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jg.thepelicanbrief-第60部分

小说: jg.thepelicanbrief 字数: 每页4000字

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d with white sheets。 Thick cotton towels were on the floor in perfect little trails around the room。 The sun shone brightly through skylights。 A door opened; and Victor Mattiece emerged from a small room。 
  
  Barr froze and gawked at the man。 He was thin and gaunt; with long gray hair and a dirty beard。 He wore only a pair of white gym shorts; and walked carefully on the towels without looking at Barr。
  
  〃Sit over there;〃 he said; pointing at a chair。 〃Don't step on the towels。〃 
  
  Barr avoided the towels and took his seat。 Mattiece turned his'back and faced the windows。 His skin was leathery and dark bronze。 His bare feet were lined with ugly veins。 His toenails were long and yellow。 He was crazy as hell。
  
  〃What do you want?〃 he asked quietly to the windows。
  
  〃The President sent me。〃
  
  〃He did not。 Fletcher Coal sent you。 I doubt if the President knows you're here。〃 
  
  Maybe he wasn't crazy。 He spoke without moving a muscle in his body。
  
  〃Fletcher Coal is the President's chief of staff。 He sent me。〃
  
  〃I know about Coal。 And I know about you。 And I know about your little Unit。 Now; what do you want?〃
  
  〃Information。〃
  
  〃Don't play games with me。 What do you want?〃
  
  〃Have you read the pelican brief?〃 Barr asked。 
  
  The frail body did not flinch。 〃Have you read it?〃
  
  〃Yes;〃 Barr answered quickly。
  
  〃Do you believe it to be true?〃
  
  〃Perhaps。 That's why I'm here。〃
  
  〃Why is Mr。 Coal so concerned about the pelican brief?〃
  
  〃Because a couple of reporters have wind of it。 And if it's true; then we need to know immediately。〃
  
  〃Who are these reporters?〃
  
  〃Gray Grantham with the Washington Post。 He picked it up first; and he knows more than anyone。 He's digging hard。 Coal thinks he's about to run something。〃
  
  〃We can take care of him; can't we?〃 Mattiece said to the windows。 〃Who's the other one?〃
  
  〃Rifkin with the Times。〃 
  
  Mattiece still had not moved an inch。 Barr glanced around at the sheets and towels。 Yes; he had to be crazy。 The place was sanitized and smelled of rubbing alcohol。 Maybe he was ill。
  
  〃Does Mr。 Coal believe it to be true?〃
  
  〃I don't know。 He's very concerned about it。 That's why I'm here; Mr。 Mattiece。 We have to know。〃
  
  〃What if it's true?〃
  
  〃Then we have problems。〃 
  
  Mattiece finally moved。 He shifted his weight to the right leg; and folded his arms across his narrow chest。 But his eyes never moved。 Sand dunes and sea oats were in the distance; but not the ocean。
  
  〃Do you know what I think?〃 he said quietly。
  
  〃What?〃
  
  〃I think Coal is the problem。 He gave the brief to too many people。 He handed it to the CIA。 He allowed you to see it。 This really disturbs me。〃 
  
  Barr could think of no response。 It was ludicrous to imply that Coal wanted to distribute the brief。 The problem is you; Mattiece。 You killed the justices。 You panicked and killed Callahan。 You're the greedy bastard who was not content with a mere fifty million。 
  
  Mattiece turned slowly and looked at Barr。 The eyes were dark and red。 He looked nothing like the photo with the Vice President; but that was seven years ago。 He'd aged twenty years in the last seven; and perhaps gone off the deep end along the way。
  
  〃You clowns in Washington are to blame for this;〃 he said; somewhat louder。 
  
  Barr could not look at him。 〃Is it true; Mr。 Mattiece? That's all I want to know。〃 
  
  Behind Barr; a door opened without a sound。 Larry; in his socks and avoiding the towels; eased forward two steps and stopped。 
  
  Mattiece walked on the towels to a glass door; and opened it。 He looked outside and spoke softly。 〃Of course it's true。〃 He walked through the door; and closed it slowly behind him。 Barr watched as the idiot shuffled along a sidewalk toward the sand dunes。 
  
  〃What now? he thought。 Perhaps Emil would e get him。 Perhaps。 
  
  Larry inched forward with a rope; and Barr did not hear or feel anything until it was too late。 Mattiece did not want blood in his gazebo; so Larry simply broke the neck and choked him until it was over。 
  
  *  *  *
  
  HE GAME PLAN called for her to be on this elevator at this point in the search; but she thought enough unexpected events had occurred to warrant a change in the game plan。 He thought not。 They had engaged in a healthy debate over this elevator ride; and here she was。 He was right; this was the quickest route to Curtis Morgan。 And she was right; it was a dangerous route to Curtis Morgan。 But the other routes could be just as dangerous。 The entire game plan was deadly。 
  
  She wore her only dress and her only pair of heels。 Gray said she looked really nice; but that was to be expected。 The elevator stopped on the ninth floor; and when she walked off it there was a pain in her stomach and she could barely breathe。 
  
  *  *  *
  
  The receptionist was across a plush lobby。 The name WHITE AND BLAZEVICH covered the wall behind her in thick; brass lettering。 Her knees were weak; but she made it to the receptionist; who smiled properly。 It was ten minutes before five。
  
  〃May I help you?〃 she asked。 The nameplate proclaimed her to be Peggy Young。
  
  〃Yes;〃 Darby managed; clearing her throat。 〃I have a five o'clock appointment with Curtis Morgan。 My name is Dorothy Blythe。〃 
  
  The receptionist was stunned。 Her mouth fell open; and she stared blankly at Darby; now Dorothy。 She couldn't speak。 
  
  Darby's heart stopped。Is something the matter?〃
  
  〃Well; no。 I'm sorry。 Just a moment。〃 Peggy Young stood quickly; and disappeared in a rush。 
  
  Run! Her heart pounded like a drum。 Run! She tried to control her breathing; but she was battling hyperventilation。 Her legs were rubbery。 Run! 
  
  She looked around; trying to be nonchalant as if she was just another client waiting on her lawyer。 Surely they wouldn't gun her down here in the lobby of a law office。 
  
  He came first; followed by the receptionist。 He was about fifty with bushy gray hair and a terrible scowl。 〃Hi;〃 he said; but only because he had to。 〃I'm Jarreld Schwabe; a partner here。 You say you have an appointment with Curtis Morgan。〃 
  
  Keep it up。 〃Yes。 At five。 Is there a problem?〃
  
  〃And your name is Dorothy Blythe?〃 
  
  Yeah; but you can call me Dot。 〃That's what I said。 Yes。 What's the matter?〃 She sounded genuinely irritated。 
  
  He was inching closer。 〃When did you make the appointment?〃
  
  〃I don't know。 About two weeks ago。 I met Curtis at a party in Georgetown。 He told me he was an oil and gas lawyer; and I happen to need one。 I called the office here; and made an appointment。 Now; will you please tell me what's going on?〃 She was amazed at how well these words were ing from her dry mouth。
  
  〃Why do you need an oil and gas lawyer?〃
  
  〃I don't think I have to explain myself to you;〃 she said; real bitchy…like。 
  
  The elevator opened; and a man in a cheap suit approached quickly to join the conversation。 Darby scowled at him。 Her legs would give way just any second。 
  
  Schwabe was really bearing down。 〃We don't have any record of such an appointment。〃
  
  〃Then fire the appointment secretary。 Do you wele all new clients this way?〃 Oh; she was indignant; but Schwabe did not let up。
  
  〃You can't see Curtis Morgan;〃 he said。
  
  〃And why not?〃 she demanded。
  
  〃He's dead。〃 
  
  The knees were jelly and about to go。 A sharp pain rippled through the stomach。 But; she thought quickly; it was okay to looked shocked。 He was; after all; supposed to be her new lawyer。
  
  〃I'm sorry。 Why didn't anyone call me?〃 
  
  Schwabe was still suspicious。 〃As I said; we have no record of a Dorothy Blythe。〃
  
  〃What happened to him?〃 she asked; stunned。
  
  〃He was mugged a week ago。 Shot by street punks; we believe。〃 
  
  The guy in the cheap suit took a step closer。 〃Do you have any identification?〃
  
  〃Who in the hell are you?〃 she snapped loudly。
  
  〃He's security;〃 said Schwabe。
  
  〃Security for what?〃 she demanded; even louder。 〃Is this a law firm or a prison?〃 
  
  The partner looked at the man in the cheap suit; and it was obvious neither knew exactly what to do at this point。 She was very attractive; and they had upset her; and her story was somewhat believable。 They relaxed a little。
  
  〃Why don't you leave; Ms。 Blythe?〃 Schwabe said。
  
  〃I can't wait!〃 
  
  The security man reached to assist her。 〃Here;〃 he said。 
  
  She slapped his hand。 〃Touch me and I'll sue your ass first thing tomorrow morning。 Get away from me!〃 
  
  This shook them a bit。 She was mad and lashing out。 Perhaps they were being a bit hard。
  
  〃I'll see you down;〃 the security man said。
  
  〃I know how to leave。 I'm amazed you clowns have any clients。〃 She was stepping backward。 Her face was red; but not from anger。 It was fe

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