ch.doublewhammy-第54节

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　〃Not　real　cripples？〃
　〃No；〃　said　the　deacon。　〃With　some　of　the　vets；　it　es　and　goes。　They　stub　their　toe；　they　get　a　wheelchair…it's　all　in　their　head。　I　think　we　can　find　one　to　play　along。〃
　〃Be　careful；〃　Reverend　Weeb　said。　〃All　we　need　is　some　fruitcake　Rambo　flashing　back　to　Nam　on　live　TV。〃
　〃Don't　worry；〃　Deacon　Johnson　said。　〃Charles；　I　thought　you'd　like　to　hear　some　good　news。〃
　〃Absolutely。〃
　Deacon　Johnson　said；　〃The　tournament's　full。　Today　we　got　our　fiftieth　boat。〃
　〃Thank　God。〃　The　hundred…fifty　grand　in　entry　fees　would　almost　cover　costs。　〃Anybody　famous？〃　Weeb　asked。
　〃No；　couple　of　brothers；〃　Deacon　Johnson　said。　〃In　fact；　Eddie　said　he　never　even　heard　of　them。　Tile　is　the　name。　James　and　Chico。〃
　The　preacher　chuckled　and　rolled　over　on　his　back。　〃Long　as　the　check　cleared；〃　he　said。
　
　Catherine　was　astonished　when　they　went　through　the　Golden　Glades　interchange　and　the　toll…booth　lady　hardly　looked　twice　at　Lucas。
　〃I　can't　believe　it；〃　Catherine　said　as　they　drove　away。
　Behind　the　wheel；　Thomas　Curl　scowled。　〃What　the　hell　would　she　say？〃
　When　they　had　pulled　up　to　the　booth；　Curl　had　reached　out　with　his　dog…headed　arm　to　get　the　ticket。　The　toll…booth　lady　glanced　benignly　at　the　pit　bull；　which　was　deposing　rather　noticeably。
　〃Have　a　nice　day；〃　the　toll…booth　lady　said。　〃I'm　all　out　of　Milk…bones。〃
　〃Thanks　just　the　same；〃　said　Thomas　Curl；　driving　on。
　He　had　named　the　dead　dog　head　Lucas。
　〃Why　not　Luke？〃　Catherine　asked。
　〃What　a　dumb　name　for　a　dog。〃
　Thomas　Curl　held　the　pistol　tightly　with　his　left　hand；　that's　why　he'd　had　to　reach　for　the　toll　ticket　with　his　right　arm；　the　dog　arm。　That's　the　one　he　steered　with。　Catherine　could　see　that　it　was　grossly　swollen　with　infection。　The　pus…lathered　flesh　had　turned　gray；　with　lightning　streaks　of　crimson。
　〃You　should　see　a　doctor。〃
　〃After　I　see　Dennis；〃　Thomas　Curl　said。　〃And　after　I　see　your　goddamn　husband。〃　Curl　was　sweating　like　a　pig。
　Catherine　said；　〃He's　not　my　husband　anymore。〃
　〃I　still　plan　to　kill　him；　on　account　of　Lemus。〃
　〃See　if　I　care；〃　said　Catherine；　staring　out　the　window；　seemingly　enjoying　the　ride。
　Thomas　Curl　didn't　know　what　to　make　of　her。　The　girl　should　have　been　frightened　to　death。
　〃Wait'll　he　finds　out　where　you　are。〃
　〃Decker？　What　makes　you　think　he　still　cares？〃　she　bluffed。
　Thomas　Curl　laughed　coarsely。　〃He's　only　got　about　a　million　fucking　pitchers。〃
　〃Of　me？〃
　〃Fucking　A。　Under　the　bed；　in　the　closet；　probably　in　his　underpants　drawer　too。　Didn't　you　know　that？〃
　Catherine　didn't　know　about　the　pictures。　She　wondered　which　ones　R。J。　had　kept；　which　ones　he　liked　best。
　〃My　husband's　a　doctor。　He　could　take　a　look　at　that　arm　when　he　gets　back　tonight。〃　Another　bluff。　James　would　have　passed　out　at　the　sight。
　〃No　way；〃　Thomas　said。　〃We're　headed　for　Lauderdale。〃　He　looked　down　at　the　dog　head　and　smiled。　〃Ain't　that　right；　Lucas　boy？〃
　Catherine　was　not　surprised　when　Lucas　made　no　reply；　but　Thomas　Curl　frowned　unhappily。　〃Lucas；　you　hear　me？　Goddammit；　puppy；　speak！〃
　The　festering　dog　head　clung　mutely　to　his　arm。
　Thomas　Curl　shoved　the　barrel　of　the　pistol　into　one　of　the　animal's　piebald　ears。
　〃Please　don't；〃　Catherine　cried；　raising　her　arms。
　No　longer　paying　even　cursory　attention　to　the　highway；　Thomas　glared　down　at　Lucas　and　bared　his　own　teeth。　〃My　daddy　said　you　got　to　show　'em　who's　boss。　Dogs　is　like　wives；　he　said；　you　can't　let　'em　have　their　way　once　else　they　run　wild。　Ain't　that　right；　Lucas　boy？〃
　Again　nothing。
　Thomas　Curl　cocked　the　pistol。　〃Bad　dog；　Lucas！〃
　Catherine　covered　her　mouth　and　let　out　a　muffled　little　bark。
　Curl　grinned　and　leaned　closer。　〃Hear　that？〃
　Catherine　barked　again。　It　was　better　than　having　him　fire　a　gun　inside　the　car；　doing　seventy。
　〃That's　my　puppy；〃　Curl　said；　oblivious。　He　laid　the　pistol　in　his　lap　and　patted　the　crown　of　the　dead　dog's　head。　〃You　good　boy；　Lucas；　I　knew　all　along。〃　
　〃Ruff！〃　said　Catherine。
　
　Skink　netted　more　shiners　and　made　Al　Garcia　practice　with　the　fish　until　nearly　dawn。　Finally　they　let　the　monster…beastie　rest；　and　Skink　rowed　back　across　Lake　Jesup。　As　they　dragged　the　skiff　ashore；　Garcia　noticed　two　cars　parked　behind　Skink's　truck　at　the　shack。　One　belonged　to　Trooper　Jim　Tile。　The　other　was　a　tangerine　Corvette。
　〃pany；〃　Skink　said；　removing　his　raincap。
　The　four　of　them　were　sitting　around　the　campfire：　Decker；　Tile；　Lanie　Gault；　and　a　woman　whom　Skink　did　not　recognize。　Decker　introduced　her　as　Ellen　O'Leary。
　〃How's　the　eye？〃　Jim　Tile　asked。
　Skink　grinned　and　took　off　his　sunglasses。　〃Good　as　new；〃　he　said。　Everyone　felt　obliged　to　say　something　nice　about　the　owl　eye。
　〃You　hungry？〃　Skink　said。　〃I'll　take　the　truck　and　find　some　breakfast。〃
　〃We　hit　the　Mister　Donut　on　the　way　in；〃　Decker　said。
　〃Thank　you　anyway；〃　Lanie　added。
　Skink　nodded。　〃I　am；　sort　of；〃　he　said。　〃Hungry；　I　mean。　You　please　move　the　cars？〃
　〃Take　mine；〃　Lanie　said；　fishing　the　keys　out　of　her　jeans。　〃Better　yet；　I'll　go　with　you。〃
　〃Like　hell；〃　Decker　said。
　〃I　don't　mind；〃　said　Skink；　〃if　you　don't。〃
　〃No　more　rope　tricks；〃　Lanie　said。　It　was　her　cockteasing　voice；　Decker　recognized　it。　She　got　in　the　passenger　side　of　the　Corvette。　Skink　squeezed　himself　behind　the　wheel。
　〃Hope　she　likes　possum　omelets；〃　Decker　said。
　Skink　and　Lanie　were　gone　a　long　time。
　Al　Garcia　told　Decker　the　plan；　beginning　with：　〃The　man's　totally　crazy。〃
　〃Thanks　for　the　bulletin。〃
　Jim　Tile　said；　〃He　knows　about　things。　You　can　trust　him。〃
　Skink's　plan　was　to　crash　the　big　bass　tournament　and　ruin　it。　His　plan　was　to　sabotage　the　Lunker　Lakes　resort　on　national　television。
　Garcia　said　to　Jim　Tile：　〃You　and　me　are　fishing　together。〃
　〃In　the　tournament？〃
　〃He's　already　paid　our　entry　fee；〃　Garcia　said。　〃The　best　part　is；　we're　supposed　to　be　hermanos。　Brothers。〃
　Jim　Tile　shook　his　head。　He　was　smiling。　〃I　like　it。　I　don't　know　why；　but　I　do。〃
　In　a　faint　voice　Ellen　O'Leary　said；　〃You　don't　look　that　much　alike。〃
　〃In　the　eyes　we　do；〃　Garcia　said；　straight…faced。　〃This　is　going　to　be　fun。〃
　〃Fun〃　is　not　the　word　R。　J。　Pecker　would　have　chosen。　Things　had　gotten　dangerously　out　of　hand；　suddenly　a　one…eyed　roadside　carnivore　with　possible　brain　damage　was　running　the　whole　program。　Even　more　astounding；　Garcia　was　going　along　with　it。　Decker　couldn't　imagine　what　could　have　happened　while　he　and　Jim　Tile　were　up　at　Crescent　Beach。
　〃This　is　all　fascinating；〃　Decker　said；　〃and　I　wish　both　of　you　the　best　of　luck　in　the　tournament；　but　my　immediate　problem　is　Dennis　Gault。　Murder…one；　remember？〃
　By　way　of　interagency　updating；　Jim　Tile　said　to　Garcia：　〃The　sister　is　taken　care　of。　As　a　state's　witness；　forget　it。〃　He　held　up　the　tape　cassette。
　〃Good　work；〃　Garcia　said。　He　turned　to　Ellen　O'Leary。　〃What　about　you；　miss？〃
　Ellen　looked　worriedly　at　Jim　Tile。　The　trooper　said；　〃She　can　put　Tom　Curl　with　Dickie　Lockhart　right　before　the　murder。〃
　〃Not　bad；〃　Garcia　said。　〃R。J。；　I　can't　figure　what　you're　so　worked　up　about。　Sounds　to　me　like　an　easy　nolle　prosse。〃
　〃If　you　don't　mind；〃　Decker　said。　〃Gault　set　me　up　on　a　murder　charge。　He　also　arranged　to　kill　my　friend　Ott。　At　this　very　moment　he's　got　some　halfwit　redneck　hitman　out　looking　for　me。　I　would　prefer　not　to　wait　three　or　four　months　for　the　New　Orleans　district　attorney　to　settle　the　issue。〃
　Garcia　raised　a　fleshy　brown　hand。　〃Yeah；　I　hear　you；　chico。　Why　don't　I　just　pop　big　Mr。　Gault　at　the　fish　tournament？　Irritate　the　hell　out　of　him；　wouldn't　it？〃
　〃Good　TV；　too；〃　Jim　Tile　remarked。
　〃Pop　him　for　what？〃　Decker　asked。
　Garcia　paused　to　light　a　cigarette。　〃Filing　false　information；　for　starters。　He　lied　to　me…I　don't　like　that。　Obstruction；　that's　another　good　one。　I　haven't　used　it　in　years；　so　why　not。〃
　Decker　said；　〃It's　chickenshit；　Al。〃　
　〃Better　than　nothing；〃　Jim　Tile　said。
　Garcia　watched　a　blue　smoke　ring　float　into　the　oaks。　〃Best　I　can　do　〃　he　said；　〃until　we　find　Tom　Curl　and　have　a　serious　chat　with　the　boy。〃
　〃You　think　he'll　flip？〃　Decker　said。
　〃Sure。〃　Al　Garcia　smiled。　〃If　I　ask　real　nice。〃
　
　Skink　jacked　the　Corvette　up　to　ninety　on　the　Gilchrist。　He　felt　obliged　to　do　it；　seeing　as　how　he'd　probably　never　get　another　chance。　It　truly　was　quite　a　car。　He　loved　the　way　its　snout　sucked　up　the　road。
　In　the　passenger　seat　Lanie　tucked　her　long　legs　beneath　her　bottom　and　turned　sideways　to　watch　him　drive。　Skink　didn't　like　being　watched；　but　he　said　nothing。　It　had　been　a　long　time　since　he　had　shared　a　moment　with　a　beautiful　woman；　that　was　one　price　of　hermitage。　He　remembered　how　good　judgment　went　out　the　window　in　such　times；　so　he　warned　himself　to　be　careful；　there　was　work　to　do。　His　head　was　killing　him；　too；　the　pain　had　returned　as　soon　as　he'd　gotten　off　the　lake。　A　specialist　was　out　of　the　question。　There　was　no　time。
　Lanie　popped　a　Whitney　Houston　tape　in　the　cassette　player　and　started　keeping　time　with　her　bare　feet。　Without　looking　away　from　the　road；　Skink　reached　over　and　jerked　the　tape　out　of　the　dash。　Then　he　threw　it　out　the　window。
　〃Got　any　Creedence？〃　he　said。
　In　the