jg.thefirm-第67节

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st　stop　and　weigh　station。　He　made　sudden　exits　from　the　left　lane。　He　stopped　at　an　underpass　and　waited　and　watched。　He　never　saw　them。　Not　once　did　he　notice　a　suspicious　car　or　truck　or　van。　He　even　watched　a　few　eigh…teen…wheelers。　Nothing。　They　simply　were　not　back　there。　He　would　have　caught　them。
　　His　care　package　of　books　and　cigarettes　was　cleared　through　the　guard　station；　and　he　was　pointed　to　stall　number　nine。　Minutes　later；　Ray　sat　through　the　thick　screen。
　　〃Where　have　you　been？〃　he　said　with　a　hint　of　irritation。　〃You're　the　only　person　in　the　entire　world　who　visits　me；　and　this　is　only　the　second　time　in　four　months。〃
　　〃I　know。　It's　tax　season；　and　I've　been　swamped。　I'll　do　better。　I've　written；　though。〃
　　〃Yeah；　once　a　week　I　get　two　paragraphs。　'Hi；　Ray。　How's　the　bunk？　How's　the　food？　How　are　the　walls？　How's　the　Greek　or　Italian？　I'm　fine。　Abby's　great。　Dog's　sick。　Gotta　run。　I'll　e　visit　soon。　Love；　Mitch。'　You　write　some　rich　letters；　little　brother。　I　really　treasure　them。〃
　　〃Yours　aren't　much　better。〃
　　〃What　have　I　got　to　say？　The　guards　are　selling　dope。　A　friend　got　stabbed　thirty…one　times。　I　saw　a　kid　get　raped。　e　on；　Mitch；　who　wants　to　hear　it？〃
　　〃I'll　do　better。〃
　　〃How's　Mom？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　I　haven't　been　back　since　Christmas。〃
　　〃I　asked　you　to　check　on　her；　Mitch。　I'm　worried　about　her。　If　that　goon　is　beating　her；　I　want　it　stopped。　If　I　could　get　out　of　here；　I'd　stop　it　myself。〃
　　〃You　will。〃　It　was　a　statement；　not　a　question。　Mitch　placed　a　finger　over　his　lips　and　nodded　slowly。　Ray　leaned　forward　on　his　elbows　and　stared　intently。
　　Mitch　spoke　softly。　〃Espanol。　Hable　despotic。〃　Spanish。　Speak　slowly。
　　Ray　smiled　slightly。　〃tCudndo？〃　When？
　　〃La　semana　proximo。〃　Next　week。
　　〃iQue　dia？〃　What　day？
　　Mitch　thought　for　a　second。　〃Maries　o　miercoles。〃　Tuesday　or　Wednesday。
　　〃iQue　tiempo？〃　What　time？
　　Mitch　smiled　and　shrugged；　and　looked　around。
　　〃How's　Abby？〃　Ray　asked。
　　〃She's　been　in　Kentucky　for　a　couple　of　weeks。　Her　mother's　sick。〃　He　stared　at　Ray　and　softly　mouthed　the　words　〃Trust　me。〃
　　〃What's　wrong　with　her？〃
　　〃They　removed　a　lung。　Cancer。　She's　smoked　heavy　all　her　life。　You　should　quit。〃
　　〃I　will　if　I　ever　get　out　of　here。〃
　　Mitch　smiled　and　nodded　slowly。　〃You've　got　at　least　seven　more　years。〃
　　〃Yeah；　and　escape　is　impossible。　They　try　it　occasionally；　but　they're　either　shot　or　captured。〃
　　〃James　Earl　Ray　went　over　the　wall；　didn't　he？〃　Mitch　nodded　slowly　as　he　asked　the　question。　Ray　smiled　and　watched　his　brother's　eyes。
　　〃But　they　caught　him。　They　bring　in　a　bunch　of　mountain　boys　with　bloodhounds；　and　it　gets　pretty　nasty。　I　don't　think　anyone's　ever　survived　the　mountains　after　they　got　over　the　wall。〃
　　〃Let's　talk　about　something　else；〃　Mitch　said。
　　〃Good　idea。〃
　　Two　guards　stood　by　a　window　behind　the　row　of　visitors'　booths。　They　were　enjoying　a　stack　of　dirty　pictures　someone　took　with　a　Polaroid　and　tried　to　sneak　through　the　guard　station。　They　giggled　among　themselves　and　ignored　the　visitors。　On　the　prisoners'　side；　a　single　guard　with　a　stick　walked　benignly　back　and　forth；　half　asleep。
　　〃When　can　I　expect　little　nieces　and　nephews？〃　Ray　asked。
　　〃Maybe　in　a　few　years。　Abby　wants　one　of　each；　and　she　would　start　now　if　I　would。　I'm　not　ready。〃
　　The　guard　walked　behind　Ray；　but　did　not　look。　They　stared　at　each　other；　trying　to　read　each　other's　eyes。
　　〃jAddnde　voy？〃　Ray　asked　quickly。　Where　am　I　going？
　　〃Perdido　Beach　Hilton。　We　went　to　the　Cayman　Islands　last　month；　Abby　and　I。　Had　a　beautiful　vacation。〃
　　〃Never　heard　of　the　place。　Where　is　it？〃
　　〃In　the　Caribbean；　below　Cuba。〃
　　〃iQue　es　mi　nombre？〃　What　is　my　name？
　　〃Lee　Stevens。　Did　some　snorkeling。　The　water　is　warm　and　gorgeous。　　owns　two　condos　right　on　Seven　Mile　Beach。　All　I　paid　for　was　the　airfare。　It　was　great。〃
　　〃Get　me　a　book。　I'd　like　to　read　about　it。　jPasaporte？〃
　　Mitch　nodded　with　a　smile。　The　guard　walked　behind　Ray　and　stopped。　They　talked　of　old　times　in　Kentucky。
　　At　dusk　he　parked　the　BMW　on　the　dark　side　of　a　suburban　mall　in　Nashville。　He　left　the　keys　in　the　ignition　and　locked　the　door。　He　had　a　spare　in　his　pocket。　A　busy　crowd　of　Easter　shoppers　moved　en　masse　through　the　Sears　doors。　He　joined　them。　Inside　he　ducked　into　the　men's　clothing　department　and　studied　socks　and　underwear　while　watching　the　door。　Nobody　suspicious。　He　left　Sears　and　walked　quickly　through　the　crowd　down　the　mall。　A　black　cotton　sweater　in　the　window　of　a　men's　store　caught　his　attention。　He　found　one　inside；　tried　it　on　and　decided　to　wear　it　out　of　there；　he　liked　it　so　much。　As　the　clerk　laid　his　change　on　the　counter；　he　scanned　the　yellow　pages　for　the　number　of　a　cab。　Back　into　the　mall；　he　rode　the　escalator　to　the　first　floor；　where　he　found　a　pay　phone。　The　cab　would　be　there　in　ten　minutes。
　　It　was　dark　now；　the　cool　early　dark　of　spring　in　the　South。　He　watched　the　mall　entrance　from　inside　a　singles　bar。　He　was　certain　he　had　not　been　followed　through　the　mall。　He　walked　casually　to　the　cab。　〃Brentwood；〃　he　said　to　the　driver；　and　disappeared　into　the　back　seat。
　　Brentwood　was　twenty　minutes　away。　〃Savannah　Creek　Apartments；〃　he　said。　The　cab　searched　through　the　sprawling　plex　and　found　number　480E。　He　threw　a　twenty　over　the　seat　and　slammed　the　door。　Behind　an　outside　stairwell　he　found　the　door　to　480E。　It　was　locked。
　　〃Who　is　it？〃　a　nervous　female　voice　asked　from　within。　He　heard　the　voice　and　felt　weak。
　　〃Barry　Abanks；〃　he　said。
　　Abby　pulled　the　door　open　and　attacked。　They　kissed　violently　as　he　lifted　her；　walked　inside　and　slammed　the　door　with　his　foot。　His　hands　were　wild。　In　less　than　two　seconds；　he　pulled　her　sweater　over　her　head；　unsnapped　her　bra　and　slid　the　rather　loose…fitting　skirt　to　her　knees。　They　continued　kissing。　With　one　eye；　he　glanced　apprehensively　at　the　cheap；　flimsy　rented　fold…a…bed　that　was　waiting。　Either　that　or　the　floor。　He　laid　her　gently　on　it　and　took　off　his　clothes。
　　The　bed　was　too　short；　and　it　squeaked。　The　mattress　was　two　inches　of　foam　rubber　wrapped　in　a　sheet。　The　metal　braces　underneath　jutted　upward　and　were　dangerous。
　　But　the　McDeeres　did　not　notice。
　　When　it　was　good　and　dark；　and　the　crowd　of　shoppers　at　the　mall　thinned　for　a　moment；　a　shiny　black　Chevrolet　Silverado　pickup　pulled　behind　the　BMW　and　stopped。　A　small　man　with　a　neat　haircut　and　sideburns　jumped　out；　looked　around　and　stuck　a　pointed　screwdriver　into　the　door　lock　of　the　BMW。　Months　later　when　he　was　sentenced；　he　would　tell　the　judge　that　he　had　stolen　over　three　hundred　cars　and　pickups　in　eight　states；　and　that　he　could　break　into　a　car　and　start　the　engine　faster　than　the　judge　could　with　the　keys。　Said　his　average　time　was　twenty…eight　seconds。　The　judge　was　not　impressed。
　　Occasionally；　on　a　very　lucky　day；　an　idiot　would　leave　the　keys　in　the　car；　and　the　average　time　was　reduced　dramatically。　A　scout　had　found　this　car　with　the　keys。　He　smiled　and　turned　them。　The　Silverado　raced　away；　followed　by　the　BMW。
　　The　Nordic　jumped　from　the　van　and　watched。　It　was　too　fast。　He　was　too　late。　The　pickup　just　pulled　up；　blocked　his　vision　for　an　instant；　then　wham！；　the　BMW　was　gone。　Stolen！　Before　his　very　eyes。　He　kicked　the　van。　Now；　how　would　he　explain　this？
　　He　crawled　back　into　the　van　and　waited　for　McDeere。
　　After　an　hour　on　the　couch；　the　pain　of　loneliness　had　been　forgotten。　They　walked　through　the　small　apartment　holding　hands　and　kissing。　In　the　bedroom；　Mitch　had　his　first　viewing　of　what　had　bee　known　among　the　three　as　the　Bendini　Papers。　He　had　seen　Tammy's　notes　and　summaries；　but　not　the　actual　documents。　The　room　was　like　a　chessboard　with　rows　of　neat　stacks　of　papers。　On　two　of　the　walls；　Tammy　had　tacked　sheets　of　white　poster　board；　then　covered　them　with　the　notes　and　lists　and　flowcharts。
　　One　day　soon　he　would　spend　hours　in　the　room；　studying　the　papers　and　preparing　his　case。　But　not　tonight。　In　a　few　minutes；　he　would　leave　her　and　return　to　the　mall。
　　She　led　him　back　to　the　couch。
　　　
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　　THE　hall　on　the　tenth　floor；　Madison　Wing；　of　the　Baptist　Hospital　was　empty　except　for　an　orderly　and　a　male　nurse　writing　on　his　clipboard。　Visiting　hours　had　ended　at　nine；　and　it　was　ten…thirty。　He　eased　down　the　hall；　spoke　to　the　orderly；　was　ignored　by　the　nurse　and　knocked　on　the　door。
　　〃e　in；〃　a　strong　voice　said。
　　He　pushed　the　heavy　door　open　and　stood　by　the　bed。
　　〃Hello；　Mitch；〃　Avery　said。　〃Can　you　believe　this？〃
　　〃What　happened？〃
　　〃I　woke　up　at　six　this　morning　with　stomach　cramps；　I　thought。　I　took　a　shower　and　felt　a　sharp　pain　right　here；　on　my　shoulder。　My　breathing　got　heavy；　and　I　started　sweating。　I　thought　no；　not　me。　Hell；　I'm　forty…four；　in　great　shape；　work　out　all　the　time；　eat　pretty　good；　drink　a　little　too　much；　maybe；　but　not　me。　I　called　my　doctor；　and　he　said　to　meet　him　here　at　the　hospital。　He　thinks　it　was　a　slight　heart　attack。　Nothing　serious；　he　hopes；　but　they're　running　tests　for　the　next　few　days。〃
　　〃A　heart　attack。〃
　　〃That's　what　he　said。〃
　　〃I'm　not　surprised；　Avery。