th.red dragon-第4部分

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owel　on　the　side　where　he　had　sweated　and　lay　down　on　it；　propped　against　the　headboard　with　a　stiff　drink　in　his　hand。　He　swallowed　a　third　of　it。
　He　reached　for　something　to　think　about；　anything。　The　pharmacy　where　he　bought　the　Bufferin；　then；　perhaps　because　it　was　his　only　experience　all　day　that　was　not　related　to　death。
　He　could　remember　old　drugstores　with　soda　fountains。　As　a　boy；　he　thought　old　drugstores　had　a　slightly　furtive　air。　When　you　went　in；　you　always　thought　about　buying　rubbers　whether　you　needed　any　or　not。　There　were　things　on　the　shelves　you　shouldn't　look　at　too　long。
　In　the　pharmacy　where　he　bought　the　Bufferin；　the　contraceptives　with　their　illustrated　wrappings　were　in　a　lucite　case　on　the　wall　behind　the　cash　register；　framed　like　art。
　He　preferred　the　drugstore　and　sundry　of　his　childhood。　Graham　was　nearly　forty　and　just　beginning　to　feel　the　tug　of　the　way　the　world　was　then；　it　was　a　sea　anchor　streamed　behind　him　in　heavy　weather。
　He　thought　about　Smoot。　Old　Smoot　had　been　the　soda　jerk　and　manager　for　the　pharmacist　who　owned　the　local　drugstore　when　Graham　was　a　child。　Smoot；　who　drank　on　the　job；　forgot　to　unroll　the　awning　and　the　sneakers　melted　in　the　window。　Smoot　forgot　to　unplug　the　coffeepot；　and　the　fire　department　was　summoned。　Smoot　sold　ice　cream　cones　to　children　on　credit。
　His　principal　outrage　was　ordering　fifty　Kewpie　dolls　from　a　detail　man　while　the　store　owner　was　on　vacation。　On　his　return；　the　owner　fired　Smoot　for　a　week。　Then　they　held　a　Kewpie　doll　sale。　Fifty　of　the　Kewpie　dolls　were　arranged　in　a　semicircle　in　the　front　window　so　that　they　all　stared　at　whoever　was　looking　in。
　They　had　wide　eyes　of　cornflower　blue。　It　was　a　striking　display　and　Graham　had　looked　at　it　for　some　time。　He　knew　they　were　only　Kewpie　dolls；　but　he　could　feel　the　focus　of　their　attention。　So　many　of　them　looking。　A　number　of　people　stopped　to　look　at　them。　Plaster　dolls；　all　with　the　same　silly　spit　curl；　yet　their　concentrated　gaze　had　made　his　face　tingle。
　Graham　began　to　relax　a　little　on　the　bed。　Kewpie　dolls　staring。　He　started　to　take　a　drink；　gasped；　and　choked　it　onto　his　chest。　He　fumbled　for　the　bedside　lamp　and　fetched　his　box　from　the　dresser　drawer。　He　took　out　the　autopsy　protocols　of　the　three　Leeds　children　and　his　measured　field　sketches　of　the　master　bedroom　and　spread　them　on　the　bed。
　Here　were　the　three　bloodstains　slanting　up　the　corner；　and　here　were　the　matching　stains　on　the　carpet。　Here　were　the　dimensions　of　the　three　children。　Brother；　sister；　big　brother。　Match。　Match。　Match。
　They　had　been　in　a　row；　seated　along　the　wall　facing　the　bed。　An　audience。　A　dead　audience。　And　Leeds。　Tied　around　the　chest　to　the　headboard。　posed　to　look　as　though　he　were　sitting　up　in　bed。　Getting　the　ligature　mark；　staining　the　wall　above　the　headboard。
　What　were　they　watching？　Nothing；　they　were　all　dead。　But　their　eyes　were　open。　They　were　watching　a　performance　starring　the　madman　and　the　body　of　Mrs。　Leeds；　beside　Mr。　Leeds　in　the　bed。　An　audience。　The　crazy　could　look　around　at　their　faces。
　Graham　wondered　if　he　had　lit　a　candle。　The　flickering　light　would　simulate　expression　on　their　faces。　No　candle　was　found。　Maybe　he　would　think　to　do　that　next　time。　。　。
　This　first　small　bond　to　the　killer　itched　and　stung　like　a　leech。　Graham　bit　the　sheet；　thinking。
　
　Why　did　you　move　them　again？　Why　didn't　you　leave　them　that　way？　Graham　asked。　There's　something　you　don't　want　me　to　know　about　you。　Why；　there's　something　you're　ashamed　of。　Or　is　it　something　you　can't　afford　for　me　to　know？
　Did　you　open　their　eyes？
　Mrs。　Leeds　was　lovely；　wasn't　she？　You　turned　on　the　light　after　you　cut　his　throat　so　Mrs。　Leeds　could　watch　him　flop；　didn't　you？　It　was　maddening　to　have　to　wear　gloves　when　you　touched　her；　wasn't　it？
　
　There　was　talcum　on　her　leg。
　Ther　was　no　talcum　in　the　bathroom。
　Someone　else　seemed　to　speak　those　two　facts　in　a　flat　voice。
　
　You　took　off　your　gloves；　didn't　you？　The　powder　came　out　of　a　rubber　glove　as　you　pulled　it　oft　to　touch　her；　DIDN'T　IT；　YOU　SON　OF　A　BITCH？　You　touched　her　with　your　bare　hands　and　then　you　put　the　gloves　back　on　and　you　wiped　her　down。　But　while　the　gloves　were　off；　DID　YOU　OPEN　THEIR　EYES？
　
　Jack　Crawford　answered　his　telephone　on　the　fifth　ring。　He　had　answered　the　telephone　in　the　night　many　times　and　he　was　not　confused。
　〃Jack；　this　is　Will。〃
　〃Yes；　Will。〃
　〃Is　Price　still　in　Latent　Prints？〃
　〃Yeah。　He　doesn't　go　out　much　anymore。　He's　working　on　the　single…print　index。〃
　〃I　think　he　ought　to　e　to　Atlanta。〃
　〃Why？　You　said　yourself　the　guy　down　here　is　good。〃
　〃He　is　good；　but　not　as　good　as　Price。〃
　〃What　do　you　want　him　to　do？　Where　would　he　look？〃
　〃Mrs。　Leeds　fingernails　and　toenails。　They're　painted；　its　a　slick　surface。　And　the　corneas　of　all　their　eyes。　I　think　he　took　his　gloves　off；　Jack。〃
　〃Jesus；　Price'll　have　to　gun　it；〃　Crawford　said。　〃The　funeral's　this　afternoon。〃
　
　
　CHAPTER　3
　
　〃I　think　he　had　to　touch　her；〃　Graham　said　in　greeting。
　Crawford　handed　him　a　Coke　from　the　machine　in　Atlanta　police　headquarters。　It　was　seven…fifty　A。M。
　〃Sure；　he　moved　her　around；〃　Crawford　said。　〃There　were　grip　marks　on　her　wrists　and　behind　her　knees。　But　every　print　in　the　place　is　from　nonporous　gloves。　Don't　worry；　Price　is　here。　Grouchy　old　bastard。　He's　on　his　way　to　the　funeral　home　now。　The　morgue　released　the　bodies　last　night；　but　the　funeral　home's　not　doing　anything　yet。　You　look　bushed。　Did　you　get　any　sleep？〃
　〃Maybe　an　hour。　I　think　he　had　to　touch　her　with　his　hands。〃
　〃I　hope　you're　right；　but　the　Atlanta　lab　swears　he　wore　like　surgeon's　gloves　the　whole　time；〃　Crawford　said。　〃The　mirror　pieces　had　those　smooth　prints。　Forefinger　on　the　back　of　the　piece　wedged　in　the　labia；　smudged　thumb　on　the　front。〃
　〃He　polished　it　after　he　placed　it；　so　he　could　see　his　damn　face　in　there　probably；〃　Graham　said。
　〃The　one　in　her　mouth　was　obscured　with　blood。　Same　with　the　eyes。　He　never　took　the　gloves　off。〃
　〃Mrs。　Leeds　was　a　good…looking　woman；〃　Graham　said。　〃You've　seen　the　family　pictures；　right？　I'd　want　to　touch　her　skin　in　an　intimate　situation；　wouldn't　you？〃
　〃Intimate？〃　Distaste　sounded　in　Crawford's　voice　before　he　could　stop　it。　Suddenly　he　was　busy　rummaging　in　his　pockets　for　change。
　〃Intimate　…　they　had　privacy。　Everybody　else　was　dead。　He　could　have　their　eyes　open　or　shut；　however　he　liked。〃
　〃Any　way　he　liked；〃　Crawford　said。　〃They　tried　her　skin　for　prints；　of　course。　Nothing。　They　did　get　a　hand　spread　off　her　neck。〃
　〃The　report　didn't　say　anything　about　dusting　nails。〃
　〃I　expect　her　fingernails　were　smudged　when　they　took　scrapings。　The　scrapings　were　just　where　she　cut　her　palms　with　them。　She　never　scratched　him。〃
　〃She　had　pretty　feet；〃　Graham　said。
　〃Umm…hmm。　Let's　head　upstairs；〃　Crawford　said。　〃The　troops　are　about　to　muster。〃
　
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　Jimmy　Price　had　a　lot　of　equipment　…　two　heavy　cases　plus　his　camera　bag　and　tripod。　He　made　a　clatter　ing　through　the　front　door　of　the　Lombard　Funeral　Home　in　Atlanta。　He　was　a　frail　old　man　and　his　humor　had　not　been　improved　by　a　long　taxi　ride　from　the　airport　in　the　morning　rush。
　An　officious　young　fellow　with　styled　hair　hustled　him　into　an　office　decorated　in　apricot　and　cream。　The　desk　was　bare　except　for　a　sculpture　called　The　Praying　Hands。
　Price　was　examining　the　fingertips　of　the　praying　hands　when　Mr。　Lombard　himself　came　in。　Lombard　checked　Price's　credentials　with　extreme　care。
　〃Your　Atlanta　office　or　agency　or　whatever　called　me；　of　course；　Mr。　Price。　But　last　night　we　had　to　get　the　police　to　remove　an　obnoxious　fellow　who　was　trying　to　take　pictures　for　The　National　Tattler；　so　I'm　being　very　careful。　I'm　sure　you　understand。　Mr。　Price；　the　bodies　were　only　released　to　us　about　one　o'clock　this　morning；　and　the　funeral　is　this　afternoon　at　five。　We　simply　can't　delay　it。〃
　〃This　won't　take　a　lot　of　time；〃　Price　said。　〃I　need　one　reasonably　intelligent　assistant；　if　you　have　one。　Have　you　touched　the　bodies；　Mr。　Lombard？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Find　out　who　has。　I'll　have　to　print　them　all。〃
　
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　The　morning　briefing　of　police　detectives　on　the　Leeds　case　was　concerned　mostly　with　teeth。
　Atlanta　Chief　of　Detectives　R。　J。　（Buddy）　Springfield；　a　burly　man　in　shirtsleeves；　stood　by　the　door　with　Dr。　Dominic　Princi　as　the　twenty…three　detectives　filed　in。
　〃All　right；　boys；　let's　have　the　big　grin　as　you　e　by；〃　Springfield　said。　〃Show　Dr。　Princi　your　teeth。　That's　right；　let's　see　'em　all。　Christ；　Sparks；　is　that　your　tongue　or　are　you　swallowing　a　squirrel？　Keep　moving。〃
　A　large　frontal　view　of　a　set　of　teeth；　upper　and　lower；　was　tacked　to　the　bulletin　board　at　the　front　of　the　squad　room。　It　reminded　Graham　of　the　celluloid　strip　of　printed　teeth　in　a　dime…store　jack…o'lantern。　He　and　Crawford　sat　down　at　the　back　of　the　room　while　the　detectives　took　their　places　at　schoolroom　desks。
　Atlanta　Public　Safety　missioner　Gilbert　Lewis　and　his　public…relations　officer　sat　apart　from　them　in　folding　chairs。　Lewis　had　to　face　a　news　conference　in　an　hour。
　Chief　of　Detectives　Springfield　took　charge。
　〃All　right。　Let's　cease　fire　with　the　bullshit。　If　you　read　up　this　morning；　you　saw　zero　progress。
　〃House…to…house　interviews　will　continue　for　a　radius　of　four　additional　blocks　around　the　scene。　R　&　I　has　loaned　us　two　clerks　to　help　cross…matching　airline　reservations　and　car　rentals　in　Birmingham　and　Atlanta。
　〃Airport　and　hotel　details　will　make　the　rounds　again　today。　Yes；　again　today。　Catch　every　maid　and　attendant　as　well　as　the　desk　people。　He　had　to　clean　up　somewhere　and　he　may　have　left　a　mess。　If　you　find　somebody　who　cleaned　up　a　mess；　roust　out　whoever's　in　the　room；　seal　it；　and　get　on　the　horn　to　the　laundry　double　quick。　This　time　we've　got　something　for　you　to　show　around。　Dr。　Princi？〃
　Dr。　Dominic　Princi；　chief　medical　examiner　for　Fulton　County；　walked　to　the　front　and　stood　under　the　drawing　of　the　teeth。　He　held　up　a　dental　cast。
　〃Gentlemen；　this　is　what　the　subject's　teeth　look　like。　The　Smithsonian　in　Washington　reconstructed　them　from　the　impressions　we　took　of　bite　marks　on