mc.risingsun-第7节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃Well；　not　exactly。　There's　usually　minor　trauma　involving　the　heart　or　nerves。　But　the　trauma　isn't　sufficient　to　cause　death。　I　had　one　case　where　a　ten…year…old　kid　got　hit　in　the　chest　with　a　baseball　…　not　very　hard　…　and　fell　down　dead　in　the　school　yard。　Nobody　within　twenty　meters　of　him。　Another　case；　a　woman　had　a　minor　car　accident；　banged　into　the　steering　wheel　with　her　chest；　not　very　hard；　and　while　she　was　opening　the　car　door　to　get　out；　she　dropped　dead。　It　seems　to　happen　where　there　is　neck　or　chest　injury；　which　may　irritate　the　nerves　running　to　the　heart。　So；　yeah；　Tom。　Technically；　sudden　death　is　a　distinct　possibility。　And　since　having　sex　is　not　a　felony；　it　wouldn't　be　murder。〃
　Graham　squinted。　〃So　you're　saying　maybe　nobody　killed　her'？〃
　Kelly　shrugged。　He　picked　up　his　clipboard。　〃I'm　not　putting　any　of　this　down。　I'm　listing　the　cause　of　death　as　asphyxiation　secondary　to　manual　strangulation。　Because　the　odds　are；　she　was　strangled。　But　you　should　file　it　away　in　the　back　of　your　mind　that　maybe　she　wasn't。　Maybe　she　just　popped　off。〃
　〃Fine；〃　Graham　said。　〃We'll　file　it。　Under　medical　examiner's　fantasies。　Meanwhile；　any　of　you　guys　got　an　ID　on　her？〃
　The　SID　team；　still　searching　the　room；　murmured　no。
　Kelly　said；　〃I　think　I　got　a　time　of　death。〃　He　checked　his　temperature　probes　and　read　off　a　chart。　〃I　register　a　core　of　ninety…six　point　nine。　In　this　ambient　room　temperature；　that's　consistent　with　up　to　three　hours　postmortem。〃
　〃Up　to　three　hours？　That's　great。　Listen　Kelly；　we　already　knew　she　died　sometime　tonight。〃
　〃It's　the　best　I　can　do。〃　Kelly　shook　his　head。　〃Unfortunately；　the　cooling　curves　don't　discriminate　well　for　under　three　hours。　All　I　can　say　is　death　occurred　sometime　within　three　hours。　But　my　impression　is　that　this　girl　has　been　dead　a　while。　Frankly；　I　would　say　it's　close　to　three　hours。〃　Graham　turned　to　the　SID　team。　〃Anybody　find　the　panties　yet？〃
　〃Not　so　far；　Lieutenant。〃
　Graham　looked　around　the　room　and　said；　〃No　purse；　no　panties。〃
　I　said；　〃You　think　somebody　cleaned　up　here？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said。　〃But　doesn't　a　girl　who's　ing　to　a　party　in　a　thirty…thousand…dollar　dress　usually　carry　a　purse？〃　Then　Graham　looked　past　my　shoulder　and　smiled：　〃Well；　what　do　you　know；　Petey…san？　One　of　your　admirers　to　see　you。〃
　
　Striding　toward　me　was　Ellen　Farley；　the　mayor's　press　secretary。　Farley　was　thirty…five；　dark　blond　hair　cropped　close　to　her　head；　perfectly　groomed　as　always。　She　had　been　a　newscaster　when　she　was　younger；　but　had　worked　for　the　mayor's　office　for　many　years。　Ellen　Farley　was　smart；　fast　on　her　feet；　and　she　had　one　of　the　great　bodies；　which　as　far　as　anyone　knew　she　retained　for　her　own　exclusive　use。
　I　liked　her　enough　to　have　done　a　couple　of　favors　for　her　when　I　was　in　the　L。A。P。D。　press　office。　Since　the　mayor　and　the　chief　of　police　hated　each　other；　requests　from　the　mayor's　office　sometimes　passed　from　Ellen　to　me；　and　I　handled　them。　Mostly　small　things：　delaying　the　release　of　a　report　until　the　weekend；　so　it'd　run　on　Saturday。　Or　announcing　that　charges　in　a　case　hadn't　been　brought　yet；　even　though　they　had。　I　did　it　because　Farley　was　a　straight　shooter；　who　always　spoke　her　mind。　And　it　looked　like　she　was　going　to　speak　her　mind　now。
　〃Listen；　Pete；〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　know　what's　going　on　here；　but　the　mayor's　been　hearing　some　pretty　strong　plaints　from　a　Mr。　Ishiguro…　〃
　〃I　can　imagine…　〃
　〃And　the　mayor　asked　me　to　remind　you　that　there　is　no　excuse　for　officials　of　this　city　to　be　rude　to　foreign　nationals。〃
　Graham　said　loudly；　〃Especially　when　they　make　such　large　campaign　contributions。〃
　〃Foreign　nationals　can't　contribute　to　American　political　campaigns；〃　Farley　said。　〃You　know　that。〃　She　lowered　her　voice。　〃This　is　a　sensitive　case；　Pete。　I　want　you　to　be　careful。　You　know　the　Japanese　have　a　special　concern　about　how　they　are　treated　in　America。〃
　〃Okay；　fine。〃
　She　looked　through　the　glass　walls　of　the　conference　room；　toward　the　atrium。　〃Is　that　John　Connor？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃I　thought　he　was　retired。　What's　he　doing　here？〃
　〃Helping　me　on　the　case。〃
　Farley　frowned。　〃You　know　the　Japanese　have　mixed　feelings　about　him。　They　have　a　term　for　it。　For　somebody　who　is　a　Japan　lover　and　goes　to　the　other　extreme；　and　turns　into　a　basher。〃
　〃Connor　isn't　a　basher。〃
　〃Ishiguro　felt　roughly　treated。〃
　〃Ishiguro　was　telling　us　what　to　do；〃　I　said。　〃And　we　have　a　murdered　girl　here；　which　everybody　seems　to　be　forgetting…　〃
　〃e　on；　Pete；〃　she　said；　〃nobody's　trying　to　tell　you　how　to　do　your　job。　All　I'm　saying　is　you　have　to　take　into　account　the　special…　〃
　She　stopped。
　She　was　looking　at　the　body。
　〃Ellen？〃　I　said。　〃Do　you　know　her？〃
　〃No。〃　She　turned　away。
　〃You　sure？〃
　I　could　see　she　was　rattled。
　Graham　said；　〃You　saw　her　downstairs　earlier？〃
　〃I　don't…　maybe。　I　think　so。　Listen；　fellas；　I've　got　to　get　back。〃
　〃Ellen。　e　on。〃
　〃I　don't　know　who　she　is；　Pete。　You　know　I'd　tell　you　if　I　did。　Just　keep　it　cordial　with　the　Japanese。　That's　all　the　mayor　wanted　me　to　say。　I've　got　to　go　now。〃
　She　hurried　back　toward　the　elevators。　I　watched　her　leave；　feeling　uneasy。
　Graham　came　over　and　stood　beside　me。　〃She's　got　a　great　ass；〃　he　said。　〃But　she　ain't　leveling；　buddy；　even　with　you。〃
　I　said；　〃What　do　you　mean；　even　with　me？〃
　〃Everybody　knows　you　and　Farley　were　an　item。〃
　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　Graham　punched　me　on　the　shoulder。　〃e　on。　You're　divorced　now。　Nobody　gives　a　shit。〃
　I　said；　〃It's　not　true；　Tom。〃
　〃You　can　do　what　you　want。　Handsome　guy　like　you。〃
　〃I'm　telling　you；　it's　not　true。〃
　〃Okay；　fine。〃　He　held　up　his　hands。　〃My　mistake。〃
　I　watched　Farley　at　the　other　end　of　the　atrium；　ducking　under　the　tape。　She　pressed　the　elevator　button；　and　waited　for　it　to　e；　tapping　her　foot　impatiently。
　I　said；　〃You　really　think　she　knows　who　the　girl　is？〃
　〃Damn　right　she　does；〃　Graham　said。　〃You　know　why　the　mayor　likes　her。　She　stands　by　his　side　and　whispers　everybody's　name　to　him。　People　she　hasn't　seen　for　years。　Husbands；　wives；　children；　everyone。　Farley　knows　who　this　girl　is。〃
　〃Then　why　didn't　she　tell　us？〃
　〃Fuck；〃　Graham　said。　〃Must　be　important　to　somebody。　She　took　off　like　a　shot；　didn't　she？　I　tell　you；　we　better　figure　out　who　this　dead　girl　is。　Because　I　fucking　hate　being　the　last　one　in　town　to　know。〃
　Connor　was　across　the　room；　waving　to　us。
　〃What　does　he　want　now？〃　Graham　said。　〃Waving　like　that。　What's　he　got　in　his　hand？〃
　〃Looks　like　a　purse；〃　I　said。
　
　〃Cheryl　Lynn　Austin；〃　Connor　said；　reading。　〃Born　Midland；　Texas；　graduate　of　Texas　State。　Twenty…three　years　old。　Got　an　apartment　in　Westwood；　but　hasn't　been　here　long　enough　to　change　her　Texas　driver's　license。〃
　The　contents　of　the　purse　were　spread　out　on　a　desk。　We　pushed　them　around　with　pencils。
　〃Where'd　you　find　this　purse？〃　I　asked。　It　was　a　small；　dark；　beaded　clutch　with　a　pearl　clasp。　A　vintage　forties　purse。　Expensive。
　〃It　was　in　the　potted　palm　near　the　conference　room。〃　Connor　unzipped　a　tiny　partment。　A　tight　roll　of　crisp　hundred…dollar　bills　tumbled　onto　the　table。　〃Very　nice。　Miss　Austin　is　well　taken　care　of。〃
　I　said；　〃No　car　keys？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃So　she　came　with　somebody。〃
　〃And　evidently　intended　to　leave　with　somebody；　too。　Taxis　can't　break　a　hundred…dollar　bill。〃
　There　was　also　a　gold　American　Express　Card。　Lipstick　and　a　pact。　A　pack　of　Mild　Seven　Menthol　cigarettes；　a　Japanese　brand。　A　card　for　the　Daimatsu　Night　Club　in　Tokyo。　Four　small　blue　pills。　That　was　about　it。
　Using　his　pencil；　Connor　upended　the　beaded　purse。　Small　green　flecks　spilled　out　onto　the　table。　〃Know　what　that　is？〃
　〃No；〃　I　said。　Graham　looked　at　it　with　a　magnifying　glass。
　Connor　said；　〃It's　wasabi…covered　peanuts。〃
　Wasabi　is　green　horseradish　served　in　Japanese　restaurants。　I　had　never　heard　of　wasabi…covered　peanuts。
　〃I　don't　know　if　they're　sold　outside　Japan。〃
　Graham　grunted。　〃I've　seen　enough。　So　what　do　you　think　now；　John？　Is　Ishiguro　going　to　get　those　witnesses　you　asked　for？〃
　〃I　wouldn't　expect　them　soon；〃　Connor　said。
　〃Fucking　right；〃　Graham　said。　〃We　won't　see　those　witnesses　until　day　after　tomorrow；　after　their　lawyers　have　briefed　them　on　exactly　what　to　say。〃　He　stepped　away　from　the　table。　〃You　realize　why　they're　delaying　us。　A　Japanese　killed　this　girl。　That's　what　we're　dealing　with。〃
　〃It's　possible；〃　Connor　said。
　〃Hey；　buddy。　More　than　possible。　We're　here。　This　is　their　building。　And　that　girl　is　just　the　type　they　go　for。　The　American　beauty　long…stemmed　rose。　You　know　all　those　little　guys　want　to　fuck　a　volleyball　player。〃
　Connor　shrugged。　〃Possibly。〃
　〃e　on；〃　Graham　said。　〃You　know　those　guys　eat　shit　all　day　long　at　home。　Crammed　into　subways；　working　in　big　panies。　Can't　say　what　they　think。　Then　they　e　over　here；　away　from　the　constraints　of　home；　and　suddenly　they're　rich　and　free。　They　can　do　whatever　they　want。　And　sometimes　one　of　them　goes　a　little　crazy。　Tell　me　I'm　wrong。〃
　Connor　looked　at　Graham　for　a　long　time。　Finally　he　said；　〃So　as　you　see　it；　Tom；　a　Japanese　killer　decided　to　dispatch　this　girl　on　the　Nakamoto　boardroom　confe