raymondchandler.thehighwindow-第8节

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x　months。　She　got　married。〃
　 〃You　haven't　seen　her　in　six　months？〃
　 〃That's　what　I　said；　big　boy。　What　do　you　want　to　know　for？〃
　 〃Just　a　private　enquiry　I'm　making。〃
　 〃About　what？〃
　 〃About　a　confidential　matter；〃　I　said。
　 〃Just　think；〃　the　blond　said　brightly。　〃He's　making　a　private　enquiry　about　a　confidential　matter。　You　hear　that；　Lou？　Busting　in　on　total　strangers　that　don't　want　to　see　him　is　quite　all　right；　though；　isn't　it；　Lou？　On　account　of　he's　making　a　private　enquiry　about　a　confidential　matter。〃
　 〃Then　you　don't　know　where　she　is；　Mrs。　Morny？〃
　 〃Didn't　I　say　so？〃　Her　voice　rose　a　couple　of　notches。
　 〃No。　You　said　you　didn't　think　you　had　seen　her　in　six　months。　Not　quite　the　same　thing。〃
　 〃Who　told　you　I　shared　an　apartment　with　her？〃　the　blond　snapped。
　 〃I　never　reveal　a　source　of　information；　Mrs。　Morny。〃
　 〃Sweetheart；　you're　fussy　enough　to　be　a　dance　director。　I　should　tell　you　everything；　you　should　tell　me　nothing。〃
　 〃The　position　is　quite　different；〃　I　said。　〃I'm　a　hired　hand　obeying　instructions。　The　lady　has　no　reason　to　hide　out；　has　she？〃
　 〃Who's　looking　for　her？〃
　 〃Her　folks。〃
　 〃Guess　again。　She　doesn't　have　any　folks。〃
　 〃You　must　know　her　pretty　well；　if　you　know　that；〃　I　said。
　 〃Maybe　I　did　once。　That　don't　prove　I　do　now。〃
　 〃Okay；〃　I　said。　〃The　answer　is　you　know；　but　you　won't　tell。〃
　 〃The　answer；〃　Vannier　said　suddenly；　〃is　that　you're　not　wanted　here　and　the　sooner　you　get　out；　the　better　we　like　it。〃
　 I　kept　on　looking　at　Mrs。　Morny。　She　winked　at　me　and　said　to　Vannier：　〃Don't　get　so　hostile；　darling。　You　have　a　lot　of　charm；　but　you　have　small　bones。　You're　not　built　for　the　rough　work。　That　right；　big　boy？〃
　 I　said：　〃I　hadn't　thought　about　it；　Mrs。　Morny。　Do　you　think　Mr。　Morny　could　help　meor　would？〃
　 She　shook　her　head。　〃How　would　I　know？　You　could　try。　If　he　don't　like　you；　he　has　guys　around　that　can　bounce　you。〃
　 〃I　think　you　could　tell　me　yourself；　if　you　wanted　to。〃
　 〃How　are　you　going　to　make　me　want　to？〃　Her　eyes　were　inviting。
　 〃With　all　these　people　around；〃　I　said；　〃how　can　I？〃
　 〃That's　a　thought；〃　she　said；　and　sipped　from　her　glass；　watching　me　over　it。
　 Vannier　stood　up　very　slowly。　His　face　was　white。　He　put　his　hand　inside　his　shirt　and　said　slowly；　between　his　teeth：　〃Get　out；　mugg。　While　you　can　still　walk。〃
　 I　looked　at　him　in　surprise。　〃Where's　your　refinement？〃　I　asked　him。　〃And　don't　tell　me　you　wear　a　gun　with　your　garden　clothes。〃
　 The　blond　laughed；　showing　a　fine　strong　set　of　teeth。　Vannier　thrust　his　hand　under　his　left　arm　inside　the　shirt　and　set　his　lips。　His　black　eyes　were　sharp　and　blank　at　the　same　time；　like　a　snake's　eyes。
　 〃You　heard　me；〃　he　said；　almost　softly。　〃And　don't　write　me　off　too　quick。　I'd　plug　you　as　soon　as　I'd　strike　a　match。　And　fix　it　afterwards。〃
　 I　looked　at　the　blond。　Her　eyes　were　bright　and　her　mouth　looked　sensual　and　eager；　watching　us。
　 I　turned　and　walked　away　across　the　grass。　About　halfway　across　it　I　looked　back　at　them。　Vannier　stood　in　exactly　the　same　position；　his　hand　inside　his　shirt。　The　blond's　eyes　were　still　wide　and　her　lips　parted；　but　the　shadow　of　the　umbrella　had　dimmed　her　expression　and　at　that　distance　it　might　have　been　either　fear　or　pleased　anticipation。
　 I　went　on　over　the　grass；　through　the　white　gate　and　along　the　brick　path　under　the　rose　arbor。　I　reached　the　end　of　it；　turned；　walked　quietly　back　to　the　gate　and　took　another　look　at　them。　I　didn't　know　what　there　would　be　to　see　or　what　I　cared　about　it　when　I　saw　it。
　 What　I　saw　was　Vannier　practically　sprawled　on　top　of　the　blond；　kissing　her。
　 I　shook　my　head　and　went　back　along　the　walk。
　 The　red…eyed　chauffeur　was　still　at　work　on　the　Cadillac。　He　had　finished　the　wash　job　and　was　wiping　off　the　glass　and　nickel　with　a　large　chamois。　I　went　around　and　stood　beside　him。
　 〃How　you　e　out？〃　he　asked　me　out　of　the　side　of　his　mouth。
　 〃Badly。　They　tramped　all　over　me；〃　I　said。
　 He　nodded　and　went　on　making　the　hissing　noise　of　a　groom　rubbing　down　a　horse。
　 〃You　better　watch　your　step。　The　guy's　heeled；〃　I　said。　〃Or　pretends　to　be。〃
　 The　chauffeur　laughed　shortly。　〃Under　that　suit？　Nix。〃
　 〃Who　is　this　guy　Vannier？　What　does　he　do？〃
　 The　chauffeur　straightened　up；　put　the　chamois　over　the　sill　of　a　window　and　wiped　his　hands　on　the　towel　that　was　now　stuck　in　his　waistband。
　 〃Women；　my　guess　would　be；〃　he　said。
　 〃Isn't　it　a　bit　dangerousplaying　with　this　particular　woman？〃
　 〃I'd　say　it　was；〃　he　agreed。　〃Different　guys　got　different　ideas　of　danger。　It　would　scare　me。〃
　 〃Where　does　he　live？〃
　 〃Sherman　Oaks。　She　goes　over　there。　She'll　go　once　too　often。〃
　 〃Ever　run　across　a　girl　named　Linda　Conquest？　Tall；　dark；　handsome；　used　to　be　a　singer　with　a　band？〃
　 〃For　two　bucks；　Jack；　you　expect　a　lot　of　service。〃
　 〃I　could　build　it　up　to　five。〃
　 He　shook　his　head。　〃I　don't　know　the　party。　Not　by　that　name。　All　kinds　of　dames　e　here；　mostly　pretty　flashy。　I　don't　get　introduced。〃　He　grinned。
　 I　got　my　wallet　out　and　put　three　ones　in　his　little　damp　paw。　I　added　a　business　card。
　 〃I　like　small　close…built　men；〃　I　said。　〃They　never　seem　to　be　afraid　of　anything。　e　and　see　me　some　time。〃
　 〃I　might　at　that；　Jack。　Thanks。　Linda　Conquest；　huh？　I'll　keep　my　ear　flaps　off。〃
　 〃So　long；〃　I　said。　〃The　name？〃
　 〃They　call　me　Shifty。　I　never　knew　why。〃
　 〃So　long；　Shifty。〃
　 〃So　long。　Gat　under　his　armin　them　clothes？　Not　a　chance。〃
　 〃I　don't　know；〃　I　said。　〃He　made　the　motion。　I'm　not　hired　to　gunfight　with　strangers。〃
　 〃Hell；　that　shirt　he's　wearing　only　got　two　buttons　at　the　top。　I　noticed。　Take　him　a　week　to　pull　a　rod　from　under　that。〃　But　he　sounded　faintly　worried。
　 〃I　guess　he　was　just　bluffing；〃　I　agreed。　〃If　you　hear　mention　of　Linda　Conquest；　I'll　be　glad　to　talk　business　with　you。〃
　 〃Okay；　Jack。〃
　 I　went　back　along　the　black　driveway。　He　stood　there　scratching　his　chin。
　
　
　6
　
　 I　drove　along　the　block　looking　for　a　place　to　park　so　that　I　could　run　up　to　the　office　for　a　moment　before　going　on　downtown。
　 A　chauffeur…driven　Packard　edged　out　from　the　curb　in　front　of　a　cigar　store　about　thirty　feet　from　the　entrance　to　my　building。　I　slid　into　the　space；　locked　the　car　and　stepped　out。　It　was　only　then　that　I　noticed　the　car　in　front　of　which　I　had　parked　was　a　familiar…looking　sand…colored　coupé。　It　didn't　have　to　be　the　same　one。　There　were　thousands　of　them。　Nobody　was　in　it。　Nobody　was　near　it　that　wore　a　cocoa　straw　hat　with　a　brown　and　yellow　band。
　 I　went　around　to　the　street　side　and　looked　at　the　steering　post。　No　license　holder。　I　wrote　the　license　plate　number　down　on　the　back　of　an　envelope；　just　in　case；　and　went　on　into　my　building。　He　wasn't　in　the　lobby；　or　in　the　corridor　upstairs。
　 I　went　into　the　office；　looked　on　the　floor　for　mail；　didn't　find　any；　bought　myself　a　short　drink　out　of　the　office　bottle　and　left。　I　didn't　have　any　time　to　spare　to　get　downtown　before　three　o'clock。
　 The　sand…colored　coupé　was　still　parked；　still　empty。　I　got　into　mine　and　started　up　and　moved　out　into　the　traffic　stream。
　 I　was　below　Sunset　on　Vine　before　he　picked　me　up。　I　kept　on　going；　grinning；　and　wondering　where　he　had　hid。　Perhaps　in　the　car　parked　behind　his　own。　I　hadn't　thought　of　that。
　 I　drove　south　to　Third　and　all　the　way　downtown　on　Third。　The　sand…colored　coupé　kept　half　a　block　behind　me　all　the　way。　I　moved　over　to　Seventh　and　Grand；　parked　near　Seventh　and　Olive；　stopped　to　buy　cigarettes　I　didn't　need；　and　then　walked　east　along　Seventh　without　looking　behind　me。　At　Spring　I　went　into　the　Hotel　Metropole；　strolled　over　to　the　big　horseshoe　cigar　counter　to　light　one　of　my　cigarettes　and　then　sat　down　in　one　of　the　old　brown　leather　chairs　in　the　lobby。
　 A　blond　man　in　a　brown　suit；　dark　glasses　and　the　now　familiar　hat　came　into　the　lobby　and　moved　unobtrusively　among　the　potted　palms　and　the　stucco　arches　to　the　cigar　counter。　He　bought　a　package　of　cigarettes　and　broke　it　open　standing　there；　using　the　time　to　lean　his　back　against　the　counter　and　give　the　lobby　the　benefit　of　his　eagle　eye。
　 He　picked　up　his　change　and　went　over　and　sat　down　with　his　back　to　a　pillar。　He　tipped　his　hat　down　over　his　dark　glasses　and　seemed　to　go　to　sleep　with　an　unlighted　cigarette　between　his　lips。
　 I　got　up　and　wandered　over　and　dropped　into　the　chair　beside　him。　I　looked　at　him　sideways。　He　didn't　move。　Seen　at　close　quarters　his　face　seemed　young　and　pink　and　plump　and　the　blond　beard　on　his　chin　was　very　carelessly　shaved。　Behind　the　dark　glasses　his　eyelashes　flicked　up　and　down　rapidly。　A　hand　on　his　knee　tightened　and　pulled　the　cloth　into　wrinkles。　There　was　a　wart　on　his　cheek　just　below　the　right　eyelid。
　 I　struck　a　match　and　held　the　flame　to　his　cigarette。　〃Light？〃
　 〃Ohthanks；〃　he　said；　very　surprised。　He　drew　breath　in　until　the　cigarette　tip　glowed。　I　shook　the　match　out；　tossed　it　into　the　sand　jar　at　my　elbow　and　waited。　He　looked　at　me　sideways　several　times　before　he　spoke。
　 〃Haven't　I　seen　you　somewhere　before？〃
　 〃Over　on　Dresden　Avenue　in　Pasadena。　This　morning。〃
　 I　could　see　his　cheeks　get　pinker