jg.thefirm-第60部分

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ter　thirty　minutes　she　moved　with　the　efficient　grace　of　a　seasoned　copy…room　clerk。　She　fed　copies　and　unstapled　and　restapled　while　the　machine　clicked　rapidly　and　spat　the　reproductions　through　the　collator。
　　Tammy　arrived　from　trip　three　out　of　breath　and　with　sweat　dripping　from　her　nose。　〃Third　drawer；〃　she　reported。　〃He's　still　snoring。〃　She　unzipped　the　suitcases　and　made　another　neat　pile　on　the　bed。　She　caught　her　breath；　wiped　her　face　and　loaded　the　now　copied　contents　of　drawer　one　into　the　bags。　For　the　rest　of　the　night；　she　would　be　loaded　ing　and　going。
　　At　midnight；　the　Barefoot　Boys　sang　their　last　song；　and　the　Palms　settled　down　for　the　night。　The　quiet　hum　of　the　copier　could　not　be　heard　outside　Room　188。　The　door　was　kept　locked；　the　shades　pulled　tightly；　and　all　lights　extinguished　except　for　a　lamp　near　the　bed。　No　one　noticed　the　tired　lady；　dripping　with　sweat；　lugging　the　same　two　suitcases　to　and　from　the　room。
　　After　midnight　they　did　not　speak。　They　were　tired；　too　busy　and　scared；　and　there　was　nothing　to　report　except　lover　boy's　movements　in　bed；　if　any。　And　there　was　none；　until　around　1　A。M。；　when　he　subconsciously　rolled　onto　his　side；　where　he　stayed　for　about　twenty　minutes；　then　returned　to　his　back。　Tammy　checked　on　him　with　each　visit　and　asked　herself　each　time　what　she　would　do　if　his　eyes　suddenly　opened　and　he　attacked。　She　had　a　small　tube　of　Mace　in　her　shorts　pocket；　just　in　case　a　confrontation　occurred　and　escape　became　necessary。　Mitch　had　been　vague　on　the　details　of　such　an　escape。　Just　don't　lead　him　back　to　the　motel　room；　he　said。　Hit　him　with　the　Mace；　then　run　like　crazy　and　scream；　〃Rape！〃
　　But　after　twenty…five　trips；　she　became　convinced　he　was　hours　away　from　consciousness。　And　it　was　bad　enough　hiking　like　a　pack　mule　to　and　from；　but　she　also　had　to　climb　the　stairs；　fourteen　of　them；　each　trip　to　check　on　Casanova。　So　she　went　to　check　every　other　trip。　Then　one　out　of　three。
　　By　2　A。M。；　halfway　through　the　project；　they　had　copied　the　contents　from　five　of　the　file　cabinets。　They　had　made　over　four　thousand　copies；　and　the　bed　was　covered　with　neat　little　stacks　of　materials。　Their　copies　stood　along　the　wall　next　to　the　sofa　in　seven　even　rows　almost　waist　high。
　　They　rested　for　fifteen　minutes。
　　At　five…thirty　the　first　flicker　of　sunrise　rose　in　the　east；　and　they　forgot　about　being　tired。　Abby　quickened　her　movements　around　the　copier　and　hoped　it　would　not　burn　up。　Tammy　rubbed　the　cramps　in　her　calves　and　walked　quickly　back　to　the　condo。　It　was　either　trip　number　fifty…one　or　fifty…two。　She　had　lost　count。　It　would　be　her　last　trip　for　a　while。　He　was　waiting。
　　She　opened　the　door　and　went　straight　to　the　storage　room；　as　usual。　She　set　the　packed　Samsonites　on　the　floor；　as　usual。　She　quietly　walked　up　the　stairs；　into　the　bedroom；　and　froze。　Avery　was　sitting　on　the　edge　of　the　bed；　facing　the　balcony。　He　heard　her　and　turned　slowly　to　face　her。　His　eyes　were　swollen　and　glazed。　He　scowled　at　her。
　　Instinctively；　she　unbuttoned　the　khaki　shorts　and　they　fell　to　the　floor。　〃Hey；　big　boy；〃　she　said；　trying　to　breathe　normally　and　act　like　a　party　girl。　She　walked　to　the　edge　of　the　bed　where　he　was　sitting。　〃You're　up　kinda　early。　Let's　get　some　more　sleep。〃
　　His　gaze　returned　to　the　window。　He　said　nothing。　She　sat　beside　him　and　rubbed　the　inside　of　his　thigh。　She　slid　her　hand　up　the　inside　of　his　leg；　and　he　did　not　move。
　　〃Are　you　awake？〃　she　asked。
　　No　response。
　　〃Avery；　talk　to　me；　baby。　Let's　get　some　more　sleep。　It's　still　dark　out　there。〃
　　He　fell　sideways；　onto　his　pillow。　He　grunted。　No　attempt　at　speech。　Just　a　grunt。　Then　he　closed　his　eyes。　She　lifted　his　legs　onto　the　bed　and　covered　him　again。
　　She　sat　by　him　for　ten　minutes；　and　when　the　snoring　returned　to　its　former　intensity；　she　slid　into　the　shorts　and　ran　to　the　Palms。
　　〃He　woke　up；　Abby！〃　she　reported　in　panic。　〃He　woke　up；　then　passed　out　again。〃
　　Abby　stopped　and　stared。　Both　women　looked　at　the　bed；　which　was　covered　with　uncopied　documents。
　　〃Okay。　Take　a　quick　shower；〃　Abby　said　coolly。　〃Then　go　get　in　bed　with　him　and　wait。　Lock　the　door　to　the　storage　room；　and　call　me　when　he　wakes　up　and　gets　in　the　shower。　I'll　keep　copying　what's　left；　and　we'll　try　to　move　it　later；　after　he　goes　to　work。〃
　　〃That's　awfully　risky。〃
　　〃It's　all　risky。　Hurry。〃
　　Five　minutes　later；　Tammy/Doris/Libby　with　the　bright　orange　string　bikini　made　another　trip…without　the　suitcases…to　the　condo。　She　locked　the　front　door　and　the　storage　door　and　went　to　the　bedroom。　She　removed　the　orange　top　and　crawled　under　the　covers。
　　The　snoring　kept　her　awake　for　fifteen　minutes。　Then　she　dozed。　She　sat　up　in　bed　to　prevent　sleep。　She　was　scared；　sitting　there　in　bed　with　a　nude　man　who　would　kill　her　if　he　knew。　Her　tired　body　relaxed；　and　sleep　became　unavoidable。　She　dozed　again。
　　Lover　boy　broke　from　his　a　at　three　minutes　past　nine。　He　moaned　loudly　and　rolled　to　the　edge　of　the　bed。　His　eyelids　were　stuck　together。　They　opened　slowly；　and　the　bright　sun　came　piercing　through。　He　moaned　again。　The　head　weighed　a　hundred　pounds　and　rocked　awkwardly　from　right　to　left；　shifting　the　brain　violently　each　time。　He　breathed　deeply；　and　the　fresh　oxygen　went　screaming　through　his　temples。　His　right　hand　caught　his　attention。　He　tried　to　raise　it；　but　the　nerve　impulses　would　not　penetrate　the　brain。　Slowly　it　went　up；　and　he　squinted　at　it。　He　tried　to　focus　with　the　right　eye　first；　then　the　left。　The　clock。
　　He　looked　at　the　digital　clock　for　thirty　seconds　before　he　could　decipher　the　red　numbers。　Nine…oh…five。　Damn！　He　was　expected　at　the　bank　at　nine。　He　moaned。　The　woman！
　　She　had　felt　him　move　and　heard　his　sounds；　and　she　lay　still　with　her　eyes　shut。　She　prayed　he　would　not　touch　her。　She　felt　him　staring。
　　For　this　career　rogue　and　bad　boy；　there　had　been　many　hangovers。　But　none　like　this。　He　looked　at　her　face　and　tried　to　remember　how　good　she　had　been。　He　could　always　remember　that；　if　nothing　else。　Regardless　of　the　size　of　the　hangover；　he　could　always　remember　the　women。　He　watched　her　for　a　moment；　then　gave　it　up。
　　〃Damn！〃　he　said　as　he　stood　and　tried　to　walk。　His　feet　were　like　lead　boots　and　only　reluctantly　plied　with　his　wishes。　He　braced　himself　against　the　sliding　door　to　the　balcony。
　　The　bathroom　was　twenty　feet　away；　and　he　decided　to　go　for　it。　The　desk　and　dresser　served　as　braces。　One　painful；　clumsy　step　after　another；　and　he　finally　made　it。　He　hovered　above　the　toilet　and　relieved　himself。
　　She　rolled　to　face　the　balcony；　and　when　he　finished　she　felt　him　sit　on　her　side　of　the　bed。　He　gently　touched　her　shoulder。　〃Libby；　wake　up。〃　He　shook　her；　and　she　bolted　stiff。
　　〃Wake　up；　dear；〃　he　said。　A　gentleman。
　　She　gave　him　her　best　sleepy　smile。　The　morning…after　smile　of　fulfillment　and　mitment。　The　Scarlett　O'Hara　smile　the　morning　after　Rhett　nailed　her。　〃You　were　great；　big　boy；〃　she　cooed　with　her　eyes　closed。
　　In　spite　of　the　pain　and　nausea；　in　spite　of　the　lead　boots　and　bowling…ball　head；　he　was　proud　of　himself。　The　woman　was　impressed。　Suddenly；　he　remembered　that　he　was　great　last　night。
　　〃Look；　Libby；　we've　overslept。　I　gotta　go　to　work。　I'm　already　late。〃
　　〃Not　in　the　mood；　huh？〃　she　giggled。　She　prayed　he　wasn't　in　the　mood。
　　〃Naw；　not　now。　How　about　tonight？〃
　　〃I'll　be　here；　big　boy。〃
　　〃Good。　I　gotta　take　a　shower。〃
　　〃Wake　me　up　when　you　get　out。〃
　　He　stood　and　mumbled　something；　then　locked　the　bathroom　door。　She　slid　across　the　bed　to　the　phone　and　called　Abby。　After　three　rings；　she　answered。
　　〃He's　in　the　shower。〃
　　〃Are　you　okay？〃
　　〃Yeah。　Fine。　He　couldn't　do　it　if　he　had　to。〃
　　〃What　took　so　long？〃
　　〃He　wouldn't　wake　up。〃
　　〃Is　he　suspicious？〃
　　〃No。　He　remembers　nothing。　I　think　he's　in　pain。〃
　　〃How　long　will　you　be　there？〃
　　〃I'll　kiss　him　goodbye　when　he　gets　out　of　the　shower。　Ten；　maybe　fifteen　minutes。〃

　　〃Okay。　Hurry。〃　Abby　hung　up；　and　Tammy　slid　to　her　side　of　the　bed。　In　the　attic　above　the　kitchen；　a　recorder　clicked；　reset　itself　and　was　ready　for　the　next　call。
　　By　ten…thirty；　they　were　ready　for　the　final　assault　on　the　condo。　The　contraband　was　divided　into　three　equal　parts。　Three　daring　raids　in　open　daylight。　Tammy　slid　the　shiny　new　keys　into　her　blouse　pocket　and　took　off　with　the　suitcases。　She　walked　quickly；　her　eyes　darting　in　all　directions　behind　the　sunglasses。　The　parking　lot　in　front　of　the　condos　was　still　empty。　Traffic　was　light　on　the　highway。
　　The　new　key　fit；　and　she　was　inside。　The　key　to　the　storage　door　also　fit；　and　five　minutes　later　she　left　the　condo。　The　second　and　third　trips　were　equally　quick　and　uneventful。　When　she　left　the　storage　room　for　the　last　time；　she　studied　it　carefully。　Everything　was　in　order；　just　as　she　found　it。　She　locked　the　condo　and　took　the　empty；　well…worn　Samsonites　back　to　her　room。
　　For　an　hour　they　lay　beside　each　other　on　the　bed　and　laughed　at　Avery　and　his　hangover。　It　was　over　now；　for　the　most　part；　and　they　had　mitted　the　perfect　crime。　And　lover　boy　was　a　willing　but　ignorant　participan