th.red dragon-第51部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃Oh　me；〃　Graham　said。　〃Oh　Jesus。〃
　He　clamped　his　hands　on　the　sides　of　his　head　to　keep　the　thought　from　getting　away。
　〃Do　you　still　have　Metcalf　on　the　phone？〃
　Crawford　handed　him　the　receiver。
　〃Byron；　it's　Graham。　Listen；　did　those　reels　of　Jacobi　film　you　sent　…　were　they　in　any　containers？　。　。　。　Sure；　sure　I　know　you　would　have　sent　'em　along。　I　need　help　bad　on　something。　Do　you　have　the　Jacobi　bank　statements　there？　Okay；　I　want　to　know　where　they　got　movie　film　developed。　Probably　a　store　sent　it　off　for　them。　If　there're　any　checks　to　pharmacies　or　camera　stores；　we　can　find　out　where　they　did　business。　It's　urgent；　Byron。　I'll　tell　you　about　it　first　chance。　Birmingham　FBI　will　start　now　checking　the　stores。　If　you　find　something；　shoot　it　straight　to　them；　then　to　us。　Will　you　do　that？　Great。　What？　No；　I　will　not　introduce　you　to　Hotlips。〃
　Birmingham　FBI　agents　checked　four　camera　stores　before　they　found　the　one　where　the　Jacobis　traded。　The　manager　said　all　customers'　film　was　sent　to　one　place　for　processing。
　Crawford　had　watched　the　films　twelve　times　before　Birmingham　called　back。　He　took　the　message。
　Curiously　formal；　he　held　out　his　hand　to　Graham。　〃It's　Gateway；〃　he　said。
　
　
　CHAPTER　43
　
　Crawford　was　stirring　an　Alka…Seltzer　in　a　plastic　glass　when　the　stewardess's　voice　came　over　the　727'S　public…address　system。
　〃Passenger　Crawford；　please？〃
　When　he　waved　from　his　aisle　seat；　she　came　aft　to　him。　〃Mr。　Crawford；　would　you　go　to　the　cockpit；　please？〃
　Crawford　was　gone　for　four　minutes。　He　slid　back　into　the　seat　beside　Graham。
　〃Tooth　Fairy　was　in　New　York　today。〃
　Graham　winced　and　his　teeth　clicked　together。
　〃No。　He　just　tapped　a　couple　of　women　on　the　head　at　the　Brooklyn　Museum　and；　listen　to　this；　he　ate　a　painting。〃
　〃Ate　it？〃
　〃Ate　it。　The　Art　Squad　in　New　York　snapped　to　it　when　they　found　out　what　he　ate。　They　got　two　partial　prints　off　the　plastic　pass　he　used　and　they　flashed　them　down　to　Price　a　little　while　ago。　When　Price　put　'em　together　on　the　screen；　he　rang　the　cherries。　No　ID；　but　it's　the　same　thumb　that　was　on　the　Leeds　kid's　eye。〃
　〃New　York；〃　Graham　said。
　〃Means　nothing；　he　was　in　New　York　today。　He　could　still　work　at　Gateway。　If　he　does；　he　was　off　the　job　today。　Makes　it　easier。〃
　〃What　did　he　eat？〃
　〃It　was　a　thing　called　The　Great　Red　Dragon　and　the　Woman　Clothed　with　the　Sun。　William　Blake　drew　it；　they　said。〃
　〃What　about　the　women？〃
　〃He's　got　a　sweet　touch　with　the　sap。　Younger　one's　just　at　the　hospital　for　observation。　The　older　one　had　to　have　four　stitches。　Mild　concussion。〃
　〃Could　they　give　a　description？〃
　〃The　younger　one　did。　Quiet；　husky；　dark　mustache　and　hair　…　a　wig；　I　think。　The　guard　at　the　door　said　the　same　thing。　The　older　woman　…　he　could've　been　in　a　rabbit　suit　for　all　she　saw。
　〃But　he　didn't　kill　anybody。〃
　〃Odd；〃　Crawford　said。　〃He'd　have　been　better　off　to　wax　'em　both　…　he　could　have　been　sure　of　his　lead　time　leaving　and　saved　himself　a　description　or　two。　Behavioral　Science　called　Bloom　in　the　hospital　about　it。　You　know　what　he　said？　Bloom　said　maybe　he's　trying　to　stop。〃
　
　
　CHAPTER　44
　
　Dolarhyde　heard　the　flaps　moan　down。　The　Tights　of　St。　Louis　wheeled　slowly　beneath　the　black　wing。　Under　his　feet　the　landing　gear　rumbled　into　a　rush　of　air　and　locked　down　with　a　thud。
　He　rolled　his　head　on　his　shoulders　to　ease　the　stiffness　in　his　powerful　neck。
　ing　home。
　He　had　taken　a　great　risk；　and　the　prize　he　brought　back　was　the　power　to　choose。　He　could　choose　to　have　Reba　McCIane　alive。　He　could　have　her　to　talk　to；　and　he　could　have　her　startling　and　harmless　mobility　in　his　bed。
　He　did　not　have　to　dread　his　house。　He　had　the　Dragon　in　his　belly　now。　He　could　go　into　his　house；　walk　up　to　a　copy　Dragon　on　the　wall　and　wad　him　up　if　be　wanted　to。
　He　did　not　have　to　worry　about　feeling　Love　for　Reba。　If　he　felt　Love　for　her；　he　could　toss　the　Shermans　to　the　Dragon　and　ease　it　that　way；　go　back　to　Reba　calm　and　easy；　and　treat　her　well。
　From　the　terminal　Dolarhyde　telephoned　her　apartment。　Not　home　yet。　He　tried　Baeder　Chemical。　The　night　line　was　busy。　He　thought　of　Reba　walking　toward　the　bus　stop　after　work；　tapping　along　with　her　cane；　her　raincoat　over　her　shoulders。
　He　drove　to　the　film　laboratory　through　the　light　evening　traffic　in　less　than　fifteen　minutes。
　She　wasn't　at　the　bus　stop。　He　parked　on　the　street　behind　Baeder　Chemical；　near　the　entrance　closest　to　the　darkrooms。　He'd　tell　her　he　was　here；　wait　until　she　had　finished　working；　and　drive　her　home。　He　was　proud　of　his　new　power　to　choose。　He　wanted　to　use　it。
　There　were　things　he　could　catch　up　on　in　his　office　while　he　waited。
　Only　a　few　lights　were　on　in　Baeder　Chemical。
　Reba's　darkroom　was　locked。　The　light　above　the　door　was　neither　red　nor　green。　It　was　off。　He　pressed　the　buzzer。　No　response。
　Maybe　she　had　left　a　message　in　his　office。
　He　heard　footsteps　in　the　corridor。
　The　Baeder　supervisor；　Dandridge；　passed　the　darkroom　area　and　never　looked　up。　He　was　walking　fast　and　carrying　a　thick　bundle　of　buff　personnel　files　under　his　arm。
　A　small　crease　appeared　in　Dolarhyde's　forehead。
　Dandridge　was　halfway　across　the　parking　lot；　heading　for　the　Gateway　building；　when　Dolarhyde　came　out　of　Baeder　behind　him。
　Two　delivery　vans　and　half　a　dozen　cars　were　on　the　lot。　That　Buick　belonged　to　Fisk；　Gateway's　personnel　director。　What　were　they　doing？
　There　was　no　night　shift　at　Gateway。　Much　of　the　building　was　dark。　Dolarhyde　could　see　by　the　red　exit　signs　in　the　corridor　as　he　went　toward　his　office。　The　lights　were　on　behind　the　frosted　glass　door　of　the　personnel　department。　Dolarhyde　heard　voices　in　there；　Dandridge's　for　one；　and　Fisk's。
　A　woman's　footsteps　ing。　Fisk's　secretary　turned　the　corner　into　the　corridor　ahead　of　Dolarhyde。　She　had　a　scarf　tied　over　her　curlers　and　she　carried　ledgers　from　Accounting。　She　was　in　a　hurry。　The　ledgers　were　heavy；　a　big　armload。　She　pecked　on　Fisk's　office　door　with　her　toe。
　Will　Graham　opened　it　for　her。
　Dolarhyde　froze　in　the　dark　hall。　His　gun　was　in　his　van。
　The　office　door　closed　again。
　Dolarhyde　moved　fast；　his　running　shoes　quiet　on　the　smooth　floor。　He　put　his　face　close　to　the　glass　of　the　exit　door　and　scanned　the　parking　lot。　Movement　now　under　the　floodlights。　A　man　moving。　He　was　beside　one　of　the　delivery　vans　and　he　had　a　flashlight。　Flicking　something。　He　was　dusting　the　outside　mirror　for　fingerprints。
　Behind　Dolarhyde；　somewhere　in　the　corridors；　a　man　was　walking。　Get　away　from　the　door。　He　ducked　around　the　er　and　down　the　stairs　to　the　basement　and　the　furnace　room　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　building。
　By　standing　on　a　workbench　he　could　reach　the　high　windows　that　opened　at　ground　level　behind　the　shrubbery。　He　rolled　over　the　sill　and　came　up　on　his　hands　and　knees　in　the　bushes；　ready　to　run　or　fight。
　Nothing　moved　on　this　side　of　the　building。　He　stood　up；　put　a　hand　in　his　pocket　and　strolled　across　the　street。　Running　when　the　sidewalk　was　dark；　walking　as　cars　went　by；　he　made　a　long　loop　around　Gateway　and　Baeder　Chemical。
　His　van　stood　at　the　curb　behind　Baeder。　There　was　no　place　to　hide　close　to　it。　All　right。　He　sprinted　across　the　street　and　leaped　in；　clawing　at　his　valise。
　Full　clip　in　the　automatic。　He　jacked　a　round　into　the　chamber　and　laid　the　pistol　on　the　console；　covering　it　with　a　T…shirt。
　Slowly　he　drove　away　…　don't　catch　the　light　red…slowly　around　the　corner　and　into　the　scattered　traffic。
　He　had　to　think　now　and　it　was　hard　to　think。
　It　had　to　be　the　films。　Graham　knew　about　the　films　somehow。　Graham　knew　where。　He　didn't　know　who。　If　he　knew　who；　he　wouldn't　need　personnel　records。　Why　accounting　records　too？　Absences；　that's　why。　Match　absences　against　the　dates　when　the　Dragon　struck。　No；　those　were　Saturdays；　except　for　Lounds。　Absences　on　the　days　before　those　Saturdays；　he'd　look　for　those。　Fool　him　there　…　no　workmen's　pensation　slips　were　kept　for　management。
　Dolarhyde　drove　slowly　up　Lindbergh　Boulevard；　gesturing　with　his　free　hand　as　he　ticked　off　the　points。
　They　were　looking　for　fingerprints。　He'd　given　them　no　chance　for　fingerprints　…　except　maybe　on　the　plastic　pass　at　Brooklyn　Museum。　He'd　picked　it　up　in　a　hurry；　mostly　by　the　edges。
　They　must　have　a　print。　Why　fingerprint　if　they　didn't　have　something　to　match　it　to？
　They　were　checking　that　van　for　prints。　No　time　to　see　if　they　were　checking　cars　too。
　Van。　Carrying　the　wheelchair　with　Lounds　in　it　…　that　tipped　them。　Or　maybe　somebody　in　Chicago　saw　the　van。　There　were　a　lot　of　vans　at　Gateway；　private　vans；　delivery　vans。
　No；　Graham　just　knew　he　had　a　van。　Graham　knew　because　he　knew。　Graham　knew。　Graham　knew。　The　son　of　a　bitch　was　a　monster。
　They'd　fingerprint　everyone　at　Gateway　and　Baeder　too。　If　they　didn't　spot　him　tonight；　they'd　do　it　tomorrow。　He　had　to　run　forever　with　his　face　on　every　bulletin　board　in　every　post　office　and　police　statio。　It　was　all　ing　to　pieces。　He　was　puny　and　small　before　them。
　〃Reba；〃　he　said　aloud；　Reba　couldn't　save　him　now。　They　were　closing　in　on　him；　and　he　was　nothing　but　a　puny　hareli…
　〃ARE　YOU　SORRY　NOW　THAT　YOU　BETRAYED　ME？〃
　The　Dragon's　voice　rumbled　from　deep　within　him；　deep　as　the　shredded　painting　in　his　bowels。
　〃I　didn't。　I　just　wanted　to　choose。　You　called　me…〃
　〃GIVE　ME　WHAT　I　WANT　AND　I'LL　SAVE　YOU。〃
　〃No。　I'll　run。〃
　〃GIVE　ME　WHAT　I　WANT　AND　YOU'LL　HEAR　GRAHAM'S　SPINE　SNAP。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃I　ADMIRE　WHAT　YOU　DID　TODAY。　WE'RE　CLOSE　NOW。　WE　CAN　BE　ONE　AGAIN。　DO　YOU　EEEL　ME　INSIDE　YOU？　YOU　DO；　DON'T　YOU？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃AND　YOU　KNOW　I　CAN　SAVE　YOU。　YOU　KNOW　THEY'LL　SEND　YOU　TO　A　PLACE　WORSE　THAN　BROTHER　BUDDY'S。　GIVE　ME　WHAT　I　WANT　AND　YOU'LL　BE　FREE。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃THEY'LL　KILL　YOU。　YOU'LL　JERK　ON　THE　GROUND。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃WHEN　YOU'RE　GONE　SHE'LL　FUCK　OTHER　PEOPLE；　SHE'LL…〃
　〃No！　Shut　up。〃
　〃SHE'LL　FUCK　OTHER　PEOPLE；　PRETTY　PEOPLE；　SHE'LL　PUT　THEIR…〃
　〃Stop　it。　Shut　up。〃
　〃SLOW　DOWN　AND　I　WON'T　SAY　IT。〃
　Dolarhyde's　foot　lifted　on　the　accelerator。
　〃THAT'S　GOOD。　GIVE　ME　WHAT　I　WANT　AND　IT　CAN'T　HAPPEN。　GIVE　IT　TO　ME　AND　THEN　I'LL　ALWAYS　LET　YOU　CHOOSE；　YOU　CAN　ALWA