mac.thepearlharbormurders-第22部分

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ball。
　〃Perhaps；〃　Jardine　said；　'Terry　Mizuha　wasn't　strictly　mahu…maybe　he　was　even　closer　to　Pearl　than　we've　been　led　to　believe。〃
　〃Oh；　that's　crazy。。。。〃
　〃Is　it？　Gates　have　been　known　to　swing　both　ways；　on　this　island。　Suppose　this　jealous　sailor　pal　of　yours；　or　that　soldier；　came　upon　Terry　and　Pearl；　together　on　the　beach？〃
　〃What；　and　confronted　by　a　sudden　act　of　violence；　Terry　fled？〃
　〃Yes　。。。　and　was　afraid　to　e　forward；　for　fear　of　looking　a　coward…hoping　his　silence　would　buy　him　a　free　pass　from　the　killer。〃
　〃I　don't　buy　it；　John。〃
　The　detective　summoned　a　thin　smile。　〃Well；　it's　your　own　damn　fault；　Hully。〃
　〃My　fault？〃
　〃You're　the　one　that　started　me　thinking…I　was　content　with　Harry　Kamana　as　the　murderer。〃
　Looking　for　Bill　and　Stanton；　Hully　and　Jardine　tried　various　taverns…the　Two　Jacks；　the　Mint；　the　New　Emma　Cafe…wading　through　clouds　of　cigarette　smoke　laced　with　the　smell　of　stale　beer；　sorting　swarms　of　sailors　and　soldiers；　who　were　crowded　at　tables；　packed　in　booths；　flirting　with　Oriental　waitresses；　whom　they　so　greatly　outnumbered。　None　of　the　fresh；　young；　happy；　sad　faces　belonged　to　Bill　Fielder　or　Jack　Stanton。
　Hully　and　the　detective　checked　tattoo　parlors；　where　boys　sat　bare…chested　under　bare　bulbs　as　Filipino　artists　inscribed　American　flesh　with　hula　girls；　anchors　and　〃Mother。〃　They　tried　curio　shops　where　this　sailor　bought　a　fringed　pillow　cursively　designated　〃Honolulu；〃　and　that　soldier　purchased　a　monkey…pod　carving。　They　tried　storefront　photo　studios；　where　gobs　and　GIs　posed　with　pretty；　grass…skirted　Hawaiian　girls　who　had　no　interest　in　a　date。　They　tried　cafй's…the　Bunny　Ranch；　Lousy　Lui's；　Swanky　Franky…where　servicemen　who　had　gotten　drunk　too　fast　tried　to　sober　up　just　as　quickly。　No　Fielder；　no　Stanton。
　They　tried　a　dime…a…dance　joint；　a　barnlike　second…floor　ballroom　not　unlike　a　church　hall　or　an　Elks　club。　A　small　bo…piano；　guitar；　drums…played　slow　tunes；　tables　were　scattered　on　either　side　of　the　heavily　varnished；　underlit　cavern。　Many　of　the　girls　were　surprisingly　good…looking；　Hully　thought；　a　variety　of　Japanese；　Chinese；　Puerto　Rican；　Hawaiian　and　binations　thereof…also　the　occasional　white　girl…　in　low…cut；　shoulder…baring　evening　gowns。　No　liquor　was　sold　on　the　premises；　nor　was　it　allowed　to　be　brought　in。
　〃These　girls　don't　look　like　prostitutes；〃　Hully　whispered　to　Jardine；　as　the　two　stood　on　the　sidelines。
　〃They　aren't；〃　the　detective　said。　〃See　that　blonde　over　there？〃
　Jardine　was　indicating　a　dazzling　blonde　dancing　with　an　older　man；　a　Filipino。
　〃She's　somebody's　wife；　I'll　lay　odds；〃　the　detective　said。　〃These　are　nice　girls。　They　aren't　allowed　to　date　the　customers…aren't　allowed　to　leave　until　closing；　when　their　mothers　or　their　husbands　pick　them　up。〃
　But　Hully　wasn't　looking　at　the　blonde；　anymore。　He　was　nodding　toward　a　soldier。　〃Hey…that's　him。。。。　That's　Stanton。〃
　Corporal　Jack　Stanton　was　dancing　with　an　attractive　if　overly　made…up　Japanese　girl　in　a　low…cut　blue　satin　gown　that　would　have　made　her　the　hit　of　any　prom；　she　was　holding　the　boyishly　handsome；　brown…haired　soldier　close；　her　small　fist　tightly　clenching　a　curling　strand　of　tickets。　She　looked　just　a　little　bit　like　Pearl　Harada；　particularly　to　somebody　drunk；　like　Jack　Stanton。
　When　the　tune　ended…〃Moonlight　Bees　You〃…　Jardine　went　out　onto　the　dance　floor　and　tapped　Stanton's　shoulder；　as　if　he　were　cutting　in。
　Stanton　glared　at　the　little　fedora…sporting　detective；　but　when　Jardine　held　up　his　wallet；　displaying　his　badge；　Stanton　swallowed　and　nodded；　with　morose　inevitability。　Hully　couldn't　hear　what　either　man　was　saying…he　had　secured　a　small　table　at　Jardine's　request…and　watched　as　the　broad…shouldered；　athletic…looking　Stanton　walked　subserviently　along　with　the　diminutive　detective；　over　to　the　waiting　table。
　Hully　pulled　out　a　chair　for　the　corporal。
　Suddenly　Stanton's　submissive　attitude　shifted；　he　seemed　to　bristle　at　the　sight　of　Hully；　saying；　〃I　know　you。〃
　〃I　know　you；　too；　Jack。〃　Hully　gestured　to　the　chair　and；　in　a　not　unfriendly　way；　said；　〃Sit　down。〃
　Stanton　was　scowling。　〃You're　Bill　Fielder's　friend。〃
　〃I'm　one　of　them。〃
　Jardine　said　to　Stanton；　〃Sit　down。〃　Not　so　friendly。　Stanton　sat。　He　was　inebriated；　but　short　of　sloshed。　Jardine　sat　on　one　side　of　the　soldier；　Hully　on　the　other。
　The　detective　said；　〃I　brought　Mr。　Burroughs　along　to　identify　you。　I　could　have　embarrassed　you　by　going　to　your　manding　officer　and　requesting　a　photo；　you　know。〃
　Stanton's　eyes　narrowed。　〃Why　didn't　you？〃
　〃I　wanted　to　hear　your　story。〃
　〃What　story？〃
　〃The　story　of　you　and　Pearl　Harada。〃
　Stanton　swallowed。　Then　he　put　his　elbows　on　the　table　and　began　to　cry　into　his　hands。　The　shabby　little　bo　was　playing　〃Fools　Rush　In。〃
　Jardine　gave　the　corporal　a　handkerchief。　Stanton　thanked　Jardine　and　used　it；　drying　his　eyes；　blowing　his　nose。
　Then　the　detective　said；　〃You　and　Bill　Fielder　got　into　a　tussle　over　Pearl　Harada　last　night。　Want　to　tell　me　about　it？〃
　Swallowing　again；　Stanton　shrugged；　saying；　〃It　wasn't　much　of　a　'tussle'…I　punched　him　and　he　punched　me。　Then　it　got　broke　up。　That's　all。〃
　〃Why　did　you　punch　him？〃
　〃Because　。。。　Pearl　was　my　girl。　I　wanted　him　to　stay　away　from　her。〃
　〃You　mean　you　were　still　seeing　her？　She　was　dating　you；　at　the　same　time　as　Fielder？〃
　He　shook　his　head；　glumly。　〃No　。。。　no。　She　broke　it　off　with　me；　weeks　ago。　I　just。。。　couldn't　get　her　out　of　my　mind。　Couldn't　accept　it。　She　was。。。　so　beautiful。　So　much　fun。。。　sweet。。。　talented。。。　smart。。。〃
　Jardine　waited　until　Stanton　stopped　crying　again；　then　said；　〃You　were　seen　arguing　with　her　last　night。〃
　〃I　know。〃　Stanton　worked　up　a　sneer。　〃By　that　fairy　Mizuha。　He　told　you；　right？〃
　Jardine's　face　was　as　impassive　as　a　cigarstore　Indian's。　〃The　way　this　works　is；　I　ask　the　questions。　You　argued　with　her？〃
　〃It。。。　it　wasn't　really　an　argument。　I　was　。。。　a　little　drunk。　I　yelled　at　her。〃　The　soldier　leaned　against　an　elbow；　hand　to　his　forehead；　as　if　taking　his　own　temperature。　〃She　just　looked　at　me；　like　。。。　like　she　felt　sorry　for　me。　And　maybe　a　little　。。。　disgusted。。。　after　I　wouldn't　stop　yelling。　I　almost　think　that's　what　hurts　most　of　all。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃That　she　died　thinking　I　was　a　jerk。〃
　More　tears　followed；　then　Jardine　asked；　〃Where　were　you；　around　twelve…thirty；　one　o'clock？〃
　〃Back　at　Hickam。〃
　〃What　time　did　you　argue　with　Pearl？〃
　〃Midnight…right　after　the　band　got　finished。〃
　〃Where　did　you　go；　after　the　argument？〃
　〃I　told　you…Hickam。　I　took　a　cab。　I　was　in　my　rack　by　twelve…thirty；　or　damn　close。〃
　〃You　were　in　the　barracks？〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　Jardine　was　jotting　this　down　in　his　little　notebook。　Hully　realized　these　assertions　would　be　easily
　checked：　the　cab　could　be　tracked；　and　whether　or　not　Stanton　had　been　in　the　barracks　at　the　time　of　the　girl's　death。　Pearl　had　been　alive　at　twelve…fifteen；　when　she'd　taken　her　leave　of　Hully's　father；　at　their　bungalow。　And　Hickam　Field　was　twenty　minutes　from　Waikiki。
　If　he　was　telling　the　truth；　Stanton　couldn't　have　been　Pearl　Harada's　murderer。
　〃I　want　you　at　Central　Police　Station　at　ten　o'clock　Monday　morning；〃　Jardine　said　to　the　corporal。　〃For　a　formal　statement。　If　you　need　to　have　your　manding　officer　call　me；　I　work　out　of　the　Prosecutor's　Office　at　City　Hall。〃
　And　Jardine　handed　Stanton　a　business　card。　Stanton　held　it　between　thumb　and　middle　finger　and　stared　at　it　like　a　chimp　trying　to　figure　out　a　math　problem。
　Stanton's　expression　was　one　of　astonishment。　〃You　don't　really　think　I。。。　listen；　I　didn't。。。　Do　I　need　an　attorney？〃
　〃That's　up　to　you；　Corporal。　If　you　were　a　prime　suspect　in　my　mind；　I'd　be　taking　you　in　right　now。〃
　He　was　shaking　his　head；　his　eyes　as　intense　as　they　were　red。　〃I　wouldn't　have　hurt　her。　I　would　never　have　hurt　her。　I'd　sooner　kill　myself。　Do　you　have　any　idea　what　I'm　going　through？　What　it　feels　like　inside　my　head　right　now？　Inside　my　gut？　My　heart？〃
　〃Monday。　Ten　o'clock。〃
　〃I　thought　Harry　Kamana　did　it。　Didn't　you　arrest　him？〃
　'Ten　o'clock。　Monday。〃
　Jardine　rose　and　Hully　followed　suit。
　〃What　about　Fielder？〃　Stanton　asked；　still　seated。　〃Where　was　he　when　Pearl　was　。。。　？〃
　〃We're　going　to　find　that　out；〃　Jardine　said。　He　touched　the　brim　of　his　fedora；　in　a　tip…of…the…hat　manner；　and　headed　for　the　door；　Hully　trailing　after。
　Just　as　they　were　going　out；　Hully　saw　Stanton　heading　back　out　to　the　dance　floor　with　the　Japanese　girl；　the　bo　playing；　〃I　Got　It　Bad　and　That　Ain't　Good。〃
　The　Black　Cat　was　a　long；　open…faced　cafй　that　benefited　from　its　proximity　to　the　YMCA　across　the　street；　where　buses　and　cabs　had　brought…and　would　later　pick　up…sailors　and　soldiers　。。。　anyway；　those　who　weren't　sleeping　it　off　in　a　room　in　the　big；　rambling；　palm…surrounded　Y。
　Sam　Fujimoto　was　at　a　table　right　on　the　street　with　two　sailors…one　of　whom　was　Bill　Fielder。　The　other　was　Dan　Pressman。　The　Black　Cat　served　liquor；　but　all　three　were　drinking　coffee。
　〃Nice　work；〃　Jardine　said　to　Sam；　pulling　up　a　chair；　Hully　doing　the　same。
　Bill　sat　slumped　in　his　chair；　his　expression　dour；　his　handsome　features　puffy；　his　dark　hair　unbed。　Blond；　blue…eyed　Dan　Pressman　seemed　more　alert；　and　was　watching　Bill　the　way　a　parent　watches　a　child。　Hully's　hunch　was　that　Bill　had　been　tying　one　on；　and　Dan　had　laid　off　the　booze；　to　keep　an　eye　on　his　friend's　safety　and　welfare。
　〃Found　Bill　and　Dan　down　at　the　Tradewinds；〃　Sam　said。
　〃Rough　joint；〃　Jardine　said；　and　showed　his　badge　to　the　two　sailors。　〃I'm　Detective　Jardine。　How　are　you　doing；　Bill？〃
　〃My　fiancee　was　murdered；〃　he　said；　just　slightly　slurring　his　words。　〃How　the　hell　you　think　I　am？〃
　〃When　did　you　see　Pearl　Harada　last；　Ensign？〃
　Dan　said；　〃Detective；　if　you　want　to　question　Bill；　don't　you　think　it'd　be　more　appropriate　if　you　waited　till　he's…〃
　〃I'll　talk　to　him　now；〃　Bill　said　sharply。　〃Right　now。　I'm　sober…sober　enough。　And　I　don't　have　a　goddamn　thing　to　hide。〃
　〃You　should　have　a　lawyer；〃　Dan　said。　〃This　is　a　murder　case。〃
　Bill　batted　the　air。　〃They　already　caught　the　guy。　Didn't　you　catch　the　guy？〃
　〃Harry　Kamana　is　in　custody；〃　J