jherbert.sepulchre-第50节

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　　With　a　twist　of　the　torch's　head；　the　beam　was　broadened　to　take　in　more。　Halloran　recognised　the　three　metal　containers　Khayed　and　Daoud　had　carried　from　the　house　the　day　before。　All　were　lying　on　their　sides；　the　lids　close　by；　as　though　the　contents　had　been　spilled　out。　He　moved　closer；　using　the　light　to　guide　himself　through　the　mounds　of　excrement　scattered　around　the　yard。　Drawing　near　to　one　of　the　bins　he　bent　low　to　shine　the　light　inside。　His　foot　crunched　something　beneath　him。　He　shifted　to　see　shattered　bone　where　he　had　been　standing；　and　realised　that　there　were　many　more　pieces　around　him；　clean　and　meatless。　At　the　bottom　of　the　container　there　were　clogs　of　maggot…infested　meat；　the　jackals　obviously　having　been　unable　to　reach　them。　Much　of　the　yard's　putrid　stink　came　from　these　containers。
　　Halloran　straightened；　relieved　at　least　that　the　beasts　themselves　were　nowhere　in　evidence。　He　flashed　the　beam　up　at　the　windows；　heedless　of　giving　anyone　inside　warning　of　his　presence；　he　had；　in　fact；　already　pounded　on　the　front　door；　knowing　that　his　approach　in　the　Mercedes　would　not　have　gone　unnoticed　by　anyone　supposedly　guarding　the　estate's　entrance。　The　lodgekeeper　might　have　been　roaming　the　grounds　with　his　pack；　of　course；　but　Halloran　could　not　rid　himself　of　the　notion　that　there　was　someone　inside。　Even　now　he　sensed　he　was　being　watched。
　　He　lowered　the　torch；　finding　the　backdoor；　then　man　oeuvred　his　way　through　the　faeces　and　bones　towards　it。　As　expected；　this　door；　like　the　front；　was　firmly　locked。　He　moved　along　the　wall　to　a　window　and；　although　also　locked；　this　was　less　of　a　problem。　Placing　the　bag　on　the　windowsill；　Halloran　；lid　a　knife　blade　up　alongside　the　catch；　then　forced　it　aside；　its　movement　stiff　but　yielding。　He　closed　the　blade　into　its　handle；　dropped　it　into　his　jacket　pocket；　then　heaved　at　the　lower　frame。　The　window　resisted　at　first　before；　with　a　groan　followed　by　a　squeal；　it　opened　upwards。
　　Halloran　lifted　the　bag；　switched　off　the　torch。　swung　a　leg　over　the　sill。　Once　inside　he　quickly　stepped　away　from　the　window；　where　moonlight　had　silhouetted　his　shape。　He　leaned　back　against　the　wall　and　waited；　holding　his　breath；　listening　for　sounds。
　　The　room　smelled　musty；　damp；　unlined　in。　Light　from　outside　revealed　sparse　furniture：　an　armchair；　its　cushions　lumpy；　arms　threadbare；　a　nondescript　cabinet；　neither　antique　nor　modern；　against　one　wall；　a　curled　rug；　and　nothing　else。　Apart　from　the　small　rug；　the　floorboards　were　bare。　Halloran　flicked　on　the　penlight　once　more；　the　beam　still　broad；　and　waved　it　around　the　room。　Wallpaper　hung　away　in　strips　and　black　fungus　grew　in　the　corners　and　near　the　ceiling。　There　were　ashes　in　the　ancient　iron　fireplace；　but　they　looked　solid；　as　though　they　had　set　many　years　ago。　There　was　an　open　door　to　the　right。
　　Halloran　listened　for　a　while　longer　before　allowing　himself　to　breathe　normally。　He　swept　the　light　across　the　floor　to　make　sure　there　were　no　obstacles　in　his　path；　them　crossed　the　room　to　the　door；　unconcerned　with　the　creaking　of　floorboards。　Narrowing　the　torch　beam；　he　peered　out　into　the　hallway；　shining　the　light　along　its　length。　Moonlight　glowed　through　the　grime　of　the　tiny　windows　above　the　backdoor。　The　hallway　had　a　turn　in　it　and　he　surmised　that　it　straightened　again　and　led　towards　the　lodge's　main　door。　The　stairway　would　be　in　that　direction　too。
　　lie　eased　himself　from　the　room；　holding　the　torch　away　from　his　bode。　Keeping　close　to　the　wall　opposite　the　door　he　had　just　left。　Halloran　slowly　walked　towards　the　front　of　the　building。　fie　passed　another　door　on　his　right。　but　did　not　try　the　handle；　guessing　it　would　Dead　to　a　cellar。
　　He　reached　the　point　where　the　hallway　turned；　and　hesitated；　listening　intently　far　a　few　seconds。　Only　silence。　But　the　smell　of　oldness　was　even　stranger　here。
　　Halloran　noticed　a　lightswitch　close　to　where　he　stood　and　he　reaches　Diut；　pushing　it　down　with　one　extended　finger；　the　thin　torch　gripped　with　the　others。　Nothing　happened；　and　he　was　not　surprised。　Whoever　lived　in　the　lodge…house　enjoyed　the　darkness。
　　He　went　on；　rounding　the　bend。　and　pointed　the　torch　at　the　front　door。　There　were　large　baits；　top　and　bottom；　rusted　fixtures　that　looked　as　if　they　hadn't　been　shifted　for　decades。　Another　door　nn　his　left；　the　staircase　rising　above　him　on　his　right。　Halloran　made　his　way　towards　the　door。
　　Slipping　the　straps　of　the　bag　over　his　left　shoulder　and　changing　the　penlight　to　that　hand；　he　used　an　elbow　to　push　open　the　door。　Its　creaking　was　explosive　in　the　silence　of　the　house。
　　Before　entering；　he　shone　the　torch　through　the　crack　by　the　hinges；　satisfying　himself　that　nobody　lurked　behind　the　door；　and　only　then　did　he　step　into　the　room。　It　was　empty；　devoid　of　any　furniture；　its　curtains　colourless　with　age　and　filth。　The　mustiness　prevailed　and　here　the　mould　festered　in　thick　clusters。　Ceiling　struts　could　be　clearly　seen　where　plaster　had　fallen　away。　Halloran　left　the　room；　leaving　the　door　open　wide。
　　The　staircase　loomed　up　before　him。
　　And　it　was　from　there　that　the　worst　of　the　smell　wafted　down。
　　Halloran　began　to　climb。
　　Mather　parked　directly　outside　Magma's　main　entrance；　disregarding　the　double…yellows。　As　he　limped　around　the　bonnet　of　his　car；　he　could　not　help　but　gaze　up　at　the　towering　building；　its　glass　and　bronze　facade　brooding　under　a　sky　that　was　quickly　filling　with　leaden　clouds　from　the　east。　He　felt　a　charge　in　the　atmosphere；　the　ing　of　an　electrical　storm。
　　The　two　security　men　inside　had　noticed　his　arrival　and　one　was　crossing　the　concourse　towards　the　closed　entrance　while　his　panion　at　the　circular　reception　desk　lifted　a　phone。　Mather　started　forward　again；　an　urgency　in　his　stride。
　　The　security　guard　had　e　to　a　smaller　door　beside　the　main　entrance　and　had　already　opened　it　a　fraction　by　the　time　the　Shield　Planner　was　outside。
　　'Mr　Mather？'　the　guard　enquired；　and　Mather　opened　his　wallet　to　display　his　Shield　identity。　'Sir　Victor's　waiting　for　you。　I'll　take　you　right　up。'　The　guard　said　nothing　as　the　lift　swiftly　ascended　to　the　eighteenth　floor；　but　he　appeared　tense；　as　much　on　edge　as　Mather　himself。　They　trudged　the　thick…carpeted　corridor　to　the　chairman's　outer　office；　passing　through；　waiting　when　the　guard　rapped　on　the　inner　door。　The　guard　opened　the　door　after　a　voice　on　the　other　side　responded；　then　stood　aside　to　allow　the　older　man　entry；　still　not　uttering　a　single　word。　Mather　heard　the　door　close　behind　him。
　　Sir　Victor　did　not　rise　from　his　seat。　In　front　of　him　was　a　tumbler　half…filled　with　Scotch。
　　'Good　of　you　to　get　here　so　quickly。〃　the　Magma　chairman　said；　taking　Mather　forward。
　　Although　on　first　glance　Sir　Victor　appeared　his　usual　immaculate　self…grey；　double…breasted　suit；　thin…striped　shirt　and　now　tie…there　was　an　indefinable　dishevelment　about　him。　Perhaps　it　was　the　weariness　in　his　eyes；　the　slight　sagging　of　his　jowls；　a　few　lapse　strands　of　silver　hair　hanging　over　his　forehead　that　gave　the　impression；　the　Shield　Planner　mused。　As　well　as　the　unexpected　laxity　in　manners；　far　Mather　had　not　been　offered　a　sent；　nor　had　Sir　Victor　risen　when　he　had　entered　the　office。　Hardly　a　return　to　Stone…age　etiquette；　but　surely　an　indication　of　the　stress　this　usually　most　civilised　of　men　was　under。
　　Now　the　chairman　did　rise；　but　not　in　deference　to　the　other　man。　'I　want　to　show　you　something；'　he　said；　'after　which　we　must　discuss　our　course　of　action。'　Curious。　Mather　followed　the　tall　man　back　into　the　corridor；　and　then　into　another　office　which；　like　Sir　Victor's；　bore　no　title　tan　is　door。　They　walked　through　an　outer　room　where　the　chairman　unlocked　a　further　door　into　the　main　office　itself。
　　Mather　drew　in　a　sharp　breath　when　he　saw　the　figure　slumped　forward　across　the　glass　and　chrome　desk。　He　hurriedly　crossed　the　room　to　examine　the　body。
　　'Quinn…Reece？'　he　asked；　already　sure　that　it　was。
　　'Security　discovered　the　body　earlier　this　evening；'　the　chairman　replied　grimly。
　　Mather　moved　around　the　desk　and　Leaned　close　to　the　prone　man's　face。　He　was　prepared　to　feel　for　a　pulse　in　Quinn…Reece's　neck；　but　realised　it　was　pointless。　The　blueness　of　the　vicechairman〃s　lips；　the　yellowish　tinge　to　his　skin；　his　very　stillness；　told　him　all　he　needed　to　know。
　　'Heart　failure？〃　be　ventured。
　　°I　believe　so。　But　look　at　his　face。'　even　mare　puzzled；　Mather　slid　an　arm　beneath　QuinnReece；'s　chest　and　pulled　him　backwards。　He　was　stunned　at　what　he　saw。
　　'　My　God　he　looks　as　of　he　。　。　。'
　　'Died　of　fright？〃　Sir　Victor　finished　for　him。　'He　was　sitting　upright　like　that　when　he　was　found。　I　ordered　security　to　lay　him　on　the　desk。　I　couldn't　bear　the　thought　of　him　staring　that　way；　his　mouth　locked　open　。　。　。'　Mather　frowned。　'I　think　you'd　better　tell　me　what's　going　on。　I　assume　your　people　haven't　yet　called　for　a　doctor　or　an　ambulance？'　The　chairman's　guilt　was　barely　apparent。　'Our　security　guards　are　under　strict　instructions　never　to　bring　outsiders　onto　the　premises　unless　someone　in　authority　sanctions　it。　We　regard　anything　that　happens　with