dk.watchers-第9部分

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　The　dog　returned　from　the　far　end　of　the　patio　and　stopped　just　beyond　Travis's　reach。　It　glanced　once　at　the　collar；　then　fixed　him　with　that　uncannily　intense　gaze。　As　before；　he　felt　a　degree　of　munion　with　the　animal　that　was　as　profound　as　it　was　eerie…and　as　eerie　as　it　was　indescribable。
　He　said；　〃Listen；　there'll　be　times　I'll　want　to　take　you　places　where　you'll　need　a　leash。　Which　has　to　be　attached　to　a　collar；　doesn't　it？　That's　the　only　reason　I　want　you　to　wear　a　collar…so　I　can　take　you　everywhere　with　me。　That　and　to　ward　off　fleas。　But　if　you　really　don't　want　to　submit　to　it；　I　won't　force　you。〃
　For　a　long　time　they　faced　each　other　as　the　retriever　mulled　over　the　situation。　Travis　continued　to　hold　the　collar　out　as　if　it　represented　a　gift　rather　than　a　demand；　and　the　dog　continued　to　stare　into　his　new　master's　eyes。　At　last；　the　retriever　shook　itself；　sneezed　once；　and　slowly　came　forward。
　〃That's　a　good　boy；〃　Travis　said　encouragingly。
　When　it　reached　him；　the　dog　settled　on　its　belly；　then　rolled　onto　its　back　with　all　four　legs　in　the　air；　making　itself　vulnerable。　It　gave　him　a　look　that　was　full　of　love；　trust；　and　a　little　fear。
　Crazily；　Travis　felt　a　lump　form　in　his　throat　and　was　aware　of　hot　tears　scalding　the　corners　of　his　eyes。　He　swallowed　hard　and　blinked　back　the　tears　and　told　himself　he　was　being　a　sentimental　dope。　But　he　knew　why　the　dog's　considered　submission　affected　him　so　strongly。　For　the　first　time　in　three　years；　Travis　Cornell　felt　needed；　felt　a　deep　connection　with　another　living　creature。　For　the　first　time　in　three　years；　he　had　a　reason　to　live。
　He　slipped　the　collar　in　place；　buckled　it；　gently　scratched　and　rubbed　the　retriever's　exposed　belly。
　〃Got　to　have　a　name　for　you；〃　he　said。
　The　dog　scrambled　to　its　feet；　faced　him；　and　pricked　its　ears　as　if　waiting　to　hear　what　it　would　be　called。
　God　in　heaven；　Travis　thought；　I'm　attributing　human　intentions　to　him。　He's　a　mutt；　special　maybe　but　still　only　a　mutt。　He　may　look　as　if　he's　waiting　to　hear　what　he'll　be　called；　but　he　sure　as　hell　doesn't　understand　English。
　〃Can't　think　of　a　single　name　that's　fitting；〃　Travis　said　at　last。　〃We　don't　want　to　rush　this。　It's　got　to　be　just　the　right　name。　You're　no　ordinary　dog；　fur　face。　I've　got　to　think　on　it　a　while　until　I　hit　the　right　moniker。〃
　Travis　emptied　the　washtub；　rinsed　it　out；　and　left　it　to　dry。　Together；　he　and　the　retriever　went　into　the　home　they　now　shared。
　5
　Dr。　Elisabeth　Yarbeck　and　her　husband　Jonathan；　an　attorney；　lived　in　Newport　Beach　in　a　sprawling；　single…story；　ranch…style　home　with　a　shake…shingle　roof；　cream…colored　stucco　walls；　and　a　walkway　of　Bouquet　Canyon　stone。　The　waning　sun　radiated　copper　and　ruby　light　that　glinted　and　flashed　in　the　beveled　glass　of　the　narrow　leaded　windows　flanking　the　front　door；　giving　those　panes　the　look　of　enormous　gemstones。
　Elisabeth　answered　the　door　when　Vince　Nasco　rang　the　bell。　She　was　about　fifty；　trim　and　attractive；　with　shaggy　silver…blond　hair　and　blue　eyes。　Vince　told　her　his　name　was　John　Parker；　that　he　was　with　the　FBI；　and　that　he　needed　to　speak　with　her　and　her　husband　in　regards　to　a　case　currently　Under　investigation。
　〃Case？〃　she　said。　〃What　case？〃
　〃It　involves　a　government…financed　research　project　on　which　you　were　Once　involved；〃　Vince　told　her；　for　that　was　the　opening　line　that　he　had　been　told　to　use。
　She　examined　his　photo　ID　and　Bureau　credentials　carefully。
　He　was　not　concerned。　The　phony　papers　had　been　prepared　by　the　same　People　who　had　hired　him　for　this　job。　The　forged　documents　had　been
　provided　ten　months　ago　to　assist　him　on　a　hit　in　San　Francisco；　and　had　served　him　well　on　three　other　occasions。
　Though　he　knew　the　ID　would　meet　with　her　approval；　he　was　not　sure　that　he；　himself；　would　pass　inspection。　He　was　wearing　a　dark　blue　suit；　white　shirt；　blue　tie；　and　highly　polished　black　shoes…correct　attire　for　an　agent。　His　size　and　his　expressionless　face　also　served　him　well　in　the　role　he　was　playing。　But　the　murder　of　Dr。　Davis　Weatherby　and　the　prospect　of　two　more　murders　within　the　next　few　minutes　had　wildly　excited　him；　had　filled　him　with　a　manic　glee　that　was　almost　uncontainable。　Laughter　kept　building　within　him；　and　the　struggle　to　repress　it　grew　more　difficult　by　the　minute。　In　the　drab　green　Ford　sedan；　which　he　had　stolen　forty　minutes　ago　expressly　for　this　one　job；　he　had　been　seized　by　a　fit　of　the　shakes　induced　not　by　nervousness　but　by　intense　pleasure　of　an　almost　sexual　nature。　He'd　been　forced　to　pull　the　car　to　the　side　of　the　road　and　sit　for　ten　minutes；　breathing　deeply；　until　he　had　calmed　down　a　bit。
　Now；　Elisabeth　Yarbeck　looked　up　from　the　forged　ID；　met　Vince's　eyes；　and　frowned。
　He　risked　a　smile；　though　there　was　a　danger　of　slipping　into　uncontrollable　laughter　that　would　blow　his　cover。　He　had　a　boyish　smile　that；　by　its　marked　contrast　with　his　size；　could　be　disarming。
　After　a　moment；　Dr。　Yarbeck　also　smiled。　Satisfied；　she　returned　his　credentials　and　weled　him　into　her　house。
　〃I'll　need　to　speak　with　your　husband；　too；〃　Vince　reminded　her　as　she　closed　the　front　door　behind　them。
　〃He's　in　the　living　room；　Mr。　Parker。　This　way；　please。〃
　The　living　room　was　large　and　airy。　Cream…colored　walls　and　carpet。　Pale…green　sofas。　Big　plate…glass　windows；　partly　shielded　by　green　awnings；　provided　views　of　the　meticulously　landscaped　property　and　of　houses　on　the　hills　below。
　Jonathan　Yarbeck　was　stuffing　handfuls　of　wood　chips　in　among　the　logs　that　he'd　piled　in　the　brick　fireplace；　getting　ready　to　light　a　fire。　He　stood　up；　dusting　his　hands　together；　as　his　wife　introduced　Vince。　〃。　。　。　John　Parker　of　the　FBI。〃
　〃FBI？〃　Yarbeck　said；　raising　his　eyebrows　inquiringly。
　〃Mr。　Yarbeck；〃　Vince　said；　〃if　there　are　other　members　of　the　family　at　home；　I'd　also　like　to　speak　with　them　now；　so　I　don't　have　to　repeat　myself。〃
　Shaking　his　head；　Yarbeck　said；　〃There's　just　Liz　and　me。　Kids　are　away　at　college。　What's　this　all　about？〃
　Vince　drew　the　silencer…equipped　pistol　from　inside　his　suit　jacket　and　shot　Jonathan　Yarbeck　in　the　chest。　The　attorney　was　flung　backward　against　the　mantel；　where　he　hung　for　a　moment　as　if　nailed　in　place；　then　fell　atop　the　brass　fireplace　tools。
　Sssssnap。
　Elisabeth　Yarbeck　was　briefly　frozen　by　astonishment　and　horror。　Vince　quickly　moved　on　her。　He　grabbed　her　left　arm　and　twisted　it　up　behind　her
　back；　hard。　When　she　cried　out　in　pain；　he　put　the　pistol　against　the　side　of　her　head　and　said；　〃Be　quiet；　or　I'll　blow　your　fuckin'　brains　out。〃
　He　forced　her　to　acpany　him　across　the　room　to　her　husband's　body。　Jonathan　Yarbeck　was　face…down　on　top　of　a　small　brass　coal　shovel　and　a　brass…handled　poker。　He　was　dead。　But　Vince　did　not　want　to　take　chances。　He　shot　Yarbeck　twice　in　the　back　of　the　head　at　close　range。
　A　strange；　thin；　catlike　sound　escaped　Liz　Yarbeck…then　she　began　to　sob。
　Because　of　the　distance　and　the　smoky　tint　on　the　glass；　Vince　did　not　believe　even　the　neighbors　could　see　through　the　big　windows；　but　he　wanted　to　deal　with　the　woman　in　a　more　private　place。　He　forced　her　into　the　hall　and　headed　deeper　into　the　house；　looking　in　doors　as　they　went　until　he　found　the　master　bedroom。　There；　he　gave　her　a　hard　shove；　and　she　sprawled　on　the　floor。
　〃Stay　put；〃　he　said。
　He　switched　on　the　bedside　lamps。　He　went　to　the　big　sliding…glass　doors　that　opened　onto　the　patio　and　began　to　close　the　drapes。
　The　moment　his　back　was　turned；　the　woman　scrambled　to　her　feet　and　ran　toward　the　hall　door。
　He　caught　her；　slammed　her　up　against　the　wall；　drove　a　fist　into　her　stomach；　knocking　the　wind　out　of　her；　then　threw　her　to　the　floor　again。　Lifting　her　head　by　a　handful　of　hair；　he　forced　her　to　look　him　in　the　eyes。　〃Listen；　lady；　I'm　not　going　to　shoot　you。　I　came　here　to　get　your　husband。　Just　your　husband。　But　if　you　try　to　slip　away　from　me　before　I'm　ready　to　let　you　go；　I'll　have　to　waste　you；　too。　Understand？〃
　He　was　lying；　of　course。　She　was　the　one　he　was　being　paid　to　hit；　and　the　husband　had　to　be　removed　simply　because　he　was　there。　However；　it　was　true　that　Vince　was　not　going　to　shoot　her。　He　wanted　her　to　be　cooperative　until　he　could　tie　her　up　and　deal　with　her　at　a　more　leisurely　pace。　The　two　shootings　had　been　satisfying；　but　he　wanted　to　draw　this　one　out；　kill　her　more　slowly。　Sometimes；　death　could　be　savored　like　good　food；　fine　wine；　and　glorious　sunsets。
　Gasping　for　breath；　sobbing；　she　said；　〃Who　are　you？〃
　〃None　of　your　business。〃
　〃What　do　you　want？〃
　〃Just　shut　up；　cooperate；　and　you'll　get　out　of　this　alive。〃
　She　was　reduced　to　urgent　prayer；　running　the　words　together　and　sometimes　punctuating　them　with　small　desperate　wordless　sounds。
　Vince　finished　closing　the　drapes。
　He　tore　the　phone　out　of　the　wall　and　pitched　it　across　the　room。
　Taking　the　woman　by　the　arm　again；　he　pulled　her　to　her　feet　and　dragged　her　into　the　bathroom。　He　searched　through　drawers　until　he　found　first…aid　Supplies；　the　adhesive　tape　was　just　what　he　needed。
　In　the　bedroom　once　more；　he　made　her　lie　on　her　back　on　the　bed。　He　Used　the　tape　to　bind　her　ankles　together　and　to　secure　her　wrists　in　front　of
　her。　From　a　bureau　drawer；　he　got　a　pair　of　her　flimsy　panties；　which　he　wadded　up　and　stuffed　into　her　mouth。　He　sealed　her　mouth　shut　with　a　final　strip　of　tape。
　She　was　shaking　violently；　blinking　through　tears　and　sweat。
　He　left　the　bedroom；　went　to　the　living　room；　and　knelt　beside　Jonathan
　Yarbeck's　corpse；　with　which　he　had　unfinished　business。　He　turned　it　over。
　One　of　the　bullets　that　had　entered　the　back　of　Yarbeck's　head　had　punched
　out　through　his　throat；　just　under　his　chin。　His　open　mouth　was　full　of　blood。
　One　eye　was　rolled　back　in　his　skull；　so　only　the　white　showed。
　Vince　looked　into　the　other　eye。　〃Thank　you；〃　he　said　sincerely；　reverently。　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Yarbeck。〃
　He　closed　both　eyelids。　He　kissed　them。
　〃Thank　you。〃
　He　kissed　the　dead　man's　forehead。
　〃Thank　you　for　what　you've　given　me。〃
　Then　he　went　into　the　garage；　where　he　searched　through　cabinets　until　he　found　some　tools。　He　selected　a　hammer　with　a　fo