jg.thefirm-第52节

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　took　four　steps；　stuck　a　key　into　the　trunk　of　the　Peugeot　and　removed　the　heavy　black　briefcase。　She　slammed　the　trunk　and　sped　away　in　the　Rabbit。　From　a　small　window　in　the　teachers'　lounge；　Abby　sipped　coffee　and　stared　through　the　trees；　across　the　playground　and　into　the　parking　lot　in　the　distance。　She　could　barely　see　her　car。　She　smiled　and　checked　her　watch。　Twelve…thirty；　as　planned。
　　Tammy　weaved　her　way　carefully　through　the　noon　traffic　in　the　direction　of　downtown。　Driving　was　tedious　when　watching　the　rearview　mirror。　As　usual；　she　saw　nothing。　She　parked　in　her　designated　place　across　the　street　from　the　Cotton　Exchange　Building。
　　There　were　nine　files　in　this　load。　She　arranged　them　neatly　on　the　folding　table　and　began　making　copies。　Sigalas　Partners；　Lettie　Plunk　Trust；　HandyMan　Hardware　and　two　files　bound　loosely　with　a　thick　rubber　band　and　marked　AVERY'S　FILES。　She　ran　two　copies　of　every　sheet　of　paper　in　the　files　and　meticulously　put　them　back　together。　In　a　ledger　book；　she　entered　the　date；　time　and　name　of　each　file。　There　were　now　twenty…nine　entries。　He　said　there　would　eventually　be　about　forty。　She　placed　one　copy　of　each　file　into　the　locked　and　hidden　cabinet　in　the　closet；　then　repacked　the　briefcase　with　the　original　files　and　one　copy　of　each。
　　Pursuant　to　his　instructions；　a　week　earlier　she　had　rented　in　her　name　a　twelve…by…twelve　storage　room　at　the　Summer　Avenue　Mini　Storage。　It　was　fourteen　miles　from　downtown；　and　thirty　minutes　later　she　arrived　and　unlocked　number　38C。　In　a　small　cardboard　box　she　placed　the　other　copies　of　the　nine　files　and　scribbled　the　date　on　the　end　of　the　flap。　She　placed　it　next　to　three　other　boxes　on　the　floor。
　　At　exactly　3　P。M。；　she　wheeled　into　the　parking　lot；　stopped　behind　the　Peugeot；　opened　its　trunk　and　left　the　briefcase　where　she'd　found　it。
　　Seconds　later；　Mitch　stepped　from　the　front　door　of　the　Bendini　Building　and　stretched　his　arms。　He　breathed　deeply　and　gazed　up　and　down　Front　Street。　A　lovely　spring　day。　Three　blocks　to　the　north　and　nine　floors　up；　in　the　window；　he　noticed　the　blinds　had　been　pulled　all　the　way　down。　The　signal。　Good。　Everything's　fine。　He　smiled　to　himself；　and　returned　to　his　office。
　　At　three　o'clock　the　next　morning；　Mitch　eased　out　of　bed　and　quietly　pulled　on　a　pair　of　faded　jeans；　flannel　law　school　shirt；　white　insulated　socks　and　a　pair　of　old　work　boots。　He　wanted　to　look　like　a　truck　driver。　Without　a　word；　he　kissed　Abby；　who　was　awake；　and　left　the　house。　East　Meadowbrook　was　deserted；　as　were　all　the　streets　between　home　and　the　interstate。　Surely　they　would　not　follow　him　at　this　hour。
　　He　drove　Interstate　55　south　for　twenty…five　miles　to　Senatobia；　Mississippi。　A　busy；　all…night　truck　stop　called　the　4…55　shone　brightly　a　hundred　yards　from　the　four…lane。　He　darted　through　the　trucks　to　the　rear　where　a　hundred　semis　were　parked　for　the　night。　He　stopped　next　to　the　Truck　Wash　bay　and　waited。　A　dozen　eighteen…wheelers　inched　and　weaved　around　the　pumps。
　　A　black　guy　wearing　a　Falcons　football　cap　stepped　from　around　the　corner　and　stared　at　the　BMW。　Mitch　recognized　him　as　the　agent　in　the　bus　terminal　in　Knoxville。　He　killed　the　engine　and　stepped　from　the　car。
　　〃McDeere？〃　the　agent　asked。
　　〃Of　course。　Who　else？　Where's　Tarrance？〃
　　〃Inside　in　a　booth　by　the　window。　He's　waiting。〃
　　Mitch　opened　the　door　and　handed　the　keys　to　the　agent。　〃Where　are　you　taking　it？〃
　　〃Down　the　road　a　little　piece。　We'll　take　care　of　it。　You　were　clean　ing　out　of　Memphis。　Relax。〃
　　He　climbed　into　the　car；　eased　between　two　diesel　pumps　and　headed　for　the　interstate。　Mitch　watched　his　little　BMW　disappear　as　he　entered　the　truck…stop　cafe。　It　was　three　forty…five。
　　The　noisy　room　was　filled　with　heavy　middle…aged　men　drinking　coffee　and　eating　store…bought　pies。　They　picked　their　teeth　with　colored　toothpicks　and　talked　of　bass　fishing　and　politics　back　at　the　terminal。　Many　spoke　with　loud　Northern　twangs。　Merle　Haggard　wailed　from　the　jukebox。
　　The　lawyer　moved　awkwardly　toward　the　rear　until　he　saw　in　an　unlit　corner　a　familiar　face　hidden　beneath　aviator's　sunshades　and　the　same　Michigan　State　baseball　cap。　Then　the　face　smiled。　Tarrance　was　holding　a　menu　and　watching　the　front　door。　Mitch　slid　into　the　booth。
　　〃Hello；　good　buddy；〃　Tarrance　said。　〃How's　the　truckin'？〃

　　〃Wonderful。　I　think　I　prefer　the　bus；　though。〃
　　〃Next　time　we'll　try　a　train　or　something。　Just　for　variety。　Laney　get　your　car？〃
　　〃Laney？〃
　　〃The　black　dude。　He's　an　agent；　you　know。〃
　　〃We　haven't　been　properly　introduced。　Yes；　he's　got　my　car。　Where　is　he　taking　it？〃
　　〃Down　the　interstate。　He'll　be　back　in　an　hour　or　so。　We'll　try　to　have　you　on　the　road　by　five　so　you　can　be　at　the　office　by　six。　We'd　hate　to　mess　up　your　day。〃
　　〃It's　already　shot　to　hell。〃
　　A　partially　crippled　waitress　named　Dot　ambled　by　and　demanded　to　know　what　they　wanted。　Just　coffee。　A　surge　of　Roadway　drivers　swarmed　in　the　front　door　and　filled　up　the　cafe。　Merle　could　barely　be　heard。
　　〃So　how　are　the　boys　at　the　office？〃　Tarrance　asked　cheerfully。
　　〃Everything's　fine。　The　meters　are　ticking　as　we　speak　and　everyone's　getting　richer。　Thanks　for　asking。〃
　　〃No　problem。〃
　　〃How's　my　old　pal　Voyles　doing？〃　Mitch　asked。
　　〃He's　quite　anxious；　really。　He　called　me　twice　today　and　repeated　for　the　tenth　time　his　desire　to　have　an　answer　from　you。　Said　you'd　had　plenty　of　time　and　all　that。　I　told　him　to　relax。　Told　him　about　our　little　roadside　rendezvous　tonight　and　he　got　real　excited。　I'm　supposed　to　call　him　in　four　hours；　to　be　exact。〃
　　〃Tell　him　a　million　bucks　won't　do　it；　Tarrance。　You　boys　like　to　brag　about　spending　billions　fighting　organized　crime；　so　I　say　throw　a　little　my　way。　What's　a　couple　of　million　cash　to　the　federal　government？〃
　　〃So　it's　a　couple　of　million　now？〃
　　〃Damned　right　it's　a　couple　of　million。　And　not　a　dime　less。　I　want　a　million　now　and　a　million　later。　I'm　in　the　process　of　copying　all　of　my　files；　and　I　should　be　finished　in　a　few　days。　Legitimate　files；　I　think。　If　I　gave　them　to　anyone　I'd　be　permanently　disbarred。　So　when　I　give　them　to　you；　I　want　the　first　million。　Let's　just　call　it　good…faith　money。〃
　　〃How　do　you　want　it　paid？〃
　　〃Deposited　in　an　account　in　a　bank　in　Zurich。　But　we'll　discuss　the　details　later。〃
　　Dot　slid　two　saucers　onto　the　table　and　dropped　two　mismatched　cups　on　them。　She　poured　from　a　height　of　three　feet　and　splashed　coffee　in　all　directions。　〃Free　refills；〃　she　grunted；　and　left。
　　〃And　the　second　million？〃　Tarrance　asked；　ignoring　the　coffee。
　　〃When　you　and　I　and　Voyles　decide　I've　supplied　you　with　enough　documents　to　get　the　indictments；　then　I　get　half。　After　I　testify　for　the　last　time；　I　get　the　other　half。　That's　incredibly　fair；　Tarrance。〃
　　〃It　is。　You've　got　a　deal。〃
　　Mitch　breathed　deeply；　and　felt　weak。　A　deal。　A　contract。　An　agreement。　One　that　could　never　be　put　in　writing；　but　one　that　was　terribly　enforceable　nonetheless。　He　sipped　the　coffee　but　didn't　taste　it。　They　had　agreed　on　the　money。　He　was　on　a　roll。　Keep　pushing。
　　〃And　there's　one　other　thing；　Tarrance。〃
　　The　head　lowered　and　turned　slightly　to　the　right。　〃Yeah？〃〃
　　Mitch　leaned　closer；　resting　on　his　forearms。　〃It　won't　cost　you　a　dime；　and　you　boys　can　pull　it　off　with　no　sweat。　Okay？〃
　　〃I'm　listening。〃
　　〃My　brother　Ray　is　at　Brushy　Mountain。　Seven　years　until　parole。　I　want　him　out。〃
　　〃That's　ridiculous；　Mitch。　We　can　do　a　lot　of　things；　but　we　damned　sure　can't　parole　state　prisoners。　Federal　maybe；　but　not　state。　No　way。〃
　　〃Listen　to　me；　Tarrance；　and　listen　good。　If　I　hit　the　road　with　the　Mafia　on　my　tail；　my　brother　goes　with　me。　Sort　of　like　a　package　deal。　And　I　know　if　Director　Voyles　wants　him　out　of　prison；　he'll　get　out　of　prison。　I　know　that。　Now；　you　boys　just　figure　out　a　way　to　make　it　happen。〃
　　〃But　we　have　no　authority　to　interfere　with　state　prisoners。〃
　　Mitch　smiled　and　returned　to　his　coffee。　〃James　Earl　Ray　escaped　from　Brushy　Mountain。　And　he　had　no　help　from　the　outside。〃
　　〃Oh；　that's　great。　We　attack　the　prison　like　mandos　and　rescue　your　brother。　Beautiful。〃
　　〃Don't　play　dumb　with　me；　Tarrance。　It's　not　negotiable。〃
　　〃All　right；　all　right。　I'll　see　what　I　can　do。　Anything　else？　Any　more　surprises？〃
　　〃No；　just　questions　about　where　we　go　and　what　we　do。　Where　do　we　hide　initially？　Where　do　we　hide　during　the　trials？　Where　do　we〃live　for　the　rest　of　our　lives？　Just　minor　questions　like　that。〃
　　〃We　can　discuss　it　later。〃
　　〃What　did　Hodge　and　Kozinski　tell　you？〃
　　〃Not　enough。　We've　got　a　notebook；　a　rather　thick　notebook；　in　which　we've　accumulated　and　indexed　everything　we　know　about　the　Moroltos　and　。　Most　of　it's　Morolto　crap；　their　organization；　key　people；　illegal　activities　and　so　on。　You　need　to　read　it　all　before　we　start　to　work。〃
　　〃Which；　of　course；　will　be　after　I've　received　the　first　million。〃
　　〃Of　course。　When　can　we　see　your　files？〃
　　〃In　about　a　week。　I've　managed　to　copy　four　files　that　belong　to　someone　else。　I　may　get　my　hands　on　a　few　more　of　those。〃
　　〃Who's　doing　the　copy