if.thespywholovedme-第25部分

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e　front　of　my　overalls　and　pulled　up　the　zip　and　went　out　to　meet　the　Law。
　They　were　two　state　troopers；　smart　and　young　and　very　nice。　I'd　almost　forgotten　such　people　existed。　They　saluted　me　as　if　I　was　royalty。　〃Miss　Vivienne　Michel？〃　The　senior；　a　lieutenant；　did　the　talking　while　his　Number　Two　muttered　quietly　into　his　radio；　announcing　their　arrival。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃I'm　Lieutenant　Morrow。　We　hear　you　had　some　trouble　last　night。〃　He　gestured　with　his　gloved　hand　at　the　ruins。　〃Seems　like　we　heard　right。〃
　〃Oh；　that's　nothing；〃　I　said　disdainfully。　〃There's　a　car　in　the　lake　with　a　corpse　in　it　and　another　corpse　behind　cabin　Number　3。〃
　〃Yes；　Miss。〃　There　was　a　hint　of　disapproval　at　my　levity。　He　turned　to　his　panion；　who　had　clipped　back　the　microphone　to　the　set　behind　his　saddle。　〃O'Donnell；　take　a　look　round；　would　you？〃
　〃Okay；　loot。〃　O'Donnell　strode　off　across　the　grass。
　〃Well；　let's　go　and　take　a　seat　somewhere；　Miss　Michel。〃　The　lieutenant　bent　down　to　one　of　his　saddlebags　and　produced　a　carefully　wrapped　package。　〃Brought　along　some　breakfast。　'Fraid　it's　only　coffee　and　doughnuts。　That　suit　you？〃　He　held　out　the　package。
　I　gave　him　a　full…candlepower　smile。　〃That's　terribly　kind　of　you。　I'm　starving。　There　are　some　seats　over　by　the　lake。　We　can　choose　one　that's　out　of　sight　of　the　sunk　car。〃　I　led　the　way　across　the　grass；　and　we　sat　down。　The　lieutenant　took　off　his　cap　and　produced　a　notebook　and　pencil　and　pretended　to　go　through　his　notes　to　give　me　a　chance　to　get　started　on　a　doughnut。
　He　looked　up　and　produced　his　first　smile。　〃Now　don't　worry　about　this；　miss。　I'm　not　taking　a　statement。　The　captain's　ing　up　himself　for　that。　Should　be　along　any　time　now。　When　they　gave　me　the　hurry　call　I　got　down　the　bare　facts。　But　what's　worrying　me　is　that　that　radio　just　hasn't　left　me　alone　since　then。　Had　to　cut　down　my　speed　the　whole　way　here　from　Route　9　to　keep　on　listening　to　instructions　from　the　station…that　Albany　was　interested　in　the　case；　that　even　the　top　brass　in　Washington　was　breathing　down　our　necks。　Never　heard　such　a　load　ing　over　the　air。　Now；　miss；　can　you　tell　me　how　it's　e　about　that　Washington's　mixed　up　in　this；　and　within　a　bare　couple　of　hours　of　Glens　Falls　getting　the　first　report？〃
　I　couldn't　help　smiling　at　his　earnestness。　I　could　almost　hear　him　calling　over　to　O'Donnell　as　they　roared　along；　〃Hell；　we'll　have　Jack　Kennedy　on　our　tails　any　moment　now！〃　I　said；　〃Well；　there's　a　man　called　James　Bond　who's　involved。　He　saved　me　and　shot　these　two　gangsters。　He's　some　kind　of　an　English　agent；　secret　service　or　something。　He　was　driving　from　Toronto　to　Washington　to　report　on　a　case；　and　he　got　a　flat　and　ended　up　at　the　motel。　If　he　hadn't；　I'd　be　dead　by　now。　Anyway；　I　guess　he　must　be　someone　pretty　important。　He　told　me　he　wanted　to　make　sure　this　Mr。　Sanguinetti　didn't　get　away　to　Mexico　or　somewhere。　But　that's　more　or　less　all　I　know　about　him；　except　that…except　that　he　seemed　a　wonderful　guy。〃
　The　lieutenant　looked　sympathetic。　〃Guess　so；　miss。　If　he　got　you　out　of　this　trouble。　But　he's　certainly　got　a　fix　in　with　the　F。B。I。　They　don't　often　tangle　in　a　local　case　like　this。　Unless　they're　called　in；　that　is；　or　there's　some　federal　angle。〃　The　thin　wail　of　sirens　sounded　far　down　the　road。　Lieutenant　Morrow　got　to　his　feet　and　put　his　cap　on。　〃Well；　thanks；　miss。　I　was　just　satisfying　my　curiosity。　The　captain　will　be　taking　over　from　here。　Don't　you　worry。　He's　a　nice　kind　of　a　guy。〃　O'Donnell　came　up。　〃If　you'll　excuse　me；　miss。〃　The　lieutenant　moved　off　with　O'Donnell；　listening　to　his　report；　and　I　finished　the　coffee　and　followed　slowly；　thinking　of　the　gray　Thunder…bird　that　would　now　be　hammering　out　the　miles　southward；　and　of　the　sunburned　hands　on　the　wheel。
　
　*　*　*
　
　It　was　quite　a　cavalcade　that　came　sweeping　up　the　road　between　the　pines…a　squad　car　with　outriders；　an　ambulance；　two　other　police　cars；　and　a　recovery　truck　that　came　toward　me　across　the　grass　and　went　on　down　to　the　lake。　Everyone　seemed　to　have　had　their　orders；　and　very　soon　the　whole　area　was　covered　with　moving　figures　in　olive…green　or　dark　blue。
　The　heavily　built　man　who　soon　came　forward　to　meet　me；　followed　by　a　junior　officer　who　turned　out　to　be　the　stenographer；　looked　every　inch　the　detective…captain　of　the　films…slow…moving；　kindly…faced；　purposeful。　He　held　out　his　hand。　〃Miss　Michel？　I'm　Captain　Stonor　from　Glens　Falls。　Let's　go　somewhere　where　we　can　have　a　talk；　shall　we？　One　of　the　cabins；　or　shall　we　stay　out　in　the　open？〃
　〃I've　had　about　enough　of　the　cabins；　if　you　don't　mind。　Why　not　over　there…my　breakfast　table。　And　by　the　way；　thank　you　very　much　for　your　thoughtfulness。　I　was　starving。〃
　〃Don't　thank　me；　Miss　Michel。〃　The　Captain's　eyes　twinkled　frostily。　〃It　was　your　English　friend；　mander　Bond；　who　suggested　it〃…he　paused…〃among　other　things。〃
　So　he　was　a　mander。　It　was　the　only　rank　I　liked　the　name　of。　And　of　course　he　was　bound　to　have　put　the　captain's　back　up…an　Englishman　with　all　this　authority。　And　with　the　C。I。A。　and　F。B。I；　of　all　people！　Nothing　would　irritate　the　regular　police　more。　I　decided　to　be　extremely　diplomatic。
　We　sat　down　and；　after　the　usual　police　preliminaries；　I　was　asked　to　tell　my　story。
　It　took　two　hours；　what　with　Captain　Stonor's　questions　and　men　ing　up　from　time　to　time　to　whisper　hoarsely　into　his　ear；　and　at　the　end　of　it　I　was　exhausted。　Coffee　was　brought　and　cigarettes　for　me　（〃Not　while　I'm　on　duty；　thank　you；　Miss　Michel〃）；　and　then　we　all　relaxed　and　the　stenographer　was　sent　away。　Captain　Stonor　sent　for　Lieutenant　Morrow　and　took　him　aside　to　radio　a　preliminary　report　to　headquarters；　and　I　watched　the　wreck　of　the　black　sedan；　that　had　by　now　been　hauled　up　the　cliff；　being　towed　over　the　lawn　to　the　road。　There　the　ambulance　was　driven　over　beside　it；　and　I　turned　away　as　a　wet　bundle　was　carefully　lifted　out　onto　the　grass。　Horror！　I　remembered　again　those　cold；　red…flecked　eyes。　I　felt　his　hands　on　me。　Could　it　have　happened？
　I　heard　the　captain　say；　〃And　copies　to　Albany　and　Washington。　Right？〃　And　then　he　was　back　sitting　opposite　me。
　He　looked　at　me　kindly　and　said　some　plimentary　things。　I　looked　appreciative　and　said；　〃No；　no。〃　I　asked　when　he　thought　I　could　get　on。
　Captain　Stonor　didn't　answer　immediately。　Instead　he　slowly　reached　up　and　took　off　his　cap　and　put　it　on　the　table。　The　armistice　gesture；　a　copy　of　the　lieutenant's　made　me　smile　inside。　Then　he　rummaged　in　his　pockets　and　took　out　cigarettes　and　a　lighter。　He　offered　me　one　and　then　lit　his　own。　He　smiled　at　me；　his　first　non…official　smile。　〃I'm　going　off　duty　now；　Miss　Michel。〃　He　sat　back　fortably　and　crossed　his　legs；　resting　his　left　ankle　on　his　right　knee　and　holding　the　ankle。　He　suddenly　looked　like　a　middle…aged　man　with　a　family；　taking　it　easy。　He　took　his　first　long　draw　on　his　cigarette　and　watched　the　smoke　drift　away。　He　said；　〃You　can　be　going　any　time　now；　Miss　Michel。　Your　friend　mander　Bond　was　anxious　that　you　should　be　put　to　as　little　trouble　as　possible。　And　I'm　glad　to　acmodate　him…and　you。　And〃…he　smiled　with　unexpected　humor　and　irony…〃I　didn't　need　Washington　to　add　their　wishes　in　this　matter。　You've　been　a　brave　girl。　You　got　involved　in　a　bad　crime　and　you　behaved　like　I'd　wish　any　child　of　mine　to　behave。　Those　two　hoodlums　are　both　wanted　men。　I'll　be　putting　in　your　name　for　the　rewards。　Likewise　to　the　insurance　pany；　who　will　certainly　be　generous。　We've　booked　those　Phanceys　on　a　preliminary　charge　of　conspiracy　to　defraud；　and　this　Mr。　Sanguinetti　is　already　on　the　run；　as　the　mander　suggested　this　morning　he　would　be。　We　checked　with　Troy；　as　we　would　have　checked　anyway；　and　the　normal　police　machinery　is　in　motion　to　pick　him　up。　There　will　be　a　capital　charge　against　Mr。　Sanguinetti；　if　and　when　we　catch　up　with　him；　and　it　may　be　that　you　will　be　needed　as　a　material　witness。　The　state　will　pay　for　you　to　be　brought　from　wherever　you　may　be；　housed；　and　taken　back　again。　All　this〃…Captain　Stonor　made　a　throwaway　gesture　with　his　cigarette…〃is　normal　police　routine；　and　it　will　look　after　itself。〃　The　astute　blue　eyes　looked　carefully　into　mine　and　then　veiled　themselves。　〃But　that　doesn't　quite　end　the　case　to　my　satisfaction。〃　He　smiled。　〃That　is；　now　that　I'm　off　duty；　so　to　speak；　and　there's　only　just　you　and　me。〃
　I　tried　to　look　just　interested　and　nonchalant；　but　I　wondered　what　was　ing。
　〃Did　this　mander　Bond　leave　you　any　instructions；　any　letter？　He　told　me　that　he　had　left　you　asleep　early　this　morning。　That　he　had　gone　off　around　six　and　had　not　wanted　to　wake　you　up。　Quite　right；　of　course。　But〃…Captain　Stonor　examined　the　end　of　his　cigarette…　〃your　evidence　and　the　mander's　is　to　the　effect　that　you　shared　the　same　cabin。　Quite　natural　in　the　circumstances。　You　wouldn't　have　wanted　to　be　alone　any　more　last　night。　But　it　seems　rather　an　abrupt　good…by…after　an　exciting　night　like　that。　No　trouble　with　him；　I　suppose？　He　didn't；　er；　try　to　get　fresh　with　you；　if　you　get　my　meaning？〃　The　eyes　were　apologetic；　but　they　probed　into　mine。
　I　blushed　furiously。　I　said　sharply；　〃Certainly　not；　Captain。　Yes；　he　did　leave　a　letter　for　me。　A　perfectly　straightforward　one。　I　didn't　mention　it　because　it　doesn't　add　anything　to　what　you　know。〃　I　ran　down　the　zip　on　my　front　and　reached　inside　for　the　letter；　blushing　even　worse。　Damn　the　man！
　He　took　the　letter　and　read　it　carefully。　He　handed　it　back。　〃A　very　nice　letter。　Very；　er；　businesslike。　I　don't　get　the　bit　about　the　soap。〃
　I　said　shortly；　〃Oh；　that　was　only　a　joke　about　the　motel　soap。　He　said　it　was　too　strongly　scented。〃
　〃I　see。　Yes；　sure。　Well；　that's　fine；　Miss　Michel。〃　The　eyes　were　kindly　again。　〃Well；　now。　D'you　mind　if　I　say　something　personal？　Talk　to　you　a　minute　as　if　you　might　be　my　own　daughter？　You　could　be；　you　know…　almost　my　granddaughter　if　I'd　started　early　enough。〃　He　chuckled　cozily。
　〃No。　Please　say　anything　you　like。〃
　Captain　Stonor　took　another　cigarette　and　lit　it。　〃Well；　now；　Miss　Michel；　what　the　mander　says　is　right。　You've　been　in　the　equivalent　of　a　bad　motor　accident　and　you　don't　want　to　have　any　nightmares　about　it。　But　there's　more　to　it　than