lhamilton.thekillingdance-第22部分

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　Richard　stared　into　Edward's　face　for　a　long　time；　then　shook　his　head。　〃Okay。〃　He　sat　back　down。　〃No　more　questions。　What's　the　plan？〃
　I　smiled　at　him。　〃To　keep　the　hitter　from　killing　me。〃
　〃That's　your　entire　plan？〃　Richard　asked。
　〃And　to　take　out　the　man　with　the　money；〃　Edward　said。　〃As　long　as　the　money　is　out　there；　Anita　won't　be　safe。〃
　〃Any　ideas　how　to　acplish　this？〃　Richard　asked。
　Edward　nodded　and　up…ended　his　coffee　mug；　finishing　the　last　of　it。　He　went　to　the　counter　and　refilled　it；　like　he　was　at　home。　He　sat　back　down。　Good　ol'　Edward；　fortable　wherever　he　was。
　I　sat　waiting；　watching　him　quietly。　He'd　tell　us　when　he　was　ready　and　not　before。　Richard　was　practically　dancing　in　place。　〃What？〃　he　finally　asked。
　Edward　smiled；　I　think　at　Richard；　or　maybe　at　that　eternal　music　that　only　he　could　hear。　The　rhythm　that　kept　him　self…contained　and　alive。
　〃The　assassin　might　e　here　today；　and　we'll　take　precautions　for　that。　A　herd　of　shapeshifters　was　perfect。　I'd　have　passed　on　the　hit　myself　until　they　cleared　out。〃
　I　glanced　around　the　quiet　kitchen。　The　spot　between　my　shoulder　blades　was　itching。　〃You　think　we're　in　danger　now？〃
　〃Maybe。〃　He　didn't　seem　too　worried。　〃But　I　think　they'll　hit　you　tonight　on　your　date　with　the　Master　of　the　City。〃
　〃How　did　you　know　I　had　a　date　tonight？〃
　Edward　just　smiled。　〃I　know　that　the　Master　of　the　City　is　taking　the　Executioner　to　the　opening　of　his　dance　club；　Danse　Macabre。　I　know　that　you'll　be　arriving　in　a　limo。〃
　〃I　didn't　even　know　that；〃　I　said。
　He　shrugged。　〃It　wasn't　hard　to　find　out；　Anita。〃
　〃I　was　going　to　cancel　my　date　tonight　and　hide　out。〃
　〃If　you　stay　here；　the　assassin　will　almost　certainly　e　here。〃
　I　glanced　at　Richard。　〃Oh；〃　I　said。
　〃I　can　take　care　of　myself；〃　Richard　said。
　〃Could　you　kill　a　human　being？〃　I　asked。
　He　blinked　at　me。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃I　mean　if　someone　came　at　you　with　a　gun；　could　you　kill　them？〃
　〃I　said　I'd　kill　to　protect　you。〃
　〃That's　not　what　I　asked；　Richard；　and　you　know　it。〃
　He　stood　up　and　paced　a　small　circle　in　the　kitchen。　〃If　it　was　standard　ammunition；　it　couldn't　kill　me。〃
　〃You　wouldn't　know　whether　it　was　silver　ammo　until　it　was　too　late；〃　I　said。
　He　hugged　his　arms；　ran　his　hands　through　his　long　hair；　and　turned　to　me。　〃Once　you　decide　to　start　killing；　it　never　stops；　does　it？〃
　〃No；〃　I　said。
　〃I　don't　know　if　I　could　kill　a　human　being。〃
　〃Thanks　for　the　honesty；〃　I　said。
　〃But　that　means　you'll　take　an　assassin　into　a　club　crowded　with　people'？　You'll　endanger　all　of　them　to　keep　me　safe？〃
　〃I　would　endanger　almost　anyone　to　keep　you　safe。〃
　Edward　made　a　small　sound；　almost　a　laugh。　His　face　was　pleasant　and　empty。　He　sipped　coffee。　〃Which　is　why　I　don't　want　Richard　in　the　line　of　fire。　You'll　be　so　busy　worrying　about　him；　it　might　make　you　careless。〃
　〃But　all　those　people；　you　can't　put　them　in　danger；〃　Richard　said。
　Edward　looked　at　me　and　didn't　say　what　he　was　thinking。　I　was　grateful　for　that。　〃I　think　Edward　has　a　plan　for　that；　too；　Richard。〃
　〃I　think　they'll　hit　you　on　the　way　home　from　the　club。　Why　work　in　the　middle　of　a　crowd　if　they　don't　have　to？　Plant　a　bomb　on　the　limo；　or　wait　until　you're　alone　on　the　drive　back。〃
　〃Is　that　what　you　would　do？〃　Richard　asked。
　Edward　looked　at　him　for　a　moment；　then　nodded。　〃Probably。　Not　the　bomb；　but　I'd　hit　the　limo。〃
　〃Why　not　the　bomb？〃　Richard　asked。
　I　didn't　ask；　because　I　knew　the　answer。　Edward's　eyes　flicked　to　me。　I　shrugged。
　〃Because　I　like　to　kill　up　close　and　personal。　With　a　bomb　there's　no　personal　risk。〃
　Richard　stared　at　him；　studying　his　face。　He　finally　said；　〃Thank　you　for　answering　the　question。〃
　Edward　acknowledged　him　with　a　nod。　Richard　was　gaining　brownie　points　from　both　of　us。　But　I　knew　that　Richard　had　illusions。　If　Edward　seemed　to　like　him；　Richard　would　assume　Edward　wouldn't　kill　him。　I　knew　better。　If　the　situation　called　for　it；　Edward　could　pull　the　trigger　on　anyone。
　〃Let's　say　you're　right；〃　I　said。　〃I　go　on　the　date　and　let　the　hitter　make　his　move。　Then　what？〃
　〃We　take　him　out。〃
　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　Richard　said。　〃You're　betting　that　the　two　of　you　are　better　than　a　professional　assassin。　That　you'll　get　to　him　before　he　gets　to　Anita。〃
　We　both　nodded。
　〃What　if　you're　not　better？〃
　Edward　looked　at　him　like　he'd　said　the　sun　wouldn't　rise　tomorrow。
　〃Edward　will　be　better；〃　I　said。
　〃You'd　bet　your　life　on　that？〃　Richard　asked。
　〃I　am　betting　my　life　on　that；〃　I　said。
　Richard　looked　a　touch　pale。　He　nodded。　〃I　guess　you　are。　What　can　I　do　to　help？〃
　〃You　heard　Edward；〃　I　said。　〃You　stay　here。〃
　Richard　shook　his　head。　〃I　heard；　but　surely　in　a　crowd　of　people　even　Superman　will　need　a　few　more　eyes　and　ears。　The　pack　can　help　watch　your　back。〃
　〃It　doesn't　bother　you　to　endanger　them？〃
　〃You　said　you'd　risk　almost　anyone　to　keep　me　safe；〃　Richard　said。　〃I　feel　the　same　way。〃
　〃If　they　want　to　volunteer；　that's　one　thing；　but　I　don't　want　them　ordered　into　it。　People　aren't　good　bodyguards　if　they　resent　doing　it。〃
　Richard　laughed。　〃Very　practical。　For　a　second　there；　I　thought　you　were　really　worried　about　my　wolves。〃
　〃Practical　will　keep　me　alive；　Richard；　sentimentality　won't。〃
　〃If　we　had　some　extra　watchers；　it'd　free　me　up　a　little；〃　Edward　said。
　I　looked　at　him。　〃You'd　trust　monsters　to　watch　my　back？〃
　He　smiled；　and　it　wasn't　pleasant。　〃Monsters　make　excellent　cannon　fodder。〃
　〃They　aren't　cannon　fodder；〃　Richard　said。
　〃Everyone's　cannon　fodder；〃　Edward　said；　〃eventually。〃
　〃If　I　really　thought　we　were　endangering　innocent　bystanders；　I　wouldn't　go　to　the　club。　You　know　that；　Richard。〃
　He　stared　at　me　for　a　second；　then　nodded。　〃I　know　that。〃
　Edward　made　a　small　sound　low　in　his　throat。　〃Innocent　bystanders。〃　He　shook　his　head；　smiling。　〃Let's　get　dressed；〃　Edward　said。　〃I　bought　some　new　toys　for　you　to　use　tonight。〃
　I　looked　at　him。　〃Dangerous　toys？〃　I　asked。
　〃Is　there　any　other　kind？〃　We　grinned　at　each　other。
　〃You　two　are　enjoying　this；〃　Richard　said。　It　was　almost　accusatory。
　〃If　we　didn't　enjoy　it；　we'd　both　do　something　else；〃　Edward　said。
　〃Anita　doesn't　kill　people　for　money；　and　you　do。〃
　I　watched　the　humor　drain　from　Edward's　eyes　like　the　sun　sinking　behind　clouds；　leaving　them　pitiless　and　empty。　〃Think　what　you　like；　loverboy；　but　Anita　could　have　chosen　another　line　of　work；　one　that　wouldn't　put　her　in　harm's　way。　But　she　didn't。　There's　a　reason　for　that。〃
　〃She's　not　like　you。〃
　Edward　looked　at　me　with　empty　eyes。　〃Closer　than　she　used　to　be。〃　His　voice　was　soft；　almost　neutral；　but　it　made　me　shiver。
　I　met　his　eyes；　and　for　the　first　time　in　a　long　time；　wondered　what　I'd　given　up　to　be　able　to　pull　the　trigger。　The　same　thing　Edward　had　given　up　inside　himself　to　be　able　to　kill　so　easily？　I　looked　up　at　Richard　and　wondered　if　he　could　do　it。　If；　when　the　fur　flew；　he　could　really　kill　anyone。　Some　people　couldn't。　No　shame　in　that。　But　if　Richard　backed　out；　he　was　dead。　Not　tonight　or　tomorrow；　but　eventually；　because　Marcus　would　see　to　it。　Richard　had　beaten　Marcus　twice　and　refused　the　kill。　I　doubted　Marcus　would　let　him　have　another　shot　at　it。　They'd　taken　Stephen　last　night；　knowing　what　Richard　would　do。　If　I　hadn't　been　with　him；　he　might　he　dead　now。　Shit。
　All　I　had　to　do　was　kill　the　assassin　before　he　or　she　killed　me。　Trust　Richard　not　to　let　Marcus　kill　him。　Keep　Raina　from　killing　me。　And　let's　see；　I　was　sure　there　was　something　else。　Oh；　yeah；　decide　whether　I'm　going　to　sleep　with　Richard；　and　if　I　did；　what　that　would　mean　for　Jean…Claude　and　myself。　There　were　days　when　my　life　was　too　plicated　even　for　me。
　
　
　13
　
　Finding　dress…up　clothes　that　you　can　hide　a　gun　in　is　a　bitch。　I　actually　hadn't　planned　to　carry　a　gun　on　my　date　with　Jean…Claude。　Of　course；　that　was　before　the　assassin。　Now　I　wasn't　going　out　without　one。　If　I'd　known　I'd　be　needing　a　gun　tonight；　I'd　have　worn　the　little　black　dress　yesterday　and　saved　the　pants　suit。　But　who　knew；　and　now　all　I'd　packed　besides　jeans　was　the　dress。　It　was　a　little　black　dress　with　just　enough　strap　to　allow　a　bra；　if　you　were　careful。　I'd　bought　a　black　bra　to　be　safe。　Flashing　a　white　bra　strap　in　a　black　dress　always　looked　so　tacky。　The　jacket　was　a　deep　black　velvet；　a　bolero　cut　that　hit　me　at　the　waist。　Black　beading　edged　the　collar　and　hem。
　The　jacket　was　hanging　on　the　doorknob　of　Richard's　closet。　He　was　sitting　forlornly　on　the　bed；　watching　me　put　the　last　touches　on　my　lipstick。　I　was　leaning　forward；　peering　at　myself　in　the　mirror　on　his　dresser。　The　skirt　was　short　enough　that　I　decided　to　wear　a　black　teddy　under　it；　not　for　underwear　but　to　go　over　my　panty　hose；　so　everything　matched。　Ronnie　hadn't　trusted　me　not　to　bend　over　at　least　once　tonight。　She　was　right。　So　even　if　I　forgot；　the　teddy　covered　more　than　most　bathing　suits。　I'd　have　never　picked　out　something　so　short　on　my　own。　Ronnie　was　a　bad　influence　on　me。　If　she'd　known　I　was　planning　to　wear　it　for　Jean…Claude；　she'd　have　probably　chosen　something　else。　She　called　him　fangface。　Or　worse。　She　liked　Richard。
　〃Nice　dress；〃　Richard　said。
　〃Thanks。〃　I　turned　in　front　of　the　mirror　to　check　the　way　the　skirt　hung。　It　was　just　full　enough　to　swing　when　I　moved。　The　black　knife　sheaths　on　my　forearms　actually　matched　the　dress。　The　knives　made　a　nice　touch　of　silver。　The　wrist　sheaths　almost　covered　the　scars　on　my　arms。　Only　the　mound　of　scar　tissue　at　my　left　elbow　was　visible。　A　vampire　had　torn　up　my　arm　once　upon　a　time。　The　same　vamp　had　bitten　through　my　collarbone。　The　scars　were　normal　for　me；　but　every　once　in　a　while　I'd　be　out　enjoying　myself　and　catch　someone　looking；　staring。　They'd　look　hurriedly　away；　or　meet　my　eyes。　It　wasn't　that　the　scars　were　awful　to　look　at。　They　weren't　that　bad…really。　But　they　told　a　story　of　pain　and　something　out　of　the　ordinary。　They　said　I'd　been　places　that　most　people　hadn't；　and　I'd　survived。　Worth　a　stare　or　two；　I　guess。
　The　black　straps　that　held　the　new　knife　down　along　my　spine　showed　a　little　at　the　shoulders；　but　more　across　the　back。　The　hilt　was　hidden　under　my　hair；　but　I　woul