jg.thefirm-第44部分

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！


　a　casual　movement　of　his　head。
　　Lambert；　ever　the　diplomat；　the　mediator；　intervened。　〃Look；　Mitch；　we　know　this　is　frightening。〃
　　〃Damn　right　it　is。　I　don't　like　it　at　all。　I'm　minding　my　own　business；　working　my　ass　off　ninety　hours　a　week；　trying　to　be　nothing　but　a　good　lawyer　and　member　of　this　firm；　and　for　some　。unknown　reason　I　keep　getting　these　little　visits　from　the　FBI。　Now；　sir；　I　would　like　some　answers。〃
　　Locke　pressed　the　red　button　on　the　recorder。　〃We'll　talk　about　that　in　a　minute。　First；　you　tell　us　everything　that　happened。〃
　　〃It's　very　simple；　Mr。　Locke。　I　walked　to　the　Federal　Building　at　ten　for　an　appearance　before　Judge　Kofer　on　the　Malcolm　Delaney　case。　I　was　there　about　an　hour；　and　I　finished　my　business。　I　left　the　Federal　Building；　and　I　was　walking　in　the　direction　of　our　office…in　a　hurry；　I　might　add。　It's　about　twenty　degrees　out　there。　A　block　or　two　north　of　Union；　this　guy　Tarrance　came　out　of　nowhere；　grabbed　my　arm　and　pushed　me　into　a　small　store。　I　started　to　knock　the　hell　out　of　him；　but；　after　all；　he　is　an　FBI　agent。　And　I　didn't　want　to　make　a　scene。　Inside；　he　tells　me　he　wants　to　talk　for　a　minute。　I　pulled　away　from　him；　and　ran　to　the　door。　He　followed　me；　tried　to　grab　me；　and　I　shoved　him　away。　Then　I　ran　here；　went　straight　to　Avery's　office；　and　here　we　are。　That's　all　that　was　said。　Play　by　play；　everything。〃
　　〃What　did　he　want　to　talk　about？〃
　　〃I　didn't　give　him　a　chance；　Mr。　Locke。　I　have　no　plans　to　talk　to　any　FBI　agent　unless　he　has　a　subpoena。〃
　　〃Are　you　sure　it's　the　same　agent？〃
　　〃I　think　so。　I　didn't　recognize　him　at　first。　I　haven't　seen　him　since　last　August。　Once　inside　the　store；　he　pulled　his　badge　and　gave　me　his　name　again。　At　that　point；　I　ran。〃
　　Locke　pressed　another　button　and　sat　back　in　the　chair。　Lambert　sat　behind　him　and　smiled　ever　so　warmly。　〃Listen；　Mitch；　we　explained　this　last　time。　These　guys　are　getting　bolder　and　bolder。　Just　last　month　they　approached　Jack　Aldrich　while　he　was　eating　lunch　in　a　little　grill　on　Second　Street。　We're　not　sure　what　they're　up　to；　but　Tarrance　is　out　of　his　mind。　It's　nothing　but　harassment。〃
　　Mitch　watched　his　lips　but　heard　little。　As　Lambert　spoke；　he　thought　of　Kozinski　and　Hodge　and　their　pretty　widows　and　children　at　the　funerals。
　　Black　Eyes　cleared　his　throat。　〃It's　a　serious　matter；　Mitch。　But　we　have　nothing　to　hide。　They　could　better　spend　their　time　investigating　our　clients　if　they　suspect　wrongdoing。　We're　lawyers。　We　may　represent　people　who　flirt　with　the　law；　but　we　have　done　nothing　wrong。　This　is　very　baffling　to　us。〃
　　Mitch　smiled　and　opened　his　hands。　〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do？〃　he　asked　sincerely。
　　〃There's　nothing　you　can　do；　Mitch；〃　said　Lambert。　〃Just　stay　away　from　this　guy；　and　run　if　you　see　him。　If　he　so　much　as　looks　at　you；　report　it　immediately。〃
　　〃That's　what　he　did；〃　Avery　said　defensively。
　　Mitch　looked　as　pitiful　as　possible。
　　〃You　can　go；　Mitch；〃　Lambert　said。　〃And　keep　us　posted。〃
　　He　left　the　office　by　himself。
　　DeVasher　paced　behind　his　desk　and　ignored　the　partners。　〃He's　lying；　I　tell　you。　He's　lying。　The　sonofabitch　is　lying。　I　know　he's　lying。〃
　　〃What　did　your　man　see？〃　asked　Locke。
　　〃My　man　saw　something　different。　Slightly　different。　But　very　different。　He　says　McDeere　and　Tarrance　walked　sort　of　nonchalantly　into　the　shoe　store。　No　physical　intimidation　by　Tarrance。　None　at　all。　Tarrance　walks　up；　they　talk；　and　both　sort　of　duck　into　the　store。　My　man　says　they　disappear　into　the　back　of　the　store；　and　they're　back　there　for　three；　maybe　four　minutes。　Then　another　one　of　our　guys　walks　by　the　store；　looks　in　and　sees　nothing。　Evidently；　they　saw　our　man；　because　within　seconds　they　e　flying　out　of　the　store　with　McDeere　shoving　and　yelling。　Something　ain't　right；　I　tell　you。〃
　　〃Did　Tarrance　grab　his　arm　and　force　him　into　the　store？〃　Nathan　Locke　asked　slowly；　precisely。
　　〃Hell　no。　And　that's　the　problem。　McDeere　went　voluntarily；　and　when　he　said　the　guy　grabbed　his　arm；　he's　lying。　My　man　says　he　thinks　they　would've　stayed　in　there　for　a　while　if　they　hadn't　seen　us。〃
　　〃But　you're　not　sure　of　that；〃　Nathan　Locke　said。
　　〃I　wasn't　sure；　dammit。　They　didn't　invite　me　into　the　store。〃
　　DeVasher　kept　pacing　while　the　lawyers　stared　at　the　floor。　He　unwrapped　a　Roi…Tan　and　crammed　it　into　his　fat　mouth。
　　Finally；　Oliver　Lambert　spoke。　〃Look；　DeVasher；　it's　very　possible　McDeere　is　telling　the　truth　and　your　man　got　the　wrong　signals。　It's　very　possible。　I　think　McDeere　is　entitled　to　the　benefit　of　the　doubt。〃
　　DeVasher　grunted　and　ignored　this。
　　〃Do　you　know　of　any　contact　since　last　August？〃　asked　Royce　McKnight。
　　〃We　don't　know　of　any；　but　that　doesn't　mean　they　ain't　talked；　does　it　now？　We　didn't　know　about　those　other　two　until　it　was　almost　too　late。　It's　impossible　to　watch　every　move　they　make。　Impossible。〃
　　He　walked　back　and　forth　by　his　credenza；　obviously　deep　in　thought。　〃I　gotta　talk　to　him；〃　he　finally　said。
　　〃Who？〃
　　〃McDeere。　It's　time　he　and　I　had　a　little　talk。〃
　　〃About　what？〃　Lambert　asked　nervously。
　　〃You　let　me　handle　it；　okay？　Just　stay　out　of　my　way。〃
　　〃I　think　it's　a　bit　premature；〃　Locke　said。
　　〃And　I　don't　give　a　damn　what　you　think。　If　you　clowns　were　in　charge　of　security；　you'd　all　be　in　prison。〃
　　Mitch　sat　in　his　office　with　the　door　closed　and　stared　at　the　walls。　A　migraine　was　forming　at　the　base　of　his　skull；　and　he　felt　sick。　There　was　a　knock　at　the　door。
　　〃e　in；〃　he　said　softly。
　　Avery　peeked　inside；　then　walked　to　the　desk。　〃How　about　lunch？〃
　　〃No；　thanks。　I'm　not　hungry。〃
　　The　partner　slid　his　hands　into　his　trouser　pockets　and　smiled　warmly。　〃Look；　Mitch；　I　know　you're　worried。　Let's　take　a　break。　I've　got　to　run　downtown　for　a　meeting。　Why　don't　you　meet　me　at　the　Manhattan　Club　at　one。　We'll　have　a　long　lunch　and　talk　things　over。　I've　reserved　the　limo　for　you。　It'll　be　waiting　outside　at　a　quarter　till。〃
　　Mitch　managed　a　weak　smile；　as　if　he　was　touched　by　this。　〃Sure；　Avery。　Why　not。〃
　　〃Good。　I'll　see　you　at　one。〃
　　At　a　quarter　till；　Mitch　opened　the　front　door　and　walked　to　the　limo。　The　driver　opened　the　door；　and　Mitch　fell　in。　pany　was　waiting。
　　A　thick；　bald…headed　man　with　a　huge；　bulging；　hanging　neck　sat　smugly　in　the　corner　of　the　rear　seat。　He　stuck　out　a　hand。　〃Name's　DeVasher；　Mitch。　Nice　to　meet　you。〃
　　〃Am　I　in　the　right　limo？〃　Mitch　asked。
　　〃Sure。　Sure。　Relax。〃　The　driver　pulled　away　from　the　curb。
　　〃What　can　I　do　for　you？〃　Mitch　asked。
　　〃You　can　listen　for　a　while。　We　need　to　have　a　little　talk。〃　The　driver　turned　on　Riverside　Drive　and　headed　for　the　Hernando　De　Soto　Bridge。
　　〃Where　are　we　going？〃　Mitch　asked。
　　〃For　a　little　ride。　Just　relax；　son。〃
　　So　I'm　number　six；　thought　Mitch。　This　is　it。　No；　wait　a
　　'minute。　They　were　much　more　creative　than　this　with　their　killing。
　　〃Mitch；　can　I　call　you　Mitch？〃
　　〃Sure。〃
　　〃Fine。　Mitch；　I'm　in　charge　of　security　for　；　and…〃
　　〃Why　does　　need　security？〃
　　〃Just　listen　to　me；　son；　and　I'll　explain。　　has　an　extensive　security　program；　thanks　to　old　man　Bendini。　He　was　a　nut　about　security　and　secrecy。　My　job　is　to　protect　；　and　quite　frankly；　we're　very　concerned　about　this　FBI　business。〃
　　〃So　am　I。〃
　　〃Yes。　We　believe　the　FBI　is　determined　to　infiltrate　our　firm　in　hopes　of　collecting　information　on　certain　clients。〃
　　〃Which　clients？〃
　　〃Some　high　rollers　with　questionable　tax　shelters。〃
　　Mitch　nodded　and　looked　at　the　river　below。　They　were　now　in　Arkansas；　with　the　Memphis　skyline　fading　behind　them。　DeVasher　recessed　the　conversation。　He　sat　like　a　frog　with　his　hands　folded　across　the　gut。　Mitch　waited；　until　it　became　apparent　that　lapses　in　conversation　and　awkward　silence　did　not　bother　DeVasher。　Several　miles　across　the　river；　the　driver　left　the　interstate　and　found　a　rough　county　road　that　circled　and　ran　back　to　the　east。　Then　he　turned　onto　a　gravel　road　that　went　for　a　mile　through　low…lying　bean　fields　next　to　the　river。　Memphis　was　suddenly　visible　again；　across　the　water。
　　〃Where　are　we　going？〃　Mitch　asked；　with　some　alarm。
　　〃Relax。　I　want　to　show　you　something。〃
　　A　gravesite；　thought　Mitch。　The　limo　stopped　on　a　cliff　that　fell　ten　feet　to　a　sandbar　next　to　the　bank。　The　skyline　stood　impressively　on　the　other　side。　The　top　of　the　Bendini　Building　was　visible。
　　〃Let's　take　a　walk；〃　DeVasher　said。
　　〃Where　to？〃　Mitch　asked。
　　〃e　on。　It's　okay。〃　DeVasher　opened　his　door　and　walked　to　the　rear　bumper。　Slowly；　Mitch　followed　him。
　　〃As　I　was　saying；　Mitch；　we　are　very　troubled　by　this　contact　with　the　FBI。　If　you　talk　to　them；　they　will　get　bolder；　then　who　knows　what　the　fools　will　try。　It's　imperative　that　you　not　speak　to　them；　ever　again。　Understand？〃
　　〃Yes。　I've　understood　since　the　first　visit　in　August。〃
　　Suddenly；　DeVasher　was　in　his　face；　nose　to　nose。　He　smiled　wickedly。　〃I　have　something　that　will　keep　you　honest。〃　He　reached　in　his　sport　coat　and　pulled　out　a　manila　envelope。
　　〃Take　a　look　at　these；〃　he　said　with　a　sneer；　and　walked　away。
　　Mitch　leaned　on　the　limo　and