The Pelican Brief

Behind Barr, a door opened without a sound. Larry, in his socks and avoiding the towels, eased forward two steps and stopped.

Mattiece walked on the towels to a glass door, and opened it. He looked outside and spoke softly. “Of course it’s true.” He walked through the door, and closed it slowly behind him. Barr watched as the idiot shuffled along a sidewalk toward the sand dunes.

“What now?” he thought. Perhaps Emil would come get him. Perhaps.

Larry inched forward with a rope, and Barr did not hear or feel anything until it was too late. Mattiece did not want blood in his gazebo, so Larry simply broke the neck and choked him until it was over.

He game plan called for her to be on this elevator at this point in the search, but she thought enough unexpected events had occurred to warrant a change in the game plan. He thought not. They had engaged in a healthy debate over this elevator ride, and here she was. He was right—this was the quickest route to Curtis Morgan. And she was right—it was a dangerous route to Curtis Morgan. But the other routes could be just as dangerous. The entire game plan was deadly.

She wore her only dress and her only pair of heels. Gray said she looked really nice, but that was to be expected. The elevator stopped on the ninth floor, and when she walked off it there was a pain in her stomach and she could barely breathe.

The receptionist was across a plush lobby. The name WHITE AND BLAZEVICH covered the wall behind her in thick, brass lettering. Her knees were weak, but she made it to the receptionist, who smiled properly. It was ten minutes before five.

“May I help you?” she asked. The nameplate proclaimed her to be Peggy Young.

“Yes,” Darby managed, clearing her throat. “I have a five o’clock appointment with Curtis Morgan. My name is Dorothy Blythe.”

The receptionist was stunned. Her mouth fell open, and she stared blankly at Darby, now Dorothy. She couldn’t speak.

Darby’s heart stopped. “Is something the matter?”

“Well, no. I’m sorry. Just a moment.” Peggy Young stood quickly, and disappeared in a rush.

Run! Her heart pounded like a drum. Run! She tried to control her breathing, but she was battling hyperventilation. Her legs were rubbery. Run!

She looked around, trying to be nonchalant as if she was just another client waiting on her lawyer. Surely they wouldn’t gun her down here in the lobby of a law office.

He came first, followed by the receptionist. He was about fifty with bushy gray hair and a terrible scowl. “Hi,” he said, but only because he had to. “I’m Jarreld Schwabe, a partner here. You say you have an appointment with Curtis Morgan.”

Keep it up. “Yes. At five. Is there a problem?”

“And your name is Dorothy Blythe?”

Yeah, but you can call me Dot. “That’s what I said. Yes. What’s the matter?” She sounded genuinely irritated.

He was inching closer. “When did you make the appointment?”

“I don’t know. About two weeks ago. I met Curtis at a party in Georgetown. He told me he was an oil and gas lawyer, and I happen to need one. I called the office here, and made an appointment. Now, will you please tell me what’s going on?” She was amazed at how well these words were coming from her dry mouth.

“Why do you need an oil and gas lawyer?”

“I don’t think I have to explain myself to you,” she said, real bitchy-like.

The elevator opened, and a man in a cheap suit approached quickly to join the conversation. Darby scowled at him. Her legs would give way just any second.

Schwabe was really bearing down. “We don’t have any record of such an appointment.”

“Then fire the appointment secretary. Do you welcome all new clients this way?” Oh, she was indignant, but Schwabe did not let up.

“You can’t see Curtis Morgan,” he said.

“And why not?” she demanded.

“He’s dead.”

The knees were jelly and about to go. A sharp pain rippled through the stomach. But, she thought quickly, it was okay to looked shocked. He was, after all, supposed to be her new lawyer.

“I’m sorry. Why didn’t anyone call me?”

Schwabe was still suspicious. “As I said, we have no record of a Dorothy Blythe.”

“What happened to him?” she asked, stunned.

“He was mugged a week ago. Shot by street punks, we believe.”

The guy in the cheap suit took a step closer. “Do you have any identification?”

“Who in the hell are you?” she snapped loudly.

“He’s security,” said Schwabe.

“Security for what?” she demanded, even louder. “Is this a law firm or a prison?”

The partner looked at the man in the cheap suit, and it was obvious neither knew exactly what to do at this point. She was very attractive, and they had upset her, and her story was somewhat believable. They relaxed a little.

“Why don’t you leave, Ms. Blythe?” Schwabe said.

“I can’t wait!”

The security man reached to assist her. “Here,” he said.

She slapped his hand. “Touch me and I’ll sue your ass first thing tomorrow morning. Get away from me!”

This shook them a bit. She was mad and lashing out. Perhaps they were being a bit hard.

“I’ll see you down,” the security man said.

“I know how to leave. I’m amazed you clowns have any clients.” She was stepping backward. Her face was red, but not from anger. It was fear. “I’ve got lawyers in four states, and I’ve never been treated like this,” she yelled at them. She was in the center of the lobby. “I paid a half a million last year in legal fees, and I’ve got a million to pay next year, but you idiots won’t get any of it.” The closer she got to the elevator, the louder she yelled. She was a crazy woman. They watched her until the elevator door opened and she was gone.

Gray paced along the end of the bed, holding the phone and waiting for Smith Keen. Darby was stretched out on the bed with her eyes closed.

Gray stopped. “Hello, Smith. I need you to check something quick.”

“Where are you?” Keen asked.

“A hotel. Look back six or seven days. I need the obituary for Curtis D. Morgan.”

“Who’s he?”

“Garcia.”

“Garcia! What happened to Garcia?”

“He died, obviously. Shot by muggers.”

“I remember that. We ran a story last week about a young lawyer who was robbed and shot.”

“Probably him. Can you check it for me? I need his wife’s name and address if we have it.”

“How’d you find him?”

“It’s a long story. We’ll try to talk to his widow tonight.”

“Garcia’s dead. This is weird, baby.”

“It’s more than weird. The kid knew something, and they knocked him off.”

“Do you think you’re safe?”

“Who knows?”

“Where’s the girl?”

“She’s with me.”