ch.nativetongue-第29节

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　Francis　X。　Kingsbury　was　punching　a　new　number　into　the　phone　when　Jake　Harp　returned　to　the　golf　cart。
　〃Get　me　that　dildo　Chelsea；〃　he　was　saying。　〃No。。。who？　I　don't　care…where　did　you　say　he　is？　Twenty　minutes；　he's　not　in　my　office　and　that's　it。　And　get　that　fucking　Pedro；　he's　in　his　car。　Keep　him　on　the　line　till…right…I　get　back。〃
　He　touched　a　button　and　the　cellular　phone　made　a　burp。　Kingsbury　put　it　away。　He　was　steaming　mad。
　Jake　Harp　said；　〃More　problems？〃
　〃Yeah；　a　major　goddamn　problem；〃　said　Kingsbury。　〃Only　this　one　works　for　me。〃
　〃So　fire　him。〃
　〃Oh；　I　am；〃　Kingsbury　said；　〃and　that's　just　for　starters。〃
　
　FOURTEEN
　Molly　McNamara　came　out　of　the　kitchen　carrying　a　silver　teapot　on　a　silver　tray。
　〃No　thank　you；〃　said　Agent　Billy　Hawkins。
　〃It's　herbal；〃　Molly　said；　pouring　a　cup。　〃Now　I　want　you　to　try　this。〃
　Hawkins　politely　took　a　drink。　It　tasted　like　cider。
　〃There　now；〃　said　Molly。　〃Isn't　that　good？〃
　Hiding　behind　the　door　of　the　guest　bedroom；　Bud　Schwartz　and　Danny　Pogue　strained　to　hear　what　was　going　on。　They　couldn't　believe　she　was　serving　tea　to　an　FBI　man。
　〃I'd　like　to　ask　you　a　few　questions；〃　Billy　Hawkins　was　saying。
　Molly　cocked　her　head　pleasantly。　〃Of　course。　Fire　away。〃
　〃Let's　begin　with　the　Mothers　of　Wilderness。　You're　the　president？〃
　〃And　founder；　yes。　We're　just　a　small　group　of　older　folks　who　are　deeply　concerned　about　the　future　of　the　environment。〃　She　held　her　teacup　steady。　〃I'm　sure　you　know　all　this。〃
　Agent　Hawkins　went　on：　〃What　about　the　Wildlife　Rescue　Corps？　What　can　you　tell　me　about　it？〃
　Molly　McNamara　was　impressed　by　the　FBI　man's　grammar；　most　people　would　have　used　〃them〃　instead　of　〃it。〃
　〃Just　what　I've　read　in　the　papers；〃　she　said；　sipping。　〃That's　the　organization　that　is　taking　credit　for　freeing　the　mango　voles；　is　that　correct？〃
　〃Right。〃
　〃I'm　assuming　this　is　what　gives　you　jurisdiction　in　this　matter…the　fact　that　the　voles　are　a　federally　protected　endangered　species。〃
　〃Right　again；〃　said　Hawkins。　She　was　a　sharp　one。
　Behind　the　bedroom　door；　Bud　Schwartz　was　ready　to　yank　his　hair　out。　The　crazy　old　twat　was　screwing　with　the　FBI；　and　enjoying　it！
　Danny　Pogue　looked　as　confused　as　ever。　He　leaned　close　and　whispered：　〃I　thought　sure　he　was　after　you　and　me。〃
　〃Shut　up；〃　Bud　Schwartz　said。　He　was　having　a　hard　enough　time　hearing　the　conversation　in　the　living　room。
　The　FBI　man　was　saying：　〃We　have　reason　to　suspect　a　connection　between　the　Wildlife　Rescue　Corps　and　the　Mothers　of　Wilderness…〃
　〃That's　outlandish；〃　said　Molly　McNamara。
　Agent　Hawkins　let　the　idea　hang。　He　just　sat　there　with　his　square　shoulders　and　his　square　haircut；　looking　impassive　and　not　the　least　bit　accusatory。
　Molly　asked：　〃What　evidence　do　you　have？〃
　〃No　evidence；　just　indications。〃
　〃I　see。〃　Her　tone　was　one　of　pleasant　curiosity。
　Billy　Hawkins　opened　his　briefcase　and　took　out　two　shiny　pieces　of　paper。　Xeroxes。　〃Last　month　the　Mothers　of　Wilderness　put　out　a　press　release。　Do　you　remember？〃
　〃Certainly；〃　said　Molly。　〃I　wrote　it　myself。　We　were　calling　for　an　investigation　of　zoning　irregularities　at　Falcon　Trace。　We　thought　the　grand　jury　should　call　a　few　witnesses。〃
　The　FBI　agent　handed　her　the　papers。　That　one's　a　copy　of　your　press　release。　The　other　is　a　note　delivered　to　the　Amazing　Kingdom　of　Thrills　soon　after　the　theft　of　the　blue…tongued　mango　voles。〃
　Molly　held　both　documents　in　her　lap。　〃It　looks　like　they　were　done　on　the　same　typewriter；〃　she　remarked。
　In　the　bedroom；　Bud　Schwartz　slumped　to　his　knees　when　he　heard　what　Molly　said。　He　thought：　She's　insane。　She's　crazy　as　a　goddamn　bedbug。　We're　all　going　to　fail！
　Back　in　the　living　room；　Molly　was　saying；　〃I'm　no　expert；　but　the　typing　looks　very　similar。〃
　If　Agent　Billy　Hawkins　was　caught　off　guard；　he　masked　it　well。
　〃You're　right；〃　he　said　without　expression。　〃Both　of　these　papers　were　typed　on　a　Smith…Corona　model　XD　5500　electronic。　We　don't　know　yet　if　they　came　out　of　the　same　machine；　but　they　were　definitely　done　on　the　same　model。〃
　Molly　cheerfully　took　the　half…empty　teapot　back　to　the　kitchen。　Hawkins　heard　a　faucet　running；　the　sound　of　silverware　clanking　in　the　sink。　In　the　bedroom；　Danny　Pogue　put　his　mouth　to　Bud　Schwartz's　ear　and　said：　〃What　if　she　shoots　him？〃
　Bud　Schwartz　hadn't　thought　of　that。　Christ；　she　couldn't　be　that　loony；　to　kill　an　FBI　man　in　her　own　apartment！　Unless　she　planned　to　pin　it　on　a　couple　of　dirtbag　burglars　in　the　bedroom。。。。
　When　Molly　came　bustling　out　again；　Billy　Hawkins　said：　〃We've　sent　the　originals　to　Washington。　Hopefully　they'll　be　able　to　say　conclusively　if　it　was　the　same　typewriter。〃
　Molly　sat　down。　〃It's　quite　difficult　to　tell；　isn't　it？　With　these　new　electronic　typewriters；　I　mean。　The　key　strokes　are　not　as　distinct。　I　read　that　someplace。〃
　The　FBI　man　smiled　confidently。　〃Our　lab　is　very；　very　good。　Probably　the　best　in　the　world。〃
　Molly　McNamara　took　out　a　pale　blue　tissue　and　began　to　clean　her　eyeglasses：　neat；　circular　swipes。　〃I　suppose　it's　possible；〃　she　said；　〃that　somebody　in　our　little　group　has　gotten　carried　away。〃
　〃It's　an　emotional　issue；〃　agreed　Billy　Hawkins；　〃this　animal…rights　thing。〃
　〃Still；　I　cannot　believe　any　of　the　Mothers　would　mit　a　crime。　I　simply　cannot　believe　they　would　steal　those　creatures。〃
　〃Perhaps　they　hired　somebody　to　do　it。〃
　Hawkins　went　into　the　briefcase　again　and　came　out　with　a　standard　police　mug　shot。　He　handed　it　to　Molly　and　said：　〃Buddy　Michael　Schwartz；　a　convicted　felon。　His　pickup　truck　was　seen　leaving　the　Amazing　Kingdom　shortly　after　the　theft。　Two　white　males　inside。〃
　Behind　the　bedroom　door；　Bud　Schwartz　steadied　himself。　His　gut　churned；　his　throat　turned　to　chalk。　Danny　Pogue　looked　frozen　and　glassy…eyed；　like　a　rabbit　trapped　in　the　diamond　lane　of　1…95。　〃Bud；〃　he　said。　〃Oh　shit。〃　Bud　Schwartz　clapped　a　hand　over　his　partner's　mouth。
　They　could　hear　Molly　saying；　〃He　looks　familiar；　but　I　just　can't　be　sure。〃
　The　hair　prickled　on　Bud　Schwartz's　arms。　The　old　witch　was　going　to　drop　the　dime。　Unbelievable。
　Agent　Hawkins　was　saying；　〃Do　you　know　him　personally？〃
　There　was　a　pause　that　seemed　to　last　five　minutes。　Molly　nudged　her　eyeglasses　up　the　bridge　of　her　nose。　She　held　the　photograph　near　a　lamp；　and　examined　it　from　several　angles。
　〃No；〃　she　said　finally。　〃He　looks　vaguely　familiar；　but　I　really　can't　place　the　face。〃
　〃Do　me　a　favor。　Think　about　it。〃
　〃Certainly；〃　she　said。　〃May　I　keep　the　picture？〃
　〃Sure。　And　think　about　the　Wildlife　Rescue　Corps；　too。〃
　Molly　liked　the　way　this　fellow　conducted　an　interview。　He　knew　precisely　how　much　to　say　without　giving　away　the　good　stuff…and　he　certainly　knew　how　to　listen。　He　was　a　pro。
　〃Talk　to　your　friends；〃　said　Billy　Hawkins。　〃See　if　they　have　any　ideas。〃
　〃You're　putting　me　in　a　difficult　position。　These　are　fine　people。〃
　〃I'm　sure　they　are。〃　The　FBI　man　stood　up；　straight　as　a　flagpole。　He　said；　〃It　would　be　helpful　if　I　could　borrow　that　Smith…Corona…the　one　that　was　used　for　your　press　announcements。　And　the　ribbon　cartridge　as　well。〃
　Molly　said；　〃Oh　dear。〃
　〃I　can　get　a　warrant；　Mrs。　McNamara。〃
　〃That's　not　it；〃　she　said。　〃You　see；　the　typewriter's　been　stolen。〃
　Billy　Hawkins　didn't　say　anything。
　〃Out　of　my　car。〃
　〃That's　too　bad；〃　the　agent　said。
　〃The　trunk　of　my　car；〃　Molly　added。　〃While　I　was　grocery…shopping。〃
　She　walked　the　FBI　man　to　the　front　door。　〃Can　I　ask　you　something；　Agent　Hawkins？　Are　you　fellows　investigating　the　death　of　the　killer　whale；　as　well？〃
　〃Should　we？〃
　〃I　think　so。　It　looks　like　a　pattern；　doesn't　it？　Terrible　things　are　happening　at　that　park。〃　Molly　looked　at　him　over　the　tops　of　her　glasses。　He　felt　as　if　he　were　back　in　elementary　school。　She　said；　〃I　know　the　mango　voles　are　important；　but　if　I　may　make　a　suggestion？〃
　〃Sure；〃　said　Hawkins。
　〃Your　valuable　time　and　talents　would　be　better　spent　on　a　thorough　investigation　of　the　Falcon　Trace　resort。　It's　a　cesspool　down　there；　and　Mr。　Francis　X。　Kingsbury　is　the　root　of　the　cess。　I　trust　the　FBI　is　still　interested　in　bribery　and　public　corruption。〃
　〃We　consider　it　a　priority。〃
　〃Then　you'll　keep　this　in　mind。〃　Molly's　eyes　lost　some　of　their　sparkle。　〃They've　up　and　bulldozed　the　whole　place；〃　she　said。　The　trees；　everything。　It's　a　crime　what　they　did。　I　drove　by　it　this　morning。〃
　For　the　first　time　Billy　Hawkins　heard　a　trembling　in　her　voice。　He　handed　her　a　card。　〃Anything　solid；　we'll　look　into　it。　And　thank　you　very　much　for　the　tea。〃
　She　held　the　door　open。　〃You're　a　very　polite　young　man；〃　she　said。　〃You　renew　my　faith　in　authority。〃
　〃We'll　be　talking　soon；〃　said　Agent　Hawkins。
　As　soon　as　he　was　gone；　Molly　McNamara　heard　a　whoop　from　the　bedroom。　She　found　Danny　Pogue　dancing　a　one…legged　jig；　ecstatic　that　he　was　not　in　federal　custody。　Bud　Schwartz　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　bed；　nervously　pounding　his　fist　in　a　pillow。
　Danny　Pogue　took　Molly　by　the　arms　and　said：　〃You　did　good。　You　stayed　cool！〃
　Bud　Schwartz　said；　〃Cool's　not　the　word　for　it。〃　Molly　handed　him　the　mug　shot。　〃Next　time　b　your　hair；〃　she　said。　〃Now　then…let's　have　a