jg.thefirm-第71部分

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　　Only　seven　were〃　occupied。　The　owner　explained　as　he　unlocked　doors　that　it　was　a　slow　time　of　the　year　at　the　Beachber　Inn。　All　of　the　smaller　motels　struggle　until　Memorial　Day；　he　explained。
　　Even　the　Sea　Gull's　Rest；　four　miles　to　the　west；　was　struggling。
　　Andy　Patrick　received　his　first　felony　conviction　at　the　age　of　nineteen　and　served　four　months　for　bad　checks。　Branded　as　a　felon；　he　found　honest　work　impossible；　and　for　the　next　twenty　years　worked　unsuccessfully　as　a　small…time　criminal。　He　drifted　across　the　country　shoplifting；　writing　bad　checks　and　breaking　into　houses　here　and　there。　A　small；　frail　nonviolent　man；　he　was　severely　beaten　by　a　fat；　arrogant　county　deputy　in　Texas　when　he　was　twenty…seven。　He　lost　an　eye　and　lost　all　respect　for　the　law。
　　Six　months　earlier；　he　landed　in　Panama　City　Beach　and　found　an　honest　job　paying　four　bucks　an　hour　working　the　night　shift　at　the　front　and　only　desk　of　the　Sea　Gull's　Rest　Motel。　Around　nine；　Friday　night；　he　was　watching　TV　when　a　fat；　arrogant　county　deputy　swaggered　through　the　door。
　　〃Got　a　manhunt　going　on；〃　he　announced；　and　laid　copies　of　the　posites　and　mug　shot　on　the　dirty　counter。　〃Looking　for　these　folks。　We　think　they're　around　here。〃
　　Andy　studied　the　posites。　The　one　of　Mitchell　Y。　McDeere　looked　pretty　familiar。　The　wheels　in　his　smalltime　felonious　brain　began　to　churn。
　　With　his　one　good　eye；　he　looked　at　the　fat；　arrogant　county　deputy　and　said；　〃Ain't　seen　them。　But　I'll　keep　an　eye　out。〃
　　〃They're　dangerous；〃　the　deputy　said。
　　You're　the　dangerous　one；　Andy　thought。
　　〃Post　these　up　on　the　wall　there；〃　the　deputy　instructed。
　　Do　you　own　this　damned　place？　Andy　thought。　〃I'm　sorry；　but　I'm　not　authorized　to　post　anything　on　the　walls。〃
　　The　deputy　froze；　cocked　his　head　sideways　and　glared　at　Andy　through　thick　sunglasses。　〃Listen；　Peewee；　I　authorized　it。〃
　　〃I'm　sorry；　sir；　but　I　can't　post　anything　on　the　walls　unless　my　boss　tells　me　to。〃
　　〃And　where　is　your　boss？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　Probably　in　a　bar　somewhere。〃

　　The　deputy　carefully　picked　up　the　posites；　walked　behind　the　counter　and　tacked　them　on　the　bulletin　board。　When　he　finished；　he　glared　down　at　Andy　and　said；　〃I'll　e　back　in　a　coupla　hours。　If　you　remove　these；　I'll　arrest　you　for　obstruction　of　justice。〃
　　Andy　did　not　flinch。　〃Won't　stick。　They　got　me　for　that　one　time　in　Kansas；　so　I　know　all　about　it。〃
　　The　deputy's　fat　cheeks　turned　red　and　he　gritted　his　teeth。　〃You're　a　little　smart…ass；　aren't　you？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃You　take　these　down　and　I　promise　you　you'll　go　to　jail　for　something。〃
　　〃I've　been　there　before；　and　it　ain't　no　big　deal。〃
　　Red　lights　and　sirens　screamed　by　oiuihe　Strip　a　few　feet　away；　and　the　deputy　turned　and　watched　the　excitement。　He　mumbled　something　and　swaggered　out　the　door。　Andy　threw　the　posites　in　the　garbage。　He　watched　the　squad　cars　dodge　each　other　on　the　Strip　for　a　few　minutes；　then　walked　through　the　parking　lot　to　the　rear　building。　He　knocked　on　the　door　of　Room　38。
　　He　waited　and　knocked　again。
　　〃Who　is　it？〃　a　woman　asked。
　　〃The　manager；〃　Andy　replied；　proud　of　his　title。　The　door　opened；　and　the　man　who　favored　the　posite　of　Mitchell　Y。　McDeere　slid　out。
　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　he　said。　〃What's　going　on？〃
　　He　was　nervous；　Andy　could　tell。　〃Cops　just　came　by；　know　what　I　mean？〃
　　〃What　do　they　want？〃　he　asked　innocently。
　　Your　ass；　Andy　thought。　〃Just　asking　questions　and　showing　pictures。　I　looked　at　the　pictures；　you　know？〃
　　〃Uh…huh；〃　he　said。
　　〃Pretty　good　pictures；〃　Andy　said。
　　Mr。　McDeere　stared　at　Andy　real　hard。
　　Andy　said；　〃Cop　said　one　of　them　escaped　from　prison。　Know　what　I　mean？　I　been　in　prison；　and　I　think　everybody　ought　to　escape。　You　know？〃
　　Mr。　McDeere　smiled；　a　rather　nervous　smile。　〃What's　your　name？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Andy。〃
　　〃I've　got　a　deal　for　you；　Andy。　I'll　give　you　a　thousand　bucks　now；　and　tomorrow；　if　you're　still　unable　to　recognize　anybody；　I'll　give　you　another　thousand　bucks。　Same　for　the　next　day。〃
　　A　wonderful　deal；　thought　Andy；　but　if　he　could　afford　a　thousand　bucks　a　day；　certainly　he　could　afford　five　thousand　a　day。　It　was　the　opportunity　of　his　career。
　　〃Nope；〃　Andy　said　firmly。　〃Five　thousand　a　day。〃
　　Mr。　McDeere　never　hesitated。　〃It's　a　deal。　Let　me　get　the　money。〃　He　went　in　the　room　and　returned　with　a　stack　of　bills。
　　〃Five　thousand　a　day；　Andy；　that's　our　deal？〃
　　Andy　took　the　money　and　glanced　around。　He　would　count　it　later。　〃I　guess　you　want　me　to　keep　the　maids　away？〃　Andy　asked。
　　〃Great　idea。　That　would　be　nice。〃
　　〃Another　five　thousand；〃　Andy　said。
　　Mr。　McDeere　sort　of　hesitated。　〃Okay；　I've　got　another　deal。　Tomorrow　morning；　a　Fed　Ex　package　will　arrive　at　the　desk　for　Sam　Fortune。　You　bring　it　to　me；　and　keep　the　maids　away；　and　I'll　give　you　another　five　thousand。〃
　　〃Won't　work。　I　do　the　night　shift。〃
　　〃Okay；　Andy。　What　if　you　worked　all　weekend；　around　the　clock；　kept　the　maids　away　and　delivered　my　package？　Can　you　do　that？〃
　　〃Sure。　My　boss　is　a　drunk。　He'd　love　for　me　to　work　all　weekend。〃
　　〃How　much　money；　Andy？〃
　　Go　for　it；　Andy　thought。　〃Another　twenty　thousand。〃
　　Mr。　McDeere　smiled。　〃You　got　it。〃
　　Andy　grinned　and　stuck　the　money　in　his　pocket。　He　walked　away　without　saying　a　word；　and　Mitch　retreated　to　Room　38。
　　〃Who　was　it？〃　Ray　snapped。
　　Mitch　smiled　as　he　glanced　between　the　blinds　and　the　windows。
　　〃I　knew　we　would　have　to　have　a　lucky　break　to　pull　this　off。　And　I　think　we　just　found　it。〃
　　　
　　　38
　　MR。　Morolto　wore　a　black　suit　and　a　red　tie　and　sat　at　the　head　of　the　plastic…coated　executive　conference　table　in　the　Dunes　Room　of　the　Best　Western　on　the　Strip。　The　twenty　chairs　around　the　table　were　packed　with　his　best　and　brightest　men。　Around　the　four　walls　stood　more　of　his　trusted　troops。　Though　they　were　thick…necked　killers　who　did　their　deeds　efficiently　and　without　remorse；　they　looked　like　clowns　in　their　colorful　shirts　and　wild　shorts　and　amazing　potpourri　of　straw　hats。　He　would　have　smiled　at　their　silliness；　but　the　urgency　of　the　moment　prevented　smiling。　He　was　listening。
　　On　his　immediate　right　was　Lou　Lazarov；　and　on　his　immediate　left　was　DeVasher；　and　every　ear　in　the　small　room　listened　as　the　two　played　tag　team　back　and　forth　across　the　table。
　　〃They're　here。　I　know　they're　here；〃　DeVasher　said　dramatically；　slapping　both　palms　on　the　table　with　each　syllable。　The　man　had　rhythm。
　　Lazarov's　turn：　〃I　agree。　They're　here。　Two　came　in　a　car；　one　came　in　a　truck。　We've　found　both　vehicles　abandoned；　covered　with　fingerprints。　Yes；　they're　here。〃
　　DeVasher：　〃But　why　Panama　City　Beach？　It　makes　no　sense。〃
　　Lazarov：　〃For　one；　he's　been　here　before。　Came　here　Christmas；　remember？　He's　familiar　with　this　place；　so　he　figures　with　all　these　cheap　motels　on　the　beach　it's　a　great　place　to　hide　for　a　while。　Not　a　bad　idea；　really。　But　he's　had　some　bad　luck。　For　a　man　on　the　run；　he's　carrying　too　much　baggage；　like　a　brother　who　everybody　wants。　And　a　wife。　And　a　truckload　of　documents；　we　presume。　Typical　schoolboy　mentality。　If　I　gotta　run；　I'm　taking　everybody　who　loves　me。　Then　his　brother　rapes　a　girl；　they　think；　and　suddenly　every　cop　in　Alabama　and　Florida　is　looking　for　them。　Some　pretty　bad　luck；　really。〃
　　〃What　about　his　mother？〃　Mr。　Morolto　asked。
　　Lazarov　and　DeVasher　nodded　at　the　great　man　and　acknowledged　this　very　intelligent　question。
　　Lazarov：　〃No；　purely　coincidental。　She's　a　very　simple　woman　who　serves　waffles　and　knows　nothing。　We've　watched　her　since　we　got　here。〃
　　DeVasher：　〃I　agree。　There's　been　no　contact。〃
　　Morolto　nodded　intelligently　and　lit　a　cigarette。
　　Lazarov：　〃So　if　they're　here；　and　we　know　they're　here；　then　the　feds　and　the　cops　also　know　they're　here。　We've　got　sixty　people　here；　and　they　got　hundreds。　Odds　are　on　them。〃
　　〃You're　sure　they're　all　three　together？〃　Mr。　Morolto　asked。
　　DeVasher：　〃Absolutely。　We　know　the　woman　and　the　convict　checked　in　the　same　night　at　Perdido；　that　they　left　and　three　hours　later　she　checked　in　here　at　the　Holiday　Inn　and　paid　cash　for　two　rooms　and　that　she　rented　the　car　and　his　fingerprints　were　on　it。　No　doubt。　We　know　Mitch　rented　a　U…Haul　Wednesday　in　Nashville；　that　he　wired　ten　million　bucks　of　our　money　into　a　bank　in　Nashville　Thursday　morning　and　then　evidently　hauled　ass。　The　U…Haul　was　found　here　four　hours　ago。　Yes；　sir；　they　are　together。〃
　　Lazarov：　　〃If　he　left　　Nashville　immediately　after　the　money　was　wired；　he　would　have　arrived　here　around　dark。　The　U…Haul　was　found　empty；　so　they　had　to　unload　it　somewhere　around　here；　then　hide　it。　That　was　probably　sometime　late　last　night；　Thursday。　Now；　you　gotta　figure　they　need　to　sleep　sometime。　I　figure　they　stayed　here　last　night　with　plans　of　moving　on　today。　But　they　woke　up　this　morning　and　their　faces　were　in　the　paper；　cops　running　around　bumping　into　each　other；　and　suddenly　the　roads　were　blocked。　So　they're　trapped　here。〃
　　DeVasher：　〃To　get　out；　they've　got　to　borrow；　rent　or　steal　a　car。　No　rental　records　anywhere　around　here。　She　rented　a　car　in　Mobile　in　her　name。　Mitch　rented　a　U…Haul　in　Nashville　in　his　name。　Real　proper　ID。　So　you　gotta　figure　they　ain't　that　damned　smart　after　all。〃
　　Lazarov：　〃Evidently　they　don't　have　fake　IDs。　If　they　rented　a　car　around　here　for　the　escape；　the　rental　records　would　be　in　the　real　name。　No　such　records　exist。〃
　　Mr。　Morolto　waved　his　hand　in　frustration。　〃All　right；　all　right。　So　they're　here。　You　guys　are　geniuses。　I'm　so　proud　of　you。　Now　what？〃
　　DeVasher's　turn：　〃The　Fibbies　are　in　the　way。　They're　in　control　of　the　search；　and　we　can't　do　nothing　but　sit　and　watch。〃
　　Lazarov：　〃I've　called　Memphis。　Every　senior　associate　in　　is　on　the　way　down　here。　They　know　McDeere　and　his　wife　real　well；　so　we'll　put　them　on　the　beach　and　in　restaurants　and　hotels。　Maybe　they'll　see　something。〃
　　DeVasher：　〃I　figure　they're　in　one　of　the　little　motels。　They　can　give　fake　names；　pay　in　cash　and　nobody'll　be　suspicious。　Fewer　people　too。　Less　likelihood　of　being　seen。　They　checked　in　at　the　Holiday　Inn　but　didn't　stay