jg.thepartner-第36部分

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　to　e　home。　He　exploded　and　revealed　for　the　first　time　that　he　had　met　with　her　former　partners　and　knew　that　she　had　been　terminated。　She　had　calmly　explained　that　she　was　on　her　own　now；　a　solo　practitioner　with　a　rich　client　in　international　trading；　and　that　extended　travel　like　this　would　bee　routine。
　He　hated　to　argue　with　her　on　the　phone；　especially　since　he　was　so　worried　about　her。
　Paulo　was　also　tired　of　the　shady　little　men　lurking　around　his　street　and　following　him　as　he　walked　to　the　market　or　drove　to　his　office　at　the　Pontificia　Universidade　Catolica。　He　watched　for　them；　they　were　always　nearby。　He　had　nicknames　for　them。　Paulo　had　spoken　several　times　to　the　manager　of　Eva's　apartment　building；　and　the　same　shifty　creatures　were　watching　there　too。
　His　last　class；　a　survey　of　German　philosophy；　ended　at　one。　He　met　in　his　office　for　thirty　minutes　with　a　struggling　student；　then　left　for　the　day。　It　was　raining　and　he　had　forgotten　his　umbrella。　His　car　was　parked　in　a　small　faculty　lot　behind　a　classroom　building。
　Osmar　was　waiting。　Paulo　was　deep　in　thought　as　he　left　the　building；　his　eyes　down；　with　a　newspaper　on　top　of　his　head；　his　mind　a　million　miles　away　as　he　walked　under　a　dripping　shade　tree　and　stepped　in　a　puddle　near　his　car。　Next　to　it　was　a　small　red　Fiat　delivery　van。　The　driver　emerged；　but　Paulo　didn't　notice。　The　driver　opened　the　rear　door　of　the　van；　but　Paulo　neither　heard　nor　saw　anything。　He　was　reaching　for　his　keys　when　Osmar　shoved　him　from　the　side；　and　knocked　him　roughly　into　the　van。　His　briefcase　fell　to　the　ground。
　The　door　slammed。　In　the　darkness；　the　barrel　of　a　gun　was　placed　between　Paulo's　eyes；　and　a　voice　told　him　to　be　silent。
　The　driver's　door　of　his　car　was　opened；　and　papers　from　his　briefcase　were　strewn　from　the　front　seat　to　the　rear　tires。
　The　van　raced　away。
　A　phone　call　to　the　police　informed　them　of　the　kidnapping。
　For　an　hour　and　a　half；　they　drove　Paulo　out　of　the　city；　then　into　the　countryside；　though　he　had　no　idea　where　he　was。　The　van　was　hot…no　windows；　no　lights。　There　were　the　silhouettes　of　two　men　sitting　close　to　him；　both　with　guns。　They　stopped　behind　a　sprawling　farmhouse；　and　Paulo　was　led　inside。　His　quarters　were　in　the　rear；　a　bedroom；　a　bath；　a　parlor　with　a　television。　There　was　plenty　of　food。　He　would　not　be　harmed；　he　was　told；　unless　of　course　he　made　the　mistake　of　trying　to　escape。　He　would　be　held　for　a　week　or　so；　then　released；　if　he　behaved　himself。
　He　locked　his　door　and　peeked　from　a　window。　Two　men　sat　under　a　tree；　laughing　and　drinking　tea　with　submachine　guns　nearby。
　Anonymous　calls　were　made　to　Paulo's　son　in　Rio；　to　the　manager　of　Eva's　apartment；　to　her　old　law　firm；　and　to　one　of　her　friends　who　worked　at　a　travel　agency。　The　message　was　the　same；　Paulo　Miranda　had　been　kidnapped。　The　police　were　investigating。
　EVA　WAS　IN　NEW　YORK；　staying　for　a　few　days　in　a　suite　at　the　Pierre　Hotel；　shopping　along　Fifth　Avenue；　spending　hours　in　museums。　Her　instructions　were　to　keep　on　the　move；　to　pop　in　and　out　of　New　Orleans。　She　had　received　three　letters　from　Patrick；　and　she　had　written　him　twice；　all　correspondence　being　passed　through　Sandy。　Whatever　physical　abuse　he　had　suffered　had　certainly　not　affected　his　attention　to　details。　His　letters　were　specific…plans　and　checklists　and　emergency　procedures。
　She　called　her　father；　and　there　was　no　answer。　She　called　her　brother；　and　the　sky　came　crashing　down。　She　had　to　return　immediately；　he　insisted。　Her　brother　was　a　delicate　type；　unaccustomed　to　pressure　and　adversity。　He　cracked　easily。　The　difficult　family　decisions　were　always　left　to　Eva。
　She　kept　him　on　the　phone　for　half　an　hour　as　she　tried　to　calm　both　of　them。　No；　there　had　been　no　ransom　demand。　Not　a　word　from　the　kidnappers。
　AGAINST　his　specific　instructions；　she　called　him。　Fidgeting　at　a　pay　phone　in　La　Guardia；　looking　over　her　shoulder　through　thick　sunglasses　and　tugging　nervously　at　her　hair；　she　dialed　his　room　number；　and　spoke　in　Portuguese。　If　they　were　listening；　at　least　they　would　have　to　find　a　translator。
　〃Patrick；　it's　Leah；〃　she　said；　with　as　little　emotion　as　possible。
　〃What's　wrong？〃　he　asked；　also　in　Portuguese。　He　hadn't　heard　her　wonderful　voice　for　some　time；　and　he　was　not　pleased　to　hear　it　now。
　〃Can　we　talk？〃
　〃Yes。　What's　the　matter？〃　Patrick　checked　the　phone　in　his　room　for　bugs　every　three　or　four　hours。　He　was　bored。　He　also　scanned　every　possible　hiding　place　with　the　bugging　sensor　Sandy　had　found　him。　With　guards　posted　around　the　clock；　he　had　learned　to　relax　somewhat。　But　the　outside　lines　still　worried　him。
　〃It's　my　father；〃　she　said；　then　blurted　out　the　story　of　Paulo's　disappearance。　〃I　have　to　go　home。〃
　〃No；　Leah；〃　he　said　calmly。　〃It's　a　trap。　Your　father　is　not　a　wealthy　man。　They　are　not　asking　for　money。　They　want　you。〃
　〃I　cannot　abandon　my　father。〃
　〃And　you　can't　find　him　either。〃
　〃This　is　all　my　fault。〃
　〃No。　The　blame　lies　with　me。　But　don't　make　matters　worse　by　rushing　into　their　trap。〃
　She　twirled　her　hair　and　watched　the　parade　of　people　rushing　by。　〃So　what　do　I　do？〃
　〃Go　to　New　Orleans。　Call　Sandy　when　you　get　there。　Let　me　think。〃
　She　bought　a　ticket；　then　walked　to　her　gate　and　found　a　seat　in　a　corner　where　she　could　hide　her　face　next　to　the　wall　and　behind　a　magazine。　She　thought　of　her　poppa　and　the　horrible　things　they　could　be　doing　to　him。　The　only　two　men　she　loved　had　been　kidnapped　by　the　same　people；　and　Patrick　was　still　in　the　hospital　because　of　his　wounds。　Her　father　was　older　and　not　as　strong　as　Patrick。　They　were　hurting　him　because　of　her。　And　there　was　nothing　she　could　do。
　AFTER　A　DAY　of　searching；　a　Biloxi　policeman　saw　Lance's　car　leaving　the　Grand　Casino　at　10：20　P。M。　Lance　was　stopped　and　Retained　for　no　valid　reason　until　Sweeney　arrived。　He　and　Lance　conferenced　in　the　backseat　of　a　flashing　patrol　car　in　the　parking　lot　of　a　Burger　King。
　The　Sheriff　asked　how　the　dope　trade　was　going；　and　Lance　said　business　was　good。
　〃How's　Trudy？〃　the　Sheriff　asked；　toothpick　between　his　lips。　It　was　a　massive　struggle　in　the　backseat　to　see　who　could　be　the　coolest。　Lance　even　put　on　his　newest　Ray…Bans。
　〃She's　fine。　How's　your　woman？〃
　〃I　don't　have　one。　Look；　Lance；　we've　picked　up　some　pretty　serious　tips　that　you're　in　the　market　for　a　trigger。〃
　〃Lies；　lies；　total　lies。〃
　〃Yeah；　well；　we　don't　think　so。　You　see；　Lance；　all　your　pals　are　just　like　you。　Either　just　off　probation　or　working　hard　to　get　back　on。　Scum；　you　know。　Just　scum。　Always　looking　for　a　dirty　buck；　always　one　step　ahead　of　trouble。　They　hear　a　good　rumor；　they　can't　wait　to　whisper　it　to　the　feds。　Might　help　them　with　their　probation。〃
　〃That's　nice；　real　nice。　I　like　that。〃
　〃And　so　we　know　you　got　some　cash；　you　got　this　woman　who's　about　to　lose　a　bundle；　and　everything　would　be　great　if　Mr。　Lanigan　sorta　remained　dead。〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃Yeah。　So　here's　what　we're　doing。　Us　and　the　feds。　We're　puttin'　you　under　surveillance；　you　and　the　woman；　and　we're　watching　and　listening　real　hard。　You　make　a　move；　we'll　get　you。　Both　you　and　Trudy　will　get　yourselves　in　more　trouble　than　Lanigan's　in。〃
　〃I'm　supposed　to　be　frightened　by　this？〃
　〃If　you　had　a　brain　you　would　be。〃
　〃Can　I　go　now？〃
　〃Please。〃
　Both　doors　were　opened　from　the　outside；　and　Lance　was　taken　back　to　his　car。
　AT　THE　SAME　TIME；　Agent　Cutter　rang　Trudy's　doorbell；　hoping　she　was　asleep。　He　had　been　sitting　in　a　coffee　shop　in　Fairhope；　waiting　for　word　that　Lance　had　been　detained。
　Trudy　was　awake。　She　unbolted　the　front　door　and　spoke　through　the　chain。　〃What　do　you　want？〃　she　demanded　as　Cutter　flashed　his　badge　and　emphasized　the　〃FBI。〃　She　recognized　him。
　〃Can　I　e　in？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Lance　is　in　police　custody。　I　think　we　should　talk。〃
　〃What！〃
　〃The　Biloxi　police　have　him。〃
　She　unlocked　the　chain　and　opened　the　door。　They　stood　in　the　foyer；　facing　each　other。　Cutter　was　thoroughly　enjoying　himself。
　〃What's　he　done？〃　she　asked。
　〃I　think　he'll　be　released　soon。〃
　〃I'll　call　my　lawyer。〃
　〃Fine；　but　there's　something　I　should　tell　you　first。　We　have　it　from　a　good　source　that　Lance　has　been　trying　to　locate　a　hit　man　to　take　out　your　husband；　Patrick　Lanigan。〃
　〃No！〃　She　covered　her　mouth　with　a　hand。　The　surprise　seemed　real。
　〃Yes。　And　you　could　be　implicated。　It's　your　money　Lance　is　trying　to　protect；　and　I'm　sure　you'll　be　considered　a　co…conspirator。　If　something　happens　to　Lanigan；　we'll　e　here　first。〃
　〃I　haven't　done　anything。〃
　〃Not　yet。　We're　watching　you　very　closely；　Mrs。　Lanigan。〃
　〃Don't　call　me　that。〃
　〃Sorry。〃
　Cutter　left　her　standing　in　the　foyer。
　SANDY　PARKED　in　a　lot　off　Canal　around　midnight；　and　darted　down　Decatur　and　into　the　heart　of　the　French　Quarter。　His　client　had　lectured　him　sternly　about　security；　especially　when　meeting　Leah。　Only　Sandy　could　lead　them　to　her；　and　so　he　must　be　extremely　cautious。　〃She's　in　grave　danger；　Sandy；〃　Patrick　had　told　him　an　hour　before。　〃You　can't　be　too　careful。〃
　He　walked　around　one　block　three　times；　and　when　he　was　certain　no　one　could　possibly　be　behind　him；　he　ducked　into　an　open　bar；　where　he　drank　a　soda　and　watched　the　sidewalk。　Then　he　walked　across　the　street　to　the　Royal　Sonesta。　He　milled　about　the　lobby　with　the　tourists；　then　he　rode　the　elevator　to　the　third　floor。　Leah　opened　the　door　and　locked　it　behind　him。
　Not　surprisingly；　she　looked　tired　and　wrung　out。
　〃I'm　sorry　about　your　father；〃　Sandy　said。　〃Have　you　heard　anything？〃
　〃No。　I've　been　traveling。〃　There　was　a　tray　of　coffee　on　top　of　the　television。　Sandy　poured　a　cup　and　stirred　in　sugar。　〃Patrick　told　me　about　it；〃　he　said。　〃Who　are　these　people？〃
　〃There's　a　file　over　there；〃　she　said；　nodding　at　a　small　table。　〃Please　sit。〃　She　was　pointing　at　the　end　of　the　bed。　Sandy　sat　with　his　coffee；　and　waited。　It　was　time　for　a　talk。
　〃We　met　two　years　ago；　in　1994；　after　his　surgery　in　Rio。　Patrick　said　he　was　a　Canadian　businessman　who　needed　a　lawyer　with　experience　in　trade　matters。　But　he　really　needed　a　friend。　I　was　a　friend　for　two　days；　then　we　fell　in　love。　He　told　me　everything　about　his　past；　everything