preston&child.thecabinetofcuriosities-第8节

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　〃They　probably　removed　it　with　the　rest　of　the　stuff；　then。〃
　〃I　don't　think　so。　I　stuffed　it　into　a　crevice　in　the　rear　of　the　alcove。　They　were　rushing。　They　could　easily　have　missed　it。〃
　Smithback　saw　the　gleam　in　Nora's　hazel　eyes。　He'd　seen　that　look　before。
　〃No　way；　Nora；〃　he　said　quickly。　〃They　must　have　security　at　the　site。　It's　probably　lit　up　brighter　than　a　stage。　Don't　even　think　about　it。〃　Next　thing；　she　would　insist　on　his　ing　along。
　〃You've　got　to　e　with　me。　Tonight。　I　need　that　letter。〃
　〃You　don't　even　know　if　it　is　a　letter。　It　might　be　a　laundry　slip。〃
　〃Bill；　even　a　laundry　slip　would　be　an　important　clue。〃
　〃We　could　be　arrested。〃
　〃No；　you　won't。〃
　〃What's　this　you　shit？〃
　〃I'll　distract　the　guard　while　you　go　over　the　fence。　You　can　make　yourself　inconspicuous。〃　As　she　spoke；　Nora's　eyes　grew　brighter。　〃Yes。　You　can　be　dressed　like　a　homeless　bum；　say；　just　poking　through　the　garbage。　If　they　catch　you；　the　worst　they'll　do　is　make　you　move　on。〃
　Smithback　was　aghast。　〃Me？　A　bum？　No　way。　You　be　the　bum。〃
　〃No；　Bill；　that　won't　work。　I　have　to　be　the　hooker。〃
　The　last　forkful　of　steak　froze　halfway　to　Smithback's　mouth。
　Nora　smiled　at　him。　Then　she　spoke。　〃You　just　spilled　brandy　sauce　all　down　the　front　of　your　nice　new　Italian　suit。〃
　
　SIX
　　
　NORA　PEERED　AROUND　the　corner　of　Henry　Street；　shivering　slightly。　It　was　a　chilly　night；　and　her　scant　black　mini…dress　and　silver　spandex　top　provided　little　warmth。　Only　the　heavy　makeup；　she　thought；　added　any　R…factor　to　her　person。　In　the　distance；　traffic　droned　through　Chatham　Square；　and　the　vast　black　bulk　of　the　Manhattan　Bridge　loomed　ominously　nearby。　It　was　almost　three　o'clock　in　the　morning；　and　the　streets　of　the　Lower　East　Side　were　deserted。
　〃What　can　you　see？〃　Smithback　asked　from　behind　her。
　〃The　site's　pretty　well　lit。　I　can　only　see　one　guard；　though。〃
　〃What's　he　doing？〃
　〃Sitting　in　a　chair；　smoking　and　reading　a　paperback。〃
　Smithback　scowled。　It　had　been　depressingly　easy　to　transform　him　to　bumhood。　His　rangy　frame　was　draped　in　a　shiny　black　raincoat　over　a　checked　shirt；　a　dirty　pair　of　jeans；　and　tattered　Keds。　There　had　been　no　shortage　of　cheesy　old　clothing　in　Smithback's　closet　to　choose　from。　A　bit　of　charcoal　on　the　face；　olive　oil　rubbed　into　the　hair；　and　a　tote　consisting　of　five　nested　plastic　bags　with　unwashed　clothes　at　the　bottom　pleted　the　disguise。
　〃What's　he　look　like？〃　Smithback　asked。
　〃Big　and　mean。〃
　〃Cut　it　out。〃　Smithback　was　in　no　mood　for　humor。　Dressed　as　they　were；　they　had　been　unable　to　flag　down　a　cab　in　the　Upper　West　Side；　and　had　been　forced　to　take　the　subway。　Nobody　had　actually　propositioned　her；　but　she　had　gotten　plenty　of　stares；　with　follow…up　glances　at　Smithback　that　clearly　read；　What's　a　high…priced　call　girl　doing　with　that　bum？　The　long　ride；　with　two　transfers；　had　not　improved　Smithback's　mood。
　〃This　plan　of　yours　is　pretty　weak；〃　Smithback　said。　〃Are　you　sure　you　can　handle　yourself？〃　He　was　a　mask　of　irritation。
　〃We　both　have　our　cell　phones。　If　anything　happens；　I'll　scream　bloody　murder　and　you　call　911。　But　don't　worry…he's　not　going　to　make　trouble。〃
　〃He's　going　to　be　too　busy　looking　at　your　tits；〃　said　Smithback　unhappily。　〃With　that　top；　you　might　as　well　not　be　wearing　anything。〃
　〃Trust　me；　I　can　take　care　of　myself。　Remember；　the　dress　is　in　the　second　to　last　niche　on　the　right。　Feel　along　the　rear　wall　for　the　crevice。　Once　you're　safely　out；　call　me。　Now；　here　goes。〃
　She　stepped　out　into　the　streetlight　and　began　walking　down　the　sidewalk　toward　the　construction　entrance；　her　pumps　making　a　sharp　clicking　noise　on　the　pavement；　her　breasts　bouncing。　As　she　got　close；　she　stopped；　fished　in　her　little　gold　handbag；　and　made　an　exaggerated　little　moue。　She　could　already　feel　the　guard's　eyes　on　her。　She　dropped　a　lipstick；　bent　down　to　pick　it　up…making　sure　he　got　a　good　look　up　her　dress　in　the　process…and　touched　up　her　lips。　Then　she　fished　in　the　bag　again；　cursed；　and　looked　around。　She　let　her　eyes　fall　on　the　guard。　He　was　staring　back；　the　book　lying　unheeded　in　his　lap。
　〃Shit。　Left　my　cigarettes　back　at　the　bar。〃　She　flashed　him　a　smile。
　〃Here；〃　he　said；　rising　hastily。　〃Take　one　of　mine。〃
　She　sidled　over　and　accepted　the　cigarette　through　the　gap　in　the　chain…link　gate；　positioning　herself　to　ensure　his　back　would　be　turned　to　the　construction　site。　She　hoped　to　God　Smithback　would　work　fast。
　The　guard　withdrew　a　lighter；　tried　to　stick　it　through　the　gate；　failed。　〃Just　a　minute；　let　me　unlock　this。〃
　She　waited；　cigarette　in　hand。
　The　gate　swung　open　and　he　flicked　the　lighter。　She　approached　and　bent　over　the　flame；　drawing　the　smoke　in；　hoping　she　wouldn't　cough。　〃Thanks。〃
　〃Sure；〃　said　the　guard。　He　was　young；　sandy…haired；　neither　fat　nor　thin；　a　little　dopey…looking；　not　terribly　strong；　clearly　flustered　by　her　presence。　Good。
　She　stood　there；　taking　another　drag。　〃Nice　night；〃　she　said。
　〃You　must　be　cold。〃
　〃A　little。〃
　〃Here；　take　this。〃　With　a　gallant　flourish　he　took　off　his　coat　and　draped　it　over　her　shoulders。
　〃Thanks。〃　The　guard　looked　as　if　he　could　hardly　believe　his　good　fortune。　Nora　knew　she　was　attractive；　knew　that　her　body；　with　all　her　years　spent　backpacking　in　the　remote　desert；　wasn't　too　bad；　either。　The　heavy　makeup　gave　her　a　sense　of　security。　Never　in　a　million　years　would　he　later　be　able　to　identify　the　archaeologist　from　the　New　York　Museum　of　Natural　History。　In　an　odd　way　the　outfit　made　her　feel　sassy；　bold；　a　little　sexy。
　She　heard　a　distant　rattle；　Smithback　must　be　climbing　over　the　chain…link　fence。　〃You　work　here　every　night？〃　she　said　hastily。
　〃Five　nights　a　week；〃　the　guard　said；　his　Adam's　apple　bobbing。　〃Now　that　construction's　begun。　You；　er；　live　around　here？〃
　She　nodded　vaguely　toward　the　river。　〃And　you？〃
　〃Queens。〃
　〃Married？〃
　She　saw　his　left　hand；　where　she　had　previously　noted　a　wedding　band；　slide　behind　his　gun　holster。　〃Not　me。〃
　She　nodded；　took　another　drag。　It　made　her　dizzy。　How　could　people　smoke　these　things？　She　wished　Smithback　would　hurry　up。
　She　smiled　and　dropped　the　butt；　grinding　it　under　her　toe。
　Instantly　the　pack　was　out。　〃Another？〃
　〃No；〃　she　said；　〃trying　to　cut　back。〃
　She　could　see　him　eyeing　her　spandex　top；　trying　to　be　subtle。　〃You　work　in　a　bar？〃　he　asked；　then　colored。　Awkward　question。　Nora　heard　another　sound；　a　few　falling　bricks。
　〃Sort　of；〃　she　said；　pulling　the　jacket　tighter　around　her　shoulders。
　He　nodded。　He　was　looking　a　little　bolder　now。　〃I　think　you're　very　attractive；〃　he　said；　hastily；　blurting　it　out。
　〃Thanks；〃　she　said。　God；　it　was　a　thirty…second　job。　What　was　taking　Smithback　so　long？
　〃Are　you；　ah；　free　later？〃
　Deliberately；　she　looked　him　up　and　down。　〃You　want　a　date？〃
　〃Yeah。　Yeah；　sure。〃
　There　was　another；　louder　sound：　the　rattling　of　a　chain…link　fence。　Smithback　climbing　out？　The　guard　turned　toward　it。
　〃What　kind　of　date？〃　Nora　asked。
　He　looked　back　at　her；　no　longer　trying　to　hide　the　roaming　of　his　lascivious　eyes。　Nora　felt　naked　beneath　his　gaze。　There　was　another　rattle。　The　guard　turned　again　and　this　time　saw　Smithback。　He　was　pretty　hard　to　miss：　clinging　to　the　top　of　the　fence；　trying　to　unsnag　his　filthy　raincoat。
　〃Hey！〃　the　guard　yelled。
　〃Forget　him；〃　said　Nora　hastily。　〃He's　just　some　bum。〃
　Smithback　struggled。　Now　he　was　trying　to　slip　out　of　his　raincoat；　but　had　only　succeeded　in　being　more　tangled。
　〃He's　not　supposed　to　be　in　there！〃　the　guard　said。
　This；　unfortunately；　was　a　guy　who　took　his　job　seriously。
　The　man　clapped　his　hand　to　his　gun。　〃Hey　you！〃　he　yelled　louder。　〃Hey！〃　He　took　a　step　toward　the　writer。
　Smithback　struggled　frantically　with　the　raincoat。
　〃Sometimes　I　do　it　for　free；〃　Nora　said。
　The　guard　swiveled　back　to　her；　eyes　wide；　the　bum　on　the　fence　instantly　forgotten。　〃You　do？〃
　〃Sure。　Why　not？　Cute　guy　like　you　。　。　。〃
　He　grinned　like　an　idiot。　Now　she　noticed　his　ears　stuck　out。　What　a　weenie；　so　eager　to　cheat　on　his　wife。　Cheap；　too。
　〃Right　now？〃　he　asked。
　〃Too　cold。　Tomorrow。〃　She　heard　a　ripping　sound；　a　thud；　a　muffled　curse。
　〃Tomorrow？〃　He　looked　devastated。　〃Why　not　now？　At　your　place。〃
　She　took　off　the　coat　and　gave　it　back　to　him。　〃Never　at　my　place。〃
　He　took　a　step　toward　her。　〃There's　a　hotel　around　the　corner。〃　He　reached　over；　trying　to　snake　an　arm　around　her　waist。
　She　skipped　back　lightly　with　another　smile　as　her　cell　phone　rang。　Flooded　with　relief；　she　flipped　it　open。
　〃Mission　acplished；〃　came　Smithback's　voice。　〃You　can　get　away　from　that　creep。〃
　〃Sure；　Mr。　McNally；　I'd　love　to；〃　she　said　warmly。　〃That　sounds　nice。　See　you　there。〃　She　made　a　smacking　kiss　into　the　phone　and　snapped　it　shut。
　She　turned　to　the　guard。　〃Sorry。　Business。〃　She　took　another　step　back。
　〃Wait。　e　on。　You　said…〃　There　was　a　note　of　desperation　in　the　guard's　voice。
　She　took　a　few　more　steps　back　and　shut　the　chain…link　gate　in　his　face。　〃Tomorrow。　I　promise。〃
　〃No；　wait！〃
　She　turned　and　began　walking　quickly　down　the　sidewalk。
　〃Hey；　e　on！　Wait！　Lady；　please！〃　His　desperate　pleas　echoed　among　the　tenements