jg.thefirm-第51部分

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　　〃You　wouldn't　have　to　mop　floors。　You　could　change　bedpans；　something　meaningful；　something　inconspicuous。　We'd　live　in　a　neat　little　white　frame　house　on　Maple　Street　in　Omaha。　I'd　be　Harvey　and　you'd　be　Thelma；　and　we'd　need　a　short；　unassuming　last　name。〃
　　〃Poe；〃　Abby　added。
　　〃That's　great。　Harvey　and　Thelma　Poe。　The　Poe　family。　We'd　have　a　million　dollars　in　the　bank　but　couldn't　spend　a　dime　because　everyone　on　Maple　Street　would　know　it　and　then　we'd　bee　different；　which　is　the　last　thing　we　want。〃
　　〃I'd　get　a　nose　job。〃
　　〃But　your　nose　is　perfect。〃
　　〃Abby's　nose　is　perfect；　but　what　about　Thelma's？　We'd　have　to　get　it　fixed；　don't　you　think？〃
　　〃Yeah；　I　suppose。〃　He　was　immediately　tired　of　the　humor　and　became　quiet。　Abby　stepped　in　front　of　him；　and　he　draped　his　arms　over　her　shoulders。　They　watched　a　tug　quietly　push　a　hundred　barges　under　the　bridge。　An　occasional　cloud　dimmed　the　moonlight；　and　the　cool　winds　from　the　west　rose　intermittently；　then　dissipated。
　　〃Do　you　believe　Tarrance？〃　Abby　asked。
　　〃In　what　way？〃
　　〃Let's　suppose　you　do　nothing。　Do　you　believe　one　day　they'll　eventually　infiltrate　？〃
　　〃I'm　afraid　not　to　believe。〃
　　〃So　we　take　the　money　and　run？〃
　　〃It's　easier　for　me　to　take　the　money　and　run；　Abby。　I　have　nothing　to　leave　behind。　For　you；　it's　different。　You'll　never　see　your　family　again。〃
　　〃Where　would　we　go？〃
　　〃I　do　not　know。　But　I　wouldn't　want　to　stay　in　this　country。　The　feds　cannot　be　trusted　entirely。　I'll　feel　safer　in　another　country；　but　I　won't　tell　Tarrance。〃
　　〃What's　the　next　step？〃
　　〃We　cut　a　deal；　then　quickly　go　about　the　job　of　gathering　enough　information　to　sink　the　ship。　I　have　no　idea　what　they　want；　but　I　can　find　it　for　them。　When　Tarrance　has　enough；　we　disappear。　We　take　our　money；　get　our　nose　jobs　and　disappear。〃
　　〃How　much　money？〃
　　〃More　than　a　million。　They're　playing　games　with　the　money。　It's　all　negotiable。〃
　　〃How　much　will　we　get？〃
　　〃Two　million　cash；　tax…free。　Not　a　dime　less。〃
　　〃Will　they　pay　it？〃
　　〃Yes；　but　that's　not　the　question。　The　question　is；　will　we　take　it　and　run？〃
　　She　was　cold；　and　he　draped　his　coat　over　her　shoulders。　He　held　her　tightly。　〃It's　a　rotten　deal；　Mitch；〃　she　said；　〃but　at　least　we'll　be　together。〃
　　〃The　name's　Harvey；　not　Mitch。〃
　　〃Do　you　think　we'll　be　safe；　Harvey？〃
　　〃We're　not　safe　here。〃
　　〃I　don't　like　it　here。　I'm　lonely　and　scared。〃
　　〃I'm　tired　of　being　a　lawyer。〃
　　〃Let's　take　the　money　and　haul　ass。〃
　　〃You've　got　a　deal；　Thelma。〃
　　She　handed　the　cassette　tape　to　him。　He　glanced　at　it；　then　threw　it　far　below；　beyond　Riverside　Drive；　in　the　direction　of　the　river。　They　held　hands　and　strolled　quickly　through　the　park　toward　the　BMW　parked　on　Front　Street。
　　　
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　　FOR　only　the　second　time　in　his　career；　Mitch　was　allowed　to　visit　the　palatial　dining　room　on　the　fifth　floor。　Avery's　invitation　came　with　the　explanation　that　the　partners　were　all　quite　impressed　with　the　seventy…one　hours　per　week　he　averaged　in　billing　for　the　month　of　February；　and　thus　they　wished　to　offer　the　small　reward　of　lunch。　It　was　an　invitation　no　associate　could　turn　down；　regardless　of　schedules　and　meetings　and　clients　and　deadlines　and　all　the　other　terribly　important　and　urgently　critical　aspects　of　careers　at　Bendini；　Lambert　&　Locke。　Never　in　history　had　an　associate　said　no　to　an　invitation　to　the　dining　room。　Each　received　two　invitations　per　year。　Records　were　kept。
　　Mitch　had　two　days　to　prepare　for　it。　His　first　impulse　was　to　decline；　and　when　Avery　first　mentioned　it　a　dozen　lame　excuses　crossed　his　mind。　Eating　and　smiling　and　chatting　and　fraternizing　with　criminals；　f　egardless　of　how　rich　and　polished；　was　less　attractive　than　sharing　a　bowl　of　soup　with　a　homeless　down　at　the　bus　station。　But　to　say　no　would　be　a　grievous　breach　of　tradition。　And　as　things　were　going；　his　movements　were　already　suspicious　enough。
　　So　he　sat　with　his　back　to　the　window　and　forced　smiles　and　small　talk　in　the　direction　of　Avery　and　Royce　Mc…Knight　and；　of　course；　Oliver　Lambert。　He　knew　he　would　eat　at　the　same　table　with　those　three。　Knew　it　for　two　days。
　　He　knew　they　would　watch　him　carefully　but　nonchalantly；　trying　to　detect　any　loss　of　enthusiasm；　or　cynicism；　or　hopelessness。　Anything；　really。　He　knew　they　would　hang　on　his　every　word；　regardless　of　what　he　said。　He　knew　they　would　lavish　praise　and　promises　upon　his　weary　shoulders。
　　Oliver　Lambert　had　never　been　more　charming。　Seventy…one　hours　a　week　for　a　February　for　an　associate　was　a　firm　record；　he　said　as　Roosevelt　served　prime　rib。　All　the　partners　were　amazed；　and　delighted；　he　explained　softly　while　glancing　around　the　room。　Mitch　forced　a　smile　and　sliced　his　serving。　The　other　partners；　amazed　or　indifferent；　were　talking　idly　and　concentrating　on　the　food。　Mitch　counted　eighteen　active　partners　and　seven　retirees；　those　with　the　khakis　and　sweaters　and　relaxed　looks　about　them。
　　〃You　have　remarkable　stamina；　Mitch；〃　Royce　Mc…Knight　said　with　a　mouthful。　He　nodded　politely。　Yes；　yes；　I　practice　my　stamina　all　the　time；　he　thought　to　himself。　As　much　as　possible；　he　kept　his　mind　off　Joe　Hodge　and　Marty　Kozinski　and　the　other　three　dead　lawyers　memorialized　on　the　wall　downstairs。　But　it　was　impossible　to　keep　his　mind　off　the　pictures　of　the　girl　in　the　sand；　and　he　wondered　if　they　all　knew。　Had　they　all　seen　the　pictures？　Passed　them　around　during　one　of　these　little　lunches　when　it　was　just　the　partners　and　no　guests？　DeVasher　had　promised　to　keep　them　to　himself；　but　what's　a　promise　from　a　thug？　Of　course　they'd　seen　them。　Voyles　said　every　partner　and　most　of　the　associates　were　in　on　the　conspiracy。
　　For　a　man　with　no　appetite；　he　managed　the　food　nicely。　He　even　buttered　and　devoured　an　extra　roll；　just　to　appear　normal。　Nothing　wrong　with　his　appetite。
　　〃So　you　and　Abby　are　going　to　the　Caymans　next　week？〃　Oliver　Lambert　said。
　　〃Yes。　It's　her　spring　break；　and　we　booked　one　of　the　condos　two　months　ago。　Looking　forward　to　it。〃
　　〃It's　a　terrible　time　to　go；〃　Avery　said　in　disgust。　〃We're　a　month　behind　right　now。〃
　　〃We're　always　a　month　behind；　Avery。　So　what's　another　week？　I　guess　you　want　me　to　take　my　files　with　me？〃
　　〃Not　a　bad　idea。　I　always　do。〃
　　〃Don't　do　it；　Mitch；〃　Oliver　Lambert　said　in　mock　protest。　〃This　place　will　be　standing　when　you　return。　You　and　Abby　deserve　a　week　to　yourselves。〃
　　〃You'll/love　it　down　there；〃　Royce　McKnight　said；　as　if　Mitch　hap　never　been　and　that　thing　on　the　beach　didn't　happen　and　no　one　knew　anything　about　any　photographs。
　　〃When　do　you　leave？〃　Lambert　asked。
　　〃Sunday　morning。　Early。〃
　　〃Are　you　taking　the　Lear？〃
　　〃No。　Delta　nonstop。〃
　　Lambert　and　McKnight　exchanged　quick　looks　that　Mitch　was　not　supposed　to　see。　There　were　other　looks　from　the　other　tables；　occasional　quick　glances　filled　with　curiosity　that　Mitch　had　caught　since　he　entered　the　room。　He　was　there　to　be　noticed。
　　〃Do　you　scuba…dive？〃　asked　Lambert；　still　thinking　about　the　Lear　versus　the　Delta　nonstop。
　　〃No；　but　we　plan　to　do　some　snorkeling。〃
　　〃There's　a　guy　on　Rum　Point；　on　the　north　end；　name　of　Adrian　Bench；　who's　got　a　great　dive　lodge　and　will　certify　you　in　one　week。　It's　a　hard　week；　lot　of　instruction；　but　it's　worth　it。〃
　　In　other　words；　stay　away　from　Abanks；　Mitch　thought。　〃What's　the　name　of　the　lodge？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Rum　Point　Divers。　Great　place。〃
　　Mitch　frowned　intelligently　as　if　making　a　mental　note　of　this　helpful　advice。　Suddenly；　Oliver　Lambert　was　hit　with　sadness。　〃Be　careful；　Mitch。　It　brings　back　memories　of　Marty　and　Joe。〃
　　Avery　and　McKnight　stared　at　their　plates　in　a　split…second　memorial　to　the　dead　boys。　Mitch　swallowed　hard　and　almost　sneered　at　Oliver　Lambert。　But　he　kept　a　straight　face；　even　managed　to　look　sad　with　the　rest　of　them。　Marty　and　Joe　and　their　young　widows　and　fatherless　children。　Marty　and　Joe；　two　young　wealthy　lawyers　expertly　killed　and　removed　before　they　could　talk。　Marty　and　Joe；　two　promising　sharks　eaten　by　their　own。　Voyles　had　told　Mitch　to　think　of　Marty　and　Joe　whenever　he　saw　Oliver　Lambert。
　　And　now；　for　a　mere　million　bucks；　he　was　expected　to　do　what　Marty　and　Joe　were　about　to　do；　without　getting　caught。　Perhaps　a　year　from　now　the　next　new　associate　would　be　sitting　here　and　watching　the　saddened　partners　talk　about　young　Mitch　McDeere　and　his　remarkable　stamina　and　what　a　helluva　lawyer　he　would　have　been　but　for　the　accident。　How　many　would　they　kill？
　　He　wanted　two　million。　Plus　a　couple　of　other　items。
　　After　an　hour　of　important　talk　and　good　food；　the　lunch　began　breaking　up　as　partners　excused　themselves；　spoke　to　Mitch　and　left　the　room。　They　were　proud　of　him；　they　said。　He　was　their　brightest　star　of　the　future。　The　future　of　Ben…dini；　Lambert　&　Locke。　He　smiled　and　thanked　them。
　　About　the　time　Roosevelt　served　the　banana　cream　pie　and　coffee；　Tammy　Greenwood　Hemphill　of　Greenwood　Services　parked　her　dirty　brown　Rabbit　behind　the　shiny　Peugeot　in　the　St。　Andrew's　Episcopal　School　parking　lot。　She　left　the　motor　running。　She　took　four　steps；　stuck　a　key　int