cwilleford.miamiblues-第21部分

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ian　tourists；　getting　an　early　breakfast　before　a　drive　to　the　Keys。　The　robber　apparently　hadn't　noticed　Freddy　in　the　corner　booth；　or　else　he　wasn't　concerned　about　him。　His　concentration　was　on　the　waitress　and　the　money　in　the　till　when　Freddy　shot　him　in　the　left　kneecap。　The　report　of　the　。38　was　loud；　but　the　man's　scream　was　piercing　enough　to　make　the　Canadians　shudder。　He　dropped　the　waitress's　arm　and　his　knife；　then　fell；　still　screaming；　to　the　floor。　Freddy　stopped　the　screaming　in　mid…shrill　when　he　tapped　him　behind　his　right　ear　with　the　heavy　leather　sap。
　　Freddy　flashed　his　badge。　〃It's　okay；　dear；〃　he　said　to　the　waitress。　〃I'm　a　police　officer。〃　He　held　up　the　badge　so　the　middle…aged　couple　at　the　counter　could　see　it。　Freddy　smiled。　〃Police。　Go　ahead　and　finish　your　breakfast。〃
　　The　waitress　sat　at　the　counter；　put　her　head　down　on　her　crossed　arms；　and　began　to　cry。　Freddy　took　the　billfold　from　the　unconscious　man's　hip　pocket　and　dropped　it　into　his　own　jacket　pocket　with　the　handcuffs。　He　took　out　the　handcuffs；　decided　he　didn't　need　to　use　them；　and　then　told　the　middle…aged　couple　to　stay　where　they　were　while　he　made　a　call　for　an　ambulance　from　the　radio　in　his　police　car。　They　both　nodded；　still　too　numb　to　reply。
　　Freddy　put　a　dollar　bill　under　his　coffee　cup　at　his　booth；　left　the　restaurant；　and　walked　back　to　the　Omni　Hotel。　As　he　entered　the　lobby；　he　heard　the　police　siren　as　the　panda　car　hurtled　down　Biscayne　toward　Sammy's。　He　sat　in　a　red　leather　chair　in　the　lobby　and　took　out　the　robber's　billfold。　Eighty　dollars。　There　were　three　driver's　licenses　in　the　billfold；　all　with　different　names　but　with　the　same　picture。　Freddy　had　no　use　for　the　licenses　or　the　billfold；　but　he　could　always　use　another　eighty　dollars。　He　dropped　the　billfold　into　a　potted　plant　and　took　the　elevator　up　to　his　room。　He　had　an　idea　now；　on　how　to　take　care　of　Pablo　Lhosa。
　　
　　Freddy　shook　Susan　awake；　told　her　to　take　a　shower　and　to　get　dressed。　He　ordered　coffee；　orange　juice；　and　sweet　rolls　from　room　service。　The　continental　breakfast　was　at　the　door　by　the　time　Susan　was　dressed。
　　〃The　breakfast's　for　you；　to　wake　you　up；〃　he　said。　〃Go　ahead　and　eat　while　I　tell　you　what　to　do。〃
　　〃Want　some？〃　she　said；　biting　into　a　prune　Danish。
　　〃If　I'd　wanted　something　I　would've　ordered　it。〃
　　Freddy　told　Susan　to　drive　back　to　the　apartment　and　to　pack　up　his　purchases　from　the　day　before　and　to　bring　them　to　the　hotel。　He　told　her　where　he　had　hidden　the　coin　collection　in　the　leather　case；　and　to　bring　that；　too。　Also；　while　she　was　home；　she　could　pack　a　few　things　she　might　need　herself　for　a　few　days'　stay　at　the　hotel。　〃Don't　think　about　it　too　much。　If　you　forget　something；　we　can　always　buy　it　here　at　Omni。　The　important　thing　is　to　pack　my　stuff　and　get　the　money；　then　e　back　here　without　running　into　Pablo。　He　won't　be　up　this　early　in　the　morning。　On　your　way　back；　make　sure　you　aren't　followed。　If　you　pick　up　a　tail；　lose　him　before　you　drive　back　to　the　hotel。〃
　　〃Is　somebody　after　us；　Junior？〃
　　〃Not　us；　but　me；　yes。　I'm　not　a　likable　person；　so　someone　is　usually　after　me。　And　because　you're　with　me　now；　that　means　somebody'll　probably　be　after　you；　too。〃
　　〃I　don't　understand。〃
　　〃That　isn't　important。　When　there's　something　important　you　really　need　to　understand；　I'll　explain　it　to　you。　Right　now；　when　you　finish　your　coffee；　I　want　you　to　get　moving。　Here's　the　extra　room　key。　Change　clothes　when　you　get　home；　too。　Wear　a　skirt　and　blouse　and　some　saddle　shoes。〃
　　〃What　saddle　shoes？　I　don't　have　any　shoes　with　saddles。　I　can　wear　my　running　shoes。〃
　　〃Okay。　We'll　get　you　some　saddle　shoes　later；　so　you'll　look　like　a　college　girl。　But　that'll　be　after　I　deal　with　Pablo。〃
　　〃Do　I　have　to　see　Pablo　again？　I'm　afraid　of　him。〃
　　〃Did　Pablo　fuck　you　when　you　first　went　to　work　for　him？〃
　　〃No。　I　just　sucked　him　off；　is　all。　He　wanted　to　see　if　I　knew　how　to　do　it；　and　then　he　gave　me　some　pointers；　afterward。　Pablo　knows　a　lot。〃
　　〃No；　you　don't　have　to　see　Pablo　again。　Just　beat　it　now；　e　back　here；　and　if　I'm　not　here；　watch　the　TV　until　I　get　back。　If　you　get　hungry；　call　room　service。〃
　　After　Susan　left；　Freddy　drank　what　was　left　of　the　orange　juice。　His　mouth　was　still　dry。　He　found　it　exhausting　to　talk　to　Susan；　and　he　was　never　certain　whether　she　understood　everything　he　told　her。　Apparently　she　did；　because　so　far　she　had　done　everything　right；　and　she　had　also　picked　up　on　his　lies　when　he　had　talked　to　the　cop　in　the　Brazilian　steak　house。　But　she　also　had　the　bad　habit　of　telling　the　truth　when　a　lie　would　have　done　her　more　good。　She　shouldn't　have　told　the　detective　that　she　was　hooking　at　the　hotel。　The　way　she　looked；　no　one　would　have　ever　guessed　what　she　did　for　a　living。　Later　on；　when　he　had　more　time；　he　would　talk　to　her　about　what　to　say　and　what　not　to　say；　otherwise；　she　would　get　herself…　and　him…into　some　bad　situations。
　　Freddy　called　the　desk；　and　found　out　that　the　barber　shop　didn't　open　until　eight…thirty。　He　took　a　shower　and　glumly　watched　the　〃Today〃　show　on　television　until　eight　A。M。　Restless；　he　got　dressed　again；　and　took　the　elevator　to　the　lobby；　sharing　the　cage　with　a　Latin　family　with　four　small　children　and　an　old　lady　with　a　hairy　mole　on　her　chin。　The　elevator　reeked　of　musk　and　garlic；　and　because　the　rotten　kids；　on　getting　in；　had　pushed　all　the　buttons；　the　elevator　stopped　at　every　floor　on　the　way　down。
　　The　barber　shop　was　open。　Freddy　got　a　shave。　After　the　shave；　the　barber　bed　Freddy's　hair　and　said：
　　〃You　have　lovely　hair；　but　you　really　should　let　it　grow。　It's　much　too　short　for　today's　stylings。〃
　　〃Your　hair's　too　long；〃　Freddy　said。　〃You　look　like　a　fruit；　and　if　I　couldn't　tell　by　your　hair；　that　Swiss　army　earring　you're　wearing　still　gives　you　away。〃
　　Freddy　climbed　into　the　first　cab　in　line；　and　told　the　old　woman　who　was　driving　it　to　take　him　to　the　International　Hotel。
　　〃That's　the　one　on　Brickell；　isn't　it？
　　〃Are　there　two　International　Hotels？〃
　　〃Not　that　I　know　of…〃
　　〃Then　it　must　be　the　one　on　Brickell；　right？〃
　　〃That's　what　I　meant。〃
　　People　were　going　to　work；　and　the　traffic　was　heavy。　The　cab's　meter　ticked　away　with　the　speed　of　light。　When　she　pulled　up　at　the　entrance；　Freddy　said：
　　〃I'm　not　going　to　be　long。　If　you　want　to　wait；　you　can　take　me　over　to　Miami　Beach。〃
　　〃That　beats　going　to　the　airport。　But　you　can　pay　me　now；　and　I'll　turn　off　the　meter。〃
　　〃Don't　you　trust　me？〃
　　〃As　much　as　you　trust　me。〃
　　〃Keep　the　meter　running。〃　Freddy　counted　out　four　twenties。　〃If　it　gets　up　to　this　much　and　I'm　not　back；　you　can　leave　without　me。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　Freddy　made　a　casual　tour　of　the　enormous　lobby。　There　were　three　restaurants　and　a　coffeeshop；　three　bars；　and　a　dozen　specialty　shops　selling　resort　clothes　and　gifts。　There　was　a　small　conference　room　next　to　the　Zanzi　Bar；　with　a　blacklettered　sign　outside　the　door：
　　
　　BEET　SUGAR　INSTITUTE
　　　SEMINAR　AT　11　A。M。
　　CASH　BAR　IN　ZANZI　BAR　AT　10
　　
　　The　Zanzi　Bar　wasn't　open　yet；　and　no　one　was　in　the　small　conference　room；　although　there　was　a　lectern；　a　movie　screen；　and　thirty　or　more　folding　chairs　set　up　for　the　seminar。　Freddy　went　to　a　house　phone；　asked　for　the　bell　captain；　and　waited　for　him　to　get　on　the　line。
　　〃Tell　Pablo　Lhosa；〃　he　said　to　the　captain；　〃to　e　to　the　small　conference　room　next　to　the　Zanzi　Bar。〃
　　〃Is　anything　wrong；　sir？〃
　　〃Of　course　not。　I'm　running　the　seminar　for　the　beet　sugar　people；　and　if　anything　was　wrong　I'd　call　the　manager…not　Pablo。〃
　　〃Right　away；　sir。〃
　　The　240…pound　Pablo　arrived　in　three　minutes；　huffing　slightly；　the　two　bottom　buttons　of　his　monkey　jacket　unbuttoned　because　of　his　belly。　Freddy　closed　the　door　to　the　conference　room　and　hit　Pablo　in　the　stomach。　Pablo　gasped　and　staggered　slightly；　but　he　didn't　fall。　A　knife　appeared　in　his　right　hand。　Freddy　showed　Pablo　his　badge。
　　〃Put　the　knife　away；　Pablo。〃
　　Pablo　closed　the　knife　and　returned　it　to　his　pocket。
　　〃My　name　isn't　Gotlieb；　Pablo。　My　name's　Sergeant　Moseley；　Miami　Police　Department。　And　that　little　girl　you　sent　to　my　room；　Susan　Waggoner；　is　only　fourteen　years　old。　Your　fat　ass　is　in　trouble。〃
　　〃Her　brother　told　me…〃
　　〃Her　brother's　dead；　and　he　lied　to　you。　He　was　killed　at　the　airport；　and　it　was　on　the　news。　You're　one　of　the　suspects。　Did　you　have　Martin　Waggoner　hit；　Pablo？〃
　　〃Hell；　no！　I　didn't…I　don't　know　nothing　about　it！〃
　　〃I've　got　a　signed　deposition　from　Susan　that　you're　her　pimp；　so　your　greasy　ass　is　on　the　fire。〃
　　〃Susie's　lying　to　you；　sergeant。　She's　nineteen；　not　fourteen。　I　checked　on　that。　Sergeant　Wilson　knows　I　run　a　few　girls　here。　There's　no　problem。　Why　don't　you　call　Sergeant　Wilson？　I　pay　him　every　week。　You　guys　ought　to　get　together。〃
　　〃Wilson　doesn't　know　you're　hustling　kids。　Susie　told　me　about　the　pointers　you　gave　her。〃
　　〃Honest　to　God；　sergeant！〃　Pablo　raised　his　right　arm。　〃Her　brother　showed　me　her　driver's　license。〃
　　〃Her　brother's　dead；　and　licenses　can　be　forged。　Your　Cuban　ass　has　had　it。〃
　　〃I'm　not　a　Cuban；　I'm　a　Nicaraguan。　I　was　a　major　in　the　National　Guard。　Sergeant　Wilson　told　me…you　know　Sergeant　Wilson；　don't　you？〃
　　〃Fuck　Wilson；　and　fuck　you；　Pablo。　How　much're　you　paying　Wilson？〃
　　〃Who　said　I　was　paying　him　anything？〃
　　Freddy　took　out　his　blackjack　and　started　toward　Pablo。　Pablo　held　up　his　hands　and　backed　away。
　　〃Don't。　Please。　I　give　him　five　hundred　a　week。〃
　　〃All　right。〃　Freddy　put　the　blackjack　away。　〃I'll　let　you　off　the　hook；　Pablo。　From　now　on；　you　give　Wilson　two…fifty　a　week；　and　you　can　send　the　other　two…fifty　to　me。　Just　put　it　in　an　envelope　and　send　it　to　me；　Sergeant　Hoke　Moseley；　at　the　Eldorado　Hotel。　By　messenger…not　by　mail。〃
　　Pablo　shook　his　head。　〃I'll　have　to　talk　to　Sergeant　Wilson　first。〃
　　〃Don't　worry　about　Wilson。　I'm　the　man　with　Susie's　signed　deposition；　not　Wilson。〃
　　〃I　guess　you　don't　know　Sergeant　Wilson；　then。　He　won't　stand　for　any　split　like　that。〃
　　〃In　that　case；　it'll　cost　you　seven…fifty　a　week　instead　of　five　hundred；