cwilleford.miamiblues-第23节

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　　A　rangy　red…haired　waitress　came　over　to　take　his　order。
　　〃Coffee。　Is　that　okay；　or　do　I　have　to　order　something　with　it？〃
　　〃Most　people　do；　but　you　don't　have　to。〃
　　〃Okay。　And　pie；　then。〃
　　〃What　kind？〃
　　〃I'm　not　going　to　eat　it；　so　what　difference　does　it　make？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　Freddy　didn't　want　the　coffee；　either。　But　the　long　walk　in　the　cool　air　had　allayed　his　anxiety　somewhat；　and　he　began　to　work　out　a　plan　that　would　lead　to　a　purpose。　What　he　needed　to　do；　he　decided；　was　to　get　organized　and　to　start　over。　The　haiku　about　the　frog　ing　to　Miami　and　making　a　splash　of　some　kind　made　a　lot　of　sense。　Alone；　with　this　new　city　and　a　new　chance；　he　could　do　something　or　other　if　he　could　only　figure　out　what　it　was　he　was　meant　to　do。　What　he　wanted　to　do　was　to　dump　Susan；　but　he　realized　that　he　was　now　stuck　with　her。　He　had；　strictly　by　accident；　caused　the　death　of　her　stupid　brother。　The　fact　that　it　was　her　brother's　fault　and　not　his　didn't　make　any　difference。　Without　anyone　else　to　look　after　her　now；　she　had　bee　Freddy's　responsibility。　She　would　get　no　help　from　her　father；　that　was　a　certainty。　So　now　it　was　up　to　him。　His　first　idea；　about　buying　her　a　Burger　King　franchise；　was　out。　She　had　no　real　interest　in　the　idea；　and　she　wouldn't　be　capable　of　running　a　place　like　that　if　she　had　one。　Her　dumb　brother；　in　all　probability；　wouldn't　have　been　able　to　run　one　either。
　　Freddy　sipped　his　black　coffee　and　counted　the　pecan　halves　on　top　of　the　piece　of　pie　the　redhead　had　brought　with　the　coffee。　The　pie　was　warm　and　smelled　good；　but　he　had　eaten　one　hell　of　a　dinner。　He　wasn't　hungry　。
　　A　black　man　wearing　a　Raiders　fedora　walked　into　the　restaurant　carrying　a　hunting　knife。　He　grabbed　the　red…haired　waitress's　wrist　and　twisted　her　arm　into　a　half…nelson。　She　squealed　and　he　put　the　point　of　the　knife　into　her　neck　a　quarter　of　an　inch；　just　far　enough　to　draw　a　trickle　of　blood；　and　told　her　to　open　the　register。
　　There　were　two　patrons　in　the　restaurant　besides　Freddy；　and　they　sat　paralyzed　at　the　cuunter。　They　were　middle…aged　Canadian　tourists；　getting　an　early　breakfast　before　a　drive　to　the　Keys。　The　robber　apparently　hadn't　noticed　Freddy　in　the　corner　booth；　or　else　he　wasn't　concerned　about　him。　His　concentration　was　on　the　waitress　and　the　money　in　the　till　when　Freddy　shot　him　in　the　left　kneecap。　The　report　of　the　。38　was　loud；　but　the　man's　scream　was　piercing　enough　to　make　the　Canadians　shudder。　He　dropped　the　waitress's　arm　and　his　knife；　then　fell；　still　screaming；　to　the　floor。　Freddy　stopped　the　screaming　in　mid…shrill　when　he　tapped　him　behind　his　right　ear　with　the　heavy　leather　sap。
　　Freddy　flashed　his　badge。　〃It's　okay；　dear；〃　he　said　to　the　waitress。　〃I'm　a　police　officer。〃　He　held　up　the　badge　so　the　middle…aged　couple　at　the　counter　could　see　it。　Freddy　smiled。　〃Police。　Go　ahead　and　finish　your　breakfast。〃
　　The　waitress　sat　at　the　counter；　put　her　head　down　on　her　crossed　arms；　and　began　to　cry。　Freddy　took　the　billfold　from　the　unconscious　man's　hip　pocket　and　dropped　it　into　his　own　jacket　pocket　with　the　handcuffs。　He　took　out　the　handcuffs；　decided　he　didn't　need　to　use　them；　and　then　told　the　middle…aged　couple　to　stay　where　they　were　while　he　made　a　call　for　an　ambulance　from　the　radio　in　his　police　car。　They　both　nodded；　still　too　numb　to　reply。
　　Freddy　put　a　dollar　bill　under　his　coffee　cup　at　his　booth；　left　the　restaurant；　and　walked　back　to　the　Omni　Hotel。　As　he　entered　the　lobby；　he　heard　the　police　siren　as　the　panda　car　hurtled　down　Biscayne　toward　Sammy's。　He　sat　in　a　red　leather　chair　in　the　lobby　and　took　out　the　robber's　billfold。　Eighty　dollars。　There　were　three　driver's　licenses　in　the　billfold；　all　with　different　names　but　with　the　same　picture。　Freddy　had　no　use　for　the　licenses　or　the　billfold；　but　he　could　always　use　another　eighty　dollars。　He　dropped　the　billfold　into　a　potted　plant　and　took　the　elevator　up　to　his　room。　He　had　an　idea　now；　on　how　to　take　care　of　Pablo　Lhosa。
　　
　　Freddy　shook　Susan　awake；　told　her　to　take　a　shower　and　to　get　dressed。　He　ordered　coffee；　orange　juice；　and　sweet　rolls　from　room　service。　The　continental　breakfast　was　at　the　door　by　the　time　Susan　was　dressed。
　　〃The　breakfast's　for　you；　to　wake　you　up；〃　he　said。　〃Go　ahead　and　eat　while　I　tell　you　what　to　do。〃
　　〃Want　some？〃　she　said；　biting　into　a　prune　Danish。
　　〃If　I'd　wanted　something　I　would've　ordered　it。〃
　　Freddy　told　Susan　to　drive　back　to　the　apartment　and　to　pack　up　his　purchases　from　the　day　before　and　to　bring　them　to　the　hotel。　He　told　her　where　he　had　hidden　the　coin　collection　in　the　leather　case；　and　to　bring　that；　too。　Also；　while　she　was　home；　she　could　pack　a　few　things　she　might　need　herself　for　a　few　days'　stay　at　the　hotel。　〃Don't　think　about　it　too　much。　If　you　forget　something；　we　can　always　buy　it　here　at　Omni。　The　important　thing　is　to　pack　my　stuff　and　get　the　money；　then　e　back　here　without　running　into　Pablo。　He　won't　be　up　this　early　in　the　morning。　On　your　way　back；　make　sure　you　aren't　followed。　If　you　pick　up　a　tail；　lose　him　before　you　drive　back　to　the　hotel。〃
　　〃Is　somebody　after　us；　Junior？〃
　　〃Not　us；　but　me；　yes。　I'm　not　a　likable　person；　so　someone　is　usually　after　me。　And　because　you're　with　me　now；　that　means　somebody'll　probably　be　after　you；　too。〃
　　〃I　don't　understand。〃
　　〃That　isn't　important。　When　there's　something　important　you　really　need　to　understand；　I'll　explain　it　to　you。　Right　now；　when　you　finish　your　coffee；　I　want　you　to　get　moving。　Here's　the　extra　room　key。　Change　clothes　when　you　get　home；　too。　Wear　a　skirt　and　blouse　and　some　saddle　shoes。〃
　　〃What　saddle　shoes？　I　don't　have　any　shoes　with　saddles。　I　can　wear　my　running　shoes。〃
　　〃Okay。　We'll　get　you　some　saddle　shoes　later；　so　you'll　look　like　a　college　girl。　But　that'll　be　after　I　deal　with　Pablo。〃
　　〃Do　I　have　to　see　Pablo　again？　I'm　afraid　of　him。〃
　　〃Did　Pablo　fuck　you　when　you　first　went　to　work　for　him？〃
　　〃No。　I　just　sucked　him　off；　is　all。　He　wanted　to　see　if　I　knew　how　to　do　it；　and　then　he　gave　me　some　pointers；　afterward。　Pablo　knows　a　lot。〃
　　〃No；　you　don't　have　to　see　Pablo　again。　Just　beat　it　now；　e　back　here；　and　if　I'm　not　here；　watch　the　TV　until　I　get　back。　If　you　get　hungry；　call　room　service。〃
　　After　Susan　left；　Freddy　drank　what　was　left　of　the　orange　juice。　His　mouth　was　still　dry。　He　found　it　exhausting　to　talk　to　Susan；　and　he　was　never　certain　whether　she　understood　everything　he　told　her。　Apparently　she　did；　because　so　far　she　had　done　everything　right；　and　she　had　also　picked　up　on　his　lies　when　he　had　talked　to　the　cop　in　the　Brazilian　steak　house。　But　she　also　had　the　bad　habit　of　telling　the　truth　when　a　lie　would　have　done　her　more　good。　She　shouldn't　have　told　the　detective　that　she　was　hooking　at　the　hotel。　The　way　she　looked；　no　one　would　have　ever　guessed　what　she　did　for　a　living。　Later　on；　when　he　had　more　time；　he　would　talk　to　her　about　what　to　say　and　what　not　to　say；　otherwise；　she　would　get　herself…　and　him…into　some　bad　situations。
　　Freddy　called　the　desk；　and　found　out　that　the　barber　shop　didn't　open　until　eight…thirty。　He　took　a　shower　and　glumly　watched　the　〃Today〃　show　on　television　until　eight　A。M。　Restless；　he　got　dressed　again；　and　took　the　elevator　to　the　lobby；　sharing　the　cage　with　a　Latin　family　with　four　small　children　and　an　old　lady　with　a　hairy　mole　on　her　chin。　The　elevator　reeked　of　musk　and　garlic；　and　because　the　rotten　kids；　on　getting　in；　had　pushed　all　the　buttons；　the　elevator　stopped　at　every　floor　on　the　way　down。
　　The　barber　shop　was　open。　Freddy　got　a　shave。　After　the　shave；　the　barber　bed　Freddy's　hair　and　said：
　　〃You　have　lovely　hair；　but　you　really　should　let　it　grow。　It's　much　too　short　for　today's　stylings。〃
　　〃Your　hair's　too　long；〃　Freddy　said。　〃You　look　like　a　fruit；　and　if　I　couldn't　tell　by　your　hair；　that　Swiss　army　earring　you're　wearing　still　gives　you　away。〃
　　Freddy　climbed　into　the　first　cab　in　line；　and　told　the　old　woman　who　was　driving　it　to　take　him　to　the　International　Hotel。
　　〃That's　the　one　on　Brickell；　isn't　it？
　　〃Are　there　two　International　Hotels？〃
　　〃Not　that　I　know　of…〃
　　〃Then　it　must　be　the　one　on　Brickell；　right？〃
　　〃That's　what　I　meant。〃
　　People　were　going　to　work；　and　the　traffic　was　heavy。　The　cab's　meter　ticked　away　with　the　speed　of　light。　When　she　pulled　up　at　the　entrance；　Freddy　said：
　　〃I'm　not　going　to　be　long。　If　you　want　to　wait；　you　can　take　me　over　to　Miami　Beach。〃
　　〃That　beats　going　to　the　airport。　But　you　can　pay　me　now；　and　I'll　turn　off　the　meter。〃
　　〃Don't　you　trust　me？〃
　　〃As　much　as　you　trust　me。〃
　　〃Keep　the　meter　running。〃　Freddy　counted　out　four　twenties。　〃If　it　gets　up　to　this　much　and　I'm　not　back；　you　can　leave　without　me。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　Freddy　made　a　casual　tour　of　the　enormous　lobby。　There　were　three　restaurants　and　a　coffeeshop；　three　bars；　and　a　dozen　specialty　shops　selling　resort　clothes　and　gifts。　There　was　a　small　conference　room　next　to　the　Zanzi　Bar；　with　a　blacklettered　sign　outside　the　door：
　　
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