jg.thefirm-第42部分

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　　〃It's　too　early。　I　haven't　given　it　much　thought。〃
　　〃You　know　he　and　his　wife　are　going　to　the　Caymans　in　two　weeks　for　a　vacation。　They'll　stay　in　one　of　our　condos；　the　usual。〃
　　〃We　wouldn't　do　it　there　again。　Too　suspicious。　Lazarov　instructed　me　to　get　her　pregnant。〃
　　〃McDeere's　wife？〃
　　〃Yep。　He　wants　them　to　have　a　baby；　a　little　leverage。　She's　on　the　pill；　so　we　gotta　break　in；　take　her　little　box；　match　up　the　pills　and　replace　them　with　placebos。〃
　　At　this；　the　great　black　eyes　saddened　just　a　touch　and　looked　through　the　window。　〃What　the　hell's　going　on；　De…Vasher？〃　he　asked　softly。
　　〃This　place　is　about　to　change；　Nat。　It　appears　as　though　the　feds　are　extremely　interested；　and　they　keep　pecking　away。　One　day；　who　knows；　one　of　your　boys　may　take　the　bait；　and　you'll　all　leave　town　in　the　middle　of　the　night。〃
　　〃I　don't　believe　that；　DeVasher。　A　lawyer　here　would　be　a　fool　to　risk　his　life　and　his　family　for　a　few　promises　from　the　feds。　I　just　don't　believe　it　will　happen。　These　boys　are　too　smart　and　they're　making　too　much　money。〃
　　〃I　hope　you're　right。〃
　　　
　　　22
　　THE　leasing　agent　leaned　against　the　rear　of　the　elevator　and　admired　the　black　leather　miniskirt　from　behind。　He　followed　it　down　almost　to　the　knees；　where　it　ended　and　the　seams　in　the　black　silk　stockings　began　and　snaked　downward　to　black　heels。　Kinky　heels；　with　little　red　bows　across　the　toes。　He　slowly　worked　his　way　back　up　the　seams；　past　the　leather；　pausing　to　admire　the　roundness　of　her　rear；　then　upward　to　the　red　cashmere　sweater；　which　from　his　vantage　point　revealed　little　but　from　the　other　side　was　quite　impressive；　as　he　had　noticed　in　the　lobby。　The　hair　landed　just　below　the　shoulder　blades　and　contrasted　nicely　with　the　red。　He　knew　it　was　bleached；　but　add　the　bleach　to　the　leather　mini　and　the　seams　and　the　kinky　heels　and　the　tight　sweater　hugging　those　things　around　the　front；　add　all　that　together　and　he　knew　this　was　a　woman　he　could　have。　He　would　like　to　have　her　in　the　building。　She　just　wanted　a　small　office。　The　rent　was　negotiable。
　　The　elevator　stopped。　The　door　opened；　and　he　followed　her　into　the　narrow　hall。　〃This　way〃…he　pointed；　flipping　on　a　light　switch。　In　the　corner；　he　moved　in　front　of　her　and　stuck　a　key　in　a　badly　aged　wooden　door。
　　〃It's　just　two　rooms；〃　he　said；　nipping　on　another　switch。　〃About　two　hundred　square　feet。〃
　　She　walked　straight　to　the　window。　〃The　view　is　okay；〃　Tammy　said；　staring　into　the　distance。
　　〃Yes；　a　nice　view。　The　carpet　is　new。　Painted　last　fall。　Rest　room's　down　the　hall。　It's　a　nice　place。　The　entire　building's　been　renovated　within　the　past　eight　years。〃　He　stared　at　the　black　seams　as　he　spoke。
　　〃It's　not　bad；〃　Tammy　said；　not　in　response　to　anything　he　had　mentioned。　She　continued　to　stare　out　the　window。　〃What's　the　name　of　this　place？〃
　　〃The　Cotton　Exchange　Building。　One　of　the　oldest　in　Memphis。　It's　really　a　prestigious　address。〃
　　〃How　prestigious　is　the　rent？〃
　　He　cleared　his　throat　and　held　a　file　before　him。　He　did　not　look　at　the　file。　He　was　gaping　at　the　heels　now。　〃Well；　it's　such　a　small　office。　What　did　you　say　you　needed　it　for？〃
　　〃Secretarial　work。　Free…lance　secretarial。〃　She　moved　to　the　other　window；　ignoring　him。　He　followed　every　move。
　　〃I　see。　How　long　will　you　need　it？〃
　　〃Six　months；　with　an　option　for　a　year。〃
　　〃Okay；　for　six　months　we　can　lease　it　for　three…fifty　a　month。〃
　　She　did　not　flinch　or　look　from　the　window。　She　slid　her　right　foot　out　of　the　shoe　and　rubbed　the　left　calf　with　it。　The　seam　continued；　he　observed；　under　the　heel　and　along　the　bottom　of　the　foot。　The　toenails　were　。　。　。　red！　She　cocked　her　rear　to　the　left　and　leaned　on　the　windowsill。　His　file　was　shaking。
　　〃I'll　pay　two…fifty　a　month；〃　she　said　with　authority。
　　He　cleared　his　throat。　There　was　no　sense　being　greedy。　The　tiny　rooms　were　dead　space；　useless　to　anyone　else；　and　had　not　been　occupied　in　years。　The　building　could　use　a　free…lance　secretary。　Hell；　he　might　even　need　a　free…lance　secretary。
　　〃Three　hundred；　but　no　less。　This　building　is　in　demand。
　　Ninety　percent　occupied　right　now。　Three　hundred　a　month；　and　that's　too　low。　We're　barely　covering　costs　at　that。〃
　　She　turned　suddenly；　and　there　they　were。　Staring　at　him。　The　cashmere　was　stretched　tightly　around　them。　〃The　ad　said　there　were　furnished　offices　available；〃　she　said。
　　〃We　can　furnish　this　one；〃　he　said；　eager　to　cooperate。　〃What　do　you　need？〃
　　She　looked　around　the　office。　〃I　would　like　a　secretarial　desk　with　credenza　in　here。　Several　file　cabinets。　A　couple　of　chairs　for　clients。　Nothing　fancy。　The　other　room　does　not　have　to　be　furnished。　I'll　put　a　copier　in　there；〃
　　〃No　problem；〃　he　said　with　a　smile。
　　〃And　I'll　pay　three　hundred　a　month；　furnished。〃
　　〃Good；〃　he　said　as　he　opened　a　file　and　withdrew　a　blank　lease。　He　laid　it　on　a　folding　table　and　began　writing。
　　〃Your　name？〃
　　〃Doris　Greenwood。〃　Her　mother　was　Doris　Greenwood；　and　she　had　been　Tammy　Inez　Greenwood　before　she　ran　up　on　Buster　Hemphill；　who　later　became　（legally）　Elvis　Aaron　Hemphill；　and　life　had　pretty　much　been　downhill　since。　Her　mother　lived　in　Effingham；　Illinois。
　　〃Okay；　Doris；〃　he　said　with　an　effort　at　suaveness；　as　if　they　were　now　on　a　first…name　basis　and　growing　closer　by　the　moment。　〃Home　address？〃
　　〃Why　do　you　need　that？〃　she　asked　with　irritation。
　　〃Well；　uh；　we　just　need　that　information。〃
　　〃It's　none　of　your　business。〃
　　〃Okay；　okay。　No　problem。〃　He　dramatically　scratched　out　that　portion　of　the　lease。　He　hovered　above　it。　〃Let's　see。　We'll　run　it　from　today；　March　2；　for　six　months　until　September　2。　Is　that　okay？〃
　　She　nodded　and　lit　a　cigarette。
　　He　read　the　next　paragraph。　〃Okay；　we　require　a　three…hundred…dollar　deposit　and　the　first　month's　rent　in　advance。〃
　　From　a　pocket　in　the　tight　black　leather　skirt；　she　produced　a　roll　of　cash。　She　counted　six　one…hundred…dollar　bills　and　laid　them　on　the　table。　〃Receipt；　please；〃　she　demanded。
　　〃Certainly。〃　He　continued　writing。
　　〃What　floor　are　we　on？〃　she　asked；　returning　to　the　windows。
　　〃Ninth。　There's　a　ten　percent　late　charge　past　the　fifteenth　of　the　month。　We　have　the　right　to　enter　at　any　reasonable　time　to　inspect。　Premises　cannot　be　used　for　any　illegal　purpose。　You　pay　all　utilities　and　insurance　on　contents。　You　get　one　parking　space　in　the　lot　across　the　street；　and　here　are　two　keys。　Any　questions？〃
　　〃Yeah。　What　if　I　work　odd　hours？　I　mean；　real　late　at　night。〃
　　〃No　big　deal。　You　can　e　and　go　as　you　please。　After　dark　the　security　guard　at　the　Front　Street　door　will　let　you　pass。〃
　　Tammy　stuck　the　cigarette　between　her　sticky　lips　and　walked　to　the　table。　She　glanced　at　the　lease；　hesitated；　then　signed　the　name　of　Doris　Greenwood。
　　They　locked　up；　and　he　followed　her　carefully　down　the　hall　to　the　elevator。
　　By　noon　the　next　day；　the　odd　assortment　of　furniture　had　been　delivered　and　Doris　Greenwood　of　Greenwood　Services　arranged　the　rented　typewriter　and　the　rented　phone　next　to　each　other　on　the　secretarial　desk。　Sitting　and　facing　the　typewriter；　she　could　look　slightly　to　her　left　out　the　window　and　watch　the　traffic　on　Front　Street。　She　filled　the　desk　drawers　with　typing　paper；　notepads；　pencils；　odds　and　ends。　She　placed　magazines　on　the　filing　cabinets　and　the　small　table　between　the　two　chairs　where　her　clients　would　sit。
　　There　was　a　knock　at　the　door。　〃Who　is　it？〃　she　asked。
　　〃It's　your　copier；〃　a　voice　answered。
　　She　unlocked　the　door　and　opened　it。　A　short；　hyperactive　little　man　named　Gordy　rushed　in；　looked　around　the　room　and　said　rudely；　〃Okay；　where　do　you　want　it？〃
　　〃In　there；〃　Tammy　said；　pointing　to　the　eight…by…ten　empty　room　with　no　door　on　the　hinges。　Two　young　men　in　blue　uniforms　pushed　and　pulled　the　cart　holding　the　copier。
　　Gordy　laid　the　paperwork　on　her　desk。　〃It's　a　mighty　big　copier　for　this　place。　We're　talking　ninety　copies　a　minute　with　a　collator　and　automatic　feed。　It's　a　big　machine。〃
　　〃Where　do　I　sign？〃　she　asked；　ignoring　the　small　talk。
　　He　pointed　with　the　pen。　〃Six　months；　at　two…forty　a　month。　That　includes　service　and　maintenance　and　five　hundred　sheets　of　paper　for　the　first　two　months。　You　want　legal　or　letter…sized？〃
　　〃Legal。〃
　　〃First　payment　due　on　the　tenth；　and　same　thereafter　for　five　months。　Operator's　manual　is　on　the　rack。　Call　me　if　you　have　any　questions。〃
　　The　two　servicemen　gawked　at　the　tight　stonewashed　jeans　and　the　red　heels　and　slowly　left　the　office。　Gordy　ripped　off　the　yellow　copy　and　handed　it　to　her。　〃Thanks　for　the　business；〃　he　said。
　　She　locked　the　door　behind　them。　She　walked　to　the　window　next　to　her　desk　and　looked　north；　along　Front。　Two　blocks　up　on　the　opposite　side；　floors　four　and　five　of　the　Bendini　Building　were　visible。
　　He　kept　to　himself　with　his　nose　buried　deep　in　the　books　and　the　piles　of　paperwork。　He　was　too　busy　for　any　of　them；　except　Lamar。　He　was　very　much　aware　that　his　withdrawal　was　not　going　unnoticed。　So　he　worked　harder。　Perhaps　they　would　not　be　suspicious　if　he　billed　twenty　hours　a　day。　Perhaps　money　could　insulate　him。
　　Nina　left　a　box　of　cold　pizza　when　she　checked　out　after　lunch。　He　ate　it　while　he　cleared　his　desk。　He　called　Abby。　Said　he　was　going　to　see　Ray　and　that　he　would　return　to　Memphis　late　Sunday。　He　eased　through　the　side　door　and　into　the　parking　lot。
　　For　three　and　a　half　hours；　he　raced　along　Interstate　40　with　his　eyes　on　the　rearview　mirror。　Nothing。　He　never　saw　them。　They　probably　just　call　ahead；　he　thought；　and　wait　for　him　somewhere　up　there。　In　Nashville；　he　made　a　sudden　exit　into　downtown。　Using　a　map　he　had　scribbled；　he　darted　in　and　out　of　traffic；　making　U…turns　wherever　possible　and　in　general　driving　like　a　nut。　To　the　south　of　town；　he　turned　quickly　into　a　large　apartment　plex　and　cruised　between　the　buildings。　It　was　nice　enough。　The　parking　lots　were　clean　and　the　faces　were　white。　All　of　them。　He　parked　next　to　the　office　and　locked　the　BMW。　The　pay　phone　by　the　covered　pool　worked。　He　called　a　cab　and　gave　an　address　two　blocks　away。　He　ran　between　the　buildings；　dow