ss.iftomorrowcomes-第21部分

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　Three　weeks　after　Amy's　rescue　Tracy　and　Amy　were　playing　tag　in　the　yard　when　Sue　Ellen　Brannigan　hurried　out　of　the　house。　She　stood　there　a　moment　watching　them。　〃Tracy；　the　warden　just　telephoned。　He　would　like　to　see　you　in　his　office　right　away。〃
　
　Tracy　was　filled　with　a　sudden　fear。　Did　it　mean　that　she　was　going　to　be　transferred　back　to　the　prison？　Had　Big　Bertha　used　her　influence　to　arrange　it。　Or　had　Mrs。　Brannigan　decided　that　Amy　and　Tracy　were　getting　too　close？
　
　〃Yes；　Mrs。　Brannigan。〃
　
　The　warden　was　standing　in　the　doorway　of　his　office　when　Tracy　was　escorted　in。　〃You'd　better　sit　down；〃　he　said。
　
　Tracy　tried　to　read　the　answer　to　her　fate　from　the　tone　of　his　voice。
　
　〃I　have　some　news　for　you。〃　He　paused；　filled　with　some　emotion　that　Tracy　did　not　understand。　〃I　have　just　received　an　order　from　the　governor　of　Louisiana；〃　Warden　Brannigan　went　on；　〃giving　you　a　full　pardon；　effective　immediately。〃
　
　Dear　God；　did　he　say　what　I　think　he　said？　She　was　afraid　to　speak。
　
　〃I　want　you　to　know；〃　the　warden　continued；　〃that　this　is　not　being　done　because　it　was　my　child　you　saved。　You　acted　instinctively　in　the　way　any　decent　citizen　would　have　acted。　By　no　stretch　of　the　imagination　could　I　ever　believe　that　you　would　be　a　threat　to　society。〃　He　smiled　and　added；　〃Amy　is　going　to　miss　you。　So　are　we。〃
　
　Tracy　had　no　words。　If　the　warden　only　knew　the　truth：　that　if　the　accident　had　not　happeped；　the　warden's　men　would　have　been　out　hunting　her　as　a　fugitive。
　
　〃You'll　be　released　the　day　after　tomorrow。〃
　
　Her　〃getup。〃　And　still　Tracy　could　not　absorb　it。　〃I…　I　don't　know　what　to　say。〃
　
　〃You　don't　have　to　say　anything。　Everyone　here　is　very　proud　of　you。　Mrs。　Brannigan　and　I　expect　you　to　do　great　things　on　the　outside。〃
　
　So　it　was　true：　She　was　free。　Tracy　felt　so　weak　that　she　had　to　steady　herself　against　the　arm　of　the　chair。　When　she　finally　spoke；　her　voice　was　firm。　〃There's　a　lot　I　want　to　do；　Warden　Brannigan。〃
　
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　On　Tracy's　last　day　in　prison　an　inmate　from　Tracy's　old　cell　block　walked　up　to　her。　〃So　you're　getting　out。〃
　
　〃That's　right。〃
　
　The　woman；　Betty　Franciscus；　was　in　her　early　forties；　still　attractive；　with　an　air　of　pride　about　her。
　
　〃If　you　need　any　help　on　the　outside；　there's　a　man　you　should　see　in　New　York。　His　name　is　Conrad　Morgan。〃　She　slipped　Tracy　a　piece　of　paper。　〃He's　into　criminal　reform。　He　likes　to　give　a　hand　to　people　who've　been　in　prison。〃
　
　〃Thank　you；　but　I　don't　think　I'll　need…〃
　
　〃You　never　know。　Keep　his　address。〃
　
　Two　hours　later；　Tracy　was　walking　through　the　penitentiary　gates；　moving　past　the　television　cameras。　She　would　not　speak　to　the　reporters；　but　when　Amy　broke　away　from　her　mother　and　threw　herself　into　Tracy's　arms；　the　cameras　whirred。　That　was　the　picture　that　came　out　over　the　evening　news。
　
　Freedom　to　Tracy　was　no　longer　simply　an　abstract　word。　It　was　something　tangible；　physical；　a　condition　to　be　enjoyed　and　savored。　Freedom　meant　breathing　fresh　air；　privacy；　not　standing　in　lines　for　meals；　not　listening　for　bells。　It　meant　hot　baths　and　good…smelling　soaps；　soft　lingerie；　pretty　dresses；　and　high…heeled　shoes。　It　meant　having　a　name　instead　of　a　number。　Freedom　meant　escape　from　Big　Bertha　and　fear　of　gang　rapes　and　the　deadly　monotony　of　prison　routine。
　
　Tracy's　newfound　freedom　took　getting　used　to。　Walking　along　a　street；　she　was　careful　not　to　jostle　anyone。　In　the　penitentiary　bumping　into　another　prisoner　could　be　the　spark　that　set　off　a　conflagration。　It　was　the　absence　of　constant　menace　that　Tracy　found　most　difficult　to　adjust　to。　No　one　was　threatening　her。
　
　She　was　free　to　carry　out　her　plans。
　
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　In　Philadelphia；　Charles　Stanhope　III　saw　Tracy　on　television；　leaving　the　prison。　She's　still　beautiful；　he　thought。　Watching　her；　it　seemed　impossible　that　she　had　mitted　any　of　the　crimes　for　which　she　had　been　convicted。　He　looked　at　his　exemplary　wife；　placidly　seated　across　the　room；　knitting。　I　wonder　if　I　made　a　mistake。
　
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　Daniel　Cooper　watched　Tracy　on　the　television　news　in　his　apartment　in　New　York。　He　was　totally　indifferent　to　the　fact　that　she　had　been　released　from　prison。　He　clicked　off　the　television　set　and　returned　to　the　file　he　was　working　on。
　
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　When　Joe　Romano　saw　the　television　news；　he　laughed　aloud。　The　Whitney　girl　was　a　lucky　bitch。　I'll　bet　prison　was　good　for　her。　She　must　be　really　horny　by　now。　Maybe　one　day　we'll　meet　again。
　
　Romano　was　pleased　with　himself。　He　had　already　passed　the　Renoir　to　a　fence；　and　it　had　been　purchased　by　a　private　collector　in　Zurich。　Five　hundred　grand　from　the　insurance　pany；　and　another　two　hundred　thousand　from　the　fence。　Naturally；　Romano　had　split　the　money　with　Anthony　Orsatti。　Romano　was　very　meticulous　in　his　dealings　with　him；　for　he　had　seen　examples　of　what　happened　to　people　who　were　not　correct　in　their　transactions　with　Orsatti。
　
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　At　noon　on　Monday　Tracy；　in　her　Lureen　Hartford　persona；　returned　to　the　First　Merchants　Bank　of　New　Orleans。　At　that　hour　it　was　crowded　with　customers。　There　were　several　people　in　front　of　Lester　Torrance's　window。　Tracy　joined　the　line；　and　when　Lester　saw　her；　he　beamed　and　nodded。　She　was　even　more　goddamned　beautiful　than　he　had　remembered。
　
　When　Tracy　finally　reached　his　window；　Lester　crowed；　〃Well；　it　wasn't　easy；　but　I　did　it　for　you；　Lureen。〃
　
　A　warm；　appreciative　smile　lit　Lureen's　face。　〃You're　just　too　wonderful。〃
　
　〃Yes；　sir；　got　'em　right　here。〃　Lester　opened　a　drawer；　found　the　box　of　checks　he　had　carefully　put　away；　and　handed　it　to　her。　〃There　you　are。　Four　hundred　blank　checks。　Will　that　be　enough？〃
　
　〃Oh；　more　than　enough；　unless　Mr。　Romano　goes　on　a　check…writing　spree。〃　She　looked　into　Lester's　eyes　and　sighed；　〃You　saved　my　life。〃
　
　Lester　felt　a　pleasurable　stirring　in　his　groin。　〃I　believe　people　have　to　be　nice　to　people；　don't　you；　Lureen？〃
　
　〃You're　so　right；　Lester。〃
　
　〃You　know；　you　should　open　your　own　account　here。　I'd　take　real　good　care　of　you。　Real　good。〃
　
　〃I　just　know　you　would；〃　Tracy　said　softly。
　
　〃Why　don't　you　and　me　talk　about　it　over　a　nice　quiet　dinner　somewhere？〃
　
　〃I'd　surely　love　that。〃
　
　〃Where　can　I　call　you；　Lureen？〃
　
　〃Oh；　I'll　call　you；　Lester。〃　She　moved　away。
　
　〃Wait　a　min…〃　The　next　customer　stepped　up　and　handed　the　frustrated　Lester　a　sackful　of　coins。
　
　In　the　center　of　the　bank　were　four　tables　that　held　containers　of　blank　deposit　and　withdrawal　slips；　and　the　tables　were　crowded　with　people　busily　filling　out　forms。　Tracy　moved　away　from　Lester's　view。　As　a　customer　made　room　at　a　table；　Tracy　took　her　place。　The　box　that　Lester　had　given　her　contained　eight　packets　of　blank　checks。　But　it　was　not　the　checks　Tracy　was　interested　in：　It　was　the　deposit　slips　at　the　back　of　the　packets。
　
　She　carefully　separated　the　deposit　slips　from　the　checks　and；　in　fewer　than　three　minutes；　she　was　holding　eighty　deposit　slips　in　her　hand。　Making　sure　she　was　unobserved；　Tracy　put　twenty　of　the　slips　in　the　metal　container。
　
　She　moved　on　to　the　next　table；　where　she　placed　twenty　more　deposit　slips。　Within　a　few　minutes；　all　of　them　had　been　left　on　the　various　tables。　The　deposit　slips　were　blank；　but　each　one　contained　a　magnetized　code　at　the　bottom；　which　the　puter　used　to　credit　the　various　accounts。　No　matter　who　deposited　money；　because　of　the　magnetic　code；　the　puter　would　automatically　credit　Joe　Romano's　account　with　each　deposit。　From　her　experience　working　in　a　bank；　Tracy　knew　that　within　two　days　all　the　magnetized　deposit　slips　would　be　used　up　and　that　it　would　take　at　least　five　days　before　the　mix…up　was　noticed。　That　would　give　her　more　than　enough　time　for　what　she　planned　to　do。
　
　On　the　way　back　to　her　hotel；　Tracy　threw　the　blank　checks　into　a　trash　basket。　Mr。　Joe　Romano　would　not　be　needing　them。
　
　Tracy's　next　stop　was　at　the　New　Orleans　Holiday　Travel　Agency。　The　young　woman　behind　the。desk　asked；　〃May　I　help　you？〃
　
　〃I'm　Joseph　Romano's　secretary。　Mr。　Romano　would　like　to　make　a　reservation　for　Rio　de　Janeiro。　He　wants　to　leave　this　Friday。〃
　
　〃Will　that　be　one　ticket？〃
　
　〃Yes。　First　class。　An　aisle　seat。　Smoking；　please。〃
　
　〃Round　trip？〃
　
　〃One　way。〃
　
　The　travel　agent　turned　to　her　desk　puter。　In　a　few　seconds；　she　said；　〃We're　all　set。　One　first…class　seat　on　Pan　American's　Flight　seven　twenty…eight；　leaving　at　six…thirty…five　P。M。　on　Friday；　with　a　short　stopover　in　Miami。〃
　
　〃He'll　be　very　pleased；〃　Tracy　assured　the　woman。
　
　〃That　will　be　nineteen　hundred　twenty…nine　dollars。　Will　that　be　cash　or　charge？〃
　
　〃Mr。　Romano　always　pays　cash。　COD。　Could　you　have　the　ticket　delivered　to　his　office　on　Thursday；　please？〃
　
　〃We　could　have　it　delivered　tomorrow；　if　you　like。〃
　
　〃No。　Mr。　Romano　won't　be　there　tomorrow。　Would　you　make　it　Thursday　at　eleven　A。M。？〃
　
　〃Yes。　That　will　be　fine。　And　the　address？〃
　
　〃Mr。　Joseph　Romano；　Two…seventeen　Poydras　Street；　Suite　four…zero…eight。〃
　
　The　woman　made　a　note　of　it。　〃Very　well。　I'll　see　that　it's　delivered　Thursday　morning。〃
　
　〃Eleven　sharp；〃　Tracy　said。　〃Thank　you。〃
　
　Half　a　block　down　the　street　was　the　Acme　Luggage　Store。　Tracy　studied　the　display　in　the　window　before　she　walked　inside。
　
　A　clerk　approached　her。　〃Good　morning。　And　what　can　I　do　for　you　this　morning？〃
　
　〃I　want　to　buy　some　luggage　for　my　husband。〃
　
　〃You've　e　to　the　right　place。　We're　having　a　sale。　We　have　some　nice；　inexpensive…〃
　
　〃No；〃　Tracy　said。　〃Nothing　inexpensive。〃
　
　She　stepped　over　to　a　display　of　Vuitton　suitcases　stacked　against　a　wall。　〃〃That's　more　what　I'm　looking　for。　We're　going　away　on　a　trip。〃
　
　〃Well；　I'm　sure　he'll　be　pleased　with　one　of　these。　We　have　three　different　sizes。　Which　one　would…？〃
　
　〃I'll　take　one　of　each。〃
　
　〃Oh。　Fine。　Will　that　be　charge　or　cash？〃
　
　〃COD。　The　name　is　Joseph　Romano。　Could　you　have　them　delivered　to　my　husband's　office　on　Thursday　morning？〃
　
　〃W