lhamilton.thekillingdance-第8部分

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　I　smiled。　〃I　admitted　I　was　wrong。　Is　that　the　same　thing。〃
　〃Exactly　the　same　thing。〃
　〃Then　give　yourself　a　point。〃
　He　grinned　at　me。　〃Why　can't　I　stay　mad　at　you；　Anita？〃
　〃You're　a　very　forgiving　person；　Richard。　One　of　us　has　to　be。〃
　He　pulled　into　my　parking　lot　for　the　third　time　that　night。　〃You　can't　stay　at　your　place　tonight。　The　door　is　in　pieces。〃
　〃I　know。〃　If　I'd　been　kicked　out　of　my　apartment　because　it　was　being　painted；　I　had　friends　I　could　stay　with；　or　a　hotel；　but　the　bad　guys　had　proven　they　didn't　care　who　got　hurt。　I　couldn't　risk　anybody；　not　even　strangers　in　the　next　room　at　a　hotel。
　〃e　home　with　me；〃　he　said。　He　parked　in　an　empty　space　closest　to　the　stairs。
　〃I　don't　think　that's　a　good　idea；　Richard。〃
　〃The　shotgun　blast　wouldn't　have　killed　me。　I'd　have　healed；　because　it　wasn't　silver　shot。　How　many　of　your　other　friends　can　say　that？〃
　〃Not　many；〃　I　said　quietly。
　〃I've　got　a　house　set　back　in　a　yard。　You　won't　be　risking　innocent　bystanders。〃
　〃I　know　you　have　a　yard；　Richard。　I've　spent　enough　Sunday　afternoons　there。〃
　〃Then　you　know　I'm　right。〃　He　leaned　towards　me　and　his　eyes　had　bled　back　to　their　normal　brown。　〃I　have　a　guest　room；　Anita。　It　doesn't　have　to　be　more　than　that。〃
　I　stared　at　him　from　inches　away。　I　could　feel　his　body　like　a　force　just　out　of　reach。　It　wasn't　his　otherworldly　wolf　powers。　It　was　simply　sheer　physical　attraction。　It　was　dangerous　agreeing　to　go　to　Richard's　house。　Maybe　not　to　my　life；　but　to　other　things。
　If　Jimmy　the　Shotgun　had　had　a　partner　inside　the　apartment　tonight；　I'd　be　dead　now。　I'd　been　so　busy　concentrating　on　killing　him　that　a　second　perp　could　have　blown　me　away。　Edward　had　told　his　contact　no　by　now；　and　it　takes　a　little　while　to　find　another　hitter　of　Edward's　caliber。　So；　instead　of　waiting；　they　hired　cheap　and　local；　taking　the　chance　that　cheap　might　take　me　out　and　they'd　be　saved　several　hundred　grand。　Or　maybe　they　wanted　me　dead　really　quickly　for　some　reason　that　I　didn't　understand。　Either　way；　they　wanted　me　dead　pretty　damn　badly。　Usually；　when　someone　wants　you　dead　that　badly；　they　succeed。　Not　tonight　or　tomorrow；　but　unless　Edward　and　I　could　find　out　who　had　put　the　contract　out　on　me；　the　line　of　talent　would　just　keep　ing。
　I　stared　into　Richard's　face；　almost　close　enough　to　kiss。　I　thought　about　never　seeing　him　again。　About　never　touching　him　again。　About　never　satisfying　that　growing　hunger　that　perfumed　the　air　whenever　I　was　with　him。　I　touched　his　face；　lightly　running　my　fingertips　down　his　cheek。　〃Okay。〃
　〃You　look　so　serious。　What　are　you　thinking；　Anita？〃
　I　leaned　in　and　kissed　him。　〃Blood；　death；　and　sex。　What　else　is　there？〃
　We　got　out　of　the　car。　I　filled　my　automatic　fish　feeder　full　of　enough　food　for　a　week。　In　a　week's　time；　if　the　assassin　was　still　after　me；　and　if　I　was　still　alive；　I'd　have　to　e　back。　All　the　bad　guys　had　to　do　was　stake　out　my　fish　tank；　and　they　had　me　if　they　were　patient　enough。　Somehow　I　didn't　think　they　would　be。
　I　packed　a　few　things；　including　my　stuffed　toy　penguin；　Sigmund；　every　weapon　I　owned；　a　few　clothes；　an　outfit　for　tomorrow's　date　with　Jean…Claude。　Yeah；　probably　I　wouldn't　be　going；　but　I　didn't　want　to　e　back　to　the　apartment；　not　for　anything。　I　left　a　message　on　Ronnie's　machine。　We　usually　worked　out　together　on　Saturday　morning；　but　I　didn't　want　Ronnie　in　the　line　of　fire。　She　was　a　private　detective；　but　Ronnie　wasn't　a　shooter；　not　like　I　was。　She　had　a　certain　respect　for　life　that　could　get　you　killed。
　Richard　waited　while　I　changed。　Black　jeans；　a　royal　blue　polo　shirt；　white　jogging　socks　with　a　blue　stripe；　black　Nikes；　and　I　felt　more　myself。　I　laid　the　Browning's　shoulder　holster　in　my　suitcase。　The　Browning　was　my　main　gun；　and　I　missed　it。　I'd　have　missed　it　under　normal　circumstances；　but　now　my　hand　ached　for　the　gun。
　I　guess　that's　what　backup　guns　are　for。　The　Firestar　9mm　is　a　good　gun　and　fits　my　hand　well。　My　hands　are　small　enough　that　a　lot　of　9mms　are　just　too　big。　The　Browning　was　about　the　limit　of　a　fortable　grip。　I　wore　the　Firestar　in　an　inter…pants　holster；　set　for　a　forward　cross　draw；　which　meant　you　could　see　the　gun。　I　wasn't　sure　I　cared　tonight。
　I　put　on　wrist　sheaths　and　both　knives。　These　were　the　last　two　of　a　foursome　that　I'd　had　custom　made　for　my　hands；　with　the　highest　silver　content　possible　in　the　steel。　I'd　had　to　have　two　of　them　replaced；　monsters　ate　them。　I　put　the　two　new　knives　in　the　suitcase　still　in　their　felt…lined　box。　They　were　pretty　and　sharp　enough　to　cut　your　skin　if　you　ran　a　thumb　along　the　edge。
　While　I　was　having　the　lost　knives　replaced；　I'd　ordered　a　new　one。　It　was　nearly　a　foot　long；　more　a　sword　than　a　knife。　I'd　had　a　leather　harness　made　that　let　me　carry　it　down　my　spine；　with　the　hilt　under　my　hair。　I　hadn't　used　it　before；　but　I'd　seen　it　in　a　catalog　and　couldn't　resist。
　I　had　a　Derringer；　a　sawed…off　shotgun；　two　full…sized；　pump…action　shotguns；　a　twelve　gauge；　and　a　mini…Uzi。　The　Derringer；　the　Uzi；　and　the　sawed…off　shotgun　were　all　gifts　from　Edward。　Not　Christmas　or　birthday　gifts。　No；　we'd　be　out　hunting　vampires　together；　and　he'd　give　me　a　new　toy。　I'd　asked　for　the　shotgun。
　The　full…sized　shotguns　wouldn't　pack　in　either　the　suitcases　or　the　gym　bags。　I　put　them　in　their　individual　carrying　cases；　with　straps。　The　gym　bags　held　my　vampire　hunting　kit　and　my　zombie　paraphernalia。　I　put　extra　ammo　in　both　bags　for　temporary　keeping。　Heck；　I　shoved　extra　ammo　in　the　suitcase；　too。　You　could　never　have　too　much。
　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　myself　in　the　mirror。　The　gun　was　pretty　obvious　against　the　bright　blue　of　the　shirt。　I　finally　put　a　black　jacket　over　it；　what　they　call　a　boyfriend's　jacket；　because　it's　sort　of　big　through　the　shoulders　and　body。　The　sleeves　rolled　back　to　expose　the　silky　lining。　I　liked　the　jacket；　and　with　one　button　fastened；　it　hid　the　Firestar；　though　not　pletely。　You'd　still　catch　glimpses　of　it　when　I　moved；　but　maybe　people　wouldn't　run　screaming。
　I　felt　naked　without　the　Browning；　which　was　kind　of　funny；　considering　I　had　an　Uzi　in　my　suitcase。　But　hey；　I　slept　with　the　Browning。
　Richard　never　said　a　word　about　the　two　shotguns。　Maybe　he　would　have　plained　about　the　rest　if　he'd　seen　them；　but　he　picked　up　one　suitcase；　put　one　gym　bag　over　his　shoulder；　one　shotgun　carrying　case　on　the　same　shoulder；　and　let　me　pick　up　my　share。
　〃Can　you　carry　both　suitcases？〃　I　asked。
　〃Yeah；　but　I'm　shocked　you　asked。　The　last　time　I　tried　to　carry　something　unasked；　you　nearly　handed　me　my　head　in　a　basket。〃
　〃I　want　one　hand　free　for　my　gun。〃
　〃Ah；〃　he　said；　〃of　course。〃　He　took　the　other　suitcase　without　another　word。　He　really　is　a　very　wise　man。
　Mrs。　Pringle　stepped　out　of　her　door　as　we　were　leaving。　She　had　Custard　in　her　arms。　He　growled　briefly　at　Richard；　and　she　hushed　him。　〃I　thought　I　heard　you　out　here。　Are　you　all　right；　Anita？〃
　I　glanced　at　the　hole　by　her　door。　〃I'm　fine。　How　'bout　you？〃
　She　hugged　Custard；　raising　his　tiny　furry　body　near　her　face。　〃I'll　be　all　right。　Are　you　going　to　be　charged？〃
　〃It　doesn't　look　like　it。〃
　〃Good。〃　She　glanced　at　the　suitcases。　One　for　clothes；　one　for　weapons。　〃Where　are　you　going？〃
　〃I　think　I'm　a　little　too　dangerous　to　be　around　right　now。〃
　She　searched　my　face　like　she　was　trying　to　read　my　mind。　〃How　bad　is　this　mess；　Anita？〃
　〃Bad　enough；〃　I　said。
　She　gently　touched　my　hair；　〃You　be　very　careful　out　there。〃
　I　smiled。　〃Always。　You　take　care　of　yourself；　too。〃
　〃Custard　and　I　will　take　care　of　each　other。〃
　I　petted　Custard；　rubbing　his　little　fox　ears。　〃I　owe　you　a　box　of　doggie　treats；　furball。〃　He　licked　my　hand　with　a　tiny；　pink　tongue。
　〃When　you　can；　give　me　your　new　phone　number；〃　she　said。
　〃When　I　can；　I'll　e　back。〃
　She　smiled；　but　her　pale　eyes　stayed　worried。
　We　left　because　we　had　to。　My　imagination　has　always　been　too　good　for　my　own　peace　of　mind。　I　had　a　very　clear　image　of　Mrs。　Pringle　splattered　against　the　wall；　that　lovely；　aging　face　blown　away。　If　she　had　opened　the　door　at　the　wrong　moment；　I　wouldn't　be　imagining　it。　Too　close；　too　damn　close。
　
　
　6
　
　Richard's　house　was　a　one…story；　half…brick　ranch。　It　looked　like　a　house　for　children；　and　Mommy　baking　cookies　in　the　kitchen。　It　wasn't　even　set　that　far　back　off　the　road；　but　it　had　plenty　of　yard　on　either　side　and　the　backyard　was　an　acre　of　woods。　You　could　look　out　both　the　sides　and　the　back　and　not　see　a　neighbor；　except　in　winter　when　the　bare　trees　revealed　distant　glimpses　across　the　valley。　From　the　front　picture　window；　you　could　see　the　corner　of　the　next　house　half　obscured　by　overgrown　shrubs。　No　one　had　lived　in　it　the　entire　time　I'd　been　visiting。　The　place　was　a　little　isolated。　Richard　liked　that；　and　whether　I　did　or　not；　I　needed　it　now。
　The　place　looked　like　an　invitation　for　an　ambush；　but　neighbors　would　have　been　cannon　fodder。　Most　bad　guys　try　not　to　take　out　innocent　bystanders。　It's　not　moral　outrage；　just　bad　for　business。　The　cops　tend　to　put　the　heat　on　if　you　waste　a　lot　of　bystanders。
　Richard　hit　the　garage　door　opener　and　eased　the　Mustang　into　the　garage。　His　four　by　four　was　already　inside。　I　followed　him　in　my　Jeep。　I　idled　out　on　the　street；　waiting　for　him　to　move　the　four　by　four　out　so　I　could　put　the　Jeep　in。　Parking　my　Jeep　out　in　front　of　his　house　seemed　like　making　the　bad　guys'　job　a　little　too　easy。　He　pulled　out。　I　pulled　in。　He　parked　behind　me　in　the　driveway　and　walked　into　the　garage。　I　unloaded　the　suitcases；　and　he　hit　the　button　by　the　interior　door。
　The　door　opened　into　the　kitchen。　The　walls　were　lined　with　Hogarth　prints　of　dogs　and　more　modern　hunting　scenes。　A　Warner　Brothers　canister　set；　Bugs　to　Tweety　Bird　sat　on　the　off…white　cabinets。　The　countertops　were　off　white。　The　cabinets　light　honey　colored　oak。　There　were　dishes　draining　on　a　towel　by　the　sink；　even　though　Richard　had　a　dishwasher。　A　glass；　a　bowl；　a　spoon；　he'd　washed　his　breakfast　dishes　before　he　left　for　work　this　morning。　I'd　have　poured　water　in　them　and　left　them　in　the　sink。　Of　course；　I　never　ate　breakfast。
　Richard　walked　through　into　the　living　room；　carryin