cwilleford.miamiblues-第18部分

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e　gun；　caught　Hoke　on　the　side　of　the　jaw。　As　Hoke　fell　sideways；　Freddy　had　time　for　another　backhand　blow；　and　Hoke's　false　teeth　flew　out　of　his　mouth　and　bounced　on　the　dusty　hall　carpet。　Freddy　put　the　teeth　into　his　jacket　pocket　and　dragged　the　unconscious　body　inside　the　room。　After　closing　the　door；　he　kicked　the　supine　man　in　the　jaw　with　the　point　of　his　shoe。　The　jaw　cracked　audibly；　and　blood　poured　from　Hoke's　nose　and　mouth。
　　After　taking　off　his　jacket；　Freddy　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　unmade　bed。　He　needed　to　coal　off　for　a　minute　or　so。　His　shirt　was　already　drenched　with　sweat；　and　he　didn't　want　it　to　darken　his　new　suit　jacket。　The　air　conditioner　in　the　window　labored　away；　but　it　produced　more　noise　than　cold　air。　In　the　humidity；　the　slightest　exercise　provoked　a　good　deal　of　perspiration。　In　California；　Freddy　would　have　had　to　work　out　for　at　least　a　half…hour　to　build　up　such　a　sweat。　It　was　like　breathing　through　a　wet　bath　towel。
　　The　room　was　grungy。　Here　was　a　pig；　Freddy　thought；　who　actually　lived　like　a　pig。　Aluminum　foil　covered　the　sliding　glass　door　that　opened　onto　the　tiny　balcony。　The　foil　was　there　to　reflect　the　heat　away　from　the　room　in　the　afternoons；　but　it　hadn't　helped　much。　The　dirty　beige　carpet　was　ringed　and　spotted　with　coffee　and　other　food　spills。　The　sheets　on　the　three…quarter…size　bed　were　dirty；　and　there　was　a　pile　of　unwashed　laundry　in　the　corner　next　to　an　overflowing　wastebasket。
　　There　were　two　police　uniforms　in　heavy　plastic　garment　bags　in　the　closet；　along　with　a　black　suit　and　two　poplin　leisure　suits。　There　were　a　half…dozen　clean　short…sleeve　sports　shirts　on　hangers；　one　white　dress　shirt；　and　three　neckties。
　　In　the　bottom　drawer　of　the　dresser　there　was　a　one…ring　hot　plate；　a　small　saucepan；　a　tablespoon；　a　knife；　a　fork；　three　cans　of　Chunky　Turkey　Soup　with　noodles；　and　a　box　of　Krispy　saltines。　There　was　a　half…loaf　of　rye　bread；　four　eggs　in　a　brown　carton；　a　jar　of　instant　coffee；　and　a　bottle　of　Tabasco　sauce。　The　other　dresser　drawers　contained　papers　neatly　filed　away　in　cardboard　folders；　Fruit　of　the　Loom　underwear；　and　black　lisle　socks。　There　were　several　T…shirts；　two　pairs　of　ragged　khaki　gym　shorts；　and　a　pair　of　blue…and…red　running　shoes。　The　cop　didn't　have　another　pair　of　black　dress　shoes；　except　for　the　pair　he　was　wearing。　Of　course；　Freddy　thought；　he　might　have　more　shoes　and　clothes　in　his　locker　at　the　police　station。
　　The　detective；　in　any　event；　was　living　incredibly　cheap；　and　Freddy　couldn't　understand　it。　On　top　of　the　man's　dresser　was　a　ticket　to　a　lot　of　money：　a　badge　and　an　ID　in　a　worn　leather　holder；　a　holstered　。38　police　special；　a　sap；　and　handcuffs。　Freddy　searched　Hoke's　pockets。　He　found　keys；　a　wallet；　a　package　of　Kools；　Dupont　Plaza　Hotel　paper　matches；　and　eighty　cents　in　change。　There　were　18　in　the　wallet；　several　business　cards　with　notes　on　them；　and　one　MasterCard。　There　were　also　two　small　photos　in　the　wallet；　older　versions　of　the　two　young　girls　in　the　framed　photo　on　the　dresser。　The　detective's　notebook　was　in　his　leisure　jacket。　Freddy　flipped　through　it　idly　but　could　make　out　nothing　intelligible　from　the　shorthand　Hoke　used　in　the　notebook。
　　Freddy　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　bed　again　and　tapped　the　black　leather　sap　gently　into　the　palm　of　his　other　hand。　The　light　blow　stung。　The　tapered　sap；　eight　inches　long；　with　a　wrist　loop　at　one　end；　was　filled　with　buckshot。　Once；　in　Santa　Barbara；　a　cop　had　slapped　Freddy　on　the　leg　with　one　almost　like　this　one。　There　had　been　no　reason　to　hit　Freddy　with　the　blackjack；　Freddy　had　been　handcuffed　at　the　time　and　was　sitting　quietly　in　a　straight…backed　chair。　The　cop　had　tapped　him　because　he　had　wanted　to　tap　him。　The　pain　had　been　excruciating。　His　entire　leg　had　gone　numb；　and　unbidden　tears　had　burned　his　eyes。
　　Still　seated；　Freddy　reached　out；　and　slapped　the　sap　sharply　against　the　top　of　Hoke's　right　leg。　Hoke　groaned；　and　made　scrabbling　motions　with　his　fingers　on　the　frayed　carpet。　Freddy　shrugged。　Hitting　the　unconscious　man　had　given　him　no　pleasure；　he　still　didn't　know　why　the　cop　in　Santa　Barbara　had　tapped　him　with　the　sap。　Policemen　undoubtedly　had　some　kind　of　inborn　perverted　streak　that　normal　men　like　himself　didn't　have。
　　Freddy　got　a　brown　paper　sack　from　the　closet　and　dropped　the　holstered　。38；　the　badge；　and　ID　holder　into　it；　along　with　the　sap。　He　now　possessed　a　cop's　license　to　steal；　and　the　equipment　to　go　with　it。　He　added　the　handcuffs　to　the　sack　and　put　Hoke's　18　on　top　of　the　dresser。　He　then　put　five　20　bills　on　top　of　the　18；　it　would　help　to　confuse　the　pig　even　more　when　he　woke　up。
　　Freddy　closed　the　door；　which　locked　behind　him；　took　the　elevator　down；　and　left　the　lobby　by　the　side　terrace　French　windows　to　avoid　being　seen　by　the　domino　players　and　the　old　ladies。　The　players　could　identify　him；　he　knew；　but　four　Latins　with　homemade　prison　tattoos　wouldn't　volunteer　any　information　about　an　injured　cop。　Not　unless；　Freddy　grinned；　someone　slipped　them　ten　bucks　or　so…and　investigating　officers　didn't　put　out　any　free　money　for　information。
　　Freddy　told　Susan　to　take　the　Venetian　Causeway　back　to　the　Omni　Hotel　in　Miami。　When　they　reached　DiLido　Island；　he　told　her　to　stop　on　the　other　side　of　the　island　by　the　bridge。　When　she　stopped　the　car；　he　got　out　and　threw　the　teeth　in　the　bay。　He　climbed　into　the　front　seat　again。
　　〃What　did　you　throw　away？〃　Susan　said。
　　〃None　of　your　business。　If　you　needed　to　know；　I　would've　told　you。　How　many　times　do　I　have　to　tell　you　not　to　ask　questions？〃
　　〃I'm　sorry；〃　Susan　said。　〃I　forgot。〃
　　They　turned　the　car　over　to　valet　parking；　and　when　Freddy　showed　his　room　key　to　the　doorman；　a　bellman　came　out　with　a　cart　and　brought　Susan's　prepared　dinner　up　to　their　room。　Freddy　dialed　room　service　and　ordered　a　bottle　of　champagne；　a　pot　of　coffee；　and　table　service　for　two。　They　ate　the　stuffed　pork　chops　and　still…warm　sweet　potatoes　by　candlelight　in　the　handsomely　appointed　room；　with　a　magnificent　view　of　Biscayne　Bay　and　the　Miami　Beach　skyline。
　　Freddy　plimented　Susan　on　the　pork　chops　and　biscuits；　even　though　they　were　cold。
　　If　Susan　was　still　curious；　she　kept　her　questions　to　herself。
　　
　　
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　　When　Hoke　moved　his　right　leg　it　hurt　more　than　his　jaw；　but　at　least　he　could　move　it。　The　top　of　his　head　seemed　to　rise　and　fall　eerily　with　each　breath。　His　head　was　immobilized　by　two　pillows　so　that　he　could　not　move　it　more　than　an　inch　or　two　to　either　side。　His　wrists　were　tied　loosely　to　the　bedrails　with　gauze；　which　prevented　him　from　feeling　his　face　or　poking　at　the　bandages。　There　were　tubes　and　racks　with　bottles　on　each　side　of　his　bed；　and　clear　fluids　dripped　into　both　arms。　Perhaps　that　was　why　his　arms　were　restrained。
　　Hoke's　lower　face　was　pletely　numb。　From　his　position　on　the　bed；　with　his　head　raised　slightly；　all　he　could　see　was　a　gray　steel　contraption　on　the　wall。　He　wondered　vaguely　what　it　was；　but　it　was　two　more　days　before　he　found　out　that　the　steel　frame　was　a　bracket　for　a　television　set；　and　that　if　he　signed　a　piece　of　paper　he　could　have　a　TV　set　brought　in　so　he　could　watch　the　tube　instead　of　the　bracket。
　　By　the　end　of　the　first　week；　when　Hoke　could　sit　up　and　go　to　the　bathroom　without　help；　he　considered　ordering　the　TV　set；　but　he　never　did。　As　he　recalled；　there　were　too　many　mercials　about　food；　in　color；　on　TV；　and　he　knew　that　the　mercials　would　make　him　hungrier　than　he　was　already。　Sometimes；　when　he　closed　his　eyes；　he　could　visualize　the　Burger　King　double　cheeseburger　with　the　bacon　sizzling　on　top。　He　was　hungry　all　the　time。
　　There　were　four　beds　in　the　ward；　but　Hoke　was　the　only　occupant。　This　was　a　special　oral　surgeon's　ward　in　St。　Mary's　Hospital　in　Miami　Shores；　and　it　was　used　exclusively　by　dentists　and　oral　surgeons　who　had　patients　with　special　problems。　Except　for　a　fourteen…year…old　Jewish　American　Prince　whose　mother　had　him　checked　in　overnight　to　have　a　back　tooth　extracted；　Hoke　had　the　small　ward　to　himself　throughout　his　stay。　Hoke　disliked　the　room；　hated　the　hospital；　and　detested　the　gay　male　nurse；　a　Canary　Islander　who　took　an　unseemly　pleasure　in　giving　Hoke　an　enema。
　　Hoke　had　been　operated　on　by　an　oral　surgeon　named　Murray　Goldstein；　and　by　his　own　dentist　of　several　years　standing；　Dr。　David　Rubin。　Dr。　Rubin　professed　sympathy　for　Hoke；　but　he　had　never　forgiven　him　for　having　Doc　Evans　pull　his　teeth　out　in　the　morgue。　Still；　he　seemed　elated　by　the　fact　that　Hoke's　damaged　jaw　would　be　able　to　support　a　new　set　of　false　teeth。　But　the　new　teeth　had　to　be　held　off　until　Hoke's　jaw　had　healed　and　all　of　the　bone　splinters　came　out。　Meanwhile；　his　mandible　was　immobilized；　wired　here　and　there；　and　he　drank　his　meals　through　a　glass　straw。　The　bruise　on　top　of　his　right　leg　was　the　size　and　shape　of　a　football；　and　he　limped　for　several　days　after　he　was　up　and　into　his　bedside　chair。
　　While　he　was　still　punchy　from　the　drugs　and　unable　to　talk；　Red　Farris　visited　him　and　brought　Louise　along。　He　could　remember　Red's　droopy　red　mustache　hanging　over　him；　and　Louise's　white　face　and　rain…dark　hair　hovering　ghostily　in　the　doorway。　He　couldn't　remember　what　Red　Farris　had　said；　but　Red　had　left　a　note　with　his　presents；　all　of　which　Hoke　found　later　in　his　bedside　table。　There　was　a　bottle　of　Smirnoff　vodka　and　a　one…pound　package　of　fudge　wrapped　in　gold　paper　with　the　note：
　　
　　Use　the　vodka　for　mouthwash。　It's　breathless。
　　Louise　made　you　some　fudge。　When　I　get　settled
　　in　Sebring；　you　can　e　up　for　recuperation
　　and　we'll　go　dove　hunting。　Take　care。
　　
　　〃Red〃
　　
　　When　Farris　didn't　e　back　later；　after　Hoke　could　have　visitors；　Hoke　assumed　that　he　had　left　for　Sebring。　But　Hoke　knew　that　he　would　never　go　dove　hunting　with　Red　Farris；　once　a　man　left　Miami；　that　was　the　end　of　it；　and　Red　knew　it　as　well　as　he　did。
　　Although　his　jaw　was　still　wired　and　he　could　talk　only　with　difficulty；　Hoke　was　glad　to　see　Bill　Henderson。　Bill　told　Hoke　that　the　case　of　the　four　dead　Colombians　had　been　solved。
　　Henderson　had　borrowed　a　skycap's　uniform　and　cap；　put　th