ch.doublewhammy-第49部分

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；　puppy；　speak！〃
　The　festering　dog　head　clung　mutely　to　his　arm。
　Thomas　Curl　shoved　the　barrel　of　the　pistol　into　one　of　the　animal's　piebald　ears。
　〃Please　don't；〃　Catherine　cried；　raising　her　arms。
　No　longer　paying　even　cursory　attention　to　the　highway；　Thomas　glared　down　at　Lucas　and　bared　his　own　teeth。　〃My　daddy　said　you　got　to　show　'em　who's　boss。　Dogs　is　like　wives；　he　said；　you　can't　let　'em　have　their　way　once　else　they　run　wild。　Ain't　that　right；　Lucas　boy？〃
　Again　nothing。
　Thomas　Curl　cocked　the　pistol。　〃Bad　dog；　Lucas！〃
　Catherine　covered　her　mouth　and　let　out　a　muffled　little　bark。
　Curl　grinned　and　leaned　closer。　〃Hear　that？〃
　Catherine　barked　again。　It　was　better　than　having　him　fire　a　gun　inside　the　car；　doing　seventy。
　〃That's　my　puppy；〃　Curl　said；　oblivious。　He　laid　the　pistol　in　his　lap　and　patted　the　crown　of　the　dead　dog's　head。　〃You　good　boy；　Lucas；　I　knew　all　along。〃　
　〃Ruff！〃　said　Catherine。
　
　Skink　netted　more　shiners　and　made　Al　Garcia　practice　with　the　fish　until　nearly　dawn。　Finally　they　let　the　monster…beastie　rest；　and　Skink　rowed　back　across　Lake　Jesup。　As　they　dragged　the　skiff　ashore；　Garcia　noticed　two　cars　parked　behind　Skink's　truck　at　the　shack。　One　belonged　to　Trooper　Jim　Tile。　The　other　was　a　tangerine　Corvette。
　〃pany；〃　Skink　said；　removing　his　raincap。
　The　four　of　them　were　sitting　around　the　campfire：　Decker；　Tile；　Lanie　Gault；　and　a　woman　whom　Skink　did　not　recognize。　Decker　introduced　her　as　Ellen　O'Leary。
　〃How's　the　eye？〃　Jim　Tile　asked。
　Skink　grinned　and　took　off　his　sunglasses。　〃Good　as　new；〃　he　said。　Everyone　felt　obliged　to　say　something　nice　about　the　owl　eye。
　〃You　hungry？〃　Skink　said。　〃I'll　take　the　truck　and　find　some　breakfast。〃
　〃We　hit　the　Mister　Donut　on　the　way　in；〃　Decker　said。
　〃Thank　you　anyway；〃　Lanie　added。
　Skink　nodded。　〃I　am；　sort　of；〃　he　said。　〃Hungry；　I　mean。　You　please　move　the　cars？〃
　〃Take　mine；〃　Lanie　said；　fishing　the　keys　out　of　her　jeans。　〃Better　yet；　I'll　go　with　you。〃
　〃Like　hell；〃　Decker　said。
　〃I　don't　mind；〃　said　Skink；　〃if　you　don't。〃
　〃No　more　rope　tricks；〃　Lanie　said。　It　was　her　cockteasing　voice；　Decker　recognized　it。　She　got　in　the　passenger　side　of　the　Corvette。　Skink　squeezed　himself　behind　the　wheel。
　〃Hope　she　likes　possum　omelets；〃　Decker　said。
　Skink　and　Lanie　were　gone　a　long　time。
　Al　Garcia　told　Decker　the　plan；　beginning　with：　〃The　man's　totally　crazy。〃
　〃Thanks　for　the　bulletin。〃
　Jim　Tile　said；　〃He　knows　about　things。　You　can　trust　him。〃
　Skink's　plan　was　to　crash　the　big　bass　tournament　and　ruin　it。　His　plan　was　to　sabotage　the　Lunker　Lakes　resort　on　national　television。
　Garcia　said　to　Jim　Tile：　〃You　and　me　are　fishing　together。〃
　〃In　the　tournament？〃
　〃He's　already　paid　our　entry　fee；〃　Garcia　said。　〃The　best　part　is；　we're　supposed　to　be　hermanos。　Brothers。〃
　Jim　Tile　shook　his　head。　He　was　smiling。　〃I　like　it。　I　don't　know　why；　but　I　do。〃
　In　a　faint　voice　Ellen　O'Leary　said；　〃You　don't　look　that　much　alike。〃
　〃In　the　eyes　we　do；〃　Garcia　said；　straight…faced。　〃This　is　going　to　be　fun。〃
　〃Fun〃　is　not　the　word　R。　J。　Pecker　would　have　chosen。　Things　had　gotten　dangerously　out　of　hand；　suddenly　a　one…eyed　roadside　carnivore　with　possible　brain　damage　was　running　the　whole　program。　Even　more　astounding；　Garcia　was　going　along　with　it。　Decker　couldn't　imagine　what　could　have　happened　while　he　and　Jim　Tile　were　up　at　Crescent　Beach。
　〃This　is　all　fascinating；〃　Decker　said；　〃and　I　wish　both　of　you　the　best　of　luck　in　the　tournament；　but　my　immediate　problem　is　Dennis　Gault。　Murder…one；　remember？〃
　By　way　of　interagency　updating；　Jim　Tile　said　to　Garcia：　〃The　sister　is　taken　care　of。　As　a　state's　witness；　forget　it。〃　He　held　up　the　tape　cassette。
　〃Good　work；〃　Garcia　said。　He　turned　to　Ellen　O'Leary。　〃What　about　you；　miss？〃
　Ellen　looked　worriedly　at　Jim　Tile。　The　trooper　said；　〃She　can　put　Tom　Curl　with　Dickie　Lockhart　right　before　the　murder。〃
　〃Not　bad；〃　Garcia　said。　〃R。J。；　I　can't　figure　what　you're　so　worked　up　about。　Sounds　to　me　like　an　easy　nolle　prosse。〃
　〃If　you　don't　mind；〃　Decker　said。　〃Gault　set　me　up　on　a　murder　charge。　He　also　arranged　to　kill　my　friend　Ott。　At　this　very　moment　he's　got　some　halfwit　redneck　hitman　out　looking　for　me。　I　would　prefer　not　to　wait　three　or　four　months　for　the　New　Orleans　district　attorney　to　settle　the　issue。〃
　Garcia　raised　a　fleshy　brown　hand。　〃Yeah；　I　hear　you；　chico。　Why　don't　I　just　pop　big　Mr。　Gault　at　the　fish　tournament？　Irritate　the　hell　out　of　him；　wouldn't　it？〃
　〃Good　TV；　too；〃　Jim　Tile　remarked。
　〃Pop　him　for　what？〃　Decker　asked。
　Garcia　paused　to　light　a　cigarette。　〃Filing　false　information；　for　starters。　He　lied　to　me…I　don't　like　that。　Obstruction；　that's　another　good　one。　I　haven't　used　it　in　years；　so　why　not。〃
　Decker　said；　〃It's　chickenshit；　Al。〃　
　〃Better　than　nothing；〃　Jim　Tile　said。
　Garcia　watched　a　blue　smoke　ring　float　into　the　oaks。　〃Best　I　can　do　〃　he　said；　〃until　we　find　Tom　Curl　and　have　a　serious　chat　with　the　boy。〃
　〃You　think　he'll　flip？〃　Decker　said。
　〃Sure。〃　Al　Garcia　smiled。　〃If　I　ask　real　nice。〃
　
　Skink　jacked　the　Corvette　up　to　ninety　on　the　Gilchrist。　He　felt　obliged　to　do　it；　seeing　as　how　he'd　probably　never　get　another　chance。　It　truly　was　quite　a　car。　He　loved　the　way　its　snout　sucked　up　the　road。
　In　the　passenger　seat　Lanie　tucked　her　long　legs　beneath　her　bottom　and　turned　sideways　to　watch　him　drive。　Skink　didn't　like　being　watched；　but　he　said　nothing。　It　had　been　a　long　time　since　he　had　shared　a　moment　with　a　beautiful　woman；　that　was　one　price　of　hermitage。　He　remembered　how　good　judgment　went　out　the　window　in　such　times；　so　he　warned　himself　to　be　careful；　there　was　work　to　do。　His　head　was　killing　him；　too；　the　pain　had　returned　as　soon　as　he'd　gotten　off　the　lake。　A　specialist　was　out　of　the　question。　There　was　no　time。
　Lanie　popped　a　Whitney　Houston　tape　in　the　cassette　player　and　started　keeping　time　with　her　bare　feet。　Without　looking　away　from　the　road；　Skink　reached　over　and　jerked　the　tape　out　of　the　dash。　Then　he　threw　it　out　the　window。
　〃Got　any　Creedence？〃　he　said。
　In　the　seat　Lanie　whirled　and；　through　the　rear　window；　watched　Whitney　Houston　bounce　and　shatter　and　unspool　on　the　highway。　〃You're　crazy；〃　she　snapped　at　Skink。　〃You're　buying　me　a　new　tape；　buster。〃
　Skink　wasn't　paying　attention。　He　had　spotted　something　far　ahead　in　the　road；　a　motionless　brown　lump。　He　started　braking　the　sports　car；　pumping　slowly　so　it　wouldn't　leave　rubber　or　spin　out。　When　it　finally　came　to　a　stop　on　the　shoulder；　he　flicked　on　the　emergency　flashers　and　got　out。　He　made　sure　to　take　the　keys。
　The　thing　in　the　road　was　a　dead　armadillo。　After　a　brief　examination　Skink　carried　it　by　its　scaly　tail　back　to　the　Corvette。
　Lanie　was　aghast。　Skink　tossed　the　carcass　in　the　back　and　started　the　car。
　〃Ever　had　one？〃
　Lanie　shook　her　head　violently。
　〃Makes　one　hell　of　a　gumbo；〃　he　said。　〃Use　the　shell　as　a　tureen；　if　you　do　it　right。　Holds　about　two　gallons。〃
　Lanie　leaned　back　to　see　where　the　armadillo　had　landed；　how　much　of　a　mess　had　been　made　on　the　upholstery。
　〃It's　fresh；　don't　worry；〃　Skink　said。　He　wheeled　the　Corvette　around　and　headed　back。
　〃Okay；　who　are　you？　Really。〃
　Skink　said；　〃You've　seen　who　I　am。〃
　〃Before　this；〃　Lanie　said。　〃You　must　have　been　。。。　somebody。　I　mean；　you　didn't　grow　up　on　roadkills。〃
　〃Unfortunately；　no。〃
　Lanie　said；　〃I　like　you。　Your　hands　especially。　The　day　we　first　met　I　noticed　them；　when　you　were　tying　me　with　that　plastic　rope。〃
　〃Fishing　line；〃　Skink　said；　〃not　rope。　I'm　glad　there's　no　hard　feelings。〃
　〃You　can't　blame　me　for　being　curious。〃
　〃Sure　I　can。　It's　none　of　your　damn　business　who　I　am。〃
　〃Shit；〃　Lanie　said；　〃you're　impossible。〃
　Skink　hit　the　brakes　hard　and　downshifted。　The　sports　car　fishtailed　severely　and　spun　off　the　Gilchrist　and　came　to　rest　in　a　field　of　crackling　dry　pastureland。
　〃My　Vette　is　now　parked　in　cowshit；〃　Lanie　observed；　more　perturbed　than　frightened。
　Skink　took　his　hands　off　the　steering　wheel。
　〃Want　to　know　who　I　am？　I'm　the　guy　who　had　a　chance　to　save　this　place；　only　I　blew　it。〃
　〃Save　what？〃
　Skink　made　a　circular　gesture。　〃Everything。　Everything　that　counts　for　anything。　I'm　the　guy　that　could　have　saved　it；　but　instead　I　ran。　So　there's　your　answer。〃
　〃Clue　me　in；　please。〃
　〃Don't　worry；　it's　ancient　history。〃
　Lanie　said；　〃Were　you　famous　or　something？〃
　Skink　just　laughed。　He　couldn't　help　it。
　〃What's　so　funny？〃　she　asked。　He　had　a　terrific　smile；　no　doubt　about　it。
　〃No　more　damn　questions。〃
　〃Just　one；〃　Lanie　said；　moving　in。　〃How　about　a　kiss？〃
　It　didn't　stop　at　just　one；　and　it　didn't　stop　with　just　kissing。　Skink　was　impressed　by　both　her　energy　and　agility…unless　you　had　circus　experience；　it　wasn't　easy　getting　naked　in　the　bucket　seat　of　a　Corvette。　Skink　himself　tore　the　inseam　of　his　orange　weathersuit　in　the　struggle。　Lanie　had　better　luck　with　her　jeans　and　panties；　somehow　she　even　got　her　long　bare　legs　wrapped　around　him。　Skink　admired　her　tan；　and　said　so。　She　hit　a　button　and　the　seat　slid　down　to　a　full　recline。
　Once　she　was　on　top　Lanie　allowed　her　breasts　to　brush　back　and　forth　against　Skink's　cheeks。　She　looked　down　and　saw　that　he　seemed　to　be　enjoying　himself。　His　huge　boots　were　braced　against　the　dashboard。
　〃What　do　you　like？〃　she　asked。
　〃Worldly　things。〃
　〃You　got　it；〃　Lanie　said。　〃We're　going　to　do　it　and　then　we're　going　to　lie　here　together　and　talk；　all　right？〃
　〃Sure。〃
　She　pressed　down　hard　and　began　to　rock　her　hips。　〃Get　to　know　each　other　a　little　better。〃
　〃Fine　idea；〃　Skink　said。
　Then　she　leaned　down；　snuck　her　tongue　in　his　ear；　and　said；　〃Leave　the　sunglasses　on；　okay？〃
　Even　for　Lanie　Gault；　the　owl　eye　would　have　been　a　glaring　distraction。
　
　Later　that　afternoon；　after　Lanie　was　gone　and　Jim　Tile　had　stashed　Ellen　O'Leary　at　his　apartment；　Skink　took　the　truck　to　town。　He　came　back　towing　a　dented　old　boat　trailer　with　a　sagging　rusty　axle。　In　the　flatbed　of　the　pickup　truck　was　a　six…horsepower　Mercury　outboard　that　had　seen　brighter　days。　There　was　also　a　plastic　forty…gallon　garbage　bucket；　eight　feet　of　aqu