ch.nakedcamethemanatee-第13节

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　It　was　a　body。
　Fishing　off　the　bay　at　Peacock　Park　in　Coconut　Grove　on　Sundays；　all　day　on　Sunday；　standing　on　the　same　spot　of　fine　white　sand　beside　his　favorite　clump　of　sea　grape　trees；　Vernon　Sawyer　had　seen　enough　floaters　over　the　years　to　know　one　from　a　distance。　And　this　one　was　bobbing　only　fifteen　yards　out；　just　beyond　his　plastic　red　and　white　cork；　a　patch　of　unexpected　shade　for　a　school　of　minnows　that　had　just　vanished　underneath　it。
　That　was　the　thing　about　this　park；　which　seemed　to　Vernon　like　a　tiny　strip　of　paradise　for　the　mon　man。　There　was　more　to　it　than　the　neatly　planted　rows　of　coconut　palms；　or　the　view　of　the　legion　of　rich　folks'　sailboats　docked　across　the　way。　You　never　knew　what　you　would　find　here；　whether　it　was　a　squatters'　campsite　built　from　plastic　wrapped　around　a　trio　of　palm　trees　or　an　unforgettable　conversation　with　a　vagrant　who'd　seen　the　world　and　who　understood　its　workings；　inside　his　unkempt　head；　better　than　any　coiffed；　overfed　politician　he　might　ever　meet。
　That　was　why　Vernon　came　here；　for　the　surprises。　It　sure　wasn't　for　the　fish。
　Today's　surprise；　the　body；　was　fairly　fresh；　hardly　any　swelling；　not　puffed　the　way　bodies　get　when　they've　been　in　the　water　for　days。　Once；　Vernon　had　seen　a　brother　who'd　ballooned　so　big　that　his　skin　had　peeled　off　white；　except　in　spots。
　Not　this　one。　Not　her。
　It　was　a　woman；　a　white　lady；　he　could　see　that。　She　looked　almost　serene；　bobbing　facedown　in　the　rust…colored　water　as　though　she　were　embracing　it。　Her　white　hair　fanned　around　her　head　like　a　lace　wedding　veil。　Her　lifeless　body　was　clothed　in　a　pair　of　soaked　khakis　and　a　dark　shirt；　maybe　plaid。
　Shame；　Vernon　thought。　She'd　preserved　a　quiet　dignity　like　this；　floating　undisturbed；　never　mind　the　empty　water　jug　and　plastic　bag　drifting　beside　her。　Soon；　with　all　of　the　flashing　sirens　and　strangers'　hands　pulling　on　her；　probing　her；　she'd　be　just　another　corpse。　Her　spirit　might　be　at　rest；　but　her　body's　work　for　the　day　had　just　begun。
　The　current　was　lulling　her　and　her　entourage　of　trash　toward　him；　so　Vernon　decided　to　fish　her　out　himself。　He　was　a　fisherman；　after　all；　even　if　all　he　used　was　a　cane　pole　baited　with　bread；　and　even　if　he　couldn't　remember　the　last　time　he'd　caught　anything　living。　He　wasn't　afraid　to　touch　bodies；　they　were　just　vessels；　more　or　less；　like　the　empty　Coke　bottles　and　crushed　cigarette　packages　strewn　across　the　water's　edge。
　Vernon　yanked　his　line　out　of　the　water；　and　his　suspicion　was　confirmed。　The　bait　was　long　gone。　Some　crafty　little　bugger　had　taken　it　without　so　much　as　a　ripple。　Anyone　who　doesn't　think　fish　are　as　smart　as　people　don't　know　many　fish；　Vernon　thought。
　He　cast　the　line　out　as　far　as　he　could；　aiming　for　the　back　of　the　dead　woman's　shirt　collar；　then　gently　pulled　on　it　to　see　if　something　would　catch。
　Something　did。　He　must　have　snagged　her　skin　or　clothing；　because　the　line　went　pletely　taut　when　Vernon　pulled。　He'd　have　to　stand　up　for　this　one；　he　decided。　Even　an　old　woman's　body；　waterlogged；　weighed　much　more　than　he'd　counted　on。
　By　the　time　the　cane　pole　snapped　in　half；　the　body　was　close　enough　for　Vernon　to　wade　out　and　grab　the　pudgy；　lifeless　fingers。　〃Thatta　girl；〃　Vernon　mumbled；　gripping　her　tight　to　guide　her　from　her　floating　grave。
　Rolling　the　corpse　over；　breathing　just　a　bit　hard　from　the　ordeal；　Vernon　almost　didn't　recognize　her　at　first。
　She　was　more　bloated　than　he'd　thought；　her　face　roundish　and　smoothed　nearly　free　of　the　most　familiar　wrinkles。　And　the　eyes　he'd　known　had　always　flickered　and　danced；　he'd　never　seen　these　cloud…gray　dead　eyes　on　this　particular　face　before。
　Strange　as　it　was；　the　first　thing　he　recognized　was　the　smile。　It　was　the　same　one　he'd　seen　nearly　every　Sunday　for　ten　years；　the　ready；　thin…lipped　smile　that　had　brought　them　from　being　strangers　to　damn　near　being　friends　who　shared　only　a　love　for　the　park。　Friends　enough　that　he'd　warned　her　time　and　again　about　swimming　out　here　by　herself；　a　woman　her　age；　old　enough　to　be　his　mother。　And　friends　enough　that　he　had　to　swallow　back　hard　and　clamp　his　teeth　shut　when　he　realized　that　even　though　the　smile　was　still　there；　his　friend　was　long　gone。
　〃Darn　you；　Marion；〃　he　whispered；　brushing　a　glistening　gum　wrapper　from　her　matted　hair。　〃What've　you　gone　and　done　now？〃
　
　Fay　didn't　want　Britt　to　hug　her　too　long；　because　then　the　forting　numbness　of　the　shock　might　wear　off；　and　she　wasn't　ready　for　that　yet。　Right　now；　she　felt　like　she　was　in　the　middle　of　an　elaborate　movie　scene　at　the　edge　of　the　bay；　and　the　stunt　double　for　her　grandmother；　entombed　in　a　black　body　bag　inside　of　the　ambulance　beside　her；　was　the　victim　of　some　freak　accident　on　the　set。　That　fantasy　was　almost　keeping　her　from　shaking　at　all。
　〃Kid；　I'm　so　sorry；〃　Britt　said。　Then；　instinctively；　Britt　knew　she　had　to　snap　out　of　human　mode　and　let　her　machinery　take　over。　Poor　Fay　wouldn't　be　any　good　to　her　if　she　crumbled　into　an　emotional　wreck。　Marion　McAlister　Williams　had　been　much　more　than　Fay's　grandmother；　she　was　the　whole　city's　surrogate　guardian；　its　conscience；　and　now　she'd　been　found　dead　as　if　she'd　been　choked　by　the　trash　she'd　decried　for　so　long。　Everyone　would　want　answers；　and　Britt　had　to　find　some　fast。
　Britt　paused；　her　pen　in　midstroke　from　scribbling　wildly　in　her　notebook。　Between　the　impending　Castro　visit　and　Marion　McAlister　Williams's　sudden　death；　she　was　juggling　two　huge　stories；　possibly　three；　depending　on　what　was　going　on　with　those　heads。　Should　she　phone　her　editor　for　backup？
　Yeah；　right；　she　thought。　〃What　did　the　police　say　to　you？〃　Britt　asked　Fay；　regaining　her　senses。
　〃They　aren't　saying　much；〃　Fay　answered　in　a　hollow　voice。　〃All　I　know　is；　a　fisherman　pulled　her　out　of　the　water　about　an　hour　ago。　That　guy　over　there。　He's　giving　a　statement。〃
　〃Do　you　think　she　went　swimming？〃
　〃Not　with　her　clothes　on。　No　way。　She's　the　one　who　taught　me；　'It's　naked　or　nothing。'　Britt；　I'm　thinking　。。。　〃
　Britt　nodded。　〃I　know。　It's　connected　to　the　Castro　heads。　I'm　thinking　the　same　thing。　So's　Jake。　He's　already　headed　for　her　house。　We're　all　over　this。　Don't　worry。〃
　Suddenly；　something　broke　through　Fay's　frozen　thoughts　to　bring　her　attention　to　the　water。　She'd　seen　something　moving　out　there；　something　big。　Another　body？　Had　her　grandmother's　murderers　killed　Phil；　too？
　But　when　she　saw　the　dark　gray　head　pop　out　of　a　wake；　she　realized　it　was　only　Booger。　He　was　everywhere；　like　a　swimming　spirit　guide。　Booger　had　probably　been　witness　to　the　whole　horrible　business　from　beginning　to　end。　All　of　the　answers　were　right　there　behind　those　doleful；　dull　black　eyes。　If　only　manatees　could　talk　。。。　At　least　Flipper　could　splash　and　make　frantic　chattering　sounds；　Fay　thought。　Eventually；　the　kid　and　his　dad　had　always　figured　it　out：　Danger。　This　way。　Hurry。
　With　Booger；　nothing。
　Then　Fay　felt　the　shock　thinning。　Her　grandmother　was　gone。　〃Britt；〃　she　said；　barely　a　whisper。　〃I've　lost　her。〃
　Britt　stared　at　her　friend's　wide；　wondering　eyes；　framed　by　strands　of　blond　hair　blown　across　her　forehead。　For　the　first　time　in　a　long　time；　Britt　couldn't　think　of　a　snappy　eback。
　〃Um　。。。　excuse　me。　Miss；　are　you　Marion's　granddaughter？〃
　It　was　the　black　fisherman；　shading　his　eyes　from　the　glare　of　the　sunset　with　one　hand　as　he　stood　before　them；　his　features　grim。　Gazing　at　the　dark；　tallish　man　with　salt…and…pepper　hair；　Fay　realized　she'd　seen　him　around；　fishing　with　a　bamboo　pole。
　Fay　could　only　nod。
　〃You're　the　one　who　found　her；〃　Britt　said。　〃Boy；　do　we　need　to　talk　to　you。　Hope　you　don't　mind。〃
　〃Don't　mind　a'tall；〃　the　man　said；　smiling　sadly。　〃Marion　was　a　fine；　fine　lady。　I'm　just　so　sick　about　the　circumstances。　Always　told　her　to　be　careful；　but　I　never　in　a　million　years　expected　her　to　drown。　Not　Marion。〃
　〃She　didn't　just　drown；〃　Fay　said　with　certainty。
　〃That's　why　we　have　to　ask　you　questions。　We're　sure　she　had　some　help。〃
　The　man's　face　went　slack　with　surprise。　〃You　don't　say？　Well；　I'll　be　damned。　The　police　didn't　say　anything　like　that；　about　a　murder。　In　that　case；　I　hope　I　haven't　made　a　mistake。　I　guess　I've　been　holding　on　to　something　you　might　call　evidence。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Britt　asked。
　The　fisherman　looked　nervous；　glancing　back　toward　the　police　officers　crowded　around　the　open　ambulance　door。　〃Well　。。。　I　didn't　think　it　was　right　to　give　it　to　them。　I　wanted　to　wait　for　someone　from　the　family。　Thought　that　would　be　the　proper　thing。〃
　〃What？〃　Fay　asked。
　〃You　see；　miss　。。。　I　know　Marion　was　dead　when　I　pulled　her　out　of　the　water。　I　took　her　pulse　to　be　sure；　but　I　knew。　Even　the　police　say　she'd　probably　been　in　there　some　time；　maybe　a　full　day。　But　when　I　found　her；　she　had　the　tiniest　smile　on　her　face。　You　can't　see　it　now。　It　was　gone；　last　I　checked。　But　we　were　friends；　your　grandmother　and　I。　This　might　sound　funny；　but　it　was　like　she'd　saved　that　smile　for　me。　And　after　I　pulled　her　out；　I　was　sitting　beside　her；　looking　at　her；　sorry　she　was　gone；　when　I　felt　something　land　on　my　hand。〃
　Seeing　their　rapt　faces；　the　fisherman　look