jg.thefirm-第30节

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　　Abanks　finished　his　beer　and　threw　the　bottle　in　a　wooden　garbage　box。　〃Yes；　it　is。　But　time　takes　away　the　pain。　Why　are　you　so　interested？〃
　　〃The　families　have　a　lot　of　questions。〃
　　〃I　am　sorry　for　them。　I　met　their　wives　last　year。　They　spent　a　week　with　us。　Such　nice　people。〃
　　〃Is　it　possible　they　were　simply　exploring　new　territory　when　it　happened？〃
　　〃Possible；　yes。　But　not　likely。　Our　boats　report　their　movements　from　one　dive　site　to　the　next。　That's　standard　procedure。　No　exceptions。　I　have　fired　a　dive　captain　for　not　clearing　a　site　before　going　to　the　next。　My　son　was　the　best　captain　on　the　island。　He　grew　up　in　these　waters。　He　would　never　fail　to　report　his　movements　at　sea。　It's　that　simple。　The　police　believe　that　is　what　happened；　but　they　have　to　believe　something。　It's　the　only　explanation　they　have。〃
　　〃But　how　do　they　explain　the　condition　of　the　bodies？〃
　　〃They　can't。　It's　simply　another　diving　accident　as　far　as　they're　concerned。〃
　　〃Was　it　an　accident？〃
　　〃I　think　not。〃
　　The　sandals　had　rubbed　blisters　by　now；　and　Mitch　removed　them。　They　turned　and　started　back　to　the　lodge。
　　〃If　it　wasn't　an　accident；　what　was　it？〃
　　Abanks　walked　and　watchea　the　ocean　crawl　along　the　beach。　He　smiled　for　the　first　ume。　〃What　are　the　other　possibilities？〃
　　〃There's　a　rumor　in　Memphis　that　drugs　could　have　been　involved。〃
　　〃Tell　me　about　this　rumor。〃
　　〃We've　heard　that　your　son　was　active　in　a　drug　ring；　that　possibly　he　was　using　the　boat　that　day　to　meet　a　supplier　at　sea；　that　there　was　a　dispute　and　my　friends　got　in　the　way。〃
　　Abanks　smiled　again　and　shook　his　head。　〃Not　Philip。　To　my　knowledge　he　never　used　drugs；　and　I　know　he　didn't　trade　in　them。　He　wasn't　interested　in　money。　Just　women　and　diving。〃
　　〃Not　a　chance？〃
　　〃No；　not　a　chance。　I've　never　heard　this　rumor；　and　I　doubt　if　they　know　more　in　Memphis。　This　is　a　small　island；　and　I　would　have　heard　it　by　now。　It's　pletely　false。〃
　　The　conversation　was　over　and　they　stopped　near　the　bar。　〃I'll　ask　you　a　favor；〃　Abanks　said。　〃Do　not　mention　any　of　this　to　the　families。　I　cannot　prove　what　I　know　to　be　true；　so　it's　best　if　no　one　knows。　Especially　the　families。〃
　　〃I　won't　tell　anyone。　And　I　will　ask　you　not　to　mention　our　conversation。　Someone　might　follow　me　here　and　ask　questions　about　my　visit。　Just　say　we　talked　about　diving。〃
　　〃As　you　wish。〃
　　〃My　wife　and　I　will　be　here　next　spring　for　our　vacation。　I'll　be　sure　to　look　you　up。〃
　　　
　　　14
　　ST。　ANDREW'S　Episcopal　School　was　located　behind　the　church　of　the　same　name　on　a　densely　wooded　and　perfectly　manicured　five…acre　estate　in　the　middle　of　midtown　Memphis。　The　white　and　yellow　brick　was　occasionally　visible　where　the　ivy　had　for　some　reason　turned　and　pursued　another　course。　Symmetrical　rows　of　clipped　boxwoods　lined　the　sidewalks　and　the　small　playground。　It　was　a　one…story　L…shaped　building　sitting　quietly　in　the　shadows　of　a　dozen　ancient　oaks。　Cherished　for　its　exclusivity；　St。　Andrew's　was　the　most　expensive　private　school　in　Memphis　for　grades　kindergarten　through　six。　Affluent　parents　signed　the　waiting　list　shortly　after　birth。
　　Mitch　stopped　the　BMW　in　the　parking　lot　between　the　church　and　the　school。　Abby's　burgundy　Peugeot　was　three　spaces　down；　parked　innocently。　He　was　unexpected。　The　plane　had　landed　an　hour　earlier；　and　he　had　stopped　by　the　house　to　change　into　something　lawyerly。　He　would　see　her；　then　back　to　his　desk　for　a　few　hours　at　one　hundred　and　fifty　per。
　　He　wanted　to　see　her　here；　at　the　school；　unannounced。　A　surprise　attack。　A　countermove。　He　would　say　hello。　He　missed　her。　He　couldn't　wait　to　see　her；　so　he　stopped　by　the　school。　He　would　be　brief；　the　first　touch　and　feel　and　words　after　that　incident　on　the　beach。　Could　she　tell　just　by　looking　at　him？　Maybe　she　could　read　his　eyes。　Would　she　notice　a　slight　strain　in　his　voice？　Not　if　she　was　surprised。　Not　if　she　was　flattered　by　this　visit。
　　He　squeezed　the　steering　wheel　and　stared　at　her　car。　What　an　idiot！　A　stupid　fool！　Why　didn't　he　run？　Just　throw　her　skirt　in　the　sand　and　run　like　hell。　But；　of　course；　he　didn't。　He　said　what　the　hell；　no　one　will　ever　know。　So　now　he　was　supposed　to　shrug　it　off　and　say　what　the　hell；　everybody　does　it。
　　On　the　plane　he　laid　his　plans。　First；　he　would　wait　until　late　this　night　and　tell　her　the　truth。　He　would　not　lie；　had　no　desire　to　live　a　lie。　He　would　admit　it　and　tell　her　exactly　what　happened。　Maybe　she　would　understand。　Why；　almost　any　man…hell；　virtually　every　man　would　have　taken　the　dive。　His　next　move　would　depend　on　her　reaction。　If　she　was　cool　and　showed　a　trace　of　passion；　he　would　tell　her　he　was　sorry；　so　very　sorry；　and　that　it　would　never　happen　again。　If　she　fell　all　to　pieces；　he　would　beg；　literally　beg　for　forgiveness　and　swear　on　the　Bible　that　it　was　a　mistake　and　would　never　happen　again。　He　would　tell　her　how　much　he　loved　her　and　worshipped　her；　and　please　just　give　him　one　more　chance。　And　if　she　started　packing　her　bags；　he　would　probably　at　that　point　realize　he　should　not　have　told　her。
　　Deny。　Deny。　Deny。　His　criminal…law　professor　at　Harvard　had　been　a　radical　named　Moskowitz；　who　had　made　a　name　for　himself　defending　terrorists　and　assassins　and　child　fondlers。　His　theory　of　defense　was　simply：　Deny！　Deny！　Deny！　Never　admit　one　fact　or　one　piece　of　evidence　that　would　indicate　guilt。
　　He　remembered　Moskowitz　as　they　landed　in　Miami；　and　began　working　on　Plan　B；　which　called　for　this　surprise　visit　at　the　school　and　a　late…night　romantic　dinner　at　her　favorite　place。　And　no　mention　of　anything　but　hard　work　in　the
　　Caymans。　He　opened　the　car　door；　thought　of　her　beautiful　smiling；　trusting　face　and　felt　nauseous。　A　thick；　dull　pain　hammered　deep　in　his　stomach。　He　walked　slowly　in　the　late　autumn　breeze　to　the　front　door。
　　The　hallway　was　empty　and　quiet。　To　his　right　was　the　office　of　the　headmaster。　He　waited　for　a　moment　in　the　hall；　waited　to　be　seen；　but　no　one　was　there。　He　walked　quietly　ahead　until；　at　the　third　classroom；　he　heard　the　wonderful　voice　of　his　wife。　She　was　plowing　through　multiplication　tables　when　he　stuck　his　head　in　the　door　and　smiled。　She　froze；　then　giggled。　She　excused　herself；　told　them　to　stay　in　their　seats　and　read　the　next　page。　She　closed　the　door。
　　〃What're　you　doing　here？〃　she　asked　as　he　grabbed　her　and　pinned　her　to　the　wall。　She　glanced　nervously　up　and　down　the　hall。
　　〃I　missed　you；〃　he　said　with　conviction。　He　bear…hugged　her　for　a　good　minute。　He　kissed　her　neck　and　tasted　the　sweetness　of　her　perfume。　And　then　the　girl　returned。　You　piece　of　scum；　why　didn't　you　run？
　　〃When　did　you　get　in？〃　she　asked；　straightening　her　hair　and　glancing　down　the　hall。
　　〃About　an　hour　ago。　You　look　wonderful。〃
　　Her　eyes　were　wet。　Those　wonderfully　honest　eyes。　〃How　was　your　trip？〃
　　〃Okay。　I　missed　you。　It's　no　fun　when　you're　not　around。〃
　　Her　smile　widened　and　she　looked　away。　〃I　missed　you　too。〃
　　They　held　hands　and　walked　toward　the　front　door。　〃I'd　like　a　date　tonight；〃　he　said。
　　〃You're　not　working？〃
　　〃No。　I'm　not　working。　I'm　going　out　with　my　wife　to　her　favorite　restaurant。　We'll　eat　and　drink　expensive　wine　and　stay　out　late；　and　then　get　naked　when　we　get　home。〃
　　〃You　did　miss　me。〃　She　kissed　him　again；　on　the　lips；　then　looked　down　the　hall。　〃But　you　better　get　out　of　here　before　someone　sees　you。〃
　　They　walked　quickly　to　the　front　door　without　being　seen。
　　He　breathed　deeply　in　the　cool　air　and　walked　quickly　to　his　car。　He　did　it。　He　looked　into　those　eyes；　held　her　and　kissed　her　like　always。　She　suspected　nothing。　She　was　touched　and　even　moved。
　　DeVasher　paced　anxiously　behind　his　desk　and　sucked　nervously　on　a　Roi…Tan。　He　sat　in　his　worn　swivel　chair　and　tried　to　concentrate　on　a　memo；　then　he　jumped　to　his　feet　and　paced　again。　He　checked　his　watch。　He　called　his　secretary。　He　called　Oliver　Lambert's　secretary。　He　paced　some　more。
　　Finally；　seventeen　minutes　after　he　was　supposed　to　arrive；　Ollie　was　cleared　through　security　and　walked　into　DeVasher's　office。
　　DeVasher　stood　behind　his　desk　and　glared　at　Ollie。　〃You're　late！〃
　　〃I'm　very　busy；〃　Ollie　answered　as　he　sat　in　a　worn　Naugahyde　chair。　〃What's　so　important？〃
　　DeVasher's　face　instantly　changed　into　a　sly；　evil　smile。　He　dramatically　opened　a　desk　drawer　and　proudly　threw　a　large　manila　envelope　across　the　desk　into　Ollie's　lap。　〃Some　of　the　best　work　we've　ever　done。〃
　　Lambert　opened　the　envelope　and　gaped　at　the　eight…by…ten　black…and…white　photographs。　He　stared　at　each　one；　holding　them　inches　from　his　nose；　memorizing　each　detail。　DeVasher　watched　proudly。
　　Lambert　reviewed　them　again　and　began　breathing　heavily。　〃These　are　incredible。〃
　　〃Yep。　We　though　so。〃
　　〃Who's　the　girl？〃　Ollie　asked；　still　staring。
　　〃A　local　prostitute。　Looks　pretty　good；　doesn't　she？　We've　never　used　her　before；　but　you　can　bet　we'll　use　her　again。〃
　　〃I　want　to　meet　her；　and　soon。〃
　　〃No　problem。　I　kinda　figured　you　would。〃
　　〃This　is　incredible。　How'd　she　do　it？〃
　　〃It　looked　difficult　at　first。　He　told　the　first　girl　to　get　lost。　Avery　had　the　o