lhamilton.thekillingdance-第8节

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　〃Mrs。　Edith　Pringle；　yeah；　she　confirms　all　that。　But　why　did　you　go　to　your　apartment？〃
　〃I　was　going　to　get　a　screwdriver　to　help　install　the　television。〃
　〃You　keep　a　lot　of　tools；　Ms。　Blake？〃　He　wrote　something　on　his　notepad。　I　was　betting　it　was　a　doodle。
　〃No；　detective；　but　I've　got　a　screwdriver。〃
　〃Did　Mrs。　Pringle　ask　you　to　go　get　this　screwdriver？〃
　〃No；　but　she'd　used　it　when　she　bought　her　stereo　system。〃　Which　was　true。　I　was　trying　to　keep　the　lies　to　an　absolute　minimum。
　〃So　you　assumed　she'd　need　it。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Then　what？〃　He　asked　like　he'd　never　heard　the　answer　before。　His　black　eyes　were　intense　and　empty；　unreadable　and　eager　at　the　same　time。　We　were　ing　to　the　part　that　he　didn't　quite　buy。
　〃I　unlocked　my　door　and　dropped　my　keys。　I　squatted　down　to　pick　them　up　and　the　first　shotgun　blast　roared　over　my　head。　I　returned　fire。〃
　〃How？　The　door　was　closed。〃
　〃I　shot　through　the　hole　in　the　door　that　the　shotgun　had　made。〃
　〃You　shot　a　man　through　a　hole　in　your　door　and　hit　him。〃
　〃It　was　a　big　hole；　detective；　and　I　wasn't　sure　I　hit　him。〃
　〃Why　didn't　the　second　shotgun　blast　take　you　out；　Ms。　Blake？　There　wasn't　enough　left　of　the　door　to　hide　behind。　Where　were　you；　Ms。　Blake？〃
　〃I　told　you；　the　blast　rocked　the　door　inward。　I　hit　the　floor；　on　my　side。　The　second　blast　went　over　me。〃
　〃And　you　shot　the　man　twice　more　in　the　chest；〃　Detective　Branswell　said。
　〃Yes。〃
　He　looked　at　me　for　a　long　moment；　studying　my　face。　I　met　his　eyes　without　flinching。　It　wasn't　that　hard。　I　was　numb；　empty；　and　distant。　There　was　still　a　fine　ringing　in　my　ears　from　being　so　damn　close　to　two　shotgun　blasts。　The　ringing　would　fade。　It　usually　did。
　〃You　know　the　man　you　killed？〃
　Catherine　touched　my　arm。　〃Detective　Branswell；　my　client　has　been　more　than　helpful。　She's　told　you　several　times　that　she　did　not　recognize　the　deceased。〃
　He　flipped　back　through　his　notebook。　〃You're　right；　counselor。　Ms。　Blake　has　been　helpful。　The　dead　man　was　James　Dugan；　Jimmy　the　Shotgun。　He's　got　a　record　longer　than　you　are　tall；　Ms。　Blake。　He's　local　muscle。　Someone　you　call　when　you　want　it　cheap　and　quick　and　don't　care　how　messy　it　is。〃　He　stared　at　me　while　he　talked；　studying　my　eyes。
　I　blinked　at　him。
　〃Do　you　know　anyone　who　would　want　you　dead；　Ms。　Blake？〃
　〃Not　right　offhand；〃　I　said。
　He　closed　his　notebook　and　stood。　〃I'm　going　to　remend　justifiable　homicide　to　the　DA。　I　doubt　you'll　see　the　inside　of　a　courtroom。〃
　〃When　do　I　get　my　gun　back？〃　I　asked。
　Branswell　stared　at　me。　〃When　ballistics　is　done　with　it；　Ms。　Blake。　And　I'd　be　damn　grateful　that　you're　getting　it　back　at　all。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃I've　heard　stories　about　you　from　some　of　the　cops　who　answered　the　last　call　from　your　apartment。　The　one　with　the　two　killer　zombies。〃　He　shook　his　head　again。　〃Don't　take　this　wrong；　Ms。　Blake；　but　have　you　considered　moving　to　a　new　jurisdiction？〃
　〃My　landlord　is　probably　going　to　suggest　the　same　thing；〃　I　said。
　〃I'll　just　bet　he　is；〃　Branswell　said。　〃Counselor；　Sergeant　Storr。〃
　〃Thanks　for　letting　me　sit　in　on　this；　Branswell；〃　Dolph　said。
　〃You　said　she　was　one　of　yours。　Besides；　I　know　Gross　and　Brady。　They　were　the　first　officers　on　scene　for　the　zombies。　They　say　good　things　about　her。　I've　talked　to　half　a　dozen　officers　that　say　Ms。　Blake　saved　their　butt　or　stood　shoulder　to　shoulder　with　them　under　fire　and　didn't　blink。　It　cuts　you　a　hell　of　a　lot　of　slack；　Blake；　but　that　slack　isn't　unlimited。　Watch　your　back；　and　try　not　to　shoot　up　any　innocent　bystanders。〃　With　that；　he　left。
　Dolph　stared　down　at　me。　〃I'll　drive　you　back　to　your　place。〃
　〃Richard's　waiting　for　me；〃　I　said。
　〃What's　going　on；　Anita？〃
　〃I　told　Branswell　everything　I　know。〃
　Catherine　stood　up。　〃Anita　has　answered　all　the　questions　she's　going　to　answer　tonight。〃
　〃He's　a　friend；〃　I　said。
　〃He's　also　a　cop；〃　Catherine　said。　She　smiled。　〃Isn't　that　right；　Sergeant　Storr？〃
　Dolph　stared　at　her　for　a　minute。　〃That　is　certainly　true；　Ms。　Maison…Gillette。〃　He　pushed　away　from　the　wall。　He　looked　at　me。　〃I'll　talk　to　you　later；　Anita。〃
　〃I　know；〃　I　said。
　〃e　on；〃　Catherine　said。　〃Let's　get　out　of　here　before　they　change　their　minds。〃
　〃Don't　you　believe　me？〃　I　asked。
　〃I'm　your　lawyer。　Of　course　I　believe　you。〃
　I　looked　at　her。　She　looked　at　me。　I　got　up。　We　left。　I　wondered　if　Richard　would　believe　me。　Probably　not。
　
　
　5
　
　Richard　and　I　walked　toward　his　car；　through　the　police　station　parking　lot。　He　hadn't　said　a　word　to　me。　He'd　shaken　hands　with　Catherine　and　headed　for　the　car。　He　got　into　his　side。　I　slid　into　the　passenger　side。　Richard　started　the　engine　and　backed　out　of　the　parking　slot。
　〃You're　mad　about　something；〃　I　said。
　He　eased　out　onto　the　street。　He　always　drove　carefully　when　he　was　angry。　〃What　could　I　possibly　be　mad　about？〃　The　sarcasm　was　thick　enough　to　eat　with　a　spoon。
　〃You　think　I　knew　there　was　a　hit　man　in　my　apartment？〃
　He　flashed　me　a　look　that　was　pure　rage。　〃You　knew；　and　you　let　me　go　inside　and　set　that　damned　TV　up。　You　got　me　out　of　harm's　way。〃
　〃I　wasn't　sure；　Richard。〃
　〃I　bet　you　had　your　gun　drawn　before　he　fired。〃
　I　shrugged。
　〃Dammit；　Anita；　you　could　have　been　killed。〃
　〃But　I　wasn't。〃
　〃That's　your　answer　to　everything。　If　you　survive；　it's　all　right。〃
　〃It　beats　the　alternative；〃　I　said。
　〃Don't　make　jokes；〃　Richard　said。
　〃Look；　Richard；　I　didn't　go　out　hunting　this　guy。　He　came　to　me。〃
　〃Why　didn't　you　tell　me？〃
　〃And　you　would　have　done　what？　Go　through　the　door　first？　You'd　have　taken　a　chest　full　of　buckshot　and　survived。　How　would　you　have　explained　that？　You'd　have　been　outed　as　a　lycanthrope。　You'd　have　lost　your　job；　at　the　very　least。〃
　〃We　could　have　called　the　police。〃
　〃And　told　them　what？　That　Custard　sniffed　at　the　door？　If　they　had　investigated；　they'd　have　gotten　shot。　The　guy　was　jumpy　as　hell。　He　shot　through　the　door；　remember？　He　didn't　know　who　he　was　firing　at。〃
　He　turned　onto　Olive；　shaking　his　head。　〃You　should　have　told　me。〃
　〃What　would　it　have　changed；　Richard？　Except　maybe　you'd　have　tried　to　play　hero；　and　if　you　survived；　you'd　have　lost　your　career。〃
　〃Dammit；　dammit。〃　He　smashed　his　hands　into　the　steering　wheel　over　and　over。　When　he　looked　at　me；　his　eyes　had　gone　amber　and　alien。　〃I　don't　need　you　to　protect　me；　Anita。〃
　〃Ditto；〃　I　said。
　Silence　filled　the　car　like　ice　water。　Nobody　but　the　bad　guy　had　died。　I'd　done　the　right　thing。　But　it　was　hard　to　explain。
　〃It　wasn't　that　you　risked　your　life；〃　Richard　said；　〃it　was　that　you　got　rid　of　me　before　you　did　it。　You　didn't　even　give　me　a　chance。　I　have　never　interfered　with　you　doing　your　job。〃
　〃Would　you　have　considered　this　part　of　my　job？〃
　〃Closer　to　your　job　description　than　mine；〃　he　said。
　I　thought　about　that　for　a　minute。　〃You're　right。　One　of　the　reasons　we're　still　dating　is　you　don't　pull　macho　crap　on　me。　I　apologize。　I　should　have　warned　you。〃
　He　glanced　at　me　with　eyes　that　were　still　pale　and　wolfish。　〃Did　I　just　win　an　argument？〃
　I　smiled。　〃I　admitted　I　was　wrong。　Is　that　the　same　thing。〃
　〃Exactly　the　same　thing。〃
　〃Then　give　yourself　a　point。〃
　He　grinned　at　me。　〃Why　can't　I　stay　mad　at　you；　Anita？〃
　〃You're　a　very　forgiving　person；　Richard。　One　of　us　has　to　be。〃
　He　pulled　into　my　parking　lot　for　the　third　time　that　night。　〃You　can't　stay　at　your　place　tonight。　The　door　is　in　pieces。〃
　〃I　know。〃　If　I'd　been　kicked　out　of　my　apartment　because　it　was　being　painted；　I　had　friends　I　could　stay　with；　or　a　hotel；　but　the　bad　guys　had　proven　they　didn't　care　who　got　hurt。　I　couldn't　risk　anybody；　not　even　strangers　in　the　next　room　at　a　hotel。
　〃e　home　with　me；〃　he　said。　He　parked　in　an　empty　space　closest　to　the　stairs。
　〃I　don't　think　that's　a　good　idea；　Richard。〃
　〃The　shotgun　blast　wouldn't　have　killed　me。　I'd　have　healed；　because　it　wasn't　silver　shot。　How　many　of　your　other　friends　can　say　that？〃
　〃Not　many；〃　I　said　quietly。
　〃I've　got　a　house　set　back　in　a　yard。　You　won't　be　risking　innocent　bystanders。〃
　〃I　know　you　have　a　yard；　Richard。　I've　spent　enough　Sunday　afternoons　there。〃
　〃Then　you　know　I'm　right。〃　He　leaned　towards　me　and　his　eyes　had　bled　back　to　their　normal　brown。　〃I　have　a　guest　room；　Anita。　It　doesn't　have　to　be　more　than　that。〃
　I　stared　at　him　from　inches　away。　I　could　feel　his　body　like　a　force　just　out　of　reach。　It　wasn't　his　otherworldly　wolf　powers。　It　was　simply　sheer　physical　attraction。　It　was　dangerous　agreeing　to　go　to　Richard's　house。　Maybe　not　to　my　life；　but　to　other　things。
　If　Jimmy　the　Shotgun　had　had　a　partner　inside　the　apartment　tonight；　I'd　be　dead　now。　I'd　been　so　busy　concentrating　on　killing　him　that　a　second　perp　could　have　blown　me　away。　Edward　had　told　his　contact　no　by　now；　and　it　takes　a　little　while　to　find　another　hitter　of　Edward's　caliber。　So；　instead　of　waiting；　they　hired　cheap　and　local；　taking　the　chance　that　cheap　might　take　me　out　and　they'd　be　saved　several　hundred　grand。　Or　maybe　they　wanted　me　dead　really　quickly　for　some　reason　that　I　didn't　understand。　Either　way；　they　wanted　me　dead　pretty　damn　badly。　Usually；　when　someone　wants　you　de