jg.thefirm-第71节

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s　something。〃
　　The　sirens　began　screaming；　and　Ray　jumped。　Lights　flashed　across　the　black　sky；　and　the　faint　voices　of　the　tower　guards　were　audible。
　　〃See　what　I　mean？〃
　　〃Let's　go；〃　Ray　said；　and　began　walking。
　　〃My　truck's　just　up　the　road　a　piece。　I　brought　you　some　clothes。　Warden　gave　me　your　sizes。　Hope　you　like　them。〃
　　Bud　was　out　of　breath　when　they　reached　the　truck。　Ray　quickly　changed　into　the　olive　Duckheads　and　navy　cotton　work　shirt。　〃Very　nice；　Bud；〃　he　said。
　　〃Just　throw　them　prison　clothes　in　the　bushes。〃
　　They　drove　the　winding　mountain　trail　for　two　miles；　then　turned　onto　blacktop。　Bud　listened　to　Conway　Twitty　and　said　nothing。
　　〃Where　are　we　going；　Bud？〃　Ray　finally　asked。
　　〃Well；　the　warden　said　he　didn't　care　and　really　didn't　want　to　know。　Said　it　was　up　to　you。　I'd　suggest　we　get　to　a　big　town　where　there's　a　bus　station。　After　that；　you're　on　your　own。〃
　　〃How　far　will　you　drive　me？〃
　　〃I　got　all　night；　Ray。　You　name　the　town。〃
　　〃I'd　like　to　get　some　miles　behind　us　before　I　start　hanging　around　a　bus　station。　How　about　Knoxville？〃
　　〃Knoxville　it　is。　Where　are　you　going　from　there？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　I　need　to　get　out　of　the　country。〃
　　〃With　your　friends；　that　should　be　no　problem。　Be　careful；　though。　By　tomorrow；　your　picture　will　be　hanging　in　every　sheriff's　office　in　ten　states。〃
　　Three　cars　with　blue　lights　came　blazing　over　the　hill　in　front　of　them。　Ray　ducked　onto　the　floorboard。
　　〃Relax；　Ray。　They　can't　see　you。〃
　　　He　watched　them　disappear　through　the　rear　window。　〃What　about　roadblocks？〃
　　〃Look；　Ray。　Ain't　gonna　be　no　roadblocks；　okay？　Trust　me。〃　Bud　stuck　a　hand　in　a　pocket　and　threw　a　wad　of　cash　on　the　seat。　〃Five　hundred　bucks。　Hand…delivered　by　the　warden。　You　got　some　stout　friends；　buddy。〃
　　
　　　34
　　WEDNESDAY　morning。　Tarry　Ross　climbed　the　stairs　to　the　fourth　floor　of　the　Phoenix　Park　Hotel。　He　paused　on　the　landing　outside　the　hall　door　and　caught　his　breath。　Sweat　beaded　across　his　eyebrows。　He　removed　the　dark　sunglasses　and　wiped　his　face　with　the　sleeve　of　his　overcoat。　Nausea　hit　below　the　belt；　and　he　leaned　on　the　stair　rail。　He　dropped　his　empty　briefcase　on　the　concrete　and　sat　on　the　bottom　step。　His　hands　shook　like　severe　palsy；　and　he　wanted　to　cry。　He　clutched　his　stomach　and　tried　not　to　vomit。
　　The　nausea　passed；　and　he　breathed　again。　Be　brave；　man；　be　brave。　There's　two　hundred　thousand　waiting　down　the　hall。　If　you　got　guts；　you　can　go　in　there　and　get　it。　You　can　walk　out　with　it；　but　you　must　have　courage。　He　breathed　deeper；　and　his　hands　settled　down。　Guts；　man；　guts。
　　The　weak　knees　wobbled；　but　he　made　it　to　the　door。　Down　the　hall；　past　the　rooms。　Eighth　door　on　the　right。　He　held　his　breath；　and　knocked。
　　Seconds　passed。　He　watched　the　dark　hall　through　the　dark　glasses　and　could　see　nothing。　〃Yeah；〃　a　voice　inside　said；　inches　away。
　　〃It's　Alfred。〃　Ridiculous　name；　he　thought。　Where'd　it　e　from？
　　　The　door　cracked；　and　a　face　appeared　behind　the　little　chain。　The　door　closed；　then　opened　wide。　Alfred　walked　in。
　　〃Good　morning；　Alfred；〃　Vinnie　Cozzo　said　warmly。　〃Would　you　like　coffee？〃
　　〃I　didn't　e　here　for　coffee；〃　Alfred　snapped。　He　placed　the　briefcase　on　the　bed　and　stared　at　Cozzo。
　　〃You're　always　so　nervous；　Alfred。　Why　don't　you　relax。　There's　no　way　you　can　get　caught。〃
　　〃Shut　up；　Cozzo。　Where's　the　money？〃
　　Vinnie　pointed　to　a　leather　handbag。　He　stopped　smiling。　〃Talk　to　me；　Alfred。〃
　　The　nausea　hit　again；　but　he　kept　his　feet。　He　stared　at　them。　His　heart　beat　like　pistons。　〃Okay；　your　man；　McDeere；　has　been　paid　a　million　bucks　already。　Another　million　is　on　the　way。　He's　delivered　one　load　of　Bendini　documents　and　claims　to　have　ten　thousand　more。〃　A　sharp　pain　hit　his　groin；　and　he　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　bed。　He　removed　his　glasses。
　　〃Keep　talking；〃　Cozzo　demanded。
　　〃McDeere's　talked　to　our　people　many　times　in　the　last　six　months。　He'll　testify　at　the　trials；　then　hit　the　road　as　a　protected　witness。　He　and　his　wife。〃
　　〃Where　are　the　other　documents？〃
　　〃Dammit；　I　don't　know。　He　won't　tell。　But　they're　ready　to　be　delivered。　I　want　my　money；　Cozzo。〃
　　Vinnie　threw　the　handbag　on　the　bed。　Alfred　opened　it　and　the　briefcase。　He　attacked　the　stacks　of　bills；　his　hands　shaking　violently。
　　〃Two　hundred　thousand？〃　he　asked　desperately。
　　Vinnie　smiled。　〃That　was　the　deal；　Alfred。　I　got　another　job　for　you　in　a　couple　of　weeks。〃
　　〃No　way；　Cozzo。　I　can't　take　any　more　of　this。〃　He　slammed　the　briefcase　shut　and　ran　to　the　door。　He　stopped　and　tried　to　calm　himself。　〃What　will　you　do　with　McDeere？〃　he　asked；　staring　at　the　door。
　　〃What　do　you　think；　Alfred？〃
　　He　bit　his　lip；　clenched　the　briefcase　and　walked　from　the　room。　Vinnie　smiled　and　locked　the　door。　He　pulled　a　card　from　his　pocket　and　placed　a　call　to　the　Chicago　home　of　Mr。　Lou　Lazarov。
　　Tarry　Ross　walked　in　panic　down　the　hall。　He　could　see　little　from　behind　the　glasses。　Seven　doors　down；　almost　to　the　elevator；　a　huge　hand　reached　from　the　darkness　and　pulled　him　into　a　room。　The　hand　slapped　him　hard；　and　another　fist　landed　in　his　stomach。　Another　fist　to　the　nose。　He　was　on　the　floor；　dazed　and　bleeding。　The　briefcase　was　emptied　on　the　bed。
　　He　was　thrown　into　a　chair；　and　the　lights　came　on。　Three　FBI　agents；　his　rades；　glared　at　him。　Director　Voyles　walked　up　to　him；　shaking　his　head　in　disbelief。　The　agent　with　the　huge；　efficient　hands　stood　nearby；　within　striking　distance。　Another　agent　was　counting　money。
　　Voyles　leaned　into　his　face。　〃You're　a　traitor；　Ross。　The　lowest　form　of　scum。　I　can't　believe　it。〃
　　Ross　bit　his　lip　and　began　sobbing。
　　〃Who　is　it？〃　Voyles　asked　intently。
　　The　crying　was　louder。　No　answer。
　　Voyles　swung　wildly　and　slapped　Ross's　left　temple。　He　shrieked　in　pain。　〃Who　is　it；　Ross？　Talk　to　me。〃
　　〃Vinnie　Cozzo；〃　he　blurted　between　sobs。
　　〃I　know　it's　Cozzo！　Dammit！　I　know　that！　But　what　did　you　tell　him？〃
　　Tears　ran　from　his　eyes　and　blood　poured　from　his　nose。　His　body　shook　and　gyrated　pitifully。　No　answer。
　　Voyles　slapped　him　again；　and　again。　〃Tell　me；　you　little　sonofabitch。　Tell　me　what　Cozzo　wants。〃　He　slapped　him　again。
　　　Ross　doubled　over　and　dropped　his　head　on　his　knees。　The　crying　softened。
　　〃Two　hundred　thousand　dollars；〃　an　agent　said。
　　Voyles　dropped　to　one　knee　and　almost　whispered　to　Ross。　〃Is　it　McDeere；　Ross？　Please；　oh　please；　tell　me　it's　not　McDeere。　Tell　me；　Tarry；　tell　me　it's　not　McDeere。〃
　　Tarry　stuck　his　elbows　on　his　knees　and　stared　at　the　floor。　The　blood　dripped　neatly　into　one　little　puddle　on　the　carpet。　Gut　check；　Tarry。　You　don't　get　to　keep　your　money。　You're　on　the　way　to　jail。　You're　a　disgrace；　Tarry。　You're　a　slimy　little　scuzzball　of　a　chicken；　and　it's　over。　What　could　possibly　be　gained　by　keeping　secrets？　Gut　check；　Tarry。
　　Voyles　was　pleading　softly。　Sinners；　won't　you　e？　〃Please　say　it　ain't　McDeere；　Tarry；　please　tell　me　it　ain't。〃
　　Tarry　sat　straight　and　wiped　his　eyes　with　his　fingers。　He　breathed　deeply。　Cleared　his　throat。　He　bit　his　lip；　looked　squarely　at　Voyles　and　nodded。
　　DeVasher　had　no　time　for　the　elevator。　He　ran　down　the　stairs　to　the　fourth　floor；　to　the　corner；　a　power　one；　and　barged　into　Locke's　office。　Half　the　partners　were　there。　Locke；　Lambert；　Milligan；　McKnight；　Dunbar；　Denton；　Lawson；　Banahan；　Kruger；　Welch　and　Shottz。　The　other　half　had　been　summoned。
　　A　quiet　panic　filled　the　room。　DeVasher　sat　at　the　head　of　the　conference　table；　and　they　gathered　around。
　　〃Okay；　boys。　It's　not　time　to　haul　ass　and　head　for　Brazil。　Not　yet；　anyway。　We　confirmed　this　morning　that　he　has　talked　extensively　to　the　Fibbies；　that　they　have　paid　him　a　million　cash；　that　they　have　promised　another　million；　that　he　has　certain　documents　that　are　believed　to　be　fatal。　This　came　straight　from　the　FBI。　Lazarov　and　a　small　army　are　flying　into　Memphis　as　we　speak。　It　appears　as　though　the　damage　has　not　been　done。　Yet。　According　to　our　source…a　very　high…ranking　Fibbie…McDeere　has　over　ten　thousand　documents　in　his　possession；　and　he　is　ready　to　deliver。　But　he　has　only　delivered　a　few　so　far。　We　think。　Evidently；　we　have　caught　this　thing　in　time。　If　we　can　prevent　further　damage；　we　should　be　okay。　I　say　this；　even　though　they　have　some　documents。　Obviously；　they　don't　have　much　or　they　would've　been　here　with　search　warrants。〃
　　DeVasher　was　onstage。　He　enjoyed　this　immensely。　He　spoke　with　a　patronizing　smile　and　looked　at　each　of　the　worried　faces。　〃Now；　where　is　McDeere？〃
　　Milligan　spoke。　〃In　his　office。　I　just　talked　to　him。　He　suspects　nothing。〃
　　〃Wonderful。　He's　scheduled　to　leave　in　three　hours　for　Grand　Cayman。　Correct；　Lambert？〃
　　〃That's　correct。　Around　noon。〃
　　〃Boyi；　the　plane　will　never　make　it。　The　pilot　will　land　in　New　Orleans　for　an　errand；　then　he'll　take　off　for　the　island。　About　thirty　minutes　over　the　Gulf；　the　little　blip　will　disappear　from　radar；　forever。　Debris　will　scatter　over　a　thirty…square…mile　area；　and　no　bodies　will　ever　be　found。　It's　sad；　but　necessary。〃
　　〃The　Lear？〃　asked　Denton。
　　〃Yes；　son；　the　Lear。　We'll　buy　you　anoth