cwilleford.miamiblues-第20部分

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　and　three　knives。　Finally；　when　Reagan　took　away　their　115…a…month　government　checks；　the　refugees　without　jobs　had　moved　out；　unable　to　pay　the　three　bucks　a　night。　Hoke　had　then　persuaded　Mr。　Bennett　to　get　rid　of　the　worst　offenders；　so　now　there　were　only　five　or　six　Marielitos　left；　and　they　all　had　jobs　of　some　kind。　Hoke　figured　they　all　liked　him。　He　would　pass　out　a　dollar　now　and　then…to　wash　his　car　or　to　bring　him　a　sandwich　from　Gold's　Deli。　So　if　his　attacker　was　a　Marielito；　it　had　to　be　one　that　he　had　evicted。　But　the　attack　wasn't　in　the　Latin　manner。　When　a　Latin　wanted　revenge；　he　also　wanted　you　to　know　all　about　it；　and　he　would　tell　you　at　great　length　precisely　what　he　was　going　to　do　to　you　and　why　before　he　got　around　to　doing　it。
　　Hoke　knew　that　he　had　his　share　of　enemies。　What　policeman　hasn't？　He　had　put　his　quota　of　people　away；　and　the　parole　board　released　them　faster　than　they　were　incarcerated。　There　were　bound　to　be　a　few　who　might　keep　their　promise　to　get　him　when　they　were　released。　On　the　other　hand；　a　stretch　in　prison　had　a　way　of　cooling　people　off。　There　was　ample　time　for　reflection　in　prison；　and　time；　if　it　didn't　eliminate　animosity；　at　least　ameliorated　it。　Hoke；　like　most　men；　considered　himself　a　good　guy。　He　couldn't　conceive　how　anyone　who　knew　him　could　attack　him　in　such　a　cruel；　impersonal　way。
　　Hoke　came　to　the　conclusion　that　he　had　been　mistaken　for　someone　else；　and　the　incident　was　some　kind　of　crazy　mixup。
　　He　also　thought　it　was　peculiar　that　both　boxes　of　fudge；　the　one　from　Louise　and　the　one　from　Captain　Brownley；　had　been　wrapped　in　the　same　gold　paper　and　tied　with　the　same　kind　of　flexible　gold　string。　A　few　days　later；　when　he　was　limping　around　the　hospital　corridors；　just　to　get　out　of　his　room；　he　went　into　the　hospital　gift　shop。　There　was　a　pyramid　of　fudge　on　the　counter；　each　pound　wrapped　in　gold　paper。　Hoke　looked　at　a　box　and　saw　the　sticker　on　the　bottom：　〃Gray　Lady　Fudge…4。　95〃。
　　
　　
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　　Freddy　had　always　been　a　light　sleeper；　but　noise　had　seldom　interrupted　his　sleep。　In　prison；　he　could　sleep　soundly　while　two　men　in　the　same　cell　argued　at　the　top　of　their　voices；　and　with　bars　clanging　throughout　the　block。　But　if　there　was　a　change　in　the　pattern　of　the　usual　noises　he　would　awake　immediately；　as　alert　as　an　animal；　until　he　discovered　what　had　disturbed　the　pattern。　He　could　then　drop　back　to　sleep　as　easily　as　he　had　awakened。
　　He　awoke　now；　at　four…thirty　A。M。；　but　heard　nothing　except　the　gentle　hissing　of　the　cold　air　from　the　wall　ducts。　Susan；　her　left　thumb　in　her　mouth；　slept　soundlessly　beside　him；　naked　except　for　the　sheet　they　had　pulled　waist…high　over　themselves。　There　was　a　gentle　flurry　in　Freddy's　stomach；　as　though　mice　were　scrambling　around　inside。　His　mouth　was　dry；　and　despite　the　air　conditioning；　there　was　a　light　film　of　perspiration　on　his　forehead。　His　right　leg　began　to　jerk　involuntarily；　and　it　took　him　a　moment　or　two　to　control　the　tic。　He　threw　off　the　sheet　and　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　bed。　To　his　surprise；　he　was　a　little　dizzy。　He　poured　a　glass　of　water　from　the　bedside　carafe　and　ate　the　piece　of　chocolate　that　the　maid　had　left　on　his　pillow　when　she　had　turned　down　the　bedcovers。
　　Freddy　was　having　an　anxiety　attack；　but　because　it　was　his　first；　he　didn't　know　what　was　happening。　He　picked　up　his　watch　and　watched　the　second　hand　sweep　around　as　he　took　his　pulse。　He　found　the　rate　of　seventy　disturbing；　as　a　rule；　his　pulse　was　a　steady　fifty…five。　He　went　to　the　dresser；　picked　up　Hoke's　。38　police　special；　cocked　it；　and　checked　both　closets　and　the　bathroom。　No　one。　He　lowered　the　hammer　carefully　and　replaced　the　weapon　in　the　holster。　He　wanted　to　smoke　a　cigarette。　All　he　had　to　do　was　to　pick　up　the　phone　and　he　could　have　a　carton　in　the　room　within　minutes；　but　he　didn't　reach　for　the　telephone。　People　in　hell；　he　thought；　want　pi？a　coladas；　too。　Their　problem　is　that　they　can't　have　them。　My　problem　is　that　I　can　have　everything　and　anything　I　want；　but　what　do　I　want？
　　He　didn't　want　anything；　including　the　cigarette　he　had　thought　he　wanted。　What　did　he　want？　Nothing。　In　prison　he　had　made　mental　lists　of　all　kinds　of　things　he　would　get　when　he　was　released；　ranging　from　milk　shakes　to　powder　blue　Caddy　convertibles。　But　he　didn't　like　milk　shakes　because　of　the　furry　aftertaste；　and　a　convertible　in　Florida　would　be　too　unfortably　hot…unless　he　kept　the　top　up　and　the　air　conditioning　going　full　blast。　So　who　would　want　a　convertible？
　　What　he　needed　was　a　purpose；　and　then；　after　he　had　the　purpose；　he　would　need　a　plan。
　　Freddy　pulled　Susan　into　a　sitting　position。　〃Are　you　awake；　Susie？〃
　　〃I　think　so。〃
　　〃Then　open　your　eyes。〃
　　〃I'm　sleepy。〃
　　Freddy　poured　a　glass　of　water　and　splashed　some　water　into　Susan's　face。　She　rubbed　her　puffy　eyes　and　blinked。　〃I'm　awake。〃
　　〃Tell　me　again；〃　he　said；　〃about　the　Burger　King　franchise。〃
　　〃What？〃
　　〃The　Burger　King　franchise。　You　and　your　brother；　remember？　How　does　it　work？　How　much　money　do　you　need；　and　why　do　you　want　one？〃
　　〃It　wasn't　my　idea；　it　was　Marty's。　What　you　need；　he　said；　is　about　fifty　thousand　dollars。　Then　you　borrow　another　fifty　thousand　from　the　bank　and　go　to　the　Burger　King　people。　They　tell　you　what's　available；　and　you　buy　it　or　lease　it　and　run　it　by　their　rules。　Marty　wanted　to　build　one　up　in　Okeechobee。　He　even　had　the　location　picked　out。〃
　　〃But　why　did　he　want　it？　What　was　his　purpose？〃
　　〃To　make　a　living；　that's　all。　You　hire　school　kids　real　cheap；　and　you　make　a　nice　profit。　All　you　have　to　do；　as　the　manager；　is　hang　around　all　the　time；　see　that　the　place　is　clean；　and　count　your　money。　When　you　pay　back　the　bank　loan；　everything　else　you　make　from　then　on　is　gravy。〃
　　〃What　was　your　part　supposed　to　be　in　all　this？〃
　　〃Well；　he　said　we'd　split　up　the　work；　so　that　one　of　us　would　be　there　at　all　times。　Otherwise；　these　kids　who　work　for　next　to　nothing　will　steal　you　blind。　So　if　he　was　there　days　and　I　was　there　nights；　we　could　prevent　that。〃
　　〃Is　that　what　you　wanted？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　It　seemed　like　such　a　long　way　off；　I　didn't　think　much　about　it。　Marty　liked　to　talk　about　it；　though。　I　guess　I　didn't　care。　It　would　be　something　to　do；　I　guess。　I　don't　know。〃
　　〃Well；　I　think　it's　stupid。　I　can't　see　any　point　to　hanging　around　a　Burger　King　all　day；　no　matter　how　much　money　you　make。　Don't　you　know　why　it's　stupid？〃
　　〃I　never　thought　too　much　about　it。〃
　　〃I'll　tell　you　why。　Your　life　would　depend　on　the　random　desires　of　people　who　wanted　a　hamburger。　So　you　can　just　forget　about　Burger　King。〃
　　〃Okay。　Can　I　go　back　to　sleep　now？〃
　　〃Yeah。　I'm　going　out　for　a　while。　Don't　let　anyone　in　while　I'm　gone。　Do　you　want　anything　while　I'm　out？〃
　　〃Uh…uh　　。　。　。　〃　She　was　asleep。
　　
　　Freddy；　carrying　Hoke's　sap　and　handcuffs　in　his　jacket　pocket　and　the　holstered　pistol　clipped　to　his　belt　in　the　back；　and　with　the　badge　and　ID　case　in　his　right　trousers　pocket；　left　the　deserted　lobby。　He　walked　down　Biscayne　toward　Sammy's；　which　was　open　twenty…four　hours。　The　predawn　air　was　damp；　cooler　this　time　of　morning；　and　there　was　a　taste　of　salt　in　the　air　from　the　bay。
　　At　the　corner；　a　tall　black　whore　at　the　curb　clawed　at　his　arm　with　long　black　fingers。
　　〃Lookin'　for　some　fun？〃　she　said。
　　Freddy　showed　her　his　badge。　〃Call　it　a　night。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃　She　crossed　the　street　on　the　yellow　light　and　walked　swiftly　away；　her　high　heels　clattering　in　the　dark。
　　Freddy　continued　on　to　Sammy's；　went　into　the　clean；　welllighted　restaurant；　and　took　a　corner　booth。　Power；　he　thought。　Without　the　badge；　he　would　have　had　an　argument；　and　it　would　have　been　difficult　to　get　rid　of　the　whore　unless　he　had　decided　to　kick　her　in　the　ass。　And　that　could　have；　might　have；　caused　him　some　trouble。　It　was　trouble　he　could　handle　but　a　hassle　all　the　same。　With　the　badge；　it　was　so　easy　　。　。　。　
　　A　rangy　red…haired　waitress　came　over　to　take　his　order。
　　〃Coffee。　Is　that　okay；　or　do　I　have　to　order　something　with　it？〃
　　〃Most　people　do；　but　you　don't　have　to。〃
　　〃Okay。　And　pie；　then。〃
　　〃What　kind？〃
　　〃I'm　not　going　to　eat　it；　so　what　difference　does　it　make？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　Freddy　didn't　want　the　coffee；　either。　But　the　long　walk　in　the　cool　air　had　allayed　his　anxiety　somewhat；　and　he　began　to　work　out　a　plan　that　would　lead　to　a　purpose。　What　he　needed　to　do；　he　decided；　was　to　get　organized　and　to　start　over。　The　haiku　about　the　frog　ing　to　Miami　and　making　a　splash　of　some　kind　made　a　lot　of　sense。　Alone；　with　this　new　city　and　a　new　chance；　he　could　do　something　or　other　if　he　could　only　figure　out　what　it　was　he　was　meant　to　do。　What　he　wanted　to　do　was　to　dump　Susan；　but　he　realized　that　he　was　now　stuck　with　her。　He　had；　strictly　by　accident；　caused　the　death　of　her　stupid　brother。　The　fact　that　it　was　her　brother's　fault　and　not　his　didn't　make　any　difference。　Without　anyone　else　to　look　after　her　now；　she　had　bee　Freddy's　responsibility。　She　would　get　no　help　from　her　father；　that　was　a　certainty。　So　now　it　was　up　to　him。　His　first　idea；　about　buying　her　a　Burger　King　franchise；　was　out。　She　had　no　real　interest　in　the　idea；　and　she　wouldn't　be　capable　of　running　a　place　like　that　if　she　had　one。　Her　dumb　brother；　in　all　probability；　wouldn't　have　been　able　to　run　one　either。
　　Freddy　sipped　his　black　coffee　and　counted　the　pecan　halves　on　top　of　the　piece　of　pie　the　redhead　had　brought　with　the　coffee。　The　pie　was　warm　and　smelled　good；　but　he　had　eaten　one　hell　of　a　dinner。　He　wasn't　hungry　。
　　A　black　man　wearing　a　Raiders　fedora　walked　into　the　restaurant　carrying　a　hunting　knife。　He　grabbed　the　red…haired　waitress's　wrist　and　twisted　her　arm　into　a　half…nelson。　She　squealed　and　he　put　the　point　of　the　knife　into　her　neck　a　quarter　of　an　inch；　just　far　enough　to　draw　a　trickle　of　blood；　and　told　her　to　open　the　register。
　　There　were　two　patrons　in　the　restaurant　besides　Freddy；　and　they　sat　paralyzed　at　the　cuunter。　They　were　middle…aged　Canadian　tourists；　getting　an　early　breakfast　before　a　drive　to　the　Keys。　The　robber　apparently　hadn't　no