ss.iftomorrowcomes-第26部分

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　BORIS
　
　ADVISE　PROBLEM　TRAVEL　PLANS。
　YOUR　SISTER'S　PLANE　ARRIVED　LATE
　BUT　LANDED　SAFELY。　LOST　PASSPORT　AND　MONEY。
　SHE　WILL　BE　PLACED　IN　FIRST…CLASS　SWISS　HOTEL。
　WILL　SETTLE　ACCOUNT　LATER。
　BORIS
　
　YOUR　SISTER　WILL　TRY　AMERICAN　EMBASSY
　TO　OBTAIN　TEMPORARY　PASSPORT。
　NO　INFORMATION　AVAILABLE　YET　ON　NEW　VISA。
　SWISS　MAKE　RUSSIANS　SEEM　SAINTS。
　WILL　SHIP　SISTER　TO　YOU　SOONEST。
　BORIS
　
　I'll　be　a　son　of　a　bitch；　the　ambassador　thought。
　
　The　press　and　public　were　barred　from　the　trial。　The　prisoper　remained　stubborn　to　the　last；　continuing　to　deny　he　was　in　the　Soviet　Union　on　a　spying　mission。　The　prosecution　promised　him　leniency　if　he　would　divulge　who　his　bosses　were；　and　Judge　Lawrence　would　have　given　his　soul　to　have　been　able　to　do　so；　but　alas；　he　could　not。
　
　The　day　after　the　trial　there　was　a　brief　mention　in　Pravda　that　the　notorious　American　spy　Judge　Henry　Lawrence　had　been　convicted　of　espionage　and　sentenced　to　Siberia　for　fourteen　years　of　hard　labor。
　
　The　American　intelligence　munity　was　baffled　by　the　Lawrence　case。　Rumors　buzzed　among　the　CIA；　the　FBI；　the　Secret　Service；　and　the　Treasury　Department。
　
　〃He's　not　one　of　ours；〃　the　CIA　said。　〃He　probably　belongs　to　Treasury。〃
　
　The　Treasury　Department　disclaimed　any　knowledge　of　the　case。　〃No；　Sir。　Lawrence　isn't　our　baby。　Probably　the　fucking　FBI　butting　into　our　territory　again。〃
　
　〃Never　heard　of　him；〃　the　FBI　said。　〃He　was　probably　run　by　State；　or　the　Defense　Intelligence　Agency。〃
　
　The　Defense　Intelligence　Agency；　as　much　in　the　dark　as　the　others；　cannily　said；　〃No　ment。〃
　
　Each　agency　was　sure　that　Judge　Henry　Lawrence　had　been　sent　abroad　by　one　of　the　others。
　
　〃Well；　you've　got　to　admire　his　guts；〃　the　head　of　the　CIA　said。　〃He's　tough。　He　hasn't　confessed　and　he　hasn't　named　names。　To　tell　you　the　truth；　I　wish　we　had　a　lot　more　like　him。〃
　
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　Things　were　not　going　well　for　Anthony　Orsatti；　and　the　capo　was　unable　to　figure　out　why。　For　the　first　time　in　his　life；　his　luck　was　going　bad。　It　had　started　with　Joe　Romano's　defection；　then　Perry　Pope；　and　now　the　judge　was　gone；　mixed　up　in　some　crazy　spy　deal。　They　had　all　been　an　intrinsic　part　of　Orsatti's　machine…　people　he　had　relied　on。
　
　Joe　Romano　had　been　the　linchpin　in　the　Family　organization；　and　Orsatti　had　not　found　anyone　to　take　his　place。　The　business　was　being　run　sloppily；　and　plaints　were　ing　in　from　people　who　had　never　dared　plain　before。　The　word　was　out　that　Tony　Orsatti　was　getting　old；　that　he　couldn't　keep　his　men　in　line；　that　his　organization　was　ing　apart。
　
　The　final　straw　was　a　telephone　call　from　New　Jersey。
　
　〃We　hear　you're　in　a　little　trouble　back　there；　Tony。　We'd　like　to　help　you　out。〃
　
　〃I　ain't　in　no　trouble；〃　Orsatti　bristled。　〃Sure；　I've　had　a　couple　a　problems　lately；　but　they're　all　straightened　out。〃
　
　〃That's　not　what　we　hear；　Tony。　The　word's　out　that　your　town's　goin'　a　little　wild；　there's　no　one　controlling　it。〃
　
　〃I'm　controlling　it。〃
　
　〃Maybe　it's　too　much　for　you。　Could　be　you're　working　too　hard。　Maybe　you　need　a　little　rest。〃
　
　〃This　is　my　town。　No　one's　takin'　it　away　from　me。〃
　
　〃Hey；　Tony；　who　said　anything　about　taking　it　away　from　you？　We　just　want　to　help。　The　Families　back　east　got　together　and　decided　to　send　a　few　of　our　people　down　there　to　give　you　a　little　hand。　There's　nothing　wrong　with　that　between　old　friends；　is　there？〃
　
　Anthony　Orsatti　felt　a　deep　chill　go　through　him。　There　was　only　one　thing　wrong　with　it：　The　little　hand　was　going　to　bee　a　big　hand；　and　it　was　going　to　snowball。
　
　**********
　
　Ernestine　had　prepared　shrimp　gumbo　for　dinner；　and　it　was　simmering　on　the　stove　while　she　and　Tracy　waited　for　Al　to　arrive。　The　September　heat　wave　had　burned　itself　deeply　into　everyone's　nerves；　and　when　Al　finally　walked　into　the　small　apartment；　Ernestine　screamed；　〃Where　the　hell　you　been？　The　fuckin'　dinner's　burning；　and　so　am　I〃
　
　But　Al's　spirits　were　too　euphoric　to　be　affected。　〃I　been　busy　diggin'　the　scam；　woman。　An'　wait'll　you　hear　what　I　got。〃　He　turned　to　Tracy。　〃The　mob's　puttin'　the　arm　on　Tony　Orsatti。　The　Family　from　New　Jersey's　in'　in　to　take　over。〃　His　face　split　into　a　broad　grin。　〃You　got　the　son　of　a　bitch！〃　He　looked　into　Tracy's　eyes；　and　his　smile　died。　〃Ain't　you　happy；　Tracy？〃
　
　What　a　strange　word；　Tracy　thought。　Happy。　She　had　forgotten　what　it　meant。　She　wondered　whether　she　would　ever　be　happy　again；　whether　she　would　ever　feel　any　normal　emotions　again。　For　so　long　now；　her　every　waking　thought　had　been　to　avenge　what　had　been　done　to　her　mother　and　herself。　And　now　that　it　was　almost　finished；　there　was　only　an　emptiness　inside　her。
　
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　The　following　morning　Tracy　stopped　at　a　florist。　〃I　want　some　flowers　delivered　to　Anthony　Orsatti。　A　funeral　wreath　of　white　carnations　on　a　stand；　with　a　wide　ribbon。　I　want　the　ribbon　to　read：　'REST　IN　PEACE。'　〃　She　wrote　out　a　card。　It　said；　FROM　DORIS　WHITNEY'S　DAUGHTER。
　
　
　
　BOOK　THREE
　Chapter　15
　
　
　
　Philadelphia
　
　TUESDAY；　OCTOBER　7…　4：00　P。M。
　
　It　was　time　to　deal　with　Charles　Stanhope　III。　The　others　had　been　strangers。　Charles　had　been　her　lover；　the　father　of　her　unborn　child；　and　he　had　turned　his　back　on　both　of　them。
　
　Ernestine　and　Al　had　been　at　the　New　Orleans　Airport　to　see　Tracy　off。
　
　〃I'm　gonna　miss　you；〃　Ernestine　had　said。　〃You　sure　set　this　town　on　its　ass。　They　oughta　run　you　for　people's　mayor。〃
　
　〃Whatcha　gonna　do　in　Philly？〃　Al　had　asked。
　
　She　had　told　them　half　the　truth。　〃Go　back　to　my　old　job　at　the　bank。〃
　
　Ernestine　and　Al　had　exchanged　a　glance。　〃They…　er…　know　you're　in'？〃
　
　〃No。　But　the　vice…president　likes　me。　There　won't　be　a　problem。　Good　puter　operators　are　hard　to　find。〃
　
　〃Well；　good　luck。　Keep　in　touch；　ya　hear？　And　stay　out　of　trouble；　girl。〃
　
　Thirty　minutes　later　Tracy　had　been　in　the　air；　bound　for　Philadelphia。
　
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　She　checked　into　the　Hilton　Hotel　and　steamed　out　her　one　good　dress　over　the　hot　tub。　At　11：00　the　following　morning　she　walked　into　the　bank　and　approached　Clarence　Desmond's　secretary。
　
　〃Hello；　Mae。〃
　
　The　girl　stared　at　Tracy　as　though　she　were　seeing　a　ghost。　〃Tracy！〃　She　did　not　know　where　to　look。　〃I…　how　are　you？〃
　
　〃Fine。　Is　Mr。　Desmond　in？〃
　
　〃I…　I　don't　know。　Let　me　see。　Excuse　me。〃　She　rose　from　her　chair；　flustered；　and　hurried　into　the　vice…president's　office。
　
　She　came　out　a　few　moments　later。　〃You　may　go　in。〃　She　edged　away　as　Tracy　walked　toward　the　door。
　
　What's　the　matter　with　her？　Tracy　wondered。
　
　Clarence　Desmond　was　standing　next　to　his　desk。
　
　〃Hello；　Mr。　Desmond。　Well；　I've　e　back；〃　Tracy　said　brightly。
　
　〃What　for？〃　His　tone　was　unfriendly。　Definitely　unfriendly。
　
　It　caught　Tracy　by　surprise。　She　pressed　on。　〃Well；　you　said　I　was　the　best　puter　operator　you　had　ever　seen；　and　I　thought　…〃
　
　〃You　thought　I'd　give　you　back　your　old　job？〃
　
　〃Well；　yes；　sir。　I　haven't　forgotten　any　of　my　skills。　I　can　still…〃
　
　〃Miss　Whitney。〃　It　was　no　longer　Tracy。　〃I'm　sorry；　but　what　you're　asking　is　quite　out　of　the　question。　I'm　sure　you　can　understand　that　our　customers　would　not　wish　to　deal　with　someone　who　served　time　in　the　penitentiary　for　armed　robbery　and　attempted　murder。　That　would　hardly　fit　in　with　our　high　ethical　image。　I　think　it　unlikely　that　given　your　background；　any　bank　would　hire　you。　I　would　suggest　that　you　try　to　find　employment　more　suitable　to　your　circumstances。　I　hope　you　understand　there　is　nothing　personal　in　this。〃
　
　Tracy　listened　to　his　words；　first　with　shock　and　then　with　growing　anger。　He　made　her　sound　like　an　outcast；　a　leper。　We　wouldn't　want　to　lose　you。　You're　one　of　our　most　valuable　employees。
　
　〃Was　there　anything　else；　Miss　Whitney？〃　It　was　a　dismissal。
　
　There　were　a　hundred　things　Tracy　wanted　to　say；　but　she　knew　they　would　do　no　good。　〃No。　I　think　you've　said　it　all。〃　Tracy　turned　and　walked　out　the　office　door；　her　face　burning。　All　the　bank　employees　seemed　to　be　staring　at　her。　Mae　had　spread　the　word：　The　convict　had　e　back。　Tracy　moved　toward　the　exit；　head　held　high；　dying　inside。　I　can't　let　them　do　this　to　me。　My　pride　is　all　I　have　left；　and　no　one　is　going　to　take　that　away　from　me。
　
　**********
　
　Tracy　stayed　in　her　room　all　day；　miserable。　How　could　she　have　been　naive　enough　to　believe　that　they　would　wele　her　back　with　open　arms？　She　was　notorious　now。　〃You're　the　headline　in　the　Philadelphia　Daily　News。〃　Well；　to　hell　with　Philadelphia；　Tracy　thought。　She　had　some　unfinished　business　there；　but　when　that　was　done；　she　would　leave。　She　would　go　to　New　York；　where　she　would　be　anonymous。　The　decision　made　her　feel　better。
　
　That　evening；　Tracy　treated　herself　to　dinner　at　the　Café　Royal。　After　the　sordid　meeting　with　Clarence　Desmond　that　morning；　she　needed　the　reassuring　atmosphere　of　soft　lights；　elegant　surroundings；　and　soothing　music。　She　ordered　a　vodka　martini；　and　as　the　waiter　brought　it　to　her　table；　Tracy　glanced　up；　and　her　heart　suddenly　skipped　a　beat。　Seated　in　a　booth　across　the　room　were　Charles　and　his　wife。　They　had　not　yet　seen　her。　Tracy's　first　impulse　was　to　get　up　and　leave。　She　was　not　ready　to　face　Charles；　not　until　she　had　a　chance　to　put　her　plan　into　action。
　
　〃Would　you　like　to　order　now？〃　the　captain　was　asking。
　
　〃I'll…　I'll　wait；　thank　you。〃　She　had　to　decide　whether　she　was　going　to　stay。
　
　She　looked　over　at　Charles　again；　and　an　astonishing　phenomenon　occurred：　It　was　as　though　she　were　looking　at　a　stranger。　She　was　seeing　a　sallow；　drawn…looking；　middle…aged；　balding　man；　with　stooped　shoulders　and　an　air　of　ineffable　boredom　on　his　face。　It　was　impossible　to　believe　that　she　had　once　thought　she　loved　this　man；　that　she　had　slept　with　him；　planned　to　spend　the　rest　of　her　life　with　him。　Tracy　glanced　at　his　wife。　She　wore　the　same　bored　expression　as　Charles。　They　gave　the　impression　of　two　people　trapped　together　for　eternity；　frozen　in　time。　They　simply　sat　there；　speaking　not　one　word　to　each　other。　Tracy　c