chiaasen.stormyweather-第43节

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lawn　sprinkler。　The　doctor　said　he　was　lucky　it　didn't　sever　an　artery。　He　asked　about　the　dirty　bandage　on　Avila's　left　hand；　and　Avila　said　it　was　a　nasty　golfing　blister。　Nothing　to　worry　about。
　
　As　the　pain　receded；　his　mind　drifted　into　a　fuzzy　free　fall。　Snapper's　lopsided　face　appeared　in　a　cloud。
　
　I　will　find　you；　cono！　Avila　vowed。
　
　But　how？
　
　Dreamily　he　recalled　the　night　they'd　first　met。　It　was　in　a　supper　club　on　Lejeune　Road。　Snapper　was　at　the　bar　with　two　women　from　an　escort　service。　The　women　wore　caked　mascara　and　towering　hair。　Avila　made　friends。　He　had　cash　in　his　pocket；　having　moments　earlier　collected　a　bribe　from　a　fellow　who　retailed　fiberglass　roof　shingles　of　questionable　durability。　The　hookers　told　Avila　the　name　of　the　escort　service　was　Gentlemen's　Choice；　and　it　was　open　seven　days　a　week。　They　said　Snapper　was　a　regular　customer；　one　of　their　best。　They　said　he　was　taking　them　out　on　the　town　to　celebrate；　on　account　he　was　going　off　to　prison　for　three　to　five　years　and　wouldn't　be　getting　much　pussy；　professional　or　otherwise。　Snapper　told　Avila　he'd　killed　some　shithead　dope　dealer　that　nobody　cared　about。　Prosecutors　had　let　him　cop　to　a　manslaughter…one；　and　with　any　luck　he'd　get　out　of　the　joint　in　twenty　months。　Avila　didn't　believe　a　word　the　guy　was　saying；　but　he　thought　the　manslaughter　routine　was　a　pretty　good　line　to　use　on　the　babes。　He　bought　several　rounds　of　drinks　for　Snapper　and　the　prostitutes；　in　hopes　that　Snapper　might　start　feeling　generous。　And　that's　exactly　what　happened。　When　Avila　returned　from　the　men's　room；　the　one　he　liked…　a　gregarious　platinum　blonde；　Morganna　was　her　name…whispered　in　his　ear　that　Snapper　said　it　was　OK；　as　long　as　Avila　paid　his　share。　So　they'd　all　gone　to　a　fleabag　motel　on　West　Flagler　and　had　quite　a　time。　Morganna　proved　full　of　energy　and　imagination；　well　worth　the　shingle　money。
　
　Narcotic　memories　took　Avila's　mind　off　the　vigorous　suturing　that　was　being　done　on　a　freshly　shaved　triangle　five　inches　due　southwest　of　his　navel。　Then；　giddily；　it　came　to　him　from　out　of　the　clouds…one　obvious　way　for　Avila　to　track　that　cocksucker　Snapper　and　recover　the　seven　grand。
　
　A　lead；　is　what　cops　would　call　it。
　
　Not　exactly　a　red…hot　lead；　but　better　than　nothing。
　
　Another　curious　neighbor　dropped　by；　asking　about　Tony。　Edie　Marsh　used　the　same　ludicrous　story　about　being　a　distant　Torres　cousin　who　was　watching　the　place　as　a　favor。　She　made　no　effort　to　explain　Snapper；；　snoring　in　the　recliner；　a　gun　on　his　lap。
　
　Fred　Dove　drove　up　a　few　minutes　later；　while　Edie　was　walking　Donald　and　Maria　in　the　front　yard。　The　insurance　man　looked　more　cheerless　and　pallid　than　ever。　From　the　way　he　snatched　the　briefcase　off　the　seat　of　the　car；　Edie　sensed　an　urgency　to　his　gloom。
　
　〃My　supervisor；〃　he　announced；　〃wants　to　see　the　house。〃
　
　〃Is　he　suspicious？〃
　
　〃No。　Routine　claims　review。〃
　
　〃Then　what's　the　problem；　Fred？　Show　him　the　house。〃
　
　He　gave　a　bitter　laugh　and　spun　away。　Edie　tied　up　the　dogs　and　followed　him　inside。
　
　〃The　problem　is；〃　Fred　Dove　said；　〃Mister　Reedy　will　want　to　chat　with　'Mister　and　Mrs。　Torres。'〃　Loudly　he　dropped　his　briefcase　on　the　kitchen　counter；　rousing　Snapper。
　
　Edie　said；　〃Don't　panic。　We　can　handle　it。〃
　
　〃Don't　panic？　The　pany　wants　to　know　why　I　got　kicked　out　of　the　motel。　My　wife　wants　to　know　where　I'm　staying；　and　with　whom。　Dennis　Reedy　will　be　here　tomorrow　to　interview　two　claimants　that　I　cannot　produce。　Personally；　I　think　it's　an　excellent　time　to　panic。〃
　
　〃Hey；　Santy　Claus！〃　It　was　Snapper；　hollering　from　the　living　room。　〃You　got　the　insurance　check？〃
　
　Edie　Marsh　went　to　the　doorway　and　said；　〃Not　yet。〃
　
　〃Then　shut　him　up。〃
　
　Fred　Dove　dropped　his　voice。　〃I　can't　stay　here　with　that　maniac。　It's　impossible。〃
　
　〃His　leg　hurts；〃　said　Edie。　She　had　given　Snapper　the　last　of　her　Darvons；　which　evidently　were　beginning　to　wear　off。　〃Look；　I'm　not　thrilled　about　the　setup；　either。　But　it's　this　or　go　camp　in　the　woods。〃
　
　The　insurance　man　removed　his　glasses　and　pressed　his　thumbs　against　his　temples。　A　mosquito　landed　on　one　of　his　eyelids。　He　shook　his　head　like　a　spaniel　until　it　floated　away。　〃We　can't　go　through　with　this；〃　he　said；　dolorously。
　
　〃Yes　we　can；　sweetie。　I'll　be　Mrs。　Torres。　Snapper　is　Tony。〃
　
　Fred　Dove　sagged。　〃You　don't　exactly　look　Cuban。　Neither　of　you；　for　God's　sake。〃　He　punched　a　cabinet　door　and　cried　out；　〃What　was　I　thinkingl〃
　
　Snapper　declared　that　Fred　Dove　was　on　the　brink　of　dismemberment　unless　he　immediately　shut　the　fuck　up。　Edie　Marsh　led　the　distraught　insurance　man　into　Ner…ia's　bedroom　closet。　She　shut　the　door　and　kissed　him　with　expert　tenderness。　Simultaneously　she　unzipped　his　pants。　Fred　jumped　at　her　touch；　warm　but　unexpected。　Edie　squeezed　gently；　until　he　was　calm　and　quite　helpless。
　
　〃This　Dennis　Reedy；〃　she　whispered；　〃what's　he　like？〃
　
　Fred　Dove　squirmed　pleasurably。
　
　〃Tough　guy？　Tightass？　What's　his　deal？〃
　
　〃He　seems　all　right；〃　the　insurance　man　said。　He'd　dealt　with　Reedy　only　once；　in　a　flooded　subdivision　outside　Dallas。　Reedy　was　gruff　but　fair。　He　had　approved　most　of　Fred　Dove's　damage　estimates；　with　only　minor　adjustments。
　
　Edie's　free　hand　pulled　down　Fred's　pants。　She　said；　〃We'll　go　over　the　claim　papers　tonight；　in　case　he　makes　it　a　quiz。〃
　
　〃What　about　Snapper？〃
　
　〃Let　me　handle　that。　We'll　have　a　rehearsal。〃
　
　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　The　insurance　man　nearly　lost　his　balance。
　
　〃What　does　it　look　like；　Fred。　Will　Mister　Reedy　have　our　check？〃
　
　In　stuporous　bliss；　Fred　Dove　gazed　at　the　top　of　Edie's　head。　Fingers　explored　her　silken　hair；　his　own　fingers；　judging　by　the　familiar　gold　wedding　band　and　the　University　of　Nebraska　class　ring。　Fred　Dove　struggled　for　clarity。　It　was　no　time　for　an　out…of…body　experience；　for　this　long…awaited　moment；　he　wanted　sensual　acuity　and　superior　muscle　control。
　
　The　insurance　man　struggled　to　purge　his　mind　of　worry　and　guilt；　to　make　way　for　oning　ecstasy。　He　inhaled　deeply。　The　closet　smelled　of　old　gardenias　and　mildew：　Neria　Torres's　pre…professor　wardrobe；　damp　and　musty　from　the　storm。　Fred　Dove　felt　stifled；　though　a　vital　part　of　him　was　not。
　
　Without　using　her　hands；　Edie　Marsh　leaned　him　against　the　wall　for　leverage。　He　released　her　hair　and　rapturously　locked　a　monkey　grip　on　the　wooden　dowel。　His　upturned　face　was　obstructed　by　the　silken　armpit　of　somebody's　wedding　gown。
　
　Suddenly　he　had　a　humiliating　flashback　to　what　had　happened　the　last　time；　when　Snapper　interrupted　them　on　the　floor　of　the　living　room。　To　prevent　a　recurrence；　Fred　groped　for　the　doorknob　and　held　it　shut。
　
　From　below；　Edie　Marsh　paused　to　inquire　again：　〃Will　Reedy　have　the　settlement　check？〃
　
　〃N…no。　The　check　always　es　from　Omaha。〃
　
　〃Shit。〃
　
　Fred　Dove　wasn't　sure　whether　he　heard　her　say　it；　or　felt　her　say　it。　The　important　thing　was；　she　didn't　stop。
　
　When　Augustine　came　out　to　the　truck；　Bonnie　Lamb　and　the　governor　were　gone。　He　found　them　a　few　blocks　away；　behind　a　deserted　hurricane　house。　Skink　was　kneeling　next　to　a　swimming　pool；　scooping　chubby　brown　toads　out　of　the　rancid　water　and　slipping　them　into　his　pockets。　Bonnie　was　busy　fending　off　the　mosquitoes　that　hovered　in　an　inky　cloud　around　her　face。
　
　Augustine　related　what　he'd　learned　about　the　black　Jeep　Cherokee。　Skink　said；　〃Where's　Calusa　Drive？〃
　
　〃They　drew　me　a　map。〃
　
　〃Are　we　going　now？〃　Bonnie　asked。
　
　〃Tomorrow；〃　Skink　said。　〃We'll　need　daylight。〃
　
　He　and　Augustine　decided　to　spend　the　night　nearby。　They　found　an　empty　field　and　built　a　campfire　from　storm　debris。　Nearby　another　small　fire　glowed；　flickering　from　the　mouth　of　a　fifty…five…gallon　drum…itinerant　laborers　from　Ohio。　Two　of　them　wandered　over　in　search　of　crack。　Augustine　spooked　them　off　with　a　casual　display　of　the　。38。　Skink　disappeared　with　the　toads　into　a　scrubby　palmetto　thicket。
　
　Bonnie　said；　〃What's　DMT？〃
　
　〃A　Wall　Street　drug；〃　Augustine　replied。　〃Before　our　time。〃
　
　〃He　said　he　dries　the　toad　poison　and　smokes　it。　He　said　it's　a　chemical　strain　of　DMT。〃
　
　〃I　believe　I'll　stick　to　beer。〃　Augustine　got　two　sleeping　bags　from　the　cab　of　the　truck。　He　shook　them　out　and　spread　them　near　the　fire。
　
　She　said；　〃I'm　sorry　about　last　night。〃
　
　〃Quit　saying　that。〃　Like　it　would　have　been　the　worst　mistake　of　her　entire　life。
　
　〃I　don't　know　what's　wrong　with　me；〃　she　said。
　
　Augustine　arranged　some　dead　branches　on　the　fire。　〃Nothing's　wrong　with　you；　Bonnie。　You're　so　normal　it's　scary。〃　He　sat　cross…legged　on　one　of　the　sleeping　bags。
　
　〃e　here；〃　he　said。　When　he　put　his　arms　around　her；　she　felt　pletely　relaxed　and　secure。　Then　he　said：　〃I　can　take　you　to　the　airport。〃
　
　〃No！〃
　
　〃Because　after　tonight；　you'll　be　in　the　thick　of　it。〃
　
　Bonnie　Lamb　said；　〃That's　what　I　want。　Max　got　his　adventure；　I　want　mine。〃
　
　A　reedy　howl　rose　from　the　palmettos；　diffusing　into　a　creepy　rumble　of　laughter。
　
　Bufo　madness；　thought　Augustine。　Bonnie