p&c.brimstone-第34节

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　〃We　may　speak　freely　in　front　of　Constance。〃　
　The　girl　smiled　with　mock　gravity。　They　strolled　back　through　the　dappled　shade　in　the　direction　of　the　cars。　
　〃Let　us　review　what　we　know。　We　have　two　murders；　each　with　inexplicable　features；　including　the　heating　of　the　body　and　the　various　Mephistophelean　appurtenances。　We　know　that　the　two　victims　must　have　been　connected　with　each　other　and　to　Bullard　in　some　way。　But　I　have　not　been　able　to　find　that　connection。〃　
　〃Hayward's　been　helping　me　with　that　end　of　things。　We've　pulled　their　telephone　bills；　credit　card　transactions；　T&E　records　going　back　ten　years。　Nada。　It　doesn't　look　like　they　ever　met。　As　for　Bullard；　most　of　the　folders　on　that　puter　we　seized　are　encrypted　too　strongly　to　break。　I　did　get　one　nugget　of　interesting　information　from　Hayward；　though：　they　found　a　reference　to　the　name　Ranier　Beckmann　in　a　temporary　Internet　directory　on　the　puter。　Seems　Bullard　was　trying　to　locate　him；　too。〃　
　〃And　yet　you　said　Bullard　denied　knowing　Beckmann　when　you　questioned　him　at　the　Athletic　Club。　It's　evident　Bullard　is　concealing　a　great　deal。　He's　angry；　he's　defensive。　I　might　even　say　he's　frightened。　Of　what？〃　
　〃Of　arrest。　As　far　as　I'm　concerned；　Bullard　is　suspect　number　one。　He　doesn't　have　a　good　alibi　for　the　Grove　murder；　either。　He　said　he　was　on　his　yacht；　cruising　the　sound　that　night。　Without　a　crew。　He　could've　been　cruising　the　Atlantic　side　instead；　slipped　up　on　the　beach　at　Southampton；　done　the　job。〃　
　〃Possible。　But　the　fact　that　he　has　no　alibi　for　either　night；　in　my　view；　is　actually　a　strike　in　his　favor。　Besides；　what's　Bullard's　motivation？　Why　kill　Grove　and　Cutforth？　And　why　make　it　look　like　the　devil？〃　
　〃He's　got　a　macabre　sense　of　humor。〃　
　〃On　the　contrary；　the　man　appears　to　have　absolutely　no　sense　of　humor　at　all；　apart　from　a　kind　of　gangsterish　schadenfreude。　Somebody　playing　a　mere　joke　would　not　take　such　a　dangerous　risk。〃　
　〃He　wants　to　send　a　message；　then。〃　
　〃Yes；　but　to　whom？　For　what　purpose？〃　
　〃I　don't　know。　If　it　isn't　Bullard；　it　might　be　some　fundamentalist　nutcase　who　wants　to　bring　back　the　Inquisition。　Somebody　who　thinks　he's　doing　God's　work。〃　
　〃A　second　possibility。〃　
　There　was　a　short　silence。　Then　Pendergast　added；　〃Vincent；　you　haven't　mentioned　theother　possibility。〃　
　D'Agosta　felt　his　gut　tighten。　Pendergast　wasn't　serious…was　he？　He　found　himself　unconsciously　fingering　his　cross。　
　〃Where's　Bullard　now？〃　Pendergast　asked。　
　〃He　left　on　his　yacht　this　morning；　heading　to　the　open　ocean。〃　
　〃Any　idea　where？〃　
　〃Looks　like　Europe。　At　least　he's　heading　east；　at　full　speed。　Better　than　full　speed；　in　fact…the　yacht　must　have　a　specially　modified　power　plant。　In　any　case；　Hayward's　got　someone　on　it。　We'll　know　where　and　when　he　lands…unless　he　evades　customs　and　immigration；　which　seems　improbable　with　a　yacht　like　that。〃　
　〃The　admirable　Hayward。　Is　she　still　upset？〃　
　〃You　could　say　that。〃　
　Pendergast　smiled　thinly。　
　〃So　what's　your　theory？〃　D'Agosta　asked。　
　〃I　am　doing　my　best　not　tohave　a　theory。〃　
　D'Agosta　heard　the　crunching　of　tires　on　gravel；　the　slamming　of　doors；　the　distant　chatter　of　voices。　He　glanced　back　across　the　meadows　and　spotted　the　new　arrival：　a　long；　old…fashioned　limousine；　its　top　down。　A　huge　wicker　basket　was　lashed　across　the　rumble　seat　with　leather　straps。　
　〃Who's　this？〃　D'Agosta　asked。　
　〃Another　guest；〃　Pendergast　said　simply。　
　Now　someone　came　around　the　side　of　the　car：　an　enormous　figure；　grossly　out　of　proportion　to　its　surroundings　but　moving　with　a　remarkable　fluidity　and　ease。　It　was　Fosco；　who；　it　seemed；　had　somehow　made　the　transition　from　witness　to　acquaintance。　
　D'Agosta　looked　over。　〃What's　he　doing　here？〃　
　〃It　seems　he　is　in　possession　of　some　information　of　great　value　that　he's　most　eager　to　pass　on。　And　since　he's　expressed　an　interest　in　viewing　what　passes　for　antiquity　here　in　America；　I　thought　I'd　invite　him　to　Ravenscry。　I　owed　him　a　return　for　an　interesting　night　at　the　opera。〃　
　The　figure　came　striding　swiftly　down　the　path；　waving　his　arm　in　greeting　long　before　he　arrived。　
　〃Marvelous　place！〃　boomed　the　count；　rubbing　his　white…gloved　hands　together。　He　bowed　to　Pendergast；　then　turned　to　D'Agosta。　〃The　good　sergeant。　D'Agosta；　is　it　not？　Always　pleased　to　make　the　acquaintance　of　a　fellow　Italian。　How　do　you　do？〃　
　〃Fine；　thanks。〃　D'Agosta　hadn't　liked　the　man　and　his　flamboyant　ways　at　the　memorial　service；　and　he　liked　him　even　less　now。　
　〃And　this　is　my　ward；　Constance　Greene；〃　said　Pendergast。　
　〃Your　ward；　you　say？　I　am　delighted。〃　Fosco　bowed　and　brought　her　hand　almost；　but　not　quite；　to　his　lips。　
　Constance　inclined　her　head　in　acknowledgment。　〃I　see　you　and　Mr。　Pendergast　share　an　interest　in　exotic　automobiles。〃　
　〃Indeed　we　do；　that　and　much　more。　Mr。　Pendergast　and　I　have　beefriends　。〃　He　beamed。　〃We　are　very　different　in　some　ways。　I　am　a　lover　of　music　and　he　is　not。　I　am　a　lover　of　fine　clothes；　and　he　dresses　like　an　undertaker。　I　am　voluble　and　open；　he　is　silent　and　closed。　I　am　direct；　he　is　diffident。　But　we　do　share　a　love　of　art；　literature；　fine　food；　wine；　and　culture…as　well　as　a　fascination　with　these　dreadful　and　inexplicable　crimes。〃　He　peered　at　Constance；　smiled　again。　
　〃Crimes　are　interesting　only　when　they　are　inexplicable。　Unfortunately；　few　remain　so。〃　
　〃Unfortunately？〃　
　〃I　was　speaking　from　an　aesthetic　point　of　view。〃　
　The　count　turned　to　Pendergast。　〃This　young　lady　is　exceptional。〃　
　〃And　what　is　your　interest　in　the　case；　Count；　besides　mere　fascination？〃　Constance　asked。　
　〃I　wish　to　help。〃　
　〃Count　Fosco　has　already　been　helpful；〃　said　Pendergast。　
　〃And；　as　you　shall　see；　I　will　be　more　helpful　still！　But　first　I　must　tell　you　how　enchanted　I　am　with　this　estate。　Your　great…aunt's；　did　you　say？　So　picturesque！　Falling　into　ruin　and　neglect；　mysterious；　haunted。　It　reminds　me　of　Piranesi's　engravingVeduta　degli　Avanzi　delle　Terme　di　Tito　；　the　Ruins　of　the　Baths　of　Titus。　I　much　prefer　a　building　in　neglect　and　ruin…much　of　my　owncastello　in　Tuscany　is　in　a　delightful　state　of　dilapidation。〃　
　D'Agosta　wondered　what　the　castle　of　a　count　looked　like。　
　〃As　promised；　I　brought　lunch；〃　the　count　boomed。　〃Pinketts！〃　He　clapped　his　hands　and　his　driver；　who　was　about　as　English　as　they　e；　unstrapped　the　huge　wicker　trunk　and　hefted　it　down　the　path；　then　proceeded　to　arrange　a　linen　tablecloth；　bottles　of　wine；　cheeses；　prosciutto；　salami；　silverware；　and　glasses　on　a　stone　table　beneath　the　shade　of　an　enormous　copper　beech。　
　〃This　is　kind　of　you；　Count；〃　said　Pendergast。　
　〃Yes；　Iam　kind；　especially　when　you　see　the　Villa　Calcinaia　'97　Chianti　Classico　Riserva　I've　brought；　made　by　my　neighbor；　the　good　count　Capponi。　But　I　have　something　else　for　you。　Something　even　better　than　wine；　caviar；　and　fois　gras。　If　such　a　thing　is　possible。〃　The　black　eyes　in　his　smooth；　handsome　face　sparkled　with　pleasure。　
　〃And　that　is？〃　
　〃In　good　time；　in　good　time。〃　The　count　began　arranging；　with　fussy　attention；　the　things　on　the　table；　uncorking　and　decanting　a　bottle　of　red　wine；　letting　the　anticipation　build。　At　last；　he　turned　with　a　conspiratorial　grin。　〃By　chance；　I　have　made　a　discovery　of　the　first　importance。〃　He　turned　to　D'Agosta。　〃Does　the　name　Ranier　Beckmann　mean　anything　to　you；　Sergeant？〃　
　〃We　found　that　name　on　Bullard's　puter。　The　guy　he　was　trying　to　locate。〃　
　The　count　nodded　as　if　he'd　known　it　all　along。　〃And？〃　
　〃Bullard　had　done　an　Internet　search　for　a　Ranier　Beckmann；　without　success。　Grove　also　seems　to　have　been　looking　for　Beckmann。　But　we　don't　know　why。〃　
　〃I　was　at　a　luncheon　party　yesterday　and　was　seated　beside　Lady　Milbanke。　She　told　me…between　frequent　displays　of　her　new　necklace…that　a　few　days　before　Jeremy　Grove　was　murdered；　he　had　asked　if　she　could　remend　a　private　detective。　Turned　out　she　could…scandalous　people　often　can。　I　then　went　to　this　gentleman　myself　and　soon　pried　from　him　the　fact　that　Grove　hired　him　。　。　。to　find　a　certain　Ranier　Beckmann　。〃　
　He　paused　dramatically。　〃Grove　was　in　a　panic　to　find　this　man。　When　the　detective　asked　him　for　details；　he　could　provide　none　at　all。　None。　The　detective　stopped　his　investigation　when　he　heard　of　Grove's　death。〃　
　〃Interesting；〃　D'Agosta　said。　
　〃It　would　be　interesting　to　see　if　the　name　Beckmann　turned　up　among　Cutforth's　effects；　as　well；〃　Pendergast　said。　
　D'Agosta　removed　his　cell；　dialed　Hayward's　direct　line。　
　〃Hayward　here；〃　came　the　cool　voice。　
　〃It's　Sergeant　D'Agosta。　Vinnie。　Have　your　people　finished　inventorying　Cutforth's　apartment？〃　
　〃Yes。〃　
　〃The　name　Ranier　Beckmann　turn　up；　by　any　chance？〃　
　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　it　did。〃　D'Agosta　heard　a　rustling　of　paper。　〃We　found　a　notebook　with　his　name　written　on　the　first　page；　in　Cutforth's　hand。〃　
　〃The　rest　of　the　notebook？〃　
　〃Blank。〃　
　〃Thanks。〃　D'Agosta　closed　the　phone　and　related　what　he'd　heard。　
　Pendergast's　face　tensed　with　excitement。　〃This　is　precisely　the　thread　we've　been　looking　for。　Grove；　Cutforth；　Bullard。　Why　were　all　three　looking　for　Beckmann？　Perhapswe　should　find　this　Beckmann　and　see　wh