preston&child.thecabinetofcuriosities-第42部分

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f　cash。
　She　mounted　the　steps　to　the　front　door；　steeling　herself　for　the　task　at　hand。　She　noticed　that　the　apartment　names　beside　the　buzzers　were　written　in　Chinese。　She　pressed　the　buzzer　for　Apartment　1。
　A　voice　rasped　out　in　Chinese。
　〃I'm　the　one　interested　in　renting　the　basement　apartment；〃　she　called　out。
　The　lock　snapped　free　with　a　buzz；　she　pushed　on　the　door；　and　found　herself　in　a　hallway　lit　by　fluorescent　lights。　A　narrow　staircase　ascended　to　her　right。　At　the　end　of　the　hallway　she　could　hear　a　door　being　endlessly　unbolted。　It　opened　at　last　and　a　stooped；　depressed…looking　man　appeared；　in　shirtsleeves　and　baggy　slacks；　peering　down　the　hall　at　her。
　Nora　walked　up。　〃Mr。　Ling　Lee？〃
　He　nodded　and　held　the　door　open　for　her。　Beyond　was　a　living　room　with　a　green　sofa；　a　Formica　table；　several　easy　chairs；　and　an　elaborate　red…and　gold…carved　bas…relief　on　the　wall；　showing　a　pagoda　and　trees。　A　chandelier；　grossly　oversized　for　the　space；　dominated　the　room。　The　wallpaper　was　lilac；　the　rug　red　and　black。
　〃Sit　down；〃　the　man　said。　His　voice　was　faint；　tired。
　She　sat　down；　sinking　alarmingly　into　the　sofa。
　〃How　you　hear　about　this　apartment？〃　Lee　asked。　Nora　could　see　from　his　expression　he　was　not　pleased　to　see　her。
　Nora　launched　into　her　story。　〃A　lady　who　works　in　the　Citibank　down　the　block　from　here　told　me　about　it。〃
　〃What　lady？〃　Lee　asked；　more　sharply。　In　Chinatown；　Pendergast　had　explained；　most　landlords　preferred　to　rent　to　their　own。
　〃I　don't　know　her　name。　My　uncle　told　me　to　talk　to　her；　said　that　she　knew　where　to　find　an　apartment　in　this　area。　She　told　me　to　call　you。〃
　〃Your　uncle？〃
　〃Yes。　Uncle　Huang。　He's　with　the　DHCR。〃
　This　bit　of　information　was　greeted　with　a　dismayed　silence。　Pendergast　figured　that　having　a　Chinese　relative　would　make　it　easier　for　her　to　get　the　apartment。　That　he　worked　for　the　Department　of　Housing　and　munity　Renewal…the　city　division　that　enforced　the　rent　laws…made　it　all　the　better。
　〃Your　name？〃
　〃Betsy　Winchell。〃
　Nora　noticed　a　large；　dark　presence　move　from　the　kitchen　into　the　doorway　of　the　living　room。　It　was　apparently　Lee's　wife；　arms　folded；　three　times　his　size；　looking　very　stern。
　〃Over　the　phone；　you　said　the　apartment　was　available。　I'm　prepared　to　take　it　right　away。　Please　show　it　to　me。〃
　Lee　rose　from　the　table　and　glanced　at　his　wife。　Her　arms　tightened。
　〃Follow　me；〃　he　said。
　They　went　back　into　the　hall；　out　the　front　door；　and　down　the　steps。　Nora　glanced　around　quickly；　but　O'Shaughnessy　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。　Lee　removed　a　key；　opened　the　basement　apartment　door；　and　snapped　on　the　lights。　She　followed　him　in。　He　closed　the　door　and　made　a　show　of　relocking　no　fewer　than　four　locks。
　It　was　a　dismal　apartment；　long　and　dark。　The　only　window　was　a　small；　barred　square　beside　the　front　door。　The　walls　were　of　painted　brick；　once　white　but　now　gray；　and　the　floor　was　covered　with　old　brick　pavers；　cracked　and　chipped。　Nora　looked　at　them　with　professional　interest。　They　were　laid　but　not　cemented。　What　was　beneath？　Dirt？　Sand？　Concrete？　The　floor　looked　just　uneven　and　damp　enough　to　have　been　laid　on　dirt。
　〃Kitchen　and　bedroom　in　back；〃　said　Lee；　not　bothering　to　point。
　Nora　walked　to　the　rear　of　the　apartment。　Here　was　a　cramped　kitchen；　leading　into　two　dark　bedrooms　and　a　bath。　There　were　no　closets。　A　window　in　the　rear　wall；　below　grade；　allowed　feeble　brown　light　from　an　air　shaft　to　enter　between　thick　steel　bars。
　Nora　emerged。　Lee　was　examining　the　lock　on　the　front　door。　〃Have　to　fix　lock；〃　he　said　in　a　portentous　tone。　〃Many　robber　try　to　get　in。〃
　〃You　have　a　lot　of　break…ins？〃
　Lee　nodded　enthusiastically。　〃Oh　yes。　Many　robber。　Very　dangerous。〃
　〃Really？〃
　〃Many　robber。　Many　mugger。〃　He　shook　his　head　sadly。
　〃The　apartment　looks　safe；　at　least。〃　Nora　listened。　The　ceiling　seemed　fairly　soundproof…at　least；　she　could　hear　nothing　from　above。
　〃Neighborhood　not　safe　for　girl。　Every　day；　murder；　mugging；　robber。　Rape。〃
　Nora　knew　that；　despite　its　shabby　appearance；　Chinatown　was　one　of　the　safest　neighborhoods　in　the　city。　〃I'm　not　worried；〃　she　said。
　〃Many　rule　for　apartment；〃　said　Lee；　trying　another　tack。
　〃Is　that　right？〃
　〃No　music。　No　noise。　No　man　at　night。〃　Lee　seemed　to　be　searching　his　mind　for　other　strictures　a　young　woman　would　find　objectionable。　〃No　smoke。　No　drink。　Keep　clean　every　day。〃
　Nora　listened；　nodding　her　agreement。　〃Good。　That　sounds　perfect。　I　like　a　neat；　quiet　place。　And　I　have　no　boyfriend。〃　With　a　renewed　flash　of　anger　she　thought　of　Smithback　and　how　he　had　dragged　her　into　this　mess　by　publishing　that　article。　To　a　certain　extent　Smithback　had　been　responsible　for　these　copycat　killings。　Just　yesterday；　he'd　had　the　nerve　to　bring　up　her　name　at　the　mayor's　news　conference；　for　the　whole　city　to　hear。　She　felt　certain　that；　after　what　happened　in　the　Archives；　her　long…term　prospects　at　the　Museum　were　even　more　questionable　than　before。
　〃Utility　not　include。〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃No　air…condition。〃
　Nora　nodded。
　Lee　seemed　at　a　loss；　then　his　face　brightened　with　a　fresh　idea。　〃After　suicide；　no　allow　gun　in　apartment。〃
　〃Suicide？〃
　〃Young　woman　hang　herself。　Same　age　as　you。〃
　〃A　hanging？　I　thought　you　mentioned　a　gun。〃
　The　man　looked　confused　for　a　moment。　Then　his　face　brightened　again。　〃She　hang；　but　it　no　work。　Then　shoot　herself。〃
　〃I　see。　She　favored　the　prehensive　approach。〃
　〃Like　you；　she　no　have　boyfriend。　Very　sad。〃
　〃How　terrible。〃
　〃It　happen　right　in　there；〃　said　Lee；　pointing　into　the　kitchen。　〃Not　find　body　for　three　day。　Bad　smell。〃　He　rolled　his　eyes　and　added；　in　a　dramatic　undertone：　〃Many　worm。〃
　〃How　dreadful；〃　Nora　said。　Then　she　smiled。　〃But　the　apartment　is　just　perfect。　I'll　take　it。〃
　Lee's　look　of　depression　deepened；　but　he　said　nothing。
　She　followed　him　back　up　to　his　apartment。　Nora　sat　back　down　at　the　sofa；　uninvited。　The　wife　was　still　there；　a　formidable　presence　in　the　kitchen　doorway。　Her　face　was　screwed　into　an　expression　of　suspicion　and　displeasure。　Her　crossed　arms　looked　like　balsa…colored　hams。
　The　man　sat　down　unhappily。
　〃So；〃　said　Nora；　〃let's　get　this　over　with。　I　want　to　rent　the　apartment。　I　need　it　immediately。　Today。　Right　now。〃
　〃Have　to　check　reference；〃　Lee　replied　feebly。
　〃There's　no　time　and　I'm　prepared　to　pay　cash。　I　need　the　apartment　tonight；　or　I　won't　have　a　place　to　sleep。〃　As　she　spoke；　she　removed　Pendergast's　envelope。　She　reached　in　and　took　out　a　brick　of　hundred…dollar　bills。
　The　appearance　of　the　money　brought　a　loud　expostulation　from　the　wife。　Lee　did　not　respond。　His　eyes　were　on　the　cash。
　〃I　have　here　first　month's　rent；　last　month's　rent；　and　a　month's　deposit。〃　Nora　thumped　the　roll　on　the　tabletop。　〃Six　thousand　six　hundred　dollars。　Cash。　Bring　out　the　lease。〃
　The　apartment　was　dismal　and　the　rent　bordered　on　outrageous；　which　was　probably　why　it　wasn't　gone　already。　She　hoped　that　hard　cash　was　something　Lee　could　not　afford　to　ignore。
　There　was　another　sharp　ment　from　the　wife。　Lee　ignored　her。　He　went　into　the　back；　and　returned　a　few　minutes　later；　laying　two　leases　in　front　of　her。　They　were　in　Chinese。　There　was　a　silence。
　〃Need　reference；〃　said　the　wife　stolidly；　switching　to　English　for　Nora's　benefit。　〃Need　credit　check。〃
　Nora　ignored　her。　〃Where　do　I　sign？〃
　〃There；〃　the　man　pointed。
　Nora　signed　Betsy　Winchell　with　a　flourish　on　both　leases；　and　then　handwrote　on　each　lease　a　crude　receipt：　6；600　received　by　Mr。　Ling　Lee。　〃My　Uncle　Huang　will　translate　it　for　me。　I　hope　for　your　sake　there's　nothing　illegal　in　it。　Now　you　sign。　Initial　the　receipt。〃
　There　was　a　sharp　noise　from　the　wife。
　Lee　signed　his　name　in　Chinese；　emboldened；　it　seemed；　by　the　opposition　of　his　wife。
　〃Now　give　me　the　keys　and　we're　done。〃
　〃Have　to　make　copy　of　keys。〃
　〃You　give　me　those　keys。　It's　my　apartment　now。　I'll　make　the　copies　for　you　at　my　own　expense。　I　need　to　start　moving　in　right　away。〃
　Lee　reluctantly　handed　her　the　keys。　Nora　took　them；　folded　one　of　the　leases　into　her　pocket；　and　stood　up。　〃Thank　you　very　much；〃　she　said　cheerfully；　holding　out　her　hand。
　Lee　shook　it　limply。　As　the　door　closed；　Nora　heard　another　sharp　irruption　of　displeasure　from　the　wife。　This　one　sounded　as　if　it　might　go　on　for　a　long　time。
　
　THREE
　　
　NORA　IMMEDIATELY　RETURNED　to　the　apartment　below。　O'Shaugnessy　appeared　by　her　side　as　she　unlocked　the　door。　Together；　they　slipped　into　the　living　room；　and　Nora　secured　the　door　with　deadbolts　and　chains。　Then　she　moved　to　the　barred　window。　Two　nails　stuck　out　from　either　side　of　the　lintel；　on　which　someone　had　once　hung　a　makeshift　curtain。　She　removed　her　coat　and　hung　it　across　the　nails；　blocking　the　view　from　outside。
　〃Cozy　place；〃　O'Shaughnessy　said；　sniffing。　〃Smells　like　a　crime　scene。〃
　Nora　didn't　answer。　She　was　staring　at　the　floor；　already　working　out　the　dig　in　her　mind。
　While　O'Shaughnessy　cased　the　apartment；　Nora　made　a　circuit　of　the　living　room；　examining　the　floor；　gridding　it　off；　plotting　her　lines　of　attack。　Then　she　knelt　and；　taking　a　penknife　from　her　pocket…a　knife　her　brother；　Skip；　had　given　her　for　her　sixteenth　birthday　and　which　she　never　traveled　without…eased　it　between　the　edges　of　two　bricks。　Slowly；　deliberately；　she　cut　her　way　through　the　crust　of　grime　and　old　floor　wax。　She　rocked　the　knife　back　and　forth　between　the　bricks；　gently　loosening　the　stonework。　Then；　bit　by　bit；　she　began　to　work　the　closest　brick　from　its　socket。　In　a　moment　it　was　free。　She　pulled　it　out。
　Earth。　The　damp　smell　rose　toward　her　nostrils。　She　poked　her　finger　into　it：　cool；　moist；　a　little　slimy。　She　probed　with　the　penknife；　found　it　pact　but　yielding；　with　little　gravel　or　rocks。　Perfect。
　She　straightened　up；　looked　around。　O'Shaughnessy　was　standing　behind　her；　looking　down　curiously。
　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　he　asked。
　〃Checking　the　subflooring。〃
　〃And？〃
　〃It's　old　fill；　not　cement。〃
　〃Is　that　good？〃
　〃It's　outstanding。〃
　〃If　you　say　so。〃
　She　tapped　the　brick　back　into　place；　then　stood。　She　checked　her　watch。　Three　o'clock；　Friday　afternoon。　The　Museum　would　close　in　two　ho