cwilleford.miamiblues-第8节

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　　Susan　put　her　books　into　her　oversize　bag。　Freddy　followed　her　into　the　corridor；　carrying　the　laundry　bag。　The　teacher　frowned　at　Freddy　and　shook　his　head。
　　〃This　doesn't　concern　you；　son。　Go　back　to　your　seat。〃
　　〃If　it　concerns　Susan　it　concerns　me；〃　Freddy　said。　〃We're　engaged。〃
　　Sergeant　Hoke　Moseley；　looking　at　the　floor；　lifted　his　head　and　nodded　when　the　student　assistant　asked　him　if　she　could　leave。
　　〃Susan；〃　Mr。　Turner　said；　〃do　what　you've　got　to　do；　and　stay　out　of　school　as　long　as　it　takes。　When　you　return　to　class；　see　me　in　my　office　and　I'll　let　you　make　up　any　assignments　you　missed。〃　He　looked　sternly　at　Freddy　for　a　long　moment。　〃You've　already　missed　several　classes；　but　the　same　goes　for　you。〃　He　returned　to　his　classroom　and　closed　the　door。
　　Hoke　showed　the　pair　his　shield。　〃Sergeant　Moseley。　Homicide。　Isn't　there　a　lounge　somewhere　where　we　can　sit　down　and　talk？〃　Hoke　hadn't　expected　to　see　such　a　young　girl。　She　looked　more　like　a　high　school　kid　than　a　college　student。　But　if　she　was　engaged　to　this　hard…looking　jock；　she　was　probably　older　than　she　looked。　It　was　a　help　to　have　the　fiancé　present；　maybe　he　wouldn't　have　to　drive　her　out　to　hell…and…gone　Kendall　after　all。　Her　boyfriend　could　take　her　home。
　　〃There's　a　student　lounge　down　on　the　second　floor；〃　Susan　said。　〃We　can　go　there。　I　haven't　done　anything　bad。　Have　I；　Junior？〃
　　Hoke　smiled。　〃Of　course　you　haven't。〃　Hoke　started　toward　the　elevator。　〃Let's　go　down　to　the　lounge。〃
　　They　sat　at　a　glass…topped　table　on　three　unstable　wire　Eames　chairs　in　the　study　area　near　the　Down　escalator　to　the　main　floor。　Hoke　lit　a　cigarette　and　held　out　the　package。　When　they　shook　their　heads；　he　took　one　drag　and　dropped　the　cigarette　into　an　empty　Coke　can　on　the　table。
　　〃I've　got　some　bad　news　for　you；　Miss　Waggoner。　That's　why　I　wanted　you　to　be　seated。　Your　brother；　Martin；　in　a　freaky　accident　at　the　airport；　died　today。　And　your　father；　when　we　called　him　in　Okeechobee；　asked　us　to　have　you　identify　the　body。　We've　got　an　ID　already　from　the　other　man　who　was　working　with　your　brother　at　the　airport；　so　there's　no　mistake。　It's　just　that　we　need　a　relative　for　a　positive　identification。　After　the　autopsy　we　can　turn　the　body　over　to　either　you　or　your　father。　You　are　eighteen；　aren't　you？〃
　　〃Nineteen；〃　Susan　said。
　　〃Twenty；〃　Freddy　amended。
　　〃Just　barely　twenty。　This　is　hard　to　believe。　How　did　it　happen？〃
　　〃An　unidentified　assailant　broke　your　brother's　finger；　and　Martin　went　into　immediate　shock　and　died　from　this　unexpected　trauma　to　his　middle　digit。〃　Hoke　pursed　his　lips。　〃It　happens　sometimes。〃
　　〃I've　changed　my　mind；　officer；〃　Freddy　said。　〃Can　I　borrow　one　of　your　cigarettes？〃
　　〃Sure。〃　Hoke　offered　the　pack；　and　held　a　match　for　Freddy　to　light　the　cigarette。
　　Susan　shook　her　head；　looking　bewildered。　〃The　airport's　a　dangerous　place　to　work。　My　brother's　been　attacked　out　there　before；　you　know。　A　man　in　the　men's　room　gave　him　a　black　eye　once；　and　a　lady　from　Cincinnati　kneed　him　in　the　balls　one　morning。　He　walked　bowlegged　for　almost　three　days。　He　reported　both　cases　to　the　security　people　out　there　and　they　just　laughed。〃
　　〃I'm　not　surprised；〃　Hoke　said。　〃Your　brother　was　a　Krishna；　and　the　airport　lost　its　case　in　court　when　they　tried　to　get　them　barred　from　begging　out　there。　So　I　can　see　how　security　would　turn　their　heads　the　other　way　when　Krishnas　are　attacked。　On　the　other　hand；　the　Krishnas　annoy　a　lot　of　people　with　their　aggressive　tactics。〃
　　〃What　do　you　think；　Junior？〃　Susan　turned　her　head。
　　Freddy　dropped　his　cigarette　into　the　Coke　can。　〃I　think　we　should　go　and　take　a　look　at　the　body　right　now。　It　may　not　be　Marty　after　all；　and　I'm　pretty　sure　the　sergeant　here　would　like　to　get　it　over　with　and　go　home　to　his　dinner。〃
　　〃My　car's　down　in　the　patio。〃　Hoke　started　for　the　escalator；　and　they　followed　him。
　　Hoke's　well…battered　1974　Le　Mans　was　indeed　parked　on　the　school　patio。　He　had　been　unable　to　find　a　parking　place　on　the　street；　so　he　had　jumped　the　curb　and　driven　over　the　flagstones　to　within　a　few　yards　of　the　escalator。　There　were　winos　lounging　on　the　patio　benches。　Two　old　men；　by　the　wall　outside　the　bookstore；　slept　noisily　on　flattened　cardboard　boxes。　Two　other　derelicts　on　a　nearby　concrete　bench　jeered　and　gave　Hoke　the　finger　as　he　unlocked　the　alarm　in　the　left　front　fender　and　then　unlocked　the　door　and　took　his　police　placard　off　the　dashboard。　He　shoved　the　placard　under　the　front　seat　before　unlocking　the　door　to　the　passenger　side　of　the　car。
　　〃We'd　better　all　sit　in　front；〃　Hoke　suggested。　〃A　man　was　sick　on　the　back　seat　yesterday；　and　I　haven't　had　a　chance　to　get　it　cleaned　up　yet。〃
　　Susan　sat　in　the　middle。　Freddy；　on　the　outside；　unrolled　his　window。　〃Why　does　the　college　let　these　winos　hang　around　the　school？〃　Freddy　said。
　　〃They　suspended　the　old　vagrancy　laws　a　few　years　back。　We　can't　arrest　'em　anymore；　and　if　we　could；　where　would　we　put　'em？　On　top　of　the　normal　eight　thousand　vags　who　e　down　here　for　the　winter；　we've　got　another　twenty　thousand　Nicaraguans；　ten　thousand　Haitian　refugees；　and　another　twentyfive　thousand　Marielitos　running　around　town。〃
　　〃What's　a　Marielito？〃　Freddy　said。
　　〃Where　have　you　been？〃　Hoke　said；　not　unkindly。　〃Our　wimpy　ex…president；　Jimmy　Carter；　opened　his　arms　to　one　hundred　and　twenty…five　thousand　Cubans　back　in　1980。　Most　of　them　were　legitimate；　with　families　already　here　in　Miami；　but　Castro　also　opened　his　prisons　and　insane　asylums　and　sent　along　another　twenty…five　thousand　hardcore　criminals；　gays；　and　maniacs。　They　sailed　here　from　Marie！；　in　Cuba；　so　they　call　them　Marielitos。〃
　　As　Hoke　reached　forward　and　switched　off　the　police　calls　on　his　radio；　a　ragged　Latin　man　came　up　to　his　window　and　pounded　on　it　with　his　fists；　shouting：
　　〃Gimme　money！　Gimme　money！〃
　　〃See　what　I　mean？〃　Hoke　said。　〃When　you　drive　around　Miami；　Susan；　always　keep　your　windows　rolled　up。　Otherwise；　they'll　reach　in　and　steal　your　purse。〃
　　〃I　know；〃　Susan　said；　〃my　brother　told　me。〃
　　Hoke　backed　expertly　into　the　street；　honking　his　horn　until　the　traffic　gave　way。
　　As　Hoke　drove　north　on　Biscayne　Boulevard　toward　the　city　morgue；　Freddy　said；　〃This　old　boat　rides　pretty　smooth。　You　wouldn't　think　so；　just　from　looking　at　it。〃
　　〃I　had　a　new　engine　put　in　it。　It's　my　own　car；　not　a　police　vehicle。　The　radio　belongs　to　the　department；　and　the　red　light；　but　they　give　us　detectives　mileage　if　we　use　our　own　personal　vehicles。　Fifteen　cents　a　mile；　which　doesn't　begin　to　cover　it；　and　nothing　for　amortization。　But　the　convenience　is　worth　it。　If　you　order　a　vehicle　from　the　motor　pool　you　have　to　wait　for　a　half…hour　or　more；　and　then　it　may　be　low　on　gas　or　have　a　bad　tire　or　something。　So　I　usually　drive　my　own　car。　I　should　do　something　about　the　dents；　but　I'd　have　them　back　again　the　next　day。　Twenty　percent　of　the　drivers　in　Miami　can't　qualify　for　a　license；　so　they　drive　without　one。〃
　　The　morgue　was　a　low　one…story　building。　Its　limited　storage　space　had　been　supplemented　by　two　leased　air…conditioned　trailers　to　keep　up　with　the　flow　of　bodies　that　were　delivered　every　day。　Hoke　parked；　and　they　followed　him　into　the　office。　Dr。　Evans　had　left　for　the　day；　but　Dr。　Ramirez；　an　assistant　pathologist；　took　them　to　a　gurney　in　the　hallway　and　showed　them　the　body。
　　〃That's　Martin；　all　right；〃　Susan　said　quietly。
　　〃I　never　met　Martin；　sergeant；　but　he　looks　like　a　nice　guy；〃　Freddy　said。　〃He　doesn't　look　anything　like　you；　Susan。〃
　　〃Not　now　he　doesn't；　but　back　when　we　were　little　and　almost　the　same　size；　people　used　to　take　us　for　fraternal　twins。〃　She　looked　up　at　Hoke。　〃We　were　born　only　ten　months　apart；　although　Marty　looks　much　older　than　me　now。〃　Tears　welled　from　Susan's　eyes；　and　she　brushed　them　away　impatiently。
　　〃Is　it　true；〃　Freddy　asked　Hoke；　〃that　a　man's　hair　and　fingernails　keep　growing　after　he's　dead？　I　noticed　some　stubble　there　on　Marty's　chin。〃
　　〃I　don't　know；　although　I've　heard　that　myself。　Is　it　true；　Dr。　Ramirez？〃
　　〃No；　it　isn't　true。　That's　just　normal　stubble　on　his　face。　He　probably　shaved　this　morning；　and　that's　just　his　growth　for　today。　One　thing　for　sure；　the　nail　on　his　middle　finger　won't　grow　any　longer。　The　finger　was　broke　clean　off。　We　haven't　done　the　autopsy　yet；　but　Pussgut　took　a　cursory　look　when　he　first　came　in；　and　there　were　no　other　wounds。〃
　　〃'Pussgut；'　〃Hoke　explained　to　Freddy　and　Susan；　〃is　what　the　people　around　here　call　Dr。　Evans　when　he　isn't　around　to　hear　them　say　it。　They　call　him　that　because　of　his　paunch。〃
　　〃I'm　sorry；〃　Dr。　Ramirez　said。　〃I　meant　to　say　'Dr。　Evans。'　Is　the　sister　here　going　to　sign　the　papers？〃
　　〃I'll　sign　something　to　say　he's　my　brother；　but　I　won't　sign　anything　else。　Anything　else；　funeral　arrangements　or　anything；　you'll　have　to　notify　my　father。　It's　his　responsibility；　not　mine。〃
　　In　the　office；　Susan　signed　the　form　Dr。　Ramirez　made　out。　He　Xeroxed　a　copy　on　the　office　machine　and　gave　it　to　Hoke。　Hoke　folded　the　Xeroxed　form　into　a　square　and　tucked　it　into　his　notebook。　They　shook　hands　with　Dr。　Ramir