cpatricia.blacknotice-第58部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


d　the　cap　back　on　and　returned　to　the　taxi；　glancing　back　several　times　at　the　Chandonne　home；　halfway　expecting　cartel　criminals　to　suddenly　spring　out　after　me。
　　〃Take　me　to　the　morgue；　please；〃　I　said　to　my　driver。
　　It　was　dark；　and　razor　wire　not　noticeable　during　the　day　reflected　light　from　cars　speeding　past。
　　〃Pull　into　the　back　parking　lot；〃　I　said。
　　He　turned　off　the　Quai　de　la　Rapée　into　the　small　area　behind　the　building　where　vans　had　been　parked　and　the　sad　couple　had　waited　on　a　bench　earlier　in　the　day。　I　got　out。
　　〃Stay　right　here；〃　I　said　to　my　driver。　〃I'm　just　going　to　walk　around　for　a　minute。〃
　　His　face　was　wan；　and　when　I　got　a　better　look　at　him；　I　realized　he　was　very　wrinkled　and　missing　several　teeth。　He　looked　uneasy；　his　eyes　darting　about　as　if　maybe　he　was　thinking　about　speeding　away。
　　〃It's　all　right；〃　I　said　to　him　as　I　got　a　notebook　out　of　my　satchel。
　　〃Oh；　you're　a　journalist；〃　he　said　with　relief。　〃You're　here　working　on　a　story。〃
　　〃Yes；　a　story。〃
　　He　grinned；　hanging　halfway　out　his　openwindow。
　　〃You　had　me　worried；　madame！　I　thought　maybe　you　were　some　sort　of　ghoul！〃
　　〃Give　me　just　a　minute；〃　I　said。
　　I　wandered　around；　feeling　the　damp　cold　of　old　stone　and　air　blowing　off　the　river　as　I　moved　around　in　the　darkness　of　deep　shadows　and　took　interest　in　every　detail；　as　if　I　were　he。　He　would　have　been　fascinated　by　this　place。　It　was　the　hall　of　dishonor　that　displayed　his　trophies　after　his　kills　and　reminded　him　of　his　sovereign　immunity。　He　could　do　whatever　he　wanted；　whenever　he　pleased　and　leave　all　the　evidence　in　the　world　and　he　wouldn't　be　touched。
　　He　probably　could　have　walked　from　his　house　to　the　morgue　in　twenty　or　thirty　minutes；　and　I　envisioned　him　sitting　in　the　park；　staring　at　the　old　brick　building　and　imagining　what　was　going　on　inside；　what　work　he　had　created　for　Dr。　Stvan。　I　wondered　if　the　odor　of　death　excited　him。
　　A　faint　breeze　stirred　acacia　trees　and　touched　my　skin　as　I　replayed　what　Dr。　Stvan　had　said　about　the　man　who　had　e　to　her　door。　He　had　e　to　murder　her　and　had　failed。　He　returned　to　this　very　spot　and　left　her　a　note　the　next　day。
　　Pas　la　police　。　。　。
　　Perhaps　we　were　trying　to　make　his　modus　operandi　far　too　plicated。
　　Pas　de　probléme　。　。　。　Le　Loup…Garou。
　　Perhaps　it　was　as　simple　as　a　raging；　murderous　lust　he　could　not　control。　Once　the　monster　in　him　was　aroused　by　someone；　there　was　no　escape。　I　was　certain　if　he　were　still　in　France；　Dr。　Stvan　would　be　dead。　Perhaps　when　he　fled　to　Richmond；　he　thought　he　could　control　himself　for　a　while。　And　maybe　he　did　for　three　days。　Or　maybe　he　had　been　watching　Kim　Luong　the　entire　time；　fantasizing　until　he　couldn't　resist　the　evil　impulse　any　longer。
　　I　hurried　back　to　my　taxi　and　the　windows　were　so　fogged　up　I　could　not　see　through　them　as　I　pulled　open　the　back　door。　Inside；　the　heater　was　blasting；　my　driver　half　asleep。　He　sat　up　with　a　start　and　swore。
　　　
　　　38
　　Concorde　flight　2　left　Charles　de　Gaulle　airport　at　eleven　and　arrived　in　New　York　at　8：45　A。M。；　Eastern　Standard　time；　which　was　before　we'd　left；　in　a　sense。　I　walked　into　my　house　mid…afternoon　terribly　out　of；　sorts；　my　body　confused　about　time；　my　emotions　screaming。　The　weather　was　getting　bad；　with　predictions　of　freezing　rain　and　sleet　again；　and　I　had　errands　to　run。　Marino　went　home。　He　had　that　big　truck；　after　all。
　　Ukrops　grocery　store　was　mobbed　because　whenever　sleet　or　snow　was　predicted；　Richmonders　lost　their　minds。　They　envisioned　starving　to　death　or　having　nothing　to　drink；　and　by　the　time　I　got　to　the　bread　section；　there　wasn't　a　single　loaf　left。　There　was　no　turkey　or　ham　in　the　deli。　I　bought　whatever　I　could；　because　I　expected　Lucy　to　stay　with　me　for　a　while。
　　I　headed　home　a　little　past　six　and　didn't　have　the　energy　to　negotiate　a　peace　settlement　with　my　garage。　So　I　parked　my　car　out　front。　Wispy　white　clouds　over　the　moon　looked　exactly　like　a　skull；　then　shifted　and　were　formless；　rushing　on　as　the　wind　blew　harder；'trees　shivering　and　whispering。　I　felt　achy　and　woozy　as　if　I　might　be　getting　sick；　and　I　got　increasingly　worried　when　once　again　Lucy　didn't　call　or　e　home。
　　I　assumed　she　was　at　MCV；　but　when　I　contacted　the　Orthopedic　Unit；　I　was　told　she　hadn't　been　there　since　yesterday　morning。　I　began　to　get　frantic。　I　paced　the　great　room　and　thought　hard。　It　was　almost　ten　o'clock　when　I　got　back　in　my　car　and　drove　toward　downtown；　tension　stringing　me　so　tight　I　thought　I　might　snap。
　　I　knew　it　was　possible　Lucy　had　gone　on　to　D。C。；　but　I　couldn't　imagine　her　doing　that　without　at　least　leaving　me　a　note。　Whenever　she　disappeared　without　a　word；　it　never　meant　anything　good。　I　turned　off　on　the　Ninth　Street　exit　and　drove　through　downtown's　vacant　streets　and　wandered　through　several　levels　of　the　hospital's　parking　deck　before　I　found　a　space。　I　grabbed　a　lab　coat　off　the　backseat　of　my　car。
　　The　orthopedic　unit　was　in　the　new　hospital；　on　the　second　floor；　and　when　I　got　to　the　room　I　slipped　my　lab　coat　on　and　opened　the　door。　A　couple　I　assumed　was　Jo's　parents　were　inside；　sitting　by　the　bed；　and　I　walked　over　to　them。　Jo's　head　was　bandaged；　her　leg　in　traction；　but　she　was　awake　and　her　eyes　immediately　fixed　on　me。
　　〃Mr。　and　Mrs。　Sanders？〃　I　said。　〃I'm　Dr。　Scarpetta。〃
　　If　my　name　meant　anything　to　them；　they　didn't　acknowledge　it；　but　Mr。　Sanders　politely　stood　and　shook　my　hand。
　　〃Nice　to　meet　you；〃　he　said。
　　He　wasn't　at　all　what　I'd　envisioned。　I　suppoqed　after　Jo's　description　of　her　parents'　rigid　attitudes；　I　expected　stern　faces　and　eyes　that　judged　everything　they　saw。　But　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Sanders　were　overweight　and　frumpy；　not　formidablelooking　in　the　least。　They　were　very　polite；　even　shy；　as　I　asked　them　about　their　daughter。　Jo　continued　to　stare　at　me；　a　look　in　her　eyes　that　called　out　to　me　to　help。
　　〃Would　you　mind　if　I　speak　to　the　patient　in　private　for　a　moment？〃　I　asked　them。
　　〃That　would　be　fine；〃　Mrs。　Sanders　said。
　　〃Now；　Jo；　you　do　what　the　doctor　says；〃　Mr。　Sanders　told　his　daughter　in　a　dispirited　way。
　　They　went　out　and　the　instant　I　shut　the　door；　Jo's　eyes　filled　with　tears。　I　bent　over　and　kissed　her　week。
　　〃You've　had　all　of　us　worried　sick；〃　I　said。
　　〃How's　Lucy？〃　she　whispered　as　sobs　began　to　shake　her　and　tears　flowed。
　　I　placed　tissues　in　a　hand　that　was　tethered　by　IV　tubes。
　　〃I　don't　know。　I　don't　know　where　she　is；　Jo。　Your　parents　told　her　you　didn't　want　to　see　her　and　。　。　：'
　　Jo　started　shaking　her　head。
　　〃I　knew　they'd　do　that；〃　she　said　in　a　dark；　depressed　tone。　〃I　knew　they　would。　They　told　me　she　didn't　want　to　see　me。　She　was　too　upset；　because　of　what　happened。　I　didn't　believe　them。　I　know　she　would　never　do　something　like　that。　But　they　ran　her　off　and　now　she's　gone。　And　maybe　she　believes　what　they　said。〃
　　〃She　feels　what　happened　to　you　is　her　fault；〃　I　said。　〃It's　very　possible　the　bullet　in　your　leg　came　from　her　gun：〃
　　〃Please　bring　her　to　me。　Please。〃
　　〃Do　you　have　any　idea　where　she　might　be？〃　I　asked。　〃Is　there　any　place　she　might　go　when　she's　upset　like　this？　Maybe　back　to　Miami？〃
　　〃I'm　sure　she　wouldn't　go　there。〃
　　I　sat　down　in　a　chair　by　the　bed　and　blew　out　a　long；　exhausted　breath。
　　〃A　hotel　maybe？〃　I　asked。　〃A　friend？〃
　　〃Maybe　New　York；〃　Jo　said。　〃There's　a　bar　in　Greenwich　Village。　Rubyfruit。〃
　　〃You　think　she　went　to　New　York？〃　I　asked；　dismayed。
　　〃The　owner's　name　is　Ann；　a　former　cop；〃　her　voice　shook。　〃Oh；　I　don't　know。　I　don't　know。　She　scares　me　when　she　runs　away。　She　doesn't　think　right　when　she　gets　like　that。〃
　　〃I　know。　And　with　all　that's　gone　on；　she　can't　be　thinking　right　anyway。　Jo；　you　should　be　getting　out　of　here　in　another　day　or　so　if　you　behave；〃　I　said　with　a　smile。　〃Where　do　you　want　to　go？〃
　　〃I　don't　want　to　go　home。　You'll　find　her；　won't　you？〃
　　〃Would　you　like　to　stay　with　me？〃　I　asked。
　　〃My　parents　aren't　bad　people；〃　she　muttered　as　morphine　dripped。　〃They　don't　understand。　They　think　。　。　。　Why　is　it　wrong　。　。　。　？〃
　　〃It's　not；〃　I　said。　〃Love　is　never　wrong。〃
　　I　left　the　room　as　she　drifted。
　　Her　parents　were　outside　the　door。　Both　looked　exhausted　and　sad。
　　〃How　is　she？〃　Mr。　Sanders　asked。
　　〃Not　too　well；〃　I　said。
　　Mrs。　Sanders　began　to　cry。
　　〃You　have　a　right　to　believe　the　way　you　do；〃　I　said。　〃But　preventing　Lucy　and　Jo　from　seeing　each　other　is　the　last　thing　your　daughter　needs　right　now。　She　doesn't　need　more　fear　and　depression。　She　doesn't　need　to　lose　her　will　to　live；　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Sanders。〃
　　Neither　of　them　replied。
　　〃I'm　Lucy's　aunt；〃　I　said。
　　〃She's　about　back　in　this　world　anyway；　I　guess；〃　Mr。　Sanders　said。。　〃Can't　keep　anybody　from　her。　We　were　just　trying　to　do　what's　best：'
　　〃Jo　knows　that；〃　I　replied。　〃She　loves　you。〃
　　They　didn't　say　good…bye　but　watched　me　as　I　got　on　the　elevator。　I　called　Rubyfruit　the　minute　I　got　…home　and　asked　for　Ann　over　the　loud　noise　of　voices　and　a　band。
　　〃She's　not　in　great　shape；〃　Ann　said　to　me；　and　I　knew　what　that　meant。
　　〃Will　you　take　care　of　her？〃　I　asked。
　　〃I　already　am；〃　she　said。　〃Hold　on。　Let　me　get　her。〃
　　〃I　saw　Jo；〃　I　said　when　Lucy　got　on　the　phone。
　　〃Oh；〃　was　all。　she　said；　and　it　was　obvious　from　one　word　that　she　was　drunk。
　　〃Lucy！〃
　　〃I　don't　want　to　talk　right　now；〃　she　said。
　　〃Jo　loves　you；〃　I　said。　〃e　home。〃
　　〃Then　what　do　I　do？〃
　　〃We　bring　her　to　my　house　from　the　hospital　and　you　take　care　of　her；〃　I　said。　〃That's　what　you　do。〃
　　I　barely　slept。　At　2：00　A。M。　I　finally　got　up　and　went　into　the　kitchen　to　fix　a　cup　of　herbal　tea。　It　was　still　raining　hard；　water　running　off　the　roof　and　splashing　on　the　patio；　and　I　couldn't　seem　to　get　warm。　I　thought　about　the　swabs　and　hair　and　photographs　of　bite　marks　locked　inside　my　briefcase；　and　it　almost　seemed　the　killer　was　inside　my　house。
　　I　could　feel　his　presence；　as　if　those　parts　of　him　emanated　evil。　I　thought　about　the　awful　irony。　Interpol　summoned　me　to　France　and　after　all　was　said　and　done；　the　only　legal　evidence　I　had　was　an　Advil　bottle　filled　with　water　and　silt　from　the　S