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s。 He crouched behind his neat little piles of paper and shot questions to the other end； where Stephano fiddled with a paper clip and his lawyer fought with a laptop。
〃When did you form your consortium？〃 Warren asked。
〃After we lost his trail in New York； we pulled back and waited。 We listened where we could listen。 We covered old tracks。 Nothing happened。 The trail quickly ran cold； and we settled in for the long run。 I'd met with Benny Aricia； and he was willing to finance the search。 Then I also met with people from Monarch…Sierra and Northern Case Mutual； and they gave their tentative approval。 Northern Case Mutual had just forked over two point five million to the widow。 They couldn't sue to get it back because there was no conclusive evidence he was still alive。 They agreed to put up a half a million。 Monarch…Sierra was more plicated because they had not paid； at that time。 Their exposure was four million。〃
〃Monarch carried the law firm's malpractice insurance？〃
〃Close。 It was a separate crime rider； in addition to the customary Errors and Omissions policy。 It protected the law firm from fraud and theft by its employees and partners。 Since Lanigan stole from the firm； Monarch…Sierra was forced to pay up； to the tune of four million dollars。〃
〃But your client； Mr。 Aricia； received this money； correct？〃
〃Yes。 He first sued the law firm for the entire sixty million he lost； but the firm had few assets。 The firm agreed to hand over the proceeds from the policy。 We all sat down at the table and struck a deal。 Monarch…Sierra agreed to pay the money without a fight if Mr。 Aricia would use up to a million of it to find Lanigan。 Mr。 Aricia agreed； but only if Monarch…Sierra would kick in another one million to finance the search。〃
〃So Aricia was in for a million； Monarch…Sierra for a million； and Northern Case Mutual for half a million。 Total of two point five。〃
〃Yes； that was the initial agreement。〃
〃Where was the law firm？〃
〃They chose not to participate。 Frankly； they didn't have the money； and they were too shocked to respond。 Initially； they helped in other ways。〃
〃And the players paid up？〃
〃Yes。 The money was wired to my firm's account。〃
〃Now that the search is over； how much of the money is left？〃
〃Almost none。〃
〃How much was spent？〃
〃Three and a half million； give or take a little。 About a year ago； the funds ran out。 The insurance panies said no。 Mr。 Aricia kicked in another half a million； then another three hundred thousand。 His total to date is one point nine。〃
Actually； it was an even two million； now that Benny had reluctantly decided to go after the girl。 The FBI； of course； would not know this。
〃And how was the money spent？〃
Stephano referred to his notes； but only for a glimpse。
〃Almost a million in payroll； travel； and other expenses related to the search。 One point five million in rewards。 And an even million to my firm as fees。〃
〃You've been paid a million dollars？〃 Warren asked； still with no movement of muscle but with a slightly raised voice。
〃Yes。 Over a four…year period。〃
〃Tell me about the rewards。〃
〃Well； it goes to the heart of the search。〃
〃We're listening。〃
〃One of the first things we did was to establish a reward for any information about the disappearance of
Patrick Lanigan。 You guys knew about the reward； but you thought the law firm was backing it。 We quietly went to the law firm and convinced Charles Bogan to announce the formation of a reward for information。 He went public and promised fifty thousand； at first。 Our deal with Bogan was that he would secretly notify us if there was any response。〃
〃The FBI was not informed of this。〃
〃No。 The FBI knew about the reward； and approved it。 But our agreement with Bogan was kept quiet。 We wanted the first shot at any information。 We didn't distrust the FBI； we simply wanted to find Lanigan and the money ourselves。〃
〃How many men did you have working on the case at this point？〃
〃Probably a dozen。〃
〃And where were you？〃
〃Here。 But I went to Biloxi at least once a week。〃
〃Did the FBI know what you were doing？〃
〃Absolutely not。 To my knowledge； the FBI never knew we were involved； until last week。〃
The file in front of Warren certainly reflected this。 〃Continue。〃
〃We heard nothing for two months； three months； four。 We raised the reward money to seventy…five； then to a hundred。 Bogan got hammered with all the nuts out there； and he passed this along to the FBI。 Then in August of '92； he got a call from a lawyer in New Orleans who claimed to have a client who knew something about the disappearance。 The guy sounded very legitimate； and so we went to New Orleans to meet with him。〃
〃What was his name？〃
〃Raul Lauziere； on Loyola Street。〃
〃Did you meet with him？〃
〃I did。〃
〃And who else from your firm？〃
Stephano glanced at his lawyer； who had frozen for the moment and was deep in thought。 〃This is a secretive business。 I'd rather not mention the names of my associates。〃
〃He doesn't have to；〃 the lawyer pronounced loudly； and that was the end of the matter。
〃Fine。 Continue。〃
〃Lauziere appeared to be serious； ethical； and believable。 He was also very prepared。 He seemed to know everything about the disappearance of Patrick and the money。 He had a file of all the press clippings。 Everything was indexed and at his fingertips。 He handed us a four…page； double…spaced narrative of what his client knew。〃
〃Just summarize it in detail。 I'll read it later。〃
〃Certainly；〃 Stephano said； and recounted the narrative from memory： 〃His client was a young woman named Erin who was struggling through med school at Tulane。 She was recently divorced； broke； etc。； and to help make ends meet she worked the late shift in a large bookstore in a mall； one of those big chains。 Sometime in January of '92 she noticed a customer milling around the travel and language section。 He was heavyset； dressed in a suit； neat black and gray beard； and appeared to be somewhat nervous。 It was almost nine at night； and the store was practically deserted。 He finally picked out a language course with twelve cassettes； workbooks； etc。； all in one slick box； and he was easing toward the checkout area where
Erin worked when another man entered the store。 The first man immediately withdrew between the racks and placed the language course back on the shelf。 He then emerged on the other side； and attempted to slip past the second man； a person he obviously knew and didn't want to speak to。 But he didn't make it。 The second man glanced up； and said； 〃Patrick； it's been a long time。〃 A brief conversation ensued in which the two men talked about their law careers。 Erin puttered around the checkout stand and listened because there was nothing else to do。 Evidently； she was keenly curious and watched everything。
〃Anyway； the one called Patrick was anxious to leave； so he finally found the right moment and made a graceful getaway。 Three nights later； at about the same time； he came back。 Erin was putting up stock； not checking out。 She saw him enter； recognized him； remembered he was called Patrick； and watched him。 He made a point to look at the checkout clerk； and when he re