jg.thefirm-第72节

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！


's　sad；　but　necessary。〃
　　〃The　Lear？〃　asked　Denton。
　　〃Yes；　son；　the　Lear。　We'll　buy　you　another　toy。〃
　　〃We're　assuming　a　lot；　DeVasher；〃　Locke　said。　〃We're　assuming　the　documents　already　in　their　possession　are　harmless。　Four　days　ago　you　thought　McDeere　had　copied　some　of　Avery's　secret　files。　What　gives？〃
　　〃They　studied　the　files　in　Chicago。　Yeah；　they're　full　of　incriminating　evidence；　but　not　enough　to　move　with。　They　couldn't　get　the　first　conviction。　You　guys　know　the　damning　materials　are　on　the　island。　And；　of　course；　in　the　basement。　No　one　can　penetrate　the　basement。　We　checked　the　files　in　the　condo。　Everything　looked　in　order。〃
　　　Locke　was　not　satisfied。　〃Then　where　did　the　ten　thousand　e　from？〃
　　〃You're　assuming　he　has　ten　thousand。　I　rather　doubt　it。　Keep　in　mind；　he's　trying　to　collect　another　one　million　bucks　before　he　takes　off。　He's　probably　lying　to　them　and　snooping　around　for　more　documents。　If　he　had　ten　thousand；　why　wouldn't　the　Fibbies　have　them　by　now？〃
　　〃Then　what's　to　fear？〃　asked　Lambert。
　　〃The　fear　is　the　unknown；　Ollie。　We　don't　know　what　he's　got；　except　that　he's　got　a　million　bucks。　He's　no　dummy；　and　he　just　might　stumble　across　something　if　left　alone。　We　cannot　allow　that　to　happen。　Lazarov；　you　see；　said　to　blow　his　ass　outta　the　air。　Quote　unquote。〃
　　〃There's　no　way　a　rookie　associate　could　find　and　copy　that　many　incriminating　records；〃　Kruger　said　boldly；　and　looked　around　the　group　for　approval。　Several　nodded　at　him　with　intense　frowns。
　　〃Why　is　Lazarov　ing？〃　asked　Dunbar；　the　real　estate　man。　He　said　〃Lazarov〃　as　if　Charles　Manson　was　ing　to　dinner。
　　〃That's　a　stupid　question；〃　DeVasher　snapped；　and　looked　around　for　the　idiot。　〃First；　we've　got　to　take　care　of　McDeere　and　hope　the　damage　is　minimal。　Then　we'll　take　a　long　look　at　this　unit　and　make　whatever　changes　are　necessary。〃
　　Locke　stood　and　glared　at　Oliver　Lambert。　〃Make　sure　McDeere's　on　that　plane。〃
　　Tarrance；　Acklin　and　Laney　sat　in　stunned　silence　and　listened　to　the　speaker　phone　on　the　desk。　It　was　Voyles　in　Washington；　explaining　exactly　what　had　happened。　He　would　leave　for　Memphis　within　the　hour。　He　was　almost　desperate。
　　〃You　gotta　bring　him　in；　Tarrance。　And　quick。　Cozzo　doesn't　know　that　we　know　about　Tarry　Ross；　but　Ross　told　'　him　McDeere　was　on　the　verge　of　delivering　the　records。　They　could　take　him　out　at　any　time。　You've　got　to　get　him。　Now！　Do　you　know　where　he　is？〃
　　〃He's　at　the　office；〃　Tarrance　said。
　　〃Okay。　Fine。　Bring　him　in。　I'll　be　there　in　two　hours。　I　wanna　talk　to　him。　Goodbye。〃
　　Tarrance　punched　the　phone；　then　dialed　the　number。
　　〃Who　are　you　calling？〃　Acklin　asked。
　　〃Bendini；　Lambert　&　Locke。　Attorneys…at…law。〃
　　〃Are　you　crazy；　Wayne？〃　Laney　asked。
　　〃Just　listen。〃
　　The　receptionist　answered　the　phone。　〃Mitch　McDeere；　please；〃　Tarrance　said。
　　〃One　moment；　please；〃　she　said。　Then　the　secretary：　〃Mr。　McDeere's　office。〃
　　〃I　need　to　speak　to　Mitchell　McDeere。〃
　　〃I'm　sorry；　sir。　He's　in　a　meeting。〃
　　〃Listen；　young　lady；　this　is　Judge　Henry　Hugo；　and　he　was　supposed　to　be　in　my　courtroom　fifteen　minutes　ago。　We're　waiting　for　him。　It's　an　emergency。〃
　　〃Well；　I　see　nothing　on　his　calendar　for　this　morning。〃
　　〃Do　you　schedule　his　appointments？〃
　　〃Well；　yes；　sir。〃
　　〃Then　it's　your　fault。　Now　get　him　on　the　phone。〃
　　Nina　ran　across　the　hall　and　into　his　office。　〃Mitch；　there's　a　Judge　Hugo　on　the　phone。　Says　you're　supposed　to　be　in　court　right　now。　You'd　better　talk　to　him。〃
　　Mitch　jumped　to　his　feet　and　grabbed　the　phone。　He　was　pale。　〃Yes；〃　he　said。
　　〃Mr。　McDeere；〃　Tarrance　said。　〃Judge　Hugo。　You're　late　for　my　court。　Get　over　here。〃
　　〃Yes；　Judge。〃　He　grabbed　his　coat　and　briefcase　and　frowned　at　Nina。
　　〃I'm　sorry；〃　she　said。　〃It's　not　on　your　calendar。〃
　　Mitch　raced　down　the　hall；　down　the　stairs；　past　the　receptionist　and　out　the　front　door。　He　ran　north　on　Front　Street　to　Union　and　darted　through　the　lobby　of　the　Cotton　Exchange　Building。　On　Union；　he　turned　east　and　ran　toward　the　Mid…America　Mall。
　　The　sight　of　a　well…dressed　young　man　with　a　briefcase　running　like　a　scared　dog　may　be　a　mon　sight　in　some　cities；　but　not　in　Memphis。　People　noticed。
　　He　hid　behind　a　fruit　stand　and　caught　his　breath。　He　saw　no　one　running　behind　him。　He　ate　an　apple。　If　it　came　to　a　footrace；　he　hoped　Two…Ton　Tony　was　chasing　him。
　　He　had　never　been　particularly　impressed　with　Wayne　Tarrance。　The　Korean　shoe　store　was　a　fiasco。　The　chicken　place　on　Grand　Cayman　was　equally　dumb。　His　notebook　on　the　Moroltos　would　bore　a　Cub　Scout。　But　his　idea　about　a　Mayday　code；　a　〃don't　ask　questions；　just　run　for　your　life〃　alert；　was　a　brilliant　idea。　For　a　month；　Mitch　knew　if　Judge　Hugo　called；　he　had　to　hit　the　door　on　a　dead　run。　Something　bad　had　gone　wrong；　and　the　boys　on　the　fifth　floor　were　moving　in。　Where　was　Abby？　he　thought。
　　A　few　pedestrians　walked　in　pairs　along　Union。　He　wanted　a　crowded　sidewalk；　but　there　was　none。　He　stared　at　the　corner　of　Front　and　Union　and　saw　nothing　suspicious。　Two　blocks　east；　he　casually　entered　the　lobby　of　the　Peabody　and　looked　for　a　phone。　On　the　mezzanine　overlooking　the　lobby；　he　found　a　neglected　one　in　a　short　hallway　near　the　men's　room。　He　dialed　the　Memphis　office　of　the　Federal　Bureau　of　Investigation。
　　〃Wayne　Tarrance；　please。　It's　an　emergency。　This　is　Mitch　McDeere。〃
　　Tarrance　was　on　the　phone　in　seconds。　〃Mitch；　where　are　you？〃
　　〃Okay；　Tarrance；　what's　going　on？〃
　　〃Where　are　you？〃
　　〃I'm　out　of　the　building；　Judge　Hugo。　I'm　safe　for　now。　What's　happened？〃
　　〃Mitch；　you've　gotta　e　in。〃
　　〃I　don't　have　to　do　a　damned　thing；　Tarrance。　And　I　won't；　until　you　talk　to　me。〃
　　〃Well；　we've；　uh；　we've　had　a　slight　problem。　There's　been　a　small　leak。　You　need…〃
　　〃Leak；　Tarrance？　Did　you　say　leak？　There's　no　such　thing　as　a　small　leak。　Talk　to　me；　Tarrance；　before　I　hang　up　this　phone　and　disappear。　You're　tracing　this　call；　aren't　you；　Tarrance？　I'm　hanging　up。〃
　　〃No！　Listen；　Mitch。　They　know。　They　know　we've　been　talking；　and　they　know　about　the　money　and　the　files。〃
　　There　was　a　long　pause。　〃A　small　leak；　Tarrance。　Sounds　like　the　dam　burst。　Tell　me　about　this　leak；　and　quick。〃
　　〃God　this　hurts。　Mitch；　I　want　you　to　know　how　much　this　hurts。　Voyles　is　devastated。　One　of　our　senior　men　sold　the　information。　We　caught　him　this　morning　at　a　hotel　in　Washington。　They　paid　him　two　hundred　thousand　for　the　story　on　you。　We're　in　shock；　Mitch。〃
　　〃Oh；　I'm　touched。　I'm　truly　concerned　over　your　shock　and　pain；　Tarrance。　I　guess　now　you　want　me　to　run　down　there　to　your　office　so　we　can　all　sit　around　and　console　each　other。〃
　　〃Voyles　will　be　there　by　noon；　Mitch。　He's　flying　in　with　his　top　people。　He　wants　to　meet　with　you。　We'll　get　you　out　of　town。〃
　　〃Right。　You　want　me　to　rush　into　your　arms　for　protection。　You're　an　idiot；　Tarrance。　Voyles　is　an　idiot。　You're　all　idiots。　And　I'm　a　fool　for　trusting　you。　Are　you　tracing　this　call；　Tarrance？〃
　　〃No！〃
　　　〃You're　lying。　I'm　hanging　up；　Tarrance。　Sit　tight　and　I'll　call　you　in　thirty　minutes　from　another　phone。〃
　　〃No！　Mitch；　listen。　You're　dead　if　you　don't　e　in。〃
　　〃Goodbye；　Wayne。　Sit　by　the　phone。〃
　　Mitch　dropped　the　receiver　and　looked　around。　He　walked　to　a　marble　column　and　peeked　at　the　lobby　below。　The　ducks　were　swimming　around　the　fountain。　The　bar　was　deserted。　A　table　was　surrounded　with　rich　old　ladies　sipping　their　tea　and　gossiping。　A　solitary　guest　was　registering。
　　Suddenly；　the　Nordic　stepped　from　behind　a　potted　tree　and　stared　at　him。　〃Up　there！〃　he　yelled　across　the　lobby　to　an　acplice。　They　watched　him　intently　and　glanced　at　the　stairway　under　him。　The　bartender　looked　up　at　Mitch；　then　at　the　Nordic　and　his　friend。　The　old　ladies　stared　in　silence。
　　〃Call　the　police！〃　Mitch　yelled　as　he　backed　away　from　the　railing。　Both　men　sprang　across　the　lobby　and　hit　the　stairs。　Mitch　waited　five　seconds；　and　returned　to　the　railing。　The　bartender　had　not　moved。　The　ladies　were　frozen。
　　There　were　heavy　noises　on　the　stairs。　Mitch　sat　on　the　railing；　dropped　his　briefcase；　swung　his　legs　over；　paused；　then　jumped　twenty　feet　onto　the　carpet　of　the　lobby。　He　fell　like　a　rock；　but　landed　squarely　on　both　feet。　Pain　shot　through　his　ankles　and　hips。　The　football　knee　buckled；　but　did　not　collapse。
　　Behind　him；　next　to　the　elevators；　was　a　small　haberdashery　with　windows　full　of　ties　and　Ralph　Lauren's　latest。　He　limped　into　it。　A　kid　of　no　more　than　nineteen　waited　eagerly　behind　the　counter。　There　were　no　customers。　An　outside　door　opened　onto　Union。
　　〃Is　that　door　locked？〃　Mitch　asked　calmly。
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃You　wanna　make　a　thousand　dollars　cash？　Nothing　illegal。〃　Mitch　quickly　peeled　off　ten　hundred…dollar　bills　and　threw　them　on　the　counter。
　　〃Uh；　sure。　I　guess。〃
　　〃Nothing　illegal；　okay？　I　swear。　I　wouldn't　get　you　in　trouble。　Unlock　that　door；　and　when　two　men　e　running　in　here　in　about　twenty　seconds；　tell　them　I　ran　through　that　door　and　jumped　in　a　cab。〃
　　The　kid　smiled　even　brighter　and　raked　up　the　money。　〃Sure。　No　problem。〃
　　〃Where's　the　dressing　room？