th.red dragon-第8部分

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　ran　to　the　door　and　stood　expectantly；　shivering　and　wagging　his　stumpy　tail。
　Graham　bit　his　lower　lip　and　waited　too。　On　the　screen；　the　door　opened　and　Mrs。　Leeds　came　in　carrying　groceries。　She　blinked　and　laughed　in　surprise　and　touched　her　tousled　hair　with　her　free　hand。　Her　lips　moved　as　she　walked　out　of　the　picture；　and　the　children　came　in　behind　her　carrying　smaller　sacks。　The　girl　was　six；　the　boys　eight　and　ten。
　The　younger　boy；　apparently　a　veteran　of　home　movies；　pointed　to　his　ears　and　wiggled　them。　The　camera　was　positioned　fairly　high。　Leeds　was　seventy…five　inches　tall；　according　to　the　coroner's　report。
　Graham　believed　that　this　part　of　the　movie　must　have　been　made　in　the　early　spring。　The　children　wore　windbreakers　and　Mrs。　Leeds　appeared　pale。　At　the　morgue　she　had　a　good　tan　and　bathing…suit　marks。
　Brief　scenes　followed　of　the　boys　playing　Ping…Pong　in　the　basement　and　the　girl；　Susan；　wrapping　a　present　in　her　room；　tongue　curled　over　her　upper　lip　in　concentration　and　a　wisp　of　hair　down　over　her　forehead。　She　brushed　her　hair　back　with　her　plump　hand；　as　her　mother　had　done　in　the　kitchen。
　A　subsequent　scene　showed　Susan　in　a　bubble　bath；　crouched　like　a　small　frog。　She　wore　a　large　shower　cap。　The　camera　angle　was　lower　and　the　focus　uncertain；　clearly　the　work　of　a　brother。　The　scene　ended　with　her　shouting　soundlessly　at　the　camera　and　covering　her　six…year…old　chest　as　her　shower　cap　slipped　down　over　her　eyes。
　Not　to　be　outdone；　Leeds　had　surprised　Mrs。　Leeds　in　the　shower。　The　shower　curtain　bumped　and　bulged　as　the　curtain　does　before　a　grade…school　theatrical。　Mrs。　Leeds's　arm　appeared　around　the　curtain。　In　her　hand　was　a　large　bath　sponge。　The　scene　closed　with　the　lens　obscured　in　soapsuds。
　The　film　ended　with　a　shot　of　Norman　Vincent　Peale　speaking　on　television　and　a　pan　to　Charles　Leeds　snoring　in　the　chair　where　Graham　now　sat。
　Graham　stared　at　the　blank　square　of　light　on　the　screen。　He　liked　the　Leedses。　He　was　sorry　that　he　had　been　to　the　morgue。　He　thought　the　madman　who　visited　them　might　have　liked　them　too。　But　the　madman　would　like　them　better　the　way　they　were　now。
　
　#　#　#
　
　Graham's　head　felt　stuffed　and　stupid。　He　swam　in　the　pool　at　his　hotel　until　he　was　rubber…legged；　and　came　out　of　the　water　thinking　of　two　things　at　once　…　a　Tanqueray　martini　and　the　taste　of　Molly's　mouth。
　He　made　the　martini　himself　in　a　plastic　glass　and　telephoned　Molly。
　〃Hello；　hotshot。〃
　〃Hey；　baby！　Where　are　you？〃
　〃In　this　damned　hotel　in　Atlanta。〃
　〃Doing　some　good？〃
　〃None　you'd　notice。　I'm　lonesome。〃
　〃Me　too。〃
　〃Horny。〃
　〃Me　too。〃
　〃Tell　me　about　yourself。〃
　〃Well；　I　had　a　run…in　with　Mrs。　Holper　today。　She　wanted　to　return　a　dress　with　a　huge　big　whiskey　stain　on　the　seat。　I　mean；　obviously　she　had　worn　it　to　the　Jaycee　thing。〃
　〃And　what　did　you　say？〃
　〃I　told　her　I　didn't　sell　it　to　her　like　that。〃
　〃And　what　did　she　say？〃
　〃She　said　she　never　had　any　trouble　returning　dresses　before；　which　was　one　reason　she　shopped　at　my　place　rather　than　some　others　that　she　knew　about。〃
　〃And　then　what　did　you　say？〃
　〃Oh；　I　said　I　was　upset　because　Will　talks　like　a　jackass　on　the　phone。〃
　〃I　see。〃
　〃Willy's　fine。　He's　covering　some　turtle　eggs　the　dogs　dug　up。　Tell　me　what　you're　doing。〃
　〃Reading　reports。　Eating　junk　food。〃
　〃Thinking　a　good　bit；　I　expect。〃
　〃Yep。〃
　〃Can　I　help　you？〃
　〃I　just　don't　have　a　lock　on　anything；　Molly。　There's　not　enough　information。　Well；　there's　a　lot　of　information；　but　I　haven't　done　enough　with　it。〃
　〃Will　you　be　in　Atlanta　for　a　while？　I'm　not　bugging　you　about　ing　home；　I　just　wonder。〃
　〃I　don't　know。　I'll　be　here　a　few　more　days　at　least。　I　miss　you。〃
　〃Want　to　talk　about　fucking？〃
　〃I　don't　think　I　could　stand　it。　I　think　maybe　we　better　not　do　that。〃
　〃Do　what？〃
　〃Talk　about　fucking。〃
　〃Okay。　You　don't　mind　if　I　think　about　it；　though？〃
　〃Absolutely　not。〃
　〃We've　got　a　new　dog。〃
　〃Oh　hell。〃
　〃Looks　like　a　cross　between　a　basset　hound　and　a　Pekingese。〃
　〃Lovely。〃
　〃He's　got　big　balls。〃
　〃Never　mind　about　his　balls。〃
　〃They　almost　drag　the　ground。　He　has　to　retract　them　when　he　runs。
　〃He　can't　do　that。〃
　〃Yes　he　can。　You　don't　know。〃
　〃Yes　I　do　know。〃
　〃Can　you　retract　yours？〃
　〃I　thought　we　were　ing　to　that。〃
　〃Well？〃
　〃If　you　must　know；　I　retracted　them　once。〃
　〃When　was　that？〃
　〃In　my　youth。　I　had　to　clear　a　barbed…wire　fence　in　a　hurry。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃I　was　carrying　this　watermelon　that　I　had　not　cultivated。〃
　〃You　were　fleeing？　From　whom？〃
　〃A　swineherd　of　my　acquaintance。　Alerted　by　his　dogs；　he　burst　from　his　dwelling　in　his　BVD's；　waving　a　fowling　piece。　Fortunately；　he　tripped　over　a　butterbean　trellis　and　gave　me　a　running　start。〃
　〃Did　he　shoot　at　you？〃
　〃I　thought　so　at　the　time；　yes。　But　the　reports　I　heard　might　have　issued　from　my　behind。　I've　never　been　entirely　clear　on　that。〃
　〃Did　you　clear　the　fence？〃
　〃Handily。〃
　〃A　criminal　mind；　even　at　that　age。〃
　〃I　don't　have　a　criminal　mind。〃
　〃Of　course　you　don't。　I'm　thinking　about　painting　the　kitchen。　What　color　do　you　like？　Will？　What　color　do　you　like？　Are　you　there？〃
　〃Yeah；　uh；　yellow。　Let's　paint　it　yellow。〃
　〃Yellow　is　a　bad　color　for　me。　I'll　look　green　at　breakfast。〃
　〃Blue；　then。〃
　〃Blue　is　cold。〃
　〃Well　goddammit；　paint　it　baby…shit　tan　for　all　I　care。　。　。　。　No；　look；　I'll　probably　be　home　before　long　and　we'll　go　to　the　paint　store　and　get　some　chips　and　stuff；　okay？　And　maybe　some　new　handles　and　that。〃
　〃Let's　do；　let's　get　some　handles。　I　don't　know　why　I'm　talking　about　this　stuff。　Look；　I　love　you　and　I　miss　you　and　you're　doing　the　right　thing。　It's　costing　you　too；　I　know　that。　I'm　here　and　I'll　be　here　whenever　you　e　home；　or　I'll　meet　you　anywhere；　anytime。　That's　what。〃
　〃Dear　Molly。　Dear　Molly。　Go　to　bed　now。〃
　〃All　right。〃
　〃Good　night。〃
　Graham　lay　with　his　hands　behind　his　head　and　conjured　dinners　with　Molly。　Stone　crab　and　Sancerre；　the　salt　breeze　mixed　with　the　wine。
　But　it　was　his　curse　to　pick　at　conversations；　and　he　began　to　do　it　now。　He　had　snapped　at　her　after　a　harmless　remark　about　his　〃criminal　mind。〃　Stupid。
　Graham　found　Molly's　interest　in　him　largely　inexplicable。
　He　called　police　headquarters　and　left　word　for　Springfield　that　he　wanted　to　start　helping　with　the　legwork　in　the　morning。　There　was　nothing　else　to　do。
　The　gin　helped　him　sleep。
　
　
　CHAPTER　6
　
　Flimsy　copies　of　the　notes　on　all　calls　about　the　Leeds　case　were　placed　on　Buddy　Springfield's　desk。　Tuesday　morning　at　seven　o'clock　when　Springfield　arrived　at　his　office；　there　were　sixty…three　of　them。　The　top　one　was　red…flagged。
　It　said　Birmingham　police　had　found　a　cat　buried　in　a　shoebox　behind　the　Jacobis'　garage。　The　cat　had　a　flower　between　its　paws　and　was　wrapped　in　a　dish　towel。　The　cat's　name　was　written　on　the　lid　in　a　childish　hand。　It　wore　no　collar。　A　string　tied　in　a　granny　knot　held　the　lid　on。
　The　Birmingham　medical　examiner　said　the　cat　was　strangled。　He　had　shaved　it　and　found　no　puncture　wound。
　Springfield　tapped　the　earpiece　of　his　glasses　against　his　teeth。
　They　had　found　soft　ground　and　dug　it　up　with　a　shovel。　Didn't　need　any　damned　methane　probe。　Still；　Graham　had　been　right。
　The　chief　of　detectives　licked　his　thumb　and　started　through　the　rest　of　the　stack　of　flimsies。　Most　were　reports　of　suspicious　vehicles　in　the　neighborhood　during　the　past　week；　vague　descriptions　giving　only　vehicle　type　or　color。　Four　anonymous　telephone　callers　had　told　Atlanta　residents：　〃I'm　gonna　do　you　like　the　Leedses。〃
　Hoyt　Lewis'　report　was　in　the　middle　of　the　pile。
　Springfield　called　the　overnight　watch　mander。〃What　about　the　meter　reader's　report　on　this　Parsons？　Number　forty…eight。〃
　〃We　tried　to　check　with　the　utilities　last　night；　Chief；　to　see　if　they　had　anybody　in　that　alley；〃　the　watch　mander　said。　〃'They'll　have　to　get　back　to　us　this　morning。〃
　〃You　have　somebody　get　back　to　them　now；〃　Springfield　said。　〃Check　sanitation；　the　city　engineer；　check　for　construction　permits　along　the　alley　and　catch　me　in　my　car。〃
　He　dialed　Will　Graham's　number。　〃Will？　Meet　me　in　front　of　your　hotel　in　ten　minutes　and　let's　take　a　little　ride。〃
　At　7：45　A。M。　Springfield　parked　near　the　end　of　the　alley。　He　and　Graham　walked　abreast　in　wheel　tracks　pressed　in　the　gravel。　Even　this　early　the　sun　was　hot。
　〃You　need　to　get　you　a　hat；〃　Springfield　said。　His　own　snappy　straw　was　tilted　down　over　his　eyes。
　The　chain…link　fence　at　the　rear　of　the　Leeds　property　was　covered　with　vines。　They　paused　by　the　light　meter　on　the　pole。
　〃If　he　came　down　this　way；　he　could　see　the　whole　back　end　of　the　house；〃　Springfield　said。
　In　only　five　days　the　Leeds　property　had　begun　to　look　neglected。　The　lawn　was　uneven；　and　wild　onions　sprouted　above　the　grass。　Small　branches　had　fallen　in　the　yard。　Graham　wanted　to　pick　them　up。　The　house　seemed　asleep；　the　latticed　porch　striped　and　dappled　with　the　long　morning　shadows　of　the　trees。　Standing　with　Springfield　in　the　alley；　Graham　could　see　himself　looking　in　the　back　window；　opening　the　porch　door。　Oddly；　his　reconstruction　of　the　entry　by　the　killer　seemed　to　elude　him　now；　in　the　sunlight。　He　watched　a　child's　swing　move　gently　in　the　breeze。
　〃That　looks　like　Parsons；〃　Springfield　said。
　H。　G。　Parsons　was　out　early；　grubbing　in　a　flowerbed　in　his　back…yard；　two　houses　down。　Springfield　and　Graham　went　to　Parsons'　back　gate　and　stood　beside　his　garbage　cans。　The　lids　were　chained　to　the　fence。
　Springfield　measured　the　height　of　the　light　meter　with　a　tape。
　He　had　notes　on　all　the　Leedses'　neighbors。　His　notes　said　Parsons　had　taken　early　retirement　from　the　post　office　at　his　supervisor's　request。　The　supervisor　had　reported　Parsons　to　be　〃increasingly　absentminded。〃
　Springfield's　notes　contained　gossip；　too。　The　neighbors　said　Parsons'　wife　stayed　with　her　sister　in　Macon　as　much　as　she　could；　and　that　his　son　never　called　him　anymore。
　〃Mr。　Parsons。　Mr。　Parsons；〃　Springfield　called。
　Parsons　leaned　his　tilling　fork　against　the　house　and　came　to　the　fence。　He　wore　sandals　and　white　socks。　Dirt　and　grass　had　stained　the　toes　of　his　soc