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e five sat for a professional photographer； then they spent an hour on the group shot。 Patrick printed five thousand； and received high marks from the other partners。 There he was on page two； fat； bearded； bushy…headed； and looking nothing like the Patrick they found in Brazil。
The photo was used by the press when his death was reported。 It was by far the most recent； and coinciden…tally； Patrick had sent a brochure to the local paper； just in case the firm decided to advertise。 They had laughed about this over drinks at Mary Mahoney's。 They could envision Patrick orchestrating the photography in the firm's conference room。 They could see Bogan and Vitrano and Rapley and Havarac in the darkest navy suits and their most serious smiles； and all the while Patrick was laying the groundwork for his exit。
In the months after he left them； the gang at Mary Mahoney's had toasted Patrick many times and played the game of 〃Where could he be？〃 They had wished him well and thought about his money。 Time passed and so did the shock of his disappearance。 Once they had thoroughly analyzed his life； the sessions came further apart and finally stopped。 Months became years。 Patrick would never be found。
KARL STILL FOUND IT difficult to believe。 He entered the elevator in the lobby and rode alone to the third floor。
He wondered if he had ever given up on Patrick。 The mysteries were too rich to escape。 A bad day on the bench； and he would think of Patrick on a sundrenched beach reading a novel； sipping a drink； watching the girls。 Another year without a pay raise； and he would wonder what the ninety million was doing。 The latest rumor on the demise of the Bogan firm； and he would shame Patrick for the misery he had caused。 No； the truth was； Karl had thought of Patrick； for one reason or another； at least once a day； every day； since he left。
There were no nurses or other patients in the hall。 The two deputies stood。 One said； 〃Evenin'； Judge。〃 He greeted them and entered the darkened room。
Twenty…three
PATRICK WAS SITTING in bed watching 〃Jeopardy〃 with his shirt off and the blinds drawn。 A dim table light was on。 〃Sit here；〃 he told Kaii； pointing to the end of his bed。 He waited just long enough for Karl to see the burns on his chest； then quickly slipped on a tee shirt。 The sheet was up to his waist。
〃Thanks for ing；〃 he said。 He turned the TV off； and the room grew even darker。
〃Pretty nasty burns； Patrick；〃 Karl said as he sat on the edge of the bed； as far away as possible； his right foot hanging off the edge。 Patrick pulled his knees to his chest。 Under the sheet； he still looked painfully thin。
〃It was ugly；〃 he said； his hands wrapped tightly around his knees。 〃Doc says they're healing okay。 But I'll need to stay here for a while。〃
〃I have no problem with that； Patrick。 No one is screaming for you to be moved to the jail。〃
〃Not yet。 But I bet the press will start soon。〃
〃Relax； Patrick。 That decision will be made by me。〃
He seemed relieved。 〃Thanks； Karl。 You know I can't survive in jail。 You've seen it。〃
〃What about Parchman？ It's a hundred times worse。〃
There was a long pause as Karl wished he could take back the words。 It was instantaneous； and cruel。 〃I'm sorry；〃 he said。 〃That was uncalled for。〃
〃I'll kill myself before I go to Parchman。〃
〃I don't blame you。 Let's talk about something pleasant。〃
〃You can't keep this case； can you； Karl？〃
〃No。 Of course not。 I'll have to recuse myself。〃
〃When？〃
〃Pretty soon。〃
〃Who'll get it？〃
〃Either Trussel or Lanks； probably Trussel。〃 Karl stared at him intently as he spoke。 Patrick was having trouble with eye contact。 Karl was waiting for a telling flicker from the eyes； followed by a grin； then a laugh as Patrick broke down and bragged about his escapades。 〃e on； Patrick；〃 Karl wanted to say。 〃Let's hear it。 Tell me the whole story。〃
But the eyes were distant。 This was not the same Patrick。
Karl felt pelled to try。 〃Where'd you get that chin？〃
〃Bought it in Rio。〃
〃And the nose？〃
〃Same place； same time。 You like it？〃
〃It's handsome。〃
〃In Rio； they have drive…through plastic surgery shops。〃
〃I hear they have beaches。〃
〃Unbelievable beaches。〃
〃Did you meet any girls down there？〃
〃A couple。〃
Sex was not a subject Patrick had ever dwelt on。 He enjoyed a long； admiring gaze at an attractive woman； but； to Karl's knowledge； he had remained faithful to Trudy throughout their marriage。 Once； at deer camp； they had pared notes about their wives。 Patrick had admitted it was a challenge to keep Trudy satisfied。
A long pause； and Karl realized Patrick was in no hurry to talk。 The first minute passed in silence； and the second one dragged on。 Karl was happy to visit； even delighted to see his friend； but there was a limit to how long he could sit in a dark room and stare at the walls。
〃Look； Patrick； I will not hear your case； so I'm not here as your Judge。 I'm not your lawyer。 I'm your friend。 You can talk to me。〃
Patrick reached for a small can of orange juice with a straw in it。 〃Would you like something to drink？〃
〃No。〃
He took a short drink and put the can back on the table。 〃I guess it sounds romantic； doesn't it？ The dream of simply walking away； vanishing into the night and when the sun es up you're somebody new。 All your problems are left behind…the drudgery of work； the heartbreak of a bad marriage； the pressure of being more and more affluent。 You have that dream； don't you； Karl？〃
〃I guess everybody does at some point。 How long did you plan it？〃
〃A long time。 I seriously doubted that the baby was mine。 I decided…〃
〃I beg your pardon。〃
〃It's true； Karl。 I'm not the father。 Trudy slept around throughout our marriage。 I loved the child as best I could； but I was miserable。 I gathered evidence and promised myself I would confront Trudy； but it was easy to put off。 Oddly enough； I sort of got used to the idea that she had a lover。 I was planning to leave； but I just didn't know how to do it。 So I read a couple of underground books on how to change identities and obtain new papers。 It's not plicated。 Just takes a little thought and planning。〃
〃So you grew a beard and gained fifty pounds。〃
〃Yeah； I was amazed at how different I looked with the beard。 That was right about the time I made partner； and I was already burned out。 I was married to a woman who wasn't faithful； playing with a child who wasn't mine； working with a bunch of people I couldn't stand。 Something clicked；；Karl。 I was driving one day along Highway 90； headed somewhere important but stuck in traffic； and I looked out across the Gulf。 There was a lonely little sailboat barely moving on the horizon。 And I wanted so desperately to be on it； to sail away to some place where no one knew me。 I sat there； watching it move； aching so badly to swim out to it。 I cried； Karl。 Can you believe that？〃
〃We all have days like that。〃
〃Then I snapped； and I was never the same afterward。 I knew I would vanish。〃
〃How long did it take？〃
〃I had to be patient。 Most people get in a hurry when they decide to disappear； and they make mistakes。 I had time。 I wasn't broke or running from creditors。 I bought a two…milli