jg.thepartner-第59部分

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t　was　urgent；　Sandy　said；　and　Patrick　apologized　and　asked　them　to　leave。　Alone；　they　walked　through　each　motion　and　order；　read　every　word　aloud；　then　Patrick　signed　his　approval。
　Sandy　noticed　a　cardboard　box　on　the　floor　next　to　Patrick's　temporary　desk。　In　it　were　some　of　the　books　he'd　loaned　his　client。　The　client　was　already　packing。
　For　Sandy；　lunch　was　a　quick　sandwich　at　the　hotel　suite；　eaten　while　standing　and　watching　over　the　shoulder　as　a　secretary　retyped　a　document。　Both　paralegals　and　a　second　secretary　were　back　in　the　office　in　New　Orleans。
　The　phone　rang；　and　Sandy　grabbed　it。　The　caller　identified　himself　as　Jack　Stephano；　from　D。C。；　maybe　Sandy　had　heard　of　him。　Yes；　in　fact；　he　had。　Stephano　was　in　the　lobby　downstairs　and　would　like　to　talk　for　a　few　minutes。　Certainly。　Trussel　had　asked　the　lawyers　to　return　around　two。
　They　sat　in　the　small　den　and　looked　at　each　other　across　a　cluttered　coffee　table。　〃I'm　here　out　of　curiosity；〃　Stephano　said；　and　Sandy　didn't　believe　him。
　〃Shouldn't　you　start　with　an　apology？〃　Sandy　said。
　〃Yes；　you're　right。　My　men　got　a　little　carried　away　down　there；　and；　well；　they　shouldn't　have　been　so　rough　with　your　boy。〃
　〃Is　that　your　idea　of　an　apology？〃
　〃I'm　sorry。　We　were　wrong。〃　It　lacked　sincerity。
　〃I'll　pass　it　along　to　my　client。　I'm　sure　it'll　mean　a　lot　to　him。〃
　〃Yes；　well；　moving　along　here；　I；　of　course；　no　longer　have　a　dog　in　this　fight。　My　wife　and　I　are　on　our　way　to　Florida　for　a　vacation；　and　I　wanted　to　take　this　little　detour。　I'll　just　be　a　minute。〃
　〃Have　they　caught　Aricia？〃　Sandy　asked。
　〃Yes。　Just　hours　ago。　In　London。〃
　〃Good。〃
　〃I　no　longer　represent　him；　and　I　had　nothing　to　do　with　all　that　Platt　&　Rockland　business。　I　was　hired　after　the　money　disappeared。　My　job　was　to　find　it。　I　tried；　I　got　paid；　I've　closed　the　file。〃
　〃So　why　this　visit？〃
　〃I'm　extremely　curious　about　something。　We　found　Lanigan　in　Brazil　only　after　someone　squealed　on　him。　Someone　who　knew　him　very　well。　Two　years　ago　we　were　contacted　by　an　Atlanta　firm　called　the　Pluto　Group。　They　had　a　client　from　Europe　who　knew　something　about　Lanigan；　and　this　client　wanted　money。　We　happened　to　have　some　at　the　time；　and　so　a　relationship　developed。　The　client　would　offer　us　a　clue；　we　would　agree　to　pay　a　reward；　the　money　changed　hands；　and　the　client　was　always　accurate。　This　person　knew　an　awful　lot　about　Lanigan…his　movements；　his　habits；　his　aliases。　It　was　all　a　setup…　there　was　a　brain　at　work。　We　knew　what　was　ing；　and；　frankly；　we　were　quite　anxious。　Finally；　they
　popped　the　big　one。　For　a　million　bucks；　the　client　would　tell　us　where　he　lived。　They　produced　some　very　nice　photos　of　Lanigan；　one　washing　his　car；　a　Volkswagen　Beetle。　We　paid　the　money。　We　got　Lanigan。〃
　〃So　who　was　the　client？〃　Sandy　asked。
　〃That's　my　question。　It's　gotta　be　the　girl；　right？〃
　Sandy's　reaction　was　delayed　a　bit。　He　grunted　as　if　to　laugh；　but　there　was　no　humor　in　it。　It　came　back　to　him　slowly；　her　story　about　using　Pluto　to　monitor　Stephano；　who　of　course　was　searching　for　Patrick。
　〃Where　is　she　now？〃　Stephano　asked。
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Sandy　said。　She　was　in　London；　but　it　was　certainly　none　of　his　business。
　〃We　paid　a　total　of　one　million；　one　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　dollars　to　this　mysterious　client；　and　she；　or　he；　delivered。　Just　like　Judas。〃
　〃It's　over。　What　do　you　want　from　me？〃
　〃As　I　said；　I'm　just　curious。　One　of　these　days；　if　you　learn　the　truth；　I'd　appreciate　a　call。　I　have　nothing　to　gain　or　lose；　but　I　won't　rest　well　until　I　know　if　she　took　our　money。〃
　Sandy　made　a　vague　promise　to　perhaps　one　day　give　a　call　if　he　learned　the　truth；　and　Stephano　left。
　SHERIFF　RAYMOND　SWEENEY　got　wind　of　the　deal　during　lunch；　and　didn't　like　it　at　all。　He　called　Parrish　and　Judge　Trussel；　but　both　were　too　busy　to　talk　to　him。　Cutter　was　out　of　the　office。
　Sweeney　went　to　the　courthouse　to　be　seen。　He　parked　himself　in　the　hallway　between　the　judges'　offices；　so　that　if　a　deal　was　struck　he　would　somehow　be　in　the　middle　of　it。　He　whispered　with　the　bailiffs　and　deputies。　Something　was　ing　down。
　The　lawyers　showed　up　around　two　with　tight　lips　and　solemn　faces。　They　gathered　in　TrusseFs　office　behind　a　locked　door。　After　ten　minutes；　Sweeney　knocked　on　it。　He　crashed　the　meeting　with　a　demand　to　know　what　was　going　on　with　his　prisoner。　Judge　Trussel　calmly　explained　that　there　would　soon　be　a　guilty　plea；　the　result　of　a　plea　bargain；　which；　in　his　opinion；　and　in　the　collective　opinions　of　everyone　present；　was　in　the　best　interests　of　justice。
　Sweeney　had　his　own　opinion；　which　he　readily　shared。　〃It　makes　us　look　like　fools。　Folks　out　there　are　hot　about　this；　^bu　catch　a　rich　crook；　and　he　buys　his　way　outta　jail。　What　are　we；　a　bunch　of　clowns？〃
　〃What　do　you　suggest；　Raymond？〃　Parrish　asked。
　〃I'm　glad　you　asked。　First；　I'd　put　him　in　the　county　jail　and　let　him　sit　for　a　while；　same　as　all　prisoners。　Then　I'd　prosecute　him　to　the　fullest　extent。〃
　〃For　what　crime？〃
　〃He　stole　the　damned　money；　didn't　he？　He　burned　up　that　dead　body。　Let　the　boy　serve　ten　years　in　Parchman。　That's　justice。〃
　〃He　didn't　steal　the　money　here；〃　Trussel　explained。　〃We　have　no　jurisdiction。　It　was　a　federal　matter；　and　the　federal　boys　have　already　dismissed　the　charges。〃　Sandy　was　in　a　corner；　his　eyes　fixed　on　a　document。
　〃Then　somebody　screwed　up；　didn't　they？〃
　〃It　wasn't　us；〃　Parrish　said　quickly。
　〃That's　great。　Go　sell　that　to　the　people　who　elected　you。　Blame　it　on　the　feds　because　they　don't　run　for　office。　What　about　burning　the　corpse？　He　gets　to　walk　after　admitting　he　did　it？〃
　〃You　think　he　should　be　prosecuted　for　it？〃　Trussel　asked。
　〃Damned　right　I　do。〃
　〃Good。　How　do　you　think　we　should　prove　our　case？〃　Parrish　asked。
　〃You're　the　prosecutor。　That's　your　job。〃
　〃Yeah；　but　you　seem　to　know　everything。　Tell　me；　how　would　you　prove　the　case？〃
　〃He　said　he　did　it；　didn't　he？〃
　〃Yeah；　and　do　you　think　Patrick　Lanigan　will　take　the　witness　stand　in　his　own　criminal　trial　and　confess　to　the　jury　that　he　burned　a　corpse？　Is　that　your　idea　of　trial　strategy？〃
　〃He　won't；〃　Sandy　inserted　helpfully。
　Sweeney's　neck　and　cheeks　were　red；　and　his　arms　were　nailing　in　all　directions。　He　glared　at　Parrish；　then　at　Sandy。
　And　when　he　realized　that　these　lawyers　had　all　the　answers；　he　brought　himself　under　control。　〃When　will　this　happen？〃　he　asked。
　〃Late　this　afternoon；〃　Trussel　said。
　Sweeney　didn't　like　this　either。　He　stuck　his　hands　deep　in　his　pockets　and　headed　for　the　door。　〃You　lawyers　take　care　of　your　own；〃　he　said；　just　loud　enough　for　everyone　to　hear。
　〃One　big　happy　family；〃　Parrish　said；　the　sarcasm　heavy。
　Sweeney　slammed　the　door　and　huffed　down　the　hallway。　He　left　the　courthouse　in　his　unmarked　cruiser。　Using　his　car　phone；　he　called　his　own　personal　informant；　a　reporter　with　the　Coast　daily。
　SINCE　THE　FAMILY；　such　as　it　was；　had　given　blanket　approval；　as　had　Patrick；　the　executor　of　the　estate；　the　digging　up　of　the　grave　was　a　simple　matter。　Judge　Trussel　and　Parrish　and　Sandy　didn't　miss　the　irony　of　having　Patrick；　Clovis'　only　friend；　sign　an　affidavit　granting　permission　to　open　the　casket　so　that　Patrick　could　be　cleared。　Every　decision　seemed　to　be　layered　with　irony。
　It　was　far　different　from　an　exhumation；　a　procedure　that　required　a　court　order；　after　a　proper　motion　and　sometimes　even　a　hearing。　It　was　simply　a　look…see；　a　procedure　unknown　to　the　Mississippi　Code；　and　therefore　Judge　Trussel　took　great　latitude　with　it。　Who　could　be　harmed？　Certainly　not　the　family。　Certainly　not　the　casket；　evidently　it　was　serving　little　purpose　anyway。
　Rolland　still　owned　the　funeral　home　up　in　Wig…gins。　How　well　he　remembered　Mr。　Clovis　Goodman　and　his　lawyer；　and　the　odd　little　wake　out　there　in　the　county；　at　the　home　of　Mr。　Goodman；　where　no　one　showed　up　but　the　lawyer。　Yes；　he　recalled　it　well；　he　told　the　Judge　on　the　phone。　Yes；　he'd　read　something　about　Mr。　Lanigan；　and　no；　he　hadn't　made　the　connection。
　Judge　Trussel　gave　him　a　quick　summary；　which　led　immediately　to　Clovis'　involvement　in　the　plot。　No；　he　had　not　opened　the　casket　after　the　wake；　had　had　no　need　to；　never　did　in　those　situations。　While　the　Judge　talked；　Parrish　faxed　to　Rolland　copies　of　the　consents　signed　by　Deena　Postell　and　by　Patrick　Lanigan；　the　executor。
　Rolland　was　suddenly　eager　to　help。　He'd　never　had　a　corpse　stolen　before；　folks　just　didn't　do　those　things　in　Wiggins；　and；　well；　yes；　he　could　certainly　have　the　grave　opened　in　no　time　flat。　He　owned　the　cemetery　too。
　Judge　Trussel　sent　his　law　clerk　and　two　deputies　to　the　cemetery。　Under　the　handsome　headstone：
　CLOVIS　F。　GOODMAN
　JANUARY　23；　1907；　TO　FEBRUARY　6；　1992　GONE　ON　TO　GLORY
　A　backhoe　carefully　picked　through　the　loamy　soil　as　Rolland　gave　directions　and　waited　with　a　shovel。　It　took　less　than　fifteen　minutes　to　reach　the　casket。　Rolland　and　a　helper　stepped　into　the　grave　and　shoveled　away　more　dirt。　The　poplar　had　started　to　rot　around　the　edges　of　the　coffin。　Rolland　straddled　the　lower　half　of　the　casket　and　with　dirty　hands　inserted　the　church　key。　He　jerked　and　pried　until　the　lid　made　a　cracking　sound；　then　he　slowly　opened　it。
　To　no　one's　surprise；　the　casket　was　empty。
　Except；　of　course；　for　the　four　cinder　blocks。
　THE　PLAN　was　to　do　it　in　open　court；　as　required　by　law；　but　to　wait　until　almost　five；　when　the　courthouse　was　closing　and　many　of　the　county　employees　were　leaving。　Five　o'clock　sounded　fine　to　everyone；　especially　to　the　Judge　and　the　District　Attorney；　who　were　convinced　they　were　doing　the　right　and　proper　thing；　but　were　nervous　about　it　nonetheless。　Throughout　the　day；　Sandy　had　pushed　hard　for　a　quick　disposal　once　the　plea　agreement　had　been　reached　and　the　casket　opened。　There　was　no　reason　to　wait。　His　client　was　incarcerated；　though　this　received　little　sympathy。　The　court　was　in　the　middle　of　a　scheduled　term。　The　timing　was　perfect。　What　could　be　gained　by　waiting？
　Nothing；　His　Honor　finally　decided。　Parrish　did　not　object。　He　had　eight　trials　scheduled　over　the　next　three　weeks；　and　unloading　Lanigan　was　a　relief。
　Five　was　most　satisfactory　for　th