preston&child.thecabinetofcuriosities-第51节

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　The　jowls　began　to　quiver。　〃O'Shaughnessy；　I　thought　I　made　it　clear　that　you　were　to　seem　to　be　helpful；　not　to　be　helpful。〃
　O'Shaughnessy　tried　to　look　puzzled。　〃I　don't　think　I　quite　understand　you；　sir。〃
　The　captain　rose　from　his　chair　with　a　roar。　〃You　know　damn　well　what　I'm　talking　about。〃
　O'Shaughnessy　stood　his　ground；　feigning　surprise　now　as　well　as　puzzlement。　〃No；　sir；　I　don't。〃
　The　jowls　began　to　shake　with　rage。　〃O'Shaughnessy；　you　impudent　little…〃　Custer　broke　off；　swallowed；　tried　to　get　himself　under　control。　Sweat　had　broken　out　above　his　thick；　rubbery　upper　lip。　He　took　a　deep　breath。　〃I'm　putting　you　down　for　administrative　leave。〃
　God　damn　it。　〃On　what　grounds？〃
　〃Don't　give　me　that。　You　know　why。　Disobeying　my　direct　orders；　freelancing　for　that　FBI　agent；　undermining　the　department…not　to　mention　getting　involved　in　that　excavation　down　on　Doyers　Street。〃
　O'Shaughnessy　knew　well　that　the　discovery　had　been　a　boon　to　Custer。　It　had　temporarily　taken　the　heat　off　the　mayor；　and　the　mayor　had　thanked　Custer　by　putting　him　in　charge　of　the　investigation。
　〃I　followed　procedure；　sir；　in　my　liaison　work　with　Special　Agent　Pendergast。〃
　〃The　hell　you　did。　You've　kept　me　in　the　dark　every　step　of　the　way；　despite　these　endless　goddamn　reports　you　keep　filing　which　you　know　damn　well　I　don't　have　time　to　read。　You　went　way　around　me　to　get　that　report。　Christ；　O'Shaughnessy；　I've　given　you　every　opportunity　here；　and　all　you　do　is　piss　on　me。〃
　〃I'll　file　a　grievance　with　the　union；　sir。　And　I'd　like　to　state　for　the　record　that；　as　a　Catholic；　I　am　deeply　offended　by　your　profanity　involving　the　name　of　Our　Savior。〃
　There　was　an　astonished　silence；　and　O'Shaughnessy　saw　that　Custer　was　about　to　lose　it　pletely。　The　captain　spluttered；　swallowed；　clenched　and　unclenched　his　fists。
　〃As　for　the　police　union；〃　said　Custer；　in　a　strained；　high　voice；　〃bring　'em　on。　As　for　the　other；　don't　think　you　can　out…Jesus　me；　you　sanctimonious　prick。　I'm　a　churchgoing　man　myself。　Now　lay　your　shield　and　piece　down　here〃…he　thumped　his　desk…〃and　get　your　Irish　ass　out。　Go　home　and　boil　some　potatoes　and　cabbage。　You're　on　administrative　leave　pending　the　result　of　an　Internal　Affairs　investigation。　Another　Internal　Affairs　investigation；　I　might　add。　And　at　the　union　hearing；　I'm　going　to　ask　for　your　dismissal　from　the　force。　With　your　record；　that　won't　be　too　hard　to　justify。〃
　O'Shaughnessy　knew　this　wasn't　an　empty　threat。　He　removed　his　gun　and　badge　and　dropped　them　one　at　a　time　on　the　table。
　〃Is　that　all；　sir？〃　he　asked；　as　coolly　as　possible。
　With　satisfaction；　he　saw　Custer's　face　blacken　with　rage　yet　again。　〃Is　that　all？　Isn't　that　enough？　You　better　start　pulling　your　résumé　together；　O'Shaughnessy。　I　know　a　McDonald's　up　in　the　South　Bronx　that　needs　a　rent…a…cop　for　the　graveyard　shift。〃
　As　O'Shaughnessy　left；　he　noticed　that　Noyes's　eyes…brimming　with　wet　sycophantic　satisfaction…followed　him　out　the　door。
　　
　He　paused　on　the　steps　of　the　station　house；　momentarily　blinded　by　the　sunlight。　He　thought　of　the　many　times　he'd　trudged　up　and　down　these　stairs；　on　yet　another　aimless　patrol　or　pointless　piece　of　bureaucratic　busywork。　It　seemed　a　little　odd　that…despite　his　carefully　groomed　attitude　of　nonchalance…he　felt　more　than　a　twinge　of　regret。　Pendergast　and　the　case　would　have　to　make　do　without　him。　Then　he　sighed；　shrugged；　and　descended　the　steps。　His　career　was　over；　and　that　was　that。
　To　his　surprise；　a　familiar　car…a　Rolls…Royce　Silver　Wraith…was　idling　silently　at　the　curb。　The　door　was　opened　by　the　invisible　figure　in　the　rear。　O'Shaughnessy　approached；　leaned　his　head　inside。
　〃I've　been　put　on　administrative　leave；〃　he　said　to　the　occupant　of　the　rear　seat。
　Pendergast；　leaning　back　against　the　leather；　nodded。　〃Over　the　report？〃
　〃Yup。　And　that　mistake　I　made　five　years　ago　didn't　help　any。〃
　〃How　unfortunate。　I　apologize　for　my　role　in　your　misfortune。　But　get　in；　if　you　please。　We　don't　have　much　time。〃
　〃Didn't　you　hear　what　I　said？〃
　〃I　did。　You're　working　for　me　now。〃
　O'Shaughnessy　paused。
　〃It's　all　arranged。　The　paperwork　is　going　through　as　we　speak。　From　time　to　time；　I　have　need　of；　ah；　consulting　specialists。〃　Pendergast　patted　a　sheaf　of　papers　lying　on　the　seat　beside　him。　〃It's　all　spelled　out　in　here。　You　can　sign　them　in　the　car。　We'll　stop　by　the　FBI　office　downtown　and　get　you　a　photo　ID。　It's　not　a　shield；　unfortunately；　but　it　should　serve　almost　as　well。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；　Mr。　Pendergast；　but　you　should　know；　they're　opening　an…〃
　〃I　know　all　about　it。　Get　in；　please。〃
　O'Shaughnessy　climbed　in　and　closed　the　door　behind　him；　feeling　slightly　dazed。
　Pendergast　gestured　toward　the　papers。　〃Read　them；　you　won't　find　any　nasty　surprises。　Fifty　dollars　an　hour；　guaranteed　minimum　thirty　hours　a　week；　benefits；　and　the　rest。〃
　〃Why　are　you　doing　this？〃
　Pendergast　gazed　at　him　mildly。　〃Because　I've　seen　you　rise　to　the　challenge。　I　need　a　man　with　the　courage　of　his　convictions。　I've　seen　how　you　work。　You　know　the　streets；　you　can　talk　to　the　people　in　a　way　I　can't。　You're　one　of　them。　I'm　not。　Besides；　I　can't　push　this　case　alone。　I　need　someone　who　knows　his　way　around　the　byzantine　workings　of　the　NYPD。　And　you　have　a　certain　passion。　Remember；　I　saw　that　tape。　I'm　going　to　need　passion。〃
　O'Shaughnessy　reached　for　the　papers；　still　dazed。　Then　he　stopped。
　〃On　one　condition；〃　he　said。　〃You　know　a　lot　more　about　this　than　you've　let　on。　And　I　don't　like　working　in　the　dark。〃
　Pendergast　nodded。　〃You're　quite　right。　It's　time　we　had　a　talk。　And　once　we've　processed　your　papers；　that's　the　next　order　of　business。　Fair　enough？〃
　〃Fair　enough。〃　And　O'Shaughnessy　took　the　papers；　scanned　them　quickly。
　Pendergast　turned　to　the　driver。　〃Federal　Plaza；　please；　Proctor。　And　quickly。〃
　
　NINE
　　
　NORA　PAUSED　BEFORE　the　deep　archway；　carved　of　sand…colored　stone　streaked　with　gray。　Although　it　had　been　recently　cleaned；　the　massive　Gothic　entrance　looked　old　and　forbidding。　It　reminded　Nora　of　Traitor's　Gate　at　the　Tower　of　London。　She　half　expected　to　see　the　iron　teeth　of　a　portcullis　winking　from　the　ceiling；　defenestrating　knights　peering　out　of　arrow　slits　above；　cauldrons　of　boiling　pitch　at　the　ready。
　At　the　base　of　an　adjoining　wall；　before　a　low　iron　railing；　Nora　could　see　the　remains　of　half…burnt　candles；　flower　petals；　and　old　pictures　in　broken　frames。　It　looked　almost　like　a　shrine。　And　then　she　realized　this　arch　must　be　the　doorway　in　which　John　Lennon　was　shot；　and　these　trinkets　the　remains　of　offerings　still　left　by　the　faithful。　And　Pendergast　himself　had　been　stabbed　nearby；　not　halfway　down　the　block。　She　glanced　upward。　The　Dakota　rose　above　her；　its　Gothic　facade　overhung　with　gables　and　stone　decorations。　Dark　clouds　scudded　above　the　grim；　shadow…haunted　towers。　What　a　place　to　live；　she　thought。　She　looked　carefully　around；　studying　the　landscape　with　a　caution　that　had　bee　habitual　since　the　chase　in　the　Archives。　But　there　was　no　obvious　sign　of　danger。　She　moved　toward　the　building。
　Beside　the　archway；　a　doorman　stood　in　a　large　sentry　box　of　bronze　and　glass；　staring　implacably　out　at　Seventy…second　Street；　silent　and　erect　as　a　Buckingham　Palace　guard。　He　seemed　oblivious　of　her　presence。　But　when　she　stepped　beneath　the　archway；　he　was　before　her　in　a　flash；　pleasant　but　unsmiling。
　〃May　I　help　you？〃　he　asked。
　〃I　have　an　appointment　to　see　Mr。　Pendergast。〃
　〃Your　name？〃
　〃Nora　Kelly。〃
　The　guard　nodded；　as　if　expecting　her。　〃Southwest　lobby；〃　he　said；　stepping　aside　and　pointing　the　way。　As　Nora　walked　through　the　tunnel　toward　the　building's　interior　courtyard；　she　saw　the　guard　return　to　his　sentry　box　and　pick　up　a　telephone。
　The　elevator　smelled　of　old　leather　and　polished　wood。　It　rose　several　floors；　came　to　an　unhurried　stop。　Then　the　doors　slid　open　to　reveal　an　entryway；　a　single　oak　door　at　its　far　end；　standing　open。　Within　the　doorway　stood　Agent　Pendergast；　his　slender　figure　haloed　in　the　subdued　light。
　〃So　glad　you　could　e；　Dr。　Kelly；〃　he　said　in　his　mellifluous　voice；　stepping　aside　to　usher　her　in。　His　words　were；　as　always；　exceedingly　gracious；　but　there　was　something　tired；　almost　grim；　in　his　tone。　Still　recovering；　Nora　thought。　He　looked　thin；　almost　cadaverous；　and　his　face　was　even　whiter　than　usual；　if　such　a　thing　were　possible。
　Nora　stepped　forward　into　a　high…ceilinged；　windowless　room。　She　looked　around　curiously。　Three　of　the　walls　were　painted　a　dusky　rose；　framed　above　and　below　by　black　molding。　The　fourth　was　made　up　entirely　of　black　marble；　over　which　a　continuous　sheet　of　water　ran　from　ceiling　to　floor。　At　the　base；　where　the　water　gurgled　quietly　into　a　pool；　a　cluster　of　lotus　blossoms　floated。　The　room　was　filled　with　the　soft；　pleasant　sound　of　water　and　the　faint　perfume　of　flowers。　Two　tables　of　dark　lacquer　stood　nearby。　One　held　a　mossy　tray　in　which　grew　a　setting　of　bonsai　trees…dwarf　maples；　by　the　look　of　them。　On　the　other；　inside　an　acrylic　display　cube；　the　skull　of　a　cat　was　displayed　on　a　spider　mount。　ing　closer；　Nora　realized　that　the　skull　was；　in　fact；　carved　from　a　single　piec