chiaasen.stormyweather-µÚ31½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡gunshots¡¡awakened¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Ullman£»¡¡a¡¡banker¡¡by¡¡trade¡¡and¡¡a¡¡recent¡¡arrival¡¡from¡¡Copenhagen£»¡¡who¡¡looked¡¡out¡¡the¡¡bedroom¡¡window¡¡just¡¡in¡¡time¡¡to¡¡see¡¡a¡¡tremendous¡¡bull¡¡galloping¡¡across¡¡his¡¡yard¡¡with¡¡a¡¡thrashing¡¡young¡¡American¡¡impaled¡¡on¡¡its¡¡rack¡£¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Ullman¡¡quickly¡¡telephoned¡¡the¡¡police¡¡and¡¡informed¡¡them£»¡¡as¡¡urgently¡¡as¡¡his¡¡newly¡¡acquired¡¡English¡¡would¡¡allow£»¡¡that¡¡an¡¡¡¨unlucky¡¡cowboy¡¡is¡¡being¡¡perforated¡¡seriously¡£¡¨¡¡Eventually¡¡the¡¡police¡¡figured¡¡out¡¡what¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Ullman¡¡was¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡say¡£
¡¡
¡¡Two¡¡hours¡¡later£»¡¡a¡¡police¡¡dispatcher¡¡phoned¡¡Augustine's¡¡house¡¡with¡¡a¡¡message£º¡¡His¡¡dead¡¡uncle's¡¡missing¡¡Cape¡¡buffalo£»¡¡identified¡¡by¡¡an¡¡ear¡¡tag£»¡¡had¡¡turned¡¡up¡¡in¡¡the¡¡produce¡¡aisle¡¡of¡¡a¡¡storm¡gutted¡¡supermarket¡£¡¡Unfortunately£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡trouble¡£¡¡The¡¡dispatcher¡¡requested¡¡that¡¡Augustine¡¡call¡¡Animal¡¡Control¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡possible¡£
¡¡
¡¡Augustine¡¡didn't¡¡check¡¡his¡¡answering¡¡machine¡¡for¡¡several¡¡hours£»¡¡because¡¡he¡¡was¡¡out¡¡on¡¡Biscayne¡¡Bay¡¡with¡¡Bonnie¡¡Lamb¡£
¡¡
¡¡They¡¡had¡¡borrowed¡¡the¡¡speedboat¡¡from¡¡one¡¡of¡¡Augustine's¡¡friends£»¡¡an¡¡airline¡¡pilot¡£¡¡The¡¡pilot¡¡owed¡¡Augustine¡¡a¡¡favor¡¡from¡¡a¡¡long¡ago¡¡divorce£»¡¡when¡¡Augustine¡¡had¡¡let¡¡him¡¡bury¡¡45£»000¡¡worth¡¡of¡¡gold¡¡Krugerrands¡¡behind¡¡Augustine's¡¡garage£»¡¡to¡¡conceal¡¡them¡¡from¡¡his¡¡future¡¡ex¡wife's¡¡private¡¡investigator¡£¡¡After¡¡the¡¡divorce¡¡litigation¡¡ended£»¡¡the¡¡airline¡¡pilot¡¡was¡¡left¡¡with¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡the¡¡hidden¡¡stash¡¡of¡¡coins¡£¡¡He¡¡immediately¡¡depleted¡¡them¡¡on¡¡a¡¡ninety¡one¡pound¡¡fashion¡¡model£»¡¡who¡¡later¡¡abandoned¡¡him¡¡at¡¡a¡¡five¡star¡¡hotel¡¡in¡¡Morocco¡£¡¡Although¡¡years¡¡had¡¡passed£»¡¡the¡¡pilot¡¡never¡¡forgot¡¡Augustine's¡¡act¡¡of¡¡friendship¡¡in¡¡a¡¡time¡¡of¡¡personal¡¡crisis¡£
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡speedboat¡¡was¡¡on¡¡a¡¡trailer¡¡at¡¡a¡¡marina¡¡in¡¡North¡¡Miami¡¡Beach£»¡¡untouched¡¡by¡¡the¡¡hurricane¡£¡¡Augustine¡¡and¡¡Bonnie¡¡Lamb¡¡met¡¡Jim¡¡Tile¡¡there¡£¡¡His¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡red¡¡and¡¡his¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡raw¡£¡¡He¡¡told¡¡them¡¡that¡¡a¡¡close¡¡friend£»¡¡a¡¡female¡¡trooper£»¡¡had¡¡been¡¡savagely¡¡beaten¡¡by¡¡a¡¡car¡¡thief£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡preferred¡¡to¡¡be¡¡out¡¡on¡¡road¡¡patrol£»¡¡hunting¡¡for¡¡the¡¡gutless¡¡low¡life¡¡sonofabitch¡£
¡¡
¡¡As¡¡distracted¡¡as¡¡he¡¡was£»¡¡Jim¡¡Tile¡¡also¡¡seemed¡¡visibly¡¡anxious¡¡about¡¡the¡¡boat¡¡trip¡£¡¡Even¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dark£»¡¡the¡¡bay¡¡looked¡¡rough¡¡and¡¡tricky¡£¡¡Oddly£»¡¡Bonnie¡¡Lamb¡¡wasn't¡¡worried¡£¡¡Maybe¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡way¡¡Augustine¡¡handled¡¡himself¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡wheel£»¡¡steering¡¡casually¡¡with¡¡two¡¡fingers¡¡as¡¡he¡¡aimed£»¡¡with¡¡his¡¡free¡¡hand£»¡¡the¡¡spotlight¡£
¡¡
¡¡Smoothly¡¡he¡¡weaved¡¡around¡¡massive¡¡tree¡¡limbs¡¡and¡¡wind¡split¡¡lumber¡¡and¡¡ghostly¡¡capsized¡¡hulls¡£¡¡The¡¡scary¡¡ride¡¡temporarily¡¡took¡¡Jim¡¡Tile's¡¡mind¡¡off¡¡the¡¡image¡¡of¡¡Brenda¡¡on¡¡an¡¡ambulance¡¡stretcher¡£¡£¡£¡£
¡¡
¡¡Bonnie¡¡was¡¡anticipating¡¡her¡¡first¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡the¡¡man¡¡called¡¡Skink¡£¡¡She¡¡kept¡¡thinking¡¡about¡¡the¡¡bloodied¡¡corpse¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morgue¡impaled¡¡on¡¡a¡¡TV¡¡dish£»¡¡the¡¡trooper¡¡had¡¡said¡£¡¡Was¡¡Skink¡¡the¡¡killer£¿¡¡To¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡trooper¡¡tell¡¡it£»¡¡the¡¡ex¡governor¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡nut¡¡of¡¡the¡¡certifiable£»¡¡Mansonesque¡¡strain¡£¡¡Rather£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡launched¡¡on¡¡a¡¡mission£º¡¡a¡¡reckless¡¡doomed¡¡mission£»¡¡boisterously¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡law¡£¡¡Bonnie¡¡was¡¡intrigued¡¡by¡¡bold¡¡eccentrics¡£¡¡She¡¡wasn't¡¡afraid¡¡of¡¡Skink£»¡¡not¡¡with¡¡the¡¡trooper¡¡and¡¡Augustine¡¡at¡¡her¡¡side¡£¡¡In¡¡an¡¡odd¡¡way£»¡¡although¡¡she'd¡¡never¡¡admit¡¡it£»¡¡she¡¡looked¡¡forward¡¡to¡¡confronting¡¡the¡¡kidnapper¡¡almost¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡to¡¡reuniting¡¡with¡¡her¡¡husband¡£¡£¡£¡£
¡¡
¡¡Now¡¡Jim¡¡Tile¡¡and¡¡Augustine¡¡were¡¡struggling¡¡to¡¡drag¡¡the¡¡unconscious¡¡man¡¡over¡¡the¡¡gunwale¡¡of¡¡the¡¡speedboat¡£¡¡His¡¡clothes¡¡were¡¡soaked£»¡¡adding¡¡to¡¡his¡¡considerable¡¡bulk¡£¡¡Bonnie¡¡Lamb¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡help¡£¡¡Augustine¡¡got¡¡a¡¡silvery¡¡handful¡¡of¡¡the¡¡man's¡¡hair£»¡¡the¡¡trooper¡¡had¡¡him¡¡by¡¡the¡¡belt¡¡loops£»¡¡Bonnie¡¡dug¡¡her¡¡fingers¡¡in¡¡the¡¡tongues¡¡of¡¡his¡¡boots¡and¡¡finally¡¡the¡¡kidnapper¡¡was¡¡on¡¡the¡¡deck£»¡¡vomiting¡¡seawater¡£
¡¡
¡¡From¡¡the¡¡bow¡¡came¡¡a¡¡whine¡¡of¡¡disgust£º¡¡Max¡¡Lamb£»¡¡arms¡¡folded£»¡¡face¡¡pinched£»¡¡sucking¡¡a¡¡Bronco¡¡cigaret¡£¡¡Bonnie¡¡turned¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡tranquilized¡¡stranger¡£¡¡The¡¡trooper¡¡knelt¡¡beside¡¡him¡£¡¡With¡¡a¡¡handkerchief¡¡he¡¡cleaned¡¡the¡¡foul¡¡splatter¡¡off¡¡Skirik's¡¡face£»¡¡¡¨the¡¡glass¡¡eye¡¡needed¡¡special¡¡attention¡£
¡¡
¡¡Augustine¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨He's¡¡breathing¡£¡¨
¡¡
¡¡A¡¡volcanic¡¡cough£»¡¡and¡¡then£º¡¡¡¨I¡¡saw¡¡lobsters¡¡big¡¡as¡¡Sonny¡¡Listen¡£¡¨¡¡Skink¡¡raised¡¡his¡¡head¡£
¡¡
¡¡Jim¡¡Tile¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Be¡¡still¡¡now¡£¡¨
¡¡
¡¡¡¨My¡¡Walkman£¡¡¨
¡¡
¡¡¡¨We'll¡¡get¡¡you¡¡a¡¡new¡¡one¡£¡¡Now¡¡lie¡¡still¡£¡¨
¡¡
¡¡Skink¡¡lowered¡¡his¡¡head¡¡with¡¡a¡¡sharp¡¡clunk¡£¡¡Humming£»¡¡he¡¡shut¡¡both¡¡eyes¡£
¡¡
¡¡Bonnie¡¡Lamb¡¡asked£»¡¡¡¨What¡¡do¡¡we¡¡do¡¡with¡¡him£¿¡¨
¡¡
¡¡Max¡¡laughed¡¡acidly¡£¡¡¡¨He's¡¡going¡¡to¡¡jail£»¡¡what'd¡¡you¡¡think£¿¡¨
¡¡
¡¡Bonnie¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡Augustine£»¡¡who¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨It's¡¡up¡¡to¡¡Jim¡£¡¡He's¡¡the¡¡law¡£¡¨
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡trooper¡¡had¡¡a¡¡thermos¡¡open£»¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡get¡¡some¡¡hot¡¡coffee¡¡into¡¡his¡¡groggy¡¡friend¡£¡¡Bonnie¡¡put¡¡her¡¡hands¡¡under¡¡the¡¡kidnapper's¡¡head¡¡to¡¡help¡¡him¡¡drink¡£¡¡Augustine¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡console¡¡and¡¡started¡¡the¡¡boat¡£¡¡Over¡¡the¡¡noise¡¡of¡¡the¡¡engines£»¡¡Bonnie¡¡asked¡¡Jim¡¡Tile¡¡if¡¡she¡¡should¡¡sit¡¡with¡¡the¡¡man¡¡during¡¡the¡¡ride¡¡back£»¡¡in¡¡case¡¡he¡¡got¡¡ill¡¡again¡£¡¡The¡¡trooper¡¡leaned¡¡close¡¡and¡¡in¡¡a¡¡low¡¡voice¡¡said£º¡¡¡¨He's¡¡all¡¡right¡¡now¡£¡¡Go¡¡check¡¡on¡¡your¡¡husband¡£¡¨
¡¡
¡¡¡¨OK£»¡¨¡¡Bonnie¡¡said¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡glad¡¡for¡¡the¡¡darkness£»¡¡so¡¡the¡¡trooper¡¡couldn't¡¡see¡¡her¡¡blush¡£¡¡Neither¡¡could¡¡Max¡£
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡conversation¡¡between¡¡Gar¡¡Whitmark¡¡and¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡loving¡¡one¡£¡¡That¡¡she¡¡had¡¡handed¡¡seven¡¡thousand¡¡cash¡¡to¡¡a¡¡band¡¡of¡¡crooked¡¡roofers¡¡was¡¡infuriating¡¡enough£»¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡failed¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡the¡¡one¡¡taking¡¡the¡¡money¡¡was¡¡unforgivably¡¡stupid¡£¡¡The¡¡only¡¡clue¡¡in¡¡tracking¡¡the¡¡thieves¡¡was¡¡the¡¡piece¡¡of¡¡yellow¡¡paper¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been¡¡given¡¡by¡¡the¡¡phony¡¡roofing¡¡foreman¡¡to¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Whitmark£»¡¡the¡¡yellow¡¡paper¡¡intended¡¡to¡¡double¡¡as¡¡a¡¡receipt¡¡and¡¡an¡¡estimate£»¡¡the¡¡yellow¡¡paper¡¡that¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Whitmark¡¡had¡¡instantly¡¡misplaced¡£
¡¡
¡¡Gar¡¡Whitmark's¡¡anger¡¡had¡¡another¡¡facet¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡by¡¡trade¡¡a¡¡builder¡¡of¡¡residential¡¡subdivisions£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡therefore¡¡personally¡¡familiar¡¡with¡¡every¡¡honest£»¡¡petent¡¡roofer¡¡in¡¡Dade¡¡County¡£¡¡The¡¡list¡¡was¡¡not¡¡voluminous£»¡¡but¡¡from¡¡it¡¡Gar¡¡Whitmark¡¡had¡¡intended¡¡to¡¡select¡¡the¡¡crew¡¡that¡¡would¡¡rebuild¡¡the¡¡roof¡¡of¡¡his¡¡gutted¡¡home¡£¡¡He'd¡¡left¡¡messages¡¡with¡¡a¡¡half¡dozen¡¡panies£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡explained¡¡£¨repeatedly£©¡¡to¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡take¡¡time¡¡to¡¡line¡¡up¡¡the¡¡job¡£¡¡The¡¡hurricane¡¡had¡¡launched¡¡a¡¡drooling¡¡Klondike¡¡stampede¡¡among¡¡roofers¡the¡¡best¡¡ones¡¡were¡¡swamped¡¡with¡¡emergency¡¡work¡¡and¡¡likely¡¡would¡¡be¡¡engaged¡¡for¡¡months¡¡to¡¡e¡£¡¡Meanwhile¡¡out¡of¡towners¡¡were¡¡pouring¡¡into¡¡Miami¡¡by¡¡the¡¡truckload£»¡¡some¡¡were¡¡capable¡¡and¡¡experienced£»¡¡some¡¡were¡¡hapless¡¡and¡¡inept£»¡¡and¡¡many¡¡were¡¡gypsy¡¡impostors¡£¡¡All¡¡arrived¡¡to¡¡find¡¡boundless¡¡opportunity¡£
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡typical¡¡hurricane¡¡victim£»¡¡frantic¡¡for¡¡shelter£»¡¡was¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡trust¡¡his¡¡instincts¡¡when¡¡choosing¡¡a¡¡roof¡¡builder¡£¡¡Unfortunately£»¡¡the¡¡instincts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡typical¡¡hurricane¡¡victim¡¡in¡¡such¡¡matters¡¡were¡¡not¡¡acute¡£¡¡Gar¡¡Whitmark£»¡¡however£»¡¡had¡¡the¡¡twin¡¡advantages¡¡of¡¡knowing¡¡the¡¡cast¡¡of¡¡characters¡¡and¡¡possessing¡¡the¡¡clout¡¡to¡¡divert¡¡the¡¡best¡¡of¡¡them¡¡to¡¡his¡¡own¡¡pressing¡¡needs¡£¡¡With¡¡little¡¡trouble¡¡he¡¡located¡¡a¡¡top¡notch¡¡roofer¡¡who¡¡agreed¡¡to¡¡put¡¡all¡¡other¡¡contracts¡¡aside¡¡to¡¡tackle¡¡Gar¡¡Whitmark's¡¡roof¡¡£¨Whitmark¡¡being¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡prolific¡¡home¡¡builders¡and¡¡employers¡¡of¡¡roofing¡¡contractors¡in¡¡all¡¡South¡¡Florida£©¡£¡¡However£»¡¡the¡¡craftsman¡¡whom¡¡Whitmark¡¡selected¡¡first¡¡had¡¡to¡¡replace¡¡two¡¡other¡¡roofs£º¡¡his¡¡own£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡of¡¡his¡¡wife's¡¡mother¡£
¡¡
¡¡Gar¡¡Whitmark¡¡gave¡¡the¡¡man¡¡seven¡¡days¡¡to¡¡patch¡¡up¡¡the¡¡family¡¡roofs¡£¡¡The¡¡delay¡¡proved¡¡unbearable¡¡for¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Whitmark£»¡¡whose¡¡roaring¡¡anxiety¡¡at¡¡the¡¡chance¡¡of¡¡more¡¡rain¡stained¡¡Chippendales¡¡was¡¡no¡¡match¡¡for¡¡her¡¡customary¡¡palliative¡¡dosages¡¡of¡¡sedatives£»¡¡muscle¡¡relaxants£»¡¡sleep¡¡aids¡¡and¡¡mood¡¡elevators¡£¡¡To¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Whitmark£»¡¡the¡¡unexpected¡¡appearance¡¡of¡¡willing¡¡roofers¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡godsend¡£¡¡She¡¡thought¡¡her¡¡husband¡¡would¡¡be¡¡grateful¡¡for¡¡her¡¡initiative¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡one¡¡less¡¡problem¡¡for¡¡him¡¡to¡¡worry¡¡about£»¡¡what¡¡with¡¡all¡¡the¡¡nasty¡¡threats¡¡of¡¡negligence¡¡suits¡¡from¡¡customers¡¡whose¡¡Whitmark¡¡Signature¡¡homes¡¡had¡¡disintegrated¡¡like¡¡soggy¡¡cardboard¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hurricane¡£
¡¡
¡¡Standing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡living¡¡room£»¡¡the¡¡rain¡¡beating¡¡a¡¡tattoo¡¡on¡¡his¡¡blue¡veined¡¡forehead£»¡¡Gar¡¡Whitmark¡¡instructed¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡to¡¡immediately¡¡locate¡¡the¡¡goddamn¡¡receipt¡¡or¡¡estimate¡¡or¡¡whatever¡¡the¡¡goddamn¡¡so¡called¡¡foreman¡¡had¡¡called¡¡it¡£¡¡After¡¡an¡¡hour's¡¡search£»¡¡the¡¡crucial¡¡yellow¡¡paper¡¡turned¡¡up¡¡neatly¡¡folded¡¡in¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Whitmark's¡¡high¡school¡¡yearbook£»¡¡Gar¡¡Whitmark¡¡couldn't¡¡imagine¡¡why¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡had¡¡put¡¡it¡¡there£»¡¡or¡¡how¡¡she¡¡found¡¡it¡£¡¡Nor¡¡could¡¡she¡¡explain¡¡it¡¡herself¡her¡¡brain¡¡was¡¡too¡¡jumbled¡¡by¡¡the¡¡hurricane¡£
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡receipt¡¡bore¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡¡¨Fortress¡¡Roofing£»¡¨¡¡which¡¡brought¡¡a¡¡bitter¡¡cackle¡¡from¡¡Gar¡¡Whitmark¡£¡¡At¡¡least¡¡the¡¡scammers¡¡had¡¡a¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡irony£¡¡¡Gar¡¡Whitmark¡¡dialed¡¡the¡¡number¡¡and¡¡got¡¡an¡¡answering¡¡machine¡£¡¡He¡¡hung¡¡up¡¡and¡¡called¡¡the¡¡director¡¡of¡¡the¡¡county¡¡building¡and¡zoning¡¡department£»¡¡who¡¡owed¡¡his¡¡job¡¡to¡¡seven¡¡of¡¡the¡¡county¡¡missioners£»¡¡who¡¡owed¡¡their¡¡jobs¡¡to¡¡Gar¡¡Whitmark's¡¡generous¡¡campaign¡¡contributions¡£¡¡As¡¡Gar¡¡Whitmark¡¡anticipated£»¡¡the¡¡building¡¡director¡¡expressed¡¡shock¡¡and¡¡alarm¡¡that¡¡a¡¡fraud¡¡was¡¡perpetrated¡¡on¡¡Gar¡¡Whitmark's¡¡wife£»¡¡and¡¡promised¡¡a¡¡thorough¡¡criminal¡¡investigation¡£
¡¡
¡¡No£»¡¡he¡¡hadn't¡¡ever¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡Fortress¡¡Roofing¡but¡¡he'd¡¡damn¡¡sure¡¡find¡¡out¡¡who¡¡was¡¡behind¡¡it¡£
¡¡
¡¡Sooner¡¡the¡¡better£»¡¡said¡¡Gar¡¡Whitmark£»¡¡toweling¡¡the¡¡rainwater¡¡from¡¡his¡¡stinging¡¡scalp£»¡¡which¡¡bristled¡¡with¡¡fifty¡¡pink¡stemmed£»¡¡freshly¡¡implanted¡¡hair¡¡plugs¡£
¡¡
¡¡Fifteen¡¡minutes¡¡later£»¡¡the¡¡building¡¡director¡¡phoned¡¡back¡¡to¡¡report£»¡¡mournfully£»¡¡that¡¡Fortress¡¡Roofing¡¡had¡¡never¡¡obtained¡¡a¡¡valid¡¡Dade¡¡County¡¡contractor's¡¡license¡¡and¡¡was¡¡therefore¡¡an¡¡unknown¡¡outlaw¡¡entity¡£
¡¡
¡¡In¡¡a¡¡fury£»¡¡Gar¡¡Whitmark¡¡began¡¡contacting¡¡roofers¡¡he¡¡knew