Lazarov believes it, and that's all that matters. At any rate, he told me to make preliminary plans to, uh, take care of him."
"Damn DeVasher! We can't keep eliminating people."
"Just preliminary plans, nothing serious. I told Lazarov I thought it was much too early and that it would be a mistake. But they are very worried, Locke."
"This can't continue, DeVasher. I mean, damn! We have reputations to consider. We have a higher casualty rate than oil rigs. People will start talking. We're gonna reach a point where no law student in his right mind would take a job here."
"I don't think you need to worry about that. Lazarov has put a freeze on hiring. He told me to tell you that. He also wants to know how many associates are still in the dark."
"Five, I think. Let's see, Lynch, Sorrell, Buntin, Myers and McDeere."
"Forget McDeere. Lazarov is convinced he knows much more than we think. Are you certain the other four know nothing?"
Locke thought for a moment and mumbled under his breath. "Well, we haven't told them. You guys are listening and watching. What do you hear?"
"Nothing, from those four. They sound ignorant and act as if they suspect nothing. Can you fire them?"
"Fire them! They're lawyers, DeVasher. You don't fire lawyers. They're loyal members of The Firm."
"The Firm is changing, Locke. Lazarov wants to fire the ones who don't know and stop hiring new ones. It's obvious the Fibbies have changed their strategy, and it's time for us to change as well. Lazarov wants to circle the wagons and plug the leaks. We can't sit back and wait for them to pick off our boys."
"Fire them," Locke repeated in disbelief. "This firm has never fired a lawyer."
"Very touching, Locke. We've disposed of five, but never fired one. That's real good. You've got a month to do it, so start thinking of a reason. I suggest you fire all four at one time. Tell them you lost a big account and you're cutting back."
"We have clients, not accounts."
"Okay, fine. Your biggest client is telling you to fire Lynch, Sorrell, Buntin and Myers. Now start making plans."
"How do we fire those four without firing McDeere?"
"You'll think of something, Nat. You got a month. Get rid of them and don't hire any new boys. Lazarov wants a tight little unit where everyone can be trusted. He's scared, Nat. Scared and mad. I don't have to tell you what could happen if one of your boys spilled his guts."
"No, you don't have to tell me. What does he plan to do with McDeere?"
"Right now, nothing but the same. We're listening twenty-four hours a day, and the kid has never mentioned a word to his wife or anyone else. Not a word! He's been corralled twice by Tarrance, and he reported both incidents to you. I still think the second meeting was somewhat suspicious, so we're being very careful. Lazarov, on the other hand, insists there was a meeting in Washington. He's trying to confirm. He said his sources knew little, but they were digging. If in fact McDeere met with the Fibbies up there and failed to report it, then I'm sure Lazarov will instruct me to move quickly. That's why he wants preliminary plans to take McDeere out."
"How do you plan to do it?"
"It's too early. I haven't given it much thought."
"You know he and his wife are going to the Caymans in two weeks for a vacation. They'll stay in one of our condos, the usual."
"We wouldn't do it there again. Too suspicious. Lazarov instructed me to get her pregnant."
"McDeere's wife?"
"Yep. He wants them to have a baby, a little leverage. She's on the pill, so we gotta break in, take her little box, match up the pills and replace them with placebos."
At this, the great black eyes saddened just a touch and looked through the window. "What the hell's going on, DeVasher?" he asked softly.
"This place is about to change, Nat. It appears as though the feds are extremely interested, and they keep pecking away. One day, who knows, one of your boys may take the bait, and you'll all leave town in the middle of the night."
"I don't believe that, DeVasher. A lawyer here would be a fool to risk his life and his family for a few promises from the feds. I just don't believe it will happen. These boys are too smart and they're making too much money."
"I hope you're right."
Chapter 22
The leasing agent leaned against the