jg.thefirm-第77节

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If　he　was　never　found；　they　would　stay　in　Memphis。　If　the　feds　caught　him；　they　would　hit　the　road；　Jack。
　　Run；　Mitch；　run！
　　The　rooms　at　the　Blue　Tide　Motel　were　narrow　and　tacky。　The　carpet　was　twenty　years　old　and　badly　worn。　The　bedspreads　had　cigarette　burns。　But　luxury　was　unimportant。
　　After　dark　Thursday；　Ray　stood　behind　Abby　with　a　pair　of　scissors　and　snipped　delicately　around　her　ears。　Two　towels　under　the　chair　were　covered　with　her　dark　hair。　She　watched　him　carefully　in　the　mirror　next　to　the　antique　color　television　and　was　free　with　her　instructions。　It　was　a　boyish　cut；　well　above　the　ears；　with　bangs。　He　stepped　back　and　admired　his　work。
　　〃Not　bad；〃　he　said。
　　She　smiled　and　brushed　hair　from　her　arms。　〃I　guess　I　need　to　color　it　now；〃　she　said　sadly。　She　walked　to　the　tiny；　bathroom　and　closed　the　door。
　　She　emerged　an　hour　later　as　a　blonde。　A　yellowish　blonde。　Ray　was　asleep　on　the　bedspread。　She　knelt　on　the　dirty　carpet　and　scooped　up　the　hair。
　　She　picked　it　from　the　floor　and　filled　a　plastic　garbage　bag。　The　empty　dye　bottle　and　the　applicator　were　thrown　in　with　the　hair；　and　she　tied　the　bag。　There　was　a　knock　at　the　door。
　　Abby　froze；　and　listened。　The　curtains　were　pulled　tightly。　She　slapped　Ray's　feet。　Another　knock。　Ray　jumped　from　the　bed　and　grabbed　the　gun。
　　〃Who　is　it？〃　she　whispered　loudly　at　the　window。
　　〃Sam　Fortune；〃　he　whispered　back。
　　Ray　unlocked　the　door；　and　Mitch　stepped　in。　He　grabbed　Abby　and　bear…hugged　Ray。　The　door　was　locked；　the　lights　turned　off；　and　they　sat　on　the　bed　in　the　darkness。　He　held　Abby　tightly。　With　so　much　to　say；　the　three　said　nothing。
　　A　tiny；　weak　ray　of　light　from　the　outside　filtered　under　the　curtains　and；　as　minutes　passed；　gradually　lit　the　dresser　and　television。　No　one　spoke。　There　were　no　sounds　from　the　Blue　Tide。　The　parking　lot　was　virtually　empty。
　　〃I　can　almost　explain　why　I'm　here；〃　Ray　finally　said；　〃but　I'm　not　sure　why　you're　here。〃
　　〃We've　got　to　forget　why　we're　here；〃　Mitch　said；　〃and　concentrate　on　leaving　here。　All　together。　All　safe。〃
　　〃Abby's　told　me　everything；〃　Ray　said。
　　〃I　don't　know　everything；〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　know　who's　chasing　us。〃
　　〃I'm　assuming　they're　all　out　there；〃　Mitch　said。　〃De…Vasher　and　his　gang　are　nearby。　Pensacola；　I　would　guess。　It's　the　nearest　airport　of　any　size。　Tarrance　is　somewhere　along　the　coast　directing　his　boys　in　their　all…out　search　for
　　Ray　　McDeere；　　the　　rapist。　　　And　　his　　acplice；　　Abby　McDeere。〃
　　〃What　happens　next？〃　Abby　asked。
　　〃They'll　find　the　car；　if　they　haven't　already　done　so。　That　will　pinpoint　Panama　City　Beach。　The　paper　said　the　search'　extended　from　Mobile　to　Miami；　so　now　they're　spread　out。　When　they　find　the　car；　they　zero　in　here。　Now；　there's　a　thousand　cheap　motels　just　like　this　one　along　the　Strip。　For　twelve　miles；　nothing　but　motels；　condos　and　T…shirt　shops。　That's　a　lot　of　people；　a　lot　of　tourists　with　shorts　and　sandals；　and　tomorrow　we'll　be　tourists　too；　shorts；　sandals；　the　whole　bit。　I　figure　even　if　they　have　a　hundred　men　after　us；　we've　got　two　or　three　days。〃
　　〃Once　they　decide　we're　here；　what　happens？〃　she　asked。
　　〃You　and　Ray　could　have　simply　abandoned　the　car　and　taken　off　in　another　one。　They　can't　be　certain　we're　on　the　Strip；　but　they'll　start　looking　here。　But　they're　not　the　Gestapo。　They　can't　crash　a　door　and　search　without　probable　cause。〃
　　〃DeVasher　can；〃　Ray　said。
　　〃Yeah；　but　there's　a　million　doors　around　here。　They'll　set　up　roadblocks　and　watch　every　store　and　restaurant。　They'll　talk　to　every　hotel　clerk；　show　them　Ray's　mug　shot。　They'll　swarm　like　ants　for　a　few　days；　and　with　luck；　they'll　miss　us。〃
　　〃What　are　you　driving；　Mitch？〃　Ray　asked。
　　〃A　U…Haul。〃
　　〃I　don't　understand　why　we　don't　get　in　the　U…Haul；　right　now；　and　haul　ass。　I　mean；　the　car　is　sitting　a　mile　down　the　road；　just　waiting　to　be　found；　and　we　know　they're　ing。　I　say　we　haul　it。〃
　　〃Listen；　Ray。　They　might　be　setting　roadblocks　right　now。　Trust　me。　Did　I　get　you　out　of　prison？　e　on。〃
　　A　siren　went　screaming　past　on　the　Strip。　They　froze；　and　listened　to　it　fade　away。
　　〃Okay；　gang；〃　Mitch　said；　〃we're　moving　out。　I　don't　like　this　place。　The　parking　lot　is　empty　and　too　close　to　the　highway。　I've　parked　the　U…Haul　three　doors　down　at　the　elegant　Sea　Gull's　Rest　Motel。　I've　got　two　lovely　rooms　there。　The　roaches　are　much　smaller。　We're　taking　a　quiet　stroll　on　the　beach。　Then　we　get　to　unpack　the　truck。　Sound　exciting？〃
　　
　　　37
　　JOEY　Morolto　and　his　squad　of　storm　troopers　landed　at　the　Pensacola　airport　in　a　chartered　DC…9　before　sunrise　Friday。　Lazarov　waited　with　two　limos　and　eight　rented　vans。　He　briefed　Joey　on　the　past　twenty…four　hours　as　the　convoy　left　Pensacola　and　traveled　east　on　Highway　98。　After　an　hour　of　briefing；　they　arrived　at　a　twelve…floor　condo　called　the　Sandpiper；　in　the　middle　of　the　Strip　at　Destin。　An　hour　from　Panama　City　Beach。　The　penthouse　on　the　top　floor　had　been　procured　by　Lazarov　for　only　four　thousand　dollars　a　week。　Off…season　rates。　The　remainder　of　the　twelfth　floor　and　all　of　the　eleventh　had　been　leased；　for　the　goons。
　　Mr。　Morolto　snapped　orders　like　an　agitated　drill　sergeant。　A　mand　post　was　set　up　in　the　great　room　of　the　penthouse；　overlooking　the　calm　emerald　water。　Nothing　suited　him。　He　wanted　breakfast；　and　Lazarov　sent　two　vans　to　a　Delchamps　supermarket　nearby。　He　wanted　McDeere；　and　Lazarov　asked　him　to　be　patient。
　　By　daybreak；　the　troops　had　settled　into　their　condos。　They　waited。
　　Three　miles　away　along　the　beach；　and　within　view　of　the　Sandpiper；　F。　Denton　Voyles　and　Wayne　Tarrance　sat　on　the　balcony　of　an　eighth…floor　room　at　the　Sandestin　Hilton。　They　drank　coffee；　watched　the　sun　rise　gently　on　the　horizon　and　talked　strategy。　The　night　had　not　gone　well。　The　car　had　not　been　found。　No　sign　of　Mitch。　With　sixty　FBI　agents　and　hundreds　of　locals　scouring　the　coast；　they　should　have　at　least　found　the　car。　With　each　passing　hour；　the　McDeeres　were　farther　away。
　　In　a　file　by　a　coffee　table　inside　were　the　warrants。　For　Ray　McDeere；　the　warrant　read：　escape；　unlawful　flight；　robbery　and　rape。　Abby's　sin　was　merely　being　an　acplice。　The　charges　for　Mitch　required　more　creativity。　Obstruction　of　justice　and　a　nebulous　racketeering　charge。　And　of　course　the　old　standby；　mail　fraud。　Tarrance　was　not　sure　where　the　mail　fraud　fit；　but　he　worked　for　the　FBI　and　had　never　seen　a　case　that　did　not　include　mail　fraud。
　　The　warrants　were　issued　and　ready　and　had　been　fully　discussed　with　dozens　of　reporters　from　newspapers　and　television　stations　throughout　the　Southeast。　Trained　to　maintain　a　stone　face　and　loathe　the　press；　Tarrance　was　having　a　delightful　time　with　the　reporters。
　　Publicity　was　needed。　Publicity　was　critical。　The　authorities　must　find　the　McDeeres　before　the　Mob　did。
　　Rick　Acklin　ran　through　the　room　to　the　balcony。　〃They've　found　the　car！〃
　　Tarrance　and　Voyles　jumped　to　their　feet。　〃Where？〃
　　〃Panama　City　Beach。　In　the　parking　lot　of　a　high　rise。〃
　　〃Call　our　men　in；　every　one　of　them！〃　Voyles　yelled。　〃Stop　searching　everywhere。　I　want　every　agent　in　Panama　City　Beach。　We'll　turn　the　place　inside　out。　Get　all　the　locals　you　can。　Tell　them　to　set　up　roadblocks　on　every　highway　and　gravel　road　in　and　out　of　there。　Dust　the　car　for　prints。　What's　the　town　look　like？〃
　　〃Similar　to　Destin。　A　twelve…mile　strip　along　the　beach　with　hotels；　motels；　condos；　the　works；〃　Acklin　answered。
　　〃Start　our　men　door　to　door　at　the　hotels。　Is　her　posite　ready？〃
　　〃Should　be；〃　Acklin　said。
　　〃Get　her　posite；　Mitch's　posite；　Ray's　posite　and　Ray's　mug　shot　in　the　hands　of　every　agent　and　cop。　I　want　people　walking　up　and　down　the　Strip　waving　those　damn　posites。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃How　far　away　is　Panama　City　Beach？〃
　　〃About　fifty　minutes　due　east。〃
　　〃Get　my　car。〃
　　The　phone　woke　Aaron　Rimmer　in　his　room　at　the　Perdido　Beach　Hilton。　It　was　the　investigator　with　the　Baldwin　County　Sheriff's　Department。　They　found　the　car；　Mr。　Rimmer；　he　said；　in　Panama　City　Beach。　Just　a　few　minutes　ago。　About　a　mile　from　the　Holiday　Inn。　On　Highway　98。　Sorry　again　about　the　girl；　he　said。　Hope　she's　doing　better；　he　said。
　　Mr。　Rimmer　said　thanks；　and　immediately　called　Lazarov　at　the　Sandpiper。　Ten　minutes　later；　he　and　his　roommate；　Tony；　and　DeVasher　and　fourteen　others　were　speeding　east。　Panama　City　Beach　was　three　hours　away。
　　In　Destin；　Lazarov　mobilized　the　storm　troopers。　They　moved　out　quickly；　piled　into　the　vans　and　headed　east。　The　blitzkrieg　had　begun。
　　It　took　only　a　matter　of　minutes　for　the　U…Haul　to　bee　a　hot　item。　The　assistant　manager　of　the　rental　pany　in　Nashville　was　a　guy　named　Billy　Weaver。　He　opened　the　office　early　Friday　morning；　fixed　his　coffee　and　scanned　the　paper。　On　the　bottom　half　of　the　front　page；　Billy　read　with　interest　the　story　about　Ray　McDeere　and　the　search　along　the　coast。　And　then　Abby　was　mentioned。　Then　the　escapee's　brother；　Mitch　McDeere；　was　mentioned。　The　name　rang　a　bell。
　　Billy　opened　a　drawer　and　flipped　through　the　records　of　outstanding　rentals。　Sure　enough；　a　man　named　McDeere　had