ss.iftomorrowcomes-第6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！


sh　separating　the　front　seat　from　the　rear。　The　police　car　sped　away　from　the　curb　with　red　lights　flashing　and　sirens　screaming。　She　huddled　in　the　backseat；　trying　to　bee　invisible。　She　was　a　murderess。　Joseph　Romano　had　died。　But　it　had　been　an　accident。　She　would　explain　how　it　had　happened。　They　had　to　believe　her。　They　had　to。
　
　**********
　
　The　police　station　Tracy　was　taken　to　was　in　the　Algiers　district；　on　the　west　bank　of　New　Orleans；　a　grim　and　foreboding　building　with　a　look　of　hopelessness　about　it。　The　booking　room　was　crowded　with　seedy…looking　characters…　prostitutes；　pimps；　muggers；　and　their　victims。　Tracy　was　marched　to　the　desk　of　the　sergeant…on…watch。
　
　One　of　her　captors　said；　〃The　Whitney　woman；　Sarge。　We　caught　her　at　the　airport　tryin'　to　escape。〃
　
　〃I　wasn't…〃
　
　〃Take　the　cuffs　off。〃
　
　The　handcuffs　were　removed。　Tracy　found　her　voice。　〃It　was　an　accident。　I　didn't　mean　to　kill　him。　He　tried　to　rape　me　and…〃　She　could　not　control　the　hysteria　in　her　voice。
　
　The　desk　sergeant　said　curtly；　〃Are　you　Tracy　Whitney？〃
　
　〃Yes。　I…〃
　
　〃Lock　her　up。〃
　
　〃No！　Wait　a　minute；〃　she　pleaded。　〃I　have　to　call　someone。　I…　I'm　entitled　to　make　a　phone　call。〃
　
　The　desk　sergeant　grunted；　〃You　know　the　routine；　huh？　How　many　times　you　been　in　the　stammer；　honey？〃
　
　〃None。　This　is…〃
　
　〃You　get　one　call。　Three　minutes。　What　number　do　you　want？〃
　
　She　was　so　nervous　that　she　could　not　remember　Charles's　telephone　number。　She　could　not　even　recall　the　area　code　for　Philadelphia。　Was　it　two…five…one？　No。　That　was　not　right。　She　was　trembling。
　
　〃e　on。　I　haven't　got　all　night。〃
　
　Two…one…five。　That　was　it！　〃Two…one…five…five…five…five…nine…three…zero…one。〃
　
　The　desk　sergeant　dialed　the　number　and　handed　the　phone　to　Tracy。　She　could　hear　the　phone　ringing。　And　ringing。　There　was　no　answer。　Charles　had　to　be　home。
　
　The　desk　sergeant　said；　〃Time's　up。〃　He　started　to　take　the　phone　from　her。
　
　〃Please　wait！〃　she　cried。　But　she　suddenly　remembered　that　Charles　shut　off　his　phone　at　night　so　that　he　would　not　be　disturbed。　She　listened　to　the　hollow　ringing　and　realized　there　was　no　way　she　could　reach　him。
　
　The　desk　sergeant　asked；　〃You　through？〃
　
　Tracy　looked　up　at　him　and　said　dully；　〃I'm　through。〃
　
　A　policeman　in　shirt…sleeves　took　Tracy。　into　a　room　where　she　was　booked　and　fingerprinted；　then　led　down　a　corridor　and　locked　in　a　holding　cell；　by　herself。
　
　〃You'll　have　a　hearing　in　the　morning；〃　the　policeman　told　her。　He　walked　away；　leaving　her　alone。
　
　None　of　this　is　happening；　Tracy　thought。　This　is　all　a　terrible　dream。　Oh；　please；　God；　don't　let　any　of　this　be　real。
　
　But　the　stinking　cot　in　the　cell　was　real；　and　the　seatless　toilet　in　the　corner　was　real；　and　the　bars　were　real。
　
　**********
　
　The　hours　of　the　night　dragged　by　endlessly。　If　only　I　could　have　reached　Charles。　She　needed　him　now　more　than　she　had　ever　needed　anyone　in　her　life。　I　should　have　confided　in　him　in　the　first　place。　If　I　had；　none　of　this　would　have　happened。
　
　At　6：00　A。M。　a　bored　guard　brought　Tracy　a　breakfast　of　tepid　coffee　and　cold　oatmeal。　She　could　not　touch　it。　Her　stomach　was　in　knots。　At　9：00　a　matron　came　for　her。
　
　〃Time　to　go；　sweetie。〃　She　unlocked　the　cell　door。
　
　〃I　must　make　a　call；〃　Tracy　said。　〃It's　very…〃
　〃Later；〃　the　matron　told　her。　〃You　don't　want　to　keep　the　judge　waiting。　He's　a　mean　son　of　a　bitch。〃
　
　She　escorted　Tracy　down　a　corridor　and　through　a　door　that　led　into　a　courtroom。　An　elderly　judge　was　seated　on　the　bench。　His　head　and　hands　kept　moving　in　small；　quick　jerks。　In　front　of　him　stood　the　district　attorney；　Ed　Topper；　a　slight　man　in　his　forties；　with　crinkly　salt…and…pepper　hair　cut　en　brosse；　and　cold；　black　eyes。
　
　Tracy　was　led　to　a　seat；　and　a　moment　later　the　bailiff　called　out；　〃People　against　Tracy　Whitney；〃　and　Tracy　found　herself　moving　toward　the　bench。　The　judge　was　scanning　a　sheet　of　paper　in　front　of　him；　his　head　bobbing　up　and　down。
　
　Now。　Now　was　Tracy's　moment　to　explain　to　someone　in　authority　the　truth　about　what　had　happened。　She　pressed　her　hands　together　to　keep　them　from　trembling。　〃Your　Honor；　it　wasn't　murder。　I　shot　him；　but　it　was　an　accident。　I　only　meant　to　frighten　him。　He　tried　to　rape　me　and…〃
　
　The　district　attorney　interrupted。　〃Your　Honor；　I　see　no　point　in　wasting　the　court's　time。　This　woman　broke　into　Mr。　Romano's　home；　armed　with　a　thirty…two…caliber　revolver；　stole　a　Renoir　painting　worth　half　a　million　dollars；　and　when　Mr。　Romano　caught　her　in　the　act；　she　shot　him　in　cold　blood　and　left　him　for　dead。〃
　
　Tracy　felt　the　color　draining　from　her　face。　〃What…　what　are　you　talking　about？〃
　
　None　of　this　was　making　any　sense。
　
　The　district　attorney　rapped　out；　〃We　have　the　gun　with　which　she　wounded　Mr。　Romano。　Her　fingerprints　are　on　it。〃
　
　Wounded！　Then　Joseph　Romano　was　alive！　She　had　not　killed　anyone。
　
　〃She　escaped　with　the　painting。　Your　Honor。　It's　probably　in　the　hands　of　a　fence　by　now。　For　that　reason；　the　state　is　requesting　that　Tracy　Whitney　be　held　for　attempted　murder　and　armed　robbery　and　that　bail　be　set　at　half　a　million　dollars。〃
　
　The　judge　turned　to　Tracy；　who　stood　there　in　shock。　〃Are　you　represented　by　counsel？〃
　
　She　did　not　even　hear　him。
　
　He　raised　his　voice。　〃Do　you　have　an　attorney？〃
　
　Tracy　shook　her　head。　〃No。　I…　what…　what　this　man　said　isn't　true。　I　never…〃
　
　〃Do　you　have　money　for　an　attorney？〃
　
　There　was　her　employees'　fund　at　the　bank。　There　was　Charles。　〃I。。。　no；　Your　Honor；　but　I　don't　understand…〃
　
　〃The　court　will　appoint　one　for　you。　You　are　ordered　held　in　jail；　in　lieu　of　five　hundred　thousand　dollars　bail。　Next　case。〃
　
　〃Wait！　This　is　all　a　mistake！　I'm　not…〃
　
　She　had　no　recollection　of　being　led　from　the　courtroom。
　
　**********
　
　The　name　of　the　attorney　appointed　by　the　court　was　Perry　Pope。　He　was　in　his　late　thirties；　with　a　craggy；　intelligent　face　and　sympathetic　blue　eyes。　Tracy　liked　him　immediately。
　
　He　walked　into　her　cell；　sat　on　the　cot；　and　said；　〃Well！　You've　created　quite　a　sensation　for　a　lady　who's　been　in　town　only　twenty…four　hours。〃　He　grinned。　〃But　you're　lucky。　You're　a　lousy　shot。　It's　only　a　flesh　wound。　Romano's　going　to　live。〃　He　took　out　a　pipe。　〃Mind？〃
　
　〃No。〃
　
　He　filled　his　pipe　with　tobacco；　lit　it；　and　studied　Tracy。　〃You　don't　look　like　the　average　desperate　criminal。　Miss　Whitney。〃
　
　〃I'm　not。　I　swear　I'm　not。〃
　
　〃Convince　me；〃　he　said。　〃Tell　me　what　happened。　From　the　beginning。　Take　your　time。〃
　
　Tracy　told　him。　Everything。　Perry　Pope　sat　quietly　listening　to　her　story；　not　speaking　until　Tracy　was　finished。　Then　he　leaned　back　against　the　wall　of　the　cell；　a　grim　expression　on　his　face。　〃That　bastard；〃　Pope　said　softly。
　
　〃I　don't　understand　what　they　were　talking　about。〃　There　was　confusion　in　Tracy's　eyes。　〃I　don't　know　anything　about　a　painting。〃
　
　〃It's　really　very　simple。　Joe　Romano　used　you　as　a　patsy；　the　same　way　he　used　your　mother。　You　walked　right　into　a　setup。〃
　
　〃I　still　don't　understand。〃
　
　〃Then　let　me　lay　it　out　for　you。　Romano　will　put　in　an　insurance　claim　for　half　a　million　dollars　for　the　Renoir　he's　hidden　away　somewhere；　and　he'll　collect。　The　insurance　pany　will　be　after　you；　not　him。　When　things　cool　down；　he'll　sell　the　painting　to　a　private　patty　and　make　another　half　million；　thanks　to　your　do…it…yourself　approach。　Didn't　you　realize　that　a　confession　obtained　at　the　point　of　a　gun　is　worthless？〃
　
　〃I…　I　suppose　so。　I　just　thought　that　if　I　could　get　the　truth　out　of　him；　someone　would　start　an　investigation。〃
　
　His　pipe　had　gone　out。　He　relit　it。　〃How　did　you　enter　his　house？〃
　
　〃I　rang　the　front　doorbell；　and　Mr。　Romano　let　me　in。〃
　
　〃That's　not　his　story。　There's　a　smashed　window　at　the　back　of　the　house；　where　he　says　you　broke　in。　He　told　the　police　he　caught　you　sneaking　out　with　the　Renoir；　and　when　he　tried　to　stop　you；　you　shot　him　and　ran。〃
　
　〃That's　a　lie！　I…〃
　
　〃But　it's　his　lie；　and　his　house；　and　your　gun。　Do　you　have　any　idea　with　whom　you're　dealing？〃
　
　Tracy　shook　her　head　mutely。
　
　〃Then　let　me　tell　you　the　facts　of　life；　Miss　Whitney。　This　town　is　sewn　up　tight　by　the　Orsatti　Family。　Nothing　goes　down　here　without　Anthony　Orsatti's　okay。　If　you　want　a　permit　to　put　up　a　building；　pave　a　highway；　run　girls；　numbers；　or　dope；　you　see　Orsatti。　Joe　Romano　started　out　as　his　hit　man。　Now　he's　the　top　man　in　Orsatti's　organization。〃　He　looked　at　her　in　wonder。　〃And　you　walked　into　Romano's　house　and　pulled　a　gun　on　him。〃
　
　Tracy　sat　there；　numb　and　exhausted。　Finally　she　asked；　〃Do　you　believe　my　story？〃
　
　He　smiled。　〃You're　damned　right。　It's　so　dumb　it　has　to　be　true。〃
　
　〃Can　you　help　me？〃
　
　He　said　slowly；　〃I'm　going　to　try。　I'd　give　anything　to　put　them　all　behind　bars。　They　own　this　town　and　most　of　the　judges　in　it。　If　you　go　to　trial；　they'll　bury　you　so　deep　you'll　sever　see　daylight　again。〃
　
　Tracy　looked　at　him；　puzzled。　〃If　I　go　to　trial？〃
　
　Pope　stood　and　paced　up　and　down　in　the　small　cell。　〃I　don't　want　to　put　you　in　front　of　a　jury；　because；　believe　me；　it　will　be　his　jury。　There's　only　one　judge　Orsatti　has　never　been　able　to　buy。　His　name　is　Henry　Lawrence。　If　I　can　arrange　for　him　to　hear　this　case；　I'm　pretty　sure　I　can　make　a　deal　for　you。　It's　not　strictly　ethical；　but　I'm　going　to　speak　to　him　privately。　He　hates　Orsatti　and　Romano　as　much　as　I　do。　Now　all　we've　got　to　do　is　get　to　Judge　Lawrence。〃
　
　**********
　
　Perry　Pope　arranged　for　Tracy　to　place　a　telephone　call　to　Charles。　Tracy　heard　the　familiar　voice　of　Charles's　secretary。　〃Mr。　Stanhope's　office。〃
　
　〃Harriet。　This　is　Tracy　Whitney。　Is…？〃
　
　〃Oh！　He's　been　trying　to　reach　you；　Miss　Whitney；　but　we　didn't　have　a　telephone　number　for　you。　Mrs。　Stanhope　is　most　anxious　to　discuss　the　wedding　arrangements　with　you。　If　you　could　call　her　as　soon　as　possible…〃
　
　〃Harriet；　may　I　speak　to　Mr。　Stanhope；　please？〃
　
　〃I'm　sorry；　Miss　Whitney。　He's　on　his　way　to　Houston　for　a　meeting。　If　y