chiaasen.stormyweather-第54部分

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　〃I　believe；〃　said　Max；　〃the　kidnapper　has　brainwashed　him；　too。〃　He　got　another　beer　and　tore　into　a　bag　of　pretzels。
　
　The　agent　said；　〃Prosecution　won't　be　easy。　It's　your　word　against　his。〃
　
　〃But　you　believe　me；　don't　you？〃
　
　〃Mister　Lamb；　it　doesn't　matter　what　I　believe。　Put　yourself　in　the　jury　box。　This　is　a　very　weird　story　you'll　be　asking　them　to　swallow。。。。〃
　
　Max　shot　to　his　feet。　His　cheeks　were　stuffed　with　pretzel　fragments。　〃Jeshush　Chritht；　mahh　wife's　misshing！〃
　
　〃I　understand。　I'd　be　upset；　too。〃　The　FBI　man　was　maddeningly　agreeable　and　polite。　〃And　I'm　not　trying　to　tell　you　what　to　do。　But　you　need　to　know　what　you're　up　against。〃
　
　Max　sat　down；　glowering。
　
　The　agent　explained　that　the　Bureau　seldom　got　involved　unless；　a　ransom　demand　was　issued。　〃There　was　none　in　your　case。　There's　been　none　for　your　wife。〃
　
　〃Well；　I　think　her　life's　in　danger；〃　Max　said；　〃and　I　think　you　people　are　in　deep　trouble　if　something　happens　to　her。〃
　
　〃Believe　me；　Mister　Lamb；　I　understand　your　frustration。〃
　
　No　you　don't；　Max　fumed　silently；　or　you　wouldn't　talk　to　me　like　I　was　ten　years　old。
　
　The　agent　said；　〃Have　you　spoken　to　the　police？〃
　
　Max　told　him　about　the　black　state　trooper　who　was　acquainted　with　the　kidnapper。　〃He　said　I　was　entitled　to　press　charges。　He　said　he'd　take　me　down　to　the　station。〃
　
　The　FBI　man　nodded。　〃That's　the　best　way　to　go；　if　you've　got　your　mind　made　up。〃
　
　Max　told　the　agent　there　was　something　he　definitely　ought　to　see。　He　led　him　to　Augustine's　guest　room　and　showed　him　the　wall　of　skulls。　〃Tell　me　honestly；〃　he　said　to　the　FBI　man；　〃wouldn't　you　be　worried？　He　juggles　those　damn　things。〃
　
　〃Augustine？　Yeah。〃
　
　〃You　know？〃
　
　〃He　won't　hurt　your　wife；　Mister　Lamb。〃
　
　〃Gee；　I　feel　so　much　better。〃
　
　The　agent　seemed　impervious　to　sarcasm。　〃You'll　hear　from　Mrs。　Lamb　sooner　or　later。　That's　my　guess。　If　you　don't；　call　me。　Or　call　me　even　if　you　do。〃　He　handed　his　card　to　Max；　who　affected　hard…bitten　skepticism　as　he　studied　it。　Then　he　walked　toward　the　kitchen；　the　agent　following。
　
　〃I　was　wondering；〃　the　FBI　man　said；　〃did　Augustine　give　you　a　key？〃
　
　Max　turned。
　
　〃To　the　house；〃　the　agent　said。　〃No；　sir。　The　sliding　door　was　open。〃
　
　〃So　you　just　walked　in。　He　doesn't　know　you're　here？〃
　
　〃Well　。。。〃　It　hadn't　occurred　to　Max　Lamb　that　he　was　breaking　the　law。　For　one　infuriating　moment；　he　thought　the　FBI　man　was　preparing　to　arrest　him。
　
　But　the　agent　said：　〃That's　a　swell　way　to　get　your　head　shot　off…being　in　somebody's　house　without　them　knowing。　Especially　here　in　Miami。〃
　
　Max；　grinding　his　teeth；　realized　the　impossibly　upside…down　nature　of　the　situation。　He　was　wasting　his　breath。　A　state　trooper　is　friends　with　the　kidnapper；　an　FBI　man　is　friends　with　the　skull　collector。
　
　〃You　know　what　I　really　want？〃　Max　drained　his　beer　with　a　flourish；　set　the　bottle　down　hard　on　the　counter。　〃All；　I　want　is　to　find　my　wife；　put　her　on　a　plane　and　go　home　to　New　York。　Forget　about　this　fucked…up　place；　forget　about　this　hurricane。〃
　
　The　agent　said；　〃That's　a　damn　good　plan；　Mister　Lamb。〃
　
　
　
　CHAPTER　TWENTY…SIX
　
　
　Snapper　made　Edie　Marsh　pull　over　at　a　liquor　store　in　Islamorada。
　
　〃Not　now；〃　she　said。
　
　〃I　got　to。〃
　
　〃We're　almost　there。〃
　
　A　rumble　from　the　back　seat：　〃Let　the　man　have　a　drink。〃
　
　She　parked　behind　the　store；　away　from　the　road。　Jim　Tile　didn't　see　the　black　Cherokee　as　he　sped　past。　Neither　did　Avila；　ten　minutes　later。
　
　Snapper　wouldn't　be　talked　out　of　his　craving；　and　Edie　was　worried。　She　knew　firsthand　the　folly　of　mixing　booze　with　Midols。　Double　dosed；　Snapper　might　hibernate　for　a　month。
　
　The　woman　named　Bonnie　asked　for　a　cold　Coke。　〃I'm　burning　up。〃
　
　〃Wele　to　Florida；〃　said　Edie。
　
　Snapper　tossed　three　ten…dollar　bills　on　her　lap。　〃Johnnie　Red；〃　he　said。
　
　〃Bad　idea　when　you're　full　of　codeines。〃
　
　〃Shit；　I've　handled　ten　times　worse。　Besides；　it　don't　feel　like　codeine　you　gave　me。〃
　
　Edie　said；　〃Your　knee　quit　hurting；　right？　The　bottle　said　'codeine。'〃
　
　Snapper　switched　the　。357　to　his　left　hand。　With　his　right　hand　he　twisted　Edie's　hair；　as　if　he　were　uprooting　a　clump　of　weeds。　When　she　cried　out；　he　said：　〃I　don't　give　a　fuck　if　the　medicine　bottle　said　turpentine。　Go　get　my　Johnnie　Walker。〃
　
　Edie　pulled　free　and　jumped　out　of　the　Jeep。　She　flipped　him　the　finger　as　she　went　through　the　door　of　the　liquor　store。　Snapper　said；　〃Stubborn　bitch。〃
　
　〃Feisty；〃　Skink　agreed。
　
　Bonnie　Lamb　felt　like　her　skin　was　sizzling。　She　thought　it　would　be　glorious　to　bury　herself　in　fresh　snow。　〃Honest　to　God；　it's　so　hot。　I　feel　like　taking　off　my　clothes。〃
　
　She　couldn't　believe　she'd　said　it　aloud。
　
　Snapper　was　startled；　and　too　confused　for　lust。　〃Jesus　Christ；　what's　a　matter　with　you　people。〃
　
　Bonnie　said；　〃I'm　smothering。〃
　
　His　eyes　wandered　to　the　young　woman's　chest。　Nothing　like　a　pair　of　tits　to　fuck　up　the　balance　of　power。　He　knew　that　if　she　flashed　those　babies；　his　position　instantly　would　be　weakened；　his　authority　diminished。　It　was　a　lost　advantage　that　even　the　。357　could　not　restore。
　
　〃Keep　your　goddamn　shirt　on；〃　he　told　her。
　
　〃Don't　worry。〃　Bonnie　fanned　herself　in　nervous　embarrassment。　In　the　back　of　the　Jeep；　Levon　Stichler　mewled　inquiringly；　trussed　in　his　cocoon　of　moldy　carpet。　Skink　figured　the　old　man　must　have　been　listening；　wondering　if　he　was　missing　something。
　
　Edie　Marsh　returned　from　the　store。　Her　hair　sparkled　with　tiny　raindrops。　She　handed　Bonnie　a　can　of　Dr　Pepper。　〃The　Cokes　weren't　cold。　Here；　asshole。〃
　
　She　shoved　a　brown　paper　bag　at　Snapper。　He　took　out　the　Johnnie　Walker　bottle　and　opened　it　with　one　hand。　He　threw　back　his　head　and　chugged；　as　if　from　a　canteen。
　
　〃Take　it　easy；〃　Edie　admonished。
　
　Contemptuously　he　smacked　his　lips。　〃I　bet　you'd　look　good　pletely　bald；〃　he　said　to　her。　〃That　guy　on　the　new　Star　Trek；　Gene　Luke…you　and　him　could　pass　for　twins。〃
　
　Edie　said；　〃Touch　my　hair　again。　Just　try。〃
　
　He　swung　the　。357　until　the　barrel　came　to　rest　on　the　tip　of　Edie's　nose。　He　cocked　the　hammer　and　said：　〃e　on。　Somebody　talk　me　out　of　it。〃
　
　Bonnie　thought：　Oh　God；　please　don't。　She　shivered　in　sweat。
　
　Snapper　took　another　sloppy　swig　of　whiskey。　The　one…eyed　man　reminded　him　of　the　ammunition　shortage。　〃Shoot　her；　that'd　leave　only　one　bullet　for　the　rest　of　us。〃
　
　〃There's　other　ways　besides　the　gun。〃
　
　Skink　let　loose　an　avalanche　of　laughter。　〃Son；　I'm　fairly　immune　to　blunt　objects　and　sharp　instruments。〃
　
　Edie's　pitch　was　more　blunt。　〃Pull　the　trigger；〃　she　said　to　Snapper；　〃and　kiss　your　hurricane　money　goodbye。　Forty…seven　grand　goes　out　the　window　with　my　brains。〃
　
　Snapper's　bad　mandible　began　to　creak；　a　sign；　Skink　hoped；　of　possible　cogitation。　The　moron　was　deciding　between　the　long…term　rewards　from　the　money　and　the　short…term　satisfaction　from　shooting　her。　Apparently　it　wasn't　an　easy　choice。
　
　Skink　said；　〃Consider　it　an　IQ　test；　chief。〃
　
　Impulsively　Bonnie　Lamb　opened　the　cold　Dr　Pepper　and　poured　it　under　her　blouse；　a　fizzing　caramel　torrent　from　the　cleft　of　her　neck　to　her　tummy。
　
　〃Stop！〃　Snapper　yelled。　〃You　stop　that　crazy　shit！〃
　
　〃I'm　suffocating　in　here…〃
　
　〃I　don't　care！　I　don't　fucking　care。〃
　
　Bonnie　was　so　light…headed　from　the　heat　that　Snapper's　fury　didn't　register。　〃I'm　sorry；〃　she　said；　〃I'm　really　sorry；　but　it's　a　hundred　degrees　in　this　stupid　truck。〃
　
　The　soda　pop　soaked　through　her　top；　so　that　Snapper　could　see　the　lacy　outline　of　a　bra　and　a　pale　damp　oval　of　bare　belly。　Skink　asked　Edie　Marsh　to　put　on　the　air　conditioner。
　
　〃I　tried。　It's　broken。〃　Edie's　voice　was　empty。
　
　〃Don't　even　think　about　getting　naked；〃　Snapper　warned　Bonnie；　〃or　I'll　kill　you。〃　His　head　jangled　with　loud　voices；　some　his　own。　In　exasperation　he　shouted：　〃You　don't　think　I'd　shoot　all　you　crazy　shits？　You　don't　believe　me？　Check　the　fuckin'　hole　in　the　roof　a　this　Jeep！〃
　
　Yeah；　Edie　thought。　Matches　the　one　between　your　ears。
　
　〃Can　we　get　on　with　this？〃　she　said　sourly。　〃It　is　awfully　damn　humid。〃
　
　As　Bonnie's　skin　cooled　off；　she　heard　herself　apologizing　repeatedly。　Yet　it　was　absurd　to　be　ashamed。　Why　should　she　care　what　two　mon　criminals　thought　of　her？
　
　But　she　did　care。　She　couldn't　help　herself。　It　was　the　way　she'd　been　raised：　A　proper　young　woman　did　not　douse　herself　with　soda　pop　in　front　of　total　strangers；　even　felons。
　
　〃It's　all　right；〃　Skink　said。　〃You're　scared；　that's　all。〃
　
　〃I　guess　I　am。〃
　
　Snapper　heard　her。　With　a　vulgar　chuckle；　he　said；　〃Good。　Scared　is　damn　well　what　you　ought　to　be。〃　He　was　halfway　to　shitfaced。
　
　Edie　drove　slowly；　fretfully。　The　man　was　a　keeling　wreck。　How　could　they　possibly　pull　this　off？　She　devised　a　fantasy　scenario：　If　Snapper　passed　out　drunk；　she'd　push　him　from　the　Jeep。　Then　she'd　tell　the　eccentric　couple　in　the　back　seat　that　she　was　very；　very　sorry…it　was　all　a　terrible　misunderstanding。　She'd　promise　them　Snapper's　share　of　the　Midwest　Casualty　settlement　if　they'd　forget　the　whole　dreadful　evening。　She　would　drive　them　back　to　Miami　without　delay　and　（to　prove　she　was　basically　a　decent　person）　offer　to　replace　the　gold　ring　stolen　from　the　lady　trooper。　The　unconscious　Snapper　would　be　run　over　on　the　highway　by　a　passing　shrimp　truck　and　no　longer　pose　a　menace　to　society；　or　to　Edie's　future。
　
　Unfortunately；　Snapper　wasn't　nodding　off。　The　Johnnie　Walker　bottle　lay　capped　on　the　dashboard。　Now　he　was　playing　with　the　gun；　spinning　the　cylinder　and　humming　mischievously。
　
　Edie　Marsh　said；　〃Could　you　please　not　do　that？〃
　
　Snapper　gurgled　crapulously；　his　jaw　jutting　like　a　window　box。　〃You're　so　hot　and　sweaty；　Edie；　you　oughta　do　what　she　almost　done。　Take　off　your　clothes。〃
　
　〃You'd　like　that；　wouldn't　you。〃
　
　〃I　would　love　it。　Wouldn't　y'all？〃　He　waggled　the　。357　at　Skink　and　Bonnie　Lamb。　〃e　on；　wouldn't　ya　like　to　see　Edie's　tits？　They're　cuties。〃
　
　Bonn