el.angeleyes-第14节

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ng　else。　I'm　certain　it　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　kind　of　job　you　were　doing。　New　regimes；　and　all　that。　People　who　e　into　a　new　job　want　their　own　people　under　them。　It's　only　natural；　darling。　I've　seen　it　happen　often　enough　at　the　studios。　One　just　has　to　thicken　one's　skin。　The　last　thing　you　need　is　to　take　this　kind　of　unpleasantness　personally。〃
　〃Oh；　Jesus；　I　haven't　even　spoken　to　Russell　since　he　canned　me　a　year　and　a　half　ago。''
　〃Not　even　when　we　were　。。。　in　Washington　last　year？〃
　〃No。〃　Tori's　mother　could　not　bring　herself　to　speak　of　it；　but　the　President　had　presented　them　with　the　Congressional　Medal　of　Honor　awarded　posthumously　to　Greg；　and　she　had　carried　it　back　here；　put　it　away　in　a　drawer　in　Greg's　room。　It　was　to　her　not　a　symbol　of　pride；　but　rather　another　reminder　of　the　enormous　tragedy　of　his　death。
　〃I　can't　think　why　you　haven't　patched　up　your　differences　by　now；　darling。　He's　such　an　adorable　man。　Just　perfect　for…〃　Some　sixth　sense　caused　her　to　stop。　She　turned　to　look　over　her　shoulder；　said　in　a　voice　so　bright　it　verged　on　being　brittle；　〃Darling；　look　who's　here！〃
　And　Tori　saw　Russell　Slade　brush　past　her　mother；　neatly　cutting　off　her　own　avenue　of　escape　from　the　library。
　〃Hello；　Tori；〃　he　said；　just　as　if　nothing　had　ever　happened　between　them。
　Tori；　for　the　moment　speechless；　looked　past　him　to　where　her　mother　still　stood　in　the　partly　open　doorway。　Laura　Nunn　gave　Tori　a　beseeching　look；　then　quietly　closed　the　door。
　Russell　looked　around。　〃I　haven't　been　here　in　a　long　time。　It　was　good　to　see　your　mother　again。　My　God；　what　a　magnificent　woman　she　is。〃
　〃You've　got　a　set　of　brass　ones；〃　Tori　said。　〃What　the　hell　are　you　doing　here？''
　〃Could　I　have　a　drink；　do　you　think？　It's　a　long　drive　from　the　airport。〃
　Tori　went　to　the　wet　bar　along　one　wall；　fixed　him　a　Tom　Collins　without　asking　him　what　he　wanted；　she　already　knew。　She　handed　him　the　drink；　and　he　nodded。　He　was　dressed　elegantly　but　fortably　in　a　dark　blue　polo　shirt；　linen　trousers；　a　beautifully　cut　lightweight　silk　jacket。　Tori　was　acutely　aware　that　she　was　barefoot　and　dressed　like　a　waif。　She　seemed　at　a　distinct　disadvantage；　like　a　naughty　child　being　interviewed　by　her　father。
　〃I've　e　to　debrief　you；〃　Russell　Slade　said。
　〃Debrief　me？〃
　He　nodded。　〃Someone　had　to　do　it。　I　thought　it　might　as　well　be　me。　Ariel　Solares　was　one　of　my　best　field　men。　Since　you　were　there　when　he　died；　you　know　it's　standard　operating　procedure　that　you　be　debriefed。〃
　〃You're　the　director；　you　don't　know　the　first　thing　about　debriefing　field　personnel；　they're　too　far　down　the　food　chain。〃
　Russell　ignored　her　sarcasm。　〃As　I　said；　Solares　was　one　of　my　best　men。　I　thought　it　wise　if　I　came　myself。''
　〃Don't　bullshit　me；　Russell。　You　came　here　because　it　was　me　who　was　with　him。''
　〃I　understand　your　anger；　but…〃
　〃You　don't　understand　one　thing　about　me！〃　Tori　flared。
　Russell；　taking　a　sip　of　his　drink；　regarded　her　coolly　over　the　rim　of　his　glass。　〃In　any　event；　〃　he　said　at　last；　〃I've　got　to　talk　to　you。〃
　〃I　don't　work　for　you　anymore。〃
　He　sighed　as　he　took　a　seat　on　the　leather　sofa　beside　the　chair　she　had　been　reading　in。　He　picked　up　her　book。　〃The　Nobility　of　Failure。　〃　He　looked　at　her。　〃I　know　this　book。　It's　about　Japanese　heroes　of　myth　and　history；　isn't　it？〃　He　did　not　take　his　eyes　off　her。　〃Sit　down。　Tori；　please。　I　recognize　you're　angry　that　I've　intruded　on　your　solitude；　but　I　came　here　because　Solares's　murder　pelled　me　to　e。　I　think　even　you　can　see　that。　Let's　try　at　least　to　be　civilized；　get　the　interview　over　with；　and　call　it　a　day。〃
　〃How　simple　you　make　it　all　seem。''
　Tori　turned　away　from　him；　went　back　to　the　bar。　She　selected　an　oversized　glass；　dropped　in　some　ice；　poured　single…malt　scotch；　then　added　some　water。　She　recognized　that　she　didn't　really　want　a　drink；　but　she　needed　to　buy　herself　some　time　to　restore　her　equilibrium。
　〃The　first　thing　I'd　like　to　know；〃　she　heard　him　say　from　across　the　room；　〃is　if　you're　all　right。　You　must　have　been　hurt　in　the　explosion；　yet　the　San　Francisco　police　told　us　that　you　refused　medical　treatment。〃
　〃That's　because　I　didn't　require　any；〃　Tori　said；　taking　a　sip　of　scotch；　then　turning　around　to　face　him。
　〃Not　even　shock。　I　see。〃　Russell　regarded　her　for　a　moment；　then　nodded。　〃That　would　be　like　you；〃　he　said；　as　if　to　himself。　〃You　were　always　adamant　about　doing　everything　yourself。〃
　〃I　am　more　qualified…〃
　〃Yes；　yes；　I　know。　Please　let's　not　get　into　that　all　over　again。〃
　〃What　mask　do　you　have　on　today；　Russ？〃　Tori　sat　down　beside　him。　〃The　mask　of　the　invincible　administrator；　or　the　master　chess　player；　sacrificing　one　pawn　after　another　in　the　bloody　field　you've　never　walked　through？　Or　maybe　it's　your　favorite　you　have　on　today：　the　Bernard　Godwin　protege　mask。''
　Russell　sipped　at　his　Тom　Collins。　〃That's　the　one　you　hated　most；　isn't　it；〃　he　said；　aware　of　Godwin　saying　to　him。　Your　relationship　with　Tori　Nunn　is　all　unfinished　business。　〃Because　in　a　way　we're　victims　of　sibling　rivalry。　We　both　think　of　ourselves　as　Bernard's　proteges。　He　never　had　children；　Tori；　he　made　us；　instead。〃
　Tori　made　a　disgusted　sound；　sat　back　against　the　sofa；　allowed　the　coolness　of　the　leather　to　penetrate　her　T…shirt。
　Russell　got　up；　took　a　walk　around　the　library。　This　was　typical　of　him；　he　liked　to　get　the　lay　of　the　land。　He　found　the　physical　and　the　emotional　space　inextricably　entwined；　and　he　chose　the　ground　for　his　interviews　with　meticulous　care。
　Tori　saw　him　e　at　length　to　the　French　fruitwood　table。　He　ran　his　hand　across　the　chocolate…colored　leather　of　its　top；　the　brass　and　green　glass　banker's　lamp；　the　chased…silver　burl　cigar　humidor　given　to　Tori's　father　by　Samuel　Goldwyn。　In　so　doing；　Russell　passed　near　enough　to　touch　the　box　Ariel　Solares　pressed　into　her　hand　just　before　he　had　died。　Tori　held　her　breath。　She　had　no　intention　of　telling　Russell　Slade　about　its　existence；　either　now　or　in　the　future。　Ariel　had　given　it　to　her；　and　she　was　now　its　sole　guardian。
　He　turned　back　to　her。　''What　the　hell　happened　in　San　Francisco？〃
　〃Why　don't　you　tell　me。〃
　〃I　don't　follow　you。〃
　〃Ariel　Solares　was　pursuing　me。〃
　Russell's　face　was　impassive。　〃Was　he？　Well；　he　had　better　taste　in　women　than　I　gave　him　credit　for。〃
　Tori　laughed　despite　herself。　〃You've　gotten　better；　Russell；　I'll　give　you　that。〃　She　got　up；　stood　face…to…face　with　him。　〃You　know　Ariel　was　pursuing　me；〃　she　said；　taking　a　stab　in　the　twilight。　〃You　sent　him　after　me。〃
　〃Now　that's　an　absurd　notion。〃
　〃I　don't　think　it　is；〃　Tori　said。　〃Why　else　would　you　e　to　debrief　me　personally　unless　you　were　running　Ariel　yourself？〃
　〃It　happens　that　Solares　was　working　on　a　first…priority　mission　for　us。　Actually；　I　was　about　to　dispatch　someone　else　to　debrief　you；　but　in　the　end　decided　that　mine　was　the　duty；　sort　of　my　way　of　taking　responsibility　for　Ariel's　death。''
　〃That's　a　pathetic　gesture；　typical　of　a　desk　jockey　who　knows　nothing　of　the　dangers　in　the　field。〃
　〃Don't　be　melodramatic；〃　he　said。　〃The　truth　is　my　people　go　because　they　want　to　go；　not　because　I　make　them。''　He　put　down　his　glass　on　the　table　beside　the　box　Ariel　had　given　her。　〃But　you　already　know　that。〃
　〃What　I　know　is　that　Ariel　was　working　for　you；　that　his　picking　me　up　in　Buenos　Aires　wasn't　happenstance。　He　was　waiting　for　me。〃
　〃Well；　that's　an　interesting　surprise；〃　Russell　said　smoothly。　〃But　it's　wrong。　A　bit　too　Machiavellian。〃
　Tori　laughed　again。　〃That's　an　oxymoronic　sentence　I'd　like　to　preserve　in　my　diary。〃　She　finished　off　her　scotch。　〃What　was　Ariel　doing　for　you　in　Buenos　Aires？〃
　Russell　shrugged。　〃According　to　you；　waiting　to　lure　you　into　his　web。''
　〃I　mean　in　the　tunnels；　Russell。　The　Yakuza　assassins。　Ariel　knew　who　they　were　and　why　they　were　there。　That　means　you　know；　too。〃
　〃Sure　I　do；　but　the　information's　classified。　You　don't　work　for　me　anymore。''
　''Thank　God；''　Tori　said。　〃But　I　have　to　wonder　whether　you　were　ever　able　to　replace　me。　Skills　like　mine　are　invaluable。〃
　〃To　a　very　select　few。''
　Tori　smiled。　〃No；　I　don't　have　to　wonder。　I　know　you've　never　been　able　to　replace　me。〃
　Russell　sat　back；　stared　up　at　the　ceiling。　〃That　may　or　may　not　be　true。　But　I　would　have　thought　you　would　recognize　your　ro1е　in　helping　us　find　Solares's　murderers。〃　He　paused　significantly。　〃If　only　for　his　sake。〃
　Tori　smiled。　〃That's　right；　Russell；　give　it　the　old　college　try。　Give　me　one　last　shot　of　team　spirit；　see　if　it　takes。''
　〃I　think　you've　misunderstood。　Do　you　really　think　I'm　as　pletely　cynical　as　that？〃
　Tori　rose；　went　back　to　the　bar；　poured　herself　some　mineral　water。　〃How　is　Bernard？〃　she　asked。　〃He's　still　retired　from　the　Mall？〃
　〃Oh；　not　retired；　never　retired。〃　Russell　watched　her　carefully。　〃Bernard's　maintained　an　unofficial　consultancy　of　sorts。　It's　an　arrangement　that　is　beneficial　to　all　concerned。〃
　〃Remember　me　to　him；　would　you？〃　Tori　said。
　〃Of　course。〃　Russell　extracted　a　mini　tape　recorder　from　an　inside　jacket　pocket。　He　snapped　it　on。　〃Now；　can　we　get　on　with　me　interview？〃
　〃All　right；〃　Tori　said。　〃I'll　tell　you　e