mc.risingsun-第62节

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　〃I　think　you　do；　Lieutenant。〃
　I　could　hear　a　faint　hiss　on　the　line。　The　call　was　ing　from　a　car　phone。　They　could　be　anywhere。
　They　could　be　right　outside。
　Damn！
　I　said；　〃Who　is　this？〃
　But　I　heard　only　a　dial　tone。
　Elaine　said；　〃What　is　it；　Lieutenant？〃
　I　was　running　to　the　window。　I　saw　three　cars　double…parked　in　the　street　below。　Five　men　getting　out　of　them；　dark　silhouettes　in　the　night。
　
　？
　I　tried　to　stay　calm。　〃Elaine；〃　I　said。　〃I　want　you　to　take　Michelle；　and　both　of　you　go　into　my　bedroom。　Get　under　the　bed。　I　want　you　to　stay　under　there　and　be　very　quiet；　no　matter　what　happens。　Do　you　understand？〃
　〃No；　Daddy！〃
　〃Do　it　now；　Elaine。〃
　〃No；　Daddy！　I　want　to　watch　Sleeping　Beauty。〃
　〃You　can　watch　it　later。〃　I　had　taken　out　my　gun　and　was　checking　the　clip。　Elaine's　eyes　were　wide。
　She　took　Michelle。　〃e　on；　honey。〃
　Michelle　squirmed　in　her　arms；　protesting。　〃No；　Daddy！〃
　〃Michelle。〃
　She　went　silent；　shocked　at　my　tone。　Elaine　carried　her　into　the　bedroom。　I　loaded　another　clip；　and　put　it　in　my　jacket　pocket。
　I　turned　off　the　lights　in　the　bedroom；　and　in　Michelle's　room。　I　looked　at　her　crib；　and　the　covers　with　little　elephants　sewn　into　it。　I　turned　off　the　lights　in　the　kitchen。
　I　went　back　into　the　living　room。　The　TV　was　still　playing。　The　wicked　witch　was　instructing　her　raven　to　find　Sleeping　Beauty。　〃You　are　my　last　hope；　my　pet；　do　not　fail　me；〃　she　said　to　the　bird。　The　bird　flew　away。
　I　stayed　low。　I　moved　toward　the　door。　The　phone　rang　again。　I　crawled　back　to　answer　it。
　〃Hello。〃
　〃Kōhai。〃　It　was　Connor's　voice。　I　heard　the　static　hiss　of　the　car　phone。
　I　said；　〃Where　are　you？〃
　〃You　have　the　tape？〃
　〃Yes；　I　have　the　tape。　Where　are　you？〃
　〃At　the　airport。〃
　〃Well；　get　here。　Right　away。　And　call　for　backup！　Jesus！〃
　I　heard　a　sound　on　the　landing；　outside　my　door。　A　soft　sound；　like　footsteps。
　I　hung　up　the　phone。　I　was　sweating。
　Christ。
　If　Connor　was　at　the　airport；　he　was　twenty　minutes　away　from　me。　Maybe　more。
　Maybe　more。
　I　was　going　to　have　to　handle　this　on　my　own。
　I　watched　the　door；　listening　intently。　But　I　didn't　hear　anything　else　on　the　landing　outside。
　From　the　bedroom；　I　heard　my　daughter　say；　〃I　want　Sleeping　Beauty。　I　want　Daddy；〃　I　heard　Elaine　whispering　to　her。　Michelle　whimpered。
　Then　it　was　quiet。
　The　phone　rang　again。
　〃Lieutenant；〃　the　heavily　accented　voice　said；　〃there　is　no　need　for　backups。〃
　Christ；　they　were　listening　to　the　car　phone。
　〃We　want　no　harm；　Lieutenant。　We　want　only　one　thing。　Will　you　be　so　kind；　to　bring　the　tape　out　to　us？〃
　〃I　have　the　tape；〃　I　said。
　〃We　know。〃
　I　said；　〃You　can　have　it。〃
　〃Good。　It　will　be　better。〃
　I　knew　I　was　on　my　own。　I　was　thinking　fast。　My　sole　idea　was：　Get　them　away　from　here。　Get　them　away　from　my　daughter。
　〃But　not　here；〃　I　said。
　There　was　a　knock　at　the　front　door。　Quick；　insistent　rapping。
　Damn！
　I　could　feel　events　closing　in　around　me。　Things　were　happening　too　fast。　I　was　crouched　down　on　the　floor；　with　the　phone　pulled　down　from　the　table　above。　Trying　to　stay　below　the　windows。
　The　knock　came　again。
　I　said　into　the　phone；　〃You　can　have　the　tape。　But　first　call　off　your　boys。〃
　〃Say　again；　please？〃
　Christ；　a　fucking　language　problem！
　〃Call　your　men　away。　Get　them　out　in　the　street。　I　want　to　see。〃
　〃Lieutenant；　we　must　have　tape！〃
　〃I　know　that；〃　I　said。　〃I'll　give　it　to　you。〃　While　I　talked；　I　kept　my　eyes　on　the　door。　I　saw　the　knob　turning。　Someone　was　trying　to　open　the　front　door。　Slowly；　quietly。　Then　the　knob　was　released。　Something　white　slid　under　the　door。
　A　business　card。
　〃Lieutenant；　please　cooperate。〃
　I　crawled　forward　and　picked　up　the　card。　It　said：　Jonathan　Connor；　Captain；　Los　Angeles　Police　Department。
　Then　I　heard　a　whisper　from　the　other　side。
　〃Kōhai。〃
　I　knew　it　was　a　trick。　Connor　said　he　was　at　the　airport；　so　it　had　to　be　a　trick…　
　〃Perhaps　I　can　be　of　assistance；　kōhai。〃
　Those　were　the　words　he　had　used　before；　at　the　start　of　the　case。　I　was　confused　to　hear　them。
　〃Open　the　fucking　door；　kōhai。〃
　It　was　Connor。　I　reached　up　and　opened　the　door。　He　slipped　into　the　room；　bent　over。　He　was　dragging　something　blue：　a　Kevlar　vest。　I　said；　〃I　thought　you　were…　〃
　He　shook　his　head；　and　whispered；　〃Knew　they　must　be　here。　Had　to　be。　I've　been　waiting　in　the　car　in　the　alley　behind　the　house。　How　many　are　there　in　front？〃
　〃I　think；　five。　Maybe　more。〃
　He　nodded。
　The　accented　voice　on　the　phone　said；　〃Lieutenant？　You　are　there？　Lieutenant？〃
　I　held　the　receiver　away　from　my　ear　so　Connor　could　listen　while　I　talked。　〃I'm　here；〃　I　said。
　On　the　TV；　there　was　a　loud　witch's　cackle。
　〃Lieutenant；　I　hear　something　with　you。〃
　〃It's　just　Sleeping　Beauty；〃　I　said。
　〃What？　Sreeping　Booty？〃　the　voice　said；　puzzled。　〃What　is　this？〃
　〃Television；〃　I　said。　〃It's　the　television。〃
　Now　I　heard　whispers　at　the　other　end　of　the　line。　The　rush　of　a　car　going　by　on　the　street。　It　reminded　me　that　the　men　were　in　an　exposed　position　outside。　Standing　there　on　a　residential　street　lined　with　apartment　buildings　on　both　sides。　Lots　of　windows。　People　that　might　look　out　at　any　time。　Or　people　walking　by。　The　men　would　have　to　move　quickly。
　Perhaps　they　already　were。
　Connor　was　tugging　at　my　jacket。　Signaling　me　to　undress。　I　slid　out　of　my　coat　as　I　spoke　into　the　phone。
　〃All　right；〃　I　said。　〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do？〃
　〃You　bring　tape　to　us。〃
　I　looked　at　Connor。　He　nodded。　Yes。
　〃All　right；〃　I　said。　〃But　first　get　your　people　back。〃
　〃I　am　sorry？〃
　Connor　made　a　fist。　His　face　turned　to　a　snarl。　He　wanted　me　to　be　angry。　He　covered　the　phone　and　whispered　in　my　ear。　A　Japanese　phrase。
　〃Pay　attention！〃　I　said。　〃Yoku　kike！〃
　At　the　other　end；　there　was　a　grunt。　Surprise。
　〃Wakatta。　The　men　e　away。　And　now；　you　e；　Lieutenant。〃
　〃Okay；〃　I　said。　〃I'm　ing。〃
　I　hung　up　the　phone。
　
　Connor　whispered；　〃Thirty　seconds；〃　and　disappeared　out　the　front　door。　I　was　still　buttoning　up　my　shirt　around　the　vest。　Kevlar　is　bulky　and　hot。　Immediately　I　started　to　sweat。
　I　waited　thirty　seconds；　staring　at　the　face　of　my　watch。　Watching　the　hand　go　around。　And　then　I　went　outside。
　
　Someone　had　turned　the　lights　out　in　the　hallway。　I　tripped　over　a　body。　I　got　to　my　feet；　and　looked　at　a　slender　Asian　face。　It　was　just　a　kid；　surprisingly　young。　A　teenager。　He　was　unconscious；　breathing　shallowly。
　I　moved　slowly　down　the　stairs。
　There　wasn't　anybody　on　the　second…floor　landing。　I　kept　going　down。　I　heard　canned　laughter　from　a　television；　behind　one　of　the　doors　on　the　second　floor。　A　voice　said；　〃So　tell　us；　where　did　you　go　on　this　first　date？〃
　I　continued　down　to　the　ground　floor。　The　front　door　of　the　apartment　building　was　glass。　I　looked　out　and　saw　only　parked　cars；　and　a　hedge。　A　short　section　of　lawn　in　front　of　the　building。　The　men　and　the　cars　were　somewhere　off　to　the　left。
　I　waited。　I　took　a　breath。　My　heart　was　pounding。　I　didn't　want　to　go　out　there；　but　all　I　could　think　was　to　get　them　away　from　my　daughter。　To　move　the　action　away　from　my…　
　I　stepped　out　into　the　night。
　The　air　was　cold　on　my　sweating　face　and　neck。
　I　took　two　steps　forward。
　Now　I　could　see　the　men。　They　stood　about　ten　meters　away；　beside　their　cars。　I　counted　four　men。　One　of　them　waved　to　me；　beckoning　me　over。　I　hesitated。
　Where　were　the　others？
　I　couldn't　see　anybody　except　the　men　by　the　cars。　They　waved　again；　beckoning　me。　I　started　toward　them　when　suddenly　a　heavy　thumping　blow　from　behind　knocked　me　flat　onto　my　face　on　the　wet　grass。
　It　was　a　moment　before　I　realized　what　had　happened。
　I　had　been　shot　in　the　back。
　And　then　the　gunfire　erupted　all　around　me。　Automatic　weapons。　The　street　was　lit　up　like　lightning　from　the　gunfire。　The　sound　echoed　off　the　apartment　buildings　on　both　sides　of　the　street。　Glass　was　shattering。　I　heard　people　shouting　all　around　me。　More　gunfire。　I　heard　the　sound　of　ignitions；　cars　roaring　down　the　street　past　me。　Almost　immediately　there　was　the　sound　of　police　sirens　and　tires　squealing；　and　the　glare　of　searchlights。　I　stayed　where　I　was；　face　down　on　the　grass。　I　felt　like　I　was　there　for　about　an　hour。　Then　I　realized　that　the　shouts　now　were　all　in　English。
　Finally　someone　came　and　crouched　over　me　and　said；　〃Don't　move；　Lieutenant。　Let　me　look　first。〃　I　recognized　Connor's　voice。　His　hand　touched　my　back；　probing。　Then　he　said；　〃Can　you　turn　over；　Lieutenant？〃
　I　turned　over。
　Standing　in　the　harsh　light　of　the　searchlights；　Connor　looked　down　at　me。　〃They　didn't　penetrate；〃　he　said。　〃But　you're　going　to　have　a　hell　of　a　sore　back　tomorrow。〃
　He　helped　me　to　my　feet。
　I　looked　back　to　see　the　man　who　had　shot　me。　But　there　was　nobody　there：　just　a　few　shell　casings；　glinting　dull　yellow　in　the　green　grass；　by　the　front　door。
　
　

　THIRD　DAY
　
　

　？
　The　headline　read　VIETNAMESE　GANG　VIOLENCE　ERUPTS　ON　WESTSIDE。　The　story　reported　that　Peter　Smith；　an　L。A。P。D。　Special　Services　officer；　was　the　target　of　a　vicious　grudge　attack　by　an　Orange　County　gang　known　as　the　Bitch　Killers。　Lieutenant　Smith　had　been　shot