preston&child.thecabinetofcuriosities-第34节

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is　whole　fiasco　had　done　for　her：　get　her　the　money。　Now　she　could　prepare　the　charcoal　and　organics　for　shipping　to　the　radiocarbon　lab　at　the　University　of　Michigan。　Once　she　had　the　dates；　her　work　on　the　Anasazi…Aztec　connection　could　begin　in　earnest。
　She　opened　the　first　cabinet　and　carefully　removed　a　tray　containing　dozens　of　stoppered　test　tubes。　Each　was　labeled；　and　each　contained　a　single　specimen：　a　bit　of　charcoal；　a　carbonized　seed；　a　fragment　of　a　corn　cob；　a　bit　of　wood　or　bone。　She　removed　three　of　the　trays；　placing　them　on　the　white　table。　Then　she　booted　her　workstation　and　called　up　the　catalogue　matrices。　She　began　cross…checking；　making　sure　every　specimen　had　the　proper　label　and　site　location。　At　275　a　shot　for　the　dating；　it　was　important　to　be　accurate。
　As　she　worked；　her　mind　began　to　wander　back　to　the　events　of　the　past　few　days。　She　wondered　if　the　relationship　with　Brisbane　could　ever　be　repaired。　He　was　a　difficult　boss；　but　a　boss　nonetheless。　And　he　was　shrewd；　sooner　or　later　he'd　realize　that　it　would　be　best　for　everyone　if　they　could　bury　the　hatchet　and…
　Nora　shook　her　head　abruptly；　a　little　guilty　about　this　selfish　line　of　thought。　Smithback's　article　hadn't　just　gotten　her　into　hot　water…it　had　apparently　inspired　a　copycat　killer　the　tabloids　were　already　dubbing　〃The　Surgeon。〃　She　couldn't　understand　how　Smithback　thought　the　article　would　help。　She'd　always　known　he　was　a　careerist；　but　this　was　too　much。　A　bumbling　egomaniac。　She　remembered　her　first　sight　of　him　in　Page；　Arizona；　surrounded　by　bimbos　in　bathing　suits；　giving　out　autographs。　Trying　to；　anyway。　What　a　joke。　She　should　have　trusted　her　first　impression　of　him。
　Her　mind　wandered　from　Smithback　to　Pendergast。　A　strange　man。　She　wasn't　even　sure　he　was　authorized　to　be　working　on　the　case。　Would　the　FBI　just　let　one　of　their　agents　freelance　like　this？　Why　was　he　so　evasive　about　his　interest？　Was　he　just　secretive　by　nature？　Whatever　the　situation；　it　was　most　peculiar。　She　was　out　of　it　now；　and　glad。　Very　glad。
　And　yet；　as　she　went　back　to　the　tubes；　she　realized　she　wasn't　feeling　all　that　glad。　Maybe　it　was　just　that　this　sorting　and　checking　was　tedious　work；　but　she　realized　Mary　Greene　and　her　sad　life　was　lingering　in　the　back　of　her　mind。　The　dim　tenement；　the　pathetic　dress；　the　pitiful　note　。　。　。
　With　an　effort；　she　pushed　it　all　away。　Mary　Greene　and　her　family　were　long　gone。　It　was　tragic；　it　was　horrifying…but　it　was　no　concern　of　hers。
　Sorting　pleted；　she　began　packing　the　tubes　in　their　special　Styrofoam　shipping　containers。　Better　to　break　it　down　into　three　batches；　just　in　case　one　got　lost。　Sealing　the　containers；　she　turned　to　the　bills　of　lading　and　FedEx　shipping　labels。
　A　knock　sounded　at　the　door。　The　knob　turned；　but　the　locked　door　merely　rattled　in　its　frame。　She　glanced　over。
　〃Who　is　it？〃　she　called。
　The　hoarse　whisper　was　muffled　by　the　door。
　〃Who？〃　She　felt　a　sudden　fear。
　〃Me。　Bill。〃　The　furtive　voice　was　louder。
　Nora　stood　up　with　a　mixture　of　relief　and　anger。　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃
　〃Open　up。〃
　〃Are　you　kidding？　Get　out　of　here。　Now。〃
　〃Nora；　please。　It's　important。〃
　〃It's　important　that　you　stay　the　hell　away　from　me。　I'm　warning　you。〃
　〃I've　got　to　talk　to　you。〃
　〃That's　it。　I'm　calling　security。〃
　〃No；　Nora。　Wait。〃
　Nora　picked　up　the　phone；　dialed。　The　officer　she　reached　said　he　would　be　only　too　glad　to　remove　the　intruder。　They　would　be　there　right　away。
　〃Nora！〃　Smithback　cried。
　Nora　sat　down　at　her　worktable；　trying　to　pose　her　mind。　She　closed　her　eyes。　Ignore　him。　Just　ignore　him。　Security　would　be　there　in　a　moment。
　Smithback　continued　to　plead　at　the　door。　〃Just　let　me　in　for　a　minute。　There's　something　you　have　to　know。　Last　night…〃
　She　heard　heavy　footfalls　and　a　firm　voice。　〃Sir；　you're　in　an　off…limits　area。〃
　〃Hey！　Let　go！　I'm　a　reporter　for…〃
　〃You　will　e　with　us；　please；　sir。〃
　There　was　the　sound　of　a　scuffle。
　〃Nora！〃
　A　new　note　of　desperation　sounded　strong　in　Smithback's　voice。　Despite　herself；　Nora　went　to　the　door；　unlocked　it；　and　stuck　out　her　head。　Smithback　was　being　held　between　two　burly　security　men。　He　glanced　at　her；　cowlick　bobbing　reproachfully　as　he　tried　to　extricate　himself。　〃Nora；　I　can't　believe　you　called　security。〃
　〃Are　you　all　right；　miss？〃　one　of　the　men　asked。
　〃I'm　fine。　But　that　man　shouldn't　be　here。〃
　〃This　way；　sir。　We'll　walk　you　to　the　door。〃　The　men　started　dragging　Smithback　off。
　〃Unhand　me；　oaf！　I'll　report　you；　Mister　3467。〃
　〃Yes；　sir；　you　do　that；　sir。〃
　〃Stop　calling　me　'sir。'This　is　assault。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　The　men；　imperturbable；　led　him　down　the　hall　toward　the　elevator。
　As　Nora　watched；　she　felt　a　turmoil　of　conflicting　emotion。　Poor　Smithback。　What　an　undignified　exit。　But　then；　he'd　brought　it　on　himself…hadn't　he？　He　needed　the　lesson。　He　couldn't　just　show　up　like　this；　all　mystery　and　high　drama；　and　expect　her　to…
　〃Nora！〃　came　the　cry　from　down　the　hall。　〃You　have　to　listen；　please！　Pendergast　was　attacked；　I　heard　it　on　the　police　scanner。　He's　in　St。　Luke's…Roosevelt；　down　on　Fifty…ninth。　He…〃
　Then　Smithback　was　gone；　his　shouts　cut　off　by　the　elevator　doors。
　
　EIGHT
　　
　NOBODY　WOULD　TELL　Nora　anything。　It　was　more　than　an　hour　before　the　doctor　could　see　her。　At　last　he　showed　up　in　the　lounge；　very　young：　a　tired；　hunted　look　in　his　face　and　a　two…day　growth　of　beard。
　〃Dr。　Kelly？〃　he　asked　the　room　while　looking　at　his　clipboard。
　She　rose　and　their　eyes　met。　〃How　is　he？〃
　A　wintry　smile　broke　on　the　doctor's　face。　〃He's　going　to　be　fine。〃　He　looked　at　her　curiously。　〃Dr。　Kelly；　are　you　a　medical…？〃
　〃Archaeologist。〃
　〃Oh。　And　your　relationship　to　the　patient？〃
　〃A　friend。　Can　I　see　him？　What　happened？〃
　〃He　was　stabbed　last　night。〃
　〃My　God。〃
　〃Missed　his　heart　by　less　than　an　inch。　He　was　very　lucky。〃
　〃How　is　he？〃
　〃He's　in　。　。　。〃　the　doctor　paused。　The　faint　smile　returned。　〃Excellent　spirits。　An　odd　fellow；　Mr。　Pendergast。　He　insisted　on　a　local　anesthetic　for　the　operation…highly　unusual；　unheard　of　actually；　but　he　refused　to　sign　the　consent　forms　otherwise。　Then　he　demanded　a　mirror。　We　had　to　bring　one　up　from　obstetrics。　I've　never　had　quite　such　a；　er；　demanding　patient。　I　thought　for　a　moment　I　had　a　surgeon　on　my　operating　table。　They　make　the　worst　patients；　you　know。〃
　〃What　did　he　want　a　mirror　for？〃
　〃He　insisted　on　watching。　His　vitals　were　dropping　and　he　was　losing　blood；　but　he　absolutely　insisted　on　getting　a　view　of　the　wound　from　various　angles　before　he　would　allow　us　to　operate。　Very　odd。　What　kind　of　profession　is　Mr。　Pendergast　in？〃
　〃FBI。〃
　The　smile　evaporated。　〃I　see。　Well；　that　explains　quite　a　bit。　We　put　him　in　a　shared　room　at　first…no　private　ones　were　available…but　then　we　quickly　had　to　make　one　available　for　him。　Moved　out　a　state　senator　to　get　it。〃
　〃Why？　Did　Pendergast　plain？〃
　〃No　。　。　。　he　didn't。〃　The　doctor　hesitated　a　moment。　〃He　began　watching　the　video　of　an　autopsy。　Very　graphic。　His　roommate　naturally　objected。　But　it　was　really　just　as　well。　Because　an　hour　ago；　the　things　started　to　arrive。〃　He　shrugged。　〃He　refused　to　eat　hospital　food；　insisted　on　ordering　in　from　Balducci's。　Refused　an　IV　drip。　Refused　painkillers…no　OxyContin；　not　even　Vicodin　or　Tylenol　Number　3。　He　must　be　in　dreadful　pain；　but　doesn't　show　it。　With　these　new　patient…rights　guidelines；　my　hands　are　tied。〃
　〃It　sounds　just　like　him。〃
　〃The　bright　side　is　that　the　most　difficult　patients　usually　make　the　fastest　recovery。　I　just　feel　sorry　for　the　nurses。〃　The　doctor　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃You　might　as　well　head　over　there　now。　Room　1501。〃
　As　Nora　approached　the　room；　she　noticed　a　faint　odor　in　the　air：　something　out　of　place　among　the　aromas　of　stale　food　and　rubbing　alcohol。　Something　exotic；　fragrant。　A　shrill　voice　echoed　out　of　the　open　door。　She　paused　in　the　doorway　and　gave　a　little　knock。
　The　floor　of　the　room　was　stacked　high　with　old　books；　and　a　riot　of　maps　and　papers　lay　across　them。　Tall　sticks　of　sandalwood　incense　were　propped　inside　silver　cups；　sending　up　slender　coils　of　smoke。　That　accounts　for　the　smell；　Nora　thought。　A　nurse　was　standing　near　the　bed；　clutching　a　plastic　pill　box　in　one　hand　and　a　syringe　in　the　other。　Pendergast　lay　on　the　bed　in　a　black　silk　dressing　gown。　The　overhead　television　showed　a　splayed　body；　grotesque　and　bloody；　being　worked　on　by　no　fewer　than　three　doctors。　One　of　the　doctors　was　in　the　middle　of　lifting　a　wobbly　brain　out　of　the　skull。　She　looked　away。　On　the　bedside　table　was　a　dish　of　drawn　butter　and　the　remains　of　coldwater　lobster　tails。
　〃Mr。　Pendergast；　I　insist　you　take　this　injection；〃　the　nurse　was　saying。　〃You've　just　undergone　a　serious　operation。　You　must　have　your　sleep。〃
　Pendergast　withdrew　his　arms　from　behind　his　head；　picked　up　a　dusty　volume　lying　atop　the　sheets；　and　began　leafing　through　it　nonchalantly。　〃Nurse；　I　have　no　intention　of　taking　that。　I　shall　sleep　when　I'm　ready。〃　Pendergast　blew　dust　from　the　book's　spine　and　turned　the　page。
　〃I'm　going　to　call　the　doctor。　This　is　pletely　unacceptable。　And　this　filth　is　highly　unsanitary。〃　She　waved　her