jg.thefirm-第52部分

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　　〃All　right。　We'll　pay。〃
　　Tubertini　flashed　a　conquering　smile　and　tasted　his　wine。　〃I　think　you　lied；　Mr。　Lazarov。　You　said　it　was　a　small　unit　in　Memphis。　That's　not　true；　is　it？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃What's　the　name　of　this　unit？〃
　　〃The　Bendini　firm。〃
　　〃Old　man　Morolto's　daughter　married　a　Bendini。〃
　　〃That's　it。〃
　　〃What's　the　employee's　name？〃
　　〃Mitchell　McDeere。〃
　　〃It　might　take　two　or　three　weeks。　Meeting　with　Alfred　is　a　major　production。〃
　　〃Yes。　Just　be　quick　about　it。〃
　　　
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　　IT　was　highly　unusual　for　wives　to　appear　at　the　quiet　little　fortress　on　Front　Street。　They　were　certainly　wele；　they　were　told；　but　seldom　invited。　So　Abby　McDeere　arrived　through　the　front　door；　into　the　reception　area　uninvited　and　unannounced。　It　was　imperative　that　she　see　her　husband；　she　insisted。　The　receptionist　phoned　Nina　on　the　second　floor；　and　within　seconds　she　appeared　in　a　rush　and　warmly　greeted　her　boss's　wife。　Mitch　was　in　a　meeting；　she　explained。　He's　always　in　a　damned　meeting；　Abby　replied。　Get　him　out！　They　rushed　to　his　office；　where　Abby　closed　the　door　and　waited。
　　Mitch　was　observing　another　one　of　Avery's　chaotic　departures。　Secretaries　bumped　into　each　other　and　packed　briefcases　while　Avery　yelled　into　the　phone。　Mitch　sat　on　the　sofa　with　a　legal　pad　and　watched。　His　partner　was　scheduled　for　two　days　on　Grand　Cayman。　April　15　loomed　on　the　calendar　like　a　date　with　a　firing　squad；　and　the　banks　down　there　had　certain　records　that　had　bee　critical。　It　was　all　work；　Avery　insisted。　He　talked　about　the　trip　for　five　days；　dreading　it；　cursing　it；　but　finding　it　pletely　unavoidable。　He　would　take　the　Lear；　and　it　was　now　waiting；　said　a　secretary。
　　Probably　waiting　with　a　load　of　cash；　thought　Mitch。
　　Avery　slammed　the　phone　down　and　grabbed　his　coat。
　　Nina　walked　through　the　door　and　glared　at　Mitch。　〃Mr。　McDeere；　your　wife　is　here。　She　says　it's　an　emergency。〃
　　The　chaos　became　silent。　He　looked　blankly　at　Avery。　The　secretaries　froze。　〃What　is　it？〃　he　asked；　standing。
　　〃She's　in　your　office；〃　Nina　said。
　　〃Mitch；　I've　gotta　go；〃　Avery　said。　〃I'll　call　you　tomorrow。　I　hope　things　are　okay。〃
　　〃Sure。〃　He　followed　Nina　down　the　hall；　saying　nothing；　to　his　office。　Abby　sat　on　his　desk。　He　closed　and　locked　the　door。　He　watched　her　carefully。
　　〃Mitch；　I　have　to　go　home。〃
　　〃Why？　What's　happened？〃
　　〃My　father　just　called　at　school。　They　found　a　tumor　in　one　of　Mother's　lungs。　They're　operating　tomorrow。〃
　　He　breathed　deeply。　〃I'm　so　sorry。〃　He　did　not　touch　her。　She　was　not　crying。
　　〃I　must　go。　I've　taken　a　leave　of　absence　at　school。〃
　　〃For　how　long？〃　It　was　a　nervous　question。
　　She　looked　past　him；　to　the　Ego　Wall。　〃I　don't　know；　Mitch。　We　need　some　time　apart。　I'm　tired　of　a　lot　of　things　right　now；　and　I　need　time。　I　think　it　will　be　good　for　both　of　us。〃
　　〃Let's　talk　about　it。〃
　　〃You're　too　busy　to　talk；　Mitch。　I've　been　trying　to　talk　for　six　months；　but　you　can't　hear　me。〃
　　〃How　long　will　you　be　gone；　Abby？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　I　guess　it　depends　on　Mother。　No；　it　depends　on　a　lot　of　things。〃
　　〃You're　scaring　me；　Abby。〃
　　〃I'll　be　back；　I　promise。　I　don't　know　when。　Maybe　a　week。　Maybe　a　month。　I　need　to　sort　out　some　things。〃
　　〃A　month？〃
　　〃I　don't　know；　Mitch。　I　just　need　some　time。　And　I　need　to　be　with　Mother。〃
　　〃I　hope　she's　okay。　I　mean　that。〃
　　〃I　know。　I'm　going　home　to　pack　a　few　things；　and　I'll　leave　in　an　hour　or　so。〃
　　〃All　right。　Be　careful。〃
　　〃I　love　you；　Mitch。〃
　　He　nodded　and　watched　as　she　opened　the　door。　There　was　no　embrace。
　　On　the　fifth　floor；　a　technician　rewound　the　tape　and　pushed　the　emergency　button　direct　to　DeVasher's　office。　He　appeared　instantly　and　slapped　the　headphones　over　his　extra…large　cranium。　He　listened　for　a　moment。　〃Rewind；〃　he　demanded。　He　was　quiet　for　another　moment。
　　〃When　did　this　happen？〃　he　asked。
　　The　technician　looked　at　a　panel　of　digital　numbers。　〃Two　minutes　fourteen　seconds　ago。　In　his　office；　second　floor。〃
　　〃Damn；　damn。　She's　leaving　him；　ain't　she？　No　talk　of　separation　or　divorce　before　this？〃
　　〃No。　You　would've　known　about　it。　They've　argued　about　his　workaholic　routine；　and　he　hates　her　parents。　But　nothing　like　this。〃
　　〃Yeah；　yeah。　Check　with　Marcus　and　see　if　he's　heard　anything　before。　Check　the　tapes；　in　case　we've　missed　something。　Damn；　damn；　damn！〃
　　Abby　started　for　Kentucky；　but　did　not　make　it。　An　hour　west　of　Nashville；　she　left　Interstate　40；　and　turned　north　on　Highway　13。　She　had　noticed　nothing　behind　her。　She　drove　eighty　at　times；　then　fifty。　Nothing。　At　the　small　town　of　Clarksville；　near　the　Kentucky　line；　she　abruptly　turned　east　on　Highway　12。　An　hour　later　she　entered　Nashville　through　a　county　highway；　and　the　red　Peugeot　was　lost　in　city　traffic。
　　She　parked　it　in　the　long…term　section　at。　Nashville　Airport　and　caught　a　shuttle　to　the　terminal。　In　a　rest　room　on　the　first　floor　she　changed　into　khaki　walking　shorts；　Bass　loafers　and　a　navy　knit　pullover。　It　was　a　cool　outfit；　a　little　out　of　season；　but　she　was　headed　for　warmer　weather。　She　pulled　her　shoulder…length　hair　into　a　ponytail　and　forced　it　under　her　collar。　She　changed　sunglasses　and　stuffed　the　dress；　heels　and　panty　hose　into　a　canvas　gym　bag。
　　Almost　five　hours　after　she　left　Memphis；　she　walked　to　the　Delta　boarding　gate　and　presented　her　ticket。　She　asked　for　a　window　seat。
　　No　Delta　flight　in　the　free　world　can　bypass　Atlanta；　but　fortunately　she　was　not　forced　to　change　planes。　She　waited　by　her　window　and　watched　darkness　fall　on　the　busy　airport。　She　was　nervous；　but　tried　not　to　think　about　it。　She　drank　a　glass　of　wine　and　read　a　Newsweek。
　　Two　hours　later　she　landed　in　Miami　and　left　the　plane。　She　walked　rapidly　through　the　airport；　catching　stares　but　ignoring　them。　They're　just　the　usual　everyday　stares　of　admiration　and　lust；　she　told　herself。　Nothing　more。
　　At　the　one　and　only　Cayman　Airways　boarding　gate；　she　produced　her　round…trip　ticket　and　the　required　birth　certificate　and　driver's　license。　Wonderful　people；　these　Caymani…ans；　but　they　won't　allow　you　in　their　country　unless　you've　already　purchased　a　ticket　to　get　out。　Please　e　and　spend　your　money；　then　leave。　Please。
　　She　sat　in　a　corner　of　the　crowded　room　and　tried　to　read。　A　young　father　with　a　pretty　wife　and　two　babies　kept　staring　at　her　legs；　but　no　one　else　noticed　her。　The　flight　to　Grand　Cayman　would　leave　in　thirty　minutes。
　　After　a　rough　start；　Avery　gained　momentum　and　spent　seven　hours　at　the　Royal　Bank　of　Montreal；　Georgetown；　Grand　Cayman　branch。　When　he　left　at　5　P。M。；　the　plimentary　conference　room　was　filled　with　puter　printouts　and　account　summaries。　He　would　finish　tomorrow。　He　needed　McDeere；　but　circumstances　had　worked　to　seriously　curtail　his　travel　plans。　Avery　was　now　exhausted　and　thirsty。　And　things　were　hot　on　the　beach。
　　At　Rumheads；　he　picked　up　a　beer　at　the　bar　and　worked　his　well…tanned　body　through　the　crowd　to　the　patio；　where　he　looked　for　a　table。　As　he　strode　confidently　past　the　domino　game；　Tammy　Greenwood　Hemphill；　of　Greenwood　Services；　nervously　but　nonchalantly　entered　the　crowd　and　sat　on　a　stool　at　the　bar。　She　watched　him。　Her　tan　was　store…bought；　machine…inflicted；　with　some　areas　browner　than　others。　But　on　the　whole；　it　was　an　enviable　tan　for　late　March。　The　hair　was　now　colored；　not　bleached；　to　a　soft　sandy　blond；　and　the　makeup　likewise　had　been　tempered。　The　bikini　was　state　of　the　art；　bright　fluorescent　orange　that　demanded　attention。　The　large　breasts　hung　wonderfully　and　stretched　the　strings　and　patches　to　their　limit。　The　small　patch　across　the　rear　was　woefully　incapable　of　covering　anything。　She　was　forty；　but　twenty　sets　of　hungry　eyes　followed　her　to　the　bar；　where　she　ordered　a　club　soda　and　fired　up　a　cigarette。　She　smoked　it；　and　watched　him。
　　He　was　a　wolf。　He　looked　good；　and　he　knew　it。　He　sipped　his　beer　and　slowly　examined　every　female　within　fifty　yards。　He　locked　into　one；　a　young　blonde；　and　seemed　ready　to　pounce　when　her　man　arrived　and　she　sat　in　his　lap。　He　sipped　his　beer　and　continued　to　survey。
　　Tammy　ordered　another　club　soda；　with　a　twist　of　lime；　and　started　for　the　patio。　The　wolf　locked　into　the　big　breasts　immediately　and　watched　them　bounce　his　way。
　　〃Mind　if　I　sit　down？〃　she　asked。
　　He　half　stood　and　reached　for　the　chair。　〃Please　do。〃　It　was　a　great　moment　for　him。　Of　all　the　hungry　wolves　lusting　around　the　bar　and　patio　at　Rumheads；　she　picked　him。
　　He'd　had　younger　babes；　but　at　this　moment　at　this　place；　she　was　the　hottest。
　　〃I'm　Avery　Tolar。　From　Memphis。〃
　　〃Nice　to　meet　you。　I'm　Libby。　Libby　Lox　from　Birmingham。〃　Now　she　was　Libby。　She　had　a　sister　named　Libby；　a　mother　named　Doris；　and　her　name　was　Tammy。　And　she　hoped　to　hell　she　could　keep　it　all　straight。　Although　she　wore　no　rings；　she　had　a　husband　whose　legal　name　was　Elvis；　and　he　was　supposed　to　be　in　Oklahoma　City　impersonating　the　King；　and　probably　screwing　teenage　girls　with
　　LOVE　ME　TENDER　T…shirts。
　　〃What　brings　you　here？〃　Avery　asked。
　　〃Just　fun。　Got　in　this　morning。　Staying　at　the　Palms。　You？〃
　　〃I'm　a　tax　lawyer；　and　believe　it　or　n'ot；　I'm　here　on　business。　I'm　forced　to　e　down　several　times　a　year。　Real　torture。〃
　　〃Where　are　you　staying？〃
　　He　pointed。　〃My　firm　owns　those　two　condos　over　there。　It's　a　nice　little　write…oif。〃
　　〃Very　pretty。〃
　　The　wolf　did　not　hesitate。　〃Would　you　like　to　see　them？〃
　　She　giggled　like　a　sophomore。　〃Maybe　later。〃
　　He　smiled　at　her。　This　would　be　easy。　He　loved　the　islands。
　　〃What're　you　drinking？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Gin　and　tonic。　Twist　of　lime。〃
　　He　left　for　the　bar；　and　returned　with　the　drinks。　He　moved　his　chair　closer　to　her。　Now　their　legs　were　touching。　The　breasts　were　resting　fortably　on　the　table。　He　looked　down　between　them。
　　〃Are　you　alone？〃　Obvious　question；　but　he　had　to　ask　it。
　　〃Yeah。　You？〃
　　〃Yeah。　Do　you　have　plans　for　dinner？〃
　　〃Not　really。〃
　　〃Good。　There's　this　great　cookout　there　at　the　Palms　beginning　at　six。　The　best　seafood　on　the　island。　Good　music。　Rum　punch。　The　works。　No　dress　code。〃
　　〃I'