mc.risingsun-第14部分

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　〃No。　No　Kent。〃
　〃Okay　then；　Marlboro；〃　the　Japanese　man　said。　〃Marlboro　is　okay。〃　He　turned　and　smiled　at　us。　〃This　is　Marlboro　country；　right？〃
　〃That's　right；〃　Connor　said。
　Cole　picked　up　his　beer　and　sipped　it。　We　were　all　silent。　The　Japanese　man　beat　the　bar　with　his　hands；　in　time　to　the　music。　〃Great　place；〃　he　said。　〃Lot　of　atmosphere。〃
　I　wondered　what　he　was　talking　about。　This　place　was　a　dump。
　The　Japanese　slid　onto　the　bar　stool　next　to　us。　Cole　studied　his　beer　bottle　as　if　he'd　never　seen　one　before。　He　turned　it　in　his　hands；　making　rings　on　the　bar　top。
　The　bartender　brought　cigarettes；　and　the　Japanese　man　tossed　a　five…dollar　bill　on　the　table。　〃Keep　the　change。〃　He　tore　open　the　pack；　and　took　out　a　cigarette。　He　smiled　at　us。
　Connor　took　out　his　lighter　to　light　the　man's　cigarette。　As　the　man　leaned　over　the　flame；　he　said；　〃Doko　kaisha　ittenno？〃
　The　man　blinked。　〃Sorry？〃
　〃Wakannē　no？〃　Connor　said。　〃Doko　kaisha　ittenno？〃
　The　man　smiled；　and　slipped　off　the　bar　stool。　〃Soro　soro　ikanakutewa。　Shitsurei　shimasu。〃　He　gave　a　little　wave；　and　he　went　back　to　his　friends　across　the　room。
　〃Dewa　mata；〃　Connor　said。　He　moved　around　to　sit　on　the　stool　where　the　Japanese　man　had　been　sitting。
　Cole　said；　〃What　was　that　all　about？〃
　〃I　just　asked　him　what　pany　he　worked　for；〃　Connor　said。　〃But　he　didn't　want　to　talk。　I　guess　he　wanted　to　get　back　to　his　friends。〃　Connor　ran　his　hands　under　the　bar；　feeling。　〃Feels　clean。〃
　Connor　turned　back　to　Cole　and　said；　〃Now　then；　Mr。　Cole。　You　were　telling　me　that　a　supervisor　took　over　for　you。　At　what　time　was　that？〃
　〃Eight…fifteen。〃
　〃And　you　didn't　know　him？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃And　before　that　time；　while　you　were　on　duty；　were　you　taping　from　the　video　cameras？〃
　〃Sure。　The　security　office　always　tapes　from　the　cameras。〃
　〃And　did　the　supervisor　remove　the　tapes？〃
　〃Remove　them？　I　don't　think　so。　The　tapes　are　still　there；　as　far　as　I　know。〃
　He　looked　at　us　in　a　puzzled　way。
　〃You　fellows　are　interested　in　the　tapes？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Connor　said。
　〃Because　I　never　paid　much　attention　to　the　tapes。　I　was　interested　in　the　cameras。〃
　〃How's　that？〃
　〃They　were　getting　the　building　ready　for　the　big　party；　and　there　were　lots　of　last…minute　details。　But　you　still　had　to　wonder　why　they　pulled　so　many　security　cameras　off　other　parts　of　the　building　and　put　them　up　on　that　floor。〃
　I　said；　〃They　what？〃
　〃Those　cameras　weren't　on　the　forty…sixth　floor　yesterday　morning；〃　Cole　said。　〃They　were　scattered　all　around　the　building。　Somebody　moved　them　during　the　day。　They're　easy　to　move；　you　know；　because　there's　no　wires　attached。〃
　〃The　cameras　have　no　wires？〃
　〃No。　It's　all　cellular　transmission　inside　the　building　itself。　Built　that　way。　That's　why　they　don't　have　audio：　they　can't　transmit　full　bandwidth　on　cellular。　So　they　just　send　an　image。　But　they　can　move　those　cameras　around　to　suit　their　purposes。　See　whatever　they　want　to　see。　You　didn't　know　that？〃
　〃No；〃　I　said。
　〃I'm　surprised　nobody　told　you。　It's　one　of　the　features　of　the　building　they're　most　proud　of。〃　Cole　drank　his　beer。　〃Only　question　I　have　is　why　somebody　would　take　five　cameras　and　install　them　on　the　floor　above　the　party。　'Cause　there's　no　security　reason。　You　can　lock　off　the　elevators　above　a　certain　floor。　So　for　security；　you'd　want　your　cameras　on　the　floors　below　the　party。　Not　above。〃
　〃But　the　elevators　weren't　locked　off。〃
　〃No。　I　thought　that　was　kind　of　unusual；　myself。〃　He　looked　at　the　Japanese　across　the　room。　〃I　got　to　be　going　soon；〃　he　said。
　〃Well；〃　Connor　said。　〃You've　been　very　helpful；　Mr。　Cole。　We　may　want　to　question　you　again…　〃
　
　〃I'll　write　down　my　phone　number　for　you；〃　Cole　said；　scribbling　on　a　bar　napkin。
　〃And　your　address？〃
　〃Yeah；　right。　But　actually；　I'm　going　out　of　town　for　a　few　days。　My　mother's　been　feeling　sick；　and　she　asked　me　to　take　her　down　there　to　Mexico　for　a　few　days。　Probably　go　this　weekend。〃
　〃Long　trip？〃
　〃Week　or　so。　I　got　vacation　days　ing　up；　it　seems　like　a　good　time　to　take　it。〃
　〃Sure；〃　Connor　said。　〃I　can　see　how　it　would。　Thanks　again　for　your　help。〃　He　shook　hands　with　Cole；　and　punched　him　lightly　on　the　shoulder。　〃And　you　take　care　of　your　health。〃
　〃Oh；　I　will。〃
　〃Stop　drinking；　and　have　a　safe　drive　home。〃　He　paused。　〃Or　wherever　you　may　decide　to　go　tonight；　instead。〃
　Cole　nodded。　〃I　think　you're　right。　That's　not　a　bad　idea。〃
　〃I　know　I'm　right。〃
　Cole　shook　my　hand。　Connor　was　heading　out　the　door。　Cole　said；　〃I　don't　know　why　you　guys　are　bothering。〃
　〃With　the　tapes？〃
　〃With　the　Japanese。　What　can　you　do？　They're　ahead　of　us　every　step　of　the　way。　And　they　have　the　big　guys　in　their　pocket。　We　can't　beat　'em　now。　You　two　guys'll　never　beat　'em。　They're　just　too　good。〃
　Outside；　beneath　the　crackling　neon　sign；　Connor　said；　〃e　on；　time　is　wasting。〃
　We　got　in　the　car。　He　handed　me　the　bar　napkin。　On　it　was　scrawled　in　block　letters：
　
　THEY　STOLE　THE　TAPES
　
　〃Let's　get　going；〃　nnor　said。
　I　started　the　car。
　
　？
　The　eleven　o'clock　news　was　finished　for　the　night；　and　the　newsroom　was　nearly　deserted。　Connor　and　I　went　down　the　hall　to　the　sound　stage　where　the　Action　News　set　was　still　lit　up。
　On　the　set；　the　evening　broadcast　was　being　replayed　with　the　sound　off。　The　anchorman　pointed　to　the　monitor。　〃I'm　not　stupid；　Bobby。　I　watch　these　things。　She　did　the　lead…in　and　the　wrap…up　the　last　three　nights。〃　He　sat　back　in　his　chair　and　crossed　his　arms。　〃I'm　waiting　to　hear　what　you　have　to　say；　Bobby。〃
　My　friend　Bob　Arthur；　the　heavyset；　tired　producer　of　the　eleven　o'clock　news；　sipped　a　tumbler　of　straight　scotch　as　big　as　his　fist。　He　said；　〃Jim；　it　just　worked　out　that　way。〃
　〃Worked　out　that　way　my　ass；〃　the　anchorman　said。
　The　anchorwoman　was　a　gorgeous　redhead　with　a　killer　figure。　She　was　taking　a　long　time　to　shuffle　through　her　notes；　making　sure　she　stayed　to　overhear　the　conversation　between　Bob　and　her　coanchor。
　〃Look；〃　the　anchorman　said。　〃It's　in　my　contract。　Half　the　lead…ins　and　half　the　wraps。　It's　contractual。〃
　〃But　Jim；〃　the　producer　said。　〃The　lead　tonight　was　Paris　fashions　and　the　Nakamoto　party。　That's　human　interest　stuff。〃
　〃It　should　have　been　the　serial　killer。〃
　Bob　sighed。　〃His　arraignment　was　postponed。　Anyway；　the　public　is　tired　of　serial　killers。〃
　The　anchorman　looked　incredulous。　〃The　public　is　tired　of　serial　killers？　Now；　where'd　you　get　that？〃
　〃You　can　read　it　yourself　in　the　focus　groups；　Jim。　Serial　killers　are　overexposed。　Our　audience　is　worried　about　the　economy。　They　don't　want　any　more　serial　killers。〃
　〃Our　audience　is　worried　about　the　economy　so　we　lead　off　with　Nakamoto　and　Paris　fashions？〃
　〃That's　right；　Jim；〃　Bob　Arthur　said。　〃In　hard　times；　you　do　star　parties。　That's　what　people　want　to　see：　fashion　and　fantasy。〃
　The　anchor　looked　sullen。　〃I'm　a　journalist；　I'm　here　to　do　hard　news；　not　fashion。〃
　〃Right；　Jim；〃　the　producer　said。　〃That's　why　Liz　did　the　intros　tonight。　We　want　to　keep　your　image　hard　news。〃
　〃When　Teddy　Roosevelt　led　this　country　out　of　the　Great　Depression；　he　didn't　do　it　with　fashion　and　fantasy。〃
　〃Franklin　Roosevelt。〃
　〃Whatever。　You　know　what　I'm　saying。　If　people　are　worried；　let's　do　the　economy。　Let's　do　the　balance　of　payments　or　whatever　it　is。〃
　〃Right；　Jim。　But　this　is　the　eleven　o'clock　news　in　the　local　market；　and　people　don't　want　to　hear…　〃
　〃And　that's　what's　wrong　with　America；〃　the　anchorman　pronounced；　stabbing　the　air　with　his　finger。　〃People　don't　want　to　hear　the　real　news。〃
　〃Right；　Jim。　You're　absolutely　right。〃　He　put　his　arm　over　the　anchorman's　shoulder。　〃Get　some　rest；　okay？　We'll　talk　tomorrow。〃
　That　seemed　to　be　a　signal　of　some　kind；　because　the　anchorwoman　finished　with　her　notes　and　strode　off。
　〃I'm　a　journalist；〃　the　anchor　said。　〃I　just　want　to　do　the　job　I　was　trained　for。〃
　〃Right；　Jim。　More　tomorrow。　Have　a　good　night。〃
　
　〃Stupid　dickhead；〃　Bob　Arthur　said；　leading　us　down　a　corridor。　〃Teddy　Roosevelt。　Jesus。　They're　not　journalists。　They're　actors。　And　they　count　their　lines；　like　all　actors。〃　He　sighed；　and　took　another　drink　of　scotch。　〃Now　tell　me　again；　what　do　you　guys　want　to　see？〃
　〃Tape　from　the　Nakamoto　opening。〃
　〃You　mean　the　air　tapes？　The　story　we　ran　tonight？〃
　〃No；　we　want　to　see　the　original　footage　from　the　camera。〃
　〃The　field　tapes。　Jeez。　I　hope　we　still　have　them。　They　may　have　been　bulked。〃
　〃Bulked？〃
　〃Bulk　degaussed。　Erased。　We　shoot　forty　cassettes　a　day　here。　Most　of　them　get　erased　right　away。　We　used　to　save　field　tapes　for　a　week；　but　we're　cutting　costs；　you　know。〃
　On　one　side　of　the　newsroom　were　shelves　of　stacked　Betamax　cartridges。　Bob　ran　his　finger　along　the　boxes。　〃Nakamoto　。　。　。　Nakamoto　。　。　。　No；　I　don't　see　them。〃　A　woman　went　past。　〃Cindy；　is　Rick　still　here？〃
　〃No；　he's　gone　home。　You　need　something？〃
　〃The　Nakamoto　field　tapes。　They　aren't　on　the　shelf。〃
　〃Check　Don's　room。　He　cut　it。〃
　〃Okay。〃　Bob　led　us　across　the　newsroom　to　the　editing　bays　on　the　far　side。　He　opened　a　door；　and　we　entered　a　small；　messy　room　with　two　monitors；　several　tape　decks；　and　an　editing　console。　Tapes　in　boxes　were　scattered　around　the　floor。　Bob　rummaged　through　them。　〃Okay；　you　guys　are　in　luck。　Camera　originals。　There's　a　lot　of　it。　I'll　get　Jenny　to　run　you　through　them。　She's　our　best　spotter。　She　knows　everybody。〃　He　stuck　his　head　out　the　door。　〃Jenny？　Jenny！〃
　
　〃Okay；　let's　see；〃　Jenny　Gonzales　said；　a　few　minutes　later。　She　was　a　bespectacled；　heavyset　woman　in　her　forties。　She　scanned　the　editor's　notes　and　frowned。　〃It　doesn't　matter　how　many　times　I　tell　them；　they　just　will　not　put　things　in　proper　。　。　。　Finally。　Here　we　are。　Four　tapes。　Two　limo　driveups。　Two　roving　inside；　at　the　party。　What　do　you　want　to　see？〃
　Connor　said；　〃Start　with　the　driveups。〃　He　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃Is　there　any　way　to　do　this　fast？　We're　in　a　hurry。〃
　〃Fast　as　you　want。　I'm　used　to　it。　Let's　see　it　at　high　speed。
　She　hit　a　button。　At　high　speed；　we　saw　the　limousines　pulling　up；　the　doors　jumping　open；　the　people　getting　out；　jerkily　walking　away。
　〃Looking　for　anyone　in　particular？　Because　I　see　somebody　mark