jg.thefirm-第53节

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　　〃Of　course。　When　can　we　see　your　files？〃
　　〃In　about　a　week。　I've　managed　to　copy　four　files　that　belong　to　someone　else。　I　may　get　my　hands　on　a　few　more　of　those。〃
　　〃Who's　doing　the　copying？〃
　　〃None　of　your　business。〃
　　Tarrance　thought　for　a　second　and　let　it　pass。　〃How　many　files？〃
　　〃Between　forty　and　fifty。　I　have　to　sneak　them　out　a　few　at　a　time。　Some　I've　worked　on　for　eight　months；　others　only　a　week　or　so。　As　far　as　I　can　tell；　they're　all　legitimate　clients。〃
　　〃How　many　of　these　clients　have　you　personally　met？〃
　　〃Two　or　three。〃
　　〃Don't　bet　they're　all　legitimate。　Hodge　told　us　about　some　dummy　files；　or　sweat　files　as　they　are　known　to　the　partners；　that　have　been　around　for　years　and　every　new　associate　cuts　his　teeth　on　them；　heavy　files　that　require　hundreds　of　hours　and　make　the　rookies　feel　like　real　lawyers。〃
　　〃Sweat　files？〃
　　〃That's　what　Hodge　said。　It's　an　easy　game；　Mitch。　They　lure　you　with　the　money。　They　smother　you　with　work　that　looks　legitimate　and　for　the　most　part　probably　is　legitimate。
　　Then；　after　a　few　years；　you've　unwittingly　bee　a　part　of　the　conspiracy。　You're　nailed；　and　there's　no　getting　out。　Even　you；　Mitch。　You　started　work　in　July；　eight　months　ago；　and　you've　probably　already　touched　a　few　of　the　dirty　files。　You　didn't　know。it；　had　no　reason　to　suspect　it。　But　they've　already　set　you　up。〃
　　〃Two　million；　Tarrance。　Two　million　and　my　brother。〃
　　Tarrance　sipped　the　lukewarm　coffee　and　ordered　a　piece　of　coconut　pie　as　Dot　came　within　earshot。　He　glanced　at　his　watch　and　surveyed　the　crowd　of　truckers；　all　smoking　cigarettes　and　drinking　coffee　and　gossiping。
　　He　adjusted　the　sunglasses。　〃So　what　do　I　tell　Mr。　Voyles？〃
　　〃Tell　him　we　ain't　got　a　deal　until　he　agrees　to　get　Ray　out　of　prison。　No　deal；　Tarrance。〃
　　〃We　can　probably　work　something　out。〃
　　〃I'm　confident　you　can。〃
　　〃When　do　you　leave　for　the　Caymans？〃
　　〃Early　Sunday。　Why？〃
　　〃Just　curious；　that's　all。〃
　　〃Well；　I'd　like　to　know　how　many　different　groups　will　be　following　me　down　there。　Is　that　asking　too　much？　I'm　sure　we'll　attract　a　crowd；　and　frankly；　we　had　hoped　for　a　little　privacy。〃
　　〃Firm　condo？〃
　　〃Of　course。〃
　　〃Forget　privacy。　It's　probably　got　more　wires　than　a　switchboard。　Maybe　even　some　cameras。〃
　　〃That's　forting。　We　might　stay　a　couple　of　nights　at　Abanks　Dive　Lodge。　If　you　boys　are　in　the　neighborhood；　stop　by　for　a　drink。〃
　　〃Very　funny。　If　we're　there；　it'll　be　for　a　reason。　And　you　won't　know　it。〃
　　Tarrance　ate　the　pie　in　three　bites。　He　left　two　bucks　on　the　table　and　they　walked　to　the　dark　rear　of　the　truck　stop。　The　dirty　asphalt　pavement　vibrated　under　the　steady　hum　of　an　acre　of　diesel　engines。　They　waited　in　the　dark。
　　〃I'll　talk　to　Voyles　in　a　few　hours；〃　Tarrance　said。　〃Why　don't　you　and　your　wife　take　a　leisurely　Saturday…afternoon　drive　tomorrow。〃
　　〃Anyplace　in　particular？〃
　　〃Yeah。　There's　a　town　called　Holly　Springs　thirty　miles　east　of　here。　Old　place；　full　of　antebellum　homes　and　Confederate　history。　Women　love　to　drive　around　and　look　at　the　old　mansions。　Make　your　appearance　around　four　o'clock　and　we'll　find　you。　Our　buddy　Laney　will　be　driving　a　bright　red　Chevy　Blazer　with　Tennessee　plates。　Follow　him。　We'll　find　a　place　and　talk。〃
　　〃Is　it　safe？〃
　　〃Trust　us。　If　we　see　or　smell　something；　we'll　break　off。　Drive　around　town　for　an　hour；　and　if　you　don't　see　Laney；　grab　a　sandwich　and　go　back　home。　You'll　know　they　were　too　close。　We　won't　take　chances。〃
　　〃Thanks。　A　great　bunch　of　guys。〃
　　Laney　eased　around　the　corner　in　the　BMW　and　jumped　out。　〃Everything's　clear。　No　trace　of　anyone。〃
　　〃Good；〃　Tarrance　said。　〃See　you　tomorrow；　Mitch。　Happy　truckin'。〃　They　shook　hands。
　　〃It's　not　negotiable；　Tarrance；〃　Mitch　said　again。
　　〃You　can　call　me　Wayne。　See　you　tomorrow。〃
　　　
　　　25
　　THE　black　thunderheads　and　driving　rain　had　long　since　cleared　the　tourists　from　Seven　Mile　Beach　when　the　McDeeres；　soaked　and　tired；　arrived　at　the　luxury　condominium　duplex。　Mitch　backed　the　rented　Mitsubishi　jeep　over　the　curb；　across　the　small　lawn　and　up　to　the　front　door。　Unit　B。　His　first　visit　had　been　to　Unit　A。　They　appeared　to　be　identical；　except　for　the　paint　and　trim。　The　key　fit；　and　they　grabbed　and　threw　luggage　as　the　clouds　burst　and　the　rain　grew　thicker。
　　Once　inside　and　dry；　they　unpacked　in　the　master　bedroom　upstairs　with　a　long　balcony　facing　the　wet　beach。　Cautious　with　their　words；　they　inspected　the　town　house　and　checked　out　each　room　and　closet。　The　refrigerator　was　empty；　but　the　bar　was　very　well　stocked。　Mitch　mixed　two　drinks；　rum　and　Coke；　in　honor　of　the　islands。　They　sat　on　the　balcony　with　their　feet　in　the　rain　and　watched　the　ocean　churn　and　spill　toward　the　shore。　Rumheads　was　quiet　and　barely　visible　in　the　distance。　Two　natives　sat　at　the　bar；　drinking　and　watching　the　sea。
　　〃That's　Rumheads　over　there；〃　Mitch　said；　pointing　with　his　drink。
　　〃Rumheads？〃
　　〃I　told　you　about　it。　It's　a　hot　spot　where　tourists　drink　and　the　locals　play　dominoes。〃
　　〃I　see。〃　Abby　was　unimpressed。　She　yawned　and　sank　lower　into　the　plastic　chair。　She　closed　her　eyes。
　　〃Oh；　this　is　great；　Abby。　Our　first　trip　out　of　the　country；　our　first　real　honeymoon；　and　you're　asleep　ten　minutes　after　we　hit　land。〃
　　〃I'm　tired；　Mitch。　I　packed　all　night　while　you　were　sleeping。〃
　　〃You　packed　eight　suitcases…six　for　you　and　two　for　me。　You　packed　every　garment　we　own。　No　wonder　you　were　awake　all　night。〃
　　〃I　don't　want　to　run　out　of　clothes。〃
　　〃Run　out？　How　many　bikinis　did　you　pack？　Ten？　Twelve？〃
　　〃Six。〃
　　〃Great。　One　a　day。　Why　don't　you　put　one　on？〃
　　〃What？〃
　　〃You　heard　me。　Go　put　on　that　little　blue　one　with　high　legs　and　a　couple　of　strings　around　front；　the　one　that　weighs　half　a　gram　and　cost　sixty　bucks　and　your　buns　hang　out　when　you　walk。　I　wanna　see　it。〃
　　〃Mitch；　it's　raining。　You've　brought　me　here　to　this　island　during　the　monsoon　season。　Look　at　those　clouds。　Dark　and　thick　and　extremely　stationary。　I　won't　need　any　bikinis　this　week。〃
　　Mitch　smiled　and　began　rubbing　her　legs。　〃I　rather　like　the　rain。　In　fact；　I　hope　it　rains　all　week。　It'll　keep　us　inside；　in　the　bed；　sipping　rum　and　trying　to　hurt　each　other。〃
　　〃I'm　shocked。　You　mean　you　actually　want　sex？　We've　already　done　it　once　this　month。〃
　　〃Twice。〃
　　〃I　thought　you　wanted　to　snorkel　and　scuba…dive　all　week。〃
　　〃Nope。　There's　probably　a　shark　out　there　waiting　for　me。〃
　　The　winds　blew　harder　and　the　balcony　was　being　drenched。　〃Let's　go　take　off　our　clothes；〃　Mitch　said。
　　After　an　hour；　the　storm　began　to　move。　The　rain　slackened；　then　turned　to　a　soft　drizzle；　then　it　was　gone。　The　sky　lightened　as　the　dark；　low　clouds　left　the　tiny　island　and　headed　northeast；　toward　Cuba。　Shortly　before　its　scheduled　departure　over　the　horizon；　the　sun　suddenly　emerged　for　a　brief　encore。　It　emptied　the　beach　cottages　and　town　homes　and　condos　and　hotel　rooms　as　the　tourists　strolled　through　the　sand　toward　the　water。　Rumheads　was　suddenly　packed　with　dart　throwers　and　thirsty　beachbers。　The　domino　game　picked　up　where　it　had　left　off。　The　reggae　band　next　door　at　the　Palms　tuned　up。
　　Mitch　and　Abby　walked　aimlessly　along　the　edge　of　the　water　in　the　general　direction　of　Georgetown；　away　from　the　spot　where　the　girl　had　been。　He　thought　of　her　occasionally；　and　of　the　photographs。　He　had　decided　she　was　a　pro　and　had　been　paid　by　DeVasher　to　seduce　and　conquer　him〃　in　front　of　the　hidden　cameras。　He　did　not　expect　to　see　her　this　time。
　　As　if　on　cue；　the　music　stopped；　the　beach　strollers　froze　and　watched；　the　noise　at　Rumheads　quietened　as　all　eyes　turned　to　watch　the　sun　meet　the　water。　Gray　and　white　clouds；　the　trailing　remnants　of　the　storm；　lay　low　on　the　horizon　and　sank　with　the　sun。　Slowly　they　turned　shades　of　orange　and　yellow　and　red；　pale　shades　at　first；　then；　suddenly；　brilliant　tones。　For　a　few　brief　moments；　the　sky　was　a　canvas　and　the　sun　splashed　its　awesome　array　of　colors　with　bold　strokes。　Then　the　bright　orange　ball　touched　the　water　and　within　seconds　was　gone。　The　clouds　became　black　and　dissipated。　A　Cayman　sunset。
　　With　great　fear　and　caution；　Abby　slowly　maneuvered　the　jeep　through　the　early…morning　traffic　in　the　shopping　district。　She　was　from　Kentucky。　She　had　never　driven　on　the　left　side　of　the　road　for　any　substantial　period　of　time。　Mitch　gave　directions　and　watched　the　rearview　mirror。　The　narrow　streets　and　sidewalks　were　already　crowded　with　tourists　window…shopping　for　duty…free　china；　crystal；　perfume；　cameras　and　jewelry。
　　Mitch　pointed　to　a　hidden　side　street；　and　the　jeep　darted　between　two　groups　of　tourists。　He　kissed　her　on　the　cheek。　〃I'll　meet　you　right　here　at　five。〃
　　〃Be　careful；〃　she　said。　〃I'll　go　to　the　bank；　then　stay　on　the　beach　near　the　condo。〃
　　He　slammed　the　door　and　disappeared　between　two　small　shops。　The　alley　led　to　a　wider　street　that　led　to　Hogsty　Bay。　He　ducked　into　a　crowded　T…shirt　store　filled　with　racks　and　rows　of　tourist　shirts　and　straw　hats　and　sunglasses。　He　selected　a　gaudy　green…and…orange　flowered　shirt　and　a　Panama　hat。　Two　minutes　la