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〃I need a phone；〃 Sprawling said。 So did Mast and Jaynes。 They scattered throughout the suite。
REGULAR INMATES received an hour each day outdoors。 It was late October； a cool and cloudy day； and Patrick decided to demand his constitutional rights。 The deputies in the hallway said no； it had not been authorized。
Patrick called Karl Huskey and got everything approved。 He also asked Karl if he could stop by Rosetti's on Division Street near the Point and pick up a couple of Vancleave Specials…crabmeat and cheese po'boys…and join him for lunch； outside。 Karl said he would be delighted。
They ate on a wooden bench； not far from a small fountain and a sad little maple。 The various wings of the hospital surrounded them。 Karl had brought po'boys for the deputies as well； and they sat nearby； just out of earshot。
Karl knew nothing of the meeting under way at the hotel suite； and Patrick didn't tell him。 Parrish was there； and before long he would tell His Honor。
〃What are people saying about me？〃 Patrick asked after he finished a third of his sandwich and put it away。
〃The gossip has died down。 Things are back to normal。 Your friends are still your friends。〃
〃I'm writing letters to some of them。 Would you deliver them？〃
〃Of course I will。〃
〃Thanks。〃
〃I hear they caught your lady friend in Miami。〃
〃Yeah。 But she'll be out soon。 Just a small problem with her passport。〃
Huskey took a large bite of his sandwich and chewed in silence。 He was growing accustomed to the long quiet intervals in their dialogue。 He struggled with what to say next。 Patrick did not。
〃The fresh air is nice；〃 he finally said。 〃Thanks。〃
〃You have a constitutional right to fresh air。〃
〃You ever been to Brazil？〃
〃No。〃
〃You should go。〃
〃Like you； or with my family？〃
〃No； no。 Go visit sometime。〃
〃The beaches？〃
〃No。 Forget the beaches； and forget the cities。 Go to the heart of the country； to the open spaces where the sky is clear and blue； the air is light； the land is beautiful； the people are gentle and unplicated。 It's my home； Karl。 I can't wait to go back there。〃
〃Might be a while。〃
〃Maybe； but I can wait。 I'm not Patrick anymore； Karl。 Patrick is dead。 He was trapped and unhappy。 He was fat and miserable and； thankfully； he went away。 I'm Danilo now； Danilo Silva； a much happier person with a quiet life in another country。 Danilo can wait。〃
And with a beautiful woman and a large fortune； Karl wanted to say； but he let it pass。
〃How does Danilo get back to Brazil？〃 Karl asked。
〃I'm still working on that。〃
〃Look； Patrick…I guess it's okay if I call you Patrick and not Danilo。〃
〃Sure。〃
〃I think it's time for me to step down and give the case to Judge Trussel。 Some motions will soon be due； and rulings will have to be issued。 I've done all I can do to help you。〃
〃Are you taking some heat？〃
〃A little； but nothing that worries me。 I don't want to hurt you； and I'm afraid if I keep your case much longer； people might resent it。 Everybody knows we're friends。 Hell； you even picked me as one of your pallbearers。〃
〃Did I ever thank you for serving？〃
〃No。 You were dead at the time； so don't mention it。 It was fun。〃
〃Yeah； I know。〃
〃Anyway； I've talked to Trussel； and he's ready to take the case。 I've also told him about your heinous injuries； and how important it is for you to stay here for as long as possible。 He understands。〃
〃Thanks。〃
〃But you have to be realistic。 At some point； you're gonna be put in jail。 And you might be there for a long time。〃
〃Do you think I killed that boy； Karl？〃
Karl dropped the remains of his sandwich into a bag and drank his iced tea。 He was not inclined to lie about this。 〃It looks suspicious。 First； there were human remains in the car； so somebody was killed。 Second； the FBI has done an exhaustive puter analysis of all persons who became missing on or shortly before February 9； 1992。 Pepper is the only person within three hundred miles who has not been heard from。〃
〃But that's not enough to convict me。〃
〃Your question was not about getting a conviction。〃
〃Fine。 Do you think I killed him？〃
〃I don't know what to think； Patrick。 I've been a judge for twelve years； and I've seen people stand before me and confess to crimes that they still couldn't believe they mitted。 Under the right circumstances； a man can do just about anything。〃
〃So you believe it？〃
〃I don't want to。 I'm not sure what I believe。〃
〃You think I could kill someone？〃
〃No。 But I didn't think you could fake your death and swipe ninety million bucks either。 Your recent history is full of surprises。〃
Another long pause。 Karl glanced at his watch。 Patrick left him on the bench and walked slowly around the courtyard。
LUNCH in the Camille Suite was an array of bland sandwiches served on plastic trays； and it was interrupted by a return call from the federal Judge who had been assigned Patrick's case four years earlier。 The Judge was in the middle of a trial in Jackson； and had only a minute。 Mast described the cast of players assembled in the suite； and the Judge consented to being placed on a speakerphone。 Mast then gave a hurried summary of the proposed agreement。 The Judge wanted to hear Sandy's version next； and he delivered it。 Sprawling was asked a few questions； and the short phone conference became a lengthy one。 At one point； Sprawling left the room to chat privately with the Judge。 He conveyed the urgent wishes of higher…ups in Washington to cut the deal with Mr。 Lanigan so bigger fish could be caught。 The Judge also talked privately with T。L。 Parrish； who gave the same assurances that Lanigan was not walking away； that he would indeed face the more serious charges； and in all likelihood； though no guarantees were given； spend many years in jail。
The Judge was reluctant to act in such a hurry； but with pressure from those so intimately involved with the case； and given the stature of those present in Biloxi； he relented and agreed to sign the order dismissing all federal charges against Patrick。 The order was promptly faxed to him； and he promptly signed it and faxed it back。
As they finished lunch； Sandy left them briefly for a quick drive to the hospital。 Patrick was in his room； writing a letter to his mother； when Sandy burst in。 〃We did it！〃 He threw the agreement on Patrick's worktable。
〃We got everything we wanted；〃 he said。
〃Full dismissal？〃
〃Yep。 The Judge just signed it。〃
〃How much money？〃
〃Ninety； plus three percent。〃
Patrick closed his eyes and clenched his fists。 The fortune had just taken a major hit； but there was plenty left； enough for him and Eva to one day settle down somewhere safe and have a house full of kids。 A large house。 And many kids。
They scanned the agreement。 Patrick signed it； then Saridy raced back to the hotel。
THE CROWD had thinned by 2 P。M。； when the second meeting got started。 Sandy weled Talbot Mims and his client； a senior VP for Northern Case Mutual named Shenault； who brought with him two in…house lawyers whose names Sandy missed。 For good measure； Mims also brought one of his partners and an associate； both nameless too。 Sandy collected their business cards and escort