scoonts.theminotaur-第30部分

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iously　ignored　the　inspection；　but　Toad　gave　him　a　friendly　wink。　Meanwhile　the　stews　maneuvered　the　luncheon　cart　into　the　aisle。
　When　the　other　lavatory　door　opened　and　the　occupant　was　clear；　Rita　stepped　in　and　pulled　Toad　along。　〃Better　get　your　mom　to　help　you　too；〃　Toad　told　the　wide…eyed　boy。　As　he　got　the　door　closed。　Rita　slammed　the　lock　over　and　wrapped　herself　around　him。
　When　they　finally　broke　for　air；　she　whispered；　〃I　really　thought　you　didn't　like　me。〃
　〃Fool。〃
　〃I　wanted　you　to　like　me　so　much；　but　you　were　so　distant；　as　if　you　didn't　care　at　all。〃　Her　arms　were　locked　behind　his　back；　crushing　them　together。　With　his　hands　against　the　side　of　her　head；　he　eased　her　head　back。　Her　lipstick　was　smeared。　He　kissed　her　again；　slowly　and　deeply。
　
　Matilda　Jackson　peered　through　the　peephole　in　the　door。　A　man。　〃Luis　Camacho；　Mrs。　Jackson。　We　met　yesterday。　Don't　you　remember？〃
　Oh　yes。　One　of　the　FBI　agents。　She　unfastened　the　chain　lock　and　shot　the　dead　bolt。　When　she　opened　the　door；　he　said　in　a　low　voice；　barely　audible；　〃Special　Agent　Camacho；　Mrs。　Jackson。　May　I　e　in？〃
　〃Please。〃　She　looked　across　the　street　at　the　crack　house。　No　one　in　sight；　though　Lord　knows；　the　lookout　was　probably　watching　out　the　window。　Sometimes　she　caught　a　glimpse　of　him。　She　shut　the　door　quickly。
　Now　he　produced　his　credentials。　〃I　have　a　few　follow…up　questions　and…〃
　〃Let's　talk　in　the　kitchen。〃　She　led　the　way。　〃Would　you　like　a　cup　of　coffee？〃
　〃That　would　be　nice。〃
　The　kitchen　was　warmer　than　the　living　room；　and　well　lit。　This　was　her　favorite　room　in　the　house。　Charlie　had　enjoyed　sitting　here　watching　her　cook；　the　smell　of　baking　things　heavy　in　the　air。
　Camacho　sat　at　the　table　and　waited　until　she　had　poured　coffee　for　both　of　them　and　sat　down　across　from　him。　〃Perhaps　we　can　go　over　the　whole　thing　again；　if　you　don't　mind？〃
　〃Oh；　not　at　all。〃　She　explained　again　about　the　crack　house；　about　Mandy　and　Mrs。　Blue　and　the　dudes　who　delivered　the　crack　and　picked　up　the　money。　He　led　her　into　the　events　of　last　Friday　night；　the　photos　and　the　man　who　left　the　cigarette　pack　in　the　iron　post　two　doors　up　the　street。　〃So　you　never　saw　anyone　reach　into　that　post？〃
　〃No。　I　didn't。　God；　I　didn't　even　think　about　that。　If　I　had　thought　that　somebody　was　going　to　e　along　any　second　and　look　for　that　thing　I　probably　wouldn't　have　gone　out　there　and　gotten　it。　No。　I　know　I　shouldn't　have　done　it；　but　I　just　wasn't　thinking。〃
　〃We're　pleased　that　you　did。　It's　concerned　citizens　like　you　that　enable　law　enforcement　to　function。　When　the　time　es；　and　it's　months…even　years…away；　would　you　be　willing　to　testify？〃
　〃Well。。。〃　Those　dopers；　if　they　knew　who　she　was。。。
　〃We'll　need　your　testimony　to　get　the　photos　introduced　as　evidence。〃
　〃I'll。。。〃　She　swallowed　hard。　She　would　be　risking　her　life。　〃I'll　think　about…　Can't　you　do　it　without　me？　You　don't　know　what　you're　asking。〃
　〃We'll　try；　Mrs。　Jackson。　We　won't　ask　unless　we　really　need　you。〃　He　sipped　his　coffee。　〃How　long　has　the　crack　house　been　there？〃
　〃Three；　maybe　four　months。　I　called　the　police…〃
　〃Have　you　been　watching　the　place　since　it　opened？〃
　〃Yes；　on　and　off。　You　know　how　it　is。　I　just　look　over　there　occasionally。　Try　and　keep　an　eye　on　what's　going　on。〃
　〃Have　you　seen　the　black　men　there　before？〃
　〃Oh　yes。〃　She　thought　about　it。　〃At　least　a　dozen　times；　I　guess；　I　think　they　e　almost　every　day　to　collect　the　money　and　such；　but　a　lot　of　times　I　miss　them。　They　don't　e　at　the　same　time　every　day。　And　sometimes　I　think　they　skip　a　day。〃
　〃Have　they　seen　you　watching？〃
　〃I　don't　think　so。　My　God；　I　hope　not。〃　She　sat　back　and　smoothed　her　hair。　〃I've　tried　to　stay　out　of　sight。。。　I've　seen　them　so　often。。。〃
　〃How　about　the　man　who　put　the　cigarette　pack　in　the　hollow　fence　post？　Have　you　seen　him　before？〃
　She　thought　about　it。　〃I…I　don't　think　so。　But　really；　I　just　can't　remember。〃
　〃Have　you　ever　seen　anyone　retrieve　anything　from　the　post？〃
　〃Well；　I…I　just　can't　remember。　Maybe　I　saw　somebody　and　didn't　pay　much　attention。　Is　it　important？〃
　〃At　this　point　I　don't　know。〃
　〃Would　he　be　white？〃
　〃Probably。〃
　She　thought　about　it。　There　were　so　many　people；　up　and　down　the　street；　all　day　long；　week　in；　week　out。　Yet　not　that　many　were　white。　〃I'll　have　to　try　and　remember。〃
　〃Okay。〃　He　scooted　his　chair　back　and　stood。　〃I　appreciate　your　taking　the　time　to　talk　to　me。　Is　there　anything　else　you　think　we　should　know？〃
　〃Oh；　I　guess　not。　But　when　are　you　all　going　to　get　that　crack　house　closed　down？〃
　〃We'll　talk　to　the　District　police。　I　hope　it's　soon。〃
　She　acpanied　him　to　the　door　and　carefully　locked　it　behind　him。　If　only　they　would　shut　those　people　down。　Get　them　out　of　the　neighborhood。
　
　〃I　got　lipstick　all　over　you；〃　Rita　Moravia　said；　and　used　a　wet　paper　towel　to　wipe　Toad's　face。　This　lavatory　was　certainly　not　designed　for　two　adults。　He　perched　on　the　mode　with　the　top　down　and　she　sat　on　his　lap；　bumming　softly　as　she　worked　on　his　face　and　he　swabbed　hers。
　He　carefully　wiped　away　all　the　mascara　and　makeup。　〃You　shouldn't　use　this　stuff；〃　he　said。　〃You　don't　need　it。〃
　〃Why　did　you　get　drunk　last　Friday？〃
　〃I　wanted　you　and　couldn't　have　you。〃　He　lifted　his　shoulders　and　lowered　them。　〃It　seemed　like　a　good　idea　at　the　time。〃
　She　laid　her　forehead　against　his　and　ran　her　fingers　through　his　hair…
　Someone　pounded　on　the　door。
　〃Maybe　we　should　get　back　to　our　seats；〃　he　suggested。
　〃I　suppose；〃　she　murmured；　but　she　didn't　move。
　More　knocking。　〃Hey；　in　there！〃
　Toad　helped　her　to　her　feet　and　straightened　her　uniform。　He　ran　his　hands　across　her　buttocks　and　hips　as　he　stood。　She　kissed　him　again　to　the　acpaniment　of　the　pounding　on　the　door。
　She　stepped　out　first；　her　head　up；　still　holding　his　hand。　Three　stews　stood　in　the　kitchen　area　staring　at　them。　Rita　Moravia　smiled。　〃We're　newlyweds；〃　she　announced　simply；　and　stepped　past。
　The　women　applauded　wildly　and　the　passengers　joined　in。
　They　parked　the　cars　in　the　lot　outside　of　Rita's　apartment　plex　and　Toad　carried　her　bags　in。　He　had　followed　her　home　from　Dulles。　They　kissed　in　the　elevator　and　they　kissed　in　front　of　the　door。　A　giggling；　happy　Rita　used　her　key。
　When　the　door　swung　open　a　young　woman　on　the　couch　in　front　of　the　television　shrieked。　She　had　her　hair　in　curlers　and　was　wearing　only　bra　and　panties。　Toad　got　an　eyeful　of　skin　as　she　scurried　for　the　bedroom。
　〃Don't　mind　Harriet；〃　Rita　said。　〃I　do　the　same　for　her　on　alternate　Saturdays　when　she　brings　her　boyfriend　by。〃
　Toad　grinned　and　nodded。　He　stood　in　the　center　of　the　living　room　and　glanced　about　while　Rita　lugged　her　bags　toward　the　bedroom。　〃Need　any　help？〃
　〃No；　I'll　manage。　Make　yourself　fortable。〃　In　a　moment　she　called　from　the　bedroom；　〃There's　probably　Coke　in　the　fridge。〃
　Toad　sagged　fortably　into　the　couch　the　roommate　had　recently　vacated。　Aha；　a　remote　control　for　the　TV。　He　nipped　around　the　dial　until　he　found　a　basketball　game　and　settled　his　feet　upon　the　settee。　Knowing　women　as　he　did；　he　knew　he　had　a　while　to　wait。
　〃Who's　the　hunk？〃　Harriet　demanded　of　Rita　in　the　bedroom。
　〃A　friend。〃
　〃What　about　Ogden？　He's　called　twice　this　week　wanting　to　know　when　you'd　be　home。　I　told　him　you'd　call　him　this　evening。〃　Ogden　was　an　attorney　at　a　large　Washington　law　firm　whom　Rita　had　been　dating。
　Rita　opened　her　suitcase　on　the　bed　and　began　to　empty　it。　She　separated　her　dirty　clothes　from　the　clean　ones；　working　quickly。
　〃I'll　call　Ogden　tomorrow。〃
　Harriet　eased　the　bedroom　door　open　and　peeked　at　Toad　sprawled　on　the　couch。　〃He's　a　live　one；　all　right。〃　she　said　after　she　had　eased　the　door　shut　again。　〃Navy？〃
　〃Yep。〃
　Harriet　sat　cross…legged　on　her　bed。　〃Are　you　sure　about　this；　Rita？　Ogden's　a　pretty　great　guy。　He's　athletic；　rich　parents；　good　future；　madly　in…〃
　〃He　wasn't　the　one。　I'm　sure。〃
　Harriet　pounced。　〃And　this　guy？　Is　he　the　one？〃
　〃Maybe。〃　Rita　removed　the　pins　that　held　her　hair　against　the　back　of　her　head　and　shook　it　out。　〃He　might　be。　He　almost　got　away。〃　She　grinned　and　attacked　her　hair　with　a　brush。　〃Reeled　him　in　on　the　plane　this　afternoon。〃
　〃This　afternoon？〃
　〃And　I'm　going　over　to　his　apartment　to　spend　the　night。〃
　Harriet　flopped　back　on　her　bed　and　pointed　her　legs　at　the　ceiling；　toes　extended。　〃Well；　no　one　can　say　you're　just　jumping　right　into　bed　with　him。　My　God；　you've　stifled　your　hormones　and　female　appetites　for　an　entire　afternoon。。。　it's　positively　Victorian。　This　will　set　the　sexual　revolution　back　a　hundred　years　if　it　gets　out。〃　She　lowered　her　legs　and　propped　her　head　on　one　arm。　〃Why　not　let　it　cool　off　a　quarter　of　a　degree；　Rita？　A　week。。。〃
　Rita　Moravia　shook　her　head。
　〃You've　got　it　bad；　huh？〃
　〃Yep。〃
　
　〃Luis；〃　his　wife　called　from　the　top　of　the　stairs。　〃Harlan　is　here。〃
　〃Send　him　down。〃
　Mrs。　Camacho　smiled　at　her　next…door　neighbor　and　said；　〃He's　in　the　basement　watching　a　basketball　game。　As　usual。〃
　〃I　thought　he　might　be；〃　Harlan　said；　smiled　and　descended　the　staircase。
　〃Hey；　Harlan。　Great　game。　Boston　College　and　West　Virginia。　BCs　ahead　by　a　bucket。〃
　〃Do　you　men　want　a　beer？〃　Mrs。　Camacho　calling　down　from　the　kitchen。
　〃Thanks　anyway；　honey。〃　They　heard　her　close　the　door　at　the　top　of　the　stairs。
　Harlan　Albright　sank　into　a　chair　near　Camacho。　He　extracted　a　pack　of　Marlboros　from　his　pocket　and　lit　one。　〃Catching　any　spies？〃
　〃Got　Matilda　Jackson's　photos　back　from　the　lab　yesterday　afternoon。　She's　got　one　of　Vasily　Pochinkov；　the　assistant　agricultural　whosis　at　the　embassy。　So　we've　burned　him。　I'm　trying　to　get　surveillance　approved。　And　sure　enough；　Mrs。　Jackson　had　Franklin's　drop　message。　The　puter　guys　should　decide　it's　the　Pentagon　by　tomorrow。〃
　〃Better　tell　me　all　of　it。〃　Albright　stared　at　the　television　as　Camacho　went　through　the　initial　interview　with　Mrs。　Jackson　and　her　attorney；　the　lab　report；　the　interview　with　Mrs。　Jackson　today　at　her　house。　When　Camacho　was　finished；　Albright　lit　another　cigarette。　〃Is　there　a　crack　house　across　the　street？〃
　〃Apparently。　One　of　my　men　was　going　to　check　the　D。C。　police　mug　books。　We'll　ha