cwilleford.miamiblues-第34节

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p　house。　It　isn't　fair　to　make　me　help　you　do　whatever　it　is　you're　going　to　do；　and　I'm　scared。〃
　　〃What're　you　afraid　of？　All　you've　got　to　do　is　park　the　car　in　the　yellow　zone　and　wait　for　me　to　e　back。〃
　　〃I　think　you're　going　to　do　something　illegal；　and　if　I'm　helping　you；　I　could　get　into　trouble；　too。　I　gave　up　a　promising　college　career　to　marry　you　and　take　care　of　the　house　and　all；　and　I　shouldn't　have　to…〃
　　〃Who's　been　filling　your　head　with　all　this　shit？　Edna　Damrosch；　next　door？〃
　　〃Nobody　has　to　tell　me　when　to　be　scared。　I　know　enough　to　be　scared　when　I'm　doing　something　I'm　not　supposed　to　do。〃
　　〃So　if　I　tell　you　what　I'm　going　to　do；　you　won't　be　scared；　is　that　it？〃
　　〃That's　right。〃
　　〃I'm　going　to　rob　this　coin　dealer；　a　guy　named　Wulgemuth。　The　coin　collection　I'm　taking　with　me　will　help　me　get　inside　his　shop。　It's　worth　a　couple　of　hundred　bucks；　or　more；　but　I'll　leave　it　there　when　I　take　the　man's　cash。　He's　got　his　own　safe；　and　he　deals　in　gold　and　big　money；　so　his　safe'll　have　a　lot　of　cash　in　it。　No　telling　how　much。　That's　what　I　plan　to　get。　So　now　you　can　relax。〃
　　〃Relax？　I'm　more　scared　than　ever。〃
　　〃See　what　I　mean？　That's　why　I　didn't　tell　you　before。　I　knew　you'd　act　this　way。　Just　keep　in　mind　how　simple　your　part　is。　You　park　and　drive　the　car。　There's　nothing　to　wet　your　pants　about。〃
　　〃And　I　won't　get　into　trouble？〃
　　〃Not　a　chance。　This　job　is　foolproof。　I've　checked　it　out　from　every　angle。　When　it's　all　over　we'll　have　so　much　money　I'll　take　you　on　a　Caribbean　cruise。〃
　　〃Why　can't　you　do　it　alone？〃
　　〃Because　I　can't　take　a　chance　and　have　the　car　towed　away　while　I'm　in　the　store。　You've　got　to　be　in　it。〃
　　Susan　nodded　and　started　to　gather　the　dishes。
　　〃Leave　the　dishes。　You　can　do　them　later　tonight；　after　we　e　home。〃
　　
　　The　heavy　rain　and　several　accidents　on　the　highway　had　slowed　traffic　on　the　Dixie　Highway　to　a　crawl；　and　Hoke　Moseley　had　no　trouble　following　the　TransAm。
　　Although　it　was　after　nine　A。M。；　the　bruised　sky　and　the　heavy　rain　made　it　seem　like　early　dawn。　Impatient　drivers　with　their　lights　and　wipers　on　inched　along　the　flooded　streets；　crowding　over　toward　the　center　line。　Some　honked　their　horns　just　to　be　honking　their　horns。　When　Susan　sped　up　to　race　through　a　yellow　light；　Freddy　told　her　to　slow　down。
　　〃There's　no　hurry；〃　he　said。　〃It　doesn't　make　any　real　difference　when　we　get　there。　Even　the　noon　hour　would　be　okay。　I've　checked　twice；　and　the　man　is　alone　in　his　shop　and　doesn't　close　up　for　lunch。　Probably　brings　it　with　him。〃
　　〃I'm　sorry。　It's　just　that　I'm　still　scared　and　a　little　nervous。　Besides；　if　you　stop　for　a　yellow　light　in　Miami　you　get　rearended。〃
　　〃I　can't　understand　why　you're　scared。　All　you've　got　to　do　is　park　in　the　yellow　zone；　and…〃
　　〃I　know　all　that！　I'm　going　to　be　all　right。〃
　　The　yellow　loading　zone　on　Miami　Avenue　was　vacant。　It　was　long　enough　for　three　pact　cars　or　for　one　car　and　a　full…size　truck。　After　Susan　pulled　into　the　loading　zone；　Freddy　told　her　to　back　up　to　the　end　of　the　zone　so　she　couldn't　be　blocked　from　behind。　〃That　still　leaves　room　for　a　truck　to　park　in　front　of　you　in　case　somebody　needs　to　unload　something　for　that　ropa　store。〃
　　Next　to　the　Cuban　clothing　store　there　was　a　narrow　shop　with　a　stuffed　llama　in　the　window。　The　store　claimed　to　sell　genuine　Peruvian　imports；　but　the　floor　beneath　the　llama　was　layered　with　Timex　watches　and　zircon　rings　in　black　velvet　boxes。　On　the　corner　was　a　small　Cuban　cafeteria　with　a　Formica　counter　to　serve　customers　on　the　sidewalk。
　　Freddy　held　the　coin　case　in　his　lap。　He　took　out　his　。38　pistol；　checked　it；　and　then　put　the　pistol　back　in　his　right　coat　pocket。
　　〃You…you　aren't　going　to　shoot　Mr。　Wulgemuth；　are　you？〃　Susan　said；　licking　her　thin　lips。
　　〃Not　unless　I　have　to；〃　Freddy　said。　〃But　sometimes；〃　Freddy　shrugged；　〃they　make　you　do　it。〃　Freddy　smiled　like　a　butcher's　dog。　〃Like　the　time　I　broke　your　brother's　finger。　He　irritated　me；　and　I　had　to　break　it。〃
　　〃You　killed　Martin？〃
　　〃I　didn't　kill　anybody。　I　broke　his　fucking　finger；　that's　all。　And　if　you　force　me　into　it；　by　not　doing　exactly　what　I　tell　you；　I'll　break　your　skinny　neck。〃
　　Freddy　got　out　of　the　car　and　ordered　two　café　Cubanos　at　the　counter。　He　downed　his　quickly　and　took　the　other　one；　in　its　one…ounce　paper　cup；　back　to　the　car。　Susan　rolled　down　the　window；　and　he　handed　her　the　coffee。　Her　hand　trembled　so　much　she　spilled　most　of　the　coffee　on　her　jeans。　There　was　a　rim　of　white　around　her　lips。　Freddy　shook　his　head　impatiently。
　　〃D'you　want　another　cup？〃
　　Susan　shook　her　head。　Her　knuckles　holding　the　wheel　were　white。
　　〃All　right；　then。　Stay　awake；　keep　the　engine　running；　and　I　should　be　back　in　about　ten　minutes。〃　Carrying　the　coin　case　in　his　left　hand；　Freddy　walked　away　from　the　car。
　　
　　Hoke　was　stopped　by　the　red　light。　Susan；　in　the　TransAm；　had　made　it　across　just　in　time。　Hoke　watched　her　pull　into　the　yellow　loading　zone　on　Miami　Avenue　and　then　back　up　to　the　end　of　the　zone。　Except　for　the　spaces　in　front　of　her　TransAm；　there　were　no　other　vacant　spaces　on　the　street。　A　horn　honked　behind　him。　Hoke　rolled　down　the　window　and　waved　the　driver　around。　The　man　had　to　back　up　before　he　could　pull　forward　again　to　get　around　Hoke's　car。　He　cursed　Hoke　and　shook　his　fist　as　he　roared　by。
　　Hoke　watched　Mendez　get　out　of　the　car　and　buy　coffee　at　the　cafeteria。　He　took　a　cup　back　to　the　car。　Hoke　wondered　if　that　was　why　they　had　stopped…to　get　a　fucking　cup　of　Cuban　coffee？　Another　car　pulled　up　behind　Hoke　and　stopped。　The　light　was　green　again；　and　the　driver　leaned　on　her　horn。　Hoke　waved　her　around。
　　When　Hoke　looked　back　at　the　TransAm；　he　noticed　Mendez　turning　the　corner　onto　Flagler。　As　Mendez　disappeared　into　the　rain；　the　TransAm　pulled　away　from　the　curb；　with　its　tires　squealing　on　the　wet　street；　and　raced　down　Miami　Avenue。　Hoke　followed　the　TransAm；　thinking；　he's　going　to　buy　something　on　Flagler；　and　she's　going　to　circle　the　block　to　pick　him　up　so　he　won't　get　wet。　But　Hoke　had　guessed　wrong。　That's　why　a　man　needed　a　partner。　If　he　had　had　Bill　Henderson　with　him…or　even　Ellita　Sanchez…she　could　have　followed　Susan；　and　he　could　have　gone　after　Mendez　on　foot。
　　When　Hoke　realized　that　the　TransAm　had　got　into　the　lane　leading　to　the　I…95　overpass；　he　switched　lanes；　bluffed　his　way　into　the　outside　lane；　and　made　a　left　turn　at　First　Street。　He　drove　down　a　block；　made　another　left；　and　finally　got　back　on　Flagler。　The　cars　were　barely　moving　and　Hoke　was　caught　by　two　red　lights；　but　he　inched　along　Flagler；　watching　the　pedestrians　make　short　dashes　from　one　overhanging　awning　to　the　next。　There　was　a　crowd　of　South　Americans　with　shopping　bags　standing　in　the　arcade　that　catered　to　Venezuelans　and　Colombians。　Hoke　stopped　pletely　to　look　them　over。　Mendez；　in　his　light　suit；　would　stand　out　among　all　those　foreigners　in　funereal　black。　Hoke　took　out　his　pistol　and　laid　it　on　the　seat　beside　him。　He　looked　at　the　empty　bracket　from　which　his　radio　had　been　stolen；　and　swore。　Horns　honked　behind　him；　and　he　moved　forward　again。　His　only　chance　was　to　spot　Mendez　in　the　street；　and　that　seemed　damned　unlikely。　Deep　down；　way　down　there　in　the　pit　of　his　stomach；　he　hoped　he　wouldn't　find　him。
　　
　　Freddy's　hair　was　wet　and　the　shoulders　of　his　gray　silk　suitcoat　were　soaked　through　by　the　time　he　rounded　the　corner　to　Flagler　and　reached　the　window　of　Wulgemuth's　Coin　Exchange。　Freddy　pressed　the　buzzer　beside　the　window　and　smiled　when　he　saw　Wulgemuth's　alert　face　behind　the　glass。　The　coin　expert　was　in　his　early　fifties　but　looked　older　because　of　his　bald　head；　which　was　encircled　by　a　clipped　wreath　of　stubby　white　hair　above　his　ears。　His　bulbous　nose　and　his　sunken　cheeks　were　pitted　with　old　acne　scars。
　　〃I'm　a　police　officer；〃　Freddy　said　into　the　recessed　microphone。　〃Turn　the　window。〃
　　The　bulletproof　window　revolved。　Freddy　placed　the　cowhide　coin　case　in　the　drawer；　and　dropped　his　ID　card　and　badge；　still　in　its　leather　holder；　on　top　of　the　case。　The　window　revolved　and　Wulgemuth's　face　disappeared。
　　There　were　more　people　shopping　on　Flagler　than　Freddy　had　expected　to　see　on　such　a　miserable；　rainy　day；　but　most　of　them；　Freddy　supposed；　were　used　to　the　rain。　The　rain　was　warm；　and　in　places　the　sidewalk　steamed。　The　temperature；　despite　the　rain；　was　eighty…two　degrees；　as　Freddy　could　see　by　the　lighted　digital　clock　on　the　bank　tower　a　block　away。　The　time　was　10：04。　The　time　and　temperature　flashed　off；　and　were　replaced　by　an　aqueous　message　in　dotted　green　lights：
　　
　　THE　AMERICAN　WAY
　　IS　OUR　IRA
　　
　　The　message　puzzled　Freddy。　What　was　an　IRA？　He　heard　the　window　revolve。　The　badge　and　the　ID　were　in　the　drawer；　but　not　the　coin　case。　Wulgemuth's　face　was　in　the　window　again。　〃What's　your　business；　sergeant？〃
　　〃Police　business；〃　Freddy　said。　〃I've　been　trying　to　get　a　line　on　these　stolen　coins；　and　I've　got　some　other　things　to　ask　you　about。　Open　the　door。〃　Freddy　took　his　badge　out　of　the　drawer。
　　The　face　disappeared。　A　buzzer　on　the　doo