cpatricia.blacknotice-第26节

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　　She　placed　her　elbow　on　her　desk；　chin　in　her　hand　and　shook　her　head；　eyes　on　me。
　　〃I　hate　to　be　the　one　who　tells　you　this；〃　she　said。
　　〃Oh　God；　now　what？　Just　when　I　thought　it　might　be　a　good　day。〃
　　〃The　Institute's　doing　a　mock　crime　scene　and　it　appears　their　Luma…Lite　is　in　for　repairs。〃
　　〃Don't　tell　me。〃
　　〃Well；　all　I　know　is　someone　called　here　and　Chuck　took　our　Luma…Lite　to　them　before　he　left　for　MCV〃
　　〃Then　I'll　just　go　get　it　back。〃
　　〃It's　at　an　outdoor　mock　scene　some　ten　miles　away。〃
　　〃Who　gave　Chuck　the　authority　to　lend　it　to　anyone？〃　I　asked。
　　〃Just　be　glad　it　isn't　stolen　like　half　of　everything　else　around　here；〃　she　said。
　　〃I　guess　I'll　just　have　to　go　upstairs　and　do　the　examination　in　Vander's　lab；〃　I　said。
　　I　walked　into　my　office　and　sat　down　at　my　desk。　I　took　my　glasses　off　and　massaged　the　bridge　of　my　nose。　I　decided　the　time　had　e　to　set　up　a　rendezvous　between　Bray　and　Chuck。　I　signed　on　to　Ruffin's　address　and　e…mailed　a　note　to　Bray。
　　Chief　Bray
　　Have　some　information　you　must　know。　Please　meet　me　at　Beverly　Hills　Shopping　Center　at　5：30。　Park　on　back　row　near　Buckhead's。　We　can　talk　in　your　car　so　nobody　sees　us。　If　you　can't　meet　me；　page　me。　Otherwise　I'll　see　you　then。
　　Chuck
　　Then　I　sent　him　a　text　message　page；　purportedly　from　Bray；　inviting　him　to　the　meeting。
　　〃Done；〃　I　said；　yielding　to　self…congratulation　just　as　the　phone　rang。
　　〃Yo；〃　Marino　said。　〃Your　personal　investigator　here。　What'cha　doing　after　work？〃
　　〃More　work。　Remember　I　said　two　can　play　this　game？　You're　taking　me　to　Buckhead's。　We　wouldn't　want　to　miss　a　little　rendezvous　between　two　people　near　and　dear　to　our　hearts；　would　we？　So　I　thought　it　might　be　nice　if　you　took　me　out　to　dinner　and　we　just　happened　to　run　into　them；〃　I　said。
　　　
　　　18
　　Marino　met　me　in　the　parking　lot　as　planned　and　we　got　in　his　monster　Dodge　Ram　Quad　Cab　pickup　truck　because　I　didn't　want　to　take　the　chance　that　Bray　might　recognize　my　Mercedes。　It　was　dark　and　frigid　out　but　the　rain　had　stopped。　I　was　riding　so　high　I　could　almost　look　transfer　truckers　in　the　eye。
　　We　followed　Patterson　Avenue　toward　Parham　Road；　a　major　thoroughfare　in　the　city　where　people　ate　out　and　shopped　and　swarmed　inside　Regency　Mall。
　　〃I　gotta　warn　you　there　ain't　always　a　pot　of　gold　at　the　end　of　the　rainbow；〃　he　said；　throwing　a　cigarette　butt　out　the　window。　〃One　or　both　of　them　might　decide　not　to　show。　Hell；　they　may　be　on　to　us　for　all　I　know。　But；　gotta　give　it　a　shot；　right？〃
　　The　Beverly　Hills　Shopping　Center　was　a　small　strip　of　salons　and　a　Ben　Franklin　Crafts　&　Frames　store。　The　location　was　not　at　all　where　one　might　expect　to　find　the　city's　finest　chophouse。
　　〃Don't　see　no　sign　of　them；〃　Marino　said　as　we　scanned。　〃But　we're　a　few　minutes　early。〃
　　He　parked　some　distance　away　from　the　restaurant；
　　between　two　cars　in　front　of　Ben　Franklin；　and　cut　the　engine。　I　opened　my　door。
　　〃Just　where　do　you　think　you're　going？〃　he　protested。
　　〃Inside　the　restaurant。〃
　　〃What　if　they　roll　up　any　minute　and　see　you？〃
　　〃I　have　every　right　to　be　here。〃
　　〃What　if　she's　in　there　at　the　bar？〃　he　worried。　〃What　are　you　going　to　say　to　her？〃
　　〃I'11　offer　to　buy　her　a　drink　and　then　e　out　and　get　you。〃
　　〃Christ；　Doc。〃　Marino　was　getting　increasingly　adamant。　〃I　thought　the　whole　point　of　this　is　to　burn　her。〃
　　〃Relax　and　let　me　do　the　talking。〃
　　〃Relax？　I　want　to　break　the　bitch's　neck；〃　he　said。
　　〃We　have　to　be　smart。　We　walk　out　from　behind　a　bunker　and　start　firing；　we　might　just　get　hit　first。〃
　　〃You　telling　me　you　ain't　going　to　tell　her　to　her　face　you　know　what　she's　done？　The　e…mail　to　Chuck　and　everything？〃
　　He　was　incredulous　and　furious　and　kept　repeating　himself。
　　〃Then　what　the　hell　are　we　doing　here？〃　he　went　on。
　　〃Marino；〃　I　tried　to　calm　him　down。　〃You　know　better　than　this。　You're　an　experienced　detective；　and　that's　what　you　have　to　be　with　her。　She's　formidable。　I'm　going　to　tell　you　right　now　you'll　never　muscle　this　woman　into　a　corner。〃
　　He　was　silent。
　　〃Keep　a　lookout　from　your　truck　while　I　check　the　inside　of　the　restaurant。。　If　you　spot　her　before　I　do；　send　me　a　tenfour　on　my　pager　and　call　the　restaurant　asking　for　me；　just　in　case　I　don't　get　the　page　for　some　reason；〃　I　said。
　　He　angrily　lit　a　cigarette　as　I　opened　my　door。
　　〃It　ain't　fucking　fair；〃　he　said。　〃We　know　fucking　well　what　she's　doing。　I　still　say　we　confront　her　and　show　her　she　ain't　as　smart　as　she　thinks。〃
　　〃You；　of　all　people；　know　about　building　cases；〃　I　reiterated。　I　was　getting　worried　that　he　wouldn't　be　able　to　control　himself。
　　〃We　saw　what　she　sent　Chuck。〃
　　〃Lower　your　voice；〃　I　said。　〃We　can't　prove　she　sent　that　e…mail　anymore　than　I　can　prove　I　didn't　send　e…mail　that's　being　attributed　to　me。　I　can't　even　prove　I　didn't　write　that　dreadful　column；　for　that　matter。〃
　　〃Maybe　I　should　just　bee　a　soldier　of　fortune。〃
　　He　blasted　smoke　into　the　rearview　mirror；　scanning。
　　〃Page　or　call　me？〃　I　asked　as　I　climbed　out。
　　〃What　if　you　don't　get　the　message　in　time？〃
　　〃Then　run　her　over　with　your　truck；〃　I　impatiently　replied；　pushing　the　door　shut。
　　I　looked　around　as　I　walked　toward　the　restaurant　and　saw　no　sign　of　Bray。　I　had　no　idea　what　her　personal　car　was　but　suspected　she　wouldn't　show　up　in　it；　anyway。　I　pulled　open　the　heavy　wooden　door　of　Buckhead's　and　was　greeted　by　carefree　voices　and　ice　clinking　in　glasses　as　the　bartender　made　drinks　with　a　flourish。　A　mounted　buck's　head　explained　the　restaurant's　name。　Lights　were　low；　the　paneling　dark；　and　crates　and　racks　of　wine　were　stacked　almost　to　the　ceiling。
　　〃Well；　good　evening。〃　The　hostess　at　the　podium　smiled　in　a　surprised　way。　〃We've　missed　you；　but　I　certainly　know　from　the　news　that　you've　been　a　little　busy。　What　can　I　help　you　with？〃
　　〃A　reservation　in　the　name　of　Bray？〃　I　inquired。　〃I'm　not　sure　of　the　time：〃
　　She　scanned　the　big　reservation　book；　running　a　pencil　down　names　and　times。　Then　she　tried　again。　She　looked　embarrassed。　After　all；　it　was　impossible　to　stroll　into　a　good　restaurant　unannounced　even　on　a　weeknight。
　　〃I'm　afraid　not；〃　she　quietly　told　me。
　　〃Hmmm。　Maybe　it's　in　my　name？〃　I　tried　again。
　　She　tried　again；　too。
　　〃Gosh；　I'm　so　sorry；　Dr。　Scarpetta。　And　we're　full　tonight　because　we　have　a　group　taking　up　the　entire　front　room。〃
　　It　was　twenty　of　six　now。　Tables　were　covered　with　redchecked　cloths；　small　lamps　burning　on　them；　and　the　room　was　pletely　empty　because　civilized　people　rarely　dined　before　seven。
　　〃I　was　going　to　have　a　drink　with　a　friend。〃　I　continued　my　act。　〃I　suppose　we　could　eat　early　if　you　could　fit　us？　Maybe　around　six？〃
　　〃That's　no　problem　at　all；〃　she　said；　brightening　up。
　　〃Then　put　me　down；〃　I　replied　as　my　worries　intensified。
　　What　if　Bray　realized　Chuck's　car　wasn't　in　the　lot　and　became　suspicious？
　　〃Then　six　it　is。。。。。。。〃
　　I　was　acutely　aware　of　the　pager　on　my　belt　and　listening　for　a　phone　to　ring。
　　〃Perfect；〃　I　said　to　the　hostess。
　　This　scenario　curdled　my　sensibilities。　It　was　my　nature；　my　training　and　my　professional　practice　to　always　tell　the　truth；　in　no　way　to　slip　into　the　behavior　of　the　wily；　lowlife　trial　lawyer　I　could　have　been　had　I　given　myself　up　to　manipulation；　evasion　and　the　gray　areas　of　the　law。
　　The　hostess　penciled　my　name　in　the　book　as　my　pager　vibrated　like　a　big　insect。　I　read　the　10…4　on　the　display　and　hurried　back　through　the　bar。　I　had　no　choice　but　to　open　the　front　door　because　the　windows　were　opaque　and　I　could　not　see　through　them。　I　spotted　the　dark　Crown　Victoria。
　　Marino　didn't　do　anything　right　away。　My　anxiety　grew　as　Bray　parked　and　turned　her　headlights　off。　I　felt　sure　she　wouldn't　wait　for　Chuck　very　long　and　could　already　imagine　her　annoyance。　Little　nobodies　like　him　didn't　dare　to　keep　Deputy　Chief　Diane　Bray　waiting。
　　〃Is　there　something　I　can　do　for　you？〃　the　bartender　asked　me　as　he　dried　off　a　glass。
　　I　continued　to　peer　through　the　barely　open　door；　wondering　what　Marino　was　going　to　do　next。
　　〃I'm　expecting　someone　who　isn't　sure　exactly　where　you're　located；'　I　said。
　　〃Just　tell　'em　we're　next　to　Michelle's　Face　Works；〃　he　said　as…Marino　got　out　of　his　truck。
　　I　met　him　in　the　parking　lot　and　we　walked　with　purpose　toward　Bray's　car。　She　didn't　notice　us　because　she　was　talking　on　her　portable　phone　and　writing　something　down。　When　Marino　tapped　on　her　window；　she　turned　to　us；　startled。　Then　her　face　turned　hard。　She　said　something　else　on　her　portable　and　ended　her　call。　The　window　hummed　down。
　　〃Deputy　Chief　Bray？　Thought　that　was　you；〃。　Marino　said　as　if　they　were　old　friends。
　　He　bent　down　and　peered　inside　her　car。　Bray　was　clearly　off　balance　and　one　could　almost　see　her　calculating　thoughts　regrouping　in　her　lead　as　she　pretended　there　was　nothing　unusual　about　our　running　into　her　here。
　　〃Good　evening；〃　I　politely　said。　〃What　a　pleasant　coincidence。〃
　　〃Kay；　what　a　surprise；〃　she　said　in　a　flat　voice。　〃How　are　you？　So　you've　discovered　Richmond's　little　secret〃
　　〃By　now；　I