cpatricia.blacknotice-第27节

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　　〃By　now；　I　know　most　of　Richmond's　little　secrets；〃　I　said　with　irony。　〃There　are　many　of　them　if　you　know　where　to　look。〃
　　〃I　stay　away　from　red　meat　as　much　as　possible。〃　Bray　switched　conversational　lanes。　〃But　their　fish　is　very　good。〃
　　〃That's　like　going　to　a　whorehouse　and　playing　solitaire；〃　Marino　remarked。
　　Bray　ignored　him　and　tried　to　stare　me　down　with　no　success。　I'd　learned　from　many　years　of　warring　with　bad　employees；　dishonest　defense　attorneys　and　ruthless　politicians　that　if　I　stated　between　a　person's　eyes；　he　didn't　know　I　wasn't；　in　fact；　staring　into　his　eyes；　and　I　could　keep　up　the　intimidation　all　day。
　　〃I'm　eating　dinner　here；〃　she　said　as　if　she　were　distracted　and　in　a　hurry。
　　〃We'll　wait　until　your　guest　shows　up；〃　Marino　said。　〃Sure　don't　want　you　sitting　alone　out　here　in　the　dark　or　being　bothered　inside。　Truth　is；　Deputy　Chief　Bray；　you　shouldn't　be　roaming　around　without　security；　as　recognizable　as　you've　gotten　to　be　since　you　moved　here。　You've　kind　of　gotten　to　be　a　celebrity；　you　know。〃
　　〃I'm　not　meeting　anyone；〃　she　said；　irritation　honing　her　tone。
　　〃We've　never　had　a　woman　so　high　up　in　the　department；　especially　one　so　attractive　and　so　loved　by　the　media。〃　Marino　wouldn't　shut　up。
　　She　collected　her　pocketbook　and　mail　off　the　seat；　her　cold　anger　palpable。
　　〃Now　if　you'll　please　excuse　me？〃　She　said　it　as　an　order。
　　〃It's　not　going　to　be　easy　to　get　a　table　tonight；'　l　let　her　know　as　she　opened　her　door。　〃Unless　you　have　a　reservation；〃　I　added；　implying　I　knew　damn　well　she　didn't。
　　Bray's　poise　and　self…confidence　slipped　just　enough　to　unmask　the　evil　coiling　within。　Her　eyes　struck　at　me；　then　revealed　nothing　as　she　climbed　out　of　the　car　and　Marino　blocked　her　way。　She　couldn't　get　past　him　without　ducking　around　him　and　brushing　against　him；　and　her　enormous　ego　would　never　allow　that。
　　She　was　almost　pinned　against　the　door　of　her　shiny　new　car。　It　didn't　escape　my　notice　that　she　was　dressed　in　corduroys；　running　shoes；　and　a　Richmond　Police　Department　jacket。　Vain　woman　that　she　was；　she　would　never　show　up　in　a　fine　restaurant　dressed　like　that。
　　〃Excuse　me；〃　she　said　loudly　to　Marino。
　　〃Oh　gee；　I'm　sorry；〃　he　gushed；　stepping　to　one　side。
　　I　chose　my　next　words　carefully。　I　〃could　not　directly　accuse　her；　but　I　intended　to　make　sure　she　knew　she'd　gotten　away　with　nothing　and　if　she　persisted　in　her　ambushes；　she　would　lose　and　she　would　pay。
　　〃You're　an　investigator；〃　I　thoughtfully　said　to　her。　〃Maybe　you　can　tell　me　your　opinion　on　how　someone　might　have　gotten　hold　of　my　password　and　e…mailed　messages；　impersonating　me。　And　then　someone…most　likely　the　same　person…started　an　asinine；　lobotomized　chat　room　on　the　Internet　called　Dear　Dr。　Kay。〃
　　〃How　awful。　I'm　sorry；　I　can't　help　you。　puters　are　not　my　specialty；〃　she　said　with　a　smile。
　　Her　eyes　were　dark　holes；　her　teeth　flashing　like　steel　blades　in　the　glow　of　sodium　lights。
　　〃All　I　can　suggest　is　you　look　at　the　people　closest　to　you；　perhaps　someone　disgruntled；　a　friend　you've　fallen　out　with；〃　she　continued　her　act。　〃I　really　have　no　idea；　but　I　would　expect　it's　someone　with　a　link　to　you。　I've　heard　your　niece　is　an　expert　in　puters。　Maybe　she　could　help　you。〃
　　Her　mention　of　Lucy　infuriated　me。
　　〃I've　been　wanting　to　talk　to　her；〃　Bray　said　as　a　by…theway。　〃You　know；　we're　implementing　PSTAT　and　need　a　puter　expert。〃
　　PSTAT；　or　puter…driven　statistics；　was　a　new　model　of　enlightened；　technologically　advanced　policing　devised　by　the　New　York　Police　Department。　puter　experts　would　be　needed　for　it；　but　to　suggest　a　project　like　that　for　someone　with　Lucy's　skills　and　experience　was　an　insult。
　　〃You　might　pass　this　along　to　her　when　you　talk　next；〃　Bray…　added。
　　Marino's　rage　was　boiling　like　water　in　a　pot。
　　〃We　really　should　sit　down　sometime；　Kay；　and　let　me　tell　you　about　some　of　my　experiences　in　Washington；〃　she　said　as　if　I　had　never　worked　anywhere　but　in　a　small　town。　〃You　can't　even　begin　to　know　the　things　people　will　try　to　bring　you　down。　Especially　women　against　the　women；　sabotage　in　the　workplace。　I've　seen　the　best　topple。〃
　　〃I'm　sure　you　have；〃　I　said。
　　She　locked　her　car　door　and　said；　〃Just　so　you　know；　you　don't　need　a　reservation　to　sit　at　the　bar。　That's　where　I　usually　eat　anyway。　They're　famous　for　their　steak　fromage；　but　I　remend　you　try　the　lobster；　Kay。　And　you；　Captain　Marino；　would　love　their　onion　rings。　I　hear　they're　to　die　for。〃
　　We　watched　her　walk　off。
　　〃Fucking　bitch；〃　Marino　said。
　　〃Let's　get　out　of　here；〃。I　said。
　　〃Yeah；　last　thing　I　want　to　do　is　eat　anywhere　near　poison　like　that。　I　ain't　even　hungry。〃
　　〃That　won't　last。〃
　　We　climbed　into　his　truck　and　I　sank　beneath　a　heavy　depression　that　held　me　down　like　tar。　I　wanted　to　find　some　victory；　some　ray　of　optimism　in　what　had　just　transpired；　but　I　couldn't。　I　felt　defeated。　Worse；　I　felt　foolish。
　　〃Want　a　cigarette？〃　Marino　asked　inside　the　dark　cab　as　he　punched　in　the　lighter。
　　〃Why　not；〃　I　muttered。　〃I'm　going　to　stop　again　pretty　soon。〃
　　He　handed　one　to　me　and　lit　his。　He　gave　me　the　lighter。　He　kept　glancing　over　at　me；　knowing　how　I　felt。
　　〃I　still　think　it　was　a　good　thing　we　done；〃　he　said。　〃I　bet　she's　in　that　restaurant　belting　down　whiskeys　because　we　got　her　good：〃
　　〃We　didn't　get　her　good；〃　I　replied；　squinting　at　the　lights　of　cars　passing　by。　〃With　her；　I'm　afraid　the　only　silver　bullet　is　prevention。　We　have　to　guard　against　further　damage　by　not　only　anticipating　but　also　following　up　on　everything　we　do。〃
　　I　opened　the　window　several　inches；　cold　air　touching　my　hair。　I　blew　out　smoke。
　　〃No…show　Chuck：'　I　mented。
　　〃Oh；　he　showed　up。　You　just　didn't　see　him　because　he　saw　us　first　and　hightailed　it　out　of　there。〃
　　〃You　sure？〃
　　〃I　saw　his　piece…of…shit　Miata　turning　into　the　road　leading　to　the　shopping　center；　and　then　about　halfway　to　the　parking　lot　it　suddenly　did　a　U…turn　and　got　the　hell　out　of　Dodge。　And　this　was　at　the　exact　time　Bray　said　something　else　on　her　portable　after　she　saw　us　outside　her　car。〃
　　〃Chuck's　a　direct　conduit　from　me　to　her；〃　I　said。　〃She　may　as　well　have　a　key　to　my　office。〃
　　〃Hell；　maybe　she　does；〃　he　said。　〃But；　Doc；　you　just　leave　Chuckie…boy　to　me。〃
　　〃Now；　that　scares　me；〃　I　said。　〃Please　don't　go　doing　something　reckless；　Marino。　He　does　work　for　me；　after　all。　I　dont　need　any　other　problems。〃
　　〃My　point　exactly。　You　don't　need　any　more　problems。〃
　　He　dropped　me　off　at　the　office　and　waited　until　I　got　into　my　car。　I　followed　him　out　of　the　parking　lot；　and　he　went　his　way　and　I　went　mine。
　　　
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　　The　tiny　moon…eyes　from　the　dead　man's　skin　glowed　in　my　mind。　They　looked　out　from　that　deep；　off…limits　place　where　I　stored　my　fears；　which　were　many　and　of　a　kind　not　felt　by　anyone　else　I　knew。　Wind　shook　bare　trees　and　clouds　streamed　like　banners　across　the　sky　as　a　cold　front　rushed　in。
　　I　had　heard　on　the　news　the　temperature　might　dip　into　the　twenties　that　night；　which　seemed　impossible　after　weeks　that　felt　like　fall。　It　seemed　everything　was　out　of　balance　and　abnormal　in　my　life。　Lucy　wasn't　Lucy　so　I　couldn't　call　her　and　she　wasn't　speaking　to　me。　Marino　was　working　a　homicide　even　though　he　wasn't　a　detective　anymore；　and　Benton　was　gone；　and　everywhere　I　looked　for　him　I　found　an　empty　frame。　I　still　waited　for　his　car　to　drive　up；　for　the　phone　to　ring；　for　the　sound　of　his　voice；　because　it　was　too　soon　for　my　heart　to　accept　what　my　brain　knew。
　　I　turned　off　the　Downtown　Expressway　onto　Cary　Street；　and　as　I　drove　past　a　shopping　center　and　the　Venice　Restaurant；　I　became　aware　of　a　car　behind　me。　It　was　driving　very　slowly　and　too　far　away　for　me　to　tell　anything　about　the　person　behind　the　wheel。　Instinct　told　me　to　slow　down；　and　when　I　did；　so　did　the　car。　I　turned　right　on　Cary　Street；　and　the　car　stayed　with　me。　When　I　took　a　left　into　Windsor　Farms；　there　it　was；　maintaining　the　same　safe　distance。
　　I　didn't　want　to　get　any　deeper　into　this　neighborhood　because　the　roads　were　winding　and　narrow　and　dark。　There　were　many　cul…de…sacs。　I　took　a　right　on　Dover　and　dialed　Marino's　number　as　the　car　turned　right；　too；　and　my　fear　grew。
　　〃Marino；〃　I　said　out　loud　to　nobody　there。　〃Be　home；　Marino。〃
　　I　ended　the　call　and　tried　again。
　　〃Marino！　Goddamn　it；　be　home！〃　I　said　to　the　handsfree　phone　in　the　dashboard　as　Marino's　clunky　cordless　phone　inside　his　house　rang　and　rang。
　　He　probably　had　it　parked　by　the　TV；　as　usual。　Half　the　time　he　couldn't　find　it　because　he　didn't　return　it　to　its　base。　Maybe　he　wasn't　home　yet。
　　〃What？〃　his　loud　voice　surprised　me。
　　〃It's　me。　〃
　　〃Goddamn…mother…fucking…son…of…a…bitch。　If　I　hit　my　knee　on　that　goddamn　table　one　more　time。　。　。　！〃
　　〃Marino；　listen　to　me！〃
　　〃Once　more　and　it's　out　in　the　yard　and　I'm　gonna　smash　the　shit　out　of　it　with　a　hammer！　Right　in　the　fucking　kneecap！　I　can't　see　the　fucking　thing　'cause　it's　glass　and　guess　who　said　it　would　look　so　nice　there？〃
　　〃Calm　down；〃　I　exclaimed；　watching　the　car　in　my　mirror。
　　〃I've　had　three　beers　and　I'm　hungry　an