dwestlake.bankshot-第8部分

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　Kelp　sighed　and　shifted　and　glanced　at　Dortmunder　and　then　frowned；　obviously　trying　to　figure　out　what　Dortmunder　was　staring　at　him　for。　Then　all　at　once　he　cried；　〃Oh！　The　lockman！〃
　〃The　lockman；〃　Dortmunder　agreed。
　〃Herman　X。〃
　Dortmunder　nodded。　〃That's　the　one。〃
　〃Well；〃　Kelp　said；　〃do　you　care　about　him　being　black？〃
　Patiently　Dortmunder　shook　his　head。　He　said；　〃Why　should　I　care　about　him　being　black？　All　I　want　him　to　do　is　open　a　safe。〃
　〃It's　just　you　never　know　about　people；〃　Kelp　explained。　〃Herman　says　so　himself。〃
　Dortmunder　poured　more　bourbon。
　〃Should　I　give　him　a　call？〃
　〃Why　not？〃
　Kelp　nodded。　〃I'll　give　him　a　call；〃　he　said；　and　the　door　opened　and　Murchcame　in；　followed　by　his　Mom；　wearing　her　neck　brace。　They　were　both　carrying　glasses　of　beer；　and　Murch　was　also　carrying　a　salt　shaker。　〃Hey；Stan！〃　Kelp　said。　〃e　on　in。〃
　〃Sorry　we're　late；〃　Murch　said。　〃Usually；　ing　back　from　the　Island；　I'd　take　the　Northern　State　and　Grand　Central　and　Queens　Boulevard　to　the　Fifty…
　ninth　Street　Bridge；　but　figuring　the　time　of　day　it　was；　and　I　was　ing　uptown…sit　down；　Mom。〃
　〃Victor；〃　Kelp　said；　〃this　is　Stan　Murch；　and　this　is　Murch's　Mom。〃
　〃What　happened　to　your　neck；　Mrs。　Murch？〃
　〃A　lawyer；〃　she　said。　She　was　in　a　bad　mood。
　〃So　I　figured；〃　Murch　said；　once　he　and　his　Mom　were　both　seated；　〃I'd　just　stick　with　Grand　Central　and　take　the　Triborough　Bridge　to　a　hundred　and　twenty…fifth　Street　and　over　to　Columbus　Avenue　and　straight　down。　Only　what　happened…　His　Mom　said；　〃Can　I　take　this　damn　thing　off　anyway　in　here？〃
　〃Mom；　if　you'd　leave　it　on　you'd　get　used　to　it。　You　take　it　off　all　the　time；that's　why　you　don't　like　it。〃
　〃Wrong；〃　she　said。　〃I　have　to　put　it　on　all　the　time。　That's　why　I　don't　like　it。〃
　〃Well；　Stan；　did　you　go　take　a　look　at　the　bank？〃
　〃Let　me　tell　you　what　happened；〃　Murch　said。　〃Just　leave　it　on；　okay；　Mom？　So　we　came　across　Grand　Central；　and　there　was　a　mess　this　side　of　LaGuardia。　Some　kind　of　collision。〃
　〃We　got　there　just　too　late　to　see　it；〃　his　Mom　said。　She　was　keeping　theneck　brace　on。
　〃So　I　had　to　go　along　the　shoulder　and　push　a　cop　car　out　of　the　way　at　one　point；　so　I　could　get　off　at　Thirty…first　Street　and　go　down　to　Jackson　Avenue　and　then　Queens　Boulevard　and　the　bridge　and　the　regular　way　after　that。　Sothat's　why　We're　late。〃
　〃No　problem；〃　Kelp　said。
　〃If　I'd　done　my　regular　route；　it　wouldn't　have　happened。〃
　Dortmunder　sighed。　〃You're　here　now；〃　he　said。　〃That's　the　important　thing。　Did　you　look　at　the　bank？〃　He　wanted　to　know　the　worst　and　get　it　over　with。
　Murch's　Mom　said；　〃It　was　a　beautiful　day　for　a　drive。〃
　〃I　looked　at　it；〃　Murch　said。　He　was　being　very　businesslike　all　of　a　sudden。〃　I　looked　it　over　very　carefully；　and　I've　got　some　good　news　and　some　bad　news。〃
　Dortmunder　said；　〃The　bad　news　first。〃
　〃No；〃　Kelp　said。　〃The　good　news　first。〃
　〃Okay；〃　Murch　said。　〃The　good　news　is　it　has　a　trailer　hitch。〃
　Dortmunder　said；　〃What's　the　bad　news？〃
　〃It　doesn't　have　any　wheels。〃
　〃Been　nice　talking　to　you；〃　Dortmunder　said。
　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　said　Kelp。　〃Wait　a　minute；　wait　a　minute。　What　do　you　mean　it　doesn't　have　any　wheels？〃
　〃Underneath；〃　Murch　said。
　〃But　it's　a　trailer；　it's　a　mobile　home。　It's　got　to　have　wheels。〃
　〃What　they　did；〃　Murch　said；　〃they　put　it　in　position；　and　jacked　it　up；　and　took　the　wheels　off。　Wheels　and　axles　both。〃
　〃But　it　had　wheels；〃　Kelp　said。
　〃Oh；　sure；〃　Murch　said。　〃Every　trailer　has　wheels。〃
　〃So　what　the　hell　did　they　do　with　them？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　Maybe　the　pany　that　owns　the　trailer　has　them。〃
　Victor　suddenly　snapped　his　fingers　and　said；　〃Of　course！　I've　seen　the　same　thing　at　construction　sites。　They　use　trailers　for　field　offices；　and　if　it's　a　long…term　job　they　build　foundation　walls　underneath　and　remove　the　wheels。〃
　〃What　the　hell　for？〃　Kelp　asked。　He　sounded　affronted。
　〃Maybe　save　strain　on　the　tires。　Maybe　give　it　more　stability。〃
　Murch　said；　〃The　point　is；　it　doesn't　have　wheels。〃
　A　little　silence　fell　on　the　group。　Dortmunder；　who　had　just　been　sitting　there　letting　the　conversation　wash　over　him　while　he　basted　in　his　own　pessimism；　sighed　and　shook　his　head　and　reached　for　the　bourbon　bottle　again。　He　knew　that　May　believed　that　planning　even　an　idiot　job　that　wouldn't　ever　happen　was　better　than　doing　nothing　at　all；　and　he　supposed　she　was　right；　but　what　he　wouldn't　give　for　news　right　now　about　a　factory　that　still　paid　cash。
　All　right。　He　was　the　planner…that　was　his　function…so　it　was　up　to　him　to　think　about　the　details　as　they　came　along。　No　wheels。　He　sighed　and　said　to　Murch；　〃The　thing　is　sitting　on　those　concrete　block　walls；　right？〃
　〃That's　right；〃　Murch　said。　〃What　they　must　have　done；　they　jacked　it　up；took　the　wheels　off；　put　the　concrete　blocks　in　place；　and　lowered　the　trailer　down　onto　them。〃
　〃The　concrete　blocks　are　cemented　to　each　other；〃　Dortmunder　said。　〃The　question　is；　are　they　cemented　to　the　bottom　of　the　trailer？〃
　Murch　shook　his　head。　〃Definitely　not。　The　trailer's　just　resting　there。〃
　〃With　concrete　block　all　around　underneath。〃
　〃Not　on　the　ends；　just　along　the　two　sides。〃
　A　tiny　flicker　of　interest　made　Dortmunder　frown。　〃Not　at　the　ends？〃
　〃No；〃　Murch　said。　〃The　one　end　is　against　the　Kresge's　next　door；　and　the　other　end　they've　just　got　a　wooden　lattice　across　it。　So　they　can　get　in　at　it；　I　guess。〃
　Dortmunder　turned　his　head　to　look　at　Victor。　For　a　wonder；　Victor　wasn't　smiling；　instead；　he　was　watching　Dortmunder　with　such　intensity　he　looked　paralyzed。　It　wasn't　much　of　an　improvement。　Squinting；　Dortmunder　said；　〃Is　there　ever　any　time　when　the　bank　is　empty？　No　guards　at　all？〃
　〃Every　night；〃　Victor　said。　〃Except　Thursday；　when　the　cash　is　in　it。〃
　〃They　don't　have　a　night　watchman　in　there？〃
　〃They　don't　keep　any　cash　there　at　all；〃　Victor　said；　〃except　on　Thursdays。　Otherwise；　there's　nothing　to　steal。　And　they've　got　all　the　normal　burglar　alarms。　And　the　police　patrol　the　business　streets　pretty　often　out　there。〃
　〃What　about　weekends？〃
　〃They　patrol　weekends；　too。〃
　〃No；〃　Dortmunder　said。　〃What　about　guards　on　the　weekends？　Saturday　afternoon；　for　instance。　The　thing's　empty　then？〃
　〃Sure；〃　Victor　said。　〃With　so　many　shoppers　going　by　on　Saturday；　what　do　they　need　with　guards？〃
　〃All　right；〃　Dortmunder　said。　He　turned　back　to　Murch　and　said；　〃Can　we　get　wheels　someplace？〃
　〃Sure；〃　Murch　said。　No　hesitation　at　all。
　〃You're　sure？〃
　〃Absolutely　positive。　There　is　totally　nothing　in　the　automotive　line　that　I　can't　get　you。〃
　Dortmunder　said；　〃Good。　Can　we　get　wheels　that　will　lift　the　damn　thing　up　off　those　concrete　blocks？〃
　〃We　may　have　to　rig　something；〃　Murch　said。　〃They've　got　those　walls　up　pretty　high。　There　may　not　be　any　wheels…and…axle　bination　that　big。　But　we　could　attach　the　axle　to　a　kind　of　platform　and　then　attach　the　platform　to　the　bottom　of　the　trailer。〃
　〃What　about　jacks？〃
　Murch　shook　his　head。　〃What　about　them？〃
　〃We　can　get　heavy　enough　jacks　to　lift　that　thing？〃
　〃We　don't　have　to；〃　Murch　said。　〃It　has　its　own　jacks；　four　of　them；　built　upinto　the　undercarriage。〃
　Victor　said；　〃Excuse　me；　Mr。　Murch；　but　how　did　you…〃
　〃Call　me　Stan。〃
　〃Thank　you。　I'm　Victor。　How　did　you…〃
　〃Hello。　How　did　you　find　out　about　the　jacks？　Did　you　crawl　under　the　bank　and　look？〃
　Murch　grinned　and　said；　〃Naw。　Down　in　the　corner　there's　the　pany　name　that　built　the　thing。　Roamerica。　Didn't　you　notice　that？〃
　〃I　never　did；〃　Victor　said。　He　sounded　impressed。
　〃It's　a　little　silver　plate　near　the　back；〃　Murch　said。　〃Near　Kresge's。〃
　His　Mom　said；　〃Stan　has　a　wonderful　eye　for　detail。〃
　〃So　we　went　to　a　place　that　sells　them；〃　Murch　said；　〃and　I　took　a　look　at　the　same　kind　of　model。〃
　〃With　wheels；〃　Kelp　said。　He　was　still　taking　the　business　of　the　wheels　as　a　personal　insult。
　Murch　nodded。　〃With　wheels。〃
　〃They're　really　very　nice　inside；〃　his　Mom　said。　〃More　roomy　than　you'd　think。　I　liked　the　one　with　the　French　Provincial　motif。〃
　〃I　like　where　we　live　now；〃　Murch　said。
　〃I'm　not　saying　buy　one。　I　just　said　I　liked　it。　Very　clean；　very　nice。　And　you　know　what　I　thought　of　that　kitchen。〃
　Dortmunder　said；　〃If　we　got　wheels　on　it；　could　you　drive　it　away　from　there？〃
　Murch's　beer　was　only　half　gone；　but　the　head　was　gone　entirely。　Musing；　he　shook　a　little　salt　into　the　glass；　which　restored　some　head；　and　passed　the　shaker　to　his　mom。　〃Not　with　a　car；〃　he　said。　〃It's　too　heavy　for　that。　With　a　truck。　The　cab　of　a　tractor…trailer…that　would　be　best。〃
　〃But　it　could　be　done。〃
　〃Oh；　sure。　I'd　have　to　stick　to　main　streets；　though。　You've　got　a　twelve…foot　width。　That's　pretty　wide　for　going　down　back　roads。　Cuts　your　possibilities　for　a　getaway　route。〃
　Dortmunder　nodded。　〃I　figured　that。〃
　〃Also　time　of　day；〃　Murch　said。　〃Late　at　night　would　be　best；　when　there's　not　so　much　traffic　around。〃
　〃Well；　we'd　figure　to　do　it　then　anyway；〃　Dortmunder　said。
　〃A　lot　depends；〃　Murch　said；　〃on　where　you　want　to　take　it。〃
　Dortmunder　glanced　at　Kelp；　who　looked　very　defensive　and　said；　〃We　can　work　that　out；　we　can　work　it　out。　Victor　and　me。〃
　Dortmunder　grimaced　and　looked　back　at　Murch。　〃Would　you　be　willing　to　try　it？〃
　〃Try　what？〃
　〃Driving　the　bank　away。〃
　〃Sure！　Naturally；　that's　what　I'm　here　for。〃
　Dortmunder　nodded　and　sat　back　in　his　chair。　He　didn't　look　specifically　at　anybody；　but　brooded　at　the　green　felt　tabletop。　Nobody　spoke　for　half　a　minute　or　so；　and　then　Victor　said；　〃Do　you　think　we　can　do　it；　Mr。Dortmunder？〃
　Dortmunder　glanced　at　him；　and　the　intense　look　was　still　there。　This　was　originally　Victor's　notion；　of　course；　so　it　was　only　natural　he　wanted　to　know　if　he　had　a　workable　idea　or　not。　Dortmunder　said；　〃I　don't　know　yet。　It　begins　to　look　as　though　we　can　take　the　thing　away；　but　there's　still　a　lot　of　problems。〃
　Kelp　said；　〃But　we　can　go　forward；　right？〃
　Dortmunder　said；　〃You　and　Victor　can　look　for　a　place　to　stash　the　bank　while　…　…　。〃　He　stopped　and　shook　his　head。　〃A　place　to　stash　the　bank。　I　can't　believe　I'm　saying　a　thing　like　that。　Anyway；　you　two　do　that；　Murch　sets　up　wheels　and　a　truck　or　whatever；　and…〃
　〃There's　t