jg.thefirm-第48部分

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tract　a　crowd；　and　frankly；　we　had　hoped　for　a　little　privacy。〃
　　〃Firm　condo？〃
　　〃Of　course。〃
　　〃Forget　privacy。　It's　probably　got　more　wires　than　a　switchboard。　Maybe　even　some　cameras。〃
　　〃That's　forting。　We　might　stay　a　couple　of　nights　at　Abanks　Dive　Lodge。　If　you　boys　are　in　the　neighborhood；　stop　by　for　a　drink。〃
　　〃Very　funny。　If　we're　there；　it'll　be　for　a　reason。　And　you　won't　know　it。〃
　　Tarrance　ate　the　pie　in　three　bites。　He　left　two　bucks　on　the　table　and　they　walked　to　the　dark　rear　of　the　truck　stop。　The　dirty　asphalt　pavement　vibrated　under　the　steady　hum　of　an　acre　of　diesel　engines。　They　waited　in　the　dark。
　　〃I'll　talk　to　Voyles　in　a　few　hours；〃　Tarrance　said。　〃Why　don't　you　and　your　wife　take　a　leisurely　Saturday…afternoon　drive　tomorrow。〃
　　〃Anyplace　in　particular？〃
　　〃Yeah。　There's　a　town　called　Holly　Springs　thirty　miles　east　of　here。　Old　place；　full　of　antebellum　homes　and　Confederate　history。　Women　love　to　drive　around　and　look　at　the　old　mansions。　Make　your　appearance　around　four　o'clock　and　we'll　find　you。　Our　buddy　Laney　will　be　driving　a　bright　red　Chevy　Blazer　with　Tennessee　plates。　Follow　him。　We'll　find　a　place　and　talk。〃
　　〃Is　it　safe？〃
　　〃Trust　us。　If　we　see　or　smell　something；　we'll　break　off。　Drive　around　town　for　an　hour；　and　if　you　don't　see　Laney；　grab　a　sandwich　and　go　back　home。　You'll　know　they　were　too　close。　We　won't　take　chances。〃
　　〃Thanks。　A　great　bunch　of　guys。〃
　　Laney　eased　around　the　corner　in　the　BMW　and　jumped　out。　〃Everything's　clear。　No　trace　of　anyone。〃
　　〃Good；〃　Tarrance　said。　〃See　you　tomorrow；　Mitch。　Happy　truckin'。〃　They　shook　hands。
　　〃It's　not　negotiable；　Tarrance；〃　Mitch　said　again。
　　〃You　can　call　me　Wayne。　See　you　tomorrow。〃
　　　
　　　25
　　THE　black　thunderheads　and　driving　rain　had　long　since　cleared　the　tourists　from　Seven　Mile　Beach　when　the　McDeeres；　soaked　and　tired；　arrived　at　the　luxury　condominium　duplex。　Mitch　backed　the　rented　Mitsubishi　jeep　over　the　curb；　across　the　small　lawn　and　up　to　the　front　door。　Unit　B。　His　first　visit　had　been　to　Unit　A。　They　appeared　to　be　identical；　except　for　the　paint　and　trim。　The　key　fit；　and　they　grabbed　and　threw　luggage　as　the　clouds　burst　and　the　rain　grew　thicker。
　　Once　inside　and　dry；　they　unpacked　in　the　master　bedroom　upstairs　with　a　long　balcony　facing　the　wet　beach。　Cautious　with　their　words；　they　inspected　the　town　house　and　checked　out　each　room　and　closet。　The　refrigerator　was　empty；　but　the　bar　was　very　well　stocked。　Mitch　mixed　two　drinks；　rum　and　Coke；　in　honor　of　the　islands。　They　sat　on　the　balcony　with　their　feet　in　the　rain　and　watched　the　ocean　churn　and　spill　toward　the　shore。　Rumheads　was　quiet　and　barely　visible　in　the　distance。　Two　natives　sat　at　the　bar；　drinking　and　watching　the　sea。
　　〃That's　Rumheads　over　there；〃　Mitch　said；　pointing　with　his　drink。
　　〃Rumheads？〃
　　〃I　told　you　about　it。　It's　a　hot　spot　where　tourists　drink　and　the　locals　play　dominoes。〃
　　〃I　see。〃　Abby　was　unimpressed。　She　yawned　and　sank　lower　into　the　plastic　chair。　She　closed　her　eyes。
　　〃Oh；　this　is　great；　Abby。　Our　first　trip　out　of　the　country；　our　first　real　honeymoon；　and　you're　asleep　ten　minutes　after　we　hit　land。〃
　　〃I'm　tired；　Mitch。　I　packed　all　night　while　you　were　sleeping。〃
　　〃You　packed　eight　suitcases…six　for　you　and　two　for　me。　You　packed　every　garment　we　own。　No　wonder　you　were　awake　all　night。〃
　　〃I　don't　want　to　run　out　of　clothes。〃
　　〃Run　out？　How　many　bikinis　did　you　pack？　Ten？　Twelve？〃
　　〃Six。〃
　　〃Great。　One　a　day。　Why　don't　you　put　one　on？〃
　　〃What？〃
　　〃You　heard　me。　Go　put　on　that　little　blue　one　with　high　legs　and　a　couple　of　strings　around　front；　the　one　that　weighs　half　a　gram　and　cost　sixty　bucks　and　your　buns　hang　out　when　you　walk。　I　wanna　see　it。〃
　　〃Mitch；　it's　raining。　You've　brought　me　here　to　this　island　during　the　monsoon　season。　Look　at　those　clouds。　Dark　and　thick　and　extremely　stationary。　I　won't　need　any　bikinis　this　week。〃
　　Mitch　smiled　and　began　rubbing　her　legs。　〃I　rather　like　the　rain。　In　fact；　I　hope　it　rains　all　week。　It'll　keep　us　inside；　in　the　bed；　sipping　rum　and　trying　to　hurt　each　other。〃
　　〃I'm　shocked。　You　mean　you　actually　want　sex？　We've　already　done　it　once　this　month。〃
　　〃Twice。〃
　　〃I　thought　you　wanted　to　snorkel　and　scuba…dive　all　week。〃
　　〃Nope。　There's　probably　a　shark　out　there　waiting　for　me。〃
　　The　winds　blew　harder　and　the　balcony　was　being　drenched。　〃Let's　go　take　off　our　clothes；〃　Mitch　said。
　　After　an　hour；　the　storm　began　to　move。　The　rain　slackened；　then　turned　to　a　soft　drizzle；　then　it　was　gone。　The　sky　lightened　as　the　dark；　low　clouds　left　the　tiny　island　and　headed　northeast；　toward　Cuba。　Shortly　before　its　scheduled　departure　over　the　horizon；　the　sun　suddenly　emerged　for　a　brief　encore。　It　emptied　the　beach　cottages　and　town　homes　and　condos　and　hotel　rooms　as　the　tourists　strolled　through　the　sand　toward　the　water。　Rumheads　was　suddenly　packed　with　dart　throwers　and　thirsty　beachbers。　The　domino　game　picked　up　where　it　had　left　off。　The　reggae　band　next　door　at　the　Palms　tuned　up。
　　Mitch　and　Abby　walked　aimlessly　along　the　edge　of　the　water　in　the　general　direction　of　Georgetown；　away　from　the　spot　where　the　girl　had　been。　He　thought　of　her　occasionally；　and　of　the　photographs。　He　had　decided　she　was　a　pro　and　had　been　paid　by　DeVasher　to　seduce　and　conquer　him〃　in　front　of　the　hidden　cameras。　He　did　not　expect　to　see　her　this　time。
　　As　if　on　cue；　the　music　stopped；　the　beach　strollers　froze　and　watched；　the　noise　at　Rumheads　quietened　as　all　eyes　turned　to　watch　the　sun　meet　the　water。　Gray　and　white　clouds；　the　trailing　remnants　of　the　storm；　lay　low　on　the　horizon　and　sank　with　the　sun。　Slowly　they　turned　shades　of　orange　and　yellow　and　red；　pale　shades　at　first；　then；　suddenly；　brilliant　tones。　For　a　few　brief　moments；　the　sky　was　a　canvas　and　the　sun　splashed　its　awesome　array　of　colors　with　bold　strokes。　Then　the　bright　orange　ball　touched　the　water　and　within　seconds　was　gone。　The　clouds　became　black　and　dissipated。　A　Cayman　sunset。
　　With　great　fear　and　caution；　Abby　slowly　maneuvered　the　jeep　through　the　early…morning　traffic　in　the　shopping　district。　She　was　from　Kentucky。　She　had　never　driven　on　the　left　side　of　the　road　for　any　substantial　period　of　time。　Mitch　gave　directions　and　watched　the　rearview　mirror。　The　narrow　streets　and　sidewalks　were　already　crowded　with　tourists　window…shopping　for　duty…free　china；　crystal；　perfume；　cameras　and　jewelry。
　　Mitch　pointed　to　a　hidden　side　street；　and　the　jeep　darted　between　two　groups　of　tourists。　He　kissed　her　on　the　cheek。　〃I'll　meet　you　right　here　at　five。〃
　　〃Be　careful；〃　she　said。　〃I'll　go　to　the　bank；　then　stay　on　the　beach　near　the　condo。〃
　　He　slammed　the　door　and　disappeared　between　two　small　shops。　The　alley　led　to　a　wider　street　that　led　to　Hogsty　Bay。　He　ducked　into　a　crowded　T…shirt　store　filled　with　racks　and　rows　of　tourist　shirts　and　straw　hats　and　sunglasses。　He　selected　a　gaudy　green…and…orange　flowered　shirt　and　a　Panama　hat。　Two　minutes　later　he　darted　from　the　store　into　the　back　seat　of　a　passing　taxi。　〃Airport；〃　he　said。　〃And　make　it　quick。　Watch　your　tail。　Someone　may　be　following。〃
　　The　driver　made　no　response；　just　eased　past　the　bank　buildings　and　out　of　town。　Ten　minutes　later　he　stopped　in　front　of　the　terminal。
　　〃Anybody　follow　us？〃　Mitch　asked；　pulling　money　from　his　pocket。
　　〃No；　mon。　Four　dollars　and　ten　cents。〃
　　Mitch　threw　a　five　over　the　seat　and　walked　quickly　into　the　terminal。　The　Cayman　Airways　flight　to　Cayman　Brae　would　leave　at　nine。　At　a　gift　shop　Mitch　bought　a　cup　of　coffee　and　hid　between　two　rows　of　shelves　filled　with　souvenirs。　He　watched　the　waiting　area　and　saw　no　one。　Of　course；　he　had　no　idea　what　they　looked　like；　but　he　saw　no　one　sniffing　around　and　searching　for　lost　people。　Perhaps　they　were　following　the　jeep　or　bing　the　shopping　district　looking　for　him。　Perhaps。
　　For　seventy…five　Cayman　dollars　he　had　reserved　the　last　seat　on　the　ten…passenger；　three…engine　Trislandef。　Abby　had　made　the　reservation　by　pay　phone　the　night　they　arrived。　At　the　last　possible　second；　he　jogged　from　the　terminal　onto　the　tarmac　and　climbed　on　board。　The　pilot　slammed　and　locked　the　doors；　and　they　taxied　down　the　runway。　No　other　planes　were　visible。　A　small　hangar　sat　to　the　right。
　　The　ten　tourists　admired　the　brilliant　blue　sea　and　said　little　during　the　twenty…minute　flight。　As　they　approached　Cayman　Brae；　the　pilot　became　the　tour　guide　and　made　a　wide　circle　around　the　small　island。　He　pajd　special　attention　to　the　tall　bluffs　that　fell　into　the　sea　on　the　east　end。　Without　the　bluffs；　he　said；　the　island　would　be　as　flat　as　Grand　Cayman。　He　landed　the　plane　softly　on　a　narrow　asphalt　strip。
　　Next　to　the　small　white　frame　building　with　the　word　AIRPORT　painted　on　all　sides；　a　clean…cut　Caucasian　waited　and　watched　the　passengers　quickly　disembark。　He　was　Rick　Acklin；　Special　Agent；　and　sweat　dripped　from　his　nose　and　glued　his　shirt　to　his　back。　He　stepped　slightly　forward。　〃Mitch；〃　he　said　almost　to　himself。
　　Mitch　hesitated　and　then　walked　over。
　　〃Car's　out　front；〃　Acklin　said。
　　〃Where's　Tarrance？〃　Mitch　looked　around。
　　〃He's　waiting。〃
　　〃Does　the　car　have　air　conditioning？〃
　　〃Afraid　not。　Sorry。〃
　　The　car　was　minus　air；　power　anything　and　signal　lights。　It　was　a　1974　LTD；　and　Acklin　explained　as　they　followed　the　dusty　road　that　there　simply　was　not　much　of　a　selection　of　rental　cars　on　Cayman　Brae。　And　the　reason　the　U。S。　government　had　rented　the　car　was　because　he　and　Tarrance　had　been　unable　to　find　a　taxi。　They　were　lucky　to　find　a　room；　on　such　late　notice。
　　The　small　neat　homes　were　closer　together；　and　sea　appeared。　They　parked　in　the　sand　parking　lot　of　an　establishment　called　Brae　Divers。　An　aging　pier　jutted　into　the　water　and　anchored　a　hundred　boats　of　all　sizes。　To　the　west　along　the　beach　a　dozen　thatched…roof　cabins　sat　two　feet　above　the　sand　and　housed　divers　who　came　from　around　the　world。　Next　to　the　pier　was　an　open…air　bar；　nameless；　but　plete　with　a　domino　game　and　a　dartboard。　Oak…and…brass　fans　hung　from　the　ceiling　through　the　rafters　a