cpatricia.unnaturalexposure-第38部分

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ed　to　just　do　like　the　Yankees　and　start　burning　down　our　cities　and　towns？'
　'Should　this　spread；'　Fujitsubo　said；　'clearly　we'll　have　to　utilize　our　hospitals；　have　wards；　just　as　we　did　during　earlier　times。　CDC　and　my　people　are　already　alerting　local　medical　personnel；　and　will　work　with　them　closely。'
　'We　realize　that　hospital　personnel　are　at　the　greatest　risk；'　Martin　added。　'Sure　would　be　nice　if　Congress　would　end　this　goddamn　furlough　so　I　don't　have　one　hand　and　both　legs　tied　behind　my　back。'
　'Believe　me；　the　president；　Congress；　knows。'
　'Senator　Nagle　assures　me　it　will　end　by　tomorrow　morning。'
　'They're　always　certain；　say　the　same　thing　every　time。'
　The　swelling　and　itching　of　the　revaccination　site　on　my　arm　was　a　constant　reminder　that　I　had　been　inoculated　with　a　virus　probably　for　nothing。　I　plained　to　Wesley　all　the　way　out　to　the　parking　lot。
　'I've　been　reexposed；　and　I'm　sick　with　something；　meaning　I'm　probably　immunosuppressed；　on　top　of　it　all。'
　'How　do　you　know　you　don't　have　it？'　he　carefully　asked。
　'I　don't　know。'
　'Then　you　could　be　infectious。'
　'No；　I　couldn't　be。　A　rash　is　the　first　sign　of　that；　and　I　check　myself　daily。　At　the　slightest　hint　of　such　a　thing；　I　would　go　back　into　isolation。　I　would　not　e　within　one　hundred　feet　of　you　or　anybody　else；　Benton；'　I　said；　my　anger　unreasonably　spiking　at　his　suggestion　that　I　might　risk　infecting　anyone　with　even　a　mundane　cold。
　He　glanced　over　at　me　as　he　unlocked　doors；　and　I　knew　that　he　was　far　more　upset　than　he　would　let　on。　'What　do　you　want　me　to　do；　Kay？'
　'Take　me　home　so　I　can　get　my　car；'　I　said。
　
　Daylight　was　fading　fast　as　I　followed　miles　of　woods　thick　with　pines。　Fields　were　fallow　with　tufts　of　cotton　still　clinging　to　dead　stalks；　and　the　sky　was　moist　and　cold　like　thawing　cake。　When　I　had　gotten　home　from　the　meeting；　there　had　been　a　message　from　Rose。　At　two　P。M。；　Keith　Pleasants　had　called　from　jail；　desperately　requesting　that　I　e　see　him；　and　Wingo　had　gone　home　with　the　flu。
　I　had　been　inside　the　old　Sussex　County　Courthouse　many　times　over　the　years；　and　had　grown　fond　of　its　antebellum　quaintness　and　inconveniences。　Built　in　1825　by　Thomas　Jefferson's　master　brick　mason；　it　was　red　with　white　trim　and　columns；　and　had　survived　the　Civil　War；　although　the　Yankees　had　managed　to　destroy　all　its　records　first。　I　thought　of　cold　winter　days　spent　out　on　the　lawn　with　detectives　as　I　waited　to　be　called　to　the　witness　stand。　I　remembered　the　cases　by　name　that　I　had　brought　before　this　court。
　Now　such　proceedings　took　place　in　the　spacious　new　building　next　door；　and　as　I　drove　past；　heading　to　the　back；　I　felt　sad。　Such　constructions　were　a　monument　to　rising　crime；　and　I　missed　simpler　times　when　I　had　first　moved　to　Virginia　and　was　awed　by　its　old　brick　and　its　old　war　that　would　not　end。　I　had　smoked　back　then。　I　supposed　I　romanticized　the　past　like　most　people　tended　to　do。　But　I　missed　smoking　and　waiting　around　in　miserable　weather　outside　a　courthouse　that　barely　had　heat。　Change　made　me　feel　old。
　The　sheriff's　department　was　the　same　red　brick　and　white　trim；　its　parking　lot　and　jail　surrounded　by　a　fence　topped　with　razor　wire。　Imprisoned　within；　two　inmates　in　orange　jumpsuits　were　wiping　down　an　unmarked　car　they　had　just　washed　and　waxed。　They　eyed　me　slyly　as　I　parked　in　front；　one　of　them　popping　the　other　with　a　shammy　cloth。
　'Yo。　What's　going；'　one　of　them　muttered　to　me　as　I　walked　past。
　'Good　afternoon。'　I　looked　at　both　of　them。
　They　turned　away；　not　interested　in　someone　they　could　not　intimidate；　and　I　pulled　open　the　front　door。　Inside；　the　department　was　modest　on　the　verge　of　depressing；　and　like　virtually　all　other　public　facilities　in　the　world；　had　profoundly　outgrown　its　environment。　Inside　were　Coke　and　snack　machines；　walls　plastered　with　wanted　posters　and　a　portrait　of　an　officer　slain　while　responding　to　a　call。　I　stopped　at　the　duty　post；　where　a　young　woman　was　shuffling　through　paperwork　and　chewing　on　her　pen。
　'Excuse　me；'　I　said。　'I'm　here　to　see　Keith　Pleasants。'
　'Are　you　on　his　guest　list？'　Her　contact　lenses　made　her　squint；　and　she　wore　pink　braces　on　her　teeth。
　'He　asked　me　to　e；　so　I　should　hope　I　am。'
　She　flipped　pages　in　a　loose…leaf　binder；　stopping　when　she　got　to　the　right　one。
　'Your　name。'
　I　told　her　as　her　finger　moved　down　a　page。
　'Here　you　are。'　She　got　up　from　her　chair。　'e　with　me。'
　She　came　around　her　desk　and　unlocked　a　door　with　bars　in　the　window。　Inside　was　a　cramped　processing　area　for　fingerprints　and　mug　shots；　a　banged…up　metal　desk　manned　by　a　heavyset　deputy。　Beyond　was　another　heavy　door　with　bars；　and　through　it　I　could　hear　the　noises　of　the　jail。
　'You're　gonna　have　to　leave　your　bag　here；'　the　deputy　said　to　me。　He　got　on　his　radio。　'Can　you　get　on　over　here？'
　'Ten…four。　On　my　way；'　a　woman　answered　back。
　I　set　my　pocketbook　on　the　desk　and　dug　my　hands　in　the　pockets　of　my　coat。　I　was　going　to　be　searched　and　I　did　not　like　it。
　'We　got　a　little　room　here　where　they　meet　with　their　lawyers；'　the　deputy　said；　jabbing　his　thumb　as　if　he　were　hitching　a　ride。　'But　some　a　these　critters　listen　to　ever　word；　and　if　that's　a　problem；　go　upstairs。　We　got　an　area　up　there。'
　'I　think　upstairs　might　be　better；'　I　said　as　a　female　deputy；　hefty　with　short　frosted　hair；　came　around　the　corner　with　her　hand…held　metal　detector。
　'Arms　out；'　she　said　to　me。　'Got　anything　metal　in　your　pockets？'
　'No；'　I　said　as　the　detector　snarled　like　a　mechanical　cat。
　She　tried　it　up　and　down　one　side　and　the　other。　It　kept　going　off。
　'Let's　get　rid　of　your　coat。'
　I　draped　it　on　the　desk　as　she　tried　again。　The　detector　continued　to　make　its　startling　sound　as　she　frowned　and　kept　trying。
　'What　about　jewelry；'　she　said。
　I　shook　my　head　as　I　suddenly　remembered　I　was　wearing　an　underwire　bra　that　I　had　no　intention　of　announcing。　She　put　down　the　detector　and　began　to　pat　me　down　while　the　other　deputy　sat　at　his　desk　and　watched　slack…jawed；　as　if　he　were　gawking　at　a　dirty　movie。
　'Okay；'　she　said；　satisfied　that　I　was　harmless。　'Follow　me。'
　To　get　upstairs；　we　had　to　walk　through　the　women's　side　of　the　jail。　Keys　jangled　as　she　unlocked　a　heavy　metal　door　that　loudly　banged　shut　behind　us。　Inmates　were　young　and　hard　in　institutional　denim；　their　cells　scarcely　big　enough　for　an　animal；　with　a　white　toilet；　bed　and　sink。　Women　played　solitaire；　and　leaned　against　their　cages。　They　had　hung　their　clothes　from　bars；　and　trash　barrels　were　close　and　crammed　with　what　they　hadn't　wanted　for　dinner。　The　smell　of　old　food　made　my　stomach　flop。
　'Hey　mama。'
　'What　we　got　here？'
　'A　fine　lady。　Umm…umm…umm。'
　'Hubba…hubba…hubba！'
　Hands　came　through　bars；　trying　to　touch　me　as　I　went　past；　and　someone　was　making　kissing　sounds　while　other　women　emitted　harsh；　wounded　outbursts　that　were　supposed　to　be　laughs。
　'Leave　her　in　here。　Just　fifteen　minutes。　Ooohhh　e　to　mama！'
　'I　need　cigarettes。'
　'Shut　up；　Wanda。　You　always　needin'　something。'
　'Y'all　quiet　on　down；'　the　deputy　said　in　a　bored　singsong　as　she　unlocked　another　door。
　I　followed　her　upstairs　and　realized　I　was　trembling。　The　room　she　put　me　in　was　cluttered　and　disorganized；　as　if　it　might　have　had　a　function　in　an　earlier　time。　Cork　boards　were　propped　against　a　wall；　a　hand　cart　parked　in　a　corner；　and　some　sort　of　pamphlets　and　bulletins　were　scattered　everywhere。　I　sat　in　a　folding　chair　at　a　wooden　table　scarred　with　names　and　crude　messages　in　ballpoint　pen。
　'Just　make　yourself　at　home　and　he'll　be　up；'　she　said；　leaving　me　alone。
　I　realized　that　cough　drops　and　tissues　were　in　my　pocketbook　and　coat；　neither　of　which　I　had　with　me　now。　Sniffing；　I　shut　my　eyes　until　I　heard　heavy　feet。　When　the　male　deputy　escorted　Keith　Pleasants　in；　I　almost　did　not　recognize　him。　He　was　pale　and　drawn；　thin　in　baggy　denims；　his　hands　cuffed　awkwardly　in　front　of　him。　His　eyes　filled　with　tears　when　he　looked　at　me；　and　his　lips　quivered　when　he　tried　to　smile。
　'You　sit　down　and　stay　down；'　the　deputy　ordered　him。　'Don't　you　let　me　hear　no　problem　up　here。　Got　it？　Or　I'm　back　and　the　visit's　history。'
　Pleasants　grabbed　a　chair；　almost　falling。
　'Does　he　really　need　to　be　cuffed？'　I　said　to　the　deputy。　'He's　here　for　a　traffic　violation。'
　'Ma'am；　he's　out　of　the　secure　area。　That's　why　he's　cuffed。　Be　back　in　twenty　minutes；'　he　said　as　he　left。
　'I've　never　been　through　anything　like　this　before。　You　mind　if　I　smoke？'　Pleasants　laughed　with　a　nervousness　that　bordered　on　hysteria　as　he　sat。
　'Help　yourself。'
　His　hands　were　shaking　so　badly；　I　had　to　light　it　for　him。
　'Doesn't　look　like　they　got　an　ashtray。　Maybe　you're　not　supposed　to　smoke　up　here。'　He　worried；　eyes　darting　around。　'They　got　me　in　this　cell　with　this　guy　who's　a　drug　dealer？　He's　got　all　these　tattoos　and　won't　leave　me　alone？　Picking　on　me；　calling　me　sissy　names？'　He　inhaled　a　lot　of　smoke　and　briefly　shut　his　eyes。　'I　wasn't　eluding　anybody。'　He　looked　at　me。
　I　spotted　a　Styrofoam　coffee　cup　on　the　floor　and　retrieved　it　for　him　to　use　as　an　ashtray。
　'Thanks；'　he　said。
　'Keith；　tell　me　what　happened。'
　'I　was　just　driving　home　like　I　always　do；　from　the　landfill；　and　all　of　a　sudden　there's　this　unmarked　car　behind　me　with　sirens　and　lights　on。　So　I　pulled　over　right　away。　It　was　that　asshole　investigator　who's　been　driving　me　crazy。'
　'Ring。'　My　fury　began　to　pound。
　Pleasants　nodded。　'Said　he'd　been　following　me　for　more　than　a　mile　and　I　wouldn't　heed　to　his　lights。　Well　I'm　telling　you；　that's　just　a　flat…out　lie。'　His　eyes　were　bright。　'He's　got　me　so　jumpy　these　days　there's　no　way　in　hell　I　wouldn't　know　if　he　was　behind　my　car。'
　'Did　he　say　anything　else　to　you　when　he　pulled　you？'　I　asked。
　'Yes；　ma'am；　he　did。　He　said　my　troubles　had　just　begun。　His　exact　words。'
　'Why　did　you　want　to　see　me？'　I　thought　I　knew；　but　I　wanted　to　hear　what　he　would　say。
　'I'm　in　a　world　of　trouble；　Dr　Scarpetta。'　He　teared　up　again。　'My　mama's　old　and　got　no　one　to　care　for　her　but　me；　and　there　are　people　thinking　I'm　a　murderer！　I　never　killed　anything　in　my　life！　Not　even　birds！　People　don't　want