preston&child.thecabinetofcuriosities-第76节

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ow　that　train　of　thought　to　its　logical　conclusion。
　
　FOUR
　　
　CUSTER　ALLOWED　BRISBANE　to　stew　for　a　minute；　then　two。　And　then　he　smiled…almost　conspiratorially…at　the　lawyer。　〃Mind　if　I　。　。　。　？〃　he　began；　nodding　toward　the　bizarre　chrome…and…glass　chair　before　Brisbane's　desk。
　Brisbane　nodded。　〃Of　course。〃
　Custer　sank　down；　trying　to　maneuver　his　bulk　into　the　most　fortable　position　the　chair　would　allow。　Then　he　smiled　again。　〃Now；　you　were　about　to　say　something？〃　He　hiked　a　pant　leg；　tried　to　throw　it　over　the　other；　but　the　weird　angle　of　the　chair　knocked　it　back　against　the　floor。　Unruffled；　he　cocked　his　head；　raising　an　eyebrow　quizzically　across　the　desk。
　Brisbane's　posure　had　returned。　〃Nothing。　I　just　thought；　with　the　hat　。　。　。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Nothing。〃
　〃In　that　case；　tell　me　about　the　Museum's　costume　party。〃
　〃The　Museum　often　throws　fund…raisers。　Hall　openings；　parties　for　big　donors；　that　sort　of　thing。　Once　in　a　while；　it's　a　costume　ball。　I　always　wear　the　same　thing。　I　dress　like　an　English　banker　on　his　way　to　the　City。　Derby　hat；　pinstriped　pants；　cutaway。〃
　〃I　see。〃　Custer　glanced　at　the　umbrella。　〃And　the　umbrella？〃
　〃Everybody　owns　a　black　umbrella。〃
　A　veil　had　dropped　over　the　man's　emotions。　Lawyer's　training；　no　doubt。
　〃How　long　have　you　owned　the　hat？〃
　〃I　already　told　you。〃
　〃And　where　did　you　buy　it？〃
　〃Let's　see　。　。　。　at　an　old　antique　shop　in　the　Village。　Or　perhaps　TriBeCa。　Lispinard　Street；　I　believe。〃
　〃How　much　did　it　cost？〃
　〃I　don't　remember。　Thirty　or　forty　dollars。〃　For　a　moment；　Brisbane's　posure　slipped　ever　so　slightly。　〃Look；　why　are　you　so　interested　in　that　hat？　A　lot　of　people　own　derby　hats。〃
　Watch　the　eyes。　And　the　eyes　looked　panicked。　The　eyes　looked　guilty。
　〃Really？〃　Custer　replied　in　an　even　voice。　〃A　lot　of　people？　The　only　person　I　know　who　owns　a　derby　hat　in　New　York　City　is　the　killer。〃
　This　was　the　first　mention　of　the　word　〃killer；〃　and　Custer　gave　it　a　slight；　but　noticeable；　emphasis。　Really；　he　was　playing　this　beautifully；　like　a　master　angler　bringing　in　a　huge　trout。　He　wished　this　was　being　captured　on　video。　The　chief　would　want　to　see　it；　perhaps　make　it　available　as　a　training　film　for　aspiring　detectives。　〃Let's　get　back　to　the　umbrella。〃
　〃I　bought　it　。　。　。　I　can't　remember。　I'm　always　buying　and　losing　umbrellas。〃　Brisbane　shrugged　casually；　but　his　shoulders　were　stiff。
　〃And　the　rest　of　your　costume？〃
　〃In　the　closet。　Go　ahead；　take　a　look。〃
　Custer　had　no　doubt　the　rest　of　the　costume　would　match　the　description　of　a　black；　old…fashioned　coat。　He　ignored　the　attempted　distraction。　〃Where　did　you　buy　it？〃
　〃I　think　I　found　the　pants　and　coat　at　that　used　formalwear　shop　near　Bloomingdale's。　I　just　can't　think　of　the　name。〃
　〃No　doubt。〃　Custer　glanced　searchingly　at　Brisbane。　〃Odd　choice　for　a　costume　party；　don't　you　think？　English　banker；　I　mean。〃
　〃I　dislike　looking　ridiculous。　I've　worn　that　costume　half　a　dozen　times　to　Museum　parties；　you　can　check　with　anyone。　I　put　that　costume　to　good　use。〃
　〃Oh；　I　have　no　doubt　you　put　it　to　good　use。　Good　use　indeed。〃　Custer　glanced　over　at　Noyes。　The　man　was　excited；　a　kind　of　hungry；　almost　slavering　look　on　his　face。　He；　at　least；　realized　what　was　ing。
　〃Where　were　you；　Mr。　Brisbane；　on　October　12；　between　eleven　o'clock　in　the　evening　and　four　o'clock　the　following　morning？〃　This　was　the　time　bracket　the　coroner　had　determined　during　which　Puck　had　been　killed。
　Brisbane　seemed　to　think。　〃Let's　see　。　。　。　It's　hard　to　remember。〃　He　laughed　again。
　Custer　laughed；　too。
　〃I　can't　remember　what　I　did　that　night。　Not　precisely。　After　twelve　or　one；　I　would　have　been　in　bed；　of　course。　But　before　then　。　。　。　Yes；　I　remember　now。　I　was　at　home　that　night。　Catching　up　on　my　reading。〃
　〃And　you　live　alone；　Mr。　Brisbane？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃So　you　have　no　one　who　can　vouch　for　you　being　at　home？　A　landlady；　perhaps？　Girlfriend？　Boy　friend？〃
　Brisbane　frowned。　〃No。　No；　nothing　like　that。　So；　if　it's　all　the　same　to　you…〃
　〃One　moment；　Mr。　Brisbane。　And　where　did　you　say　you　live？〃
　〃I　didn't　say。　Ninth　Street；　near　University　Place。〃
　〃Hmmm。　No　more　than　a　dozen　blocks　from　Tompkins　Square　Park。　Where　the　second　murder　took　place。〃
　〃That's　a　very　interesting　coincidence；　no　doubt。〃
　〃It　is。〃　Custer　glanced　out　the　windows；　where　Central　Park　lay　beneath　a　mantle　of　darkness。　〃And　no　doubt　it's　a　coincidence　that　the　first　murder　took　place　right　out　there；　in　the　Ramble。〃
　Brisbane's　frown　deepened。　〃Really；　Detective；　I　think　we've　reached　the　point　where　questions　end　and　speculation　begins。〃　He　pushed　back　his　chair；　prepared　to　stand　up。　〃And　now；　if　you　don't　mind；　I'd　like　to　get　on　with　the　business　of　clearing　your　men　out　of　this　Museum。〃
　Custer　made　a　suppressing　motion　with　one　hand；　glanced　again　at　Noyes。　Get　ready。　〃There's　just　one　other　thing。　The　third　murder。〃　He　slid　a　piece　of　paper　out　of　his　notebook　with　a　nonchalant　motion。　〃Do　you　know　an　Oscar　Gibbs？〃
　〃Yes；　I　believe　so。　Mr。　Puck's　assistant。〃
　〃Exactly。　According　to　the　testimony　of　Mr。　Gibbs；　on　the　afternoon　of　October　12；　you　and　Mr。　Puck　had　a　little；　ah；　discussion　in　the　Archives。　This　was　after　you　found　out　that　Human　Resources　had　not　supported　your　remendation　to　fire　Puck。〃
　Brisbane　colored　slightly。　〃I　wouldn't　believe　everything　you　hear。〃
　Custer　smiled。　〃I　don't；　Mr。　Brisbane。　Believe　me；　I　don't。〃　He　followed　this　with　a　long；　delicious　pause。　〃Now；　this　Mr。　Oscar　Gibbs　said　that　you　and　Puck　were　yelling　at　each　other。　Or　rather；　you　were　yelling　at　Puck。　Care　to　tell　me；　in　your　words；　what　that　was　about？〃
　〃I　was　reprimanding　Mr。　Puck。〃
　〃What　for？〃
　〃Neglecting　my　instructions。〃
　〃Which　were？〃
　〃To　stick　to　his　job。〃
　〃To　stick　to　his　job。　How　had　he　been　deviating　from　his　job？〃
　〃He　was　doing　outside　work；　helping　Nora　Kelly　with　her　external　projects；　when　I　had　specifically…〃
　It　was　time。　Custer　pounced。
　〃According　to　Mr。　Oscar　Gibbs；　you　were　（and　I　will　read）：　screaming　and　yelling　and　threatening　to　bury　Mr。　Puck。　He　（that's　you；　Mr。　Brisbane）　said　he　wasn't　through　by　a　long　shot。〃　Custer　lowered　the　paper；　glanced　at　Brisbane。　〃That's　the　word　you　used：　'bury。'　〃
　〃It's　a　mon　figure　of　speech。〃
　〃And　then；　not　twenty…four　hours　later；　Puck's　body　was　found；　gored　on　a　dinosaur　in　the　Archives。　After　having　been　butchered；　most　likely　in　those　very　same　Archives。　An　operation　like　that　takes　time；　Mr。　Brisbane。　Clearly；　it　was　done　by　somebody　who　knew　the　Museum's　ways　very　well。　Someone　with　a　security　clearance。　Someone　who　could　move　around　the　Museum　without　exciting　notice。　An　insider；　if　you　will。　And　then；　Nora　Kelly　gets　a　phony　note；　typed　on　Puck's　typewriter；　asking　her　to　e　down…and　she　herself　is　attacked；　pursued　with　deadly　intent。　Nora　Kelly。　The　other　thorn　in　your　side。　The　third　thorn；　the　FBI　agent；　was　in　the　hospital　at　this　point；　having　been　attacked　by　someone　wearing　a　derby　hat。〃
　Brisbane　stared　at　him　in　disbelief。
　〃Why　didn't　you　want　Puck　to　help　Nora　Kelly　in　her…what　did　you　call　them…external　projects？〃
　This　was　answered　by　silence。
　〃What　were　you　afraid　she　would　find？　They　would　find？〃
　Brisbane's　mouth　worked　briefly。　〃I　。　。　。　I　。　。　。〃
　Now　Custer　slipped　in　the　knife。　〃Why　the　copycat　angle；　Mr。　Brisbane？　Was　it　something　you　found　in　the　Archives？　Is　that　what　prompted　you　to　do　it？　Was　Puck　getting　too　close　to　learning　something？〃
　At　this；　Brisbane　found　his　voice　at　last。　He　shot　to　his　feet。　〃Now；　just　a　minute…〃
　Custer　turned。　〃Officer　Noyes？〃
　〃Yes？〃　Noyes　responded　eagerly。
　〃Cuff　him。〃
　〃No；〃　Brisbane　gasped。　〃You　fool；　you're　making　a　terrible　mistake…〃
　Custer　worked　his　way　out　of　the　chair…it　was　not　as　smooth　a　motion　as　he　would　have　wished…and　began　abruptly　booming　out　the　Miranda　rights：　〃You　have　the　right　to　remain　silent…〃
　〃This　is　an　outrage…〃
　〃…you　have　the　right　to　an　attorney…〃
　〃I　will　not　accept　this！〃
　〃…you　have　the　right…〃
　He　thundered　it　out　to　the　bitter　end；　overriding　Brisbane's　protestations。　He　watched　as　the　gleeful　Noyes　slapped　the　cuffs　on　the　man。　It　was　the　most　satisfying　collar　Custer　could　ever　remember。　It　was；　in　fact；　the　single　greatest　job　of　police　work　he　had　done　in　his　life。　This　was　the　stuff　of　legend。　For　many　years　to　e；　they'd　be　telling　the　story　of　how　Captain　Custer　put　the　cuffs　on　the　Surgeon。
　
　FIVE
　　
　PENDERGAST　SET　OFF　up　Riverside　once　again；　black　suit　coat　open　and　flapping　behind　him　in　the　Manhattan　night。　Nora　hurried　after。　Her　thoughts　returned　to　Smithback；　imprisoned　in　one　of　these　gaunt　buildings。　She　tried　to　force　the　image　from　her　mind；　but　it　kept　returning；　again　and　again。　She　was　almost　physically　sick　with　worry　about　what　might　be　happening…what　might　have　already　happened。
　She　wondered　how　she　could　have　been　so　angry　with　him。　It's　true　that　much　of　the　time　he　was　impossible…a　schemer；　impulsive；　always　looking　for　an　angle；　always　getting　himself　into　trouble。　And　yet　many　of　those　same　negative　qualities　were　his　most　endearing。　She　thought　back　to　how　he'd　dressed　up　as　a　bum　to　help　her　retrieve　the　old　dress　fr