ch.doublewhammy-第35节

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they　needed　a　four…by…four　truck；　something　on　the　order　of　a　Bronco；　but　the　Avis　people　only　had　cars。
　Sticking　in　the　heavy　traffic；　they　drove　around　Little　Havana　for　two　hours　while　Decker　quizzed　Skink　about　what　had　happened　at　Lake　Maurepas。
　〃Who　whacked　Lockhart？〃　he　asked。
　〃I　don't　know　that；〃　Skink　said。　〃This　is　what　I　do　know；　mostly　from　Jim　Tile　and　a　few　phone　calls。　While　you　were　banging　Gault's　sister；　somebody　clubbed　Dickie　to　death。　First　thing　the　next　morning；　Gault　himself　flies　to　New　Orleans　to　offer　the　cops　a　sworn　statement。　He　tells　them　an　ex…con　photographer　named　Decker　was　trying　to　blackmail　Dickie　over　the　bass　cheating。　Says　you　approached　him　with　some　photographs　and　wanted　a　hundred　K…he　even　had　a　note　in　your　handwriting　to　that　effect。〃
　〃Jesus；〃　Decker　groaned。　It　was　the　note　he　had　written　the　night　Gault　had　fought　with　him…the　note　raising　his　fee　to　one　hundred　thousand　dollars。
　Skink　went　on：　〃Gault　tells　the　cops　that　he　told　you　to　fuck　off；　so　then　you　went　to　Lockhart。　At　first　Dickie　paid　you…thirty　grand　in　all；　Gault　says…〃
　〃Cute；〃　Decker　muttered。　Thirty　had　been　his　advance　on　the　case。
　〃…but　then　Dickie　gets　tired　of　paying　and　says　no　more。　You　go　to　New　Orleans　to　confront　him；　threaten　to　expose　him　at　the　big　tournament。　There's　an　argument；　a　fight　。。。　you　can　script　the　rest。　The　cops　already　have。〃
　〃And　my　alibi　witness　is　the　real　killer's　sister。〃
　〃Lanie　wasted　no　time　giving　an　affidavit；〃　Skink　said。　〃A　very　helpful　lady。　She　says　you　poked　her；　drove　her　back　to　New　Orleans；　and　dropped　her　at　a　hotel。　Says　you　told　her　you　had　to　go　see　Dickie　on　some　business。〃
　〃I　can　pick　'em；〃　Decker　said　mordantly。
　Skink　fidgeted　in　the　car；　his　expression　had　grown　strained。　The　press　of　the　traffic；　the　din　of　the　streets；　bothered　him。　〃Almost　forgot；〃　he　said。　〃They　got　the　blackmail　photographs　too。〃
　〃What　photographs？〃
　〃Of　Dickie　pulling　the　fish　cages；〃　Skink　replied。　〃Beats　me；　too。　You're　the　expert；　figure　it　out。〃
　Decker　was　astounded。　〃They　got　actual　pictures？〃
　〃That's　what　the　DA　says。　Very　sharp　black…and…whites　of　Dickie　doing　the　deed。〃
　〃But　who　took　'em？〃
　〃The　DA　says　you　did。　They　traced　an　empty　box　of　film　to　a　wholesale　shipment　of　Kodak　that　went　to　the　photo　lab　at　the　newspaper。　The　newspaper　says　it　was　part　of　the　batch　you　swiped　on　your　way　out　the　door。〃
　〃I　see。〃　Skink　was　right：　it　was　almost　a　thing　of　beauty。
　Skink　said；　〃Are　you　missing　any　film？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　〃The　junk　we　shot　in　Louisiana；　where's　that？〃
　〃Still　in　my　camera　bag；〃　Decker　said；　〃I　guess。〃
　〃You　guess。〃　Skink　laughed　harshly。　〃You　better　damn　well　find　out；　Miami。　You're　not　the　only　wizard　with　a　darkroom。〃
　Decker　felt　tired；　he　wanted　to　close　his　eyes；　cap　the　lens。　Skink　told　him　they　should　take　U。S。　27　up　to　Alligator　Alley　and　go　west。
　〃We'd　be　safer　in　the　city；〃　Decker　said。　He　didn't　feel　like　driving　the　entire　width　of　the　state；　the　drumbeat　pain　on　his　brainstem　was　unbearable。　The　Alley　would　be　crawling　with　state　troopers；　too；　they　had　an　eye　for　sporty　rental　cars。　〃Where　exactly　did　you　want　to　go？〃　he　asked　Skink。
　〃The　Big　Cypress　is　a　good　place　to　hide。〃　Skink　gave　him　a　sideways　glance。
　〃Not　the　swamp…rat　routine；〃　Decker　said；　〃not　tonight。　Let's　stay　in　town。〃
　〃You　got　somewhere　that's　safe？〃
　〃Maybe。〃
　〃No　hotels；〃　Skink　hissed。
　〃No　hotels。〃
　
　Decker　parked　at　the　curb　and　studied　the　house　silently　for　several　moments。　It　seemed　impressively　large；　even　for　Miami　Shores。　There　were　two　cars；　a　Firebird　and　a　Jaguar　sedan；　parked　in　a　half…circle　gravel　driveway。　The　sabal　palms　and　seagrape　trees　were　bathed　by　soft　orange　spotlights　mounted　discreetly　around　the　Bermuda　lawn。　A　Spanish　archway　framed　the　front　door；　which　was　made　of　a　coffee…colored　wood。　There　were　no　iron　bars　across　the　front　window；　but　Decker　could　see　a　bold　red　sticker　advertising　the　burglar　alarm。
　〃You　gonna　sit　here　and　moon　all　night？〃　Skink　said。
　They　got　out　and　walked　up　the　driveway；　the　gravel　crunching　noisily　under　their　feet。　Skink　had　nothing　to　say　about　the　big　house；　he'd　seen　plenty；　and　most　were　owned　by　wealthy　and　respectable　thieves。
　Indelicately　Decker　asked　him　to　stand　back　a　few　steps　from　the　door。
　〃So　they　don't　die　of　fright；　is　that　it？〃　Skink　said。
　Catherine　answered　the　bell。　〃Rage；〃　she　said；　looking　more　than　a　little　surprised。
　She　wore　tight　cutoff　jeans　and　a　sleeveless　lavender　top；　with　no　brassiere。　Decker　was　ticked　off　that　James　the　doctor　had　let　her　answer　the　door　in　the　middle　of　the　night…they　could　have　been　any　variety　of　nocturnal　Dade　County　creep：　killers；　kidnappers；　witch　doctors　looking　for　a　sacrificial　goat。　What　kind　of　a　lazy　jerk　would　send　his　wife　to　the　door　alone；　with　no　bra　on；　at　eleven…thirty？
　〃I　would've　called；〃　R。　J。　Decker　said；　〃but　it's　kind　of　an　emergency。〃
　Catherine　glanced　at　Skink　and　seemed　to　grasp　the　seriousness　of　the　situation。
　〃e　on　in；　guys；〃　she　said　in　a　friendly　den…mother　tone。　Then　she　leaned　close　and　whispered　to　Decker：　〃James　is　here。〃
　〃I　know。〃　The　Jag　was　the　giveaway。
　A　snow…white　miniature　poodle　raced　full　speed　into　the　foyer；　its　toenails　clacking　on　the　tile。　The　moment　it　saw　Skink；　the　dog　began　to　snarl　and　drool　deliriously。　It　chomped　the　cuff　of　his　orange　rainsuit　and　began　tearing　at　the　plastic。　Wordlessly　Skink　kicked　the　animal　once；　sharply；　skidding　it　back　down　the　hall。
　〃Sorry；〃　Decker　said　wanly。
　〃It's　okay；〃　Catherine　said；　leading　them　into　the　kitchen。　〃I　hate　the　little　bastard…he　pees　in　my　shoes；　did　I　tell　you　that？〃
　Out　of　nowhere　Skink　said：　〃We　need　a　place　for　the　night。〃
　Catherine　nodded。　〃There's　plenty　of　room。〃　An　emergency　is　right；　she　thought；　that　would　be　the　only　thing　to　get　Decker　to　stay　under　the　same　roof。
　Skink　said：　〃Decker's　hurt；　too。〃
　〃I'm　all　right。〃
　〃What　is　it？〃　Catherine　asked。
　〃I　almost　broke　his　neck；〃　Skink　said；　〃accidentally。〃
　〃It's　just　a　sprain；〃　Decker　said。
　Then　James　the　doctor…Catherine's　husband…walked　into　the　kitchen。　He　wore　a　navy　Ralph　Lauren　bathrobe　that　stopped　at　his　pale　hairless　knees；　he　also　wore　matching　blue　slippers。　Decker　was　seized　by　an　urge　to　repeatedly　slap　the　man　in　the　face；　instead　he　just　froze。
　James　studied　the　two　visitors　and　said；　〃Catherine？〃　He　wanted　an　explanation。
　Both　Catherine　and　Decker　looked　fairly　helpless；　so　Skink　stepped　forward　and　said；　〃This　is　your　wife's　ex…husband；　and　I'm　his　friend。〃
　〃Oh？〃　In　his　lifetime　James　had　never　seen　anything　like　Skink　up　close；　but　he　was　doing　his　best　to　maintain　a　man…of…the…house　authority。　To　Decker　he　extended　his　hand　and　said；　〃R。J。；　isn't　it？　Funny　we　haven't　met　before。〃
　〃Uproarious；〃　Decker　said；　giving　the　doctor's　hand　an　exceedingly　firm　shake。
　〃They're　spending　the　night；〃　Catherine　told　her　husband。　〃R。J。's　trailer　flooded。〃
　〃There's　been　no　rain；〃　James　remarked。
　〃A　pipe　broke；〃　Catherine　said　impatiently。
　Good　girl；　Decker　thought；　still　quick　on　her　feet。
　〃I'm　going　to　fix　these　fellows　some　tea；〃　she　said。　〃Everybody　into　the　living　room；　now；　scat。〃
　The　living　room　had　been　designed　around　one　of　those　giant　seven…foot　televisions　of　the　type　Decker　had　seen　at　Dennis　Gault's　condominium。　Every　chair；　every　sofa；　every　bar　stool　had　a　view　of　the　screen。　James　the　chiropractor　had　been　watching　a　videocassette　of　one　of　the　〃Star　Wars〃　movies。　〃I've　got　all　three　on　tape；〃　he　volunteered。
　Decker　was　calming　down。　He　had　no　reason　to　hate　the　guy；　except　maybe　for　the　robe；　anyway；　it　was　Catherine　who　had　made　the　choice。
　James　was　slender　and　somewhat　tall…taller　than　Decker　had　expected。　He　had　a　fine　chin；　high　cheekbones；　and　quick　aggressive…looking　eyes。　His　hair　was　reddish…brown；　his　skin　fair。　His　long　delicate　hands　were　probably　a　petitive　advantage　in　the　world　of　chiropractic。　On　the　whole　he　was　slightly　better…looking　than　Decker　had　hoped　he　would　be。
　〃I've　seen　some　of　your　photographs；　and　they're　quite　good；〃　James　said；　adding：　〃Catherine　has　an　old　album。〃
　A　double　beat　on　the　word　old。　In　a　way　Decker　felt　a　little　sorry　for　him；　having　two　surly　strangers　in　the　house；　and　a　wife　expecting　him　to　be　civil。　The　man　was　nervous；　and　who　wouldn't　be？
　Bravely　James　smiled　over　at　Skink；　a　dominating　presence　in　his　fluorescent　rainsuit。　James　said；　〃And　you　must　be　a　crossing　guard！〃
　Catherine　brought　cinnamon　tea　on　a　plain　tray。　Skink　took　a　cup　and　drank　it　down　hot。　Afterward　his　dark　green　eyes　seemed　to　glow。
　As　Catherine　poured　him　another　cup；　Skink　said：　〃You're　quite　a　beautiful　girl。〃
　Decker　was　dumbstruck。　James　the　doctor　was　plainly　mortified。　Skink　smiled　luminously　and　said；　〃My　friend　was　an　idiot　to　let　you　go。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　Catherine　said。　She　didn't　act　put　out　at　all；　and　she　certainly　didn't　act　threatened。　The　look　on　her　face　was　charmed　and　knowing。　It　was；　Decker　thought　irritably；　as　if　she　and　Skink　were　sharing　a　secret；　and　the　secret　was　about　him。
　〃Catherine；〃　James　said　sternly；　changing　the　subject；　〃have　you　seen　Bambi？〃
　〃He　was　playing