jg.thepartner-第31部分

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　pany　is　ready　to　bankrupt　me。〃
　〃She　deserves　a　helluva　lot　of　money；〃　Lance　piped　in　on　cue。
　〃Can　I　sue　him　for　mental　distress；　or　fraud；　or　something　like　that？〃　she　pleaded。
　〃No。　Look；　it's　very　simple。　You　get　the　divorce　and　the　kid；　and　Patrick　keeps　whatever　money　is　out　there。　And　everything　is　kept　quiet。　Otherwise；　he'll　leak　all　this　to　the　press。〃　J。　Murray　tapped　the　reports　and　the　photos　when　he　said　this。　〃And　you'll　be　humiliated。　You've　gone　public　with　your　dirty　laundry；　he's　quite　anxious　to　return　the　favor。〃
　〃Where　do　I　sign？〃　she　said。
　J。　MURRAY　fixed　them　all　a　vodka；　and　before　too　long　he　was　mixing　another　round。　He　finally　brought　up　the　subject　of　those　silly　rumors　about　Lance　looking　for　a　hit　man。　The　denials　came　fast　and　furious；　and　J。　Murray　confessed　that　he　really　didn't　believe　the　trash　anyway。
　There　were　so　many　rumors　racing　up　and　down　the　Coast。
　Twenty…two
　THEY　BEGAN　TRACKING　Sandy　McDermott　as　he　left　New　Orleans　at　8　A。M。　and　worked　his　way　through　the　traffic　on　Interstate　10。　He　was　followed　until　the　congestion　thinned　near　Lake　Pont…chartrain。　They　called　ahead　and　reported　he　was　on　his　way　to　Biloxi。　Following　him　was　easy。　Listening　would　be　another　matter。　Guy　had　bugs　for　Sandy's　office　and　home　phones；　even　one　for　his　car；　but　the　decision　to　install　them　had　not　yet　been　made。　The　risks　were　significant。　Aricia　especially　was　wary。　He　argued　with　Stephano　and　with　Guy　that　Sandy　might　well　expect　his　phones　to　get　tapped；　and　might　feed　them　all　sorts　of　useless　or　even　damaging　gossip。　His　client　had　so　far　proved　quite　proficient　at　seeing　around　corners。　And　so　they　argued。
　Sandy　wasn't　looking　over　his　shoulder。　Nor　was　he　seeing　much　in　front　of　him。　He　was　simply　driving；　moving　forward　while　avoiding　contact；　his　mind；　as　usual；　many　miles　away。
　From　a　strategic　point　of　view；　the　various　Lanigan　battles　were　in　good　shape。　The　civil　suits　filed　by　Monarch…Sierra；　the　law　firm；　and　Aricia　had　been　placed　on　dockets　already　densely　crowded。　Formal　responses　by　Sandy　were　a　month　away。　Discovery　wouldn't　start　for　three　months　and　would　last　for　a　year。　Trials　were　two　years　away　at　the　earliest。　Likewise　for　Patrick's　suit　against　the　FBI；　it　would　one　day　be　amended　to　bring　in　Stephano　and　his　consortium。　It　would　be　a　delightful　case　to　try；　but　Sandy　doubted　he　would　ever　get　the　chance。
　The　divorce　was　under　control。
　The　capital　murder　charge；　clearly　the　center　of　attention；　was　another　matter。　Obviously　the　most　serious　of　Patrick's　problems；　it　was　also　the　speediest。　By　law；　the　state　had　to　try　Patrick　within　two　hundred　and　seventy　days　of　the　indictment；　so　the　clock　was　ticking。
　In　Sandy's　opinion；　a　conviction　based　on　the　evidence　would　be　a　longshot。　For　the　moment；　crucial　elements　of　proof　were　missing…significant　facts　such　as　the　identity　of　John　Doe；　and　the　manner　in　which　he　died；　and　the　certainty　that　Patrick　killed　him。　It　was　a　tenuous　circumstantial　case　at　best。　Large　assumptions　would　be　called　for。
　However；　a　conviction　based　on　public　sentiment　was　foreseeable。　By　now　everyone　within　a　hundred　miles　of　Biloxi　knew　most　of　the　details；　and　you　couldn't　find　a　literate　breathing　soul　who　didn't　think　Patrick　killed　someone　to　fake　his　death　so　he　could　lie　in　ambush　and　steal　ninety　million　dollars。　Patrick　had　a　few　admirers；　those　who　also　dreamed　of　a　new　life　with　a　new　name　and　plenty　of　dough。　But　they　would　not　be　on　his　jury。　Most　folks；　it　seemed　through　the　informal　polling　of　coffee　shop　talk　and　courthouse　gossip；　felt　he　was　guilty　and　should　spend　time　in　prison。　Very　few　favored　the　death　penalty。　Leave　that　for　rapists　and　cop　killers。
　Most　pressing；　though；　at　the　moment；　was　keeping　Patrick　alive。　The　file　on　Lance；　hand…delivered　last　night　by　the　lovely　Leah　in　yet　another　hotel　room；　portrayed　a　quiet　man　with　a　hair…trigger　temper　and　a　penchant　for　violence。　He　liked　guns；　and　had　once　been　indicted　by　a　federal　grand　jury　for　fencing　them　through　a　pawnshop。　The　charges　were　later　dismissed。　In　addition　to　his　three…year　stint　for　smuggling　pot；　he　had　been　sentenced　to　sixty　days　for　his　part　in　a　barroom　brawl　in　Gulfport；　though　the　time　was　suspended　due　to　an　overcrowded　jail。　There　were　two　other　arrests…one　for　another　fight　and　one　for　a　DUI。
　Lance　could　be　cleaned　up　and　made　presentable。　He　was　lanky　and　handsome；　and　well　admired　by　the　ladies。　He　knew　how　to　dress　and　carry　on　amusing　chitchat　over　cocktails。　But　his　forays　into　society　were　temporary。　His　heart　was　always　in　the　street；　just　above　the　gutter；　where　he　hung　out　with　loan　sharks　and　bookies　and　fences　and　reputable　drug　dealers；　the　smart　white…collar　boys　of　local　crime。　These　were　his　friends；　the　guys　from　his　neighborhood。　Patrick　had　found　them　too；　and　the　file　contained　no　fewer　than　a　dozen　little　biographies　of　Lance's　pals；　all　with　criminal　records。
　Sandy　at　first　had　been　skeptical　of　Patrick's　paranoia。　Now　he　believed　it。　Though　he　knew　little　of　the　underworld；　the　nature　of　his　profession　occasionally　brought　him　into　contact　with　criminals。　He　had　heard　many　times　that　for　five　thousand　bucks　you　could　get　anyone　killed。　Maybe　even　less　along　the　Coast。
　Lance　certainly　had　more　than　five　thousand　bucks。　And　he　had　a　wonderful　motive　to　eliminate　Patrick。　The　life　insurance　policies　that　made　Trudy　rich　didn't　exclude　any　particular　causes　of　death；　other　than　suicide。　A　bullet　to　the　head　was　treated　just　like　a　car　wreck；　or　a　heart　attack；　or　anything　else。　Dead　was　dead。
　THE　COAST　was　not　Sandy's　turf。　He　didn't　know　the　sheriffs　and　their　deputies；　the　judges　and　their　quirks；　the　other　members　of　the　bar。　He　suspected　this　was　precisely　why　Patrick　picked　him。
　Sweeney　had　been　less　than　hospitable　on　the　phone。　He　was　very　busy；　he　said；　and　besides；　meetings　with　lawyers　were　usually　a　waste　of　time。　He　could　spare　a　few　minutes；　starting　at　nine…thirty　and　barring　an　emergency。　Sandy　arrived　early；　and　poured　his　own　coffee　from　a　pot　he　found　next　to　the　watercooler。　Deputies　milled　about。　The　sprawling　jail　was　in　the　rear。　Sweeney　found　him　and　led　him　through　to　his　office；　a　spartan　room　with　government　hand…me…down　furniture　and　fading　photos　of　smiling　politicians　on　the　wall。
　〃Have　a　seat；〃　Sweeney　said；　pointing　to　a　ratty　chair　as　he　sat　behind　his　desk。　Sandy　did　as　he　was　told。
　〃Mind　if　I　record？〃　Sweeney　asked；　already　punching　the　button　on　a　large　tape　recorder　in　the　center　of　his　desk。　〃I　tape　everything；〃　he　said。
　〃Sure；〃　Sandy　said；　as　if　he　had　a　choice。　〃Thanks　for　working　me　in。〃
　〃No　problem；〃　Sweeney　said。　He　had　yet　to　smile　or　offer　anything　other　than　the　impression　of　being　bothered　by　this。　He　lit　a　cigarette　and　sipped　steaming　coffee　from　a　Styrofoam　cup。
　〃I'll　get　right　to　the　point；〃　Sandy　said；　as　if　idle　conversation　were　an　option。　〃My　office　has　received　a　tip　that　Patrick's　life　may　be　in　danger。〃　Sandy　hated　the　lying；　but　he　had　little　choice　under　the　circumstances。　This　was　what　his　client　wanted。
　〃Why　would　someone　tip　your　office　that　your　client　was　in　danger？〃　Sweeney　asked。
　〃I　have　investigators　working　on　the　case。　They　know　lots　of　people。　Some　gossip　got　passed　along；　and　one　of　my　investigators　tracked　it　down。　That's　the　way　these　things　happen。〃
　…　Sweeney　showed　neither　belief　nor　disbelief。　He　smoked　his　cigarette　and　thought　about　it。　In　the　past　week；　he　had　heard　every　conceivable　species　of　rumor　about　the　adventures　of　Patrick　Lanigan。　People　were　talking　about　nothing　else。　The　hit　man　stories　were　of　several　varieties。　Sweeney　figured　his　network　was　better　than　the　lawyer's；　especially　one　from　New　Orleans；　so　he　would　let　him　talk。　〃Got　any　suspects？〃
　〃Yes。　His　name　is　Lance　Maxa；　I'm　sure　you　know　him。〃
　〃We　do。〃
　〃He　took　Patrick's　place　with　Trudy　not　long　after　the　funeral。〃
　〃Some　would　say　Patrick　took　his　place；〃　Sweeney　said；　with　his　first　smile。　Sandy　was　indeed　on　foreign　turf。　The　Sheriff　knew　more　than　he。
　〃Then　I　guess　you　know　all　about　Lance　and　Trudy；〃　Sandy　said；　a　little　rattled。
　〃We　do。　We　take　good　notes　around　here。〃
　〃I'm　sure　you　do。　Anyway；　Lance；　as　you　know；　is　a　nasty　sort；　and　my　men　got　a　rumor　that　he　was　looking　for　a　contract　killer。〃
　〃How　much　is　he　offering？〃　Sweeney　asked　skeptically。
　〃Don't　know。　But　he　has　the　money；　and　he　has　the　motive。〃
　〃I've　already　heard　this。〃
　〃Good。　What　do　you　plan　to　do？〃
　〃About　what？〃
　〃About　keeping　my　client　alive。〃
　Sweeney　took　a　deep　breath　and　decided　to　hold　his　tongue。　He　struggled　with　his　temper。　〃He's　on　a　military　base；　in　a　hospital　room　with　my　deputies　guarding　his　door　and　FBI　agents　down　the　hall。　I'm　not　sure　what　else　you　have　in　mind。〃
　〃Look；　Sheriff；　I'm　not　trying　to　tell　you　how　to　do　your　job。〃
　〃Really？〃
　〃No。　I　promise。　Please　try　and　understand　that　my　client　is　a　very　frightened　man　right　now。　I'm　here　acting　on　his　behalf。　He's　been　stalked　for　over　four　years。　He's　been　caught。　He　hears　voices　we　don't　hear。　He　sees　shadows　we　don't　see。　He's　convinced　people　will　try　to　kill　him；　and　he　expects　me　to　protect　him。〃
　〃He's　safe。〃
　〃For　now。　What　if　you　talked　to　Lance；　and　you　grilled　him　pretty　good　and　told　him　about　the　rumors。　If　he　knew　you　were　watching；　he'd　be　stupid　to　try　something。〃
　〃Lance　is　stupid。〃
　〃Maybe；　but　Trudy　is　not。　If　she　thinks　she　might　get　caught；　she'll　yank　Lance　back　where　he　belongs。〃
　〃Been　yanking　him　all　his　life。〃
　〃Precisely。　She　will　not　run　the　risk。〃
　Sweeney　lit　another　cigarette；　and　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃Anything　else？〃　he　asked；　suddenly　anxious　to　get　up　and　leave。　He　was　a　Sheriff；　not　an　office　manager　with　a　desk　and　Rolodex。
　〃Just　one　thing。　And　again；　I'm　not　trying　to　tend　to　your　business。　Patrick　has　enormous　respect　for　you。　But；　well；　he　thinks　he's　much　safer　where　he　is。〃
　〃What　a　surprise。〃
　〃Jail　could　be　dangerous　for　him。〃
　〃He　shoulda　thought　about　that　before　he　killed　Mr。　Doe。〃
　Sandy　ignored　this　and　said；　〃He'll　be　easier　to　protect　in　the　hospital。〃
　〃Have　you　been　to　my　jail？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Then　don't　lecture　me　about　how　unsafe　it　is。　I've　been　doing