Partner
John Grisham's novel The Partner (1997) follows Patrick Lanigan, a young Mississippi lawyer, who fakes his death in a car fire and steals $90 million from his law firm and client Benny Aricia.
The stolen money was from a US government scam in a military hospital case. Patrick flees to Brazil, where he lives for four years under the assumed name Danilo Silva with his lover Eva Miranda, who distributes the loot through secret bank accounts.
He is eventually found by bounty hunter Jack Stephano, who kidnaps and tortures him in Paraguay for the money. Patrick refuses to budge, and Eva betrays him by contacting the FBI. The agents free Patrick and take over the investigation. With his old friend and lawyer Sandy McDermott, Patrick faces murder charges - the body in the car belonged to a lonely old man, Clovis Goodman, whom Patrick used to deceive, but did not kill.
While Stephano and Aricia hunt Eva, Patrick negotiates with the FBI: return the money plus interest and expose the fraud in exchange for his freedom. Judge Karl Huskey assists in the proceedings. Patrick pleads guilty to desecrating a corpse, but avoids prison. Eva, however, cheats on him and flees with the remaining millions to France. Heartbroken, Patrick returns to Brazil, hoping for her return, as justice for Aricia's gang draws near.
One copy is available
