jg.thefirm-第48部分
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r prospective recruit even think of such an operation。 It's perfect。 Except； now the feds know about it。〃
〃And now the feds expect you to do their dirty work。 Why did they pick you； Mitch？ There are forty lawyers in 。〃
〃Because I knew nothing about it。 I was a sitting duck。 The FBI is not sure when the partners spring the surprise on the associates； so they couldn't take a chance with anyone else。 I happened to be the new guy； so they set the trap as soon as I passed the bar exam。〃
Abby chewed her lip and held back tears。 She looked blankly at the door across the dark room。 〃And they listen to everything we say；〃 she said。
〃No。 Just every phone call and conversation around the house and in the cars。 We're free to meet here or in most restaurants； and there's always the patio。 But I suggest we move farther away from the sliding door。 To be safe； we need to sneak behind the storage shed and whisper softly。〃
〃Are you trying to be funny？ I hope not。 This is no time for jokes。 I'm so scared； angry； confused； mad as hell and not sure where to turn。 I'm afraid to speak in my own house。 I watch every word I utter on the phone； even if it's a wrong number。 Every time the phone rings； I jump and stare at it。 And now this。〃
〃You need another drink。〃
〃I need ten drinks。〃
Mitch grabbed her wrist and squeezed firmly。 〃Wait a minute。 I see a familiar face。 Don't look around。〃
She held her breath。 〃Where？〃
〃On the other side of the bar。 Smile and look at me。〃
Sitting on a barstool and staring intently at the TV was a well…tanned blond man with a loud blue…and…white alpine sweater。 Fresh from the slopes。 But Mitch had seen the tan and the blond bangs and the blond mustache somewhere in
Washington。 Mitch watched him carefully。 The blue light from the tube illuminated his face。 Mitch hid in the dark。 The man lifted a bottle of beer； hesitated； then； there！； shot a glance into the corner where the McDeeres huddled closely together。
〃Are you sure？〃 Abby asked through； clenched teeth。
〃Yes。 He was in Washington； but I can't place him。 In fact； I saw him twice。〃
〃Is he one of them？〃
〃How am I supposed to know？〃
〃Let's get out of here。〃
Mitch laid a twenty on the table and they left the airport。
Driving her Peugeot； he raced through the short…term parking lot； paid the attendant and sped away toward midtown。 After five minutes of silence； she leaned across and whispered in his ear； 〃Can we talk？〃
He shook his head。 〃Well； how's the weather been while I was away？〃
Abby rolled her eyes and looked through the passenger window。 〃Cold；〃 she said。 〃Chance of light snow tonight。〃
〃It was below freezing the entire week in Washington。〃
Abby looked flabbergasted at this revelation。 〃Any snow？〃 she asked with raised eyebrows and wide eyes as if enthralled with the conversation。
〃No。 Just raw cold。〃
〃What a coincidence！ Cold here and cold there。〃
Mitch chuckled to himself。 They rode silently on the interstate loop。 〃So who's gonna win the Super Bowl？〃 he asked。
〃Oilers。〃
〃Think so； huh？ I'm for the Redskins。 That's all they talked about in Washington。〃
〃My； my。 Must be a real fun city。〃
More silence。 Abby placed the back of her hand over her mouth and concentrated on the taillights ahead。 At this moment of bewilderment； she would take her chances in Ti…juana。 Her husband； number three in his class （at Harvard）； the one with Wall Street firms rolling out the red carpet； the one who could have gone anywhere； to any firm； had signed up with the 。 。 。 Mafia！ With five dead lawyers notched on their belts； they most surely wouldn't hesitate with number six。 Her husband！ Then the many conversations with Kay Quin swirled around her brain。 encourages babies。 permits wives to work； but not forever。 hires no one with family money。 demands loyalty to 。 has the lowest turnover rate in the country。 Small wonder。
Mitch watched her carefully。 Twenty minutes after they left the airport； the Peugeot parked in the carport next to the BMW。 They held hands and walked to the end of the driveway。
〃This is crazy； Mitch。〃
〃Yes； but it's real。 It will not go away。〃
〃What do we do？〃
〃I don't know； babe。 But we gotta do it quick； and we can't make mistakes。〃
〃I'm scared。〃
〃I'm terrified。〃
Tarrance did not wait long。 One week after he waved goodbye to Mitch at the Wall； he spotted him walking hurriedly in the cold in the direction of the Federal Building on North Main； eight blocks from the Bendini Building。 He followed him for two blocks； then slid into a small coffee shop with a row of windows facing the street； or the mall； as it was called。 Cars were prohibited on Main Street in Memphis。 The asphalt had been covered with tile when the boulevard had ceased being a street and had been transformed into the Mid…America Mall。 An occasional useless and desolate tree rose from the tile and stretched its barren limbs between the buildings。 Winos and urban nomads drifted aimlessly from one side of the mall to the other； begging for money and food。
Tarrance sat at a front window and watched in the distance as Mitch disappeared into the Federal Building。 He ordered coffee and a chocolate doughnut。 He checked his watch。 It was 10 A。M。 According to the docket； McDeere had a brief hearing in Tax Court at this moment。 It should be very brief； the clerk of the court had informed Tarrance。 He waited。
Nothing is ever brief in court。 An hour later； Tarrance moved his face closer to the window and studied the scattered bodies walking quickly in the distance。 He drained his coffee cup for the third time； laid two dollars on the table and stood hidden in the door。 As Mitch approached on the other side of the mall； Tarrance moved swiftly toward him。
Mitch saw him and slowed for a second。
〃Hello； Mitch。 Mind if I walk with you？〃
〃Yes； I mind； Tarrance。 It's dangerous； don't you think？〃
They walked briskly and did not look at each other。 〃Look at that store over there；〃 Tarrance said； pointing to their right。 〃I need a pair of shoes。〃 They ducked into Don Pang's House of Shoes。 Tarrance walked to the rear of the narrow store and stopped between two rows of fake Reeboks at 4。99 for two pairs。 Mitch followed him and picked up a pair of size tens。 Don Pang or some other Korean eyed them suspiciously but said nothing。 They watched the front door through the racks。
〃The Director called me yesterday；〃 Tarrance said without moving his lips。 〃He asked about you。 Said it was time you made a decision。〃
〃Tell him I'm still thinking。〃
〃Have you told the boys at the office？〃
〃No。 I'm still thinking。〃
〃That's good。 I don't think you should tell them。〃 He handed Mitch a business card。 〃Keep this。 There are two numbers on the back。 Use either one from a pay phone。 You'll get a recorder； so just leave a message and tell me exactly when and where to meet you。〃
Mitch put the card in his pocket。
Suddenly； Tarrance ducked lower。 〃What is it！〃 Mitch demanded。
〃I think we've been caught。 I just saw a goon walk past the store and look in。 Listen to me； Mitch； and listen carefully。 Walk with me out of the store right now； and the instant we get out the door； yell at me to get lost and shove me away。 I'll act like I want to fight； and you run in the direction of your office。〃
〃You're gonna get me killed； Tarrance。〃
〃Just do as I say。 As soon as you get to the office； report this incident to the partners。 Tell them I cornered you and you got away as soon as possible。〃
Outside； Mitch shoved harder than necessary and yelled； 〃Get the hell away from me！ And leave me alone！〃 He ran two blocks to Union Avenue； then walked to the Bendini Building。 He stopped in the men's room on the first floor to catch his breath。 He stared at himself in the mirror and breathed deeply ten times。
Avery was on the phone； with two lights holding and blinking。 A secretary sat on the sofa； ready with a steno pad for the onslaught of mands。 Mitch looked at her and said； 〃Would you step outside； please。 I need to speak with Avery in private。〃 She stood and Mitch escorted her to the door。 He cl
