ch.doublewhammy-第46部分

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　〃Bobby？　I　saw　him　the　night　before　he　died。　We　had　a　drink　at　a　shrimp　place　over　in　Wabasso。〃
　〃Did　he　tell　you　he　was　going　to　the　lake？〃
　〃Of　course　he　did…he　was　so　excited。　He'd　gotten　a　tip　that　Dickie　was　hiding　his　fish　cages　in　the　Coon　Bog。　Bobby　was　thrilled　as　anything。　He　couldn't　wait　to　find　the　bass　and　call　Dennis。〃
　Decker　said；　〃Where　did　the　tip　e　from？〃
　〃Some　guy　who　called　up　Bobby；　wouldn't　give　his　name。〃
　〃It　was　a　setup；〃　Jim　Tile　said；　〃the　phone　call。〃
　〃Now；　wait；〃　Lanie　said。　She　kept　looking　down　at　the　tape　player。
　Time's　up；　Decker　thought。　He　sat　next　to　Lanie　and　said；　〃Call　me　nosy；　but　I'd　like　to　know　why　you　framed　me。〃
　Lanie　didn't　answer。　Decker　took　one　of　her　hands　and　held　it　very　gently；　as　if　it　were　a　baby　animal　he　was　afraid　of　squeezing。　Lanie　looked　frightened。
　〃It　was　your　brother's　idea；　wasn't　it？〃
　〃At　first　he　talked　about　blackmail；〃　she　said。　〃He　asked　if　I　knew　any　good　photographers　who　could　follow　Dickie　and　get　the　pictures　without　him　knowing。　I　thought　of　you；　and　Dennis　said　fine。　He　said　to　keep　you　interested　and　I　said　okay；　anything　to　get　back　at　Dickie　for　what　he　did。〃
　〃What　you　thought　he　did；〃　Decker　interjected。
　〃Dennis　said　it　was　Dickie　who　killed　Bobby。　I　believed　him；　why　shouldn't　I？　It　made　sense。〃
　Jim　Tile　said；　〃So　Dickie's　murdered；　then　what？〃
　〃Dennis　calls　me　in　New　Orleans。〃
　Decker　said；　〃Just　what　the　hell　were　you　doing　there　anyway？〃
　〃He　sent　me；〃　Lanie　said。　〃To　make　sure　you　weren't　goofing　off；　he　said。　He　was　pissed　off　because　you　weren't　telling　him　much　on　the　phone。〃
　〃So　you　drag　me　into　bed；　then　steal　my　film？〃
　〃Who　dragged　who？〃　Lanie　said　sharply。　〃About　the　film；　I'm　sorry。　It　was　a　shitty　thing　to　do。　Dennis　said　he　was　dying　to　see　what　you'd　got。　Said　the　stuff　belonged　to　him　anyway。〃
　Decker　held　her　hand　just　a　little　tighter。　〃And　you　actually　believed　all　this？〃　he　asked　agitatedly。　〃These　errands　didn't　strike　you　as　a　little　odd？　No　light　bulb　flashed　on　in　your　beautiful　size…four　brain？〃
　〃No；〃　Lanie　snapped；　〃no　light　bulbs。〃
　Jim　Tile　said；　〃Getting　back　to　Dickie's　murder　。。。　〃
　〃Yeah；〃　Lanie　said；　shifting　her　eyes　to　the　trooper。　〃That　morning　Dennis　called　me　in　New　Orleans；　all　upset。　He　said　Decker　had　gone　and　killed　Lockhart。　Dennis　was　afraid。〃
　Jim　Tile　said；　〃He　told　you　he　might　be　a　suspect。〃
　〃Right。　He　said　Decker　was　trying　to　frame　him；　and　he　asked　me　to　go　to　the　police。〃
　〃And　lie？〃
　〃He's　my　brother；　for　God's　sake。　I　didn't　want　him　to　go　to　jail　over　a　crazy　goddamn　fish　murder。　Bobby's　death　was　bad　enough；　I　didn't　want　to　lose　Dennis　too。　So　I　went　down　and　gave　a　very　brief　statement。〃　She　looked　at　Decker　again。　〃I　said　you　dropped　me　off　on　your　way　to　see　Dickie　Lockhart。　That's　all。〃
　〃It　was　plenty；〃　Decker　said。　〃Thanks　a　heap。〃
　〃Dennis　sounded　desperate。〃
　〃And　with　good　reason。〃
　〃I　still　don't　believe　you；〃　Lanie　said。
　〃Yes；　you　do；〃　said　Jim　Tile。
　It　was　all　Decker　could　do　to　hold　his　temper。　〃Any　other　little　Dennis　favors　we　should　know　about？〃
　Lanie　said；　〃Can　you　turn　that　thing　off？〃
　Jim　Tile　stopped　the　tape　machine。
　Lanie　got　up　and　led　them　through　the　apartment　to　the　second　bedroom。　She　opened　the　door　as　quietly　as　she　could。　The　room　was　totally　dark；　the　shades　were　not　only　drawn；　but　the　cracks　were　sealed　with　hurricane　tape。　Lanie　turned　on　the　ceiling　light。
　A　young　long…haired　woman　lay　in　bed；　a　pink　cotton　blanket　pulled　up　to　her　chin。　Her　bluish　eyelids　were　half…closed　and　she　breathed　heavily；　with　her　mouth　open。　Some　pills　and　a　half…empty　bottle　of　Dewar's　sat　on　the　nightstand。
　Jim　Tile　looked　at　R。　J。　Decker；　who　said；　〃I've　seen　her　before。　At　the　tournament　in　New　Orleans。〃
　〃Name's　Ellen　O'Leary；〃　Lanie　said　in　a　dull　voice。　〃She's　not　feeling　well。〃
　In　a　fury　Decker　pushed　Lanie　Gault　to　the　wall；　pinned　her　arms。
　〃No　more　games；〃　he　said。　〃Who's　this　girl？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Lanie　cried。
　〃You　just　came　home　one　night　and　there　she　was；　passed　out　in　bed？〃
　〃No；　a　man　brought　her。　Dennis　asked　me　to　look　after　her。〃
　Decker　said；　〃You're　a　very　sick　lady；　Elaine。〃
　〃Easy；　man；〃　said　Jim　Tile。　He　sat　down　on　the　bed　next　to　Ellen　O'Leary　and　studied　the　labels　on　the　pill　bottles。　〃Nembutals；〃　he　said　to　Decker。
　〃Swell；　a　Norma　Jean　cocktail。〃
　〃Just　to　make　her　sleepy；〃　Lanie　insisted。　〃She'll　be　all　right；　R。J。　Every　night　I　give　her　soup。　Would　you　get　off　me；　please？〃
　Decker　grabbed　Lanie's　arm　and　led　her　out　of　the　bedroom。　Jim　Tile　flushed　the　pills　down　the　toilet　and　went　to　the　kitchen　to　fix　coffee　for　the　woman　named　Ellen。　He　was　wondering　how　much　stranger　things　would　get。
　Decker　himself　was　frazzled。　Lanie　was　impossible。
　〃What　did　your　brother　say　about　this　woman？〃　he　asked　her。
　〃He　said　to　keep　an　eye　on　her；　that's　all。　Keep　her　sleepy　and　out　of　trouble。　He　said　she　was　a　danger　to　herself　and　others；〃
　〃I'll　bet。〃
　Lanie　asked　if　she　could　get　dressed。　Decker　said　yes；　but　he　wouldn't　let　her　out　of　his　sight。　Lanie　didn't　object。　Casually　she　stripped　off　her　nightgown　and　stood　naked　in　front　of　the　mirror；　brushing　out　her　hair　while　Decker　watched　impassively。　Finally　she　put　on　jeans　and　a　University　of　Miami　sweatshirt。
　Decker　said；　〃You　know　a　man　named　Thomas　Curl？〃
　〃Sure；　that's　the　guy　who　brought　Ellen；〃　Lanie　answered。　〃He　works　for　Dennis。〃
　By　the　way　she　said　it；　Decker　could　tell　she　really　didn't　know。　Even　Lanie　wasn't　that　good。
　〃Thomas　Curl　killed　Bobby；〃　he　said。
　〃Stop　it；〃　Lanie　said；　〃right　now。〃　But　it　was　obvious　by　her　expression　that　she　was　putting　it　all　together。
　In　the　other　room　Jim　Tile　carried　Ellen　to　the　shower。　He　propped　her　under　a　cold　drizzle　for　ten　minutes　until　she　spluttered　and　bent　over　to　vomit。　Then　he　toweled　her　off　and　put　her　back　in　bed。　Once　her　stomach　settled；　she　sat　up　and　sipped　some　coffee。
　Jim　Tile　closed　the　door　and　said；　〃You　want　to　talk？〃
　〃Where　am　I？〃　Ellen　asked　thickly。
　〃Florida。〃
　〃I　musfve　got　sick…did　I　miss　it？〃
　〃Miss　what？〃　Jim　Tile　asked。
　〃Dickie's　funeral。〃
　〃Yes；　it's　over。〃
　〃Oh。〃　Ellen's　eyes　filled　up。
　Jim　Tile　said；　〃Dickie　was　a　friend　of　yours？〃
　〃Yes；　officer；　he　was。〃
　〃How　long　did　you　know　him？〃
　〃Not　long；〃　answered　Ellen　O'Leary；　〃just　a　few　days。　But　he　cared　for　me。〃
　〃When's　the　last　time　you　saw　him？〃
　Ellen　said；　〃Right　before　it　happened。〃
　〃The　murder？〃
　〃Yes；　officer。　I　was　up　in　the　hotel　with　him；　celebrating　after　the　bass　tournament；　when　Thomas　Curl　came　to　the　door　and　said　he　needed　to　see　Dickie　right　away。〃
　〃Then　what　happened；　Ellen？〃
　〃They　went　off　together　and　Dickie　didn't　e　back。　I　fell　asleep…we'd　had　an　awful　lot　of　champagne。　The　next　morning　I　heard　on　the　radio　what　happened。〃
　Jim　Tile　refilled　her　coffee　cup。　〃What　did　you　do　then？〃　he　asked。
　〃I　was　so　upset；　I　called　Reverend　Weeb；〃　she　said；　〃and　I　asked　him　to　say　a　prayer　for　Dickie's　soul。　And　Reverend　Weeb　said　only　if　I　came　over　and　knelt　down　with　him。〃
　〃I　bet　you　weren't　in　the　mood　for　that。〃
　〃Right；〃　Ellen　said。　She　didn't　understand　how　the　black　trooper　could　know　about　Reverend　Weeb's　strange　ways；　but　she　was　grateful　for　the　passion。
　Jim　Tile　opened　the　bedroom　door　and　asked　Decker　and　Lanie　to　e　in。
　〃Ellen；〃　he　said；　〃tell　Miss　Gault　who　came　and　got　Dickie　Lockhart　the　night　he　was　killed。〃
　〃Thomas　Curl；〃　said　Ellen　O'Leary。
　Lanie　looked　stricken。　〃Are　you　sure？〃
　〃I've　known　him　since　high　school。〃
　〃God；〃　Lanie　said　dejectedly。
　Ellen　tucked　an　extra　pillow　under　her　head。　〃I'm　feeling　lots　better；〃　she　said。
　〃Well；　I　feel　like　hell；〃　said　Lanie。
　The　phone　rang。　Jim　Tile　told　her　to　answer　it；　and　motioned　Decker　to　pick　up　the　kitchen　extension。
　The　caller　was　Dennis　Gault。
　〃Hi；〃　Lanie　said；　with　the　trooper　standing　very　close　behind　her。
　〃How's　it　going；　sis？〃　Gault　asked。
　〃Fine；〃　Lanie　said。　〃Ellen's　still　sleeping。〃
　〃Excellent。〃
　〃Dennis；　I'd　like　to　go　out；　catch　some　sun；　do　some　shopping。　How　much　longer　with　the　babysitting？〃
　〃Look；　Elaine；　I　don't　know。　The　cops　still　haven't　caught　Decker。〃
　〃Oh；　great。〃　Perfect　sarcasm。　Decker　listened　admiringly…she　really　could　have　been　a　star　of　stage　and　screen。
　〃What　if　they　don't　catch　him？〃　she　said。
　〃Don't　be　ridiculous。〃
　〃Dennis；　I　want　Tom　to　e　get　this　girl。〃
　〃Soon；〃　Gault　promised。　〃I　sent　him　down　to　Miami　on　some　business。　He'll　pick　up　Ellen　when　he　gets　back。　Relax；　wouldya；　sweet　thing？〃
　〃Miami；〃　Lanie　repeated。
　〃Yeah；〃　her　brother　said；　〃we're　getting　ready　for　the　big　tournament。〃
　〃Oh　boy；〃　said　Lanie；　thinking：　I　hope　you　drown；　you　murdering　bastard。
　
　The　fire　died　slowly；　and　as　it　did　Al　Garcia　poked　and　speared　the　embers　in　a　feeble　attempt　to　revive　the　flames。　Soon　a　gray　curling　mist　cloaked　the　lake　and　settled　over　the　detective's　shoulders　like　a　damp　shroud。　Small　creatures　scuttled　unseen　through　the　woods；　and　each　crackling　twig　reminded　Garcia　that　he　was　desperately　removed　from　his　element；　the　city。　Even　from　the　lake　there　were　noises…what；　he　couldn't　imagine…splashes　and　gurgles　of　all　dimensions。　Garcia　wondered　about　bears；　what　kind；　how　big。　The　weight　of　the　Colt　Python　under　his　arm　was　a　small　fort；　but　he　knew　the　gun　was　not　designed　to　kill　bears。　Garcia　was　no　outdoorsman；　his　main　exposure　to　the　wilderness　being　old　reruns　of　The　American　Sportsman。　Two　things　he　remembered　most　vividly　about　the　TV　show　were　ferocious　bears　the　size　of　Pontiacs；　and　convivial　campfire　scenes　where　all　the　men　slugged　down　beers　and　feasted　on　fresh　venison。　Garcia　seemed　to　recall　that　there　were　always　at　least　ten　heavily　armed　guys　around　Curt　Gowdy　at　the　camp；　plus　a　camera　crew。　And　here　he　was；　practically　all　alone　with　a　dead　fire。
　Halfheartedly　Garcia　collected　some　kindling　and　tossed　it　into　the　embers。　He　put　his　cigarette　lighter　to　the　pile；　but　the　wood　sparked　and　in　a　moment　went　cold。　The　detective　unscrewed　the　top　of　his　disposable　lighter　and　dumped　the　fluid　on　the　sticks。　Then　he　leaned　over　and　touched　a　match　to　the　fire；　which　promptly　blew　up　in　his　face。