cpatricia.blacknotice-第8节

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　　〃I'm　sure　you　should。〃
　　〃Just　what　is　it　you're　trying　to　acplish？〃　I　asked。
　　〃It's　time　for　young　blood；　for　detectives　who　don't　mind　turning　on　a　puter；　using　e…mail。　Are　you　aware　that　Marino　doesn't　even　know　how　to　use　word　processing？　Still　hammers　on　a　typewriter　with　two　fingers？〃
　　I　couldn't　believe　she　was　saying　this　to　me。
　　〃Not　to　mention　the　very　small　problem　that　he's　unteachable　and　insubordinate；　his　behavior　a　disgrace　to　the　department；〃　she　went　on。
　　Anderson　had　walked　off；　leaving　Marino　alone　by　the　car；　leaning　against　it；　smoking。　His　arms　and　shoulders　were　thick　and　hairy；　and　his　trousers；　belted　under　his　gut；
　　were　about　to　fall　off。　I　knew　he　was　humiliated　because　he　refused　to　look　our　way。
　　〃Why　are　there　no　crime…scene　techs　here？〃　I　asked　Bray。
　　One　dockworker　elbowed　another　and　cupped　his　hands　under　his　chest；　fondling　air　as　if　it　were　Bray's　big　breasts。
　　〃Why　are　you　here？〃　I　then　asked　her。
　　〃Because　I　was　alerted　that　Marino　was；〃　she　replied。　〃He's　been　warned。　I　wanted　to　find　out　for　myself　if　he　was　so　blatantly　disregarding　my　orders。〃
　　〃He's　here　because　someone　had　to　be。〃
　　〃He's　here　because　he　chose　to　be。〃　She　fixed　her　eyes　on　me。　〃And　because　you　chose　to　be。　That's　really　why；　now　isn't　it；　Dr。　Scarpetta？　Marino's　your　own　personal　detective。　Has　been　for　years。〃　。
　　Her　eyes　bored　into　places　even　I　couldn't　see；　and　she　seemed　to　wind　her　way　through　sacred　parts　of　me　and　sense　the　meaning　of　my　many　walls。　She　took　in　my　face　and　my　body　and　I　wasn't　sure　if　she　was　paring　what　I　had　to　hers；　or　if　she　was　assessing　something　she　might　decide　she　wanted。
　　〃Leave　him　alone；〃　I　told　her。　〃You're　trying　to　kill　his　spirit。　That's　what　this　is　all　about。　Because　you　can't　control　him。〃
　　〃No　one　has　ever　been　able　to　control　him；'　she　replied。　〃That's　why　he　was　given　to　me。〃
　　〃Given　to　you？〃
　　〃Detective　Anderson　is　new　blood。　God　knows；　this　department　needs　new　blood。〃
　　〃Detective　Anderson　is　unskilled；　unschooled　and　a　coward；〃　I　replied。
　　〃Certainly　with　your　continents　of　experience；　you　can　tolerate　someone　new　and　do　a　little　mentoring；　Kay？〃
　　〃There's　no　cure　for　someone　who　doesn't　care。〃
　　〃I　suspect　you've　been　listening　to　Marino。　According　to　him；　no　one　is　skilled；　schooled　or　cares　enough　to　do　what　he　does。〃
　　I'd　had　it　with　her。　I　adjusted　my　position　to　take　full　advantage　of　the　shift　in　the　wind。　I　stepped　closer　to　her　because　I　was　going　to　rub　her　nose　in　a　little　dose　of　reality。
　　〃Don't　you　ever　do　this　to　me　again；　Chief　Bray；〃　I　said。　〃Don't　you　ever　call　me　or　anyone　in　my　office　to　a　scene　and　then　saddle　us　with　some　fuckup　who　can't　be　bothered　collecting　evidence。　And　don't　call　me　Kay。〃
　　She　stepped　away　from　my　stinking　presence；　but　not　before　I　caught　her　flinch。
　　〃We'll　do　lunch　sometime；〃　she　said；　dismissing　me　as　she　summoned　her　driver。
　　〃Simmons？　What　time　is　my　next　appointment？〃　she　asked；　staring　up　at　the　ship　and　clearly　enjoying　all　the　attention。
　　She　had　a　seductive　way　of　massaging　her　lower　lumbar　spine　or　wedging　her　hands　in　the　back　pockets　of　her　uniform　pants；　shoulders　thrown　back；　or　absently　smoothing　her　tie　over　the　steep　slope　of　her　chest。
　　Simmons　was　handsome　and　had　a　fine　body；　and　when　he　slipped　out　a　folded　sheet　of　paper；　it　shook　as　he　looked　at　it。　She　moved　closer　to　him；　and　he　cleared　his　throat。
　　〃Two…fifteen；　Chief；〃　he　said。
　　〃Let　me　see。〃　She　leaned　closer；　brushing　against　his　arm；　taking　her　time　as　she　looked　at　her　itinerary　and　plained；　〃Oh；　God！　Not　that　school　board　idiot　again！〃
　　Officer　Simmons　shifted　his　position；　and　a　bead　of　sweat　rolled　down　his　temple。　He　looked　terrified。
　　〃Call　him　and　cancel；〃　Bray　said。
　　〃Yes；　Chief。〃
　　〃Well；　I　don't　know。　Maybe　I　should　just　reschedule。〃
　　She　took　the　itinerary　from　him；　brushing　against　him　again　like　a　languid　cat；　and　I　was　startled　by　the　rage　that　flashed　across　Anderson's　face。　Marino　caught　up　with　me　on　my　way　to　my　car。
　　〃You　see　the　way　she　flaunts　herself　around？〃　he　asked。　〃It　wasn't　lost　on　me。〃
　　〃Don't　think　that　ain't　a　topic　of　conversation。　I'm　telling　you；　that　bitch's　poison。〃
　　〃What's　her　story？〃
　　Marino　shrugged。　〃Never　been　married；　no　one's　good　enough。　Screws　around　with　powerful；　married　types；　supposedly。　She's　all　abopt　power；　Doc。　The　rumor　is　that　she　wants　to　be　the　next　Secretary　of　Public　Safety　so　every　cop　in　the　monwealth　will　have　to　kiss　her　pretty　ass：'
　　〃It　will　never　happen。〃
　　〃Don't　be　so　sure。　I　hear　she's　got　friends　in　high　places；　Virginia　connections；　which　is　one　of　the　reasons　we　got　stuck　with　her。　She's　got　a　plan；　no　doubt　about　that。　Snakes　like　her　always　got　a　plan。〃
　　I　opened　the　；trunk；　exhausted　and　depressed　as　the　earlier　trauma　of　the　day　returned　to　me　so　hard　it　seemed　to　slam　me　against　the　car。
　　〃You　aren't　gonna　do　him　tonight；　are　you？〃　Marino　asked。
　　〃No　way；〃　I　muttered。　〃It　wouldn't　be　fair　to　him。〃
　　Marino　gave　me　a　questioning　look。　I　felt　him　watching　me　as　I　stripped　off　my　jumpsuit　and　shoes　and　doublebagged　them。
　　〃Marino；　give　me　one　of　your　cigarettes；　please。〃
　　〃I　can't　believe　you're　doing　that　again。〃
　　〃There're　about　fifty　million　tons　of　tobacco　in　that　warehouse。　The　smell　put　me　in　the　mood：'
　　〃That　ain't　what　I　was　smelling。〃
　　〃Tell　me　what's　going　on；'　I　said　as　he　held　out　his　lighter。
　　〃You　just　saw　what's　going　on。　I'm　sure　she　explained　it。〃
　　〃Yes；　she　did。　And　I　don't　understand　it。　She's　in　charge　of　the　uniformed　division；　not　investigations。　She　says　no　one　can　control　you；　so　she's　elected　to　take　care　of　the　problem　herself。　Why？　When　she　got　here；　you　weren't　even　in　her　division。　Why　should　you　matter　to　her？〃
　　〃Maybe　she　thinks　I'm　cute。〃
　　〃That　must　be　it；〃　I　said。
　　He　exhaled　smoke　as　if　he　were　putting　out　birthday　candles；　and　looked　down　at　his　T…shirt　as　if　he　had　forgotten　it　was　there。　His　big；　thick　hands　were　still　dusted　with　talc　from　the　surgical　gloves；　and　he　at　first　looked　lonely　and　defeated；　then　turned　cynical　and　indifferent　again。
　　〃You　know；〃　he　said；　〃I　could　retire　if　I　wanted　to　and　draw　about　forty　grand　a　year　pension。〃
　　〃e　over　for　dinner；　Marino。〃
　　〃Add　that　to　what　I　could　get　doing　some　security　consulting　or　whatever；　and　I　could　live　pretty　good。　Wouldn't　have　to　shovel　this　shit　no　more　day　after　day　with　all　these　little　maggots　crawling　out　from　everywhere　thinking　they　know　it　all。〃
　　〃I've　been　asked　to　invite　you。〃
　　〃By　who？〃　he　asked　suspiciously。
　　〃You'll　find　out　when　you　get　there。〃
　　〃What　the　hell　does　that　mean？〃　he　asked；　scowling。
　　〃For　God's　sake；　go　take　a　shower　and　put　on　something　that　won't　clear　out　the　city。　Then　e　over。　Around　six…thirty。〃
　　〃Well；　in　case　you　haven't　noticed；　Doc；　I'm　working。　Three…to…eleven　shift　this　week。　Eleven…to…seven　shift　week　after　next。　I'm　the　new　hot…shit　watch　mander　for　the　entire　friggin'　city；　and　the　only　hours　they　need　a　friggin'　watch　mander　is　when　all　the　other　manders　ain't　on　duty；　which　is　evening　shift　and　midnight　shift　and　weekends；　meaning　the　only　dinner　I'm　gonna　get　the　rest　of　my　life　is　in　my　car。〃
　　〃You've　got　a　radio；〃　I　told　him。　〃I　live　in　the　city；　so　it's　not　out　of　your　jurisdiction。　e　over；　and　if　you　get　called　out；　you　get　called　out。〃
　　I　got　inside　my　car　and　started　the　engine。
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said。
　　〃I　was　asked　to　。　。　。〃　I　started　to　say　as　tears　threatened　again。　〃I　was　about　to　call　you　when　you　called　me。〃
　　〃Huh？　This　isn't　making　any　sense。　Who　asked　you？　What？　Is　Lucy　in　town？〃
　　He　seemed　pleased　she　would　think　of　him；　if　that's　what　my　hospitality　was　all　about。
　　〃I　wish　she　were。　See　you　at　six…thirty？〃
　　He　hesitated　some　more；　swatting　flies　and　smelling　awful。
　　〃Marino；　I　really　need　you　to　e　over；〃　I　told　him；　clearing　my　throat。　〃It's　very　important　to　me。　It's　personal　and　very　important。〃
　　It　was　so　hard　to　say　that　to　him。　I　didn't　think　I'd　ever　told　him　I　needed　him　in　a　personal　way。。　I　couldn't　remember　the　last　time　I'd　said　words　like　this　to　anyone　but　Benton。
　　〃I　mean　it；〃　I　added。
　　Marino　crushed　the　cigarette　beneath　his　foot　until　it　was　a　tobacco　smear　and　pulverized　paper。　He　lit　up　again；　eyes　wandering　around。
　　〃You　know；　Doc；　I　really　got　to　quit　these　things。　And　Wild　Turkey。　I've　been　going　through　that　stuff　like　buttered　popcorn。　Depends　on　what　you're　cooking；'　he　said。
　　　
　　　6
　　Marino　headed　off　to　find　a　shower　somewhere　and　I　felt　lighter　of　spirit；　as　if　a　terrible　spasm　had　gone　into　remission　for　a　while。　When　I　pulled　into　my　driveway；　I　collected　the　bag　of　scene　clothes　out　of　the　trunk　and　began　the　same　disinfectant　ritual　I　had　gone　through　most　of　my　working　life。
　　Inside　the　garage；　I　tore　open　the　garbage　bags　and；　dropped　them　and　the　shoes　into　a　sink　of　scalding　water；　detergent　and　bleach。　I　tossed　the　jumpsuit　into　the　washing　machine；　stirred　the　shoes　and　bags　around　with　a　long　wooden　spoon　and　rinsed　them。　I　enclosed　the　disinfected　bags　in　two　clean　bag