cb.coldheart canyon-第30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！


　and　she'd　thought　he　had　a　crack　at　winning。　Watching　the　ceremony　had　been　nearly　impossible。　Her　heart　had　hammered　so　hard　as　Susan　Sarandon；　who'd　been　presenting　the　award；　had　fumbled　with　the　envelope；　Tammy　thought　she　was　going　to　pass　out　from　anticipation　before　the　winner　was　even　named。　And　then　of　course；　Sarandon　had　named　the　winner；　and　it　hadn't　been　Todd。　The　cameras　had　been　on　him　throughout　the　whole　envelope…fumbling　routine；　and　there'd　been　a　moment　between　the　naming　of　the　winner　and　his　applauding　when　his　disappointment　had　been　perfectly　clear：　at　least　to　someone　who　knew　the　language　of　his　face　as　well　as　Tammy。
　 She'd　only　seen　one　of　the　movies　in　this　year's　race；　and　she'd　only　gone　to　that　because　Tom　Hanks　was　in　it；　and　he　seemed　such　a　likable　man。　She　skimmed　the　articles　rather　than　reading　them；　hoping　maybe　there'd　be　some　reassuring　mention　of　Todd。　But　there　was　nothing。
　 Breakfast　finished；　she　walked　back　to　the　hotel；　left　a　message　for　Arnie　at　the　airport；　just　to　say　all　was　fine；　and　then　picked　up　a　map　at　the　front　desk　in　case　her　sense　of　direction　failed　her。　Thus　prepared；　she　set　off　for　Todd's　home。
　 It　took　twenty…five　minutes　driving　through　the　heavy　morning　traffic　to　get　up　into　the　narrow；　winding　streets　of　Bel　Air。　There　wasn't　much　to　see；　most　of　the　mansions　were　hidden　behind　high　walls；　bristling　with　spikes　and　video　cameras。　But　there　was　no　doubting　the　fact　that　she　was　in　a　very　select　neighborhood。　The　cars　parked　on　the　narrow　thoroughfares　were　all　expensive　（in　one　spot　she　maneuvered　past　a　coffee…and…cream　Rolls　Royce　on　the　left　and　a　red　Porsche　on　the　right）。　On　another　street　she　encountered　some　glamorously…hooded　superstar　out　running；　a　black　limo　following　close　behind；　presumably　carrying　the　bottled　water　and　the　granola　bars。
　 What　must　it　be　like；　she　wondered　as　she　drove；　to　be　so　pampered　and　cosseted？　To　know　that　if　there　was　no　toilet　paper　in　the　house；　no　ice　cream　in　the　freezer；　then　it　was　somebody　else's　damn　job　to　go　and　get　it。　Never　to　have　to　worry　about　taxes　or　mortgage　payments。　Never　to　wake　up　at　three　in　the　morning　and　think：　Who　am　I？　I'm　nobody。　If　I　died　tomorrow　nobody　would　ready　notice；　nobody　would　really　care。
　 Of　course　she　knew　there　were　plenty　of　responsibilities　that　came　along　with　all　this　wealth　and　fort。　And　they　took　their　toll　on　some　folks：　it　drove　them　to　drink　and　drugs　and　adultery。　It　was　hard　to　be　idolized　and　scrutinized。　But　she'd　never　had　much　sympathy　for　the　plainers。　So；　people　paid　you　millions　to　see　you　smile；　and　it　made　you　feel　inadequate。　Tough　shit。
　 She　found　Todd's　house　readily　enough。　There　was　no　number；　but　she　recognized　the　castellated　wall　and　the　square　lamps　on　either　side　of　the　gate。　She　drove　on　up　the　street；　found　a　parking　spot；　and　wandered　back　towards　the　house；　trying　to　look　as　inconspicuous　as　any　two　hundred　and　three…pound　woman　in　orange　polyester　pants　could。　When　she　reached　the　gates　she　saw　that　there　was　a　car　parked　in　the　driveway；　twenty　yards　inside　the　gates；　its　trunk　open。　There　was　no　sign　of　anyone　loading　or　unloading。　She　watched　from　the　street　for　a　minute　or　two；　her　courage　alternately　rising　then　failing　her。　She　couldn't　just　go　up　to　the　gate　and　ring　the　bell。　What　would　she　say？　Hello；　I'm　Todd's　Number　One　Fan；　and　I　was　wondering　if　he　was　feeling　okay？　Ridiculous！　They'd　think　she　was　a　stalker　and　have　her　arrested。　In　fact　they　might　be　watching　her　right　now；　on　a　hidden　camera：　calling　the　police。
　 She　stood　there；　quietly　cursing　herself　for　not　having　thought　this　through　properly　before　she　came　up　here。　She　didn't　know　whether　to　stand　her　ground；　and　make　the　best　of　this　nightmarish　situation；　or　attempt　to　casually　slip　away。
　 Then　a　door　slammed；　somewhere　out　of　sight。　She　wanted　to　make　a　run　for　it；　but　she　too　far　from　the　car　to　make　a　quick　retreat。　All　she　could　do　was　stand　there　and　hope　to　God　there　was　nobody　looking　at　the　security　monitors　at　that　particular　moment。
　 Now　came　the　sound　of　somebody　whistling；　and　seconds　later　the　whistler　himself　stepped　into　view。　Tammy　recognized　him　instantly。　It　was　Marco　Caputo；　Todd's　assistant　and　bodyguard。　She'd　encountered　the　man　twice　before；　once　at　the　premiere　party　for　The　Burning　Year；　and　the　second　time　in　Las　Vegas；　when　Todd　had　been　named　Actor　of　the　Year　at　ShoWest。　She'd　very　politely　presented　her　credentials　as　the　President　of　the　Appreciation　Society；　and　politely　asked　Caputo　if　she　could　have　a　minute　to　talk　with　Todd。　On　both　occasions　he'd　been　rude　to　her。　The　second　time；　in　fact；　he'd　called　her　'a　crazy　bitch'；　which　she'd　plained　to　Maxine　Frizelle　about。　Maxine　had　apologized　in　a　halfhearted　way　and　said　it　would　never　happen　again；　but　Tammy　wasn't　about　to　put　Caputo's　temper　to　the　test　a　third　time；　especially　under　these　dubious　circumstances。
　 Before　he　could　look　up　and　see　her　she　backed　off　into　the　thicket　of　blackberry　bushes　that　grew　unchecked　on　the　other　side　of　the　street。　She　kept　her　eyes　on　him　at　all　times；　he　was　too　busy　with　his　present　labors　to　notice　her；　thank　God；　and　now；　hidden　in　the　bushes；　she　had　the　perfect　vantage　point　from　which　to　observe　him　as　he　went　back　and　forth　between　the　house　and　the　car。　He　was　loading　his　vehicle　up　with　an　odd　assortment　of　things：　including　several　awards　she　knew　belonged　to　Todd。　He　was　also　removing　some　other　items：　a　variety　of　fancy　ornaments；　a　marijuana　plant　in　a　pot；　some　framed　photographs。　All　this；　plus　nine　or　ten　sealed　cardboard　boxes；　carefully　placed　in　the　trunk　or　on　the　back　seat　of　his　car。　There　was　no　sign　of　Todd　through　the　process；　nor　did　she　hear　any　exchange　from　inside　the　house。　If　Todd　was　here；　he　was　not　engaged　in　conversation　with　Marco。　But　her　instincts　told　her　he　was　not　here。
　 For　fully　a　quarter　of　an　hour　she　watched　him　work　and　finally…putting　all　the　evidence　together…she　came　to　the　conclusion　that　she　was　witnessing　an　act　of　theft。　Of　course；　her　dislike　of　the　thief　factored　into　her　assessment；　but　there　was　no　doubt　that　Caputo　looked　furtive　as　he　went　about　his　labors。　Every　now　and　then　he'd　glance　up　as　if　he　was　afraid　he　was　being　watched　（perhaps　he　sensed　that　he　was）；　and　when　he　did　she　saw　that　his　face　was　ill…shaven；　and　his　eyes　heavy。　Sleep　wasn't　ing　too　easily　of　late。
　 She　had　already　decided　what　she　was　going　to　do　well　before　he'd　finished　with　his　felony。　She'd　follow　him　when　he　departed　and　find　out　where　he　was　dropping　off　all　his　booty。　Then　she'd　call　the　police　and　have　him　arrested。　Hopefully　that　would　improve　Maxine's　low　opinion　of　her。　She　might　even　find　herself　trusted　enough　to　be　invited　into　the　charmed　circle　around　Todd。　Well；　perhaps　that　was　a　little　too　much　to　hope　for。　But　at　the　very　least　she'd　be　stopping　Caputo　profiting　from　his　theft。
　 With　the　car　now　filled　to　capacity；　Caputo　slammed　the　trunk；　and　headed　back　to　the　house；　presumably　to　lock　up。　Once　he'd　gone　Tammy　disentangled　herself　from　the　blackberry　bushes　and　hurried　back　to　her　own　car。　It　was　getting　warm。　She　felt　sweat　running　from　beneath　her　breasts；　and　her　underwear　was　bunched　in　the　groove　of　her　butt。　She　turned　the　air…conditioning　to　its　coldest　setting；　then　drove　on　up　the　street　a　little　way　until　she　had　sufficient　room　to　turn　around；　and　came　back　down　in　time　to　see　Caputo's　black　Lexus　easing　out　of　the　driveway。　He　was　the　only　occupant　of　the　vehicle。
　 Keeping　her　distance；　she　followed　the　Lexus　down　through　the　maze　of　Bel　Air's　walls　and　cameras　to　Sunset　Boulevard。　She　almost　lost　her　quarry　at　the　lights；　but　luckily　the　eastbound　traffic　on　Sunset　was　heavy；　and　with　a　little　discourteous　driving　she　was　able　to　keep　him　in　sight；　finally　catching　up　with　him　again。　He　drove　with　ease　and　impatience；　slipping　lanes　to　overtake　tardy　drivers；　but　she　was　a　match　for　him。　Wherever　he　was　going；　she　was　going　to　be　on　his　thieving　tail。
　 She　had　no　time　to　consult　the　maps　she'd　picked　up；　she　was　too　busy　keeping　her　eyes　on　him。　So　when　he　suddenly　swung　a　left；　and　took　off　up　into　the　hills　again；　she　instantly　lost　all　sense　of　where　they　were　headed。　The　traffic　soon　grew　sparse；　the　streets　narrow　and　serpentine。
　 Once　he　halted　at　a　stop　sign　and　he　looked　back　over　his　shoulder。　She　was　certain　he'd　realized　he　was　being　followed；　and　prepared　herself　for　a　confrontation。　But　no；　something　he'd　laid　on　the　back　seat　had　moved；　it　seemed；　and　he　was　simply　leaning　over　to　reposition　it。　The　job　done　he　then　proceeded　on　his　way；　and　she　continued　to　follow；　at　a　discreet　distance。
　 The　road　wound　so　tightly　on　itself　as　it　ascended　that　she　let　him　slip　out　of　sight　several　times　rather　than　risk　his　realizing　he　was　being　pursued。　But　she　didn't　fear　losing　him。　Unlike　Bel　Air；　which　was　made　up　of　a　warren　of　small　streets；　the　Canyon　into　which　they　were　climbing　seemed　to　have　only　one　thoroughfare；　and　they　were　both　on　it。　What　little　sign　of　habitation　she　saw…a　wall；　and　occasionally　a　gate　in　a　wall…　suggested　this　was　not　particularly　well…fancied　real　estate；　which　was　surprising　given　its　location