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the roaring brawls that followed the loss of the money。 If Bogan wasn't hi his office； or somewhere in the very near vicinity； it was locked with a deadbolt。 His partners had been much too careless； he had reminded them repeatedly。 Especially Vitrano； whose phone had been used during those last fateful chats with Graham Dunlap offshore； which was how Patrick had learned the direction of the money。 This had been rehashed to the point of near fistfights。
Bogan could not； in all fairness； claim he suspected espionage in his own firm。 If so； why hadn't he warned his more indifferent partners？ He'd simply been cautious； and lucky。 Important conversations were held in Bogan's office。 It took only seconds to engage the deadbolt。 He kept the only key。 Not even the janitors could get in without Bogan's presence。
Vitrano closed the door firmly and dropped into the soft leather chair across the desk。
〃I saw the Senator this morning；〃 Bogan said。 〃He called me to his house。〃 Bogan's mother and the Senator's father were siblings。 The Senator was ten years older than Bogan。
〃Is he in a good mood？〃 Vitrano asked。
〃I wouldn't call it that。 He wanted an update on Lanigan； and I told him what I knew。 Still no sign of the money。 He's very nervous about what Lanigan might know。 I assured him； as I've done many times； that all munications with him were done in this office； and that this office was clean。 So； he shouldn't worry about what Lanigan might know。〃
〃But he's worried？〃
〃Of course he's worried。 He asked me again if there was any document tying him to Aricia； and I again said no。〃
〃Which of course is true。〃
〃Yes。 There are no documents with the Senator's name。 Everything with him was verbal。 Most of it was done on the golf course。 I've told him this a thousand times； but he wanted to hear it again； in light of Patrick's return。〃
〃You didn't tell him about the Closet？〃
〃No。〃
They both watched the dust on Bogan's desk and relived what happened in the Closet。 In January of 1992； a month after the Justice Department approved the Aricia settlement； and about two months before they were to receive the money； Aricia had popped in one day； unscheduled and unannounced and in a foul mood。 Patrick was still around； though his funeral was only three weeks away。 The firm had already begun an extensive renovation of its offices； and for this reason Bogan couldn't meet with Aricia in his office。 Painters were on ladders。 Drop cloths covered the furniture。 They got the bative Aricia into a small meeting room across the hall from Bogan's； a room everyone referred to simply as the Closet because of its size。 A small square table with a chair on each side。 No windows。 The ceiling was slanted because a stairway ran above it。
Vitrano was fetched because he was second in mand； and a meeting of sorts menced。 It didn't last long。 Aricia was chafed because the lawyers were about to earn thirty million dollars。 Now that his settlement had been approved； reality had hit hard； and he thought thirty million in legal fees was obscene。 Things turned nasty quickly as Bogan and Vitrano held their ground。 They offered to find their contract for legal services； but Aricia cared nothing for it。
In the heat of the moment； Aricia asked how much of the thirty million the Senator would get。 Bogan grew hostile and said it was none of his business。
Aricia claimed that it was his business； because； after all； the money was his； and then he launched into a windy diatribe attacking the Senator and all politicians in general。 He made much of the fact that the Senator had been working so hard in Washington to pressure the Navy； the Pentagon； and the Justice Department to settle his claim。 〃How much will he get？〃 he kept asking。
Bogan kept slipping the punches。 He would say only that the Senator would be taken care of。 He reminded Aricia that he had carefully chosen the firm because of its political connections。 And he hotly added that sixty million in Aricia's pocket was not such a bad deal； considering how the claim was bogus to begin with。
Too much was said。
Aricia proposed a fee of only ten million。 Bogan and Vitrano rejected it outright。 He stormed out of the Closet； swearing every step of the way。
There were no phones in the Closet； but two mikes were found。 One was under the table； hidden in a corner where two brackets joined； stuck in place by black putty。 The second was placed between two dusty ancient law books on the only shelf in the room。 The books were for decorative purposes。
After the shock of the vanishing fortune； and the subsequent discovery by Stephano of all the bugs and wires； Bogan and Vitrano didn't discuss the Closet meeting for a long time。 Maybe it would just disappear。 They never spoke to Aricia about it； primarily because he had sued them so quickly and now hated the mention of their names。 The incident faded from their memories。 Maybe it never happened after all。
Now that Patrick was back； they had been forced to timidly confront it。 There was always the chance that the mikes had malfunctioned or that Patrick in his haste had missed it。 There were certainly enough other bugs for him to absorb and assimilate。 In fact； they had decided there was a very good chance the Closet meeting had been missed by Patrick。
〃Surely he wouldn't keep the tapes for four years； would he？〃 Vitrano asked。
But Bogan didn't answer。 He sat with his fingers locked over his stomach and watched the dust settle on his desk。 Oh； what could've been。 He would get five million； the Senator the same。 No bankruptcy； no divorce。 He would still have his wife and family； his home and his stature。 He could've taken the five and made it ten by now； and twenty before long； serious big money and the freedom to do anything。 It was all there； a feast on a table； then Patrick snatched it。
The giddiness of finding Patrick had lasted a couple of days； then vanished slowly when it became obvious that the money was not following him back to Biloxi。 With each passing day； the money actually seemed farther away。
〃Do you think we'll get the money； Charlie？〃 Vitrano asked； barely audible； his eyes on the floor。 He hadn't called him Charlie in years。 Such familiarity was unheard of in a firm with so much hatred。
〃No；〃 he said。 There was a long pause。 〃We'll be lucky if we're not indicted。〃
WITH AN HOUR of serious phone work ahead of him； Sandy made the most troubling one first。 Sitting in his parked car in the hospital lot； he called his wife and told her he'd be in very late； so late that he might be forced to stay in Biloxi。 His son was playing in a junior high football game。 He apologized； blamed everything on Patrick； and said he'd explain later。 She took it much better than expected。
He caught a secretary working late at his office； and collected phone numbers from her。 He knew two lawyers in Miami； neither of whom happened to be at the office at seven…fifteen。 The home number for one went unanswered。 The other had a private listing。 He made a series of calls to lawyers he knew in New Orleans； and finally got the home number of Mark Birck； a highly regarded criminal defense specialist in Miami。 Birck was not delighted at recei