jg.thefirm-第8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！


accept。　That's　normal　procedure；　ain't　itt〃
　　〃Yes。　We'll　handle　that。　What　about　the　salary？〃
　　〃Most　impressed。　Highest　one　so　far。　They　talked　and　talked　about　the　money。　Salary；　retirement；　mortgage；　BMW；　bonus；　everything。　They　couldn't　believe　it。　Kids　must　really　be　broke。〃
　　〃They　are。　You　think　we　got　him；　huh？〃
　　〃I'd　bet　on　it。　He　said　once　that　　may　not　be　as　prestigious　as　the　ones　on　Wall　Street；　but　the　lawyers　were　just　as　qualified　and　a　lot　nicer。　I　think　he'll　sign　on；　yeah。〃
　　〃Any　suspicions？'*
　　〃Not　really。　Quin　evidently　told　him　to　stay　away　from　Locke's　office。　He　told　his　wife　that　no　one　ever　went　in　there　but　some　secretaries　and　a　handful　of　partners。　But　he　said　Quin　said　Locke　was　eccentric　and　not　that　friendly。　I　don't　think　he's　suspicious；　though。　She　said　seemed　concerned　about　some　things　that　were　none　of　its　business。〃
　　〃Such　as？〃
　　〃Personal　matters。　Children；　working　wives；　etc。　She　seemed　a　bit　irritated；　but　I　think　it　was　more　of　an　observation。　She　told　Mitch　Saturday　morning　that　she　would　be　damned　if　any　bunch　of　lawyers　would　tell　her　when　to　work　and　when　to　have　babies。　But　I　don't　think　it's　a　problem。〃
　　〃Does　he　realize　how　permanent　this　place　is？〃
　　〃I　think　so。　There　was　no　mention　of　putting　in　a　few　years　and　moving　on。　I　think　he　got　the　message。　He　wants　to　be　a　partner；　like　all　of　them。　He's　broke　and　wants　the　money。〃
　　〃What　about　the　dinner　at　my　place？〃
　　〃They　were　nervous；　but　had　a　good　time。　Very　impressed　with　your　place。　Really　liked　your　wife。〃
　　〃Sex？〃
　　〃Every　night。　Sounded　like　a　honeymoon　in　there。〃
　　〃What'd　they　do？〃
　　〃We　couldn't　see；　remember。　Sounded　normal。　Nothing　kinky。　I　thought　of　you　and　how　much　you　like　pictures；　and　I　kept　telling　myself　we　should've　rigged　up　some　cameras　for　old　Ollie。〃
　　〃Shut　up；　DeVasher。〃
　　〃Maybe　next　time。〃
　　They　were　silent　as　DeVasher　looked　at　a　notepad。　He　stubbed　his　cigar　in　the　ashtray　and　smiled　to　himself。
　　〃All　in　all；〃　he　said；　〃it's　a　strong　marriage。　They　seemed　to　be　very　intimate。　Your　driver　said　they　held　hands　all　weekend。　Not　a　cross　word　for　three　days。　That's　pretty　good；　ain't　it？　But　who　am　I？　I've　been　married　three　times　myself。〃
　　〃That's　understandable。　What　about　children？〃
　　〃Couple　of　years。　She　wants　to　work　some；　then　get　pregnant。〃
　　〃What's　your　opinion　of　this　guy？〃
　　〃Very　good；　very　decent　young　man。　Also　very　ambitious。　I　think　he's　driven　and　he　won't　quit　until　he's　at　the　top。　He'll　take　some　chances；　bend　some　rules　if　necessary。〃
　　Ollie　smiled。　〃That's　what　I　wanted　to　hear。〃
　　〃Two　phone　calls。　Both　to　her　mother　in　Kentucky。　Nothing　remarkable。〃
　　〃What　about　his　family？〃
　　〃Never　mentioned。〃
　　〃No　word　on　Ray？〃
　　〃We're　still　looking；　Ollie。　Give　us　some　time。〃
　　DeVasher　closed　the　McDeere　file　and　opened　another；　much　thicker　one。　Lambert　rubbed　his　temples　and　stared　at　the　floor。　〃What's　the　latest？〃　he　asked　softly。
　　〃It's　not　good；　Ollie。　I'm　convinced　Hodge　and　Kozinski　are　working　together　now。　Last　week　the　FBI　got　a　warrant　and　checked　Kozinski's　house。　Found　our　wiretaps。　They　told　him　his　house　was　bugged；　but　of　course　they　don't　know　who　did　it。　Kozinski　tells　Hodge　last　Friday　while　they're　hiding　in　the　third…floor　library。　We　got　a　bug　nearby；　and　we　pick　up　bits　and　pieces。　Not　much；　but　we　know　they　talked　about　the　wiretaps。　They're　convinced　everything　is　bugged；　and　they　suspect　us。　They're　very　careful　where　they　talk。〃
　　〃Why　would　the　FBI　bother　with　a　search　warrant？〃
　　〃Good　question。　Probably　for　our　benefit。　To　make　things　look　real　legal　and　proper。　They　respect　us。〃
　　〃Which　agent？〃
　　〃Tarrance。　He's　in　charge；　evidently。〃
　　〃Is　he　good？〃
　　〃He's　okay。　Young；　green；　overzealous；　but　petent！　He's　no　match　for　our　men。〃
　　〃How　often　has　he　talked　to　Kozinski？〃
　　〃There's　no　way　to　know。　They　figure　we're　listening；　so　everybody's　real　careful。　We　know　of　four　meetings　in　the　last　month；　but　I　suspect　more。〃
　　〃How　much　has　he　spilled？〃
　　〃Not　much；　I　hope。　They're　still　shadowboxing。　The　last　conversation　we　got　was　a　week　ago　and　he　didn't　say　much。　He's　bad　scared。　They're　coaxing　a　lot；　but　not　getting　much。　He　hasn't　yet　made　the　decision　to　cooperate。　They　approached　him；　remember。　At　least　we　think　they　approached　him。　They　shook　him　up　pretty　bad　and　he　was　ready　to　cut　a　deal。　Now　he's　having　second　thoughts。　But　he's　still　in　contact　with　them；　and　that's　what　worries　me。〃
　　〃Does　his　wife　know？〃
　　〃I　don't　think　so。　She　knows　he's　acting　strange；　and　he　tells　her　it's　office　pressure。〃
　　〃What　about　Hodge？〃
　　〃Still　ain't　talked　to　the　Fibbies；　as　far　as　we　know。　He　and　Kozinski　talk　a　lot；　or　whisper；　I　should　say。　Hodge　keeps　saying　he's　scared　to　death　of　the　FBI；　that　they　don't　play　fair　and　they　cheat　and　play　dirty。　He　won't　move　without　Kozinski。〃
　　〃What　if　Kozinski　is　eliminated？〃
　　〃Hodge　will　be　a　new　man。　But　I　don't　think　we've　reached　that　point。　Dammit；　Ollie；　he　ain't　some　hotshot　thug　who　gets　in　the　way。　He's　a　very　nice　young　man；　with　kids　and　all　that。〃
　　〃Your　passion　is　overwhelming。　I　guess　you　think　I　enjoy　this。　Hell；　I　practically　raised　these　boys。〃
　　〃Well；　get　them　back　in　line；　then；　before　this　thing　goes　too　far。　New　York's　getting　suspicious；　Ollie。　They're　asking　a　lot　of　questions。〃
　　〃Who？〃
　　〃Lazarov。〃
　　〃What　have　you　told　them；　DeVasher？〃
　　〃Everything。　That's　my　job。　They　want　you　in　New　York　day　after　tomorrow；　for　a　full　briefing。〃
　　〃What　do　they　want？〃
　　〃Answers。　And　plans。〃
　　〃Plans　for　what？〃
　　〃Preliminary　plans　to　eliminate　Kozinski；　Hodge　and　Tarrance；　should　it　bee　necessary。〃
　　〃Tarrance！　Are　you　crazy；　DeVasher？　We　can't　eliminate　a　cop。　They'll　send　in　the　troops。〃
　　〃Lazarov　is　stupid；　Ollie。　You　know　that。　He's　an　idiot；　but　I　don't　think　we　should　tell　him。〃
　　〃I　think　I　will。　I　think　I'll　go　to　New　York　and　tell　Lazarov　he's　a　plete　fool。〃
　　〃You　do　that；　Ollie。　You　do　that。〃
　　Oliver　Lambert　jumped　from　his　seat　and　headed　for　the　door。　〃Watch　McDeere　for　another　month。〃
　　〃Sure；　Ollie。　You　betcha。　He'll　sign。　Don't　worry。〃
　　The　Mazda　was　sold　for　two　hundred　dollars；　and　most　of　the　money　was　immediately　invested　in　a　twelve…foot　U…Haul　rental　truck。　He　would　be　reimbursed　in　Memphis。　Half　of　the　odd　assortment　of　furniture　was　given　or　thrown　away；　and　when　loaded　the　truck　held　a　refrigerator；　a　bed；　a　dresser　and　chest　of　drawers；　a　small　color　television；　boxes　of　dishes；　clothes　and　junk　and　an　old　sofa　which　was　taken　out　of　sentiment　and　would　not　last　long　in　the　new　location。
　　Abby　held　Hearsay；　the　mutt；　as　Mitch　worked　his　way　through　Boston　and　headed　south；　far　south　toward　the　promise　of　better　things。　For　three　days　they　drove　the　back　roads；　enjoyed　the　countryside；　sang　along　with　the　radio；　slept　in　cheap　motels　and　talked　of　the　house；　the　BMW；　new　furniture；　children；　affluence。　They　rolled　down　the　windows　and　let　the　wind　blow　as　the　truck　approached　top　speeds　of　almost　forty…five　miles　per　hour。　At　one　point；　somewhere　in　Pennsylvania；　Abby　mentioned　that　perhaps　they　could　stop　in　Kentucky　for　a　brief　visit。　Mitch　said　nothing；　but　chose　a　route　through　the　Carolinas　and　Georgia；　never　venturing　within　two　hundred　miles　of　any　point　on　the　Kentucky　border。　Abby　let　it　pass。
　　They　arrived　in　Memphis　on　a　Thursday　morning；　and；　as　promised；　the　black　318i　sat　under　the　carport　as　though　it　belonged　there。　He　stared　at　the　car。　She　stared　at　the　house。　The　lawn　was　thick；　green　and　neatly　trimmed。　The　hedges　had　been　manicured。　The　marigolds　were　in　bloom。
　　The　keys　were　found　under　a　bucket　in　the　utility　room；　as　promised。
　　After　the　first　test　drive；　they　quickly　unloaded　the　truck　before　the　neighbors　could　inspect　the　sparse　belongings。　The　U…Haul　was　returned　to　the　nearest　dealer。　Another　test　drive。
　　An　interior　designer；　the　same　one　who　would　do　his　office；　arrived　after　noon　and　brought　with　her　samples　of　carpet；　paint；　floor　coverings；　curtains；　drapes；　wallpaper。　Abby　found　the　idea　of　a　designer　a　bit　hilarious　after　their　apartment　in　Cambridge；　but　played　along。　Mitch　was　immediately　bored；　and　excused　himself　for　another　test　drive。　He　toured　the　tree…lined；　quiet；　shady　streets　of　this　handsome　neighborhood　of　which　he　was　now　a　member。　He　smiled　as　boys　on　bicycles　stopped　and　whistled　at　his　new　car。　He　waved　at　the　postman　walking　down　the　sidewalk　sweating　profusely。　Here　he　was；　Mitchell　Y。　McDeere；　twenty…five　years　old　and　one　week　out　of　law　school；　and　he　had　arrived。
　　At　three；　they　followed　the　designer　to　an　upscale　furniture　store　where　the　manager　politely　informed　them　that　Mr。　Oliver　Lambert　had　already　made　arrangements　for　their　credit；　if　they　so　chose；　and　there　was　in　fact　no　limit　on　what　they　could　buy　and　finance。　They　bought　a　houseful。　Mitch　frowned　from　time　to　time；　and　twice　vetoed　items　as　too　expensive；　but　Abby　ruled　the　day。　The　designer　plimented　her　time　and　again　on　her　marvelous　taste；　and　said　she　would　see　Mitch　on　Monday；　to　do　his　office。　Marvelous；　he　said。
　　With　a　map　o