raymondchandler.farewellmylovely-第16部分

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〃I'd　better　call　you　back。　What's　that　number？〃
He　called　back　in　about　three　minutes。
　〃Get　your　pencil　out；〃　he　said。　〃It's　Lot　8　of　Block　11　of　Caraday's　Addition　to　the　Maplewood　Tract　Number　4。　The　owner　of　record；　subject　to　certain　things；　is　Jessie　Pierce　Florian；　widow。〃
　〃Yeah。　What　things？〃
　〃Second　half　taxes；　two　ten…year　street　improvement　bonds；　one　storm　drain　assessment　bond　also　ten　year；　none　of　these　delinquents；　also　a　first　trust　deed　of　2600。〃
　〃You　mean　one　of　those　things　where　they　can　sell　you　out　on　ten　minutes'　notice？〃
　〃Not　quite　that　quick；　but　a　lot　quicker　than　a　mortgage。　There's　nothing　unusual　about　it　except　the　amount。　It's　high　for　that　neighborhood；　unless　it's　a　new　house。〃
〃It's　a　very　old　house　and　in　bad　repair；〃　I　said。　〃I'd　say　fifteen　hundred　would　buy　the　place。〃
〃Then　it's　distinctly　unusual；　because　the　refinancing　was　done　only　four　years　ago。〃
〃Okey；　who　holds　it？　Some　investment　pany？〃
〃No。　An　individual。　Man　named　Lindsay　Marriott；　a　single　man。　Okey？〃
I　forget　what　I　said　to　him　or　what　thanks　I　made。　They　probably　sounded　like　words。　I　sat　there；　just　staring　at　the　wall。
　My　stomach　suddenly　felt　fine。　I　was　hungry。　I　went　down　to　the　Mansion　House　Coffee　Shop　and　ate　lunch　and　got　my　car　out　of　the　parking　lot　next　to　my　building。
　I　drove　south　and　east；　towards　West　54th　Place。　I　didn't　carry　any　liquor　with　me　this　time。
　
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　The　block　looked　just　as　it　had　looked　the　day　before。　The　street　was　empty　except　for　an　ice　truck；　two　Fords　in　driveways；　and　a　swirl　of　dust　going　around　a　corner。　I　drove　slowly　past　No。　1644　and　parked　farther　along　and　studied　the　houses　on　either　side　of　mine。　I　walked　back　and　stopped　in　front　of　it；　looking　at　the　tough　palm　tree　and　the　drab　unwatered　scrap　of　lawn。　The　house　seemed　empty；　but　probably　wasn't。　It　just　had　that　look。　The　lonely　rocker　on　the　front　porch　stood　just　where　it　had　stood　yesterday。　There　was　a　throw…away　paper　on　the　walk。　I　picked　it　up　and　slapped　it　against　my　leg　and　then　I　saw　the　curtain　move　next　door；　in　the　near　front　window。
　Old　Nosey　again。　I　yawned　and　tilted　my　hat　down。　A　sharp　nose　almost　flattened　itself　against　the　inside　of　the　glass。　White　hair　above　it；　and　eyes　that　were　just　eyes　from　where　I　stood。　I　strolled　along　the　sidewalk　and　the　eyes　watched　me。　I　turned　in　towards　her　house。　I　climbed　the　wooden　steps　and　rang　the　bell。
　The　door　snapped　open　as　if　it　had　been　on　a　spring。　She　was　a　tall　old　bird　with　a　chin　like　a　rabbit。　Seen　from　close　her　eyes　were　as　sharp　as　lights　on　still　water。　I　took　my　hat　off。
　〃Are　you　the　lady　who　called　the　police　about　Mrs。　Florian？〃
　She　stared　at　me　coolly　and　missed　nothing　about　me；　probably　not　even　the　mole　on　my　right　shoulder　blade。
　〃I　ain't　sayin'　I　am；　young　man；　and　I　ain't　sayin'　I　ain't。　Who　are　you？〃　It　was　a　high　twangy　voice；　made　for　talking　over　an　eight　party　line。
　〃I'm　a　detective。〃
　〃Land's　sakes。　Why　didn't　you　say　so？　What's　she　done　now？　I　ain't　seen　a　thing　and　I　ain't　missed　a　minute。　Henry　done　all　the　goin'　to　the　store　for　me。　Ain't　been　a　sound　out　of　there。〃
　She　snapped　the　screen　door　unhooked　and　drew　me　in。　The　hall　smelled　of　furniture　oil。　It　had　a　lot　of　dark　furniture　that　had　once　been　in　good　style。　Stuff　with　inlaid　panels　and　scallops　at　the　corners。　We　went　into　a　front　room　that　had　cotton　lace　antimacassars　pinned　on　everything　you　could　stick　a　pin　into。
　〃Say；　didn't　I　see　you　before？〃　she　asked　suddenly；　a　note　of　suspicion　crawling　around　in　her　voice。　〃Sure　enough　I　did。　You　was　the　man　that…〃
　〃That's　right。　And　I'm　still　a　detective。　Who's　Henry？〃
　〃Oh；　he's　just　a　little　colored　boy　that　goes　errands　for　me。　Well；　what　you　want；　young　man？〃　She　patted　a　clean　red　and　white　apron　and　gave　me　the　beady　eye。　She　clicked　her　store　teeth　a　couple　of　times　for　practice。
〃Did　the　officers　e　here　yesterday　after　they　went　to　Mrs。　Florian's　house？〃
〃What　officers？〃
〃The　uniformed　officers；〃　I　said　patiently。
〃Yes；　they　was　here　a　minute。　They　didn't　know　nothing。〃
〃Describe　the　big　man　to　me…the　one　that　had　a　gun　and　made　you　call　up。〃
She　described　him；　with　plete　accuracy。　It　was　Malloy　all　right。
〃What　kind　of　car　did　he　drive？〃
〃A　little　car。　He　couldn't　hardly　get　into　it。〃
〃That's　all　you　can　say？　This　man's　a　murderer！〃
　Her　mouth　gaped；　but　her　eyes　were　pleased。　〃Land's　sakes；　I　wish　I　could　tell　you；　young　man。　But　I　never　knew　much　about　cars。　Murder；　eh？　Folks　ain't　safe　a　minute　in　this　town。　When　I　e　here　twenty…two　years　ago　we　didn't　lock　our　doors　hardly。　Now　it's　gangsters　and　crooked　police　and　politicians　fightin'　each　other　with　machine　guns；　so　I've　heard。　Scandalous　is　what　it　is；　young　man。〃
　〃Yeah。　What　do　you　know　about　Mrs。　Florian？〃
　The　small　mouth　puckered。　〃She　ain't　neighborly。　Plays　her　radio　loud　late　nights。　Sings。　She　don't　talk　to　anybody。〃　She　leaned　forward　a　little。　〃I'm　not　positive；　but　my　opinion　is　she　drinks　liquor。〃
〃She　have　many　visitors？〃
〃She　don't　have　no　visitors　at　all。〃
〃You'd　know；　of　course；　Mrs。…〃
〃Mrs。　Morrison。　Land's　sakes；　yes。　What　else　have　I　got　to　do　but　look　out　of　the　windows？〃
　〃I　bet　it's　fun。　Mrs。　Florian　has　lived　here　a　long　time…〃
　〃About　ten　years；　I　reckon。　Had　a　husband　once。　Looked　like　a　bad　one　to　me。　He　died。〃　She　paused　and　thought　〃I　guess　he　died　natural；〃　she　added。　〃I　never　heard　different。〃
〃Left　her　money？〃
Her　eyes　receded　and　her　chin　followed　them。　She　sniffed　hard。　〃You　been　drinkin'　liquor；〃　she　said　coldly。
〃I　just　had　a　tooth　out。　The　dentist　gave　it　to　me。〃
〃I　don't　hold　with　it。〃
〃It's　bad　stuff；　except　for　medicine；〃　I　said。
〃I　don't　hold　with　it　for　medicine　neither。〃
〃I　think　you're　right；〃　I　said。　〃Did　he　leave　her　money？　Her　husband？〃
〃I　wouldn't　know。〃　Her　mouth　was　the　size　of　a　prune　and　as　smooth。　I　had　lost　out。
〃Has　anybody　at　all　been　there　since　the　officers？〃
〃Ain't　seen。〃
〃Thank　you　very　much；　Mrs。　Morrison。　I　won't　trouble　you　any　more　now。　You've　been　very　kind　and　helpful。〃
　I　walked　out　of　the　room　and　opened　the　door。　She　followed　me　and　cleared　her　throat　and　clicked　her　teeth　a　couple　more　times。
　〃What　number　should　I　call？〃　she　asked；　relenting　a　little。
　〃University　4…5000。　Ask　for　Lieutenant　Nulty。　What　does　she　live　on…relief？〃
　〃This　ain't　a　relief　neighborhood；〃　she　said　coldly。　
　〃I　bet　that　side　piece　was　the　admiration　of　Sioux　Falls　once；〃　I　said；　gazing　at　a　carved　sideboard　that　was　in　the　hall　because　the　dining　room　was　too　small　for　it。　It　had　curved　ends；　thin　carved　legs；　was　inlaid　all　ever；　and　had　a　painted　basket　of　fruit　on　the　front。
　〃Mason　City；〃　she　said　softly。　〃Yessir；　we　had　a　nice　home　once；　me　and　George。　Best　there　was。〃
　I　opened　the　screen　door　and　stepped　through　it　and　thanked　her　again。　She　was　smiling　now。　Her　smile　was　as　sharp　as　her　eyes。
　〃Gets　a　registered　letter　first　of　every　month；〃　she　said　suddenly。
　I　turned　and　waited。　She　leaned　towards　me。　〃I　see　the　mailman　go　up　to　the　door　and　get　her　to　sign。　First　day　of　every　month。　Dresses　up　then　and　goes　out。　Don't　e　home　till　all　hours。　Sings　half　the　night。　Times　I　could　have　called　the　police　it　was　so　loud。〃
　I　patted　the　thin　malicious　arm。
　〃You're　one　in　a　thousand；　Mrs。　Morrison；〃　I　said。　I　put　my　hat　on；　tipped　it　to　her　and　left。　Halfway　down　the　walk　I　thought　of　something　and　swung　back。　She　was　still　standing　inside　the　screen　door；　with　the　house　door　open　behind　her。　I　went　back　up　on　the　steps。
　〃Tomorrow's　the　first；〃　I　said。　〃First　of　April。　April　Fool's　Day。　Be　sure　to　notice　whether　she　gets　her　registered　letter；　will　you；　Mrs。　Morrison？〃
　The　eyes　gleamed　at　me。　She　began　to　laugh…a　highpitched　old　woman's　laugh。　〃April　Fool's　Day；〃　she　tittered。　〃Maybe　she　won't　get　it。〃
　I　left　her　laughing。　The　sound　was　like　a　hen　having　hiccups。
　
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　Nobody　answered　my　ring　or　knock　next　door。　I　tried　again。　The　screen　door　wasn't　hooked。　I　tried　the　house　door。　It　was　unlocked。　I　stepped　inside。
　Nothing　was　changed；　not　even　the　smell　of　gin。　There　were　still　no　bodies　on　the　floor。　A　dirty　glass　stood　on　the　table　beside　the　chair　where　Mrs。　Florian　had　sat　yesterday。　The　radio　was　turned　off。　I　went　over　to　the　davenport　and　felt　down　behind　the　cushions。　The　same　dead　soldier　and　another　one　with　him　now。
　I　called　out。　No　answer。　Then　I　thought　I　heard　a　long　slow　unhappy　breathing　that　was　half　groaning。　I　went　through　the　arch　and　sneaked　into　the　little　hallway。　The　bedroom　door　was　partly　open　and　the　groaning　sound　came　from　behind　it。　I　stuck　my　head　in　and　looked。
　Mrs。　Florian　was　in　bed。　She　was　lying　flat　on　her　back　with　a　cotton　forter　pulled　up　to　her　chin。　One　of　the　little　fluffballs　on　the　forter　was　almost　in　her　mouth。　Her　long　yellow　face　was　slack；　half　dead。　Her　dirty　hair　straggled　on　the　pillow。　Her　eyes　opened　slowly　and　looked　at　me　with　no　expression。　The　room　had　a　sickening　smell　of　sleep；　liquor　and　dirty　clothes。　A　sixty…nine　cent　alarm　clock　ticked　on　the　peeling　gray…white　paint　of　the　bureau。　It　ticked　loud　enough　to　shake　the　walls。　Above　it　a　mirror　showed　a　distorted　view　of　the　woman's　face。　The　trunk　from　which　she　had　taken　the　photos　was　still　open。
　I　said：　〃Good　afternoon；　Mrs。　Florian。　Are　you　sick？〃
　She　worked　her　lips　slowly；　rubbed　one　over　the　other；　then　slid　a　tongue　out　and　moistened　them　and　worked　her　jaws。　Her　voice　came　from　her　mouth　sounding　like　a　worn…out　phonograph　record。　Her　eyes　showed　recognition　now；　but　not　pleasure。
〃You　get　him？〃
〃The　Moose？〃
〃Sure。〃
〃Not　yet。　Soon；　I　hope。〃
She　screwed　her　eyes　up　and　then　snapped　them　open　as　if　trying　to　get　rid　of　a　film　over　them。
〃You　ought　to　keep　your　house　locked　up；〃　I　said。　〃He　might　e　back。〃
〃You　think　I'm　scared　of　the　Moose；　huh？〃
〃You　acted　like　it　when　I　was　talking　to　you　yesterday。〃　
She　thought　about　that。　Thinking　was　weary　work。　〃Got　any　liquor？〃
〃No；　I　didn't　bring　any　today；　Mrs。　Florian。　I　was　a　little　low　on　cash。〃
〃Gin's　cheap。　It　hits。〃
〃I　might　go　out　for　some　in　a　little　while。　So　you're　not　afraid　of　Malloy？〃
〃Why　would　I　be？〃
〃Okey；　you're　not。　What　are　you　afraid　of？〃　
　Light　snapped　into　her　eyes；　held　for　a