dw.jimmythekid-第3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！


lowered　faster。　Tonk；　the　tailgate　went　against　the　blacktop。　It　was　now　a　ramp。
　Fine。　Leaving　the　car　carrier；　Murch　walked　briskly　but　not　too　hurriedly　across　the　lot　to　the　Continental。　He　had　his　bunch　of　keys　in　his　hand　when　he　got　there；　but　the　Continental's　door　was　unlocked。　He　slid　behind　the　wheel；　tried　three　keys；　and　started　the　engine　with　the　fourth。　There　was　a　strong　smell　of　bourbon　inside　the　car。
　Murch　put　it　in　reverse；　backed　the　Continental　around　in　a　loop；　switched　to　drive；　and　steered　across　the　parking　lot　and　up　the　ramp　and　into　the　car　carrier。　He　switched　off　the　engine；　set　the　hand　brake；　and　got　out　of　the　car。　He　climbed　through　the　metal　struts　of　the　side；　attained　the　blacktop；　and　quickly　raised　the　tailgate　again。　There　wasn't　any　way　to　chain　the　Continental　in　place；　the　way　the　Buick's　were　chained；　but　he'd　be　taking　it　easy。　He　also　didn't　have　that　far　to　go。
　Key　number　two　started　the　car　carrier　engine。　Murch　turned　the　big　flat　wheel；　the　car　carrier　lumbered　forward；　and　slowly　he　made　his　getaway　out　onto　Jericho　Turnpike。
　It　took　twenty…five　minutes　to　drive　to　Maximilian's　Used　Cars。　When　he　got　there；　Murch　took　the　side　street　next　to　the　car　lot；　then　turned　in　at　the　anonymous　driveway　behind　it。　He　stopped　amid　tall　weeds　and　the　white　clapboard　backs　of　garages；　climbed　down　out　of　the　cab；　and　went　through　an　unlocked　gate　in　a　chain…link　fence。　A　path　through　weeds　and　shrubbery　led　him　to　the　rear　of　Maximilian's　office　structure；　a　California…looking　thing　in　pink　stucco。　He　opened　a　door；　went　through　into　a　gray…paneled　office；　and　heard　Max　in　the　next　room　saying；　〃What　you　got　to　read　in　the　guarantee　is　every　word。〃
　A　very　angry　male　voice　said；　loudly；　〃If　you　read　every　word　of　that　guarantee；　you　don't　guarantee　anything！〃
　〃That's　how　you　say；〃　Max　said。
　Murch　opened　the　connecting　door；　and　stuck　his　head　in。　The　customer　was　big　and　muscular；　but　intellectually　out　of　his　depth。　He　had　the　bewildered　look　of　a　swimmer　who　hadn't　known　there　were　whirlpools　anywhere　around　here。　Murch；　ignoring　him；　said　to　Max；　〃Max；　could　I　interrupt？〃
　〃I　hope　so；〃　Max　said。　A　big　old　man　with　heavy　jowls　and　thin　white　hair；　he　always　wore　a　dark　vest；　wide　open；　and　no　tie。　His　white　shirt　was　usually　smudged　from　leaning　against　used　cars。　Now；　getting　to　his　feet　from　behind　his　desk；　he　said　to　the　customer；　〃Read　a　little。　Read　the　words。　I'll　be　back。〃
　〃You　better　be；〃　the　customer　said；　but　there　wasn't　any　real　threat　in　it。　He　was　buffaloed；　and　he　was　himself　beginning　to　understand　it。
　Max　and　Murch　crossed　the　empty　office　and　went　out　the　rear　door。　Murch　said；　〃That　the　same　customer　as　when　I　called？〃
　〃Some　of　them　just　won't　go　away；〃　Max　said。　〃Don't　they　got　homes？　Some　friend　of　yours　called。　On　the　telephone。　You　shouldn't　go　away　without　him　ing　here。〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃A　little　name；〃　Max　said；　as　they　followed　the　path　toward　the　chain…link　fence。　〃Chip？　Shep？〃
　〃Kelp？〃
　〃If　you　say　so；〃　Max　said；　and　they　stepped　out　onto　the　driveway；　now　filled　with　the　bulk　of　the　car　carrier。　Max　looked　at　it。　〃Jesus；　Mary　and　Joseph；〃　he　said。　〃You　stealing　now　in　bunches？　They　ain't　grapes！〃
　〃It　was　there；〃　Murch　said。　〃I　put　the　Continental　on　the　back。〃
　Max　went　down　along　the　side　of　the　car　carrier；　looking　at　the　automobiles　in　there。　〃In　broad　daylight；〃　he　said。　〃You　go　talk　to　the　customer。〃
　Murch　shook　his　head。　〃I　don't　talk　to　customers；〃　he　said。　〃What　I　do；　I　drive。〃
　〃So　I　see。〃　Max　looked　at　the　cars　and　the　car　carrier。　〃I'll　take　them；〃　he　said。
　〃Fine。〃
　〃e　around　next　week；　we'll　talk　money。〃
　〃Okay。〃
　Max　pointed　down　the　driveway。　〃You'll　put　them　around　by　the　body　shop；〃　he　said。
　〃Have　your　people　do　it；〃　Murch　said。　〃I'd　rather　not　stick　around。〃
　〃What　about　the　truck？〃
　Murch　frowned　at　the　truck。　〃What　about　it？〃
　〃I　don't　want　it；〃　Max　said。　〃You　read　the　sign　out　front；　it　says　used　cars。　I　got　no　use　for　a　truck。〃
　〃Neither　do　I；　Max。〃
　〃Take　it　back　where　you　got　it。〃
　〃I　don't　want　to　drive　it　any　more。〃
　〃You　can't　dump　a　stolen　truck　on　me；　Stanley；　that　isn't　a　thing　to　do。〃
　〃Take　it　someplace　else　tonight；〃　Murch　told　him。　〃Just　park　it　out　along　the　road。　Have　one　of　your　people　do　it。〃
　〃Why　not　keep　it？〃　Max　suggested。　〃You　could　drive　around　in　it；　every　time　you　see　a　nice　car　just　toss　it　in。〃
　Murch　looked　at　the　truck；　considering　the　idea。　It　had　a　certain　appeal。　But　finally　he　shook　his　head　and　said；　〃No；　it　wouldn't　be　any　good。　Too　noticeable。〃
　〃Stan；　if　I　got　to　unload　this　truck；　it's　got　to　cost　you。〃
　〃Sure；　Max；　we'll　take　ten　bucks　off。〃　Murch　shrugged　it　away；　and　turned　to　go　back　to　the　used…car　lot。　Behind　him；　Max　looked　at　the　car　carrier　the　way　the　dissatisfied　customer　had　looked　at　Max。　Then　he　shook　his　head；　and　followed　Murch　through　the　chain…link　fence。
　The　customer　wasn't　in　the　office。　〃Now　what？〃　Max　said。　〃I'll　tell　you；　he's　out　front　breaking　windshields。　We　had　one　just　last　spring；　came　in；　plained　about　all　that　stuff　they　always　plain　about；　and　first　thing　you　know　he's　got　a　wrench；　he's　breaking　windshields　right　and　left。　Terrible。〃
　〃Terrible；〃　Murch　agreed。
　The　two　of　them　walked　out　the　front　door。　Used　cars　were　lined　up　on　three　sides　of　them；　with　placards　in　their　windshields。　Max　pointed。　〃There　he　is！　And　who's　that　with　him？〃
　〃That's　my　friend　Kelp；〃　Murch　said。
　Kelp　and　the　customer　were　standing　next　to　a　dilapidated　green　Chevrolet。　They　were　talking。　The　customer　seemed　less　aggrieved　than　before。　In　fact；　he　chuckled　at　something　Kelp　said；　and　he　didn't　seem　to　mind　it　when　Kelp　patted　his　arm。
　〃Ho　ho；〃　Max　said。　He　looked　and　sounded　awed。
　Kelp　and　the　customer　shook　hands。　The　customer　got　into　the　green　Chevrolet　and　started　the　engine。　It　sounded　awful。　Kelp　waved　to　him　and　the　customer　waved　back　and　drove　off。　Something　under　the　car　was　scraping；　causing　an　even　worse　noise　than　the　engine　and　also　causing　sparks。　The　Chevrolet　jounced　down　the　driveway　and　went　away。
　Kelp　came　walking　over；　a　cheerful　smile　on　his　face　in　the　sunshine。　〃Hi；　Stan；〃　he　said。
　〃Mister　Cheep；〃　Max　said；　〃could　you　use　a　job？〃　〃What？　No；　thanks；　I've　got　something　on　the　fire。〃　Murch　said；　〃You　wanted　to　talk　to　me？〃
　〃Right。　You　want　a　lift　somewhere？〃　〃I　left　my　car　at　a　diner　on　Jericho　Turnpike。〃　〃I'll　take　you　there；〃　Kelp　said。
　Murch　said　so　long　to　Max；　who　was　still　looking　dazed；　and　went　with　Kelp　to　the　car　he　had　parked　at　the　curb。　It　was　a　Mercedes；　with　MD　plates。　Murch　said；　〃Still　copping　doctors'　cars；　huh？〃
　〃They　got　the　best　taste；〃　Kelp　said。　〃Power　steering；　power　seats；　power　everything。　You　never　catch　a　doctor　cranking　his　own　window　down。　Get　in。〃
　They　got　into　the　car；　Murch　pushing　a　paperback　that　was　resting　on　the　seat　out　of　his　way。　Kelp　started　the　engine；　and　they　rolled　away　from　the　curb。
　Murch　said；　〃What's　the　story？〃
　Kelp；　pointing　to　the　book　on　the　seat　between　them；　said。　〃That。〃
　Murch　laughed　politely。
　〃No；　on　the　level；〃　Kelp　said。　〃What　I　want　you　to　do；　I　want　you　to　read　that　book。〃　…
　〃Read　a　book？〃　Murch　read　the　Daily　News　and　several　car　magazines；　but　he　didn't　read　books。
　〃You'll　like　it；〃　Kelp　told　him。　〃And　I've　got　an　idea　that　hooks　up　with　it。〃
　Murch　picked　up　the　book。　He　would　like　it？　Child　Heist；　by　Richard　Stark。　〃What's　it　about？〃
　〃About　a　crook；〃　Kelp　said。　〃A　crook　named　Parker。　He'll　remind　you　of　Dortmunder。〃
　〃That　sounds　great；〃　Murch　said；　but　without　much　enthusiasm。　He　riffled　through　the　book：　words　on　every　page。
　〃You　read　it；〃　Kelp　said。　〃Dortmunder's　reading　it；　too。　And　have　your　Mom　read　it。　Then　when　everybody's　had　a　chance　to　go　through　the　book；　we'll　have　a　meeting。〃
　〃Dortmunder's　in　on　this？〃
　〃Sure；〃　Kelp　said；　casual　and　convincing。　Murch　I　opened　the　book；　feeling　the　stirrings　of　curiosity。
　
　When　the　guard　came　to　open　the　cell　door；　Parker　said　to　the　big　man　named　Krauss；　〃e　see　me　next　week　when　you　get　out。　I　think　I'll　have　something　on。〃
　
　3
　
　K　E　L　P　was　very　excited　and　very　happy。　He　couldn't　sit　in　one　place；　and　the　result　was　he　got　to　Dortmunder　and　May's　place　half　an　hour　early　for　the　meeting。　He　didn't　want　to　risk　annoying　Dortmunder　again；　so　he　spent　the　half　hour　walking　around　the　block。
　He　was　so　sure　of　this　idea　that　he　didn't　see　any　possible　way　for　Dortmunder　to　turn　it　down。　With　Dortmunder　and　May　in；　plus　Murch　to　do　the　driving　and　Murch's　Mom　to　handle　the　kid；　it　was　all　going　to　work　just　beautifully。　Just　like　the　book。
　The　way　Kelp　had　e　across　that　book；　he'd　been　in　jail　at　the　time：　a　fact　he　didn't　intend　to　mention　to　anybody。　It　had　been　upstate　in　Rockland　County；　a　small　town　where　he'd　run　into　a　little　trouble　when　some　cops　stopping　cars　to　look　for　drugs　had　found　a　whole　lot　of　burglar　tools　in　his　trunk。　It　had　taken　five　days　to　get　the　whole　thing　squashed　because　of　the　element　of　illegal　search；　but　during　those　five　days　Kelp　had　been　kept　locked　up　in　the　local　pokey。　And　a　very　poky　pokey　it　had　been；　too…nothing　to　do　but　roll　Bugler　cigarettes　and　read　paperback