cwilleford.miamiblues-第29节

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urned；　they　mixed　the　plaster　with　water；　soaked　the　strips　of　gauze；　and　he　had　her　wrap　them　in　overlapping　strips　around　his　wrist。　The　cast；　when　she　finished；　was　thick　and　heavy；　but　when　it　dried　it　would　immobilize　his　arm　just　in　case　there　was　a　hairline　fracture。　Freddy　took　three　Bufferin；　then　ate　some　fried　chicken；　although　he　had　no　appetite　for　it。
　　〃Are　you　going　to　tell　me　about　it；　Junior？〃
　　〃About　how　dumb　I　was；　d'you　mean？　Sure；　I'll　tell　you　about　it。　I　forgot　for　a　minute　that　Miami；　like　any　other　city；　is　a　dangerous　place。　I　didn't　take　my　gun　to　the　store；　not　even　my　sap。　Not　only　that；　I　broke　my　own　rule；　and　I　tried　to　help　someone　else　instead　of　looking　after　my　own　ass。　This　straight　life　we've　been　leading　has　given　me　a　misplaced　sense　of　security；　that's　all。　For　a　moment　there；　I　must've　thought　that　I　was　some　kind　of　solid　citizen。　That's　all。〃
　　〃But　what　happened　to　you？〃
　　〃Two　guys　in　a　blue　Impala　ran　over　me。〃
　　Susan　nodded　but　looked　thoughtful。　〃I　thought　it　must've　been　something　like　that。〃
　　
　　
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　　Marie　Henderson　was　active　in　a　Miami　NOW　chapter　and　had　a　subscription　to　Ms。　magazine。　When　Bill　Henderson　had　first　told　Hoke　that　his　wife　was　subscribing　to　Ms。；　Hoke　didn't　believe　him；　so　Henderson　brought　one　of　her　copies　down　to　the　office　and　showed　him　the　printed　address　label。　It　was　made　out　to　Ms。　Marie　Henderson。
　　〃That's　incredible；〃　Hoke　had　said；　shaking　his　head　morosely　at　the　irrefutable　evidence。
　　〃Isn't　it？〃　Henderson　agreed。　〃Now　you've　got　some　kind　of　idea　of　what　I　have　to　put　up　with　　。　。　。　〃
　　Hoke　parked　at　the　curb　in　front　of　Henderson's　ranch…style　house。　He　didn't　see　Henderson's　car　in　the　carport。　He　walked　reluctantly　up　the　brick　walk　to　knock　on　the　door　anyway。　Perhaps；　he　thought；　Bill　wouldn't　be　gone　very　long。
　　Marie　Henderson；　a　tall　bony　woman　of　thirty…eight　with　brown；　frizzy　hair；　seemed　happy　enough　to　see　Hoke。　She　invited　him　in；　pointed　toward　Henderson's　fortable　recliner；　and　asked　him　if　he　would　like　a　drink。
　　〃Sure；〃　Hoke　nodded。　〃Early　Times；　if　you've　got　it。〃
　　〃We've　got　it。〃　She　brought　a　bottle　of　Early　Times　and　two　shot　glasses　from　the　bar　and　put　them　on　the　coffee　table　in　front　of　him。　She　went　into　the　kitchen　and　returned　with　a　pitcher　of　ice　and　water。
　　〃That's　the　way　Bill　drinks　it…straight　with　water　back；　so　I　suppose　you　do；　too。〃
　　〃Yeah。　It　gives　you　a　little　lift　this　way。〃
　　〃I'm　sure　it　does。〃　Marie　smiled。　〃You　don't　look　too　bad；　Hoke。　Bill　said　you　looked　like　death　warmed　over。　The　beard　could　do　with　some　trimming。〃
　　〃The　doctor　said　to　leave　it　on　for　a　while。〃
　　〃He　didn't　tell　you　not　to　trim　it；　did　he？　You　know　who　you　remind　me　of　with　that　beard？　Ray　Milland。　Did　you　see　that　picture　when　he　was　sick　and　in　a　wheelchair？　His　daughter　was　a　librarian；　and　he　had　her　wait　on　him　hand　and　foot。　The　way　it　turned　out；　he　didn't　need　the　wheelchair　at　all。　He　was　faking　it　to　make　a　slave　out　of　his　daughter。　Finally；　the　girl　pushed　him　over　a　cliff　and　got　all　the　money　he　was　hoarding　in　a　cigar　box　under　his　bed；　or　something。　Did　you　see　it？〃
　　〃No；　I　didn't　see　it。〃
　　〃Well；　you　didn't　miss　much。　It　was　on　the　cable　a　couple　of　months　ago。　If　it　es　back；　I'll　call　you。〃
　　〃I　don't　have　cable。　I　saw　Ray　Milland　in　〃Love　Story〃；　when　he　played　the　father；　but　I　don't　remember　exactly　how　he　looked。〃
　　〃He　looked　good　then。　That　was　several　years　ago。　But　you　look　a　lot　like　him　now；　something　about　your　smile；　I　think。〃
　　〃Thanks。　When　is　Bill　ing　back？〃
　　〃He's　out　bowling。　He's　not　on　a　regular　team；　but　when　Green　Lakes　Landscaping　is　short　a　man；　they　e　by　and　get　Henderson。　He's　only　got　a　one…thirty　average；　so　they　don't　e　by　for　him　often。〃
　　〃He　did　tell　me　that　he　was　doing　some　bowling　for　the　exercise。〃
　　〃Bowling　for　two　hours　once　or　twice　a　month　isn't　too　much　exercise；　is　it？〃
　　〃I　guess　not。　When'll　he　be　home？　Maybe　I'd　better　e　back　later？〃
　　〃Stick　around。　He'll　be　home　soon。　Pour　yourself　another　drink。〃
　　〃How're　the　kids；　Marie？〃
　　〃Out；　I'm　happy　to　say。〃
　　Hoke　had　two　more　drinks　before　Henderson　came　home；　but　there　was　no　more　conversation　because　Hoke　and　Marie　had　run　out　of　things　to　talk　about。
　　When　Henderson　came　in；　carrying　his　bowling　ball　and　bowling　shoes　in　a　blue　nylon　bag；　Marie　got　up　from　her　chair　and　went　into　the　kitchen。　Hoke　rose　quickly。　He　was　a　trifle　dizzy　and　feeling　the　effects　of　three　drinks。
　　〃Did　Captain　Brownley　get　a　hold　of　you？〃　Bill　asked　as　he　got　a　shot　glass　from　the　bar。
　　〃No。　I've　been　here　for　almost　an　hour。〃
　　Bill　poured　a　drink；　and　tossed　it　down。　〃I　tried　to　get　you　before　I　left。　I　let　the　phone　ring　about　fifteen　times；　and　no　one　answered。　What　kind　of　a　hotel　is　that；　anyway？〃
　　〃Sometimes　Eddie's　doing　something　else；　and　he　isn't　on　the　switchboard。　I　told　Mr。　Bennett　he　needs　someone　on　the　desk　all　the　time；　but　he　says　the　old　people　don't　get　that　many　calls。　The　Eldorado's　probably　got　the　smallest　staff　of　any　hotel　on　the　Beach。　So　what's　up；　Bill？〃
　　〃You're　here；　so　that's　why　I　thought　Brownley　had　called　you。　Sit　down　a　minute。　I'll　be　right　back。〃　Bill　left　the　room　and　returned　a　few　moments　later　with　a　large　brown　envelope；　which　he　handed　to　Hoke。　Hoke　opened　the　envelope　and　took　out　a　pair　of　handcuffs。
　　〃Are　those　yours？〃　Bill　asked。　〃There's　an　〃M〃　in　red　fingernail　polish　on　the　right　cuff…〃
　　〃Yeah。〃　Hoke　nodded。　〃They're　mine　all　right。　Remember　Bambi；　the　woman　in　the　Grove　I　was　sleeping　with　about　two　years　back？　We　were　playing　a　little　game　one　night　and…well；　anyway；　I　used　her　nail　polish　to　mark　one　cuff。　Where'd　you　get　them？〃
　　〃Robbery。　They've　had　'em　for　a　few　days。　Two　guys　were　cuffed　together　in　the　men's　john　in　Jordan　Marsh；　in　the　Omni　store。　They　claimed　they　were　cuffed　up　by　some　crazy　cop　who　took　their　money。　The　Robbery　people　just　figured　these　two　guys　were　into　something　kinky　and　let　them　go。　Then；　a　couple　of　days　later；　one　of　the　detectives　in　Robbery　happened　to　notice　the　initial；　and　remembered　the　red…liner　memo　on　your　lost　buzzer　and　pistol。　He　sent　the　cuffs　over　to　Captain　Brownley　through　interoffice　mail。　So　that's　that。〃
　　〃No；　Bill；　it's　much　worse　than　that。〃
　　Hoke　filled　Henderson　in　on　Sergeant　Wilson's　visit；　and　told　him　about　the　order　to　get　the　girl；　Susan；　back　to　the　International　Hotel　in　the　morning。　Still　sensitive　about　his　fragile；　ill…fitting　teeth；　he　omitted　the　part　about　Wilson　throwing　them　out　of　the　window。
　　〃This　guy's　trying　to　get　you　into　trouble；　Hoke。　It　may　be　the　girl's　boyfriend；　and　maybe　not。　Why；　though；　is　something　else。　One　guy　I　really　know　is　Wilson。　He　was　in　Vice　when　I　was　still　in　Vice；　and　he's　a　vicious　sonofabitch。　Mean；　but　I　always　thought　he　was　straight。　I　haven't　seen　him　in　a　couple　of　years；　however；　and　a　lot　can　happen　to　a　man　in　two　years。〃
　　Hoke　scratched　his　bearded　jaw。　〃In　two　seconds　a　lot　can　happen　to　a　man。〃
　　〃What're　you　going　to　do　about　Wilson？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　I　could　go　to　Brownley　with　it；　but　how　do　I　explain　the　five　hundred　bucks？〃
　　〃You　just　tell　it　like　it　happened；　and　you're　covered。　I　was　there；　and　I　can　back　up　your　story。　It　links　up　with　the　way　this　guy…what's　his　name？〃
　　〃Mendez。　Only　that　isn't　his　name。〃
　　〃Anyway；　it　links　in　with　the　way　he　used　your　cuffs　to　rob　two　bastards　and　leave　'em　in　the　john。　If　you　want　me　to；　we　can　leave　Brownley　out　of　it；　and　I'll　talk　to　Wilson。〃
　　〃If　you　could　get　across　to　him　that　he's　after　the　wrong　guy…〃
　　〃I　will。　But　it　won't　be　all　that　easy　because　you　were　spending　his　money。〃
　　〃I　didn't　know　it　was　Wilson's。　Besides；　he　got　his　five　hundred　back。　I　can't　get　the　girl　back　and　wouldn't　if　I　could。〃
　　〃I'll　talk　to　him。　I　know　how　to　deal　with　a　prick　like　that。〃
　　〃I　appreciate　that；　Bill。〃
　　〃D'you　have　a　gun？〃
　　〃I　get　my　new　gun　and　shield　back　Monday；　when　I　see　Captain　Brownley。〃
　　〃I'll　get　you　one。　I've　got　a　chrome　Colt　thirty…two　automatic　you　can　have。　I　used　to　carry　it　in　Liberty　City　in　case　I　needed　a　throw…down　piece。　It's　not　much　good；　but　the　magazine　holds　seven　rounds。〃
　　〃I　can　give　it　back　to　you　on　Monday。　It　really　feels　funny　as　hell　driving　and　walking　around　Miami　without　a　weapon。〃
　　〃I　can　imagine。〃
　　Henderson　got　the　。32　out　of　the　desk　in　the　dining　room　and　gave　it　to　Hoke。　Hoke　removed　the　magazine；　checked　the　chamber；　and　then　slipped　the　magazine　in　again　and　loaded　the　pistol　with　a　round　in　the　chamber。　He　flipped　up　the　safety　with　his　thumb　and　put　the　weapon　into　his　hip　pocket。
　　〃In　case　you're　interested；　Hoke；　I　gave　Martin　Waggoner's　effects　to　his　father　when　he　took　the　body　back　to　Okeechobee。　I　used　my　key　to　your　desk。〃
　　〃That's　okay；　but　what　about　the　Krishnas？〃
　　〃They　didn't　have　any　claims。〃　Henderson　smiled。　〃I　called　the　head　honcho　out　there　when　I　didn't　hear　from　them；　and　I　got　the　impression　that　Martin　Waggoner　was　a　novice；　not　a　full　member；　and　was　about　to　be　thrown　out　anyway。〃
　　〃Did　he　tell　you　that？〃
　　〃Not　in　so　man