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〃Publish it；〃 J。 Murray said； with no conviction。 〃I don't care。〃
〃Better check with your client first。〃
〃It's insignificant； under our law。 Even if she mitted adultery； he continued to live with her after he knew。 Therefore； he accepted it。 He's barred from using it as grounds for divorce。〃
〃Forget the divorce。 She can have that。 Forget the kid too。〃
〃Oh； I see then。 It's extortion。 She releases her claim to his assets； and he doesn't go public。〃
〃Something like that。〃
〃Your client's crazy as hell and so are you。〃 J。 Murray's cheeks turned red and his fists clenched for a second。
Sandy； coolly； flipped through the file and extracted the next bit of damage。 He slid a report across the desk。
〃What is it？〃 J。 Murray demanded。
〃Read it。〃
〃I'm tired of reading。〃
〃Okay； it's a report by the private detective who followed your client and her boyfriend for a year prior to my client's disappearance。 They were together； alone； at various places but primarily at my client's home； indoors； and we presume in bed； on at least sixteen occasions。〃
〃Big deal。〃
〃Check these out；〃 Sandy said； and flung two eight…by…ten color photos； two of the nude ones； on top of the report。 J。 Murray glanced； then grabbed them for a more in…depth study。
Sandy decided to be helpful。 〃Those were taken by the pool at my client's home while he was attending a seminar in Dallas。 Recognize anyone？〃
J。 Murray managed a slight grunt。
〃There are many more；〃 Sandy promised； then waited for J。 Murray to stop his gawking。 〃And I also have three other reports from private detectives。 Seems my client was quite suspicious。〃
Before Sandy's eyes； J。 Murray was transformed from a hard…nosed advocate to a soulful mediator； a chameleon…like conversion mon among lawyers who suddenly found themselves stripped of ammunition。 He exhaled heavily； defeated； and sat low in his leather swivel； 〃They never tell us everything； do they；〃 he said。 It was suddenly us versus them。 Lawyers versus their clients。 He and Sandy were really together now； and what were they to do？
Sandy； though； was not ready for the tag team。 〃Again； I'm not the First Amendment hawk you claim to be； but if these found their way into the tabloids； then it sure would be embarrassing for Trudy。〃
J。 Murray waved him off and glanced at his watch。 〃Sure you don't want a drink？〃
〃I'm sure。〃
〃What's your boy got？〃
〃I honestly don't know； yet。 And that's not the important question。 What matters is what he will have left when the dust settles； and right now no one knows。〃
〃Surely he's got most of the ninety million。〃
〃He's being sued for much more than that。 Not to mention the possibility of a long prison sentence and maybe an execution。 This divorce； Mr。 Riddleton； is the least of his worries。〃
〃Then why are you threatening us？〃
〃He wants her to shut up； to get her divorce and go away； and to release all future claims against him。 He wants it done now。〃
〃If not？〃 J。 Murray loosened his tie and sunk an inch lower。 The day was suddenly late； he needed to go home。 He thought for a long minute； then said； 〃She'll lose everything； does he know that？ The life insurance pany will wipe her out。〃
〃There are no winners here； Mr。 Riddleton。〃
〃Let me speak to her。〃
Sandy gathered his things and made a slow retreat to the door。 J。 Murray managed another sad smile； and just as they were shaking hands to depart； Sandy； as if he had almost forgotten it； mentioned the anonymous tip his office had received in New Orleans about Lance searching for a hit man。 He didn't know if he believed it； but he felt pelled to discuss it with the Sheriff and the FBI anyway。
They discussed it briefly。 Riddleton promised to mention it to his client。
Twenty…one
DR。 HAYANI'S LAST STOP was Patrick's room。 It was almost dark； long past time to leave for the day； and he found his famous patient sitting in his gym shorts in a chair at a makeshift desk in the only empty corner of his room。 The desk was a small table； with a lamp Patrick had conned out of an orderly。 A plastic water cup held pens and pencils。 Another held the beginning of a collection of paper clips； rubber bands； push pins； all donated by the nursing staff。 He even had three legal pads。
Patrick was in business。 An impressive collection of legal documents occupied one corner； and he was reviewing one of the numerous lawsuits filed against him when his doc popped in； for the third time of the day。
〃Wele to my office；〃 Patrick said。 A bulky TV hung not far above his head。 The back of his chair was a foot from the end of his bed。
〃Nice；〃 Hayani said。 Rumors in hospitals flew faster than in law offices； and throughout the last two days there had been amused whispers about the new firm being established in Room 312。 〃I hope you don't sue doctors。〃
〃Never。 In thirteen years of practicing law； I never sued a doctor。 Nor a hospital。〃 He stood as he said this and turned to face Hayani。
〃I knew I liked you；〃 the doctor said as he gently examined the burns on Patrick's chest。 〃How are you doing？〃 he asked； for the third time that day。
〃I'm fine；〃 Patrick repeated； for the umpteenth time that day。 The nurses； starstruck and curious； barged in at least twice an hour with any one of a hundred errands； and always with a chirping； 〃How ya feeling？〃
〃I'm fine；〃 he always answered。
〃Did you nap today？〃 Hayani asked； squatting and poking along the left thigh。
〃No。 It's hard to sleep without pills； and I really hate to take anything during the day；〃 Patrick answered。 In truth； napping was impossible with the parade of nurses and orderlies。
He sat on the edge of the bed and looked sincerely at his doctor。 〃Can I tell you something？〃 he asked。
Hayani stopped scribbling on a chart。 〃Certainly。〃
Patrick cast his eyes to the left and to the right as if there could be ears everywhere。 〃When I was a lawyer；〃 he began softly； 〃I had this client； a banker； who got caught embezzling。 He was forty…four years old； married； three teenaged kids； a great guy who did a dumb thing。 He was arrested at home； late at night； and taken to the county jail。 It was crowded； and he got thrown into a cell with a couple of young street punks； black guys； mean as hell。 They gagged him first so he couldn't scream。 They beat him； then they did things you don't want to know about。 Two hours after he was sitting in his den watching a movie； he was half…dead in a jail cell three miles from his home。〃 Patrick's chin hit his chest and he pinched the bridge of his nose。
Dr。 Hayani touched his shoulder。
〃You can't let that happen to me； Doc；〃 Patrick said； his eyes watery； his voice strained。
〃Don't worry； Patrick。〃
〃The thought of it horrifies me； Doc。 I have nightmares about it。〃
〃You have my word； Patrick。〃
〃God knows I've been through enough。〃
〃I promise； Patrick。〃
THE NEXT INTERROGATOR was a squirrely little man named Warren； who chain…smoked and viewed the world through thick； dark glasses。 His eyes were invisible。 His left hand worked the cigarette； his right one handled the pen； and nothing else moved； except his lips。 He crouched behind his neat little piles of paper and shot questions to the