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〃Sure。〃 The friend took the hint and left。
〃What about？〃 Akers asked。
〃Did you clerk for White and Blazevich last summer？〃
〃Yes。〃 Akers was friendly and enjoying this。
〃What section？〃
〃Real estate。 Boring as hell； but it was a job。 Why do you want to know？〃
〃She handed him the photo。Do you recognize this man？ He works for White and Blazevich。〃
Akers wanted to recognize him。 He wanted to be helpful and have a long conversation with her； but the face did not register。
〃Kind of a suspicious picture； isn't it？〃 he said。
〃I guess。 Do you know him？〃
No。 I've never seen him。 It's an awfully big firm。 The partners wear name badges to their meetings。 Can you believe it？ The guys who own the firm don't know each other。 There must be a hundred partners。〃
〃Eighty…one； to be exact。Did you have a supervisor？〃
〃Yeah； a partner named Walter Welch。 A real snot。 I didn't like the firm； really。〃
〃Do you remember any other clerks？〃
〃Sure。 The place was crawling with summer clerks。〃
〃If I needed their names； could I get back with you？〃
〃Anytime。 This guy in trouble？〃
〃I don't think so。 He may know something。〃
〃I hope they all get disbarred。 A bunch of thugs； really。 It's a rotten place to work。 Everything's political。〃
〃Thanks。〃 She smiled； and turned away。 He admired the rear view； and said； 〃Call me anytime。〃
〃Thanks。〃
Darby； the investigative reporter； walked next door to the library building； and climbed the stairs to the fifth floor where the Georgetown Law Journal had a suite of crowded offices。 She'd found the most recent edition of 'thejournal in the library； and noticed that JoAnne Ratliff was an assistant editor。 She suspected most law reviews and law journals were much the same。 The top students hung out there and prepared their scholarly articles and ments。 They were superior to the rest of the students； and were a clannish bunch who appreciated their bril liant minds。 They hung out in the law journal suite。 It was their second home。
She stepped inside and asked the first person where she might find JoAnne Ratliff。 He pointed around a corner。 Second door on the right。 The second door opened into a cluttered workroom lined with rows of books。 Two females were hard at work。
〃JoAnne Ratliff；〃 Darby said。
〃That's me；〃 an older woman of maybe forty responded。
〃Hi。 My name is Sara Jacobs； and I'm working on a story for the Washington Post。 Can I ask you a few quick questions？〃
She slowly laid her pen on the table； and frowned at the other woman。 Whatever they were doing was terribly important； and this interruption was a real pain in the ass。 They were significant law students。
Darby wanted to smirk and say something smart。 She was number two in her class； dammit！； so don't act so high and mighty。
〃What's the story about？〃 Ratliff asked。
〃Could we speak in private？〃
They frowned at each other again。
〃I'm very busy；〃 Ratliff said。
So am I； thought Darby。 You're checking citations for some meaningless article； and I'm trying to nail the man who killed two Supreme Court Justices。
〃I'm sorry；〃 Darby said。 〃I promise I'll just take a minute。〃
They stepped into the hall。 〃I'm very sorry to disturb you； but I'm in sort of a rush。〃
〃And you're a reporter with the Post？〃 It was more of a challenge than a question； and she was forced to lie some more。 She told herself she could lie and cheat and steal for two days； then it was off to the Caribbean and Grantham could have it。
〃Yes。 Did you work for White and Blazevich last summer？〃
〃I did。 Why？〃
Quickly； the photo。 Ratliff took it and analyzed it。
〃Do you recognize him？〃
She shook her head slowly。 〃I don't think so。 Who is he？〃
This bitch'll make a fine lawyer。 So many questions。 If she knew who he was； she wouldn't be standing in this tiny hallway acting like a reporter and putting up with this haughty legal eagle。
〃He's a lawyer with White and Blazevich；〃 Darby said as sincerely as possible。 〃I thought you might recognize him。〃
〃Nope。〃 She handed the photo back。
Enough of this。 〃Well； thanks。 Again； sorry to bother。〃
〃No problem；〃 Ratliff said as she disappeared through the door。
* * *
SHE JUMPED into the new Hertz Pontiac as it stopped at the corner； and they were off in traffic。 She had seen enough of the Georgetown Law School。
〃I struck out；〃 Gray said。 〃Linney wasn't home。〃
〃I talked to Akers and Ratliff； and both said no。 That's five of seven who don't recognize Garcia。〃
〃I'm hungry。 You want some lunch？〃
〃That's fine。〃
〃Is it possible to have five clerks work three months in a law firm and not one of them recognize a young associate？〃
〃Yeah； it's not only possible； it's very probable。 This is a long shot； remember。 Four hundred lawyers means a thousand people when you add secretaries； paralegals； law clerks； office clerks； copy room clerks； mail room clerks； all kinds of clerks and support people。 The lawyers tend to keep to themselves in their own little sections。〃
〃Physically； are the sections on separate territory？〃
〃Yes。 It's possible for a lawyer in banking on the third floor to go weeks without seeing an acquaintance in litigation on the tenth floor。 These are very busy people； remember。〃
〃Do you think we've got the wrong firm？〃
〃Maybe the wrong firm； maybe the wrong law school。〃
〃The first guy； Maylor； gave me two names of George Washington students who clerked there last summer。 Let's get them after lunch。〃 He slowed and parked illegally behind a row of small buildings。
〃Where are we？〃 she asked。
〃A block off Mount Vernon Square； downtown。 The Post is six blocks that way。 My bank is four blocks that way。 And this little deli is just around the corner。〃
They walked to the deli； which was filling fast with lunch traffic。 She waited at a table by the window as he stood in line and ordered club sandwiches。 Half the day had flown by； and though she didn't enjoy this line of work； it was nice to stay busy and forget about the shadows。 She wouldn't be a reporter； and at the moment a career in law looked doubtful。 Not long ago； she'd thought of being a judge after a few years in practice。 Forget it。 It was much too dangerous。
Gray brought a tray of food and iced tea； and they began eating。
〃Is this a typical day for you？〃 she asked。
〃This is what I do for a living。 I snoop all day； write the stories late in the afternoon； then dig until late at night。〃
〃How many stories a week？〃
〃Sometimes three or four； sometimes none。 I pick and choose； and there's little supervision。 This is a bit different。 I haven't run one in ten days。〃
〃What if you ca