dwestlake.bankshot-第10部分

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leeding…　Herman　and　Jack　dumped　cash　money　into　the　two　bags。　They　put　crumpled　paper　on　top；　and　Herman　glanced　almost　longingly　at　the　safe　in　the　corner。　He　was　a　lockman…that　was　his　specialty…he　could　open　safes　better　than　Jimmy　Valentine。　But　this　safe　was　already　standing　open；　and　there　was　nothing　in　it　of　any　value　anyway。　He　was　along　simply　as　a　yegg　this　time；　part　of　the　team。
　Well；　it　was　for　the　Cause。　Still；　it　would　have　been　nice　if　there'd　been　a　safe　around　to　open。
　Using　the　victims'　ties　and　socks　and　shoelaces　and　belts；　all　seven　were　quickly　tied　up　and　left　in　a　neat　row　on　the　floor。　Then　Jack　unscrewed　the　phone　from　its　connection　on　the　wall。
　Van　said；　〃What　the　hell　you　doing？　Just　yank　the　cord　out　of　the　wall。　Didn't　you　ever　see　any　movies？〃
　〃I　need　an　extension　in　the　bedroom；〃　Jack　said。　He　put　the　phone　on　top　of　the　crumpled　papers　in　one　of　the　shopping　bags。
　Van　shook　his　head；　but　didn't　say　anything。
　When　they　left；　they　locked　the　door　behind　themselves　and　trotted　down　the　narrow　stairs　to　pause　for　a　second　behind　the　door　leading　to　the　loge。　They　could　hear　the　chorus　ripping　through　another　song：　〃I　hate　bigots！　Dig　it！　Digit！〃
　〃The　line　we're　waiting　for；〃　Van　said；　〃is　'Love　everybody；　you　bastards。'〃
　Herman　nodded；　and　all　three　listened　some　more。　When　the　line　sounded；　they　pushed　the　door　open；　walked　through；　turned　left　and　headed　back　downstairs。
　　The　timing　was　perfect。　As　they　came　to　the　foot　of　the　stairs　the　curtain　came　　down　on　Act　One；　and　people　started　up　the　aisle　for　a　smoke　break。　The　three　men　pulled　their　masks　off　and　went　through　the　lobby　doors　just　ahead　of　the　　theatergoers。　They　crossed　the　lobby；　went　out　to　the　sidewalk；　and　the　Ford　　was　half　a　block　away　to　their　left；　ing　along　behind　a　slow…cruising　cab。
　　〃God　damn　it；〃　Van　said。　〃What's　the　matter　with　Phil's　timing？〃
　　〃He　probably　got　stuck　at　a　red　light；〃　Herman　said。
　　The　Ford　slipped　by　the　cab　and　stopped　at　their　feet。　They　slid　in；　the　　sidewalk　behind　them　filled　with　smokers；　and　Phil　drove　them　casually　but　　firmly　away　from　there。
　　The　two　shopping　bags　were　in　the　back　with　Herman　and　Jack…Van　was　　up　front　now…and　every　time　they　went　over　a　pothole　the　damn　phone　tinkled；　　which　began　to　drive　Herman　up　the　wall。　He　was　a　pulsive　phone　　answerer；　and　there　was　no　way　to　answer　this　phone。
　　Also；　the　money　was　getting　to　him。　He　was　glad　to　give　his　expertise　to　the　　Movement；　help　the　Movement　cover　its　expenses　in　the　time…honored　fashion　　of　the　IRA；　but　at　times　he　could　feel　his　palm　itching　to　hold　onto　some　of　the　　cash　he　got　for　them　this　way。　As　he'd　told　his　guests　a　little　earlier　tonight；　he　　had　expensive　tastes。
　　It　wouldn't　be　so　bad　if　he　had　some　private　scores　going；　but　it　had　been　　almost　a　year　since　he'd　been　involved　in　a　non…political　robbery；　and　the　money　　from　that　last　caper　was　just　about　gone。　He　needed　something　soon；　or　he'd　be　　eating　that　black　bread　without　the　caviar。
　　They　were　heading　up　Central　Park　West　when　Phil　said；　〃Do　I　hear　a　　phone？　I　keep　thinking　I　hear　a　phone。〃
　　Van　said；　〃Jack　stole　their　phone。〃
　　Herman　could　see　Phil　frowning　as　he　drove。　〃He　stole　their　phone？　Why？　　Just　to　be　mean？〃
　　〃I　need　an　extension　for　my　bedroom；〃　Jack　said。　〃Lemme　see　if　I　can　get　it　　to　be　quiet。〃　He　took　it　out　of　the　bag　and　held　it　in　his　lap；　and　it　didn't　tinkle　as　　much　after　that。
　　Jack　having　moved　the　phone　had　dislodged　some　of　the　crumpled　paper；　and　　Herman　could　see　green　down　in　there。　A　hundred　dollars；　he　thought；　for　　expenses。　But　there　was　no　point　in　it；　a　hundred　dollars　wouldn't　e　near　his　　expenses。
　　They　let　him　off　across　the　street　from　his　building。　They　headed　on　uptown；　　and　Herman　sprinted　across　the　street　and　inside。　He　went　around　to　the　service　　elevator；　rode　it　up　to　his　floor；　and　pushed　the　1　button　to　send　it　back　down　　again　when　he　got　off。　He　entered　his　kitchen　and　Mrs。　Olaffson　said；　　〃Everything's　all　right。〃
　　〃Good。〃
　　〃They're　getting　drunk。〃
　　〃Very　good。　You　can　serve　any　time。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　He　walked　through　the　apartment　to　the　living　room　and　noted　the　shifts　that　　had　taken　place　in　his　absence。　Several　of　them；　but　primarily　involving　George　　and　Linda　Lachine。
　　George　and　Susan　were　sitting　together　now；　George　with　a　rather　fatuous　　smile　on　his　face　while　Susan　talked　to　him；　and　Linda　was　standing　over　on　the　　opposite　side　of　the　room；　trying　to　look　as　though　she　were　admiring　the　W。　C。　　Fields　print。
　　Rastus　and　Diane　were　still　together；　Rastus　now　with　his　hand　on　Diane's　leg。　　The　tinkling　telephone　and　the　reminder　of　his　money　worries　had　put　Herman　in　　a　bad　mood　and　left　him　feeling　unable　to　cope　with　the　plexities　that　Rastus　　would　have　to　offer。　So　it　was　heterosexual　time；　why　not？
　　First　he　had　to　make　some　general　ments　to　the　general　group；　who　　greeted　his　return　with　ments　about　how　long　he'd　been　away。　〃You　know　　those　people；〃　he　said　with　a　dismissing　wave　of　the　hand。　〃They　can't　do　　anything　on　their　own；　not　a　thing。〃
　　〃Problems？〃　Foster　asked。　He　had　e　with　Diane　but　seemed　uninterested　　in　leaving　with　her。
　　〃Nothing　they　can't　handle　by　themselves；〃　he　said　and　gave　everybody　a　　brisk　grin　as　he　rounded　the　coffee　table　and　headed　for　Linda。
　　But　he　didn't　get　there。　Mrs。　Olaffson　appeared　again；　in　a　rerun；　plete　　with　the　same　dialogue：　〃Telephone；　sir。〃
　　Herman　looked　at　her；　for　just　a　second　too　bewildered　to　speak。　He　　couldn't　say；　〃My　call　from　the　Coast？〃　because　that　was　all　over　now。　He　very　　nearly　said；　〃We've　done　that　bit；〃　but　stopped　himself　in　time。　Finally；　out　of　　desperation；　he　said；　〃Who　is　it？〃
　　〃He　just　said　it　was　a　friend；　sir。〃
　　〃Listen；〃　Rastus　drawled　in　that　Southern…cracker　voice　he　liked　to　use　when　　irritated；　〃ain't　we　never　gonna　eat？〃
　　〃All　right；〃　Herman　said。　To　Rastus；　to　Mrs。　Olaffson；　to　everybody。　〃I'll　　make　this　one　fast；〃　he　promised　grimly；　strode　from　the　room；　went　down　the　hall；　and　bashed　his　nose　painfully　when　　he　turned　the　knob　on　the　study　door　without　stopping　and　the　door　turned　out　　still　to　be　locked。　〃God　damn！〃　he　said；　his　eyes　tearing　and　his　nose　smarting。　　Holding　his　nose…he　reminded　himself　of　that　usher…he　trotted　around　through　　the　kitchen　and　into　the　study　that　way。　Dropping　into　the　director's　chair；　he　　picked　up　the　receiver　and　said；　〃Yes！〃
　　〃Hello；　Herman？〃
　　〃Yeah；　that's　right。　Who's　this？〃
　　〃Kelp。〃
　　Herman's　spirits　suddenly　lifted。　〃Well；　hello；〃　he　said。
　　〃Been　a　long　time。〃
　　〃You　sound　like　you　got　a　cold。〃　　〃No；　I　just　hit　my　nose。〃　　〃What？〃
　　〃Never　mind；〃　Herman　said。　〃What's　happening？〃
　　〃Depends；〃　Kelp　said。　〃You　available？〃　　〃Never　better。〃
　　〃This　is　still　a　maybe。〃
　　〃Which　is　better　than　a　nothing；〃　Herman　said。　　〃That's　true；〃　Kelp　said　with　some　surprise；　as　though　he'd　never　thought　that　　out　before。　〃You　know　the　0。　J。　Bar？〃
　　〃Sure。〃
　　〃Tomorrow　night；　eight…thirty。〃
　　Herman　frowned。　There　was　a　screening　he'd　been　invited　to　。　。　。　No。　As　　he'd　told　his　guests；　he　had　expensive　tastes；　and　as　he'd　told　Kelp；　a　maybe　　was　better　than　a　nothing。　〃I'll　be　there；〃　he　said。
　　〃See　you。〃
　　Herman　hung　up　and　reached　for　a　Kleenex。　Smiling；　he　wiped　the　tears　from　　his　eyes；　then　carefully　unlocked　the　study　door　and　went　out　to　the　hall；　where　　Mrs。　Olaffson　greeted　him　with　〃Dinner　is　ready；　sir。〃
　　〃And　so　am　I；〃　he　said。
　　
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　　VICTOR　stood　smiling　in　the　elevator。　This　building；　on　Park　Avenue　in　the　　seventies；　had　been　built　at　the　turn　of　the　century；　but　the　elevator　dated　from　　1926　and　looked　it。　Victor　had　seen　identical　elevators　in　old　movies…the　dark　　wood；　the　waist…high　brass　rail；　the　smoke…tinted　mirror；　the　corner　light　fixtures　　like　brass　skyscrapers　upside　down。　Victor　felt　embraced　by　the　era　of　the　　pulps　and　gazed　around　with　a　happy　smile　as　he　and　his　uncle　rode　up　to　the　　seventeenth　floor。
　　Kelp　said；　〃What　the　hell　you　grinning　at？〃
　　〃I'm　sorry；〃　Victor　said　contritely。　〃I　just　liked　the　looks　of　the　elevator。〃
　　〃This　is　a　medical　doctor　we're　going　to；〃　Kelp　said。　〃Not　a　psychiatrist。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　Victor　said　soberly。
　　〃And　remember　to　let　me　do　the　talking。〃
　　Earnestly；　Victor　said；　〃Oh；　I　will。〃
　　He　was　finding　this　whole　operation　fascinating。　Dortmunder　had　been　　perfect；　Murch　and　his　Mom　had　been　perfect；　the　back　room　of　the　0。　J。　Bar　　and　Grill　had　been　perfect；　and　the　steps　being　taken　to　put　the　job　together　　were　perfect。　Even　Dortmunder's　obvious　reluctance　to　let　Victor　participate　　was　perfect；　it　was　only　right　that　the　old　pro　wouldn't　want　to　work　with　the　　rank　amateur。　But　Victor　knew　that　by　the　finish　he　would　have　had　opportunity　　to　demonstrate　his　value。　The　thought　made　him　smile　again；　until　he　felt　Kelp's　　eyes　on　him；　when　he　immediately　wiped　the　smile　away。
　　〃It's　unusual　that　I'd　even　bring　you　along；〃　Kelp　said　as　the　elevator　door　　opened　and　they　stepped　out　together　into　the　seventeenth…floor　foyer。　The　　doctor's　door；　with　a　discreet　name　plate；　was　to　the　left。　Kelp　said；　〃He　might　　not　even　want　to　talk　in　front　of　you。〃
　　〃Oh；　I　hope　not；〃　Victor　said；　laughing　boyishly。
　　〃If　he　does；〃　Kelp　said；　〃you　go　right　back　to　the　waiting　room。　Don't　argue　　with　him。〃
　　〃Oh；　I　wouldn't；〃　Victor　said　sincerely。
　　Kelp　grunted　and　went　in；　Victor　following。
　　The　nurse　was　behind　a　partition　on　the　right。　Victor　stayed　in　the　background　　while　Kelp　talked　to　her；　saying；　〃We　have　an　appointment。　Charles　Willis　and　　Walter　McLain。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。　If　you'll　just　take　a　seat　。　。　。〃　She　pushed　a　buzzer　that　let　them　　through　the　interior　door。
　　The　waiting　room　looked　like　the　scale　model　of　a　Holiday　Inn　lobby。　A　stout　　lady　looked　up　from　her　copy　of　Weight　Watchers　and　gave　them　the　glance　of　　anonymous　hostility　with　which　people　always　look　at　one　another　in　doctors'　　Waiting　rooms。　Kelp　and　Victor　pawed　through　the　magazines　on　the　central　　table；　and　Kelp　sat　down　with　a　fairly　recent　Newsweek。　Victor　searched　and　　searched；　found　nothing　at　all　interesting；　and　finally　settled　for　a　copy　of　　Gourmet。　He　sat　down　with　it　near