raymondchandler.thehighwindow-第14节

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　side　and　a　short　squirrel　coat　across　her　feet。　Her　mouth　was　a　little　open　and　her　face　was　drained　and　shocked。
　 Hench　said　thickly：　〃If　the　idea　is　the　guy　was　shot　with　the　gun　under　the　pillow；　okay。　Seems　like　he　might　have　been。　It　ain't　my　gun　and　nothing　you　boys　can　think　up　is　going　to　make　me　say　it's　my　gun。〃
　 〃Assuming　that　to　be　so；〃　Breeze　said；　〃how　e？　Somebody　swiped　your　gun　and　left　this　one。　When；　how；　what　kind　of　gun　was　yours？〃
　 〃We　went　out　about　three…thirty　or　so　to　get　something　to　eat　at　the　hashhouse　around　the　corner；〃　Hench　said。　〃You　can　check　that。　We　must　have　left　the　door　unlocked。　We　were　kind　of　hitting　the　bottle　a　little。　I　guess　we　were　pretty　noisy。　We　had　the　ball　game　going　on　the　radio。　I　guess　we　shut　it　off　when　we　went　out。　I'm　not　sure。　You　remember？〃　He　looked　at　the　girl　lying　white…faced　and　silent　on　the　bed。　〃You　remember；　sweet？〃
　 The　girl　didn't　look　at　him　or　answer　him。
　 〃She's　pooped；〃　Hench　said。　〃I　had　a　gun；　a　Colt　。32；　same　caliber　as　that；　but　a　belly　gun。　A　revolver；　not　an　automatic。　There's　a　piece　broken　off　the　rubber　grip。　A　Jew　named　Morris　gave　it　to　me　three　four　years　ago。　We　worked　together　in　a　bar。　I　don't　have　no　permit；　but　I　don't　carry　the　gun　neither。〃
　 Breeze　said：　〃Hitting　the　hooch　like　you　birds　been　and　having　a　gun　under　the　pillow　sooner　or　later　somebody　was　going　to　get　shot。　You　ought　to　know　that。〃
　 〃Hell；　we　didn't　even　know　the　guy；〃　Hench　said。　His　tie　was　tied　now；　very　badly。　He　was　cold　sober　and　very　shaky。　He　stood　up　and　picked　a　coat　off　the　end　of　the　bed　and　put　it　on　and　sat　down　again。　I　watched　his　fingers　tremble　lighting　a　cigarette。　〃We　don't　know　his　name。　We　don't　know　anything　about　him。　I　see　him　maybe　two　three　times　in　the　hall；　but　he　don't　even　speak　to　me。　It's　the　same　guy；　I　guess。　I　ain't　even　sure　of　that。〃
　 〃It's　the　fellow　that　lived　there；〃　Breeze　said。　〃Let　me　see　now；　this　ball　game　is　a　studio　re…broadcast；　huh？〃
　 〃Goes　on　at　three；〃　Hench　said。　〃Three　to　say　four…thirty；　or　sometimes　later。　We　went　out　about　the　last　half　the　third。　We　was　gone　about　an　inning　and　a　half；　maybe　two。　Twenty　minutes　to　half　an　hour。　Not　more。〃
　 〃I　guess　he　was　shot　just　before　you　went　out；〃　Breeze　said。　〃The　radio　would　kill　the　noise　of　the　gun　near　enough。　You　must　of　left　your　door　unlocked。　Or　even　open。〃
　 〃Could　be；〃　Hench　said　wearily。　〃You　remember；　honey？〃　Again　the　girl　on　the　bed　refused　to　answer　him　or　even　look　at　him。
　 Breeze　said：　〃You　left　your　door　open　or　unlocked。　The　killer　heard　you　go　out。　He　got　into　your　apartment；　wanting　to　ditch　his　gun；　saw　the　bed　down；　walked　across　and　slipped　his　gun　under　the　pillow；　and　then　imagine　his　surprise。　He　found　another　gun　there　waiting　for　him。　So　he　took　it　along。　Now　if　he　meant　to　ditch　his　gun；　why　not　do　it　where　he　did　his　killing？　Why　take　the　risk　of　going　into　another　apartment　to　do　it？　Why　the　fancy　pants？〃
　 I　was　sitting　in　the　corner　of　the　davenport　by　the　window。　I　put　in　my　nickel's　worth；　saying：　〃Suppose　he　had　locked　himself　out　of　Phillips'　apartment　before　he　thought　of　ditching　the　gun？　Suppose；　ing　out　of　the　shock　of　his　murder；　he　found　himself　in　the　hall　still　holding　the　murder　gun。　He　would　want　to　ditch　it　fast。　Then　if　Hench's　door　was　open　and　he　had　heard　them　go　out　along　the　hall〃
　 Breeze　looked　at　me　briefly　and　grunted：　〃I'm　not　saying　it　isn't　so。　I'm　just　considering。〃　He　turned　his　attention　back　to　Hench。　〃So　now；　if　this　turns　out　to　be　the　gun　that　killed　Anson；　we　got　to　try　and　trace　your　gun。　While　we　do　that　we　got　to　have　you　and　the　young　lady　handy。　You　understand　that；　of　course？〃
　 Hench　said：　〃You　don't　have　any　boys　that　can　bounce　me　hard　enough　to　make　me　tell　it　different。〃
　 〃We　can　always　try；〃　Breeze　said　mildly。　〃And　we　might　just　as　well　get　started。〃
　 He　stood　up；　turned　and　swept　the　crumpled　newspapers　off　the　chair　on　to　the　floor。　He　went　over　to　the　door；　then　turned　and　stood　looking　at　the　girl　on　the　bed。　〃You　all　right；　sister；　or　should　I　call　for　a　matron？〃
　 The　girl　on　the　bed　didn't　answer　him。
　 Hench　said：　〃I　need　a　drink。　I　need　a　drink　bad。〃
　 〃Not　while　I'm　watching　you；〃　Breeze　said　and　went　out　of　the　door。
　 Hench　moved　across　the　room　and　put　the　neck　of　a　bottle　into　his　mouth　and　gurgled　liquor。　He　lowered　the　bottle；　looked　at　what　was　left　in　it　and　went　over　to　the　girl。　He　pushed　her　shoulder。
　 〃Wake　up　and　have　a　drink；〃　he　growled　at　her。
　 The　girl　stared　at　the　ceiling。　She　didn't　answer　him　or　show　that　she　had　heard　him。
　 〃Let　her　alone；〃　I　said。　〃Shock。〃
　 Hench　finished　what　was　in　the　bottle；　put　the　empty　bottle　down　carefully　and　looked　at　the　girl　again；　then　turned　his　back　on　her　and　stood　frowning　at　the　floor。　〃Jeeze；　I　wish　I　could　remember　better；〃　he　said　under　his　breath。
　 Breeze　came　back　into　the　room　with　a　young　fresh…faced　plainclothes　detective。　〃This　is　Lieutenant　Spangler；〃　he　said。　〃He'll　take　you　down。　Get　going；　huh？〃
　 Hench　went　back　to　the　bed　and　shook　the　girl's　shoulder。　〃Get　on　up；　babe。　We　gotta　take　a　ride。〃
　 The　girl　turned　her　eyes　without　turning　her　head；　and　looked　at　him　slowly。　She　lifted　her　shoulders　off　the　bed　and　put　a　hand　under　her　and　swung　her　legs　over　the　side　and　stood　up；　stamping　her　right　foot；　as　if　it　was　numb。
　 〃Tough；　kidbut　you　know　how　it　is；〃　Hench　said。　The　girl　put　a　hand　to　her　mouth　and　bit　the　knuckle　of　her　little　finger；　looking　at　him　blankly。　Then　she　swung　the　hand　suddenly　and　hit　him　in　the　face　as　hard　as　she　could。　Then　she　half　ran　out　of　the　door。
　 Hench　didn't　move　a　muscle　for　a　long　moment。　There　was　a　confused　noise　of　men　talking　outside；　a　confused　noise　of　cars　down　below　in　the　street。　Hench　shrugged　and　cocked　his　heavy　shoulders　back　and　swept　a　slow　look　around　the　room；　as　if　he　didn't　expect　to　see　it　again　very　soon；　or　at　all。　Then　he　went　out　past　the　young　fresh…faced　detective。
　 The　detective　went　out。　The　door　closed。　The　confused　noise　outside　was　dimmed　a　little　and　Breeze　and　I　sat　looking　at　each　other　heavily。
　
　
　11
　
　 After　a　while　Breeze　got　tired　of　looking　at　me　and　dug　a　cigar　out　of　his　pocket。　He　slit　the　cellophane　band　with　a　knife　and　trimmed　the　end　of　the　cigar　and　lit　it　carefully；　turning　it　around　in　the　flame；　and　holding　the　burning　match　away　from　it　while　he　stared　thoughtfully　at　nothing　and　drew　on　the　cigar　and　made　sure　it　was　burning　the　way　he　wanted　it　to　burn。
　 Then　he　shook　the　match　out　very　slowly　and　reached　over　to　lay　it　on　the　sill　of　the　open　window。　Then　he　looked　at　me　some　more。
　 〃You　and　me；〃　he　said；　〃are　going　to　get　along。〃
　 〃That's　fine；〃　I　said。
　 〃You　don't　think　so；〃　he　said。　〃But　we　are。　But　not　because　I　took　any　sudden　fancy　to　you。　It's　the　way　I　work。　Everything　in　the　clear。　Everything　sensible。　Everything　quiet。　Not　like　that　dame。　That's　the　kind　of　dame　that　spends　her　life　looking　for　trouble　and　when　she　finds　it；　it's　the　fault　of　the　first　guy　she　can　get　her　fingernails　into。〃
　 〃He　gave　her　a　couple　of　shiners；〃　I　said。　〃That　wouldn't　make　her　love　him　too　much。〃
　 〃I　can　see；〃　Breeze　said；　〃that　you　know　a　lot　about　dames。〃
　 〃Not　knowing　a　lot　about　them　has　helped　me　in　my　business；〃　I　said。　〃I'm　open…minded。〃
　 He　nodded　and　examined　the　end　of　his　cigar。　He　took　a　piece　of　paper　out　of　his　pocket　and　read　from　it。　〃Delmar　B。　Hench；　45；　bartender；　unemployed。　Maybelle　Masters；　26；　dancer。　That's　all　I　know　about　them。　I've　got　a　hunch　there　ain't　a　lot　more　to　know。〃
　 〃You　don't　think　he　shot　Anson？〃　I　asked。
　 Breeze　looked　at　me　without　pleasure。　〃Brother；　I　just　got　here。〃　He　took　a　card　out　of　his　pocket　and　read　from　that。　〃James　B。　Pollock；　Reliance　Indemnity　pany；　Field　Agent。　What's　the　idea？〃
　 〃In　a　neighborhood　like　this　it's　bad　form　to　use　your　own　name；〃　I　said。　〃Anson　didn't　either。〃
　 〃What's　the　matter　with　the　neighborhood？〃
　 〃Practically　everything；〃　I　said。
　 〃What　I　would　like　to　know；〃　Breeze　said；　〃is　what　you　know　about　the　dead　guy？〃
　 〃I　told　you　already。〃
　 〃Tell　me　again。　People　tell　me　so　much　stuff　I　get　it　all　mixed　up。〃
　 〃I　know　what　it　says　on　his　card；　that　his　name　is　George　Anson　Phillips；　that　he　claimed　to　be　a　private　detective。　He　was　outside　my　office　when　I　went　to　lunch。　He　followed　me　downtown；　into　the　lobby　of　the　Hotel　Metropole。　I　led　him　there。　I　spoke　to　him　and　he　admitted　he　had　been　following　me　and　said　it　was　because　he　wanted　to　find　out　if　I　was　smart　enough　to　do　business　with。　That's　a　lot　of　baloney；　of　course。　He　probably　hadn't　quite　made　up　his　mind　what　to　do　and　was　waiting　for　something　to　decide　him。　He　was　on　a　jobhe　saidhe　had　got　leery　of　and　he　wanted　to　join　up　with　somebody；　perhaps　somebody　with　a　little　more　experience　than　he　had；　if　he　had　any　at　all。　He　didn't　act　as　if　he　had。〃
　 Breeze　said：　〃And　the　only　reason　he　picked　on　you　is　that　six　years　ago　you　worked　on　a　case　in　Ventura　while　he　was　a　deputy　up　there。〃
　 I　said；　〃That's　my　story。〃
　 〃But　you　don't　have　to　get　stuck　with　it；〃　Breeze　said　calmly。　〃You　can　always　give　us　a　better　one。〃
　 〃It's　good　enough；〃　I　said。　〃I　mean