jg.thefirm-第54节

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ater　he　darted　from　the　store　into　the　back　seat　of　a　passing　taxi。　〃Airport；〃　he　said。　〃And　make　it　quick。　Watch　your　tail。　Someone　may　be　following。〃
　　The　driver　made　no　response；　just　eased　past　the　bank　buildings　and　out　of　town。　Ten　minutes　later　he　stopped　in　front　of　the　terminal。
　　〃Anybody　follow　us？〃　Mitch　asked；　pulling　money　from　his　pocket。
　　〃No；　mon。　Four　dollars　and　ten　cents。〃
　　Mitch　threw　a　five　over　the　seat　and　walked　quickly　into　the　terminal。　The　Cayman　Airways　flight　to　Cayman　Brae　would　leave　at　nine。　At　a　gift　shop　Mitch　bought　a　cup　of　coffee　and　hid　between　two　rows　of　shelves　filled　with　souvenirs。　He　watched　the　waiting　area　and　saw　no　one。　Of　course；　he　had　no　idea　what　they　looked　like；　but　he　saw　no　one　sniffing　around　and　searching　for　lost　people。　Perhaps　they　were　following　the　jeep　or　bing　the　shopping　district　looking　for　him。　Perhaps。
　　For　seventy…five　Cayman　dollars　he　had　reserved　the　last　seat　on　the　ten…passenger；　three…engine　Trislandef。　Abby　had　made　the　reservation　by　pay　phone　the　night　they　arrived。　At　the　last　possible　second；　he　jogged　from　the　terminal　onto　the　tarmac　and　climbed　on　board。　The　pilot　slammed　and　locked　the　doors；　and　they　taxied　down　the　runway。　No　other　planes　were　visible。　A　small　hangar　sat　to　the　right。
　　The　ten　tourists　admired　the　brilliant　blue　sea　and　said　little　during　the　twenty…minute　flight。　As　they　approached　Cayman　Brae；　the　pilot　became　the　tour　guide　and　made　a　wide　circle　around　the　small　island。　He　pajd　special　attention　to　the　tall　bluffs　that　fell　into　the　sea　on　the　east　end。　Without　the　bluffs；　he　said；　the　island　would　be　as　flat　as　Grand　Cayman。　He　landed　the　plane　softly　on　a　narrow　asphalt　strip。
　　Next　to　the　small　white　frame　building　with　the　word　AIRPORT　painted　on　all　sides；　a　clean…cut　Caucasian　waited　and　watched　the　passengers　quickly　disembark。　He　was　Rick　Acklin；　Special　Agent；　and　sweat　dripped　from　his　nose　and　glued　his　shirt　to　his　back。　He　stepped　slightly　forward。　〃Mitch；〃　he　said　almost　to　himself。
　　Mitch　hesitated　and　then　walked　over。
　　〃Car's　out　front；〃　Acklin　said。
　　〃Where's　Tarrance？〃　Mitch　looked　around。
　　〃He's　waiting。〃
　　〃Does　the　car　have　air　conditioning？〃
　　〃Afraid　not。　Sorry。〃
　　The　car　was　minus　air；　power　anything　and　signal　lights。　It　was　a　1974　LTD；　and　Acklin　explained　as　they　followed　the　dusty　road　that　there　simply　was　not　much　of　a　selection　of　rental　cars　on　Cayman　Brae。　And　the　reason　the　U。S。　government　had　rented　the　car　was　because　he　and　Tarrance　had　been　unable　to　find　a　taxi。　They　were　lucky　to　find　a　room；　on　such　late　notice。
　　The　small　neat　homes　were　closer　together；　and　sea　appeared。　They　parked　in　the　sand　parking　lot　of　an　establishment　called　Brae　Divers。　An　aging　pier　jutted　into　the　water　and　anchored　a　hundred　boats　of　all　sizes。　To　the　west　along　the　beach　a　dozen　thatched…roof　cabins　sat　two　feet　above　the　sand　and　housed　divers　who　came　from　around　the　world。　Next　to　the　pier　was　an　open…air　bar；　nameless；　but　plete　with　a　domino　game　and　a　dartboard。　Oak…and…brass　fans　hung　from　the　ceiling　through　the　rafters　and　rotated　slowly　and　silently；　cooling　the　domino　players　and　the　bartender。
　　Wayne　Tarrance　sat　at　a　table　by　himself　drinking　a　Coke　and　watching　a　dive　crew　load　a　thousand　identical　yellow　tanks　from　the　pier　onto　a　boat。　Even　for　a　tourist；　his　dress　was　hysterical。　Dark　sunglasses　with　yellow　frames；　brown　straw　sandals；　obviously　brand…new；　with　black　socks；　a　tight　Hawaiian　luau　shirt　with　twenty　loud　colors　and　a　pair　of　gold　gym　shorts　that　were　very　old　and　very　short　and　covered　little　of　the　shiny；　sickly…white　legs　under　the　table。　He　waved　his　Coke　at　the　two　empty　chairs。
　　〃Nice　shirt；　Tarrance；〃　Mitch　said　in　undisguised　amusement。
　　〃Thanks。　You　gotta　real　winner　yourself。〃
　　〃Nice　tan　too。〃
　　〃Yeah；　yeah。　Gotta　look　the　part；　you　know。〃
　　The　waiter　hovered　nearby　and　waited　for　them　to　speak。　Acklin　ordered　a　Coke。　Mitch　said　he　wanted　a　Coke　with　a　splash　of　rum　in　it。　All　three　became　engrossed　with　the　dive　boat　and　the　divers　loading　their　bulky　gear。
　　〃What　happened　in　Holly　Springs？〃　Mitch　finally　asked。
　　〃Sorry；　we　couldn't　help　it。　They　followed　you　out　of
　　Memphis　and　had　two　cars　waiting　in　Holly　Springs。　We　couldn't　get　near　you。〃
　　〃Did　you　and　your　wife　discuss　the　trip　before　you　left？〃　asked　Acklin。
　　〃I　think　so。　We　probably　mentioned　it　around　the　house　a　couple　of　times。〃
　　Acklin　seemed　satisfied。　〃They　were　certainly　ready　for　you。　A　green　Skylark　followed　you　for　about　twenty　miles；　then　got　lost。　We　called　it　off　then。〃
　　Tarrance　sipped　his　Coke　and　said；　〃Late　Saturday　night　the　Lear　left　Memphis　and　flew　nonstop　to　Grand　Cayman。　We　think　two　or　three　of　the　goons　were　on　board。　The　plane　left　early　Sunday　morning　and　returned　to　Memphis。〃
　　〃So　they're　here　and　they're　following　us？〃
　　〃Of　course。　They　probably　had　one　or　two　people　on　the　plane　with　you　and　Abby。　Might　have　been　men；　women　or　both。　Could've　been　a　black　dude　or　an　oriental　woman。　Who　knows？　Remember；　Mitch；　they　have　plenty　of　money。　There　are　two　that　we　recognize。　One　was　in　Washington　when　you　were　there。　A　blond　fellow；　about　forty；　six…one；　maybe　six…two；　with　real　short　hair；　almost　a　crew　cut；　and　real　strong；　Nordic…looking　features。　He　moves　quickly。　We　saw　him　yesterday　driving　a　red　Escort　he　got　from　Coconut　Car　Rentals　on　the　island。〃
　　〃I　think　I've　seen　him；〃　Mitch　said。
　　〃Where？〃　asked　Acklin。
　　〃In　a　bar　in　the　Memphis　airport　the　night　I　returned　from　Washington。　I　caught　him　watching　me；　and　I　thought　at　the　time　that　I　had　seen　him　in　Washington。〃
　　〃That's　him。　He's　here。〃
　　〃Who's　the　other　one？〃
　　〃Tony　Verkler；　or　Two…Ton　Tony　as　we　call　him。　He's　a　con　with　an　impressive　record　of　convictions；　most　of　it　in　Chicago。　He's　worked　for　Morolto　for　years。　Weighs　about　three　hundred　pounds　and　does　a　great　job　of　watching　people　because　no　one　would　ever　suspect　him。〃
　　〃He　was　at　Rumheads　last　night；〃　Acklin　added。
　　〃Last　night？　We　were　there　last　night。〃
　　With　great　ceremony；　the　dive　boat　pushed　from　the　pier　and　headed　for　open　water。　Beyond　the　pier；　fishermen　in　their　small　catboats　pulled　their　nets　and　sailors　navigated　their　brightly　colored　catamarans　away　from　land。　After　a　gentle　and　dreamy　start；　the　island　was　awake　now。　Half　the　boats　tied　to　the　pier　had　left　or　were　in　the　process　of　leaving。
　　〃So　when　did　you　boys　get　in　towji？〃　Mitch　asked；　sipping　his　drink；　which　was　more　rum　than　Coke。
　　〃Sunday　night；〃　Tarrance　answered　while　watching　the　dive　boat　slowly　disappear。
　　〃Just　out　of　curiosity；　how　many　men　do　you　have　on　the　islands？〃
　　〃Four　men；　two　women；〃　said　Tarrance。　Acklin　became　mute　and　deferred　all　conversation　to　his　supervisor。
　　〃And　why　exactly　are　you　here？〃　Mitch　asked。
　　〃Oh；　several　reasons。　Number　one；　we　wanted　to　talk　to　you　and　nail　down　our　little　deal。　Director　Voyles　is　terribly　anxious　about　reaching　an　agreement　you　can　live　with。　Number　two；　we　want　to　watch　them　to　determine　how　many　goons　are　here。　We'll　spend　the　week　trying　to　identify　these　people。　The　island　is　small；　and　it's　a　good　place　to　observe。〃
　　〃And　number　three；　you　wanted　to　work　on　your　sun…tan？〃
　　Acklin　managed　a　slight　giggle。　Tarrance　smiled　and　then　frowned。　〃No；　not　exactly。　We're　here　for　your　protection。〃
　　〃My　protection？〃
　　〃Yes。　The　last　time　I　sat　at　this　very　table　I　was　talking　to
　　Joe　Hodge　and　Marty　Kozinski。　About　nine　months　ago。　The　day　before　they　were　killed；　to　be　exact。〃
　　〃And　you　think　I'm　about　to　be　killed？〃
　　〃No。　Not　yet。〃
　　Mitch　motioned　at　the　bartender　for　another　drink。　The　domino　game　grew　heated；　and　he　watched　the　natives　argue　and　drink　beer。
　　〃Look；　boys；　as　we　speak　the　goons；　as　you　call　them；　are　probably　following　my　wife　all　over　Grand　Cayman。　I'll　be　sort　of　nervous　until　I　get　back。　Now；　what　about　the　deal？〃
　　Tarrance　left　the　sea　and　the　dive　boat　and　stared　at　Mitch。　〃Two　million's　fine；　and…〃
　　〃Of　course　it's　fine；　Tarrance。　We　agreed　on　it；　did　we　not？〃
　　〃Relax；　Mitch。　We'll　pay　a　million　when　you　turn　over　all　of　your　files。　At　that　point；　there's　no　turning　back；　as　they　say。　You're　in　up　to　your　neck。〃
　　〃Tarrance；　I　understand　that。　It　was　my　suggestion；　remember？〃
　　〃But　that's　the　easy　part。　We　really　don't　want　your　files；　because　they're　clean　files。　Good　files。　Legitimate　files。　We　want　the　bad　files；　Mitch；　the　ones　with　indictments　written　all　over　them。　And　these　files　will　be　much　harder　to　e　by。　But　when　you　do　so；　we'll　pay　another　half　million。　And　the　rest　after　the　last　trial。〃
　　〃And　my　brother？〃
　　〃We'll　try。〃
　　〃Not　good　enough；　Tarrance。　I　want　a　mitment。〃
　　〃We　can't　promise　to　deliver　your　brother。　Hell；　he's　got　at　least　seven　more　years。〃
　　〃But　he's　my　brother；　Tarrance。　I　don't　care　if　he's　a　serial　murderer　sitting　on　death　row　waiting　for　his　last　meal。　He's　my　brother；　and　if　you　want　me；　you　have　to　release　him。〃
　　3〃I　said　we'll　try；　but　we　can't　mit。　There's　no　legal；　formal；　legitimate　way　to　get　him　out；　so　we　must　try　other　means。　W