jg.thefirm-第49节

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　　〃Did　I　say　something　funny？〃　Tarrance；　the　nonlawyer；　the　nonnegotiator；　asked。
　　〃That's　ridiculous；　Tarrance。　You　can't　expect　me　to　walk　away　from　a　gold　mine　for　half　a　million　bucks。　After　taxes；　I　net　three　hundred　thousand　at　best。〃
　　〃And　if　we　close　the　gold　mine　and　send　all　you　Gucci…footed　hotshots　to　jail？〃
　　〃If。　If。　If。　If　you　knew　so　much；　why　haven't　you　done　something？　Voyles　said　you　boys　have　been　watching　and　waiting　for　seven　years。　That's　real　good；　Tarrance。　Do　you　always　move　so　fast？〃
　　〃Do　you　wanna　take　that　chance；　McDeere？　Let's　say　it　takes　us　another　five　years；　okay？　After　five　years　we　bust　the　joint　and　send　your　ass　to　jail。　At　that　point　it　won't　make　any　difference　how　long　it　took　us；　will　it？　The　result　will　be　the　same；　Mitch。〃
　　〃I'm　sorry。　I　thought　we　were　negotiating；　not　threatening。〃
　　〃I've　made　you　an　offer。〃
　　〃Your　offer　is　too　low。　You　expect　me　to　make　a　case　that　will　hand　you　hundreds　of　indictments　against　a　group　of　the　sleaziest　criminals　in　America；　a　case　that　could　easily　cost　me　my　life。　And　you　offer　a　pittance。　Three　million；　at　least。〃
　　Tarrance　did　not　flinch　or　frown。　He　received　the　counteroffer　with　a　good；　straight　poker　face；　and　Mitch；　the　negotiator；　knew　it　was　not　out　of　the　ballpark。
　　〃That's　a　lot　of　money；〃　Tarrance　said；　almost　to　himself。　〃I　don't　think　we've　ever　paid　that　much。〃
　　〃But　you　can；　can't　you？〃
　　〃I　doubt　it。　I'll　have　to　talk　to　the　Director。〃
　　〃The　Director！　I　thought　you　had　plete　authority　on　this　case。　Are　we　gonna　run　back　and　forth　to　the　Director　until　we　have　a　deal？〃
　　〃What　else　do　you　want？〃
　　〃I've　got　a　few　things　in　mind；　but　we　won't　discuss　them　until　the　money　gets　right。〃
　　The　old　man　with　the　cane　apparently　had　weak　kidneys。　He　stood　again　and　began　the　awkward　wobble　to　the　rear　of　the　bus。　Tarrance　again　started　his　book。　Mitch　flipped　through　an　old　copy　of　Field　&　Stream。
　　The　Greyhound　left　the　interstate　in　Knoxville　two　minutes　before　eight。　Tarrance　leaned　closer　and　whispered；　〃Take　the　front　door　out　of　the　terminal。　You'll　see　a　young　man　wearing　an　orange　University　of　Tennessee　sweat　suit　standing　beside　a　white　Bronco。　He'll　recognize　you　and　call　you　Jeffrey。　Shake　hands　like　lost　friends　and　get　in　the　Bronco。　He'll　take　you　to　your　car。〃
　　〃Where　is　it？〃　Mitch　whispered。
　　〃Behind　a　dorm　on　campus。〃
　　〃Have　they　checked　it　for　bugs？〃
　　〃I　think　so。　Ask　the　man　in　the　Bronco。　If　they　were　tracking　you　when　you　left　Memphis；　they　might　be　suspicious　by　now。　You　should　drive　to　Cookeville。　It's　about　a　hundred　miles　this　side　of　Nashville。　There's　a　Holiday　Inn　there。　Spend　the　night　and　go　see　your　brother　tomorrow。　We'll　be　watching　also；　and　if　things　look　fishy；　I'll　find　you　Monday　morning。〃
　　〃When's　the　next　bus　ride？〃
　　〃Your　wife's　birthday　is　Tuesday。　Make　reservations　for　eight　at　Grisanti's；　that　Italian　place　on　Airways。　At　precisely　nine；　go　to　the　cigarette　machine　in　the　bar；　insert　six　quarters　and　buy　a　pack　of　anything。　In　the　tray　where　the　cigarettes　are　released；　you　will　find　a　cassette　tape。　Buy　yourself　one　of　those　small　tape　players　that　joggers　wear　with　earphones　and　listen　to　the　tape　in　your　car；　not　at　home；　and　sure　as　hell　not　at　the　office。　Use　the　earphones。　Let　your　wife　listen　to　it。　I'll　be　on　the　cassette；　and　I'll　give　you　our　top　dollar。　I'll　also　explain　a　few　things。　After　you've　listened　to　it　a　few　times；　dispose　of　it。〃
　　〃This　is　rather　elaborate；　isn't　it？〃
　　〃Yes；　but　we　don't　need　to　speak　to　each　other　for　a　couple　of　weeks。　They're　watching　and　listening；　Mitch。　And　they're　very　good。　Don't　forget　that。〃
　　〃Don't　worry。〃
　　〃What　was　your　football　jersey　number　in　high　school？〃
　　〃Fourteen。〃
　　〃And　college？〃
　　〃Fourteen。〃
　　〃Okay。　Your　code　number　is　1…4…1…4。　Thursday　night；　from　a　touch…tone　pay　phone；　call　757…6000。　You'll　get　a　voice　that　will　lead　you　through　a　little　routine　involving　your　code　number。　Once　you're　cleared；　you　will　hear　my　recorded　voice；　and　I　will　ask　you　a　series　of　questions。　We'll　go　from　there。〃
　　〃Why　can't　I　just　practice　law？〃
　　The　bus　pulled　into　the　terminal　and　stopped。　〃I'm　going　on　to　Atlanta；〃　Tarrance　said。　〃I　will　not　see　you　for　a　couple　of　weeks。　If　there's　an　emergency；　call　one　of　the　two　numbers　I　gave　you　before。〃
　　Mitch　stood　in　the　aisle　and　looked　down　at　the　agent。　〃Three　million；　Tarrance。　Not　a　penny　less。　If　you　guys　can　spend　billions　fighting　organized　crime；　surely　you　can　find　three　million　for　me。　And；　Tarrance；　I　have　a　third　option。　I　can　disappear　in　the　middle　of　the　night；　vanish　into　the　air。　If　that　happens；　you　and　the　Moroltos　can　fight　each　other　till　hell　freezes　over；　and　I'll　be　playing　dominoes　in　the　Caribbean。〃
　　〃Sure；　Mitch。　You　might　play　a　game　or　two；　but　they'd　find　you　within　a　week。　And　we　wouldn't　be　there　to　protect　you。　So　long；　buddy。〃
　　Mitch　jumped　from　the　bus　and　darted　through　the　terminal。
　　　
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　　AT　eight…thirty　A。M。　on　Tuesday；　Nina　formed　neat　piles　out　of　the　rubble　and　debris　on　his　desk。　She　enjoyed　this　early…morning　ritual　of　straightening　the　desk　and　planning　his　day。　The　appointment　book　lay　unobstructed　on　a　corner　of　his　desk。　She　read　from　it。　〃You　have　a　very　busy　day　today；　Mr。　McDeere。〃
　　Mitch　flipped　through　a　file　and　tried　to　ignore　her。　〃Every　day　is　busy。〃
　　〃You　have　a　meeting　at　ten　o'clock　in　Mr。　Mahan's　office　on　the　Delta　Shipping　appeal。〃
　　〃I　can't　wait；〃　Mitch　mumbled。
　　〃You　have　a　meeting　at　eleven…thirty　in　Mr。　Tolar's　office　on　the　Greenbriar　dissolution；　and　his　secretary　informed　me　it　would　last　at　least　two　hours。〃
　　〃Why　two　hours？〃
　　〃I'm　not　paid　to　ask　those　questions；　Mr。　McDeere。　If　I　do　I　might　get　fired。　At　three…thirty；　Victor　Milligan　wants　to　meet　with　you。〃
　　〃About　what？〃
　　〃Again；　Mr。　McDeere；　I'm　not　supposed　to　ask　questions。　And　you're　due　in　Frank　Mulholland's　office　downtown　in　fifteen　minutes。〃
　　〃Yes；　I　know。　Where　is　it？〃
　　〃The　Cotton　Exchange　Building。　Four　or　five　blocks　up　Front　at　Union。　You've　walked　by　it　a　hundred　times。〃
　　〃Fine。　What　else？〃
　　〃Shall　I　bring　you　something　back　from　lunch？〃
　　〃No；　I'll　grab　a　sandwich　downtown。〃
　　〃Wonderful。　Do　you　have　everything　for　Mulholland？〃
　　He　pointed　to　the　heavy　black　briefcase　and　said　nothing。　She　left；　and　seconds　later　Mitch　walked　down　the　hall；　down　the　stairs　and　out　the　front　door。　He　paused　for　a　second　under　a　streetlight；　then　turned　and　walked　quickly　toward　downtown。　The　black　briefcase　was　in　his　right　hand；　the　burgundy　eel…skin　attache　was　in　his　left。　The　signal。
　　In　front　of　a　green　building　with　boarded　windows；　he　stopped　next　to　a　fire　hydrant。　He　waited　a　second；　then　crossed　Front　Street。　Another　signal。
　　On　the　ninth　floor　of　the　Cotton　Exchange　Building；　Tammy　Greenwood　of　Greenwood　Services　backed　away　from　the　window　and　put　on　her　coat。　She　locked　the　door　behind　her　and　pushed　the　elevator　button。　She　waited。　She　was　about　to　encounter　a　man　who　could　easily　get　her　killed。
　　Mitch　entered　the　lobby　and　went　straight　to　the　elevators。　He　noticed　no　one　in　particular。　A　half　dozen　businessmen　were　in　the　process　of　talking　as　they　came　and　went。　A　woman　was　whispering　into　a　pay　phone。　A　security　guard　loitered　near　the　Union　Avenue　entrance。　He　pushed　the　elevator　button　and　waited；　alone。　As　the　door　opened；　a　young　clean…cut　Merrill　Lynch　type　in　a　black　suit　and　sparkling　wing　tips　stepped　into　the　elevator。　Mitch　had　hoped　for　a　solitary　ride　upward。
　　Mulholland's　office　was　on　the　seventh　floor。　Mitch　pushed　the　seven　button　and　ignored　the　kid　in　the　black　suit。　As　the　elevator　moved；　both　men　dutifully　stared　at　the　blinking　numbers　above　the　door。　Mitch　eased　to　the　rear　of　the　small　elevator　and　set　the　heavy　briefcase　on　the　floor；　next　to　his　right　foot。　The　door　opened　on　the　fourth　floor；　and　Tammy　walked　nervously　in。　The　kid　glanced　at　her。　Her　attire　was　remarkably　conservative。　A　simple；　short　knit　dress　with　no　plunging　necklines。　No　kinky　shoes。　Her　hair　was　tinted　to　a　soft　shade　of　red。　He　glanced　again　and　pushed　the　CLOSE　DOOR　button。
　　Tammy　brought　aboard　a　large　black　briefcase；　identical　to　Mitch's。　She　ignored　his　eyes；　stood　next　to　him；　quietly　setting　it　next　to　his。　On　the　seventh　floor；　Mitch　grabbed　her　briefcase　and　left　the　elevator。　On　the　eighth　floor；　the　cute　young　man　in　the　black　suit　made　his　departure；　and　on　the　ninth　floor　Tammy　picked　up　the　heavy　black　briefcase　full　of　files　from　Bendini；　Lambert　&　Locke　and　took　it　to　her　office。　She　locked　and　bolted　the　door；　quickly　removed　her　coat　and　went　to　the　small　room　where　the　copier　was　waiting　and　running。　There　were　seven　files；　each　at　least　an　inch　thick。　She　laid　them　neatly　on　the　folding　table　next　to　the　copier　and　took　the　one　marked　〃Koker…Hanks　to　East　Texas　Pipe。〃　She　unhooked　the　aluminum　clasp；　removed　the　contents　from　the　file　and　carefully　placed　the　stack　of　documents　and　letters　and　notes　into　the　automatic　feed。　She　pushed　the　PRINT　button　and　watched　as　the　machine　made　two　perfect　copies　of　everything。
　　Thirty　minutes　later；