jg.thefirm-第48节

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　　〃Promise　me；　Tarrance。　Promise　me　no　one　will　ever　again　approach　me　in　public。〃
　　Tarrance　looked　down　the　aisle　and　nodded。
　　〃No；　Tarrance。　I　need　to　hear　it　from　your　mouth。　Promise　me。〃
　　〃Okay；　okay。　It　won't　happen　again。　I　promise。〃
　　〃Thanks。　Now　maybe　I　can　eat　at　a　restaurant　without　fear　of　being　grabbed。〃
　　〃You've　made　your　point。〃
　　An　old　black　man　with　a　cane　inched　toward　them；　smiled　and　walked　past。　The　rest…room　door　slammed。　The　Greyhound　rode　the　left　lane　and　blew　past　the　lawful　drivers。
　　Tarrance　flipped　through　a　magazine。　Mitch　gazed　into　the　countryside。　The　man　with　the　cane　finished　his　business　and　wobbled　to　his　seat　on　the　front　row。
　　〃So　what　brings　you　here？〃　Tarrance　asked；　flipping　pages。
　　〃I　don't　like　airplanes。　I　always　take　the　bus。〃
　　〃I　see。　Where　would　you　like　to　start？〃
　　〃Voyles　said　you　had　a　game　plan。〃
　　〃I　do。　I　just　need　a　quarterback。〃
　　〃Good　ones　are　very　expensive。〃
　　〃We've　got　the　money。〃
　　〃It'll　cost　a　helluva　lot　more　than　you　think。　The　way　I　figure　it；　I'll　be　throwing　away　a　forty…year　legal　career　at；　say；　an　average　of　half　a　million　a　year。〃
　　〃That's　twenty　million　bucks。〃
　　〃I　know。　But　we　can　negotiate。〃
　　〃That's　good　to　hear。　You're　assuming　that　you'll　work；　or　practice；　as　you　say；　for　forty　years。　That's　a　very　precarious　assumption。　Just　for　fun；　let's　assume　that　within　five　years　we　bust　up　　and　indict　you　along　with　all　of　your　buddies。　And　that　we　obtain　convictions；　and　you　go　off　to　prison　for　a　few　years。　They　won't　keep　you　long　because　you're　a　white…collar　type；　and　of　course　you've　heard　how　nice　the　federal　pens　are。　But　at　any　rate；　you'll　lose　your　license；　your　house；　your　little　BMW。　Probably　your　wife。　When　you　get　out；　you　can　open　up　a　private　investigation　service　like　your　old　friend　Lomax。　It's　easy　work；　unless　you　sniff　the　wrong　underwear。〃
　　〃Like　I　said。　It's　negotiable。〃
　　〃All　right。　Let's　negotiate。　How　much　do　you　want？〃
　　〃For　what？〃
　　Tarrance　closed　the　magazine；　placed　it　under　his　seat　and　opened　a　thick　paperback。　He　pretended　to　read。　Mitch　spoke　from　the　corner　of　his　mouth　with　his　eyes　on　the　median。
　　〃That's　a　very　good　question；〃　Tarrance　said　softly；　just　above　the　distant　grind　of　the　diesel　engine。　〃What　do　we　want　from　you？　Good　question。　First；　you　have　to　give　up　your　career　as　a　lawyer。　You'll　have　to　divulge　secrets　and　records　that　belong　to　your　clients。　That；　of　course；　is　enough　to　get　you　disbarred；　but　that　won't　seem　important。　You　and　I　must　agree　that　you　will　hand　us　　on　a　silver　platter。　Once　we　agree；　if　we　agree；　the　rest　will　fall　in　place。　Second；　and　most　important；　you　will　give　us　enough　documentation　to　indict　every　member　of　　and　most　of　the　top　Morolto　people。　The　records　are　in　the　little　building　there　on　Front　Street。〃
　　〃How　do　you　know　this？〃
　　Tarrance　smiled。　〃Because　we　spend　billions　of　dollars　fighting　organized　crime。　Because　we've　tracked　the　Moroltos　for　twenty　years。　Because　we　have　sources　within　the　family。　Because　Hodge　and　Kozinski　were　talking　when　they　were　murdered。　Don't　sell　us　short；　Mitch。〃
　　〃And　you　think　I　can　get　the　information　out？〃
　　〃Yes；　Counselor。　You　can　build　a　case　from　the　inside　that　will　collapse　　and　break　up　one　of　the　largest　crime　families　in　the　country。　You　gotta　lay　out　　for　us。　Whose　office　is　where？　Names　of　all　secretaries；　clerks；　paralegals。　Who　works　on　what　files？　Who's　got　which　clients？　The　chain　of　mand。　Who's　on　the　fifth　floor？　What's　up　there？　Where　are　the　records　kept？　Is　there　a　central　storage　area？　How　much　is　puterized？　How　much　is　on　microfilm？　And；　most　important；　you　gotta　bring　the　stuff　out　and　hand　it　to　us。　Once　we　have　probable　cause；　we　can　go　in　with　a　small　army　and　get　everything。　But　that's　an　awfully　big　step。　We　gotta　have　a　very　tight　and　solid　case　before　we　go　crashing　in　with　search　warrants。〃
　　〃Is　that　all　you　want？〃
　　〃No。　You'll　have　to　testify　against　all　of　your　buddies　at　their　trials。　Could　take　years。〃
　　Mitch　breathed　deeply　and　closed　his　eyes。　The　bus　slowed　behind　a　caravan　of　mobile　homes　split　in　two。　Dusk　was　approaching；　and；　one　at　a　time；　the　cars　in　the　westbound　lane　brightened　with　headlights。　Testifying　at　trial！
　　This；　he　had　not　thought　of。　With　millions　to　spend　for　the　best　criminal　lawyers；　the　trials　could　drag　on　forever。
　　Tarrance　actually　began　reading　the　paperback；　a　Louis　L'Amour。　He　adjusted　the　reading　light　above　them；　as　if　he　was　indeed　a　real　passenger　on　a　real　journey。　After　thirty　miles　of　no　talk；　no　negotiation；　Mitch　removed　his　sunglasses　and　looked　at　Tarrance。
　　〃What　happens　to　me？〃
　　〃You'll　have　a　lot　of　money；　for　what　that's　worth。　If　you　have　any　sense　of　morality；　you　can　face　yourself　each　day。　You　can　live　anywhere　in　the　country；　with　a　new　identity；　of　course。　We'll　find　you　a　job；　fix　your　nose；　do　anything　you　want；　really。〃
　　Mitch　tried　to　keep　his　eyes　on　the　road；　but　it　was　impossible。　He　glared　at　Tarrance。　〃Morality？　Don't　ever　mention　that　word　to　me　again；　Tarrance。　I'm　an　innocent　victim；　and　you　know　it。〃
　　Tarrance　grunted　with　a　smart…ass　grin。
　　They　rode　in　silence　for　a　few　miles。
　　〃What　about　my　wife？〃
　　〃Yeah；　you　can　keep　her。〃
　　〃Very　funny。〃
　　〃Sorry。　She'll　get　everything　she　wants。　How　much　does　she　know？〃
　　〃Everything。〃　He　thought　of　the　girl　on　the　beach。　〃Well；　almost　everything。〃
　　〃We'll　get　her　a　fat　government　job　with　the　Social　Security　Administration　anywhere　you　want。　It　won't　be　that　bad；　Mitch。〃
　　〃It'll　be　wonderful。　Until　an　unknown　point　in　the　future　when　one　of　your　people　opens　his　or　her　mouth　and　lets　something　slip　to　the　wrong　person；　and　you'll　read　about　me　or　my　wife　in　the　paper。　The　Mob　never　forgets；　Tarrance。　They're　worse　than　elephants。　And　they　keep　secrets　better　than　your　side。　You　guys　have　lost　people；　so　don't　deny　it。〃
　　〃I　won't　deny　it。　And　I'll　admit　to　you　that　they　can　be　ingenious　when　they　decide　to　kill。〃
　　〃Thanks。　So　where　do　I　go？〃
　　〃It's　up　to　you。　Right　now　we　have　about　two　thousand　witnesses　living　all　over　the　country　under　new　names　with　new　homes　and　new　jobs。　The　odds　are　overwhelmingly　in　your　favor。〃
　　〃So　I　play　the　odds？〃
　　〃Yes。　You　either　take　the　money　and　run；　or　you　play　big…shot　lawyer　and　bet　that　we　never　infiltrate。〃
　　〃That's　a　hell　of　a　choice；　Tarrance。〃
　　〃It　is。　I'm　glad　it's　yours。〃
　　The　female　panion　of　the　ancient　black　man　with　the　cane　rose　feebly　from　her　seat　and　began　shuffling　toward　them。　She　grabbed　each　aisle　seat　as　she　progressed。　Tarrance　leaned　toward　Mitch　as　she　passed。　He　would　not　dare　speak　with　this　stranger　in　the　vicinity。　She　was　at　least　ninety；　half　crippled；　probably　illiterate；　and　could　care　less　if　Tarrance　received　his　next　breath　of　air。　But　Tarrance　was　instantly　mute。
　　Fifteen　minutes　later；　the　rest…room　door　opened　and　released　the　sounds　of　the　toilet　gurgling　downward　into　the　pit　of　the　Greyhound。　She　shuffled　to　the　front　and　took。her　seat。
　　〃Who　is　Jack　Aldrich？〃　Mitch　asked。　He　suspected　a　cover…up　with　this　one；　and　he　carefully　watched　the　reaction　from　the　corner　of　his　eye。　Tarrance　looked　up　from　the　book　and　stared　at　the　seat　in　front　of　him。
　　〃Name's　familiar。　I　can't　place　him。〃
　　Mitch　returned　his　gaze　to　the　window。　Tarrance　knew。　He　had　flinched；　and　his　eyes　had　narrowed　too　quickly　before　he　answered。　Mitch　watched　the　westbound　traffic。
　　〃So　who　is　he？〃　Tarrance　finally　asked。
　　〃You　don't　know　him？〃
　　〃If　I　knew　him；　I　wouldn't　ask　who　he　was。〃
　　〃He's　a　member　of　our　firm。　You　should've　known　that；　Tarrance。〃
　　〃The　city's　full　of　lawyers。　I　guess　you　know　them　all。〃
　　〃I　know　the　ones　at　Bendini；　Lambert　&　Locke；　the　quiet　little　firm　you　guys　have　been　studying　for　seven　years。　Al…drich　is　a　six…year　man　who　allegedly　was　approached　by　the　FBI　a　couple　of　months　ago。　True　or　false？〃
　　〃Absolutely　false。　Who　told　you　this？〃
　　〃It　doesn't　matter。　Just　a　rumor　around　the　office。〃
　　〃It's　a　lie。　We've　talked　to　no　one　but　you　since　August。　You　have　my　word。　And　we　have　no　plans　to　talk　to　anyone　else；　unless；　of　course；　you　decline　and　we　must　find　another　prospect。〃
　　〃You've　never　talked　to　Aldrich？〃
　　〃That's　what　I　said。〃
　　Mitch　nodded　and　picked　up　a　magazine。　They　rode　in　silence　for　thirty　minutes。　Tarrance　gave　up　on　his　novel；　and　finally　said；　〃Look；　Mitch；　we'll　be　in　Knoxville　in　an　hour　or　so。　We　need　to　strike　a　deal；　if　we're　going　to。　Director　Voyles　will　have　a　thousand　questions　in　the　morning。〃
　　〃How　much　money？〃
　　〃Half　a　million　bucks。〃
　　Any　lawyer　worth　his　salt　knew　the　first　offer　had　to　be　rejected。　Always。　He　had　seen　Avery's　mouth　drop　open　in　shock　and　his　head　shake　wildly　in　absolute　disgust　and　disbelief　with　first　offers；　regardless　of　how　reasonable。　There　would　be　counteroffers；　and　counter…counteroffers；　and　further　negotiations；　but　always；　the　first　offer　was　rejected。
　　So　by　shaking　his　head　and　smiling　at　the　window　as　if　this　was　what　he　expected；　Mitch　said　no　to　half　a　million。
　　〃Did　I　say　something　funny？〃　Tarra