sk.cujo-第58部分

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It　was　eight　o'clock　now；　and　outside　it　was　still　relatively　cool　…　77　degrees。　By　noon；　the　recorded　temperature　at　the　Portland　jetport　would　be　102；　a　new　record　for　that　date。
Townsend　and　Andy　Masen　arrived　at　the　State　Police　barracks　in　Scarborough　at　8：30　A。M。　Masen　let　Townsend　run　with　the　ball。　This　was　his　bailiwick；　not　Masen's；　and　there　was　not　a　thing　wrong　with　Andy's　ears。
The　duty　officer　told　them　that　Steven　Kemp　was　on　his　way　back　to　Maine。　There　had　been　no　problem　about　that；　but　Kemp　still　wasn't　talking。　His　van　had　been　given　a　thorough　going…over　by　Massachusetts　lab　technicians　and　forensic　experts。　Nothing　had　turned　up　which　might　indicate　a　woman　and　a　boy　had　been　held　in　the　back；　but　they　had　found　a　nice　little　pharmacy　in　the　van's　wheel　well　…　marijuana；　some　cocaine　in　an　Anacin　bottle；　three　amyl　nitrate　poppers；　and　two　speedy　binations　of　the　type　known　as　Black　Beauties。　It　gave　them　a　handy　hook　to　hang　Mr。　Kemp　on　for　the　time　being。
'That　Pinto；'　Andy　said　to　Townsend；　bringing　them　each　a　cup　of　coffee。　'Where's　that　fucking　Pinto　of　hers？'
Townsend　shook　his　head。
'Has　Bannerman　called　anything　in？'
'Nope。'
'Well；　give　him　a　shout。　Tell　him　I　want　him　down　here　when　they　bring　Kemp　in。　It's　his　jurisiction；　and　I　guess　he's　got　to　be　the　questioning　officer。　Technically；　at　least。'
Townsend　came　back　five　minutes　later　looking　puzzled。　'I　can't　get　him；　Mr。　Masen。　Their　dispatcher's　tried　him　and　says　he　must　not　be　in　his　car。'
'Christ；　he's　probably　having　coffee　down　at　the　Cozy　Corner。　Well；　fuck　him。　He's　out　of　it。'　Andy　Masen　lit　a　fresh　Pall　Mall；　coughed；　and　then　grinned　at　Townsend。　'Think　we　can　handle　this　Kemp　without　him？'
Townsend　smiled　back。　'Oh；　I　think　we　can　manage。'
Masen　nodded。　'This　thing　is　starting　to　look　bad；　Mr。　Townsend。　Very　bad。'
'It's　not　good。'
'I'm　beginning　to　wonder　if　this　Kemp　didn't　bury　them　in　the　ditch　beside　some　farm　road　between　Castle　Rock　and　Twickenham。'　Masen　smiled　again。　'But　we'll　crack　him；　Mr。　Townsend。　I've　cracked　tough　nuts　before　this。'
'Yessir；'　Townsend　said　respectfully。　He　believed　Masen　had。
'We'll　crack　him　if　we　have　to　sit　him　in　this　office　and　sweat　him　for　two　days。'
Townsend　slipped　out　every　fifteen　minutes　or　so；　trying　to　make　contact　with　George　Bannerman。　He　knew　Bannerman　only　slightly；　but　he　held　a　higher　opinion　of　him　than　Masen　did；　and　he　thought　Bannerman　deserved　to　be　warned　that　Andy　Masen　was　on　the　prod　for　him。　When　he　still　hadn't　reached　Bannerman　by　ten　o'clock；　he　began　to　feel　worried。　He　also　began　to　wonder　if　he　should　mention　Bannerman's　continued　silence　to　Masen；　or　if　he　should　hold　his　peace。
Roger　Breakstone　arrived　in　New　York　at　8：49　A。M。　on　the　Eastern　shuttle；　cabbed　into　the　city；　and　checked　into　the　Biltmore　a　little　before　9：30。
The　reservation　was　for　two？'　the　desk　clerk　asked。
'My　partner　has　been　called　home　on　an　emergency。'
'What　a　pity；'　the　desk　clerk　said　indifferently；　and　gave　Roger　a　card　to　fill　out。　While　he　did　so；　the　desk　clerk　talked　to　the　cashier　about　the　Yankee　tickets　he　had　gotten　for　the　following　weekend。
Roger　lay　down　in　his　room；　trying　to　nap；　but　in　spite　of　his　poor　rest　the　night　before；　no　sleep　would　e。　Donna　screwing　some　other　man；　Vic　holding　on　to　all　of　that　…　trying　to；　anyway　…　in　addition　to　this　stinking　mess　over　a　red；　sugary　kiddies'　cereal。　Now　Donna　and　Tad　had　disappeared。　Vic　had　disappeared。　Everything　had　somehow　gone　up　in　smoke　this　last　week。　Neatest　trick　you　ever　saw；　presto　chango；　everything's　a　big　pile　of　shit。　His　head　ached。　The　ache　came　in　big；　greasy；　thumping　waves。
At　last　he　got　up；　not　wanting　to　be　alone　with　his　bad　head　and　his　bad　thoughts　any　longer。　He　thought　he　might　as　well　go　on　over　to　Summers　Marketing　&　Research　on　47th　and　Park　the　spread　some　gloom　around　there　…　after　all；　what　else　did　Ad　Worx　pay　them　for？
He　stopped　in　the　lobby　for　aspirin　and　walked　over。　The　walk　did　nothing　for　his　head；　but　it　did　give　him　a　chance　to　renew　his　hate/hate　relationship　with　New　York。
Not　back　here；　he　thought。　I'll　go　to　work　throwing　cartons　of　Pepsi　on　a　truck　before　I　bring　Althea　and　the　girls　back　here。
Summers　was　on　the　fourteenth　floor　of　a　big；　stupidlooking；　energy…inefficient　skyscraper。　The　receptionist　smiled　and　nodded　when　Roger　identified　himself。　'Mr。　Hewitt　has　just　stepped　out　for　a　few　minutes。　Is　Mr。　Trenton　with　you？'
'No；　he　was　called　home。'
'Well；　I　have　something　for　you。　It　just　came　in　this　morning。'
She　handed　Roger　a　telegram　in　a　yellow　envelope。　It　was　addressed　to　V。　TRENTON/R。　BREAKSTONE/AD　WORXICARE　OF　IMAGE…EYE　STUDIOS。　Rob　had　forwarded　it　to　Summers　Marketing　late　yesterday。
Roger　tore　it　open　and　saw　at　once　that　it　was　from　old　man　Sharp；　and　that　it　was　fairly　long。
Walking　papers；　here　we　e；　he　thought；　and　read　the　telegram。
The　telephone　woke　Vic　up　at　a　few　minutes　before　twelve；　otherwise　he　might　have　slept　most　of　the　afternoon　away　as　well。　His　sleep　had　been　heavy　and；　soggy；　and　he　woke　with　a　terrible　feeling　of　disorientation。　The　dream　had　e　again。　Donna　and　Tad　in　a　rocky　niche；　barely　beyond　the　reach　of　some　terrible；　mythical　beast。　The　room　actually　seemed　to　whirl　around　him　as　he　reached　for　the　telephone。
Donna　and　Tad；　he　thought。　They're　safe。
'Hello？'
'Vic；　it's　Roger。'
'Roger？'　He　sat　up。　His　shirt　was　plastered　to　his　body。　Half　his　mind　was　still　asleep　and　grappling　with　that　dream。　The　light　was　too　strong。　The　beat　。。。　it　had　been　relatively　cool　when　he　went　to　sleep。　Now　the　bedroom　was　an　oven。　How　late　was　it？　How　late　had　they　let　him　sleep？　The　house　was　so　silent。
'Roger；　what　time　is　it？'
'Time；？'　Roger　paused。　'Why；　just　about　twelve　o'clock。　What　'Twelve？　Oh；　Christ。。。。　Roger；　I've　been　asleep。'
'What's　happened；　Vic？　Are　they　back？'
'They　weren't　when　I　went　to　sleep。　That　bastard　Masen　promised　…'
'Who's　Masen？'
'He's　in　charge　of　the　investigation。　Roger；　I　have　to　go。　I　have　to　find　out　…'
'Hold　on；　man。　I'm　calling　from　Summers。　I've　got　to　tell　you。　There　was　a　telegram　from　Sharp　in　Cleveland。　We're　keeping　the　account。'
'What？　What？　It　was　all　going　too　fast　for　him。　Donna。。。　the　account　。。。　Roger；　sounding　almost　absurdly　cheerful。
There　was　a　telegram　here　when　I　came　in。　The　old　man　and　his　kid　sent　it　to　Image…Eye　and　Rob　forwarded　it　here。　You　want　me　to　read　it？'
'Give　me　the　gist。'
'Old　man　Sharp　and　the　kid　apparently　came　to　the　same　conclusion　using　different　chains　of　logic。　The　old　man　sees　the　Zingers　thing　as　a　replay　of　the　Alamo　…　we're　the　good　guys　standing　on　the　battlements；　standing　by　to　repel　the　boarders。　All　got　to　stick　together；　all　for　one　and　one　for　all。'
'Yeah；　I　knew　he　had　that　in　him；'　Vic　said；　rubbing　the　back　of　his　neck。　'He's　a　loyal　old　bastard。　That's　why　he　came　with　us　when　we　left　New　York。'
'The　kid　would　still　like　to　get　rid　of　us；　but　he　doesn't　think　this　is　the　right　time。　He　thinks　it　would　be　interpreted　as　a　sign　of　weakness　and　even　possible　culpability。　Can　you　believe　it？'
'I　could　believe　anything　ing　from　that　paranoid　little　twerp。'
'They　want　us　to　fly　to　Cleveland　and　sign　a　new　two…year　contract。　It's　not　a　five…year　deal；　and　when　it's　up　the　kid's　almost　sure　to　be　in　charge　and　we'll　undoubtedly　be　invited　to　take　a　long　walk　off　a　short　dock；　but　two　years　。。。　it's　enough　time；　Vic！　In　two　years　we'll　be　on　top　of　it！　We　can　tell　them　'
'Roger；　I've　got　to
'…　to　take　their　lousy　pound　cake　and　pound　it　up　their　asses！　They　also　want　to　discuss　the　new　campaign；　and　I　think　they'll　go　for　the　Cereal　Professor's　swan　song；　too。'
'That's　great；　Roger；　but　I've　got　to　find　out　what　the　Christ　has　been　happening　with　Donna　and　Tad。'
'Yeah。　Yeah。　I　guess　it　was　a　lousy　time　to　call；　but　I　couldn't　keep　it　to　myself；　man。　I　would　have　busted　like　a　balloon。'
'There's　no　bad　time　for　good　news；'　Vic　said。　All　the　same；　he　felt　a　stab　of　jealousy；　as　painful　as　a　silver　sharpened　bone；　at　the　happy　relief　in　Roger's　voice；　and　a　bitter　disappointment　that　he　couldn't　share　in　Roger's　feelings。　But　maybe　it　was　a　good　omen。
'Vic；　call　me　when　you　hear；　okay？'
'I　will；　Rog。　Thanks　for　the　call。'
He　hung　up；　slipped　into　his　loafers；　and　went　downstairs。　The　kitchen　was　still　a　mess　…　it　made　his　stomach　do　a　slow　and　giddy　rollover　just　to　look　at　it。　But　there　was　a　note　from　Masen　on　the　table；　pegged　down　with　a　salt　shaker。
Mr。　Trenton；
Steve　Kemp　has　been　picked；　up　in　a　western　Massachusetts　town；　Twickenham。　Your　wife　and　son　are　not；　repeat；　are　not；　with　him。　I　did　not　wake　you　with　this　news　because　Kemp　is　standing　on　his　right　to　remain　silent。　Barring　any　plication；　he　will　be　brought　directly　to　the　Scarborough　S。P。　barracks　for　charging　on　vandalism　and　possession　of　illegal　drugs。　We　estimate　him　here　by　11：30　A。M。　If　anything　breaks；　I'll　call　you　soonest。
Andy　Masen
'Fuck　his　right　to　remain　silent；'　Vic　growled。　He　went　into　the　living　room；　got　the　number　of　the　Scarborough　State　Police　barracks；　and　made　the　call。
'Mr。　Kemp　is　here；'　the　duty　officer　told　him。　'He　got　here　about　fifteen　minutes　ago。　Mr。　Masen　is　with　him　now。　Kemp's　called　a　lawyer。　I　don't　think　Mr。　Masen　can　e　to　the　…'
'You　never　mind　what　he　can　or　can't　do；'　Vic　said。　'You　tell　him　it's　Donna　Trenton's　husband　and　I　want　him　to　shag　his　ass　over　to　the　phone　and　talk　to　me。'
A　few　moments　later；　Masen　came　on　the　line。
'Mr。　Trenton；　I　appreciate　your　concern；　but　this　brief　time　before　Kemp's　lawyer　gets　here　can　be　very　valuable。'
'What's　he　told　you？'
Masen　hesitated　and　then　said；　'He's　admitted　to　the
vandalism。　I　think　he　finally　realized　this　thing　was　a　lot　heavier　than　a　little　nose　candy　stashed　in　the　wheel　well　of　his　van。　He　admitted　the　vandalism　to　the　Massachusetts　officers　who　brought　him　over　here。　But　he　claims　that　nobody　was　home　when　he　did　it；　and　that　he　left　it　undisturbed。'
'You　don't　believe　that　shit；　do　you？'
Masen　said　carefully；'　He's　quite　convincing。　I　couldn't　say　that　I　believe　anything　right　now。　If　I　could　just　ask　him　a　few　more　questions　…'
'Nothing　came　of　Camber's　Garage？'
'No。　I　sent　Sheriff　Bannerman　up　there　with　instructions　to　call　in　immediately　if　Mrs　Trent