p&c.brimstone-第3部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


hall　we　say；　strained　some　high…level　nerves。　I　must　say；　Vincent；　running　into　you　is　a　most　wele　surprise。〃　
　〃For　me；　too；〃　said　D'Agosta；　coloring　again。　〃Sorry；　I'm　really　not　at　my　best　here…〃　
　Pendergast　laid　a　hand　on　his　arm。　〃We　shall　have　plenty　of　time　to　talk　later。　For　now；　I　see　a　large　individual　approaching　who　appears　to　be　suffering　from　emphraxis。〃　
　A　low…pitched；　menacing　voice　intruded　from　behind。　〃I　hate　to　break　up　this　little　conversation。〃　D'Agosta　turned　to　see　Lieutenant　Braskie。　
　Braskie　stopped；　stared　at　Pendergast；　then　turned　back　to　D'Agosta。　〃Perhaps　I'm　a　little　confused　here；　Sergeant；　but　isn't　this　individualtrespassing　at　the　scene　of　a　crime　？〃　
　〃Well；　uh；　Lieutenant；　we　were…〃　D'Agosta　looked　at　Pendergast。　
　〃This　man　isn't　afriend　of　yours；　now；　is　he？〃　
　〃As　a　matter　of　fact…〃　
　〃The　sergeant　was　just　telling　me　to　leave；〃　interjected　Pendergast　smoothly。　
　〃Oh；　he　was；　was　he？　And　if　I　may　be　so　bold　as　to　inquire　what　you　were　doing　here　in　the　first　place；　sir？〃　
　〃Feeding　the　ducks。〃　
　〃Feeding　the　ducks。〃　D'Agosta　could　see　Braskie's　face　flushing。　He　wished　Pendergast　would　hurry　up　and　pull　out　his　shield。　
　〃Well；　sir；〃　Braskie　went　on；　〃that's　a　beautiful　thing　to　do。　Let's　see　some　ID。〃　
　D'Agosta　waited　smugly。　This　was　going　to　be　good。　
　〃As　I　was　just　explaining　to　the　officer　here；　I　left　my　wallet　back　at　the　house…〃　
　Braskie　turned　on　D'Agosta；　saw　the　notebook　in　his　hand。　〃You　got　this　man's　information？〃　
　〃Yes。〃　D'Agosta　looked　at　Pendergast　almost　pleadingly；　but　the　FBI　agent's　face　had　shut　down　pletely。　
　〃Did　you　ask　him　how　he　got　through　the　police　cordon？〃　
　〃No…〃　
　〃Don't　you　think　maybe　you　should？〃　
　〃I　came　through　the　side　gate　in　Little　Dune　Road；〃　Pendergast　said。　
　〃Not　possible。　It's　locked。　I　checked　it　myself。〃　
　〃Perhaps　the　lock　is　defective。　At　least；　it　seemed　to　fall　open　in　my　hands。〃　
　Braskie　turned　to　D'Agosta。　〃Now；　at　last；　there's　something　useful　you　can　do。　Go　plug　that　hole；　Sergeant。　And　report　back　to　me　at　eleven　o'clocksharp　。　We　need　to　talk。　And　as　for　you；　sir；　I　will　escort　you　off　the　premises。〃　
　〃Thank　you；　Lieutenant。〃　
　D'Agosta　looked　with　dismay　at　the　retreating　form　of　Lieutenant　Braskie；　with　Pendergast　strolling　along　behind　him；　hands　in　the　pockets　of　his　baggy　surfer　shorts；　head　tilted　back　as　if　taking　the　air。　
　　　
　3　
　
　Lieutenant　L。　P。　Braskie　Jr。　of　the　Southampton　PoliceDepartment　stood　beneath　the　trellis　of　the　mansion's　grape　arbor；　watching　the　SOC　team　b　the　endless　acreage　of　lawn　for　clues。　His　face　wore　a　stolid　mask　of　professionalism　as　he　thought　of　Chief　MacCready　playing　golf　in　the　Highlands　of　Scotland。　He　pictured　in　his　mind　the　links　of　St。　Andrews　in　autumn：　the　narrow　doglegs　of　greensward；　the　grim　castle；　the　barren　moors　beyond。　He'd　wait　until　tomorrow　to　give　the　chief　a　call；　let　him　know　what　was　going　on。　MacCready　had　been　chief　for　twenty　years；　and　this　golf　trip　was　one　more　reason　why　Southampton　needed　fresh　blood。　Braskie　was　a　local　boy　with　roots　in　the　town　and　friends　in　City　Hall；　and　he'd　also　managed　to　build　up　some　powerful　relationships　among　the　summer　people。　A　favor　here　and　a　favor　there　worked　wonders。　A　foot　in　both　worlds。　He'd　played　his　cards　well。　
　And　now　this。　They'd　have　the　perp　in　the　bag　in　a　week　or　two；　and　e　November　and　the　elections；　he'd　be　a　shoo…in。　Maybe　he'd　call　MacCready　the　dayafter　tomorrow：Gee；　Chief；　I　really　hesitated　to　interrupt　your　hard…earned　vacation　。　。　。　
　Braskie　knew；　from　long　experience　in　South　Fork　homicide；　that　the　first　twenty…four　hours　of　a　murder　investigation　were　often　the　most　crucial。　Fact　was；　if　you　didn't　get　on　the　trail　and　follow　it　right　away；　you　might　as　well　hang　up　your　hat。　Find　ingress　and　egress；　and　everything　that　followed…forensic　evidence；　murder　weapon；　witnesses；　motive…would　form　a　chain　leading　to　the　perp。　Braskie's　job　wasn't　to　do　the　work　himself　but　to　make　sure　everyone　else　did　theirs。　And　there　was　little　question　in　his　mind　that　the　weak　link　in　this　chain　was　Sergeant　Vincent　D'Agosta。　He　didn't　do　what　he　was　told。　He　knew　better。　Story　was；　D'Agosta　had　once　been　a　homicide　lieutenant　himself　in　the　NYPD；　and　a　good　one。　Quit　to　write　mystery　novels；　moved　to　Canada；　went　broke；　and　had　to　e　back　with　his　tail　tucked　firmly　between　his　butt　cheeks。　Couldn't　get　a　job　in　the　city　and　ended　up　out　here。　If　Braskie　were　chief；　he'd　never　have　hired　someone　like　that　in　the　first　place…the　guy　might　know　his　stuff；　but　he　was　guaranteed　trouble。　Not　a　team　player。　Had　a　chip　on　his　shoulder　the　size　of　Manhattan。　
　Braskie　checked　his　watch。　Eleven　o'clock；　and　speak　of　the　devil。　He　watched　D'Agosta　approach　the　trellis…a　real　type；　fringe　of　black　hair　hanging　over　his　collar；　growing　gut；　attitude　oozing　from　his　pores　like　B。O。　Here　in　Southampton；　he　stuck　out　like　a　bunion。　No　great　surprise　the　man's　wife　had　decided　to　stay　behind　in　Canada　with　their　only　kid。　
　〃Sir；〃　said　D'Agosta；　able　to　make　even　that　single　word　a　trifle　insolent。　
　Braskie　shifted　his　gaze　back　to　the　SOC　team　bing　the　lawn。　〃We've　got　an　important　case　here；　Sergeant。〃　
　The　man　nodded。　
　Braskie　narrowed　his　eyes；　looked　toward　the　mansion；　toward　the　sea。　〃We　don't　have　the　luxury　of　screwing　it　up。〃　
　〃No；　sir。〃　
　〃I'm　glad　to　hear　you　say　that。　I　have　to　tell　you；　D'Agosta；　that　ever　since　you　came　on　the　force；　you've　made　it　pretty　clear　that　Southampton　isn't　where　you　want　to　be。〃　
　D'Agosta　said　nothing。　
　He　sighed　and　looked　straight　at　D'Agosta；　only　to　find　the　pugnacious　face　staring　back　at　him。　His　〃go　ahead；　make　my　day〃　face。　〃Sergeant　D'Agosta；　do　I　really　need　to　spell　it　out？　You'rehere　。　You're　a　sergeant　in　the　Southampton　Police　Department。　Get　over　it。〃　
　〃I　don't　understand　what　you　mean；　sir。〃　
　This　was　getting　irritating。　〃D'Agosta；　I　can　read　your　mind　like　a　book。　I　don't　give　a　shit　what　happened　before　in　your　life。　What　I　need　is　for　you　to　get　with　the　program。〃　
　D'Agosta　didn't　answer。　
　〃Take　this　morning。　I　saw　you　talking　to　that　intruder　for　a　good　five　minutes；　which　is　why　I　had　to　intervene。　I　don'twant　to　be　riding　your　ass；　but　I　can't　have　one　of　my　sergeants　eating　up　his　time　explaining　to　some　shitcake　why　he　has　to　leave。　That　man　should've　been　ejected　immediately；　no　discussion。　You　think　you　can　do　things　your　way。　I　can't　have　that。〃　
　He　paused；　scrutinizing　Sergeant　D'Agosta　carefully；　thinking　he　might　have　detected　a　smirk。　This　guy　really　had　a　problem。　
　The　lieutenant　caught　the　glimpse　of　a　loudly　dressed　presence　to　his　right。　It　was　that　same　scumbag　in　the　Hawaiian　shirt；　baggy　shorts；　and　expensive　sculpted　shades；　approaching　the　grape　arbor　as　cool　as　could　be；　once　againinside　the　police　cordon。　
　Braskie　turned　to　D'Agosta；　speaking　calmly。　〃Sergeant；　arrest　that　man　and　read　him　his　rights。〃　
　〃Wait；　Lieutenant…〃　
　He　couldn't　believe　it：　D'Agosta　was　going　to　argue　with　him。　After　everything　he'd　just　told　him。　His　voice　became　even　quieter。　〃Sergeant；　I　believe　I　just　gave　you　an　order。〃　He　turned　to　the　man。　〃I　hope　you　brought　your　wallet　with　you　this　time。〃　
　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　did。〃　The　man　reached　into　his　pocket。　
　〃No；　I　don't　want　to　see　it；　for　chrissakes。　Save　it　for　the　booking　sergeant　down　at　the　station。〃　
　But　the　man　had　already　extracted　the　wallet　in　one　smooth　movement；　and　as　it　fell　open；　Braskie　caught　the　flash　of　gold。　
　〃What　the…？〃　The　lieutenant　stared。　
　〃Special　Agent　Pendergast；　Federal　Bureau　of　Investigation。〃　
　The　lieutenant　felt　the　blood　rush　to　his　face。　The　man　had　set　him　up。　And　there　was　no　reason；　none；　for　the　FBI　to　justify　their　involvement。　Or　was　there？　He　swallowed。　This　needed　to　be　dealt　with　carefully。　〃I　see。〃　
　The　wallet　shut　with　a　slap　and　disappeared。　
　〃Any　particular　reason　for　the　federal　interest？〃　asked　Braskie；　trying　to　control　his　voice。　〃We've　been　treating　it　as　a　simple　murder。〃　
　〃There's　a　possibility　that　the　killer　or　killers　might　have　e　and　left　by　boat　from　across　the　sound。　Perhaps　Connecticut。〃　
　〃And？〃　
　〃Interstate　flight。〃　
　〃That's　a　bit　of　a　stretch；　isn't　it？〃　
　〃It's　a　reason。〃　
　Yeah；　right。Grove　had　probably　been　laundering　money　or　dealing　drugs。　Or　maybe　he　was　even　involved　in　terrorism。　These　days；　with　all　the　shit　going　down　in　the　world；　you　couldn't　break　wind　without　a　phalanx　of　feds　dropping　down　on　you　like　a　ton　of　manure。　Whatever　the　case；　this　put　a　whole　new　spin　on　things；　and　he　had　to　make　the　best　of　it。　
　The　lieutenant　swallowed；　held　out　his　hand。　〃Wele　to　Southampton；　Agent　Pendergast。　If　there's　anything　I　or　the　Southampton　P。D。　can　do　for　you；　just　let　me　know。　While　the　chief　is　on　vacation；　I'm　acting　chief；　so　you　just　e　to　me　for　anything。　We're　here　to　serve。〃　
　The　man's　handshake　was　cool　and　dry。　Just　like　the　man　himself。　Braskie　hadn't　seen　a　fed　quite　like　him　before。　He　looked　even　paler　than　that　artist　who　used　to　e　out　here…what　was　his　name？…the　weird　blond　guy　who　did　the　Marilyn　Monroes。　Autumn　or　not；　by　the　end　of　the　day；　this　guy　was　going　to　need　a　quart　of　Solarcaine　and　a　pitcher　of　martinis　before　he　could　even　sit　down。　
　〃And　now　that　we've　straightened　things　out；〃　the　man　named　Pendergast　said　pleasantly；　〃may　I　ask　you　for　the　courtesy　of　a　tour？　I　trust　the　immediate　workups　have　been　pleted；　clearing　the　way　for　us。〃　He　looked　at　D'Agosta。　〃You　will　acpany　us；　Sergeant？〃　
　〃Yes；　sir。〃　
　Braskie　sighed。　When　the　FBI　arrived；　it　was　like　getting　the　flu：　nothing　you　could　do　about　it　but　wait　for　the　headache；　fever；　and　diarrhea　to　go　away。　
　　　
　4　
　
　Vincent　D'Agosta　followed　Pendergast　and　Braskie　across　thelawn。　Over　in　the　shade　of　a　vast　patio；　the　South　Fork　homicide　squad　had　set　up　an　impromptu　interrogation　center　with　a　video　camera。　There　weren't　too　many　people　to　interview　beyond　the　domestic　who'd　found　the　body；　but　it　was　toward　this　shady　spot　that　Pendergast　directed　his　footsteps；　walking　so　swiftly　that　D'Agosta　and　Braskie　almost　had　to　jog　to　keep　up。　
　The　chief　detective　from　East　Hampton　rose。　He　was　a　g