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〃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…million…dollar life insurance policy； and that took three months。 I knew I couldn't leave Trudy and the baby with nothing。 I started gaining the weight； eating like a maniac。 I changed my will。 I convinced Trudy that we should make our funeral and burial arrangements； and I did it without arousing suspicions。〃
〃Cremation was a nice touch。〃
〃Thanks。 I highly remend it。〃
〃Makes it impossible to determine cause of death and identity； a few important things like that。〃
〃Let's not talk about that。〃
〃Sorry。〃
〃Then I got wind of Mr。 Benny Aricia； and his little war with the Pentagon and Platt & Rockland Industries。 Bogan kept him under wraps。 I dug deeper and found out that Vitrano and Rapley and Havarac were all in on the deal。 All the partners but me。 They changed； Karl； all of them。 They became secretive and devious。 Sure I was the new guy； but I was a partner after all。 They had voted unanimously to make me a full partner； and two months later they were dodging me while they conspired with Aricia。 Suddenly； I was the guy doing all the traveling； which worked out just beautifully for everyone。 Trudy could arrange her little trysts。 The partners could meet with Aricia without hiding。 They sent me everywhere； which was fine with me too because I was making plans。 Once I went to Fort Lauderdale for three days of depositions； and while I was there I found a guy in Miami who could do perfect papers。 Two thousand bucks and I had a new driver's license； passport； Social Security card； and voter registration papers from right here in Harrison County。 Carl Hildebrand was my name； in honor of you。〃
〃I'm touched。〃
〃In Boston； I tracked down a guy who can get you lost。 For a thousand bucks I had my own one…day seminar on how to vanish。 In Dayton； I hired a surveillance expert who taught me about bugs and mikes and dirty little devices like that。 I was patient； Karl。 Very patient。 I stayed at the office at odd hours； and gathered as much of the Aricia story as I could get。 I listened hard； quizzed secretaries； rummaged through the garbage。 Then I began wiring offices； just a couple at first to learn how it's done。 I wired Vltrano's； and I couldn't believe what I heard。 They were going to kick me out of the firm； Karl。 Can you believe it？ They knew their cut from the Aricia settlement would be around thirty million； and they were planning to split it four ways。 But the pieces would not be equal。 Bo…gan； of course； would get more； something close to ten million。 He had to take care of some people in Washington。 The other three would get five million； and the rest would be spent on the firm。 I； as it was planned； would be on the streets。〃
〃When was this？〃
〃Throughout most of '91。 Aricia's claim got tentative Justice approval to settle on December 14； 1991； and at that time it was taking about ninety days to get the money。 Not even the Senator could speed things along。〃
〃Tell me about the car wreck。〃
Patrick shifted his weight； then kicked his legs from under the sheet and got out of bed。 〃A cramp；〃 he mumbled as he stretched his back and legs。 He stood by the bathroom door； rocking gently from one foot to the other； looking down at Karl。 〃It was a Sunday。〃
〃February ninth。〃
〃Right。 February ninth。 I spent the weekend at my cabin； and as I was driving home I had a wreck； got killed； and went to heaven。〃
Karl watched him closely and never smiled。 〃Try it again；〃 he said。
〃Why； Karl？〃
〃Morbid fascination。〃
〃Is that all？〃
〃I promise。 It was such a masterful job of deceit； Patrick。 How'd you do it？〃
〃I may have to skip a few of the details。〃
〃I'm sure you will。〃
〃Let's take a walk。 I'm tired of this place。〃
They entered the hall； and Patrick explained to his guards that he and the Judge needed a stroll。 The deputies followed at a distance。 A nurse smiled and asked if she could bring anything。 Two Diet Cokes； Patrick said politely。 Patrick walked very deliberately； saying nothing until they came to the end of the hallway； where plate…glass windows overlooked the parking lot。 They sat on a vinyl bench； looking back down the hall； where the deputies waited fifty feet away with their backs turned to them。
Patrick wore scrub pants； no socks； leather sandals。
〃Have you seen pictures of the crash site？〃 he asked； very quietly。
〃Yes。〃
〃I found it the day before。 The ravine is fairly steep； and I thought it was the perfect place to have the accident。 I waited until about ten； Sunday night； and left the cabin。 I stopped at a little store at the county line。〃
〃Verhall's。〃
〃Right； Verhall's。 I filled the tank。〃
〃Twelve gallons； fourteen dollars and twenty…one cents； paid with a credit card。〃
〃That sounds right。 I chatted with Mrs。 Verhall； then left。 There wasn't much traffic。 Two miles away； I turned pnto a gravel road and went a mile to a spot I had picked out。 I stopped； opened the trunk； and proceeded to get dressed。 I had a set of gear used by dirt bikers…a helmet； shoulder pads； knee and hand pads； the works。 I quickly put it on over my clothing； everything but the helmet； then returned to the highway； where I drove south。 The first time； there was a car behind me。 The second time； there was a car ing toward me in the distance。 I braked hard anyway； leaving skid marks。 There was no traffic the third time。 I put the helmet on； took a deep breath； and left the road。 It was scary as hell； Karl。〃
Karl figured that at this point there was another body somewhere in the car； either dead or alive； but he wouldn't ask。 At least not now。
〃I was only doing about thirty when I left the road； but thirty feels like ninety when you're airborne and trees are flying by。 I was bouncing； snapping small trees。 The windshield cracked。 I was steering right and left； dodging as best I could； but a big pine tree caught the left front。 The airbag exploded； and for a second I was knocked out。 There was a tumbling sensation； then all was still。 I opened my eyes； and felt a sharp pain in my left shoulder。 No blood。 I was dangling somehow； and I realized that the Blazer had e to rest on its right side。 I began crawling out。 By the time I got out of the damned thing； I knew I was lucky。 My shoulder wasn't broken； just jammed。 I walked around the Blazer and was amazed at how well I had wrecked it。 The roof had caved in just above my head。 Another six inches and I'm not sure I could've gotten out。〃
〃That seems incredibly risky。 You could've been killed or badly injured。 Why not simply push the car down the ravine？〃
〃Wouldn't work。 It had to look real； Karl。 The ravine was not steep enough。 This is flat country； remember。〃
〃Why not put a brick on the accelerator and jump out of the way？〃
〃Bricks don't burn。 If they'd found a brick in the car； maybe they would've been suspicious。 I thought of everything； and I decided I could drive it into the trees and walk away。 I had a seat belt； an airbag； a helmet。〃
〃Evel Knievel himself。〃
The nurse brought the Diet Cokes； and wanted to chat for a moment。 She finally le