jg.thefirm-第18部分

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　　〃I　don't　mind　it。　I'm　behind　on　the　bar　review；　but　I　can　catch　up。〃
　　〃Is　that　little　Hudson　twerp　giving　you　a　hard　time？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃If　he　does；　let　me　know。　He's　only　a　five…year　man；　and　he　enjoys　playing　professor。　Thinks　he's　a　real　academic。　I　don't　particularly　like　him。〃
　　〃He's　no　problem。〃
　　Avery　placed　the　agreement　in　the　briefcase。　〃Where　are　the　prospectus　and　other　documents？〃
　　〃I've　done　a　very　rough　draft　of　each。　You　said　we　had　twenty　days。〃
　　〃We　do；　but　let's　get　it　done。　Capps　starts　demanding　things　long　before　their　deadlines。　Are　you　working　tomorrow？〃
　　〃I　hadn't　planned　on　it。　In　fact；　my　wife　has　sort　of　insisted　we　go　to　church。〃
　　Avery　shook　his　head。　〃Wives　can　really　get　in　the　way；　can't　they？〃　He　said　this　without　expecting　a　reply。
　　Mitch　did　not　respond。
　　〃Let's　have　Capps　finished　by　next　Saturday。〃
　　〃Fine。　No　problem；〃　Mitch　said。
　　〃Have　we　discussed　Koker…Hanks？〃　Avery　asked　while　rummaging　through　a　file。
　　〃No。〃
　　〃Here　it　is。　Koker…Hanks　is　a　big　general　contractor　out　of　Kansas　City。　Keeps　about　a　hundred　million　under　contract；　all　over　the　country。　An　outfit　out　of　Denver　called　Holloway　Brothers　has　offered　to　buy　Koker…Hanks。　They　want　to　swap　some　stock；　some　assets；　some　contracts；　and　throw　in　some　cash。　Pretty　plicated　deal。　Familiarize　yourself　with　the　file；　and　we'll　discuss　it　Tuesday　morning　when　I　get　back。〃
　　〃How　much　time　do　we　have？〃
　　〃Thirty　days。〃
　　It　was　not　quite　as　thick　as　the　Capps　file；　but　just　as　imposing。　〃Thirty　days；〃　Mitch　mumbled。
　　〃The　deal　is　worth　eighty　million；　and　we'll　rake　off　two　hundred　grand　in　fees。　Not　a　bad　deal。　Every　time　you　look　at　that　file；　charge　it　for　an　hour。　Work　on　it　whenever　you　can。　In　fact；　if　the　name　Koker…Hanks　crosses　your　mind　while　you're　driving　to　work；　stick　it　for　an　hour。　The　sky's　the　limit　on　this　one。〃
　　Avery　relished　the　thought　of　a　client　who　would　pay　regardless　of　the　charges。　Mitch　said　goodbye　and　returned　to　his　office。
　　About　the　time　the　cocktails　were　finished；　while　they　studied　the　wine　list　and　listened　to　Oliver　Lambert's　parison　of　the　nuances；　the　subtleties；　the　distinctions　of　each　of　the　French　wines；　about　the　time　Mitch　and　Abby　realized　they　would　much　rather　be　home　eating　a　pizza　and　watching　TV；　two　men　with　the　correct　key　entered　the　shiny　black　BMW　in　the　parking　lot　of　Justine's。　They　wore　coats　and　ties　and　looked　inconspicuous。　They　sped　away　innocently　and　drove　across　midtown　to　the　new　home　of　Mr：　and　Mrs。　McDeere。　They　parked　the　BMW　where　it　belonged；　in　the　carport。　The　driver　produced　another　key；　and　the　two　entered　the　house。　Hearsay　was　locked　in　a　closet　in　the　washroom。
　　In　the　dark；　a　small　leather　attache　case　was　placed　on　the　dining　table。　Thin　disposable　rubber　gloves　were　pulled　and　stretched　over　the　hands；　and　each　took　a　small　flashlight。
　　〃Do　the　phones　first；〃　one　said。
　　They　worked　quickly；　in　the　dark。　The　receiver　from　the　kitchen　phone　was　unplugged　and　laid　on　the　table。　The　microphone　was　unscrewed　and　examined。　A　tiny　drop…in　transmitter；　the　size　of　a　raisin；　was　glued　in　the　cavity　of　the　receiver　and　held　firmly　in　place　for　ten　seconds。　When　the　glue　became　firm；　the　microphone　was　replaced　and　the　receiver　was　plugged　into　the　phone　and　hung　on　the　kitchen　wall。　The　voices；　or　signals；　would　be　transmitted　to　a　small　receiver　to　be　installed　in　the　attic。　A　larger　transmitter　next　to　the　receiver　would　send　the　signals　across　town　to　an　antenna　on　top　of　the　Bendini　Building。　Using　the　AC　lines　as　a　power　source；　the　small　bugs　in　the　phones　would　transmit　indefinitely。
　　〃Get　the　one　in　the　den。〃
　　The　attache　case　was　moved　to　a　sofa。　Above　the　recliner　they　drove　a　small　nail　into　a　ridge　in　the　paneling；　then　removed　it。　A　thin　black　cylinder；　one　twentieth　of　an　inch　by　one　inch；　was　carefully　placed　in　the　hole。　It　was　cemented　in　place　with　a　dab　of　black　epoxy。　The　microphone　was　invisible。　A　wire；　the　thickness　of　a　human　hair；　was　gently　fitted　into　the　seam　of　the　paneling　and　run　to　the　ceiling。　It　would　be　connected　to　a　receiver　in　the　attic。
　　Identical　mikes　were　hidden　in　the　walls　of　each　bedroom。　The　men　found　the　retractable　stairs　in　the　main　hallway　and　climbed　into　the　attic。　One　removed　the　receiver　and　transmitter　from　the　case　while　the　other　painstakingly　pulled　the　tiny　wires　from　the　walls。　When　he　gathered　them；　he　wrapped　them　together　and　laid　them　under　the　insulation　and　ran　them　to　a　corner　where　his　partner　was　placing　the　transmitter　in　an　old　cardboard　box。　An　AC　line　was　spliced　and　wired　to　the　unit　to　provide　power　and　transmission。　A　small　antenna　was　raised　to　within　an　inch　of　the　roof　decking。
　　Their　breathing　became　heavier　in　the　sweltering　heat　of　the　dark　attic。　The　small　plastic　casing　of　an　old　radio　was　fitted　around　the　transmitter；　and　they　scattered　insulation　and　old　clothing　around　it。　It　was　in　a　remote　corner　and　not　likely　to　be　noticed　for　months；　maybe　years。　And　if　it　was　noticed；　it　would　appear　to　be　only　worthless　junk。　It　could　be　picked　up　and　thrown　away　without　suspicion。　They　admired　their　handiwork　for　a　second；　then　descended　the　stairs。
　　They　meticulously　covered　their　tracks　and　were　finished　in　ten　minutes。
　　Hearsay　was　released　from　the　closet；　and　the　men　crept　into　the　carport。　They　backed　quickly　out　the　driveway　and　sped　into　the　night。
　　As　the　baked　pompano　was　served；　the　BMW　parked　quietly　next　to　the　restaurant。　The　driver　fished　through　his　pockets　and　found　the　key　to　a　maroon　Jaguar；　property　of　Mr。　Kendall　Mahan；　attorney…at…law。　The　two　technicians　locked　the　BMW　and　slid　into　the　Jag。　The　Mahans　lived　much　closer　than　the　McDeeres；　and　judging　from　the　floor　plans；　the　job　would　be　quicker。
　　On　the　fifth　floor　of　the　Bendini　Building；　Marcus　stared　at　a　panel　of　blinking　lights　and　waited　for　some　signal　from　1231　East　Meadowbrook。　The　dinner　party　had　broken　up　thirty　minutes　earlier；　and　it　was　time　to　listen。　A　tiny　yellow　light　flashed　weakly；　and　he　draped　a　headset　over　his　ears。　He　pushed　a　button　to　record。　He　waited。　A　green　light　beside　the　code　McD6　began　flashing。　It　was　the　bedroom　wall。　The　signals　grew　clearer；　voices；　at　first　faint；　then　very　clear。　He　increased　the　volume。　And　listened。
　　〃Jill　Mahan　is　a　bitch；〃　the　female；　Mrs。　McDeere；　was　saying。　〃The　more　she　drank；　the　bitchier　she　got。〃
　　〃I　think　she's　a　blue　blood　of　some　sort；〃　Mr。　McDeere　replied。
　　〃Her　husband　is　okay；　but　she's　a　real　snot；〃　Mrs。　McDeere　said。
　　〃Are　you　drunk？〃　asked　Mr。　McDeere。
　　〃Almost。　I'm　ready　for　passionate　sex。〃
　　Marcus　increased　the　volume　and　leaned　toward　the　blinking　lights。
　　〃Take　your　clothes　off；〃　demanded　Mrs。　McDeere。
　　〃We　haven't　done　this　in　a　while；〃　said　Mr。　McDeere。
　　Marcus　stood　and　hovered　above　the　switches　and　lights。
　　〃And　whose　fault　is　that？〃　she　asked。
　　〃I　haven't　forgotten　how。　You're　beautiful。〃
　　〃Get　in　the　bed；〃　she　said。
　　Marcus　turned　the　dial　marked　VOLUME　until　it　would　go　no　further。　He　smiled　at　the　lights　and　breathed　heavily。　He　loved　these　associates；　fresh　from　law　school　and　full　of　energy。　He　smiled　at　the　sounds　of　their　lovemaking。　He　closed　his　eyes　and　watched　them。
　　　
　　　9
　　THE　Capps　crisis　passed　in　two　weeks　without　disaster；　thanks　largely　to　a　string　of　eighteen…hour　days　by　the　newest　member　of　；　a　member　who　had　not　yet　passed　the　bar　exam　and　who　was　too　busy　practicing　law　to　worry　about　it。　In　July　he　billed　an　average　of　fifty…nine　hours　a　week；　a　firm　record　for　a　nonlawyer。　Avery　proudly　informed　the　partners　at　the　monthly　meeting　that　McDeere's　work　was　remarkable　for　a　rookie。　The　Capps　deal　was　closed　three　days　ahead　of　schedule；　thanks　to　McDeere。　The　documents　totaled　four　hundred　pages；　all　perfect；　all　meticulously　researched；　drafted　and　redrafted　by　McDeere。　Koker…Hanks　would　close　within　a　month；　thanks　to　McDeere；　and　　would　earn　close　to　a　quarter　of　a　mill。　He　was　a　machine。
　　Oliver　Lambert　expressed　concern　over　his　study　habits。　The　bar　exam　was　less　than　three　weeks　away；　and　it　was　obvious　to　all　that　McDeere　was　not　ready。　He　had　canceled　half　his　review　sessions　in　July　and　had　logged　less　than　twenty　hours。　Avery　said　not　to　worry；　his　boy　would　be　ready。
　　Fifteen　days　before　the　exam；　Mitch　finally　plained。　He　was　about　to　flunk　it；　he　explained　to　Avery　over　lunch　at　the　Manhattan　Club；　and　he　needed　time　to　study。　Lots　of　time。　He　could　cram　it　in　for　the　next　two　weeks　and　pass　by　the　hair　of　his　ass。　But　he　had　to　be　left　alone。　No　deadlines。　No　emergencies。　No　all…nighters。　He　pleaded。　Avery　listened　carefully；　and　apologized。　He　promised　to　ignore　him　for　the　next　two　weeks。　Mitch　said　thanks。
　　On　the　first　Monday　in　August；　a　firm　meeting　was　called　in　the　main　library　on　the　first　floor。　It　was　the　meeting　room；　the　largest　of　the　four　libraries；　the　showplace。　Half　the　lawyers　sat　around　the　antique　cherry　conference　table　with　twenty　chairs　under　it。　The　rest　stood　next　to　the　shelves　of　thick　leather　law　books　which　had　not　been　opened　in　decades。　Every　member　was　present；　even　Nathan　L