The Brethren by John Grisham Read Free Book Online

shovels digging like idiots in the rain. Why the rain, he didn’t know. But it was always at night, in the middle of a thunderstorm, and the lightning would flash and he would see them slogging their way through the backyard, each time getting nearer and nearer to the toolshed.
    In one dream the new mystery boyfriend was on a bulldozer, pushing piles of dirt all over the Spicer farm while Rita stood nearby, pointing here and there with her shovel.
    Joe Roy craved the money. He could feel the cash in his hands. He would steal and extort all he could while he counted his days at Trumble, then he wouldrescue his buried loot and head for Vegas. No one in his hometown would have the pleasure of pointing and whispering and saying, “There’s old Joe Roy. Guess he’s out of the pen now.” No sir.
    He’d be living the high life. With or without her.

FOUR
    T eddy looked at his pill bottles lined along the edge of his table, like little executioners ready to take away his misery. York was seated across from him, reading from his notes.
    York said, “He was on the phone until three this morning, talking to friends in Arizona.”
    “Who?”
    “Bobby Lander, Jim Gallison, Richard Hassel, the usual gang. His money people.”
    “Dale Winer?”
    “Yes, him too,” York said, amazed at Teddy’s recall. Teddy had his eyes closed now, and was rubbing his temples. Somewhere between them, somewhere deep in his brain, he knew the names of Lake’s friends, his contributors, his confidants, his poll workers, and his old high school teachers. All of it neatly tucked away, ready to be used if necessary.
    “Anything unusual?”
    “No, not really. Just the typical questions you’d expect from a man contemplating such an unexpectedmove. His friends were surprised, even shocked, and somewhat reluctant, but they’ll come around.”
    “Did they ask about money?”
    “Of course. He was vague, said it would not be a problem, though. They are skeptical.”
    “Did he keep our secrets?”
    “He certainly did.”
    “Was he worried about us listening?”
    “I don’t think so. He made eleven calls from his office and eight from his home. None from his cell phones.”
    “Faxes? E-mail?”
    “None. He spent two hours with Schiara, his—”
    “Chief of staff.”
    “Right. They basically planned the campaign. Schiara wants to run it. They like Nance of Michigan as VP.”
    “Not a bad choice.”
    “He looks fine. We’re already checking him. Had a divorce when he was twenty-three, but that was thirty years ago.”
    “Not a problem. Is Lake ready to commit?”
    “Oh yes. He’s a politician, isn’t he? He’s been promised the keys to the kingdom. He’s already writing speeches.”
    Teddy removed a pill from a bottle and swallowed it without the aid of anything liquid. He frowned as if it was bitter. He squeezed the wrinkles in his forehead and said, “York, tell me we’re not missing anything on this guy. No skeletons.”
    “No skeletons, Chief. We’ve examined his dirtyunderwear for six months. There’s nothing that can hurt us.”
    “He’s not going to marry some fool, is he?”
    “No. He dates several women, but nothing serious.”
    “No sex with his interns?”
    “None. He’s clean.”
    They were repeating a dialogue they’d had many times. Once more wouldn’t hurt.
    “No shady financial deals from another lifetime?”
    “This is his life, Chief. There’s nothing back there.”
    “Booze, drugs, prescription pills, gambling on the Internet?”
    “No sir. He’s very clean, sober, straight, bright, pretty remarkable.”
    “Let’s talk to him.”
    Aaron Lake was once again escorted to the same room deep inside Langley, this time with three handsome young men guarding him as if danger lurked at every corner. He walked even quicker than the day before, his head even taller, his back without the slightest curve. His stature was rising by the hour.
    Once again he said hello to Teddy and shook his calloused hand, then