jg.thepartner-第26部分

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　found　at　the　site。　She　suffered　through　the　months　and　years　afterward。　No；　she　had　not　remarried。　No；　she　had　not　heard　from　her　husband　since　he　had　returned。　Wasn't　sure　if　she　wanted　to。　No；　he　had　made　no　effort　to　see　his　daughter；　and　she　broke　down　again。
　She　hated　the　thought　of　divorce；　but　what　was　she　to　do？　And　the　lawsuit；　how　horrible！　This　nasty　insurance　pany　hounding　her　like　she　was　a　dead…beat。
　Patrick　was　such　a　horrible　person。　If　they　found　the　money；　did　she　expect　to　get　any　of　it？　Of　course　not！　She　was　shocked　by　the　suggestion。
　It　was　edited　to　twenty　minutes；　and　Patrick　watched　it　in　his　dark　hospital　room。　It　made　him　smile。
　Nineteen
　SANDY'S　SECRETARY　was　clipping　his　photo　and　the　story　of　yesterday's　brief　court　appearance　from　the　New　Orleans　paper　when　the　call　came。　She　immediately　found　him；　extracted　him　from　a　crowded　deposition；　and　put　him　on　the　phone。
　Leah　Pires　was　back。　She　said　hello　and　immediately　asked　if　he'd　had　his　office　checked　for　bugs。　Sandy　said　yes；　just　yesterday。　She　was　in　a　hotel　suite　on　Canal；　a　few　blocks　over；　and　she　suggested　the　meeting　take　place　there。　A　suggestion　from　her　carried　more　weight　than　a　directive　from　a　federal　judge。　Whatever　she　wanted。　He　was　excited　just　to　hear　her　voice。
　She　was　in　no　hurry；　so　Sandy　strolled　leisurely　down　Poydras；　then　to　Magazine；　then　to　Canal。　He　refused　to　watch　his　back。　Patrick's　paranoia　was　understandable…poor　guy　had　lived　on　the　run　until　the　ghosts　finally　caught　him。　But　no　one　could　ever　convince　Sandy　that　the　same　people　would　shadow　him。　He　was　a　lawyer　in　a　high…profile　case。　The　bad　guys　would　be　crazy　to　tap　his　phones　and　stalk　him。　One　bungled　move；　and　serious　damage　could　be　done　to　the　case　against　Patrick。
　But　he　had　contacted　a　local　security　firm　and　made　an　appointment　to　have　his　offices　swept　for　bugs。　This　was　his　client's　wish；　not　his。
　Leah　greeted　him　with　a　firm　handshake　and　a　quick　smile；　but　he　could　tell　instantly　that　she　had　many　things　on　her　mind。　She　was　barefoot；　in　jeans　and　a　white　cotton　tee　shirt；　very　casual；　the　way　most　Brazilians　probably　are；　he　thought。　He'd　never　been　down　there。　The　closet　door　was　open；　there　weren't　many　clothes　hanging。　She　was　moving　around　quickly；　living　out　of　a　suitcase；　probably　on　the　run　just　as　Patrick　had　been　until　last　week。　She　poured　coffee　for　both　of　them；　and　asked　him　to　sit　at　the　table。
　〃How　is　he？〃　she　asked。
　〃He's　healing。　The　doctor　says　he'll　be　fine。〃
　〃How　bad　was　it？〃　she　asked　quietly。　He　loved　her　accent；　slight　as　it　was。
　〃Pretty　rough。〃　He　reached　into　his　briefcase；　removed　a　folder；　and　slid　it　to　her。　〃Here。〃
　She　frowned　at　the　sight　of　the　first　photo；　then　mumbled　something　in　Portuguese。　Her　eyes　watered　as　she　looked　at　the　second　one。　〃Poor　Patrick；〃　she　said　to　herself。　〃Poor　baby。〃
　She　took　her　time　with　the　photos；　gently　wiping　tears　with　the　back　of　her　hand　until　Sandy　found　the　presence　of　mind　to　get　her　a　tissue。　She　wasn't　ashamed　to　cry　over　the　pictures；　and　when　she　was　finished　with　them　she　placed　them　in　a　neat　stack　and　put　them　back　in　the　folder。
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　Sandy　said。　He　could　think　of　nothing　else　to　offer。　〃Here's　a　letter　from　Patrick；〃　he　finally　said。
　She　finished　her　crying　and　poured　more　coffee。　〃Are　any　of　the　injuries　permanent？〃　she　asked。
　〃The　doctor　thinks　probably　not。　There　will　be　scarring；　but　with　time　everything　should　heal。〃
　〃Mentally；　how　is　he？〃
　〃He's　okay。　He's　sleeping　even　less。　He　has　nightmares　constantly；　both　day　and　night。　But　with　medication；　he's　getting　better。　I　honestly　can't　imagine　what　he's　going　through。〃　He　took　a　sip　of　coffee　and　said；　〃I　guess　he's　lucky　to　be　alive。〃
　〃He　always　said　they　wouldn't　kill　him。〃
　There　was　so　much　to　ask　her。　The　lawyer　in　Sandy　almost　screamed　out　an　endless　barrage：　Did　Patrick　know　they　were　close　behind　him？　Did　he　know　the　chase　was　about　to　end？　Where　was　she　when　they　were　closing　in？　Did　she　live　with　him？　How　did　they　hide　the　money？　Where　is　the　money　now？　Is　it　safe？　Please；　tell　me　something。　I'm　the　lawyer。　I　can　be　trusted。
　〃Let's　talk　about　his　divorce；〃　she　said；　abruptly　changing　the　subject。　She　could　sense　his　curiosity。　She　stood　and　walked　to　a　drawer　where　she　removed　a　thick　file　and　placed　it　before　him。　〃Did　you　see　Trudy　on　TV　last　night？〃　she　asked。
　〃Yes。　Pathetic；　wasn't　it？〃
　〃She's　very　pretty；〃　Leah　said。
　〃Yes；　she　is。　I'm　afraid　Patrick　made　the　mistake　of　marrying　her　for　her　looks。〃
　〃He　wouldn't　be　the　first。〃
　〃No；　he　wouldn't。〃
　〃Patrick　despises　her。　She　is　a　bad　person；　and　she　was　unfaithful　to　him　throughout　their　marriage。〃
　〃Unfaithful？〃
　〃Yes。　It's　all　in　the　file　there。　The　last　year　they　were　together；　Patrick　hired　an　investigator　to　watch　her。　Her　lover　was　a　man　named　Lance　Maxa；　and　they　were　seeing　each　other　all　the　time。　There　are　even　some　photographs　of　Lance　ing　and　going　from　Patrick's　house　when　he　was　away。　There　are　pictures　of　Lance　and　Trudy　sunbathing　by　Patrick's　pool；　naked　of　course。〃
　Sandy　took　the　file　and　flipped　quickly　until　he　found　the　photographs。　Naked　as　newborns。　He　smiled　wickedly。　〃This　will　add　something　to　the　divorce。〃
　〃Patrick　wants　the　divorce；　you　understand。　He　will　not　contest　it。　But　she　needs　to　be　silenced。　She's　having　a　nice　time　saying　all　those　bad　things　about　Patrick。〃
　〃This　should　shut　her　up。　What　about　the　child？〃
　Leah　took　her　seat　and　looked　him　squarely　in　the　eyes。　〃Patrick　loves　Ashley　Nicole；　but　there　is　one　problem。　He　is　not　the　father。〃
　He　shrugged　as　if　he　heard　this　every　day。　〃Who　is？〃
　〃Patrick　doesn't　know。　Probably　Lance。　It　seems　as　if　Lance　and　Trudy　have　been　together　for　some　time。　It　goes　back　to　high　school　even。〃
　〃How　does　he　know　he's　not　the　father？〃
　〃When　the　child　was　fourteen　months　old；　Patrick　obtained　a　small　blood　sample　by　pricking　her　finger。
　He　sent　it；　along　with　a　sample　of　his；　to　a　lab　where　DNA　tests　were　run。　His　suspicions　were　correct。　He　is　definitely　not　the　father　of　the　child。　The　report　is　in　the　file。〃
　Sandy　had　to　walk　around　a　bit　to　sort　things　out。　He　stood　in　the　window　and　watched　the　traffic　on　Canal。　Another　clue　in　the　Patrick　puzzle　had　just　fallen　into　place。　The　question　of　the　moment　was　this：　How　long　had　Patrick　planned　his　departure　from　his　old　life？　Bad　wife；　bastard　child；　horrible　accident；　no　corpse；　elaborate　theft；　take　the　money　and　run。　The　planning　was　astonishing。　Everything　had　worked　perfectly；　until　now　of　course。
　〃Then　why　fight　the　divorce？〃　he　asked；　still　looking　below。　〃If　he　doesn't　want　the　child；　why　bring　up　the　trash？〃
　Sandy　knew　the　answer；　but　he　wanted　her　to　explain　it。　In　doing　so；　she　would　give　the　first　glimpse　of　the　rest　of　the　master　plan。
　〃You　bring　up　the　trash　only　to　her　lawyer；〃　she　said。　〃You　show　him　the　file；　all　of　it。　At　that　point；　they'll　be　anxious　to　settle。〃
　〃Settle；　as　in　money。〃
　〃Correct。〃
　〃What　type　of　settlement？〃
　〃She　gets　nothing。〃
　〃What　is　there　to　get？〃
　〃Depends。　It　could　be　a　small　fortune；　or　a　large　one。〃
　Sandy　turned　and　glared　at　her。　〃I　cannot　negotiate　a　property　settlement　if　I　don't　know　how　much　my　client　has。　At　some　point；　you　guys　have　to　clue　me　in。〃
　〃Be　patient；〃　she　said；　thoroughly　unruffled。　〃With　time；　you'll　know　more。〃
　〃Does　Patrick　really　think　he　can　buy　his　way　out　of　this？〃
　〃He'll　certainly　try。〃
　〃It　won't　work。〃
　〃Do　you　have　a　better　idea？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃I　didn't　think　so。　It's　our　only　chance。〃
　Sandy　relaxed　and　leaned　against　the　wall。　〃It　would　be　helpful　if　you　guys　would　tell　me　more。〃
　〃We　will。　I　promise。　But　first；　we'll　take　care　of　the　divorce。　Trudy　has　to　relinquish　all　claims　to　his　assets。〃
　〃That　should　be　easy。　And　fun。〃
　〃Get　it　done；　and　we'll　chat　again　next　week。〃
　It　was　suddenly　time　for　Sandy　to　leave。　She　was　on　her　feet；　gathering　papers。　He　took　his　files　and　placed　them　in　his　briefcase。　〃How　long　will　you　be　here？〃　he　asked。
　〃Not　long；〃　she　said；　and　handed　him　an　envelope。　〃That's　a　letter　for　Patrick。　Tell　him　I'm　fine；　I'm　moving　around；　and　so　far　I　haven't　seen　anyone　behind　me。〃
　Sandy　took　the　envelope　and　tried　to　make　eye　contact。　She　was　nervous　and　anxious　for　him　to　leave。　He　wanted　to　help　her；　or　at　least　to　offer；　but　he　knew　whatever　he　said　at　this　point　would　be　dismissed。
　She　forced　a　smile　and　said；　〃You　have　a　job　to　do。　So　do　it。　Patrick　and　I　will　worry　about　the　rest。〃
　WHILE　STEPHANO　TOLD　his　story　in　Washington；　Benny　Aricia　and　Guy　set　up　camp　in　Biloxi。　They　leased　a　three…bedroom　condo　on　the　Back　Bay；　and　installed　phones　and　a　fax。
　The　theory　was　that　the　girl　would　have　to　surface　in　Biloxi。　Patrick　was　confined；　and　for　the　foreseeable　future　his　life　was　fairly　predictable。　He　wasn't　going　anywhere。　She　would　have　to　e　to　him。　And　they　had　to　catch　her　when　she　did。
　Aricia　had　budgeted　a　hundred　thousand　for　this　last　little　campaign；　and　that　would　be　the　end　of　it；　he　swore　to　himself。　Down　almost　two　million；　he　simply　had　to　stop　burning　money　while　he　had　some　left。　Northern　Case　Mutual　and　Monarch…Sierra；　the　other　two　members　of　his　shaky　partnership；　had　thrown　in　the　towel。　Stephano　would　keep　the　FBI　happy　with　his　tall　tales；　while　hopefully　Guy　and　the　rest　of　the　organization　could　find　the　girl。　It　was　a　longshot。
　Osmar　and　his　boys　were　still　loitering　in　the　streets　of　Rio；　watching　the　same　places　each　day。　If　she　came　back；　they　would　see　her。　Osmar　used　a　lot　of　men；　but　they　worked　cheap　down　there。
　RETURNING　to　the　Coast　brought　back　bitter　feelings　in　Benny　Aricia。　He　had　moved　there　in　1985　as　an　executive　of　Platt　&　Rockland　Industries；　a　mammoth　conglomerate　which　had　sent　him　around　the　world　for　twenty　years　as　a　troubleshooter。　One　of　the　pany's　more　profitable　divisions　was　New　Coastal　Shipyards　in　Pascagoula；　between　Biloxi　and　Mobile。　In　1985；　New　Coastal　received　a　twelve…billion…dollar　Navy　contract　to　build　four　Expedition　Class　nuclear　submarines；　and　someone　upstairs　decided　Benny　needed　a　permanent　home。
　Raised　in　New　Jersey；　educated　in　Boston；　and　the　husband；　at　the　time；　of　a　repressed　social