jg.thefirm-第33节

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d。　Tiny　icicles　were　beginning　to　form　under　the　barrel　of　the　cannon。　The　traffic　slowed　on　Riverside　as　wheels　began　to　slide　and　spin。
　　〃So　what　do　you　think　of　our　little　firm？〃　Mitch　asked　as　he　stared　at　the　river　in　the　distance。
　　〃It's　a　dangerous　place　to　work。　They've　lost　five　lawyers　in　the　past　fifteen　years。　That's　not　a　very　good　safety　record。〃
　　〃Five？〃
　　〃If　you　include　Hodge　and　Kozinski。　I've　got　a　source　telling　me　there　are　some　unanswered　questions。〃
　　〃I　didn't　hire　you　to　investigate　those　two。〃
　　〃And　I'm　not　charging　you　for　it。　I　got　curious；　that's　all。〃
　　〃How　much　do　I　owe　you？〃
　　〃Six…twenty。〃
　　〃I'll　pay　cash。　No　records；　okay？〃
　　〃Suits　me。　I　prefer　cash。〃
　　Mitch　turned　from　the　river　and　gazed　at　the　tall　buildings　three　blocks　from　the　park。　He　was　cold　now；　but　in　no　hurry　to　leave。　Lomax　watched　him　from　the　corner　of　his　eye。
　　〃You've　got　problems；　don't　you；　pal？〃
　　〃Wouldn't　you　say　so？〃　Mitch　answered。
　　〃I　wouldn't　work　there。　I　mean；　I　don't　know　all　that　you　do；　and　I　suspect　you　know　a　lot　you're　not　telling。　But　we're　standing　here　in　the　sleet　because　we　don't　want　to　be　seen。　We　can't　talk　on　the　phone。　We　can't　meet　in　your　office。　Now　you　don't　want　to　meet　in　my　office。　You　think　you're　being　followed　all　the　time。　You　tell　me　to　be　careful　and　watch　my　rear　because　they；　whoever　they　are；　may　be　following　me。　You've　got　five　lawyers　in　that　firm　who've　died　under　very　suspicious　circumstances；　and　you　act　like　you　may　be　next。　Yeah；　I'd　say　you　got　problems。　Big　problems。〃
　　〃What　about　Tarrance？〃
　　〃One　of　their　best　agents；　transferred　in　here　about　two　years　ago。〃
　　〃From　where？〃
　　〃New　York。〃
　　The　wino　rolled　from　under　the　bronze　horse　and　fell　to　the　sidewalk。　He　grunted；　staggered　to　his　feet；　retrieved　his　cardboard　box　and　quilt　and　left　in　the　direction　of　downtown。　Lomax　jerked　around　and　watched　anxiously。　〃It's　just　a　tramp；〃　Mitch　said。　They　both　relaxed。
　　〃Who　are　we　hiding　from？〃　Lomax　asked。
　　〃I　wish　I　knew。〃
　　Lomax　studied　his　face　carefully。　〃I　think　you　know。〃
　　Mitch　said　nothing。
　　〃Look；　Mitch；　you're　not　paying　me　to　get　involved。　I　realize　that。　But　my　instincts　tell　me　you're　in　trouble；　and　I　think　you　need　a　friend；　someone　to　trust。　I　can　help；　if　you　need　me。　I　don't　know　who　the　bad　guys　are；　but　I'm　convinced　they're　very　dangerous。〃
　　〃Thanks；〃　Mitch　said　softly　without　looking；　as　if　it　was　time　for　Lomax　to　leave　and　let　him　stand　there　in　the　sleet　for　a　while。
　　〃I　would　jump　in　that　river　for　Ray　McDeere；　and　I　can　certainly　help　his　little　brother。〃
　　Mitch　nodded　slightly；　but　said　nothing。　Lomax　lit　another　cigarette　and　kicked　the　ice　from　his　lizard…skins。　〃Just　call　me　anytime。　And　be　careful。　They're　out　there；　and　they　play　for　keeps。〃
　　　
　　　16
　　AT　THE　intersection　of　Madison　and　Cooper　in　midtown；　the　old　two…story　buildings　had　been　renovated　into　singles　bars　and　watering　holes　and　gift　shops　and　a　handful　of　good　restaurants。　The　intersection　was　known　as　Overton　Square；　and　it　provided　Memphis　with　its　best　nightlife。　A　playhouse　and　a　bookstore　added　a　touch　of　culture。　Trees　lined　the　narrow　median　on　Madison。　The　weekends　were　rowdy　with　college　students　and　sailors　from　the　Navy　base；　but　on　weeknights　the　restaurants　were　full　but　quiet　and　uncrowded。　Paulette's；　a　quaint　French　place　in　a　white　stucco　building；　was　noted　for　its　wine　list　and　desserts　and　the　gentle　voice　of　the　man　at　the　Steinway。　With　sudden　affluence　came　a　collection　of　credit　cards；　and　the　McDeeres　had　used　theirs　in　a　quest　for　the　best　restaurants　in　town。　Paulette's　was　the　favorite；　so　far。
　　Mitch　sat　in　the　corner　of　the　bar；　drinking　coffee　and　watching　the　front　door。　He　was　early；　and　had　planned　it　that　way。　He　had　called　her　three　hours　earlier　and　asked　if　he　could　have　a　date　for　seven。　She　asked　why；　and　he　said　he　would　explain　later。　Since　the　Caymans　he　had　known　someone　was　following；　watching；　listening。　For　the　past　month　he　had　spoken　carefully　on　the　phone；　had　caught　himself　watching　the　rearview　mirror；　had　even　chosen　his　words　around　the　house。　Someone　was　watching　and　listening；　he　was　sure。
　　Abby　rushed　in　from　the　cold　and　glanced　around　the　parlor　for　her　husband。　He　met　her　in　the　front　of　the　bar　and　pecked　her　on　the　cheek。　She　removed　her　coat；　and　they　followed　the　maitre　d'　to　a　small　table　in　a　row　of　small　tables　which　were　all　full　with　people　within　earshot。　Mitch　glanced　around　for　another　table；　but　there　were　none。　He　thanked　him　and　sat　across　from　his　wife。
　　〃What's　the　occasion？〃　she　asked　suspiciously。
　　〃Do　I　need　a　reason　to　have　dinner　with　my　wife？〃
　　〃Yes。　It's　seven　o'clock　on　Monday　night；　and　you're　not　at　the　office。　This　is　indeed　a　special　occasion。〃
　　A　waiter　squeezed　between　their　table　and　the　next；　and　asked　if　they　wanted　a　drink。　Two　white　wines；　please。　Mitch　glanced　around　the　dining　room　again　and　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　gentleman　sitting　alone　five　tables　away。　The　face　looked　familiar。　When　Mitch　looked　again；　the　face　slid　behind　a　menu。
　　〃What's　the　matter；　Mitch？〃
　　He　laid　his　hand　on　hers　and　frowned。　〃Abby；　we　gotta　talk。〃
　　Her　hand　flinched　slightly　and　she　stopped　smiling。　〃About　what？〃
　　He　lowered　his　voice。　〃About　something　very　serious。〃
　　She　exhaled　deeply　and　said；　〃Can　we　wait　for　the　wine。　I　might　need　it。〃
　　Mitch　looked　again　at　the　face　behind　the　menu。　〃We　can't　talk　here。〃
　　〃Then　why　are　we　here？〃
　　〃Look；　Abby；　you　know　where　the　rest　rooms　are？　Down　the　hall　over　there；　to　your　right？〃
　　〃Yes；　I　know。〃
　　〃There's　a　rear　entrance　at　the　end　of　the　hall。　It　goes　out　to　the　side　street　behind　the　restaurant。　1　want　you　to　go　to　the　rest　room；　then　out　the　door。　I'll　be　waiting　next　to　the　street。〃
　　She　said　nothing。　Her　eyebrows　lowered　and　the　eyes　narrowed。　Her　head　leaned　slightly　to　the　right。
　　〃Trust　me；　Abby。　I　can　explain　later。　I'll　meet　you　outside　and　we'll　find　another　place　to　eat。　I　can't　talk　in　here。〃
　　〃You're　scaring　me。〃
　　〃Please；〃　he　said　firmly；　squeezing　her　hand。　〃Everything　is　fine。　I'll　bring　your　coat。〃
　　She　stood　with　her　purse　and　left　the　room。　Mitch　looked　over　his　shoulder　at　the　man　with　the　familiar　face；　who　suddenly　stood　and　weled　an　elderly　lady　to　his　table。　He　did　not　notice　Abby's　exit。
　　In　the　street　behind　Paulette's；　Mitch　draped　the　coat　over　Abby's　shoulders　and　pointed　eastward。　〃I　can　explain；〃　he　said　more　than　once。　A　hundred　feet　down　the　street；　they　walked　between　two　buildings　and　came　to　the　front　entrance　of　the　Bombay　Bicycle　Club；　a　singles　bar　with　good　food　and　live　blues。　Mitch　looked　at　the　head…waiter；　then　surveyed　the　two　dining　rooms；　then　pointed　to　a　table　in　the　rear　corner。　〃That　one；〃　he　said。
　　Mitch　sat　with　his　back　to　the　wall　and　his　face　toward　the　dining　room　and　the　front　door。　The　corner　was　dark。　Candles　lit　the　table。　They　ordered　more　wine。
　　Abby　sat　motionless；　staring　at　him；　watching　every　move　and　waiting。
　　〃Do　you　remember　a　guy　named　Rick　Acklin　from　Western　Kentucky？〃
　　〃No；〃　she　said　without　moving　her　lips。
　　〃He　played　baseball；　lived　in　the　dorm。　I　think　you　may　have　met　him　once。　A　very　nice　guy；　real　clean…cut；　good　student。　I　think　he　was　from　Bowling　Green。　We　weren't　good　friends；　but　we　knew　each　other。〃
　　She　shook　her　head　and　waited。
　　〃Well；　he　finished　a　year　before　we　did　and　went　to　law　school　at　Wake　Forest。　Now　he's　with　the　FBI。　And　he's　working　here　in　Memphis。〃　He　watched　her　closely　to　see　if　〃FBI〃　would　have　an　impact。　It　did　not。　〃And　today　I'm　eating　lunch　at　Obleo's　hot…dog　place　on　Main　Street；　when　Rick　walks　up　out　of　nowhere　and　says　hello。　Just　like　it　was　a　real　coincidence。　We　chat　for　a　few　minutes；　and　another　agent；　guy　by　the　name　of　Tarrance；　walks　up　and　has　a　seat。　It's　the　second　time　Tarrance　has　chased　me　down　since　I　passed　the　bar。〃
　　〃The　second　。　。　。　？〃
　　〃Yes。　Since　August。〃
　　〃And　these　are　。。。　FBI　agents？〃
　　〃Yes；　with　badges　and　everything。　Tarrance　is　a　veteran　agent　from　New　York。　Been　here　about　two　years。　Acklin　is　a　rookie　they　brought　in　three　months　ago。〃
　　〃What　do　they　want？〃
　　The　wine　arrived　and　Mitch　looked　around　the　club。　A　band　was　tuning　up　on　a　small　stage　in　a　far　corner。　The　bar　was　crowded　with　well…dressed　professional　types　chitting　and　chatting　relentlessly。　The　waiter　pointed　to　the　unopened　menus。　〃Later；〃　Mitch　said　rudely。
　　〃Abby；　I　don't　know　what　they　want。　The　first　visit　was　in　August；　right　after　my　name　was　printed　in　the　paper　for　passing　the　bar。〃　He　sipped　his　wine　and　detailed　play　by　play　the　first　Tarrance　visit　at　Lansky's　Deli　on　Union；　the　warnings　about　whom　not　to　trust　and　where　not　to　talk；　the　meeting　with　Locke　and　Lambert　and　the　other　partners。　He　explained　their　version　of　why　the　FBI　was　so　interested　in　　and　said　that　he　discussed　it　with　Lamar　and　believed　every　word　Locke　and　Lambert　had　said。
　　Abby　hung　on　every　word；　but　waited　to　start　asking。
　　〃And　now；　today；　while　I'm　minding　my　own　business；　eating　a　foot…long　with　onions；　this　guy　I　went　to　college