ch.doublewhammy-第13部分

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bassets　jumpsuit；　desert　tan；　his　cap　was　off　and　his　hair　was　blow…dried　to　perfection。　He　was　holding　up　a　sixteen…ounce　bottle　of　Happy　Gland　Fish　Scent；　and　grinning。
　〃Does　that　stuff　really　work？〃　Decker　asked。　A　bit　off　the　point；　but　he　was　curious。
　〃Hard　to　say；〃　Gault　replied。　〃Stinks　like　a　sack　of　dead　cats；　that's　for　sure。〃
　He　speeded　the　tape　forward　until　he　found　the　segment　he'd　been　searching　for。　He　froze　the　picture　as　the　angler　in　the　bow　of　the　boat　hoisted　a　fat　black　bass　to　show　the　camera。
　〃There！　Look　now；　pay　attention！〃　Gault　said。　Excitedly　he　shuffled　on　bare　knees　across　the　floor　to　the　television　screen；　one　of　those　custom　five…foot　monsters　that　eats　up　the　whole　wall。　〃There；　Decker；　look。　This　fish　is　a　ringer！〃
　〃How　can　you　tell？〃
　〃See　here；　the　eyes　are　flat。　Not　cloudy　yet；　but　flat　as　tile。　And　the　color's　washed　out　of　the　flanks。　No　vertical　stripes；　not　a　one。　Muck　is　the　color　of　this　fish。〃
　〃It　doesn't　look　too　healthy；〃　Decker　agreed。
　〃Healthy？　Man；　this　fish　is　DOA。　Check　the　dorsal。　The　guy　is　fanning　the　fins　for　the　camera。　Why？　'Cause　they'd　fold　up　otherwise。　This　fish　is　de…fucking…ceased。〃
　〃But　they　just　showed　the　fisherman　reeling　it　in；〃　Decker　said。
　〃Wrong。　Now　watch。〃　Gault　backed　up　the　tape　and　replayed　the　fight。　The　rod　was　bent；　the　water　around　the　boat　boiled　and　splashed…but　the　angles　and　the　editing　of　the　video　made　it　impossible　to　see　the　actual　size　of　the　bass。　Until　the　fisherman　lifted　it　for　the　camera。
　〃That　rookie　caught　a　fish；〃　Gault　said；　〃but　not　this　fish。〃　He　hit　a　button　and　rewound　the　tape。　〃Want　to　watch　another　one？〃
　〃That　won't　be　necessary；〃　Decker　said。
　〃You　see　how　easy　it　is　to　cheat。〃
　〃For　a　TV　show；　sure。〃
　〃It's　even　easier　in　a　tournament；〃　Gault　said；　〃especially　when　your　partner's　in　on　it。　And　the　weighmaster　too。　Not　to　mention　the　goddamn　sponsors。〃　He　went　to　the　kitchen　and　came　back　with　a　beer　for　Decker　and　a　fresh　vodka…tonic　for　himself。
　〃Tell　me　about　what　happened　in　Harney；〃　he　said。
　〃Met　a　guy　named　Skink；〃　Decker　said。
　Gault　whistled　and　arched　his　eyebrows。　〃A　real　fruitbar。　I　fished　with　him　once　on　the　St。　John's。〃
　〃He's　going　to　help　me　catch　Lockhart。〃
　〃Not　on　my　nickel！〃　Gault　protested。
　〃I　need　him。〃
　〃He's　a　maniac。〃
　〃I　don't　think　so。〃
　〃He　eats　dead　animals　off　the　road！〃
　〃Waste　not；　want　not；〃　Decker　said。　〃He's　the　only　one　up　there　I'd　trust。　Without　him　I　quit　the　case。〃
　Gault　folded　his　hands。　Decker　drank　his　beer。
　〃All　right；〃　Gault　said；　〃but　be　careful。　That　guy's　got　Texas　Tower　written　all　over　him；　and　neither　of　us　wants　to　be　there　if　he　ever　reaches　the　top。〃
　What　Gault　meant　was：　If　there's　trouble；　don't　drag　my　name　into　it。
　〃What　else　did　you　do？〃　he　asked　Decker。
　〃Went　to　a　funeral。〃
　Gault　licked　his　lower　lip　nervously。
　〃Robert　Clinch；〃　Decker　said；　〃late　of　your　hire。　Nice　of　you　to　tell　me。〃
　Gault　toyed　with　the　stack　of　fishing　videotapes；　pretending　to　organize　them。　Without　looking　up；　he　asked；　〃Do　they　know　what　exactly　happened？〃
　〃The　coroner　says　it　was　accidental。〃
　Gault　smiled　thinly。　〃We　know　that's　horseshit；　don't　we？　The　only　question　in　my　mind　is：　How'd　they　do　it？〃
　Decker　said；　〃My　question　is：　Who？〃
　〃Who？　Dickie　Lockhart；　that's　who！〃　Gault　said。　〃Don't　be　stupid；　man。　Dickie　knew　I　was　closing　in　and　he　knew　Bobby　was　working　for　me。　What　do　you　mean…who？'
　〃You're　probably　right；〃　Decker　said；　〃but　I'd　like　to　be　sure。〃
　〃Haven't　you　been　listening？　Christ；　don't　tell　me　I've　hired　a　plete　moron。〃
　〃I　met　your　sister；〃　Decker　said。　He　liked　to　save　the　best　for　last。
　〃Elaine？〃　Gault　said。　He　looked　most　unfortable；　just　as　Decker　had　expected。　It　was　worth　the　wait。
　〃We　had　a　nice　chat；〃　Decker　said。　He　wanted　Gault　to　be　the　one　who　finished　the　conversation。　He　didn't　want　to　be　the　one　to　take　it　any　further；　but　he　had　to。　He　needed　to　find　out　if　Gault　knew　everything。
　〃You　didn't　tell　me　a　couple　important　things。　You　didn't　tell　me　about　Clinch　and　you　didn't　tell　me　you　had　a　sister　up　in　Harney。〃　Decker's　voice　had　the　slightest　sting　of　irritation。
　〃She　gets　around；　my　sister。〃　Gault　drained　his　glass。　His　face　was　getting　red。
　Stubborn　bastard；　Decker　thought；　have　it　your　way。
　〃You　knew　she　was　having　an　affair　with　Bobby　Clinch；〃　he　said　evenly。
　〃Says　who？〃　Gault　snapped。　The　red　became　deeper。
　〃Lanie。〃
　〃Lanie？〃
　〃That's　what　they　call　her。〃
　〃Oh；　is　it　now？〃
　〃Personally；　I　don't　care　if　she's　screwing　the　entire　American　Legion　post；〃　Decker　said；　〃but　I　need　to　know　what　you　know。〃
　〃You　better　shut　your　mouth；　ace！〃　Gault's　face　was　actually　purple　now。
　Decker　thought：　We　really　hit　a　nerve　here。　But　from　the　murderous　looks　he　was　getting；　he　figured　now　wasn't　the　time　to　pursue　it。　He　got　up　and　headed　for　the　door　but　Gault　grabbed　his　arm　and　snarled；　〃Wait　just　a　minute。〃　Decker　shook　free　and…rather　gently；　he　thought…guided　Gault　backward　until　his　butt　hit　the　sofa。
　〃Good…bye　now；〃　Decker　said。
　But　Gault　had　lost　it。　He　lunged　and　got　Decker　by　the　throat。　Gagging；　Decker　felt　manicured　fingernails　digging　into　the　meat　of　his　neck。　He　stared　up　the　length　of　Gault's　brown　arms　and　saw　every　vein　and　tendon　swollen。　The　man's　cheeks　were　flushed　but　his　lips　twitched　like　bloodless　worms。
　The　two　men　toppled　across　the　low　sofa　with　Gault　on　top；　amber　eyeglasses　askew。　He　was　spitting　and　hollering　about　what　a　shiteating　punk　Decker　was；　while　Decker　was　trying　to　squirm　free　from　the　neckhold　before　he　passed　out。　His　vision　bloomed　kaleidoscopic　and　his　skull　roared。　The　blood　in　his　head　was　trying　to　go　south　but　Dennis　Gault　wouldn't　let　it。
　A　cardinal　rule　of　being　a　successful　private　investigator　is：　Don't　slug　your　own　clients。　But　sometimes　exceptions　had　to　be　made。　Decker　made　one。　He　released　his　fruitless　grip　on　Gault's　wrists　and；　in　a　clumsy　but　effective　pincer　motion；　hammered　him　in　the　ribs　with　both　fists。　As　the　wind　exploded　from　Gault's　lungs；　Decker　bucked　him　over　and　jumped　on　top。
　Dennis　Gault　had　figured　R。　J。　Decker　to　be　strong；　but　he　was　unprepared　for　the　force　now　planted　on　his　sternum。　As　his　own　foolish　rage　subsided；　he　fearfully　began　to　wonder　if　Decker　was　just　getting　warmed　up。
　Gault　felt　but　never　saw　the　two　sharp　punches　that　flattened　his　nose；　shattered　his　designer　frames；　and　closed　one　eye。　Later；　when　he　awoke　and　dragged　himself　to　the　bathroom；　he　would　marvel　in　the　mirror　that　only　two　punches　could　have　done　so　much　damage。　He　found　a　pail　of　ice　cubes　waiting　on　the　nightstand；　next　to　a　bottle　of　aspirin。
　And　a　handwritten　note　from　R。　J。　Decker：　〃The　fee　is　now　one　hundred；　asshole。〃
　
　Harney　was　such　a　small　county　that　it　was　difficult　to　mount　a　serious　high…school　athletic　program。　There　was；　after　all；　only　one　high　school。　The　enrollment　fluctuated　from　about　one　hundred　and　seventy…five　to　two　hundred　and　ten；　so　the　pool　of　sports　talent　was　relatively　limited。　In　those　rare　and　precious　years　when　Harney　High　fielded　a　winning　team；　the　star　athletes　were　encouraged　to　flunk　a　year　or　two　in　order　to　delay　graduation　and　prolong　the　school's　victory　streak。　A　few　idealistic　teachers　spoke　out　against　this　unorthodox　display　of　school　spirit；　but　the　truth　was　that　many　of　the　top　jocks　were　D　students　anyway　and　had　fully　intended　to　spend　six　or　seven　years　in　high　school。
　Football　was　the　sport　that　Harney　loved　most；　unfortunately；　the　football　team　of　Harney　High　had　never　piled　a　winning　record。　One　season；　in　desperation；　they　even　scheduled　three　games　against　the　wimpiest　parochial　schools　in　Duval　County。　Harney　lost　every　game。　The　coach　was　fired；　and　moved　out　of　town。
　Consequently　the　Harney　High　athletic　department　decided　to　concentrate　on　another　sport；　basketball。　The　first　order　of　business　was　to　build　a　gymnasium　with　a　basketball　court　and　some　portable　bleachers。　The　second　move　was　to　send　a　cautious　delegation　of　coaches　and　teachers　into　the　black　neighborhood　to　recruit　some　good　basketball　players。　A　few　old　crackers　in　Harney　huffed　and　swore　about　having　to　watch　a　bunch　of　skinny　spooks　tear　up　and　down　the　court；　and　about　how　it　wasn't　fair　to　the　good　Christian　white　kids；　but　then　it　was　pointed　out　that　the　good　Christian　white　kids　were　mostly　slow　and　fat　and　couldn't　make　a　lay…up　from　a　trampoline。
　Once　the　basketball　program　was　established；　the　team　performed　better　than　anyone　had　expected。　The　first　year　it　made　it　to　the　regionals；　the　next　to　the　state　playoffs　in　the　Class　Four…A　division。　True；　the　star　center　of　the　Harney　team　was　twenty…seven　years　old；　but　he　looked　much　younger。　No　one　raised　a　peep。　As　the　team　kept　winning；　basketball　eventually　captured　Harney　County's　heart。
　The　Harney　High　basketball　team　was　called　the　Armadillos。　It　was　not　the　first　choice　of　names。　Originally　the　school　had　wanted　its　team　to　be　the　Rattlers；　but　a　Class　AA　team　in　Orlando　already　claimed　that　nickname。　Second　choice　was　the　Bobcats；　except　that　a　Bible　college　in　Leesburg　had　dibs　on　that　one。　It　went　on　like　this　for　several　months…the　Tigers；　the　Hawks；　the　Panthers；　all　taken；　the　good　names…until　finally　it　came　down　to　either　the　Owls　or　the　Armadillos。　The　school　board　voted　to　name　the　team　the　Owls　since　it　had　six　fewer　letters　and　the　uniforms　would　be　much　less　expensive；　but　the　student　body　rebelled　and　gathered　hundreds　of　signatures　on　a　typed　petition　declaring　that　the　Harney　Owls　was　〃a　pussy　name　and　nobody'll　ever　go　to　any　of　the　damn　games。〃　Without　ment　the　school　board　reversed　its　vote。
　Once　the　Harney　Armadillos　started　kicking　ass　on　the　basketball　court；　the　local　alumnae　decided　that　the　school　needed　an　actual　mascot；　something　on　the　order　of　the　famous　San　Diego　Chicken；　only　cheaper。　Ideas　were　submitted　in　a　local　contest　sponsored　by　the　Sentinel；　and　a　winner　was　chosen　from　sixteen　entries。　Working　on　mission；　one　of　the　matrons　from　the　Sewing　Club　stitched　together　an　incredible　costume　out　of　old　automobile　seat　covers　and　floormats。
　It　was　a　six…foot　armadillo；　plete　with　glossy　armored　haunches；　a　l