jg.thepartner-第58部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　How　much　did　you　pay　them；　he　started　to　ask；　then　let　it　go。　It　was　not　relevant。　More　doodling　on　the　legal　pad。　More　appraising　his　sinking　options　as　the　tape　recorder　captured　the　silence。
　With　his　opponent　on　the　ropes；　Patrick　moved　in　for　the　knockout。　〃Look；　Terry；〃　he　said　sincerely。　〃You　can't　prosecute　me　for　murder。　That's　gone。　You　can't　prosecute　me　for　mutilating　a　corpse；　because　you　don't　know　who　got　mutilated。　You　have　nothing。　I　know　it's　a　bitter　pill　to　swallow；　but　you　can't　change　the　facts。　You'll　take　some　heat；　but；　hell；　that's　part　of　your　job。〃
　〃Gee　thanks。　Look；　I　can　indict　you　for　mutilating　the　corpse。　We'll　call　him　John　Doe。〃
　〃Why　not　Jane　Doe？〃　Sandy　asked。
　〃Whatever。　And　we'll　pull　the　records　of　every　old　codger　who　died　in　early　February　of　1992。　We'll　go　to　the　families；　see　if　they've　talked　to　you。　We　might　even　get　a　court　order；　dig　up　a　few　graves。　We'll　take　our　time。　Meanwhile；　you'll　get　transferred　to　the　Harrison　County　Jail；　where　I'm　sure　Sheriff　Sweeney　will　see　the　need　to　give　you　a　few　good　cellmates。　We'll　oppose　bail；　and　no　judge　will　grant　it　because　of　your　propensity　to　flee。　Months　will　go　by。　Summer　will　e。　The　jail　has　no　air　conditioning。　You'll　lose　some　more　weight。　We'll　keep　digging；　and　with　a　little　luck　we'll　find　the　empty　grave。　And　in　exactly　nine　months；　two　hundred　and　seventy　days　after　the　indictment；　we'll　go　to　trial。〃
　〃How　are　you　going　to　prove　I　did　it？　There　are　no　witnesses；　nothing　but　some　circumstantial　evidence。〃
　〃It'll　be　close。　But　you　miss　my　point。　If　I　drag　my　feet　getting　the　indictment；　I　could　add　two　months　to　your　sentence。　That's　almost　a　year　you'll　spend　in　the　county　jail　before　trial。　That's　a　long　time　for　a　man　with　plenty　of　money。〃
　〃I　can　handle　it；〃　Patrick　said；　staring　into　Parrish's　eyes；　hoping　he　didn't　blink　first。
　〃Maybe；　but　you　can't　run　the　risk　of　getting　convicted。〃
　〃What's　your　bottom　line？〃　Sandy　asked。
　〃You　gotta　look　at　the　big　picture；〃　Parrish　said；　spreading　his　hands　wide　above　his　head。　〃You　can't　make　fools　out　of　us；　Patrick。　The　feds　have　hit　the　back　door。　The　state　doesn't　have　much　left。　Give　us　a　notch　for　our　belts；　something。〃
　〃I'll　give　you　a　conviction。　I'll　walk　into　a　courtroom；　face　the　Judge；　listen　to　your　routine；　and　I'll　plead　guilty　to　the　felony　charge　of　mutilating　the　corpse。　But　I　get　no　jail　time。　You　can　explain　to　the　Judge　that　the　family　does　not　want　to　prosecute。　You　can　remend　a　suspended　sentence；　probation；　fines；　restitution；　credit　for　time　served。　You　can　talk　about　the　torture　and　what　I've　been　through。　You　can　do　all　that；　Parrish；　and　you'll　look　very　good。　Bottom　line　is　this：　no　jail。〃
　Parrish　tapped　his　fingers　and　analyzed　it。　〃And　you'll　reveal　the　name　of　the　victim？〃
　〃I　will；　but　only　after　we　have　a　deal。〃
　〃We　have　authorization　from　the　family　to　open　the　casket；〃　Sandy　said；　waving　another　document　briefly　before　returning　it　to　the　file。
　〃I'm　in　a　hurry；　Terry。　I　have　places　to　go。〃
　〃I　need　to　speak　with　Trussel。　He'll　have　to　approve　this；　you　know。〃
　〃He　will；〃　Patrick　said。
　〃Do　we　have　a　deal？〃　Sandy　asked。
　〃As　far　as　I'm　concerned　we　do；〃　Parrish　said；　then　turned　off　the　recorder。　He　gathered　his　weapons　and　stuffed　them　into　his　briefcase。　Patrick　winked　at　Sandy。
　〃Oh；　by　the　way；〃　Parrish　said　as　he　stood。　〃I　almost　forgot。　What　can　you　tell　us　about　Pepper　Scarboro？〃
　〃I　can　give　you　his　new　name　and　Social　Security　number。〃
　〃So　he's　still　with　us？〃
　〃Yes。　You　can　track　him　down；　but　you　can't　disturb　him。　He's　done　nothing　wrong。〃
　The　D。A。　left　the　room　without　another　word。
　HER　TWO　O'CLOCK　APPOINTMENT　was　with　a　senior　vice　president　of　DeutscheBank；　London　branch。　He　was　a　German　with　perfect　English；　an　impeccably　tailored　navy　double…breasted　suit；　rigid　manners；　and　a　fixed　smile。　He　gazed　for　one　split　second　at　her　legs；　then　got　down　to　business。　The　wire　from　his　bank；　Zurich　branch；　would　be　for　one　hundred　and　thirteen　million　dollars；　sent　immediately　to　the　AmericaBank；　Washington　branch。　She　had　the　account　numbers　and　routing　instructions。　Tea　and　biscuits　were　brought　in　as　he　excused　himself　to　have　a　private　chat　with　Zurich。
　〃No　problem；　Ms。　Pires；〃　he　said；　smiling　warmly　now　as　he　returned　and　took　a　biscuit　for　himself。　She　certainly　hadn't　expected　any　problems。
　His　puter　hissed　with　quiet　efficiency；　and　a　printout　emerged。　He　handed　it　to　her。　After　the　wire；　the　balance　in　DeutscheBank　would　be　one　point　nine　million　dollars　and　change。　She　folded　it　and　put　it　in　her　purse；　a　sleek　new　Chanel。
　Another　Swiss　account　had　a　balance　of　three　million。　A　Canadian　bank　on　Grand　Cayman　held　six　point　five　million。　A　money　manager　in　Bermuda　was　investing　over　four　million　for　them；　and　seven　point　two　million　was　currently　parked　in　Luxembourg；　but　was　about　to　be　moved。
　When　her　business　was　plete；　she　left　the　bank　and　found　her　car　and　driver　parked　nearby。　She　would　call　Sandy；　and　pass　along　her　next　movements。
　BENNY'S　STINT　as　a　federal　fugitive　was　brief。　His　girlfriend　spent　the　night　in　Frankfurt；　then　flew　to　London；　landing　at　Heathrow　around　noon。　Since　they　knew　she　was　ing；　the　customs　officer　double…checked　her　passport　and　made　her　wait。　She　wore　dark　sunglasses　and　her　hands　shook。　It　was　all　captured　on　video。
　At　the　cab　stand；　she　was　unknowingly　detained　by　a　policeman　who　appeared　to　be　in　charge　of　whistling　for　taxis。　He　asked　her　to　stand　over　there；　next　to　those　other　two　ladies；　while　he　worked　the　traffic。　Her　driver　was　a　true　cabbie；　but　only　seconds　earlier　had　been　briefed　and　given　a　small　radio。
　〃Athenaeum　Hotel　on　Piccadilly；〃　she　said。　He　eased　away　from　the　terminal　in　heavy　traffic；　and　nonchalantly　gave　the　destination　on　the　radio。
　He　took　his　time。　An　hour　and　a　half　later；　he　deposited　her　at　the　door　of　the　hotel。　She　waited　again　at　the　registration　desk。　The　assistant　manager　apologized　for　the　delay；　but　the　puter　was　down。
　Then　word　came　that　the　phone　in　her　room　was　adequately　tapped；　they　gave　her　a　key　and　a　bellman　took　her　away。　She　tipped　him　lightly；　locked　and　chained　her　door；　and　went　straight　for　the　phone。
　The　first　words　they　heard　her　say　were；　〃Benny；　it's　me。　I'm　here。〃
　〃Thank　God；〃　said　Benny。　〃Are　you　okay？〃
　〃I'm　fine。　Just　scared。〃
　〃Did　anyone　follow　you？〃
　〃No。　I　don't　think　so。　I　was　very　careful。〃
　〃Great。　Look；　there's　a　little　coffee　bar　on　Brick　Street　near　Down；　two　blocks　from　your　hotel。　Meet　me　there　in　an　hour。〃
　〃Okay。　I'm　scared；　Benny。〃
　〃Everything's　fine；　dear。　I　can't　wait　to　see　you。〃
　Benny　wasn't　at　the　coffee　bar　when　she　arrived。　She　waited　for　an　hour　before　panicking　and　running　back　to　her　hotel。　He　didn't　call；　and　she　didn't　sleep。
　The　next　morning；　she　gathered　up　the　morning　papers　in　the　lobby　and　read　them　over　coffee　in　the　dining　room。　Deep　in　the　Daily　Mail　she　finally　found　a　two…paragraph　blip　about　the　capture　of　an　American　fugitive；　one　Benjamin　Aricia。
　She　packed　her　bags　and　booked　a　flight　to　Sweden。
　Forty…one
　WITH　JUDGE　KARL　HUSKEY　whispering　into　the　ear　of　his　colleague　Judge　Henry　Trussel；　it　was　established　that　the　Lanigan　matter　should　take　precedence　until　it　was　put　to　rest。　Rumors　of　a　deal　were　floating　throughout　the　legal　munity　in　Biloxi；　rumors　chased　and　being　chased　by　even　more　gossip　about　the　poor　Bogan　firm。　In　fact；　nothing　else　was　being　discussed　in　the　courthouse。
　Trussel　began　the　day　by　calling　in　T。L。　Parrish　and　Sandy　McDermott　for　a　quick　update；　which　eventually　lasted　for　hours。　Patrick　was　brought　into　the　discussion　on　three　occasions　by　use　of　Dr。　Hayani's　cell　phone。　The　two；　patient　and　doctor；　were　playing　chess　in　the　hospital　cafeteria。
　〃I　don't　think　he's　cut　out　for　jail；〃　Trussel　mumbled　after　the　second　call　to　Patrick。　He　was　visibly　and　verbally　reluctant　to　let　Patrick　off　the　hook　with　such　ease；　but　a　conviction　was　a　longshot。　With　a　docket　filled　with　drug　dealers　and　child　molesters；　he　wasn't　about　to　waste　time　with　a　high…profile　corpse　mutilator。　All　the　evidence　was　circumstantial；　and　given　Patrick's　current　reputation　for　meticulous　planning；　Trussel　doubted　a　conviction。
　The　terms　of　the　plea　agreement　were　hammered　out。　The　paperwork　began　with　a　joint　motion　to　reduce　the　charges　against　Patrick。　Then　an　agreed　order　to　substitute　new　charges　was　prepared；　followed　by　an　agreed　order　accepting　the　guilty　plea。　In　the　course　of　the　first　meeting；　Trussel　spoke　by　phone　to　Sheriff　Sweeney；　Maurice　Mast；　Joshua　Cutter；　and　Hamilton　Jaynes　in　Washington。　He　also　chatted　twice　with　Karl　Huskey；　who　was　next　door；　just　in　case。
　The　two　judges；　along　with　Parrish；　were　subject　to　voter　recall　every　four　years　in　the　general　election。　Trussel　had　never　had　an　opponent　and　considered　himself　politically　immune。　Huskey　was　quitting。　Parrish　was　sensitive；　though　being　a　good　politician　he　presented　the　traditional　facade　of　making　the　tough　decisions　without　regard　for　public　reaction。　The　three　had　been　involved　in　politics　for　a　long　time；　and　each　had　learned　a　basic　lesson：　when　contemplating　an　action　which　might　be　unpopular；　do　it　quickly。　Get　it　over　with。　Hesitation　allows　the　issue　to　fester。　The　press　grabs　it；　creates　a　controversy　before　the　action；　and　certainly　throws　gasoline　on　the　fire　afterward。
　The　Clovis　issue　was　simple；　once　Patrick　explained　it　to　everybody。　He　would　submit　the　name　of　the　victim；　along　with　authorization　from　the　family　to　dig　up　the　grave；　open　the　casket；　look　inside。　If　it　was　in　fact　empty；　then　the　plea　agreement　would　be　plete。　Since　there　would　always　be　doubt　until　they　opened　the　grave；　if　by　some　chance　the　casket　was　occupied；　then　the　plea　agreement　would　be　ripped　up　and　Patrick　would　still　face　capital　murder　charges。　Patrick　was　supremely　confident　when　he　talked　of　the　victim；　and　everyone　believed　without　a　doubt　that　the　grave　would　be　empty。
　Sandy　drove　to　the　hospital；　where　he　found　his　client　in　bed；　surrounded　by　nurses　as　Dr。　Hayani　cleaned　and　dressed　his　burns。　It　was　urgent；　Sandy　said；　and　Patrick　apologized　and　asked　them　to　leave。　Alone；　they　walked　thro