ch.nativetongue-第39节

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　Francis　X。　Kingsbury　offered　a　Bloody　Mary　to　Pedro　Luz；　who　guzzled　it　like　Gatorade。
　〃So；　Pedro；　the　job's　going　all　right？〃
　The　security　chief　was　startled　at　Kingsbury's　genial　tone。　A　ration　of　shit　was　what　he'd　expected；　the　old　fart　had　been　livid　since　the　burglary　of　his　private　office。　The　crime　had　utterly　baffled　Pedro　Luz；　who　hadn't　the　first　notion　of　how　to　solve　it。　He　had　hoped　that　the　mission　to　Eagle　Ridge　would　absolve　him。
　〃I　took　care　of　that　other　problem；〃　he　announced　to　Kingsbury。
　〃Fine。　Excellent。〃　Kingsbury　was　swiveling　back　and　forth　in　his　chair。　He　didn't　look　so　good：　nervous；　ragged；　droopy…eyed；　his　fancy　golf　shirt　all　wrinkled。　Pedro　Luz　wondered　if　the　old　fart　was　doing　coke。　The　very　idea　was　downright　hilarious。
　〃She　won't　bother　you　no　more；〃　he　said　to　Kingsbury。
　〃You　made　it　look；　what…like　muggers？　Crack　fiends？〃
　〃Sure；　that's　what　the　cops　would　think。　If　she　calls　them；　which　I　don't　think　she　will。　I　made　it　clear　what　could　happen。〃
　〃Fine。　Excellent。〃　Kingsbury　propped　his　elbows　on　the　desk　in　a　way　that　offered　Pedro　Luz　an　unobstructed　view　of　the　lurid　mouse　tattoo。
　〃Two　things…〃　Kingsbury　paused　when　he　spotted　the　bandage　on　Pedro　Luz's　finger。
　〃Hangnail；〃　said　the　security　chief。
　〃Whatever；〃　Kingsbury　said。　〃Two　things…some　assholes；　the　guys　who　stole　my　files；　they're　blackmailing　me。　You　know；　shaking　me　down。〃
　Pedro　Luz　asked　how　much　money　he　had　promised　them。
　〃Never　mind；〃　Kingsbury　replied。　〃Five　grand　so　far　is　what　I　paid。　But　the　files；　see；　I　can't　just　blow　'em　off。　I　need　the　files。〃
　〃Who　are　these　men？〃
　Francis　Kingsbury　threw　up　his　hands。　〃That's　the　thing…just　ordinary　shitheads。　White　trash。　I　can't　fucking　believe　it。〃
　Pedro　Luz　had　never　understood　the　concept　of　white　trash；　or　how　it　differed　from　black　trash　or　Hispanic　trash　or　any　other　kind　of　criminal　dirtbag。　He　said；　〃You　want　the　files　but　you　don't　want　to　pay。〃
　〃Exacto！〃　said　Kingsbury。　〃In　fact；　the　five　grand…I　wouldn't　mind　getting　it　back。〃
　Pedro　Luz　laughed　sharply。　Months　go　by　and　the　job's　a　snooze…now　suddenly　all　this　dirty　work。　Oh　well；　Pedro　thought；　it　beats　painting　rat　tongues。　He　hadn't　shed　a　tear　when　the　mango　voles　were　stolen。
　Kingsbury　was　saying；　〃The　other　thing；　I　fired　a　guy　from　Publicity。〃
　〃Yeah？〃　Watching　that　damn　tattoo；　it　was　driving　Pedro　silly。　Minnie　on　her　knees；　polishing　Mickey's　knob…whoever　did　the　drawing　was　damn　good；　almost　Disney　caliber。
　〃You　need　to　go　see　this　guy　I　fired；〃　Kingsbury　was　saying。　〃Find　out　some　things。〃
　Pedro　Luz　asked　what　kind　of　things。
　Kingsbury　moved　his　lips　around；　like　a　camel　getting　ready　to　spit。　Eventually　he　said；　〃The　problem　we　had　before？　This　is　worse；　okay。　The　guy　I　mentioned；　we're　talking　major　pain　in　the　rectum。〃
　〃Okay。〃
　〃As　long　as　he　worked　for　us；　we　had　some　control。　On　the　outside；　hell；　he's　a　major　pain。　I　just　got　a　feeling。〃
　Pedro　Luz　gave　him　a　thumbs…up。　〃Don't　worry。〃
　〃Carefully；〃　Kingsbury　added。　〃Same　as　before　would　be　excellent。　Except　no　dead　whales　this　time。〃
　God；　thought　Pedro　Luz；　what　a　fuckup　that　was。
　〃Do　I　know　him？〃　he　asked　Kingsbury。
　〃From　Publicity。　Joe　Winder's　his　name。〃
　〃Oh。〃　Pedro　Luz　perked　up。　Winder　was　the　smartass　who'd　been　hassling　him　about　Dr。　Koocher。　The　same　guy　he'd　sent　Angel　and　Big　Paulie　to　teach　a　lesson；　only　something　went　sour　and　Angel　ended　up　dead　and　Paulie　must've　took　off。　Next　thing　Pedro　knows；　here's　this　smartass　Winder　snooping　around　the　animal　lab　in　the　middle　of　the　night。
　Mr。　X　was　right　about　the　guy。　Now　that　he　was　fired；　he　might　go　hog…wild。　Start　talking　crazy　shit　all　over　the　place。
　〃You　look　inspired；〃　Kingsbury　said。
　Pedro　Luz　smiled　crookedly。　〃Let's　just　say　I　got　some　ideas。〃
　
　When　Molly　McNamara　opened　her　eyes；　she　was　surprised　to　see　Bud　Schwartz　and　Danny　Pogue　at　her　bedside。
　〃I　thought　you　boys　would　be　long　gone。〃　
　〃No　way；〃　said　Danny　Pogue。　His　eyes　were　large　and　intent；　like　a　retriever's。　His　chin　was　in　his　hands；　and　he　was　sitting　very　close　to　the　bed。　He　patted　Molly's　brow　with　a　damp　washcloth。　
　〃Thank　you；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　very　thirsty。〃
　Danny　Pogue　bolted　to　the　kitchen　to　get　her　a　glass　of　ginger　ale。　Bud　Schwartz　took　a　step　closer。　He　said；　〃What　happened？　Can　you　remember　anything？〃
　〃My　glasses；〃　she　said；　pointing　to　the　nightstand。
　〃They　got　busted；〃　said　Bud　Schwartz。　〃I　used　some　Scotch　tape　on　the　nose　part。〃
　Molly　McNamara　put　them　on；　and　said；　〃Two　men。　Only　one　did　the　hitting。〃
　〃Why？　What'd　they　want…money？〃
　Molly　shook　her　head　slowly。　Danny　Pogue　came　back　with　the　ginger　ale；　and　she　took　two　small　sips。　〃Thank　you；〃　she　said。　〃No；　they　didn't　want　money。〃
　Danny　Pogue　said；　〃Who？〃
　〃The　men　who　came。　They　said　it　was　a　warning。〃
　〃Oh　Christ。〃
　〃It's　none　of　your　concern；〃　said　Molly。
　Grimly　Bud　Schwartz　said；　〃They　were　after　the　files。〃
　〃No。　They　never　mentioned　that。〃
　Bud　Schwartz　was　relieved；　he　had　worried　that　Francis　X。　Kingsbury　had　somehow　identified　them；　connected　them　to　Molly　and　sent　goons　to　avenge　the　burglary。　It　was　an　irrational　fear；　he　knew；　because　even　the　powerful　Kingsbury　couldn't　have　done　it　so　quickly　after　their　blackmail　visit。
　Still；　it　was　discouraging　to　see　how　they　had　battered　Molly　McNamara。　These　were　extremely　bad　men；　and　Bud　Schwartz　doubted　they　would　have　allowed　him　and　Danny　Pogue　to　survive　the　encounter。
　〃I　think　we　ought　to　get　out　of　here；〃　he　said　to　Molly。　〃Take　you　back　to　the　big　house。〃
　〃That's　a　sensible　plan；〃　Molly　agreed；　〃but　you　boys　don't　have　to　stay。〃
　〃Like　hell；〃　Danny　Pogue　declared。　〃Look　at　you；　all　busted　up。　You'll　be　needing　some　help。〃
　〃You　got　some　bad　bruises；〃　agreed　Bud　Schwartz。　〃Your　right　knee's　twisted；　too；　but　I　don't　think　it's　broke。　Plus　they　knocked　out　a　couple　teeth。〃
　Molly　ran　her　tongue　around　her　gums　and　said；　〃I　was　the　only　one　in　this　building　who　still　had　their　own。〃
　Danny　Pogue　paced　with　a　limp。　〃I　wanted　to　call　an　ambulance　or　somebody；　only　Bud　decided　we　better　not。〃
　Molly　said　that　was　a　smart　decision；　considering　what　the　three　of　them　had　been　up　to　lately。　She　removed　the　damp　cloth　from　her　forehead　and　folded　it　on　the　nightstand。
　Danny　Pogue　wanted　to　know　all　about　the　attackers…how　big　they　were；　what　they　looked　like。　〃I　bet　they　was　niggers；〃　he　said。
　Molly　raised　herself　off　the　pillow；　cocked　her　arm　and　slapped　him　across　the　face。　Incredulous；　Danny　Pogue　rubbed　his　cheek。
　She　said；　〃Don't　you　ever　again　use　that　word　in　my　presence。〃
　〃Christ；　I　didn't　mean　nothin〃。〃
　〃Well；　it　just　so　happens　these　men　were　white。　White　Hispanic　males。　The　one　who　beat　me　up　was　very　large　and　muscular。〃
　〃My　question；〃　said　Bud　Schwartz；　〃is　how　they　slipped　past　that　crack　security　guard。　What's　his　name；　Andrews；　the　ace　with　the　flashlight。〃
　Molly　said：　〃You　won't　believe　it。　The　big　one　had　a　badge。　A　police　badge；　City　of　Miami。〃
　〃Wonderful；〃　Bud　Schwartz　said。
　〃I　saw　it　myself；〃　Molly　said。　〃Why　do　you　think　I　even　opened　the　door？　He　said　they　were　plainclothes　detectives。　Once　they　had　me　down；　I　couldn't　get　to　my　purse。〃
　Danny　Pogue　looked　at　his　partner　with　the　usual　mix　of　confusion　and　concern。　Bud　Schwartz　said；　〃It　sounds　like　some　serious　shitkickers。　You　say　they　were　Cubans？〃
　〃Hispanics；〃　Molly　said。
　〃Did　they　speak　American？〃　asked　Danny　Pogue。
　〃The　big　one　did　all　the　talking；　and　his　English　was　quite　petent。　Especially　his　use　of　four…letter　slang。〃
　Danny　Pogue　rocked　on　his　good　leg；　and　slammed　a　fist　against　the　wall。　〃I'll　murder　the　sumbitch！〃
　〃Sure　you　will；〃　said　his　partner。　〃You're　a　killer　and　I'm　the　next　quarterback　for　the　Dolphins。〃
　〃I　mean　it；　Bud。　Look　what　he　done　to　her。〃
　〃I　see；　believe　me。〃　Bud　Schwartz　gave　Molly　McNamara　two　Percodans　and　said　it　would　help　her　sleep。　She　swallowed　the　pills　in　one　gulp　and　thanked　the　burglars　once　again。　〃It's　very　kind　of　you　to　look　after　me；〃　she　said。
　〃Only　till　you're　feeling　better；〃　said　Bud　Schwartz。　〃We　got　some　business　that　requires　our　full　attention。〃
　〃Of　course；　I　understand。〃
　〃We　made　five　grand　tonight！〃　said　Danny　Pogue。　Quickly　he　withered　under　his　partner's　glare。
　〃Five　thousand　is　very　good；〃　Molly　said。　〃Add　the　money　I　still　owe　you；　and　that's　quite　a　handsome　nest　egg。〃　She　slid　deeper　into　the　sheets；　and　pulled　the　blanket　to　her　chin。
　〃Get　some　rest；〃　Bud　Schwartz　said。　〃We'll　take　you　to　the　house　in　the　morning。〃
　〃Yeah；　get　some　sleep。〃　Danny　Pogue　gazed　at　her　dolorously。　Bud　Schwartz　wondered　if　he　was　about　to　cry。
　〃Bud？〃　Molly　spoke　in　a　fog。
　〃Yeah。〃
　〃Did　you　boys　happen　to　find　a　piece　of　finger　on　the　floor？〃
　〃No；〃　said　Bud　Schwartz。　〃Why？〃
　〃Would　you　check　in　the　kitchen；　please？〃
　〃No　problem。〃　He　wondered　how　the　pills　could　mess　her　up　so　quickly。　〃You　mean；　like　a　human　finger？〃　But　Molly's　eyes　were　already　closed。
　
　NINETEEN
　Charles　Chelsea　worked　feverishly　all　morning。　By　half　past　eleven　the　parade　was　organized。　The　gateway　to　the　Amazing　Kingdom　of　Thrills　was　festooned　with　multicolored　strea