jg.thefirm-第17节

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…thirty；　almost　dark。　She　called　the　office；　but　no　one　answered。　Maybe　he　was　driving　home。
　　An　hour　before　midnight；　the　phone　rang。　Except　for　it　and　the　light　snoring；　the　second…floor　office　was　without　a　sound。　His　feet　were　on　the　new　desk；　crossed　at　the　ankles　and　numb　from　lack　of　circulation。　The　rest　of　the　body　slouched　fortably　in　the　thick　leather　executive　chair。
　　He　slumped　to　one　side　and　intermittently　exhaled　the　sounds　of　a　deep　sleep。　The　Capps　file　was　strewn　over　the　desk　and　one　formidable…looking　document　was　held　firmly　against　his　stomach。　His　shoes　were　on　the　floor；　next　to　the　desk；　next　to　a　pile　of　documents　from　the　Capps　file。　An　empty　potato…chip　bag　was　between　the　shoes。
　　After　a　dozen　rings　he　moved；　then　jumped　at　the　phone。　It　was　his　wife。
　　〃Why　haven't　you　called？〃　she　asked；　coolly；　yet　with　a　slight　touch　of　concern。
　　〃I'm　sorry。　I　fell　asleep。　What　time　is　it？〃　He　rubbed　his　eyes　and　focused　on　his　watch。
　　〃Eleven。　I　wish　you　would　call。〃
　　〃I　did　call。　No　one　answered。〃
　　〃When？〃
　　〃Between　eight　and　nine。　Where　were　you？〃
　　She　did　not　answer。　She　waited。　〃Are　you　ing　home？〃
　　〃No。　I　need　to　work　all　night。〃
　　〃All　night？　You　can't　work　all　night；　Mitch。〃
　　〃Of　course　I　can　work　all　night。　Happens　all　the　time　around　here。　It's　expected。〃
　　〃I　expected　you　home；　Mitch。　And　the　least　you　could've　done　was　call。　Dinner　is　still　on　the　stove。〃
　　〃I'm　sorry。　I'm　up　to　my　ears　in　deadlines　and　I　lost　track　of　time。　I　apologize。〃
　　There　was　silence　for　a　moment　as　she　considered　the　apology。　〃Will　this　bee　a　habit；　Mitch？〃
　　〃It　might。〃
　　〃I　see。　When　do　you　think　you　might　be　home？〃
　　〃Are　you　scared？〃
　　〃No；　I'm　not　scared。　I'm　going　to　bed。〃
　　〃I'll　e　in　around　seven　for　a　shower。〃
　　〃That's　nice。　If　I'm　asleep；　don't　wake　me。〃
　　She　hung　up。　He　looked　at　the　receiver；　then　put　it　in　place。　On　the　fifth　floor　a　security　agent　chuckled　to　himself。　〃　'Don't　wake　me。'　That's　good；〃　he　said　as　he　pushed　a　button　on　the　puterized　recorder。　He　punched　three　buttons　and　spoke　into　a　small　mike。　〃Hey；　Dutch；　wake　up　down　there。〃
　　Dutch　woke　up　and　leaned　to　the　inter。　〃Yeah；　what　is　it？〃
　　〃This　is　Marcus　upstairs；　I　think　our　boy　plans　to　stay　all　night。〃
　　〃What's　his　problem？〃
　　〃Right　now　it's　his　wife。　He　forgot　to　call　her　and　she　fixed　a　real　nice　supper。〃
　　〃Aw；　that's　too　bad。　We've　heard　that　before；　ain't　we？〃
　　〃Yeah；　every　rookie　does　it　the　first　week。　Anyway；　he　told　her　he　ain't　ing　home　till　in　the　morning。　So　go　back　to　sleep。〃
　　Marcus　pushed　some　more　buttons　and　returned　to　his　magazine。
　　Abby　was　waiting　when　the　sun　peeked　between　the　oak　trees。　She　sipped　coffee　and　held　the　dog　and　listened　to　the　quiet　sounds　of　her　neighborhood　stirring　to　life。　Sleep　had　been　fitful。　A　hot　shower　had　not　eased　the　fatigue。　She　wore　a　white　terry…cloth　bathrobe；　one　of　his；　and　nothing　else。　Her　hair　was　wet　and　pulled　straight　back。
　　A　car　door　slammed　and　the　dog　pointed　inside　the　house。　She　heard　him　unlock　the　kitchen　door；　and　moments　later　the　sliding　door　to　the　patio　opened。　He　laid　his　coat　on　a　bench　near　the　door　and　walked　over　to　her。
　　〃Good　morning；〃　he　said；　then　sat　down　across　the　wicker　table。
　　She　gave　him　a　fake　smile。　〃Good　morning　to　you。〃
　　〃You're　up　early；〃　he　said　in　an　effort　at　friendliness。　It　did　not　work。　She　smiled　again　and　sipped　her　coffee。
　　He　breathed　deeply　and　gazed　across　the　yard。　〃Still　mad　about　last　night；　I　see。〃
　　〃Not　really。　I　don't　carry　a　grudge。〃
　　〃I　said　I　was　sorry；　and　I　meant　it。　I　tried　to　call　once。〃
　　〃You　could've　called　again。〃
　　〃Please　don't　divorce　me；　Abby。　I　swear　it　will　never　happen　again。　Just　don't　leave　me。〃
　　She　managed　a　genuine　grin。　〃You　look　terrible；〃　she　said。
　　〃What's　under　the　robe？〃
　　〃Nothing。〃
　　〃Let's　see。〃
　　〃Why　don't　you　take　a　nap。　You　look　haggard。〃
　　〃Thanks。　But　I've　got　a　nine　o'clock　meeting　with　Avery。　And　a　ten　o'clock　meeting　with　Avery。〃
　　〃Are　they　trying　to　kill　you　the　first　week？〃
　　〃Yes；　but　they　can't　do　it。　I'm　too　much　of　a　man。　Let's　go　take　a　shower。〃
　　〃I've　taken　one。〃
　　〃Naked？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃Tell　me　about　it。　Tell　me　every　detail。〃
　　〃If　you'd　e　home　at　a　decent　hour　you　wouldn't　feel　depraved。〃
　　〃I'm　sure　it'll　happen　again；　dear。　There　will　be　plenty　of　all…nighters。　You　didn't　plain　in　law　school　when　I　studied　around　the　clock。〃
　　〃It　was　different。　I　endured　law　school　because　I　knew　it　would　soon　end。　But　now　you're　a　lawyer　and　you　will　be　for　a　long　time。　Is　this　part　of　it？　Will　you　always　work　a　thousand　hours　a　week？〃
　　〃Abby；　this　is　my　first　week。〃
　　〃That's　what　worries　me。　It　will　only　get　worse。〃
　　〃Sure　it　will。　That's　part　of　it；　Abby。　It's　a　cutthroat　business　where　the　weak　are　eaten　and　the　strong　get　rich。　It's　a　marathon。　He　who　endures　wins　the　gold。〃
　　〃And　dies　at　the　finish　line。〃
　　〃I　don't　believe　this。　We　moved　here　a　week　ago；　and　you're　already　worried　about　my　health。〃
　　She　sipped　the　coffee　and　rubbed　the　dog。　She　was　beautiful。　With　tired　eyes；　no　makeup；　and　wet　hair；　she　was　beautiful。　He　stood；　walked　behind　her　and　kissed　her　on　the　cheek。　〃I　love　you；〃　he　whispered。
　　She　clutched　his　hand　on　her　shoulder。　〃Go　take　a　shower。　I'll　fix　breakfast。〃
　　The　table　was　arranged　to　perfection。　Her　grandmother's　china　was　taken　from　the　cabinet　and　used　for　the　first　time　in　the　new　home。　Candles　were　lit　in　silver　candlesticks。　Grapefruit　juice　was　poured　in　the　crystal　tea　glasses。　Linen　napkins　that　matched　the　tablecloth　were　folded　on　the　plates。　When　he　finished　his　shower　and　changed　into　a　new　Burberry　glen　plaid；　he　walked　to　the　dining　room　and　whistled。
　　〃What's　the　occasion？〃
　　〃It's　a　special　breakfast；　for　a　special　husband。〃
　　He　sat　and　admired　the　china。　The　food　was　warming　in　a　covered　silver　dish。　〃What'd　you　cook？〃　he　asked；　smacking　his　lips。　She　pointed　and　he　removed　the　lid。　He　stared　at　it。
　　〃What's　this？〃　he　asked　without　looking　at　her。
　　〃Veal　piccata。〃
　　〃Veal　what？〃
　　〃Veal　piccata。〃
　　He　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃I　thought　it　was　breakfast　time。
　　〃I　cooked　it　for　dinner　last　night；　and　I　suggest　you　eat　it。〃
　　〃Veal　piccata　for　breakfast？〃
　　She　grinned　firmly　and　shook　her　head　slightly。　He　looked　again　at　the　dish；　and　for　a　second　or　two　analyzed　the　situation。
　　Finally；　he　said；　〃Smells　good。〃
　　　
　　　8
　　SATURDAY　morning。　He　slept　in　and　didn't　get　to　the　office　until　seven。　He　didn't　shave；　wore　jeans；　an　old　button…down；　no　socks　and　Bass　loafers。　Law　school　attire。
　　The　Capps　agreement　had　been　printed　and　reprinted　late　Friday。　He　made　some　further　revisions；　and　Nina　ran　it　again　at　eight　Friday　night。　He　assumed　she　had　little　or　no　social　life；　so　he　didn't　hesitate　to　ask　her　to　work　late。　She　said　she　didn't　mind　overtime；　so　he　asked　her　to　work　Saturday　morning。
　　She　arrived　at　nine；　wearing　a　pair　of　jeans　that　would　fit　a　nose　guard。　He　handed　her　the　agreement；　all　two　hundred　and　six　pages；　with　his　latest　changes；　and　asked　her　to　run　it　for　the　fourth　time。　He　was　to　meet　with　Avery　at　ten。
　　The　office　changed　on　Saturday。　All　of　the　associates　were　there；　as　well　as　most　of　the　partners　and　a　few　of　the　secretaries。　There　were　no　clients；　thus　no　dress　code。　There　was　enough　denim　to　launch　a　cattle　drive。　No　ties。　Some　of　the　preppier　ones　wore　their　finest　starched　Duckheads　with　heavily　starched　button…downs　and　seemed　to　crackle　when　they　walked。
　　But　the　pressure　was　there；　at　least　for　Mitchell　Y。　McDeere；　the　newest　associate。　He　had　canceled　his　bar　review　meetings　on　Thursday；　Friday　and　Saturday；　and　the　fifteen　notebooks　sat　on　the　shelf；　gathering　dust　and　reminding　him　that　he　would　indeed　bee　the　first　member　to　flunk　the　bar　exam。
　　At　ten　the　fourth　revision　was　plete；　and　Nina　ceremoniously　laid　it　on　Mitch's　desk　and　left　for　the　coffee　room。　It　had　grown　to　two　hundred　and　nineteen　pages。　He　had　read　every　word　four　times　and　researched　the　tax　code　provisions　until　they　were　memorized。　He　marched　down　the　hall　to　his　partner's　office　and　laid　it　on　the　desk。　A　secretary　was　packing　a　mammoth　briefcase　while　the　boss　talked　on　the　phone。
　　〃How　many　pages？〃　Avery　asked　when　he　hung　up。
　　〃Over　two　hundred。〃
　　〃This　is　quite　impressive。　How　rough　is　it？〃
　　〃Not　very。　That's　the　fourth　revision　since　yesterday　morning。　It's　almost　perfect。〃
　　〃We'll　see。　I'll　read　it　on　the　plane；　then　Capps　will　read　it　with　a　magnifying　glass。　If　he　finds　one　mistake　he'll　raise　hell　for　an　hour　and　threaten　not　to　pay。　How　many　hours　are　in　this？〃
　　〃Fifty…four　and　a　half；　since　Wednesday。〃
　　〃I　know　I've　pushed；　and　I　apologize。　You've　had　a　tough　first　week。　But　our　clients　sometimes　push　hard；　and　this　won't　be　the　last　time　we　break　our　necks　for　someone　who　pays　us　two　hundred　dollars　an　hour。　It's　part　of　the　business。〃
　　〃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…ye