ch.doublewhammy-第39部分

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us　generations　of　Curls　had　ever　seen；　yet　Thomas　was　not　at　peace。　First　of　all；　his　brother　Lemus　was　dead；　and　for　a　while　Thomas　had　been　stuck　with　the　body。　Since　he　had　told　everyone；　including　his　daddy；　that　Lemus　had　accidentally　drowned　on　a　fishing　trip　to　Florida；　there　was　no　way　he　could　bring　back　a　body　with　a　bullet　hole　in　the　head。　People　would　ask　many　questions；　and　answering　questions　was　not　Thomas　Curl's　strong　suit。　So；　after　discovering　Lemus'　turtle…eaten　corpse　on　the　fish　stringer　in　Morgan　Slough；　and　mulling　it　over　for　two　days；　Thomas　decided　what　the　hell　and　just　buried　his　brother　in　a　dry　sandy　grave　on　some　pastureland　east　of　the　Gilchrist。　The　whole　time　he　worked　with　the　shovel；　he　had　a　feeling　that　every　turkey　buzzard　in　Florida　was　wheeling　in　the　sky　overhead；　waiting　to　make　a　smorgasbord　of　Lemus'　remains。　Afterward　Thomas　took　off　his　bass　cap　and　stood　by　the　grave　and　tried　to　remember　a　prayer。　The　only　one　he　could　think　of　began：　〃Now　I　lay　me　down　to　sleep　。。。　〃　Close　enough。
　Almost　every　night　Thomas　Curl　reflected　sadly　on　how　Lemus　had　died；　how　he　had　let　him　dash　off　into　the　scrub　by　himself；　and　how　all　of　a　sudden　he　didn't　hear　Lemus'　Ruger　anymore。　And　how　Thomas　had　panicked　and　leapt　into　the　green　pickup　and　taken　off；　pretty　sure　that　his　brother　was　already　dead…and　how　he'd　returned　with　a　borrowed　coon　dog　and　found　some　heavy　tracks　and　blood；　but　no　body。　At　that　moment　he　had　expected　never　to　see　his　brother　again；　and　later　at　the　slough　was　horrified　to　the　point　of　nausea。　On　orders　Thomas　had　gone　there　to　check　on　things；　just　to　make　sure　the　nigger　cop　hadn't　found　Ott　Pickney's　body。　But　there　was　poor　Lemus；　strung　up　in　the　black　water　with　the　other　one；　and　it　was　then　Thomas　Curl　realized　the　dangerous　magnitude　of　the　opposition。　Thomas　was　not　the　brightest　human　being　in　the　world；　but　he　knew　a　message　when　he　saw　one。
　So　he　had　buried　Lemus；　torched　Ott　Pickney's　body　in　a　phony　truck　accident；　and　driven　straight　back　to　New　Orleans；　where；　again；　things　didn't　go　as　smoothly　as　he'd　hoped。　Thomas　expressed　the　view　that　he　shouldn't　be　blamed　for　every　little　loose　end；　and　was　curtly　instructed　to　return　to　Florida　immediately。　Not　Harney；　either；　but　Miami。
　Thomas　Curl　was　not　wild　about　Miami。　Back　when　he　was　still　boxing　he　had　trained　one　summer　at　the　Fifth　Street　Gym；　out　on　the　beach。　He　remembered　staying　in　a　ratty　pink　hotel　with　two　other　middleweights；　and　he　remembered　getting　drunk　on　Saturday　nights　and；　out　of　sheer　boredom；　beating　the　shit　out　of　skinny　Cuban　refugees　who　lived　in　the　city　parks。　Thomas　remembered　Miami　as　a　hot　and　unfriendly　place；　but　then　again；　he　was　young　and　homesick　and　broke。　Now　he　was　grown…up；　thirty…five　pounds　heavier；　and　rolling　in　new　money。
　To　boost　his　spirits；　Thomas　Curl　splurged　and　got　a　room　at　the　Grand　Bay　Hotel。　The　room　came　with　a　fruit　basket　and　a　sunken　bathtub。　He　was　sucking　on　a　nectarine　and　soaking　in　the　tub　when　Dennis　Gault　called　back。
　Thomas　Curl　said；　〃Hey；　they　got　a　phone　in　the　goddamn　John。〃
　〃Wele　to　the　city；　Jethro。〃　Gault　was　in　a　brusque　mood。　Dealing　with　this　moron　was　at　least　two　notches　below　dealing　with　Decker。　Gault　said；　〃A　cop　came　to　see　me。〃
　Thomas　Curl　spit　the　nectarine　pit　into　his　soapy　hand。　〃Yeah？　They　caught　'em　yet？〃
　〃No；〃　Gault　said；　〃but　the　way　things　are　shaping　up；　maybe　it's　best　if　they　don't。〃
　〃Hell　you　mean？〃
　Gault　said；　〃This　cop；　fucking　Cuban；　he　doesn't　believe　a　word　I　say。〃
　〃Who　cares；　long　as　New　Orleans　believes　you。〃
　〃Ever　heard　of　extradition？〃　Gault　snapped。　〃This　guy　can　cause　us　major　problems；　son。　He　can　keep　Decker　away　from　the　Louisiana　people　a　long　time。　Sit　on　him　for　weeks；　listen　to　his　story；　maybe　even　buy　it。〃
　〃No　way；〃　Curl　said。
　〃We　can't　take　the　chance；　Thomas。〃
　〃I　done　enough　for　you。〃
　Gault　said；　'This　one's　not　for　me；　it's　for　your　brother。〃
　In　the　tub　Thomas　reached　over　and　turned　on　the　hot　water。　He　was　careful　not　to　get　the　telephone　wet；　in　case　it　might　electrocute　him。
　Gault　said；　〃I　need　you　to　find　Decker。　Before　the　cops。〃
　〃What　about　that　crazy　gorilla？〃
　〃They　probably　split　up　by　now。〃
　〃I　don't　want　to　fuck　with　him。　Culver　said　he's　mean　as　a　moccasin。〃
　Gault　said；　〃Culver's　afraid　of　a　tit　in　the　dark。　Besides；　from　what　Elaine　says；　Skink　isn't　the　type　to　stick　with　Decker。　They　probably　split　up；　like　I　said。〃
　Thomas　Curl　was　not　convinced。　He　remembered　the　neatly　centered　bullet　hole　in　his　brother's　forehead。
　〃What's　the　pay？〃
　〃Same　as　before；〃　Gault　said。
　〃Double　if　I　got　to　deal　with　the　gorilla。〃
　〃Hell；　you　ought　to　do　it　for　free；〃　Gault　said。　Greed　was　truly　a　despicable　vice；　he　thought。　〃For　Christ's　sake；　Thomas；　these　are　the　guys　who　killed　Lemus。　One　or　both；　it's　up　to　you。　Decker's　the　one　that　worries　me　most。　He's　the　one　that　could　hurt　us　in　court。　We're　talking　hard　time；　too。〃
　Thomas　Curl　did　not　like　the　idea　of　being　sent　to　the　state　penitentiary　even　for　a　day。　There　was　also　something　powerfully　attractive；　even　romantic；　about　avenging　his　brothers　death。
　〃Where　do　I　start？〃　he　asked。
　〃Way　behind；　unfortunately；〃　Gault　said。　〃Decker's　already　running。　The　trick　is　to　find　out　where；　because　he　sure　as　hell　won't　be　ing　your　way。〃
　〃Not　unless　I　got　somethin'　he　wants；〃　said　Thomas　Curl。
　
　Catherine　said：　〃This　won't　work；　not　with　him　in　the　bathroom。〃　She　got　out　of　bed　and　began　to　dress。
　From　behind　the　bathroom　door；　a　voice　grumped：　〃Pay　no　attention　to　me。〃
　Decker　dolefully　watched　Catherine　button　her　blouse。　This　is　what　I　get；　he　thought；　exactly　what　I　deserve。　He　said　to　her；　〃This　man's　a　distraction；　you're　right。〃
　〃I　don't　know　what　I　was　thinking；〃　Catherine　said；　stepping　into　a　pink　slip。　〃James　is　furious　as　it　is；　and　now　I'm　an　hour　late。〃
　〃Sorry；〃　Decker　said。
　〃Here；　give　me　a　hand　with　this　zipper。〃
　〃Nice　skirt；〃　Decker　said。　〃It's　silk；　isn't　it？〃
　〃I　can't　stand　these　damn　zippers　on　the　side。〃
　Decker　peeked　at　the　label。　〃Jesus；　Catherine；　a　Gucci。〃
　She　frowned。　〃Stop　it；　R。J。　I　know　what　you're　up　to。〃
　As　always。
　Decker　rolled　out　of　bed　and　groped　around　the　floor　for　his　jeans。　It　was　dark　outside；　time　to　go。　Muffled　scraping　noises　emanated　from　the　bathroom。　Decker　couldn't　imagine　what　Skink　was　doing　in　there。
　Catherine　brushed　out　her　hair；　put　on　some　pale　pink　lipstick。
　〃You　look　positively　beatific；〃　Decker　said。　〃Pure　as　the　driven　snow。〃
　〃No　thanks　to　you。〃　She　turned　from　the　mirror　and　took　his　hands。　〃I'd　give　anything　to　forget　about　you；　you　bastard。〃
　Decker　said；　〃Could　try　hypnosis。　Or　hallucinogens。〃
　Catherine　put　her　arms　around　him。　〃Cut　the　bullshit；　pal；　it's　all　right　to　be　scared。　This　is　the　most　trouble　you've　ever　been　in。〃
　〃I　believe　so；〃　Decker　said。
　Catherine　kissed　him　on　the　neck。　〃Watch　out　for　yourself；　Rage。　And　him　too。〃
　〃We'll　be　fine。〃　He　handed　Catherine　her　Louis　Vuitton　purse　and　her　one…hundred…percent…cashmere　sweater。
　Before　she　walked　out　the　door　she　said；　〃I　just　want　you　to　know；　it　wouldn't　have　been　a　mercy　fuck。　It　would　have　been　the　real　thing。〃
　Decker　said；　〃I　got　that　impression；　yeah。〃
　He　couldn't　believe　how　much　he　still　loved　her。
　
　Somehow　Skink　had　wedged　himself　between　the　bathroom　sink　and　the　toilet；　pressed　his　bulk　into　a　massive；　musty　cube　on　the　tile　floor。　At　first　Decker　couldn't　even　pinpoint　the　location　of　his　head；　the　wheezing　seemed　to　e　from　under　the　toilet　tank。　Decker　knelt　down　and　saw　Skink's　scaly　face　staring　out　from　behind　the　water　pipes。　He　looked　like　a　bearded　iguana。
　〃Why'd　you　turn　on　the　light？〃　he　asked。
　〃So　I　wouldn't　step　on　your　vital　organs。〃
　〃Worse　things　could　happen；〃　Skink　said。
　Freud　would　have　a　picnic；　Decker　thought。　〃Look；　captain；　we've　got　to　get　going。〃
　〃I'm　safe　right　here；〃　Skink　observed。
　〃Not　really；〃　Decker　said。　〃You're　hiding　under　a　toilet　in　a　hundred…dollar　beachfront　hotel　room。　Someone's　bound　to　plain。〃
　〃You　think？〃
　Decker　nodded　patiently。　〃It's　much　safer　back　in　Harney；〃　he　said。　〃If　we　leave　now；　we'll　be　back　at　the　lake　by　midnight。〃
　〃You　mean　it？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃I'll　kill　you；　Miami；　if　this　is　a　trap。　I'll　fucking　cut　out　your　bladder　and　wring　it　in　your　hair。〃
　〃It's　no　trap；〃　Decker　said。　〃Let's　go。〃
　It　took　forty…five　minutes　to　disengage　Skink　from　the　plumbing。　In　the　process　the　sink　snapped　clean　off　its　legs；　Decker　left　it　lying　on　the　bed。
　
　In　the　lobby　of　the　hotel　he　rented　a　Ford　Escort。　He　got　it　out　of　the　underground　parking　and　pulled　around　back　to　the　hotel's　service　entrance；　where　Skink　was　waiting　by　the　dumpsters。　As　Skink　got　in　the　car；　Decker　noticed　something　white　tucked　under　one　arm。
　〃Whatcha　got　there？〃　he　said。
　〃Seagull。〃　Skink　held　up　the　limp　bird　by　its　curled　orange　feet。　〃Hasn't　been　dead　more　than　ten　minutes。　I　scarfed　it　off　the　grille　of　that　seafood　truck。〃
　〃Lucky　us；〃　Decker　said　thinly。
　〃You　hungry？　We　can　stop　and　make　a　fire　once　we　get　out　of　this　traffic。〃
　〃Let's　wait；　okay？〃
　〃Sure；〃　Skink　said。　〃It'll　keep　for　a　couple　hours。〃
　Decker　headed　west　from　the　beach　on　the　Seventeenth　Street　Causeway；　past　Port　Everglades　and　the　Ocean　World　aquarium。　It　was　typical　January　beach　traffic；　bumper…to…bumper　nitwits　as　far　as　the　eye　could　see。　Every　other　car　had　New　York　plates。
　Skink　fit　the　dead　bird　into　the　glove　partment　and　covered　it　with　a　copy　of　the　rental　agreement。　He　seemed　in　a　much　better　mood　already。　He　put　on　his　sunglasses　and　flowered　shower　cap；　and　turned　around　to　get　his　fluorescent　rainsuit　from　the　back　seat。　Through　the　rear　window　he　noticed　a　dark　blue　Chrysler　sedan　following　two　car…lengths　behind。　He　spotted　a　plastic　bubble　on　the　dashboard；　not　flashing；　but　a　bubble　just　the　same。　The　driver's　face　was　obscured　by　the　tinted　windshield；　but　a　red　dot　bobbed　at　mouth…level。
　〃Your　buddy　Garcia　smoke？〃
　Decker　checked　the　rearview。　〃Oh；　shit；〃　he　said。
　Skink　struggled　into　the　rainsuit；　adjusted　his　sunglasses；　and　said；　〃Well；　Miami；　what's　it　going　to　be？〃
　The　blue　light　on　the　Chry