jg.atimetokill-第38部分

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　〃Did　he　get　the　M…16　from　you？〃
　Tiny　grunted　and　Cat　smiled。　〃Of　course　not。〃
　〃Would　you　like　to　see　him？〃
　〃Why　sure。　It's　that　easy？〃
　〃Yep。　If　you　can　move　Tiny　away　from　that　door；　I'll　get　him。〃
　Tiny　stepped　aside；　and　two　minutes　later　Ozzie　was　back　with　the　prisoner。　Cat　yelled　at　him；　hugged　him；　and　they　patted　each　other　like　boxers。　Carl　Lee　looked　awkwardly　at　Ozzie；　who　took　the　hint　and　left。　Tiny　again　closed　the　door　and　stood　guard。　Carl　Lee　moved　two　chairs　together　so　they　could　face　each　other　closely　and　talk。
　Cat　spoke　first。　〃I'm　proud　of　you；　big　man；　for　what　you　did。　Real　proud。　Why　didn't　you　tell　me　that's　why　you　wanted　the　gun？〃
　〃Just　didn't。〃
　〃How　was　it？〃
　〃Just　like　'Nam；　except　they　couldn't　shoot　back。〃
　〃That's　the　best　way。〃
　〃Yeah；　I　guess。　I　just　wish　none　of　this　had　to　happen。〃
　〃You　ain't　sorry；　are　you？〃
　Carl　Lee　rocked　in　his　chair　and　studied　the　ceiling。　〃I'd　do　it　over；　so　I　got　no　regrets　about　that。　I　just　wish　they　hadn't　messed　with　my　little　girl。　I　wish　she　was　the　same。　I　wish　none　of　it　ever　happened。〃
　〃Right；　right。　It's　gotta　be　tough　on　you　here。〃
　〃I　ain't　worried　'bout　me。　I'm　real　concerned　with　my　family。〃
　〃Right；　right。　How's　the　wife？〃
　〃She's　okay。　She'll　make　it。〃
　〃I　saw　in　the　paper　where　the　trial's　in　July。　You　been　in　the　paper　more　than　me　here　lately。〃
　〃Yeah；　Cat。　But　you　always　get　off。　I　ain't　so　sure　'bout　me。〃
　〃You　gotta　good　lawyer；　don't　you？〃
　〃Yeah。　He's　good。〃
　Cat　stood　and　walked　around　the　office；　admiring　Oz…zie's　trophies　and　certificates。　〃That's　the　main　reason　I　came　to　see　you；　my　man。〃
　〃What's　that？〃　Carl　Lee　asked；　unsure　of　what　his　friend　had　in　mind；　but　certain　his　visit　had　a　purpose。
　〃Carl　Lee；　you　know　how　many　times　I　been　on　trial？〃
　〃Seems　like　all　the　time。〃
　〃Five！　Five　times　they　put　me　on　trial。　The　federal　boys。　The　state　boys。　The　city　boys。　Dope；　gamblin'；　bribery；　guns；　racketeerin'；　whores。　You　name　it；　and　they've　tried　me　for　it。　And　you　know　somethin'；　Carl　Lee；　I've　been　guilty　of　it　all。　Evertime　I've　gone　to　trial；　I've　been　guilty　as　hell。　You　know　how　many　times　I　been　convicted？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃None！　Not　once　have　they　got　me。　Five　trials；　five　not　guilties。〃
　Carl　Lee　smiled　with　admiration。
　〃You　know　why　they　can't　convict　me？〃
　Carl　Lee　had　an　idea；　but　he　shook　his　head　anyway。
　〃Because；　　Carl　Lee；　I　got　the　smartest；　　meanest；
　v〃》…n_》n。^utai　illinium　lawyer　in　inese　pans；　。tie　cneats；　ne　plays　dirty；　and　the　cops　hate　him。　But　I'm　sittin'　here　instead　of　some　prison。　He'll　do　whatever　it　takes　to　win　a　case。〃
　〃Who　is　he？〃　Carl　Lee　asked　eagerly。
　〃You've　seen　him　on　television　walkin'　in　and　outta　court。　He's　in　the　papers　all　the　time。　Evertime　some　big…shot　crook　gets　in　trouble；　he's　there。　He　gets　the　drug　dealers；　the　politicians；　me；　all　the　big…time　thugs。〃
　〃What's　his　name？〃
　〃He　handles　nothin'　but　criminal　cases；　mainly　dope；　bribery；　extortion；　stuff　like　that。　But　you　know　what　his　favorite　is？〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Murder。　He　loves　murder　cases。　Ain't　never　lost　one。　Gets　all　the　big　ones　in　Memphis。　Remember　when　they　caught　those　two　niggers　throwin'　a　dude　off　the　bridge　into　the　Mississippi。　Caught　them　redhanded。　'Bout　five　years　ago？〃
　〃Yeah；　I　remember。〃
　〃Had　a　big　trial　for　two　weeks；　and　they　got　off。　He　was　the　man。　Walked　them　outta　there。　Not　guilty。〃
　〃I　think　I　remember　seein'　him　on　TV。〃
　〃Sure　you　did。　He's　a　bad　dude；　Carl　Lee。　I'm　tellin'　you　the　man　never　loses。〃
　〃What's　his　name？〃
　Cat　landed　in　his　chair　and　stared　solemnly　into　Carl　Lee's　face。　〃Bo　Marsharfsky；〃　he　said。
　Carl　Lee　gazed　upward　as　if　he　remembered　the　name。　〃So　what？〃
　Cat　laid　five　fingers　with　eight　carats　on　Carl　Lee's　knee。　〃So　he　wants　to　help　you；　my　man。〃
　〃I　already　got　one　lawyer　I　can't　pay。　How　I'm　gonna　pay　another？〃
　〃You　ain't　gotta　pay；　Carl　Lee。　That's　where　I　e　in。　He's　on　my　retainer　all　the　time。　I　own　him。　Paid　the　guy　'bout　a　hundred　thousand　last　year　just　to　keep　me　outta　trouble。　You　don't　pay。〃
　Suddenly；　Carl　Lee　had　a　keen　interest　in　Bo　Marsharfsky。　〃How　does　he　know　'bout　me？〃
　〃Because　he　reads　the　paper　and　watches　the　tube。　You
　know　how　lawyers　are。　I　was　in　his　office　yesterday　and　he　was　studyin'　the　paper　with　your　picture　on　the　front。　I　told　him　'bout　me　and　you。　He　went　crazy。　Said　he　had　to　have　your　case。　I　said　I　would　help。〃
　〃And　that's　why　you're　here？〃
　〃Right；　right。　He　said　he　knew　just　the　folks　to　get　you　off。〃
　〃Like　who？〃
　〃Doctors；　psychiatrists；　folks　like　that。　He　knows　them　all。〃
　〃They　cost　money。〃
　〃I'll　pay　for　it；　Carl　Lee！　Listen　to　me！　I'll　pay　for　it　all。　You'll　have　the　best　lawyer　and　doctors　money　can　buy；　and　your　old　pal　Cat　will　pay　the　tab。　Don't　worry　'bout　money！〃
　〃But　I　gotta　good　lawyer。〃
　〃How　old　is　he？〃
　〃I　guess　'bout　thirty。〃
　Cat　rolled　his　eyes　in　amazement。　〃He's　a　child；　Carl　Lee。　He　ain't　been　outta　school　long　enough。　Marsharfsky's　fifty；　and　he's　handled　more　murder　cases　than　your　boy'll　ever　see。　This　is　your　life；　Carl　Lee。　Don't　trust　it　to　no　rookie。〃
　Suddenly；　Jake　was　awful　young。　But　then　there　was　Lester's　trial　when　Jake　had　been　even　younger。
　〃Look；　Carl　Lee；　I　been　in　many　trials；　and　that　crap　is　plicated　and　technical。　One　mistake　and　your　ass　is　gone。　If　this　kid　misses　one　trick；　it　might　be　the　difference　between　life　and　death。　You　can't　afford　to　have　no　young　kid　in　there　hopin'　he　don't　mess　up。　One　mistake；〃　Cat　snapped　his　fingers　for　special　effect；　〃and　you're　in　the　gas　chamber。　Marsharfsky　don't　make　mistakes。〃
　Carl　Lee　was　on　the　ropes。　〃Would　he　work　with　my　lawyer？〃　he　asked；　seeking　promise。
　〃No！　No　way。　He　don't　work　with　nobody。　He　don't　need　no　help。　Your　boy'd　be　in　the　way。〃
　Carl　Lee　placed　his　elbows　on　his　knees　and　stared　at　his　feet。　A　thousand　bucks　for　a　doctor　would　be　impossible。　He　did　not　understand　the　need　for　one　since　he　had　not　felt　insane　at　the　time；　but　evidently　one　would　be　necessary。　Everyone　seemed　to　think　so。　A　thousand　bucks　for　a　cheap　doctor。　Cat　was　offering　the　best　money　could　buy。
　i　naic　10　uo　mis　10　my　lawyer；　　　ne　muttered　quietly。
　〃Don't　be　stupid；　man；〃　Cat　scolded。　〃You　better　be　lookin'　out　for　Carl　Lee　and　to　hell　with　this　child。　This　ain't　no　time　to　worry　'bout　hurtin'　feelin's。　He's　a　lawyer；　forget　him。　He'll　get　over　it。〃
　〃But　I　already　paid　him…〃
　〃How　much？〃　Cat　demanded；　snapping　his　fingers　at　Tiny。
　〃Nine　hundred　bucks。〃
　Tiny　produced　a　wad　of　cash；　and　Cat　peeled　off　nine　one…hundred…dollar　bills　and　stuffed　them　in　Carl　Lee's　shirt　pocket。　〃Here's　somethin'　for　the　kids；〃　he　said　as　he　unraveled　a　one…thousand…dollar　bill　and　stuffed　it　with　the　rest。
　Carl　Lee's　pulse　jumped　as　he　thought　of　the　cash　covering　his　heart。　He　felt　it　move　in　the　pocket　and　press　gently　against　his　chest。　He　wanted　to　look　at　the　big　bill　and　hold　it　firmly　in　his　hand。　Food；　he　thought；　food　for　his　kids。
　〃We　gotta　deal？〃　Cat　asked　with　a　smile。
　〃You　want　me　to　fire　my　lawyer　and　hire　yours？〃　he　asked　carefully。
　〃Right；　right。〃
　〃And　you　gonna　pay　for　everthing？〃
　〃Right；　right。〃
　〃What　about　this　money？〃
　〃It's　yours。　Lemme　know　if　you　need　more。〃
　〃Mighty　nice　of　you；　Cat。〃
　〃I'm　a　very　nice　man。　I'm　helpin'　two　friends。　One　saved　my　life　many　years　ago；　and　the　other　saves　my　ass　ever　two　years。〃
　〃Why　does　he　want　my　case　so　bad？〃
　〃Publicity。　You　know　how　lawyers　are。　Look　at　how　much　press　this　kid's　already　made　off　you。　It's　a　lawyer's　dream。　We　gotta　deal？〃
　〃Yeah。　It's　a　deal。〃
　Cat　struck　him　on　the　shoulder　with　an　affectionate　blow；　and　walked　to　the　phone　on　Ozzie's　desk。　He　punched　the　numbers。　〃Collect　to　901…566…9800。　From　Cat　Bruster。　Person　to　person　to　Bo　Marsharfsky。〃
　On　the　twentieth　floor　in　a　downtown　office　building；　Bo　Marsharfsky　hung　up　the　phone　and　asked　his　secretary　if　the　press　release　was　prepared。　She　handed　it　to　him；　and　he　read　it　carefully。
　〃This　looks　fine；〃　he　said。　〃Get　it　to　both　newspapers　immediately。　Tell　them　to　use　the　file　photograph；　the　new　one。　See　Frank　Fields　at　the　Post。　Tell　him　I　want　it　on　the　front　page　in