cpatricia.blacknotice-第44节

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　　〃When　are　you　going　to　turn　that　thing　in？〃　I　asked。
　　〃When　they　e　and　try　to　take　it　from　me；〃　he　replied。　〃I　ain't　turning　in　shit。〃
　　〃That's　the　spirit。〃
　　〃The　hard　thing　about　every　case　we've　ever　worked；〃　he　said；　〃is　there's　never　just　one　thing　going　on。　Cops　try　to　connect　so　much　crap　that　by　the　time　we　solve　the　case；　we　could　have　written　the　victim's　biography。　Half　the　time　we　find　a　connection；　it's　not　one　that　matters。　Like　the　husband　who　gets　mad　at　his　wife。　She　goes　out　the　door；　pissed；　and　ends　up　abducted　from　a　mall　parking　lot；　raped　and　murdered。　Her　husband　pissing　her　off　didn't　make　it　happen。　Maybe　she　was　going　shopping　anyway。〃
　　He　turned　into　my　driveway　and　put　the　truck　in　park。　I　gave　him　a　long　look。
　　〃Marino；　what　are　you　going　to　do　about　money？〃
　　〃I'll　be　all　right。〃
　　I　knew　it　wasn't　true。
　　〃You　could　help　me　out　as　a　field　investigator　for　a　while；〃　I　said　〃Until　this　suspension　nonsense　ends。〃
　　He　was　silent。　As　long　as　Bray　was　there；　it　would　never　end　Suspending　him　without　pay　was　her　way　of　forcing　Marino　to　resign。　If　he　did　that；　he　was　out　of　the　way　like　AI　Carson。
　　〃I　can　hire　you　two　ways；〃　I　went　on。　〃A　case…by…case　basis　and　you'll　get　fifty　dollars　per　。　。　：'
　　He　snorted。　〃Fifty　dollars　my　ass！〃
　　〃Or　I　can　hire　you　part…time　and　eventually　I'll　have　to　advertise　the　position　and　you'll　have　to　apply　for　it　like　everybody　else：'
　　〃Don't　make　me　sick。〃
　　〃How　much　are　you　earning　now？〃
　　〃About　sixty…two　plus　benefits；〃　he　replied。
　　〃The　best　I　could　do　is　make　you　a　P…fourteen　at　senior　level。　Thirty　hours　a　week。　No　benefits。　Thirty…five　a　year。〃
　　〃Now　that's　a　good　one。　One　of　the　funniest　things　I've　heard　in　a　while。〃
　　〃I　can　also　take　you　on　as　an　instructor　and　coordinator　in　death　investigation　at　the　Institute。　That's　another　thirtyfive。　So　that's　seventy。　No　benefits。　Actually；　you'll　probably　make　out　better。〃
　　He　thought　about　it　for　a　moment；　sucking　smoke。
　　〃I　don't　need　your　help　right　now；〃　he　said　rudely。　〃And　hanging　around　medical　examiners　and　dead　bodies　ain't　part　of　my　life's　plan。〃
　　I　climbed　out　of　his　truck。
　　〃Good　night；〃　I　said。
　　He　angrily　roared　away　and　I　knew　it　wasn't　me　he　was　really　so　angry　with。　He　was　frustrated　and　furious。　His　self…respect　and　vulnerability　were　naked　in　front　of　me　and　he　didn't　want　me　to　see　it。　All　the　same；　what　he'd　said　hurt。
　　I　threw　my　coat　over　a　chair　in　the　foyer　and　pulled　off　leather　gloves。　I　put　Beethoven's　〃Eroica〃　symphony　on　the　CD　player　and　my　discordant　nerves　began　to　restore　their　rhythm　like　the　strings　that　played。　I　ate　an　omelet　and　settled　in　bed　with　a　book　I　was　too　tired　to　read。
　　I　fell　asleep　with　the　light　on　and　was　shocked　awake　by　the　hammering　of　my　burglar　alarm。　I　got　my　Glock　out　of　a　drawer　and　fought　the　impulse　to　disarm　the　system。　I　couldn't　stand　the　awful　clangor。　But　I　。didn't　know　what　had　set　it　off。　The　phone　rang　several　minutes　later。
　　‘。‘This　is　ADT　。　。　：'
　　〃Yes；　yes；〃　I　said　loudly。　〃I　don't　know　why　it's　gone　off。
　　〃We're　showing　zone　five；〃　the　man　said。　〃The　kitchen　back　door。〃
　　〃I　have　no　idea。〃
　　〃Then　you'd　like　us　to　dispatch　the　police。〃
　　〃I　guess　you'd　better；〃　I　said　as　the　air　raid　in　my　house　went　on。
　　　
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　　I　supposed　a　strong　gust　of　wind　might　have　set　off　the　alarm；　and　minutes　later　I　silenced　it　so　I　could　hear　the　police　arrive。　I　sat　on　my　bed；　waiting。　I　didn't　go　through　the　dreaded　routine　of　securing　every　inch　of　my　house；　of　walking　into　rooms　and　showers　and　dark　spaces　of　fear。
　　I　listened　to　silence　and　became　acutely　aware　of　the　sounds　of　it。　I　heard　the　wind；　the　faint　clicking　of　numbers　rolling　on　the　digital　clock；　heat　blowing；　my　own　breathing。　A　car　turned　into　my　driveway　and　I　hurried　to　the　front　door　as　one　of　the　offers　sharply　rapped　with　a　baton　or　blackjack　instead　of　ringing　the　bell。
　　〃Police；〃　a　woman's　no…nonsense　voice　announced。
　　I　let　them　in。　There　were　two　officers；　a　young　woman　and　an　older　man。　The　woman's　nameplate　identified　her　as　J。　F。　Butler；　and　there　was　something　about　her　that　had　an　effect　on　me。
　　〃The　zone's　the　one　for　the　kitchen　door　that　leads　outside；〃　I　told　them。　〃I　very　much　appreciate　your　ing　so　quickly。〃
　　〃What's　your　name？〃　her　partner；　R。　I。　McElwayne；　asked　me。
　　He　was　acting　as　if　he　didn't　know　who　I　was；　as　if　I　were　just　a　middle…aged　lady　in　a　bathrobe　who　happened　to　live　in　a　nice　house　in　a　neighborhood　that　rarely　needed　the　police。
　　〃I　Kay　Scarpetta。〃
　　His　tight　demeanor　loosened　a　bit；　and　he　said；　〃I　didn't　know　if　you　really　existed。　Heard　about　you　a　lot；　but　I　never　been　to　the　morgue；　not　once　in　eighteen　years；　for　which　I'm　grateful。〃
　　〃'That's　because　back　then　you　didn't　have　to　go　to　demo　posts　and　learn　all　these　scientific　things；〃　Butler　picked　on　him。
　　McElwayne　tried　not　to　smile　as　his　eyes　roamed　curiously　around　my　house。
　　〃You're　wele　to　e　watch　a　demo　post　anytime　you　want；〃　I　said　to　him。
　　Butler's　attention　was　everywhere；　her　body　on　alert。　She　hadn't　been　dulled　yet　by　the　weight　of　her　career；　unlike　her　partner；　whose　main　interest　at　this　moment　was　my　house　and　who　I　was。　He　had　probably　pulled　a　thousand　cars　and　answered　just　as　many　false　alarms　by　now；　all　for　little　pay　and　even　less　appreciation。
　　〃We'd　like　to　look　around；〃　Butler　said　to　me；　locking　the　front　door。　〃Starting　with　down　here。〃
　　〃Please。　Look　anywhere　you　want。〃
　　〃If　you'll　just　stay　right　here；〃　she　said；　heading　toward　the　kitchen；　and　then　it　hit　me　hard；　emotions　catching　me　pletely　off　guard。
　　She　reminded　me　of　Lucy。　It　was　the　eyes；　the　straight　bridge　of　the　nose；　and　the　way　she　gestured。　Lucy　couldn't　move　her　lips　without　moving　her　hands；　as　if　she　were　conducting　a　conversation　instead　of　having　one。　I　stood　in　the　foyer　and　could　hear　their　feet　on　hardwood；　their　muffled　voices；　the　shutting　of　doors。　They　took　their　time；　and　I　imagined　it　was　Butler　who　was　making　sure　they　didn't　ignore　a　single　space　big　enough　to　hide　a　human　being。
　　They　came　down　the　stairs　and　went　out　into　the　icy　night；　the　beams　of　their　strong　flashlights　sweeping　over　windows；　streaking　across　blinds。　This　went　on　another　fifteen　minutes；　and　when　they　knocked　on　the　door　to　e　back　inside；　they　led　me　into。　the　kitchen；　McElwayne　blowing　on　his　cold；　red　hands。　Butler　had　something　important　on　her　mind。
　　〃Are　you　aware　there's　a　bent　place　in　the　jamb　of　the　kitchen　door？〃　she　asked。
　　〃No；〃　I　said；　startled。
　　She　unlocked　the　door　near　the　table　by　the　window；　where　I　usually　ate　when　I　was　with　friends　or　alone。　Raw；　freezing　air　rushed　in　as　I　moved　close　to　her　to　see　what　she　was　talking　about。　She　shone　her　light　on　a　smalf　indented　impression　in　the　strike　plate　and　edge　of　the　wooden　frame　where　it　appeared　someone　had　tried　to　pry　open　the　door。
　　〃It　could　have　been　there　for　a　while　and　you　haven't　noticed；〃　she　said。　〃We　didn't　check　when　your　alarm　went　off　on　Tuesday　because　it　was　the　zone　for　the　garage　door。〃
　　〃My　alarm　went　off　on　Tuesday？〃　I　said　in　amazement。　〃I　don't　know　anything　about　that。〃
　　〃I'm　going　out　to　the　car；〃　McElwayne　said　to　his　partner　as　he　walked　out　of　the　kitchen；　still　rubbing　his　hands。
　　〃Be　right　back。〃　 …〃I　was　working　day　shift；〃　she　explained　to　me。　〃It　appears　your　housekeeper　accidentally　set　it　off。〃
　　I　couldn't　understand　why　Marie　would　have　set　off　the　alarm　in　the；　garage；　unless　she'd　gone　out　that　way　for　some　reason　and　had　ignored　the　warning　beep　for　too　long。
　　〃She　was　pretty　shook　up；〃　Butler　went　on。　〃Apparently　couldn't　remember　the　code　until　we　were　already　here。〃
　　〃What　time　was　this？〃　I　asked。
　　〃Around　eleven　hundred　hours。　〃
　　Marino　wouldn't　have　heard　the　call　e　over　the　radio　because　at　eleven　o'clock　he　was　in　the　morgue　with　me。　I　thought　of　the　alarm　not　being　set　when　I　got　home　that　night；　of　the　soiled　towels　and　dirt　on　the　rug。　I　wondered　why　Marie　hadn't　left　a　note　for　me　saying　what　had　happened。
　　〃We　had　no　reason　to　check　this　door；〃　Butler　said。　〃So　I　can't　say　whether　the　pry　mark　was　here　on　Tuesday　or　not。〃
　　〃Even　if　it　wasn't；〃　I　said；　〃obviously　someone　tried　to　get　in　at　some　point。〃
　　〃Unit　three…twenty；〃　Butler　said。　〃Ten…five　to　a　precinct　B　and　E　detective。〃
　　〃Unit　seven…ninety…two；〃　came　the　response。
　　〃Can　you　respond；　reference　B'　and　E　attempt？〃　she　said；　giving　out　my　address。
　　〃Ten…four。　Take　me　about　fifteen　minutes。〃
　　Butler　set　her　radio　Upright　on　the　kitchen　table　and　studied　the　lock　a　little　more。　Cold　gusting　air　blew　a　stack　of　napkins　on　the　floor　and　sent　pages　of　a　newspaper　fluttering。　 ‘
　　〃He's　ing　out　of　Meadow　and　Cary；〃　she　told　me；　as　if　it　were　something　I　ought　to　know。　〃That's　where　the　precinct　is。〃
　　She　shut　the　door。
　　〃They're　not　part　of　the　detective　division　anymore；〃　she　went　on；　watching　for　my　reaction。　〃So　they　got　moved；　are　part　of　uniform　operations　now。　I　guess　this　was　about　a　month　ago；〃　she　added　as　I　began　to　suspect　where　the　conversation　was　headed。
　　〃I　guess