
　　〃So　am　I。〃
　　〃Yes。　We　believe　the　FBI　is　determined　to　infiltrate　our　firm　in　hopes　of　collecting　information　on　certain　clients。〃
　　〃Which　clients？〃
　　〃Some　high　rollers　with　questionable　tax　shelters。〃
　　Mitch　nodded　and　looked　at　the　river　below。　They　were　now　in　Arkansas；　with　the　Memphis　skyline　fading　behind　them。　DeVasher　recessed　the　conversation。　He　sat　like　a　frog　with　his　hands　folded　across　the　gut。　Mitch　waited；　until　it　became　apparent　that　lapses　in　conversation　and　awkward　silence　did　not　bother　DeVasher。　Several　miles　across　the　river；　the　driver　left　the　interstate　and　found　a　rough　county　road　that　circled　and　ran　back　to　the　east。　Then　he　turned　onto　a　gravel　road　that　went　for　a　mile　through　low…lying　bean　fields　next　to　the　river。　Memphis　was　suddenly　visible　again；　across　the　water。
　　〃Where　are　we　going？〃　Mitch　asked；　with　some　alarm。
　　〃Relax。　I　want　to　show　you　something。〃
　　A　gravesite；　thought　Mitch。　The　limo　stopped　on　a　cliff　that　fell　ten　feet　to　a　sandbar　next　to　the　bank。　The　skyline　stood　impressively　on　the　other　side。　The　top　of　the　Bendini　Building　was　visible。
　　〃Let's　take　a　walk；〃　DeVasher　said。
　　〃Where　to？〃　Mitch　asked。
　　〃e　on。　It's　okay。〃　DeVasher　opened　his　door　and　walked　to　the　rear　bumper。　Slowly；　Mitch　followed　him。
　　〃As　I　was　saying；　Mitch；　we　are　very　troubled　by　this　contact　with　the　FBI。　If　you　talk　to　them；　they　will　get　bolder；　then　who　knows　what　the　fools　will　try。　It's　imperative　that　you　not　speak　to　them；　ever　again。　Understand？〃
　　〃Yes。　I've　understood　since　the　first　visit　in　August。〃
　　Suddenly；　DeVasher　was　in　his　face；　nose　to　nose。　He　smiled　wickedly。　〃I　have　something　that　will　keep　you　honest。〃　He　reached　in　his　sport　coat　and　pulled　out　a　manila　envelope。
　　〃Take　a　look　at　these；〃　he　said　with　a　sneer；　and　walked　away。
　　Mitch　leaned　on　the　limo　and　nervously　opened　the　envelope。　There　were　four　photographs；　black　and　white；　eight　by　ten；　very　clear。　On　the　beach。　The　girl。
　　〃Oh　my　god！　Who　took　these？〃　Mitch　yelled　at　him。
　　〃What　difference　does　it　make？　It's　you；　ain't　it？〃
　　There　was　no　doubt　about　who　it　was。　He　ripped　the　photographs　into　small　pieces　and　threw　them　in　DeVasher's　direction。
　　〃We　got　plenty　at　the　office；〃　DeVasher　said　calmly。　〃Bunch　of　them。　We　don't　want　to　use　them；　but　one　more　little　conversation　with　Mr。　Tarrance　or　any　other　Fibbie　and　we'll　mail　them　to　your　wife。　How　would　you　like　that；　Mitch？　Imagine　your　pretty　little　wife　going　to　the　mailbox　to　get　her　Redbook　and　catalogues　and　she　sees　this　sftrange　envelope　addressed　to　her。　Try　to　think　of　that；　Mitch。　The　next　time　you　and　Tarrance　decide　to　shop　for　plastic　shoes；　think　about　us；　Mitch。　Because　we'll　be　watching。〃
　　〃Who　knows　about　these？〃　Mitch　asked。
　　〃Me　and　the　photographer；　and　now　you。　Nobody　in　the　firm　knows；　and　I　don't　plan　to　tell　them。　But　if　you　screw　up　again；　I　suspect　they'll　be　passing　them　around　at　lunch。　I　play　hardball；　Mitch。〃
　　He　sat　on　the　trunk　and　rubbed　his　temples。　DeVasher　walked　up　next　to　him。　〃Listen；　son。　You're　a　very　bright　young　man；　and　you're　on　your　way　to　big　bucks。　Don't　screw　it　up。　Just　work　hard；　play　the　game；　buy　new　cars；　build　bigger　homes；　the　works。　Just　like　all　the　other　guys。　Don't　try　to　be　no　hero。　I　don't　want　to　use　the　pictures。〃
　　〃Okay；　okay。〃
　　　
　　　21
　　FOR　seventeen　days　and　seventeen　nights；　the　troubled　lives　of　Mitch　and　Abby　McDeere　proceeded　quietly　without　interference　from　Wayne　Tarrance　or　any　of　his　confederates。　The　routines　returned。　Mitch　worked　eighteen　hours　a　day；　every　day　of　the　week；　and　never　left　the　office　for　any　reason　except　to　drive　home。　Lunch　was　at　the　desk。　Avery　sent　other　associates　to　run　errands　or　file　motions　or　appear　in　court。　Mitch　seldom　left　his　office；　the　fifteen…by…fifteen　sanctuary　where　he　was　certain　Tarrance　could　not　get　him。　If　possible；　he　stayed　out　of　the　halls　and　men's　rooms　and　coffee　room。　They　were　watching；　he　was　sure。　He　was　not　sure　who　they　were；　but　there　was　no　doubt　that　a　bunch　of　folks　were　vitally　interested　in　his　movements。　So　he　stayed　at　his　desk；　with　the　door　shut　most　of　the　time；　working　diligently；　billing　like　crazy　and　trying　to　forget　that　the　building　had　a　fifth　floor　and　on　the　fifth　floor　was　a　nasty　little　bastard　named　DeVasher　who　had　a　collection　of　photographs　that　could　ruin　him。
　　With　each　uneventful　day；　Mitch　withdrew　even　more　into　his　asylum　and　became　even　more　hopeful　that　perhaps　the　last　episode　in　the　Korean　shoe　store　had　scared　Tarrance　or　maybe　gotten　him　fired。　Maybe　Voyles　would　just　simply　forget　the　entire　operation；　and　Mitch　could　continue　along　his　happy　way　of　getting　rich　and　making　partner　and　buying　everything　in　sight。　But　he　knew　better。
　　To　Abby；　the　house　was　a　prison；　though　she　could　e　and　go　at　will。　She　worked　longer　hours　at　school；　spent　more　time　walking　the　malls　and　made　at　least　one　trip　each　day　to　the　grocery　store。　She　watched　everyone；　especially　men　in　dark　suits　who　looked　at　her。　She　wore　black　sunglasses　so　they　could　not　see　her　eyes。　She　wore　them　when　it　was　raining。　Late　at　night；　after　supper　alone　while　she　waited　for　him；　she　stared　at　the　walls　and　resisted　the　temptation　to　investigate。　The　phones　could　be　examined　with　a　magnifying　glass。　The　wires　and　mikes　could　not　be　invisible；　she　told　herself。　More　than　once　she　thought　of　finding　a　book　on　such　devices　so　she　could　identify　them。　But　Mitch　said　no。　They　were　in　the　house；　he　assured　her；　and　any　attempt　to　find　them　could　be　disastrous。
　　So　she　moved　silently　around　her　own　house；　feeling　violated　and　knowing　it　could　not　last　much　longer。　They　both　knew　the　importance　of　appearing　normal；　of　sounding　normal。　They　tried　to　engage　in　normal　talk　about　how　the　day　went；　about　the　office　and