jg.thefirm-第28节

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　　Osgood　smiled　and　said；　〃It　all　appears　to　be　in　order。　We'll　get　the　records。　What　else　do　you　need？〃
　　〃I　need　to　establish　three　corporations。　Two　for　Sonny　Capps　and　one　for　Greene　Group。　We'll　follow　the　usual　procedure。　The　bank　will　serve　as　registered　agent；　etc。〃
　　〃I'll　procure　the　necessary　documents；〃　Osgood　said；　and　looked　at　a　clerk。　〃What　else？〃
　　〃That's　all　for　now。〃
　　〃Very　well。　We　should　have　these　records　within　thirty　minutes。　Will　you　be　joining　me　for　lunch？〃
　　〃I'm　sorry；　Randolph。　I　must　decline。　Mitch　and　I　have　a　prior　mitment。　Maybe　tomorrow。〃
　　Mitch　knew　nothing　of　a　prior　mitment；　at　least　none　he　was　involved　in。
　　〃Perhaps；〃　replied　Osgood。　He　left　the　room　with　the　clerks。
　　Avery　closed　the　door　and　removed　his　jacket。　He　walked　to　the　window　and　sipped　coffee。　〃Look；　Mitch。　I'm　sorry　about　last　night。　Very　sorry。　I　got　drunk　and　quit　thinking。　I　was　wrong　to　push　that　woman　on　you。〃
　　〃Apology　accepted。　Don't　let　it　happen　again。〃
　　〃It　won't。　I　promise。〃
　　〃Was　she　good？〃
　　I　think　so。　I　don't　remember　too　much。　What　did　you　do　with　her　sister？〃
　　〃She　told　me　to　get　lost。　I　hit　the　beach　and　took　a　walk。〃
　　Avery　bit　into　a　pastry　and　wiped　his　mouth。　〃You　know　I'm　separated。　We'll　probably　get　a　divorce　in　a　year　or　so。　I'm　very　discreet　because　the　divorce　could　get　nasty。　There's　an　unwritten　rule　in　…what　we　do　away　from　Memphis　stays　away　from　Memphis。　Understand？〃
　　〃e　on；　Avery。　You　know　I　wouldn't　tell。〃
　　〃I　know。　I　know。〃
　　Mitch　was　glad　to　hear　of　the　unwritten　rule；　although　he　awakened　with　the　security　that　he　had　mitted　the　perfect　crime。　He　had　thought　of　her　in　bed；　the　shower；　the　taxi；　and　now　he　had　trouble　concentrating　on　anything。　He　had　caught　himself　looking　at　jewelry　stores　when　they　reached　Georgetown。
　　〃I've　got　a　question；〃　Mitch　said。
　　Avery　nodded　and　ate　the　pastry。
　　〃When　I　was　recruited　a　few　months　ago　by　Oliver　Lambert　and　McKnight　and　the　gang；　it　was　impressed　upon　me　repeatedly　that　　frowned　on　divorce；　women；　booze；　drugs；　everything　but　hard　work　and　money。　That's　why　I　took　the　job。　I've　seen　the　hard　work　and　money；　but　now　I'm　seeing　other　things。　Where　did　you　go　wrong？　Or　do　all　the　guys　do　it？〃
　　〃I　don't　like　your　question。〃
　　〃I　knew　you　wouldn't。　But　I'd　like　an　answer。　I　deserve　an　answer。　I　feel　like　I　was　misled。〃
　　〃So　what　are　you　going　to　do？　Leave　because　I　got　drunk　and　laid　up　with　a　whore？〃
　　〃I　haven't　thought　about　leaving。〃
　　〃Good。　Don't。〃
　　〃But　I'm　entitled　to　an　answer。〃
　　〃Okay。　Fair　enough。　I'm　the　biggest　rogue　in；　and　they'll　e　down　hard　when　I　mention　the　divorce。　I　chase　women　now　and　then；　but　no　one　knows　it。　Or　at　least　they　can't　catch　me。　I'm　sure　it's　done　by　other　partners；　but　you'd　never　catch　them。　Not　all　of　them；　but　a　few。　Most　have　very　stable　marriages　and　are　forever　faithful　to　their　wives。　I've　always　been　the　bad　boy；　but　they've　tolerated　me　because　I'm　so　talented。　They　know　I　drink　during　lunch　and　sometimes　in　the　office；　and　they　know　I　violate　some　more　of　their　sacred　rules；　but　they　made　me　a　partner　because　they　need　me。　And　now　that　I'm　a　partner；　they　can't　do　much　about　it。　I'm　not　that　bad　of　a　guy；　Mitch。〃
　　〃I　didn't　say　you　were。〃
　　〃I'm　not　perfect。　Some　of　them　are；　believe　me。　They're　machines；　robots。　They　live；　eat　and　sleep　for　Bendini；　Lambert　&　Locke。　I　like　to　have　a　little　fun。〃
　　〃So　you're　the　exception…〃
　　〃Rather　than　the　rule；　yes。　And　I　don't　apologize　for　it。〃
　　〃I　didn't　ask　you　for　an　apology。　Just　a　clarification。〃
　　〃Clear　enough？〃
　　〃Yes。　I've　always　admired　your　bluntness。〃
　　〃And　I　admire　your　discipline。　It's　a　strong　man　who　can　remain　faithful　to　his　wife　with　the　temptations　you　had　last　night。　I'm　not　that　strong。　Don't　want　to　be。〃
　　Temptations。　He　had　thought　of　inspecting　the　downtown　jewelry　shops　during　lunch。
　　〃Look；　Avery；　I'm　not　a　Holy　Roller；　and　I'm　not　shocked。　I'm　not　one　to　judge…I've　been　judged　all　my　life。　I　was　just　confused　about　the　rules；　that's　all。〃
　　〃The　rules　never　change。　They're　cast　in　concrete。　Carved　in　granite。　Etched　in　stone。　Violate　too　many　and　you're　out。　Or　violate　as　many　as　you　want；　but　just　don't　get　caught。〃
　　〃Fair　enough。〃
　　Osgood　and　a　group　of　clerks　entered　the　room　with　puter　printouts　and　stacks　of　documents。　They　made　neat　piles　on　the　table　and　alphabetized　it　all。
　　〃This　should　keep　you　busy　for　a　day　or　so；〃　Osgood　said　with　a　forced　smile。　He　snapped　his　fingers　and　the　clerks　disappeared。　〃I'll　be　in　my　office　if　you　need　something。〃
　　〃Yes；　thanks；〃　Avery　said　as　he　hovered　over　the　first　set　of　documents。　Mitch　removed　his　coat　and　loosened　his　tie。
　　〃Exactly　what　are　we　doing　here？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Two　things。　First；　we'll　review　the　entries　into　all　of　these　accounts。　We're　looking　primarily　for　interest　earned；　what　rate；　how　much；　etc。　We'll　do　a　rough　audit　of　each　account　to　make　sure　the　interest　is　going　where　it　is　supposed　to　go。　For　example；　Dolph　Hemmba　sends　his　interest　to　nine　different　banks　in　the　Bahamas。　It's　stupid；　but　it　makes　him　happy。　It's　also　impossible　for　anyone　to　follow；　except　me。　He　has　about　twelve　million　in　this　bank；　so　it's　worth　keeping　up　with。　He　could　do　this　himself；　but　he　feels　better　if　I　do　it。　At　two…fifty　an　hour；　I　don't　mind。　We'll　check　the　interest　this　bank　is　paying　on　each　account。　The　rate　varies　depending　on　a　number　of　factors。　It's　discretionary　with　the　bank；　and　this　is　a　good　way　to　keep　them　honest。〃
　　〃I　thought　they　were　honest。〃
　　〃They　are；　but　they're　bankers；　remember。〃
　　〃You're　looking　at　close　to　thirty　accounts　here；　and　when　we　leave　we'll　know　the　exact　balance；　the　interest　earned　and　where　the　interest　is　going。　Second；　we　have　to　incorporate　three　panies　under　Caymanian　jurisdiction。　It's　fairly　easy　legal　work　and　could　be　done　in　Memphis。　But　the　clients　think　we　must　e　here　to　do　it。　Remember；　we're　dealing　with　people　who　invest　millions。　A　few　thousand　in　legal　fees　doesn't　bother　them。〃
　　Mitch　flipped　through　a　printout　in　the　Hemmba　stack。　〃Who's　this　guy　Hemmba？　I　haven't　heard　of　him。〃
　　〃I've　got　a　lot　of　clients　you　haven't　heard　of。　Hemmba　is　a　big　farmer　in　Arkansas；　one　of　the　state's　largest　landowners。〃
　　〃Twelve　million　dollars？〃
　　〃That's　just　in　this　bank！〃
　　〃That's　a　lot　of　cotton　and　soybeans。〃
　　〃Let's　just　say　he　has　other　ventures。〃
　　〃Such　as？〃
　　〃I　really　can't　say。〃
　　〃Legal　or　illegal？〃
　　〃Let's　just　say　he's　hiding　twenty　million　plus　interest　in　various　Caribbean　banks　from　the　IRS。〃
　　〃Are　we　helping　him？〃
　　Avery　spread　the　documents　on　one　end　of　the　table　and　began　checking　entries。　Mitch　watched　and　waited　for　an　answer。　The　silence　grew　heavier　and　it　was　obvious　there　would　not　be　one。　He　could　press；　but　he　had　asked　enough　questions　for　one　day。　He　rolled　up　his　sleeves　and　went　to　work。
　　At　noon　he　learned　about　Avery's　prior　mitment。　His　woman　was　waiting　at　the　condo　for　a　little　rendezvous。　He　suggested　they　break　for　a　couple　of　hours　and　mentioned　a　caf6　downtown　Mitch　could　try。
　　Instead　of　a　cafe；　Mitch　found　the　Georgetown　Library　four　blocks　from　the　bank。　On　the　second　floor　he　was　directed　to　the　periodicals；　where　he　found　a　shelf　full　of　old　editions　of　The　Daily　Caymanian。　He　dug　back　six　months　and　pulled　the　one　dated　June　27。　He　laid　it　on　a　small　table　by　a　window　overlooking　the　street。　He　glanced　out　the　window；　then　looked　closer。　There　was　a　man　he　had　seen　only　moments　earlier　on　the　street　by　the　bank。　He　was　behind　the　wheel　of　a　battered　yellow　Chevette　parked　in　a　narrow　drive　across　from　the　library。　He　was　a　stocky；　darkhaired；　foreign…looking　type　with　a　gaudy　green…and…orange　shirt　and　cheap　touristy　sunglasses。
　　The　same　Chevette　with　the　same　driver　had　been　parked　in　front　of　the　gift　shop　next　to　the　bank；　and　now；　moments　later；　it　was　parked　four　blocks　away。　A　native　on　a　bicycle　stopped　next　to　him　and　took　a　cigarette。　The　man　in　the　car　pointed　at　the　library。　The　native　left　his　bicycle　and　walked　quickly　across　the　street。
　　Mitch　folded　the　newspaper　and　stuck　it　in　his　coat。　He　walked　past　the　rows　of　shelves；　found　a　National　Geographic　and　sat　down　at　a　table。　He　studied　the　magazine　and　listened　carefully　as　the　native　climbed　the　stairs；　noticed　him；　walked　behind　him；　seemed　to　pause　as　if　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　what　he　was　reading；　then　disappeared　down　the　stairs。　Mitch　waited　for　a　moment；　then　returned　to　the　window。　The　native　was　taking　another　cigarette　and　talking　to　the　man　in　the　Chevette。　He　lit　the　cigarette　and　rode　away。
　　Mitch　spread　the　newspaper　on　the　table　and　scanned　the　headline　story　of　the　two　American　lawyers　and　their　dive　guide　who　had　been　killed　in　a　mysterious　accident　the　day　before。　He　made　mental　notes　and　returned　the　paper。
　　The　Chevette　was　still　watching。　He　walked　in　front　of　it；　made　the　block　and　headed　in　the　direction　of　the　bank。　The　shopping　district　was　squeezed　tightly　between　the　bank　buildings　and　Hogsty　Bay。　The　streets　were　narrow　and　crowded　with　tourists　on　foot；　tourists　on　scooters；