rc.theladyinthelake-第3节

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　　〃Good　God；　don't　say　that；〃　Kingsley　exclaimed。
　　〃Why　not？　You've　got　to　consider　it。　I　get　a　very　vague　idea　of　Mrs。　Kingsley…that　she　is　young；　pretty；　reckless；　and　wild。　That　she　drinks　and　does　dangerous　things　when　she　drinks。　That　she　is　a　sucker　for　the　men　and　might　take　up　with　a　stranger　who　might　turn　out　to　be　a　crook。　Does　that　fit？〃　He　nodded。　〃Every　word　of　it。〃
　　〃How　much　money　would　she　have　with　her？〃
　　〃She　liked　to　carry　enough。　She　has　her　own　bank　and　her　own　bank　account。　She　could　have　any　amount　of　money。〃
　　〃Any　children？〃
　　〃No　children。〃
　　〃Do　you　have　the　management　of　her　affairs？〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃She　hasn't　any…excepting　depositing　checks　and　drawing　out　money　and　spending　it。　She　never　invests　a　nickeL　And　her　money　certainly　never　does　me　any　good；　if　that's　what　you　are　thinking。〃　He　paused　and　then　said：　〃Don't　think　I　haven't　tried。　I'm　human　and　it's　not　fun　to　watch　twenty　thousand　a　year　go　down　the　drain　and　nothing　to　show　for　it　but　hangovers　and　boy　friends　of　the　class　of　Chris　Lavery。〃
　　〃How　are　you　with　her　bank？　Could　you　get　a　detail　of　the　checks　she　has　drawn　for　the　past　couple　of　months？〃
　　〃They　wouldn't　tell　me。　I　tried　to　get　some　information　of　the　sort　once；　when　I　had　an　idea　she　was　being　blackmailed。　All　I　got　was　ice。〃
　　〃We　can　get　it；〃　I　said；　〃and　we　may　have　to。　It　will　mean　going　to　the　Missing　Persons　Bureau。　You　wouldn't　like　that？〃
　　〃If　I　had　liked　that；　I　wouldn't　have　called　you；〃　he　said。
　　I　nodded；　gathered　my　exhibits　together　and　put　them　away　in　my　pockets。　〃There　are　more　angles　to　this　than　I　can　even　see　now；〃　I　said；　〃but　I'll　start　by　talking　to　Lavery　and　then　taking　a　run　up　to　Little　Fawn　Lake　and　asking　questions　there。　I'll　need　Lavery's　address　and　a　note　to　your　man　in　charge　at　the　mountain　place。〃　He　got　a　letterhead　out　of　his　desk　and　wrote　and　passed　it　over。　I　read：　〃Dear　Bill：　This　will　introduce　Mr。　Philip　Marlowe　who　wishes　to　look　over　the　property。　Please　show　him　my　cabin　and　assist　him　in　every　way。　Yrs。　Derace　Kingsley。〃　I　folded　this　up　and　put　it　in　the　envelope　he　had　addressed　while　I　was　reading　it。　〃How　about　the　other　cabins　up　there？〃　I　asked。
　　〃Nobody　up　this　year　so　far。　One　man's　in　government　service　in　Washington　and　the　other　is　at　Fort　Leavenworth。　Their　wives　are　with　them。〃
　　〃Now　Lavery's　address；〃　I　said。
　　He　looked　at　a　point　well　above　the　top　of　my　head。　〃In　Bay　City。　I　could　find　the　house　but　I　forget　the　address。　Miss　Fromsett　can　give　it　to　you；　I　think。　She　needn't　know　why　you　want　it。　She　probably　will。　And　you　want　a　hundred　dollars；　you　said。〃
　　〃That's　all　right；〃　I　said。　〃That's　just　something　I　said　when　you　were　tramping　on　me。〃　He　grinned。　I　stood　up　and　hesitated　by　the　desk　looking　at　him。　After　a　moment　I　said：　〃You're　not　holding　anything　back；　are　you…anything　important？〃　He　looked　at　his　thumb。　〃No。　I'm　not　holding　anything　back。　I'm　worried　and　I　want　to　know　where　she　is。　I'm　damn　worried。　If　you　get　anything　at　all；　call　me　any　time；　day　or　night。〃　I　said　I　would　do　that；　and　we　shook　hands　and　I　went　back　down　the　long　cool　office　and　out　to　where　Miss　Fromsett　sat　elegantly　at　her　desk。
　　〃Mr。　Kingsley　thinks　you　can　give　me　Chris　Lavery's　address；〃　I　told　her　and　watched　her　face。
　　She　reached　very　slowly　for　a　brown　leather　address　book　and　turned　the　leaves。　Her　voice　was　tight　and　cold　when　she　spoke。
　　〃The　address　we　have　is　623　Altair　Street；　in　Bay　City。　Telephone　Bay　City　12523。　Mr。　Lavery　has　not　been　with　us　for　more　than　a　year。　He　may　have　moved。〃　I　thanked　her　and　；went　'on　to　the　door。　From　'there'　I　glanced　back　at　her。　She　was　sitting　very　still；　with　her　hands　clasped　on　her　desk；　staring　into　space。　A　couple　of　red　sp6ts　burned　in　her　cheeks。　Her　eyes　were　remote　and　bitter。
　　I　got　the　impression　that　Mr。　Chris　Lavery　was　not　a　pleasant　thought　to　her。
　　
　　
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　　Altair　Street　lay　on　the　edge　of　the　V　forming　the　inner　end　of　a　deep　canyon。　To　the　north　was　the　cool　blue　sweep　of　the　bay　out　to　the　point　above　Malibu。　To　the　south　the　beach　town　of　Bay　City　was　spread　out　on　a　bluff　above　the　coast　highway。
　　It　was　a　short　street；　not　more　than　three　or　four　blocks；　and　ended　in　a　tall　iron　fence　enclosing　a　large　estate。　Beyond　the　gilded　spikes　of　the　fence　I　could　see　trees　and　shrubs　and　a　glimpse　of　lawn　and　part　of　a　curving　driveway；　but　the　house　was　out　of　sight。　On　the　inland　side　of　Altair　Street　the　houses　were　well　kept　and　fairly　large；　but　the　few　scattered　bungalows　on　the　edge　of　the　canyon　were　nothing　much。　In　the　short　half　block　ended　by　the　iron　fence　were　only　two　houses；　on　opposite　sides　of　the　street　and　almost　directly　across　from　each　other。　The　smaller　was　number　623。
　　I　drove　past　it；　turned　the　car　in　the　paved　half　circle　at　the　end；　of　the　street　and　came　back　to　park　in　front　of　the　lot　next　to　Lavery's　place。　His　house　was　built　downwards；　one　of　those　clinging　vine　effects；　with　the　front　door　a　little　below　street　level；　the　patio　on　the　roof；　the　bedroom　in　the　basement；　and　a　garage　like　the　corner　pocket　on　a　pool　table。　A　crimson　bougainvillea　was　rusthng　against　the　front　wall　and　the　flat　stones　of　the　front　walk　were　edged　with　Korean　moss。　The　door　was　narrow；　grilled　and　topped　by　a　lancet　arch。　Below　the　grill　there　was　an　iron　knocker。　I　hammered　on　it。
　　Nothing　happened。　I　pushed　the　bell　at　the　side　of　the　door　and　heard　it　ring　inside　not　very　far　off　and　waited　and　nothing　happened。　I　worked　on　the　knocker　again。　Still　nothing。　I　went　back　up　the　walk　and　along　to　the　garage　and　lifted　the　door　far　enough　to　see　that　a　car　with　white　side…walled　tires　was　inside。　I　went　back　to　the　front　door。
　　A　neat　black　Cadillac　coupe　came　out　of　the　garage　across　the　way；　backed；　turned　and　came　along　past　Lavery's　house；　slowed；　and　a　thin　man　in　dark　glasses　looked　at　me　sharply；　as　if　I　hadn't　any　business　to　be　there。　I　gave　him　my　steely　glare　and　he　went　on　his　way。
　　I　went　down　Lavery's　walk　again　and　did　some　more　hammering　on　his　knocker。　This　time　I　got　results。　The　Judas　window　opened　and　I　was　looking　at　a　handsome　bright…eyed　number　through　the　bars　of　a　grill。
　　〃You　make　a　hell　of　a　lot　of　noise；〃　a　voice　said。
　　〃Mr。　Lavery？〃　He　said　be　was　Mr。　Lavery　and　what　about　it。　I　poked　a　card　through　the　grill。　A　large　brown　hand　took　the　card。　The　bright　brown　eyes　came　back　and　the　voice　said：　〃So　sorry。　Not　needing　'any　detectives　today　please。〃
　　〃I'm　working　for　Derace　Kingsley。〃
　　〃The　hell　with　both　of　you；〃　he　said；　and　banged　the　Judas　window。
　　I　leaned　on　the　bell　beside　the　door　and　got　a　cigarette　out　with　my　free　hand　and　had　just　struck　the　match　on　the　woodwork　beside　the　door　when　it　was　yanked　open　and　a　big　guy　in　bathing　trunks；　beach　sandals；　and　a　white　terrycloth　bathrobe　started　to　e　out　at　me。
　　I　took　my　thumb　off　the　bell　and　grinned　at　him。　〃What's　the　matter？〃　I　asked　him。　〃Scared？〃
　　〃Ring　that　bell　again；〃　he　said；　〃and　I'll　throw　you　clear　across　the　street。〃
　　〃Don't　be　childish；〃　I　told　him。　〃You　know　perfectly　well　I'm　going　to　talk　to　you　and　you're　going　to　talk　to　me。〃　I　got　the　blue　and　white　telegram　out　of　my　pocket　and　held　it　in　front　of　his　bright　brown　eyes。　He　read　it　morosely；　chewed　his　lip　and　growled：　〃Oh　for　Chrissake；　'e　on　in　then。〃　He　held　the　door　wide　and　I　went　in　past　him；　into　a　dim　pleasant　room　with　an　apricot　Chinese　rug　that　looked　expensive；　deepsided　chairs；　a　number　of　white　drum　lamps；　a　big　Capehart　in　the　corner；　a　long　and　very　wide　davenport　in　pale　tan　mohair　shot　with　dark　brown；　and　a　fireplace　with　a　copper　screen　and　an　overmantel　in　white　wood。　A　fire　was　laid　behind　the　screen　and　partly　masked　by　a　large　spray　of　manzanita　bloom。　The　bloom　was　turning　yellow　in　places；　but　was　still　pretty。　There　was　a　bottle　of　Vat　69　and　glasses　on　a　tray　and　a　copper　icebucket　on　a　low　round　burl　walnut　table　with　a　glass　top。　The　room　went　clear　to　the　back　of　the　house　and　ended　in　a　flat　arch　through　which　showed　three　narrow　windows　and　the　top　few　feet　of　the　white　iron　railing　of　the　staircase　going　down。
　　Lavery　swung　the　door　shut　and　sat　on　the　davenport。　He　grabbed　a　cigarette　out　of　a　hammered　silver　box　and　lit　it　and　looked　at　me　irritably。　I　sat　down　opposite　him　and　looked　him　over。　He　had　everything　in　the　way　of　good　looks　the　snapshot　had　indicated。　He　had　a　terrific　torso　and　magnificent　thighs。　His　eyes　were　chestnut　brown　and　the　whites　of　them　slightly　gray…white。　His　hair　was　rather　long　and　curled　a　little　over　his　temples。　His　brown　skin　showed　no　signs　of　dissipation。　He　was　a　nice　piece　of　beef；　but　to　me　that　was　all　he　was。　I　could　understand　that　women　would　think　he　was　something　to　yell　for。
　　〃Why　not　tell　us　where　she　is？〃　I　said。　〃We'll　find　out　eventually　anyway　and　if　you　can　tell　us　now；　we　won't　be　bothering　you。〃
　　〃It　would　take　more　than　a　private　dick　to　bother　me；〃　he　said。
　　〃No；　it　wouldn't。　A　private　dick　can　bother　anybody。　He's　persistent　and　used　to　snubs。　He's　paid　for　his　time　and　he　would　just　as　soon　use　it　to　bother　you　as　any　other　way。〃
　　〃Look；〃　he　said；