Primal Fear Read Online Free PDF Page B

the dollars across the table and the Judge trapped it with a slap of the hand.
    “Otis. He’d be the city whip.”
    Vail slid a second dollar toward him.
    The Judge stared hard at Vail, who put on his best poker face.
    “For the county … guessing, I’d say the meanest man they’ve got. That would have to be Johnny Malloway.”
    “Brilliant,” Vail said, sliding him another dollar piece. “One to go.”
    “Now who would they throw at you from the state? Someone from the governor’s staff maybe? Or the attorney general’s office … or even the House. Probably somebody with a greased tongue, one of those oily bastards to balance Flederman, Burnside and Malloway, since they’re all steamrollers. Uh huh … uh huh. And who’s the greasiest one in the bunch?” He chuckled. “Have to be Mr. Slick himself. Woodrow P. Carlisle.”
    Vail smiled and slowly shook his head. The Judge looked surprised. “Well I’ll be damned,” he said, and slid one dollar back to Vail. “Okay, I capitulate, sir. Who was the state’s mystery man?”
    “Roy Shaughnessey.”
    Spalding was obviously shocked. “You’re kidding!”
    “Not on your life.” Tad brought him his usual breakfast—two soft poached eggs on white toast, home fries and sausage. He attacked the meal hungrily, talking as he ate. “Now here’s the kicker—he was playing my game.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “My offer was a million-six and Pinero leaves the state forever.Shaughnessey told them to take it, no arguments. The whole thing didn’t last thirty minutes.”
    “They rolled over, just like that?”
    “Just like that. I didn’t even give ’em the options. I never had to put a card on the table.”
    “Seems to me you may have a little problem with your client. How’s he going to feel when you tell him he just had to eat six and a half million dollars?”
    “He gets a million-one. I take five hundred thou.”
    “How’re you going to explain that? Pinero has the scruples of a hyena. I remind you, he’s buried at least four people … that we know about.”
    “I’ll scare him to death,” Vail said.
    “Hah! With what?”
    “Ten to life upstate.”
    The Judge thought for a moment and nodded. “Well, that’s a pretty good scare card.”
    “Hell, Pinero’s never seen a million dollars; he can barely count to ten. With any luck at all, he’ll end up in a bridge somewhere before he sorts it all out. I just hope the little hothead doesn’t get his brains blown out before we get the check.”
    The Judge redressed the morning meeting. “Getting back to the subject at hand,” he said. “There is something definitely not kosher here, my friend.”
    “Hey, it’s a very reasonable deal. The city will probably pick up eight hundred thou and the state and county each kick in four hundred. Nobody gets hurt too badly and the whole thing goes away.”
    “Yes, but this wasn’t litigation, Martin m’ boy, it was politics, and politics is never logical. What’s their agenda? What are they really after?”
    “I think you’re being a little paranoid.”
    “Oh yes, absolutely. I agree it was a reasonable deal for them, but to agree hands down? Something doesn’t smell just right here. And you say Roy was on
your
side?”
    “He told them to take it, in so many words. Do the deal, he said.”
    “Then you owe him one, Marty. That’s the way that game plays. He’s going to call in a favor on you.”
    “Aw c’mon. Besides, what can I do for Roy Shaughnessey?”
    “Oh,” said the Judge, “I’m sure he’s got something in mind.When it’s payoff time, you’ll know. And there won’t be any argument. That’s the way it’s done, Shaughnessey style.”
    Martin Vail turned back to his breakfast and ate quietly for a minute or two. Then the Judge tapped on the table with his finger.
    “Here comes another problem, Counselor.”
    Vail looked toward the entrance. Joey Pinero had just entered Butterfly’s. Pinero, who was also known in some