mc.risingsun-第64节

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　〃You　mean；　they're　Japanese　first。〃
　He　shrugged。　〃Family　is　family。〃
　We　drove　the　rest　of　the　way　in　silence。
　
　？
　We　were　in　a　small　room　on　the　third　floor　of　a　boardinghouse　for　foreign　students。　Theresa　Asakuma　explained　it　was　not　her　room；　it　belonged　to　a　friend　who　was　studying　in　Italy　for　a　term。　She　had　set　up　the　small　VCR　and　a　small　monitor　on　a　table。
　〃I　thought　I　should　get　out　of　the　lab；〃　she　said；　running　the　machine　fast　forward。　〃But　I　wanted　you　to　see　this。　This　is　the　end　of　one　of　the　tapes　you　brought　me。　It　begins　right　after　the　senator　has　left　the　room。〃
　She　slowed　the　tape；　and　I　saw　the　wide　view　of　the　forty…sixth　floor　of　the　Nakamoto　building。　The　floor　was　deserted。　The　pale　body　of　Cheryl　Austin　lay　on　the　dark　conference　table。
　The　tape　continued　to　roll。
　Nothing　happened。　It　was　a　static　scene。
　I　said；　〃What　are　we　looking　at？〃
　〃Just　wait。〃
　The　tape　continued。　Still　nothing　happened。
　And　then　I　saw；　clearly；　the　girl's　leg　twitch。
　〃What　was　that？〃
　〃A　spasm？〃
　〃I'm　not　sure。〃
　Now　the　girl's　arm；　outlined　against　the　dark　wood；　moved。　There　was　no　question　about　it。　The　fingers　closed　and　opened。
　〃She's　still　alive！〃
　Theresa　nodded。　〃That's　the　way　it　looks。　Now　watch　the　clock。〃
　The　clock　on　the　wall　said　8：36。　I　watched　it。　Nothing　happened。　The　tape　ran　for　two　more　minutes。
　Connor　sighed。
　〃The　clock　isn't　moving。〃
　〃No；〃　she　said。　〃I　first　noticed　the　grain　pattern；　on　a　close　scan。　The　pixels　were　jumping　back　and　forth。〃
　〃Meaning　what？〃
　〃We　call　it　rock　and　roll。　It's　the　usual　way　to　disguise　a　freeze…frame。　A　normal　freeze　is　visible　to　the　eye；　because　the　smallest　units　of　the　image　are　suddenly　static。　Whereas　in　a　regular　picture；　there's　always　some　small　movement；　even　if　it's　just　random。　So　what　you　do　is　you　rock　and　roll；　cycling　three　seconds　of　image　over　and　over。　It　gives　a　little　movement；　makes　the　freeze　less　obvious。〃
　〃You're　saying　the　tape　was　frozen　at　eight　thirty…six？〃
　〃Yes。　And　the　girl　was　apparently　still　alive　at　that　time。　I　don't　know　for　sure。　But　maybe。〃
　Connor　nodded。　〃So　that's　why　the　original　tape　is　so　important。〃
　〃What　original　tape？〃　she　said。
　I　produced　the　tape　I　had　found　in　my　apartment　the　night　before。
　〃Run　it；〃　Connor　said。
　
　In　crisp　color；　we　saw　the　forty…sixth　floor。　It　was　from　the　side　camera；　with　a　good　view　of　the　conference　room。　And　it　was　one　of　the　original　tapes：　we　saw　the　murder；　and　we　saw　Morton　leave　the　girl　behind　on　the　table。
　The　tape　ran　on。　We　watched　the　girl。
　〃Can　you　see　the　wall　clock？〃
　〃Not　in　this　angle。〃
　〃How　much　time　do　you　think　has　gone　by？〃
　Theresa　shook　her　head。　〃It's　time　lapse。　I　can't　say。　A　few　minutes。〃
　Then；　the　girl　moved　on　the　table。　Her　hand　twitched；　and　then　her　head　moved。　She　was　alive。　There　was　no　question　about　it。
　And　in　the　glass　of　the　conference　room；　we　saw　the　shape　of　a　man。　He　walked　forward；　appearing　from　the　right。　He　entered　the　room；　looking　back　once　to　make　sure　he　was　alone。　It　was　Ishiguro。　Very　deliberately；　he　walked　to　the　edge　of　the　table；　placed　his　hands　on　the　girl's　neck；　and　strangled　her。
　〃Jesus。〃
　It　seemed　to　take　a　long　time。　The　girl　struggled　toward　the　end。　Ishiguro　held　her　down；　long　after　she　had　stopped　moving。
　〃He's　not　taking　any　chances。〃
　〃No；〃　Connor　said。　〃He's　not。〃
　Finally；　Ishiguro　stepped　back　from　the　body；　shot　his　cuffs；　straightened　his　suit　jacket。
　〃All　right；〃　Connor　said。　〃You　can　stop　the　tape　now。　I've　seen　enough。〃
　
　We　were　back　outside。　Weak　sunlight　filtered　through　the　smoggy　haze。　Cars　roared　by；　bouncing　in　the　potholes。　The　houses　along　the　street　looked　cheap　to　me；　in　disrepair。
　We　got　in　our　car。
　〃What　now？〃　I　said。
　He　handed　me　the　car　phone。　〃Call　downtown；〃　he　said；　〃and　tell　them　we　have　a　tape　that　shows　Ishiguro　did　the　murder。　Tell　them　we're　going　to　Nakamoto　now；　to　arrest　Ishiguro。〃
　〃I　thought　you　didn't　like　car　phones。〃
　〃Just　do　it；〃　Connor　said。　〃We're　about　finished；　anyway。〃
　So　I　did　it。　I　told　the　dispatcher　what　our　plan　was；　where　we　were　going。　They　asked　if　we　wanted　backup。　Connor　shook　his　head；　so　I　said　we　didn't　need　backup。
　I　hung　up　the　phone。
　〃Now　what？〃
　〃Let's　go　to　Nakamoto。〃
　
　？
　After　seeing　the　forty…sixth　floor　so　many　times　on　videotape；　it　was　strange　to　find　myself　there　again。　Although　it　was　Saturday；　the　office　was　busy　and　active；　secretaries　and　executives　were　hurrying　about。　And　the　office　looked　different　during　the　day；　sunlight　poured　in　through　the　large　windows　on　all　sides；　and　the　surrounding　skyscrapers　looked　close；　even　in　the　L。A。　haze。
　Looking　up；　I　saw　that　the　surveillance　cameras　had　been　removed　from　the　walls。　To　the　right；　the　conference　room　where　Cheryl　Austin　had　died　was　being　remodeled。　The　black　furniture　was　gone。　Workmen　were　installing　a　blond　wood　table　and　new　beige　chairs。　The　room　looked　pletely　different。
　On　the　other　side　of　the　atrium；　a　meeting　was　being　held　in　the　large　conference　room。　Sunlight　streamed　in　through　the　glass　walls　on　forty　people　sitting　on　both　sides　of　a　long　table　covered　in　green　felt。　Japanese　on　one　side；　Americans　on　the　other。　Everyone　had　a　neat　stack　of　documents　in　front　of　them。　Prominent　among　the　Americans；　I　noticed　the　lawyer；　Bob　Richmond。
　Standing　beside　me；　Connor　sighed。
　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃The　Saturday　meeting；　kōhai。〃
　〃You　mean　that's　the　Saturday　meeting　Eddie　was　talking　about？〃
　Connor　nodded。　〃The　meeting　to　conclude　the　MicroCon　sale。〃
　There　was　a　receptionist　seated　near　the　elevators。　She　watched　us　staring　for　a　moment；　then　said　politely；　〃Can　I　help　you；　gentlemen？〃
　'〃Thank　you；〃　Connor　said。　〃But　we're　waiting　for　someone。〃
　I　frowned。　From　where　we　were　standing；　I　could　clearly　see　Ishiguro　inside　the　conference　room；　seated　near　the　center　of　the　table　on　the　Japanese　side；　smoking　a　cigarette。　The　man　to　his　right　leaned　over　to　whisper　something　to　him；　Ishiguro　nodded　and　smiled。
　I　glanced　over　at　Connor。
　〃Just　wait；〃　Connor　said。
　Several　minutes　passed；　and　then　a　young　Japanese　aide　hurried　across　the　atrium　and　entered　the　conference　room。　Once　inside；　he　moved　more　slowly；　circling　the　table　unobtrusively　until　he　was　standing　behind　the　chair　of　a　distinguished；　gray…haired　man　seated　toward　the　far　end　of　the　table。　The　aide　bent　and　whispered　something　to　the　older　man。
　〃Iwabuchi；〃　Connor　said。
　〃Who　is　he？〃
　〃Head　of　Nakamoto　America。　Based　in　New　York。〃
　Iwabuchi　nodded　to　the　young　aide；　and　got　up　from　the　table。　The　aide　pulled　his　chair　out　for　him。　Iwabuchi　moved　down　the　line　of　Japanese　negotiators。　As　he　passed　one　man；　he　brushed　him　lightly　on　the　shoulder。　Iwabuchi　continued　to　the　end　of　the　table；　then　opened　the　glass　doors　and　walked　outside；　onto　a　terrace　beyond　the　conference　room。
　A　moment　later；　the　second　man　stood　to　leave。
　〃Moriyama；〃　Connor　said。　〃Head　of　the　Los　Angeles　office。〃
　Moriyama　also　went　outside　onto　the　terrace。　The　two　men　stood　in　the　sun　and　smoked　cigarettes。　The　aide　joined　them；　speaking　quickly；　his　head　bobbing。　The　senior　men　listened　intently；　then　turned　away。　The　aide　remained　standing　there。
　After　a　moment；　Moriyama　turned　back　to　the　aide　and　said　something。　The　aide　bowed　quickly　and　returned　to　the　conference　room。　He　moved　to　the　seat　of　another　man；　dark…haired　with　a　mustache；　and　whispered　in　his　ear。
　〃Shirai；〃　Connor　said。　〃Head　of　finance。〃
　Shirai　stood　up；　but　did　not　go　onto　the　terrace。　Instead；　he　opened　the　inner　door；　crossed　the　atrium；　and　disappeared　into　an　office　on　the　far　side　of　the　floor。
　In　the　conference　room；　the　aide　went　to　still　a　fourth　man；　whom　I　recognized　as　Yoshida；　the　head　of　Akai　Ceramics。　Yoshida　also　slipped　out　of　the　room；　going　into　the　atrium。
　〃What's　going　on？〃　I　said。
　〃They're　distancing　themselves；〃　Connor　said。　〃They　don't　want　to　be　there　when　it　happens。〃
　I　looked　back　at　the　terrace；　and　saw　the　two　Japanese　men　outside　moving　casually　along　the　length　of　the　terrace；　toward　a　door　at　the　far　end。
　I　said；　〃What　are　we　waiting　for？〃
　〃Patience；　kōhai。〃
　The　young　aide　departed。　The　meeting　in　the　conference　room　proceeded。　But　in　the　atrium；　Yoshida　pulled　the　young　aide　over　and　whispered　something。
　The　aide　returned　to　the　conference　room。
　〃Hmmm；〃　Connor　said。
　This　time　the　aide　went　to　the　American　side　of　the　table；　and　whispered　something　to　Richmond。　I　couldn't　see　Richmond's　face；　because　his　back　was　to　us；　but　his　body　jerked。　He　twisted　and　leaned　back　to　whisper　something　to　the　aide。　The　aide　nodded　and　left。
　Richmond　remained　seated　at　the　table；　shaking　his　head　slowly。　He　bent　over　his　notes。
　And　then　he　passed　a　slip　of　paper　across　the　table　to　Ishiguro。
　〃That's　our　cue；〃　Connor　said。　He　turned　to　the　receptionist；　showed　her　his　badge；　and　we　walked　quickly　across　the　atrium　toward　the　conference　room。
　
　A　young　American　in　a　pinstripe　suit　was　standing　in　front　of　the　table　and　saying；　〃Now；　if　you　will　direct　your　attention　to　Rider　C；　the　summary　statement　of　assets　and…　〃
　Connor　came　into　the