lhamilton.thekillingdance-第36节

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　Greeley　stood　up。　〃Excuse　me；　Anita。　I'll　be　right　back。〃　He　even　managed　a　friendly　smile。　He　was　putting　so　much　effort　into　the　act；　it　was　almost　a　shame　I　wasn't　buying　it。　Besides；　if　he　was　really　being　friendly；　he'd　have　taken　the　cuffs　off。
　Greeley　tried　to　get　Dolph　to　step　outside；　but　Dolph　shook　his　head。　〃The　office　is　secure。　The　rest　of　the　club　isn't。〃
　〃What's　that　supposed　to　mean？〃　Greeley　said。
　〃It　means　your　murder　scene；　plete　with　victim；　is　being　flashed　on　national　television。　You　ordered　that　no　one　was　to　talk　to　the　press；　so　they've　been　speculating。　Vampires　run　amok　is　the　choice　rumor。〃
　〃You　want　me　to　tell　the　media　that　a　woman　attached　to　a　police　squad　is　being　charged　with　murder？〃
　〃You　have　three　witnesses　that　all　say　Ms。　Smith　pulled　her　gun　first。　That　it　was　selfdefense。〃
　〃That's　something　for　the　assistant　district　attorney　to　decide；〃　Greeley　said。
　Funny　how　when　he　was　talking　to　me　he　could　make　a　deal。　Now　that　he　was　talking　to　another　cop；　suddenly　the　ADA　was　the　only　one　who　could　make　a　deal。
　〃Call　them；〃　Dolph　said。
　〃Just　like　that；〃　Greeley　said。　〃You　want　to　cut　her　loose？〃
　〃She'll　make　a　statement　after　we　get　her　and　her　lawyer　down　to　the　station。〃
　Greeley　made　a　rude　sound　in　his　throat。　〃Yeah；　she's　real　hot　for　her　lawyer。〃
　〃Go　talk　to　the　press；　Greeley。〃
　〃And　tell　them　what？〃
　〃That　vampires　aren't　involved。　That　it　was　just　bad　timing　that　the　murder　happened　at　Danse　Macabre。〃
　Greeley　glanced　back　at　me。　〃I　want　her　here　when　I　get　back；　Storr。　No　disappearing　act。〃
　〃We'll　both　be　here。〃
　Greeley　glared　at　me；　all　his　anger　and　frustration　filling　his　eyes　for　a　second。　The　friendly　mask　was　gone。　〃Make　sure　you　are。　The　brass　may　want　you　in　on　this；　but　this　is　a　homicide　case；　my　case。〃　He　shoved　a　finger　at　Dolph；　not　quite　touching　him。　〃Don't　fuck　with　it。〃
　Greeley　pushed　past　him　and　shut　the　door　firmly。　Silence　thick　enough　to　walk　on　filled　the　room。
　Dolph　pulled　a　chair　up　in　front　of　the　desk；　next　to　me；　and　sat　facing　me。　He　clasped　his　big　hands　together　and　stared。　I　stared　back。
　〃The　three　women　say　Ms。　Smith　pulled　her　gun　first。　She　ripped　your　purse　off；　so　she　knew　where　your　gun　was；〃　he　said。
　〃I　flashed　it　a　little　too　much　tonight。　My　fault。〃
　〃I　heard　about　you　joining　the　show　out　there。　What　happened？〃
　〃I　had　to　police　the　show　a　little。　The　woman　didn't　want　to　play。　It's　illegal　to　use　preternatural　powers　to　coerce　anyone　into　doing　something　they　don't　want　to　do。〃
　〃You　aren't　a　policeman；　Anita。〃
　It　was　the　first　time　he'd　ever　reminded　me　of　that。　Usually；　Dolph　treated　me　like　one　of　his　people。　He'd　even　encouraged　me　to　simply　say　I　was　with　his　squad　so　people　would　assume　I　was　a　detective。
　〃You　kicking　me　off　the　squad；　Dolph？〃　My　stomach　was　tight　as　I　asked。　I　valued　working　with　the　police。　I　valued　Dolph　and　Zerbrowski　and　the　rest　of　the　guys。　It　would　hurt　more　than　I　wanted　to　admit　to　lose　all　that。
　〃Two　bodies　in　two　days；　Anita；　both　of　them　normal　humans。　That's　a　lot　of　explaining　at　headquarters。〃
　〃If　they'd　been　vamps　or　some　other　creepie…crawlie；　everyone　would　look　the　other　way；　is　that　it？〃
　〃Picking　a　fight　with　me　isn't　your　best　bet　right　now；　Anita。〃
　We　stared　at　each　other　for　a　second　or　two。　I　looked　away　first；　and　nodded。　〃Why　are　you　here；　Dolph？〃
　〃I　handle　the　media　a　lot。〃
　〃But　you're　letting　Greeley　talk　to　the　press。〃
　〃You've　got　to　tell　me　what's　going　on；　Anita。〃　His　voice　was　quiet；　but　I　knew　by　the　tightness　around　his　eyes；　the　way　he　held　his　shoulders；　that　he　was　angry。　I　guess　I　couldn't　blame　him。
　〃What　do　you　want　to　hear；　Dolph？〃　I　asked。
　〃The　truth　would　be　nice；〃　he　said。
　〃I　think　I　need　a　lawyer　first。〃　I　wasn't　going　to　spill　my　guts　just　because　Dolph　was　my　friend。　He　was　still　a　cop；　and　I　had　killed　someone。
　Dolph's　eyes　narrowed。　He　turned　to　the　uniform　still　leaning　against　the　wall。　〃Rizzo；　go　get　some　coffee；　black；　for　me。　What　do　you　want　in　yours？〃
　Coffee　was　ing。　Things　were　looking　up。　〃Two　sugars；　one　cream。〃
　〃Get　some　for　yourself；　Rizzo；　and　take　your　time。〃
　Officer　Rizzo　pushed　away　from　the　wall　where　he'd　been　leaning。　〃You　sure　about　this；　Sergeant　Storr？〃
　Dolph　looked　at　him；　just　looked　at　him。
　Rizzo　held　his　hands　out　in　a　sort　of　push　away　gesture。　〃I　don't　want　Greeley　riding　my　ass　about　leaving　you　two　alone。〃
　〃Get　the　coffee；　Officer　Rizzo。　I'll　take　any　heat　that　es　down。〃
　Rizzo　left；　shaking　his　head；　probably　at　the　stupidity　of　plainclothes　detectives。　When　we　were　alone；　Dolph　said；　〃Turn　around。〃
　I　stood　up　and　offered　him　my　hands。　He　uncuffed　me；　but　didn't　pat　me　down　again。　He　probably　assumed　Rizzo　had　done　it。　I　didn't　tell　him　about　the　knife　they　missed；　which　would　piss　him　off　if　he　found　it　later；　but　hey；　I　couldn't　let　the　cops　confiscate　all　my　weapons。　Besides；　I　didn't　want　to　be　unarmed　tonight。
　I　sat　back　down；　resisting　the　urge　to　rub　my　wrists。　I　was　heap…big…vampire…slayer。　Nothing　could　hurt　me。　Yeah；　right。
　〃Talk　to　me；　Anita。〃
　〃Off　the　record？〃　I　asked。
　He　stared　at　me；　eyes　flat　and　unreadable；　good　cop　eyes。　〃I　should　say　no。〃
　〃But；〃　I　said。
　〃Off　the　record；　tell　me。〃
　I　told　him。　I　changed　only　one　thing：　that　an　anonymous　call　had　alerted　me　to　the　contract　on　me。　Other　than　that；　it　was　the　absolute　truth。　I　thought　Dolph　would　be　happy；　but　he　wasn't。
　〃And　you　don't　know　why　someone　would　put　a　contract　out　on　you？〃
　〃For　that　kind　of　money；　with　a　time　limit　on　it；　no。〃
　He　stared　at　me；　as　if　trying　to　decide　how　much　truth　I　was　telling　him。　〃Why　didn't　you　tell　us　about　the　anonymous　phone　call　earlier？〃　He　put　a　lot　of　stress　on　the　word　anonymous。
　I　shrugged。　〃Habit；　I　guess。〃
　〃No；　you　wanted　to　hotdog　it。　Instead　of　hiding　out；　you　came　here　and　played　bait。　If　the　hitter　had　used　a　bomb；　you　could　have　gotten　a　lot　of　people　hurt。〃
　〃But　she　didn't　use　a　bomb；　did　she。〃
　He　took　a　deep　breath　and　let　it　out　slowly。　If　I　hadn't　known　better；　I'd　have　said　he　was　counting　to　ten。
　〃You　got　lucky；〃　he　said。
　〃I　know。〃
　Dolph　stared　at　me。　〃She　nearly　did　you。〃
　〃If　those　women　hadn't　e　in　when　they　did；　I　wouldn't　be　talking　to　you　now。〃
　〃You　don't　seem　worried。〃
　〃She's　dead。　I'm　not。　What's　to　worry　about？〃
　〃For　that　kind　of　money；　Anita；　there'll　be　someone　else　tomorrow。〃
　〃It's　after　midnight；　and　I'm　still　alive。　Maybe　the　contract　will　be　canceled。〃
　〃Why　the　time　limit？〃
　I　shook　my　head。　〃If　I　knew　that；　I　might　know　who　put　the　hit　out　on　me。〃
　〃And　if　you　find　out　who　put　the　money　up；　what　will　you　do？〃　he　asked。
　I　stared　at　him。　Off　the　record　or　not；　Dolph　was　still　the　ultimate　cop。　He　took　his　job　very　seriously。　〃I'll　turn　the　name　over　to　you。〃
　〃I　wish　I　believed　that；　Anita；　I　really　do。〃
　I　gave　him　my　best　wide…eyed；　innocent　look。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃Can　the　little　girl　routine；　Anita。　I　know　you　too　well。〃
　〃Fine；　but　you　and　I　both　know　that　as　long　as　the　money　is　out　there；　hitters　will　keep　ing。　I'm　good；　Dolph；　but　no　one's　that　good。　Eventually；　I'll　lose。　Unless　the　money　goes　away。　No　contract；　no　more　hitters。〃
　We　stared　at　each　other。　〃We　can　put　you　in　protective　custody；〃　Dolph　said。
　〃For　how　long？　Forever？〃　I　shook　my　head。　〃Besides；　the　next　hitter　might　use　a　bomb。　You　want　to　risk　your　people？　I　don't。〃
　〃So　you'll　hunt　the　money　man　down　and　kill　him。〃
　〃I　didn't　say　that；　Dolph。〃
　〃But　that's　what　you're　planning；〃　he　said。
　〃Don't　keep　asking　the　question；　Dolph。　The　answer　won't　change。〃
　He　stood；　hands　gripping　the　back　of　the　chair。　〃Don't　cross　the　line　with　me；　Anita。　We're　friends；　but　I'm　a　cop　first。〃
　〃I　value　our　friendship；　Dolph；　but　I　value　my　life　and　yours　more。〃
　〃You　think　I　can't　handle　myself？〃
　〃I　think　you're　a　cop；　and　that　means　you　have　to　play　by　the　rules。　Dealing　with　professional　hitters；　that　can　get　you　killed。〃
　There　was　a　knock　on　the　door。　〃Enter；〃　Dolph　said。
　Rizzo　came　in　with　a　round　tray　and　three　slender　black　china　mugs。　There　were　little　red　coffee　stirrers　in　each　one。　Rizzo　glanced　from　Dolph　to　me。　He　stared　at　my　uncuffed　hands　but　didn't　say　anything。　He　sat　the　tray　on　the　desk　far　enough　from　me　that　I　couldn't　have　grabbed　him。　Officer　Rizzo　looked　like　a　twenty…year　man；　and　he　was　still　treating　me　like　a　very　dangerous　person。　I　doubted　that　he'd　have　turned　his　back　on　Anabelle。　If　she　hadn't　grabbed　my　purse；　she　could　have　shot　me　in　the　back。　Oh；　I'd　have　seen　it　in　the　mirror；　but　I'd　have　never　gotten　my　gun　out　in　time。　I'd　never　have　let　a　man；　no　matter　how　friendly　or　how　helpful；　e　up　behind　me　like　that。　I'd　made　the　same　mistake　with　Anabelle　that　people　made　with　me。　I'd　seen　a　small；　pretty　woman　and　underestimated　her。　I　was　a　female　chauvinist　piglet。　It　had　nearly　been　a　fatal　flaw。
　Dolph　handed　me　the　mug　that　held　the　lightest…colored　coffee。　It　was　too　much　to　hope　that　the　cream　would　be　real；　but　either　way　it　looked　wonderful。　I'd　never　met　coffee　that　wasn't　wonderful。　It　was　just　a　matter　of　how　wonderful　it　was。　I　took　a　hesitant　sip　of　the　steaming　liquid　and　mad