chiaasen.stormyweather-第59节

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　Bridget　slipped　a　milky　arm　around　Augustine's　waist　and　pulled　him　close。　The　obvious　implant　in　her　left　breast　felt　like　a　sack　of　nickels　against　his　rib　cage。　〃Seventy…five；〃　she　said；　dropping　her　eyes　to　the　bright　tattoo；　〃and　I'll　give　you　a　taste　of　my　Tootsie　Pop。〃
　
　〃Can't；〃　Augustine　said。　〃Diabetic。〃
　
　Jasmine　gave　a　biting　laugh。　〃You're　both　pitiful。　Bridget；　let　'George　from　California'　go　find　his　sisters。〃　She　sat　cross…legged　on　the　bed　and　applied　pungent　glue　to　a　broken　artificial　fingernail。　〃Boy；　this　weather's　suck…o；〃　she　muttered；　to　no　one。
　
　Bridget's　motivational　hug　went　slack；　and　slowly　she　recoiled　from　Augustine's　side。　〃Our　man　George　has　a　gun。〃　She　announced　it　with　a　mix　of　alarm　and　regret。　〃I　felt　it。〃
　
　Jasmine；　blowing　on　her　glue　job；　looked　up。　〃Goddamn；　Bridget；　I　knew　it！　You　happy　now？　We're　busted。〃
　
　〃No　you're　not。〃　Augustine　took　out　the　pistol　and　displayed　it　in　a　loose　and　casual　way；　hoping　to　quell　their　concerns。　〃I'm　not　a　cop；　I　promise。〃
　
　Jasmine's　eyes　narrowed。　〃Shit；　now　I　know。　The　squeaker　sent　you。〃
　
　〃Who？〃
　
　〃Avila。〃
　
　〃Never　heard　of　him。〃
　
　Bridget　backpedaled　to　the　bed　and　sat　next　to　her　friend。　Nervously　she　crossed　her　arms　over　her　breasts。　〃Then　who　the　hell　are　you；　George？　What　is　it　you're　after？〃
　
　〃Information。〃
　
　〃Yeah；　right。〃
　
　〃Really。　I　just　want　you　to　tell　me　about　this　'Snapper；'〃　said　Augustine；　〃and　I　also　want　to　know　if　you　two　ladies　can　keep　a　secret。〃
　
　
　
　CHAPTER　TWENTY…FIVE
　
　
　The　professor's　VW　van　ran　out　of　gas　two　miles　shy　of　the　Fort　Drum　service　plaza。　Neria　Torres　stood　by　the　Turnpike　and　flagged　down　a　truck。　It　was　an　old　Chevy　pickup；　three　men　in　the　cab；　four　others　sprawled　in　the　bed。　They　were　from　Tennessee。　Neria　wasn't　crazy　about　the　odds。
　
　〃Looking　for　work；〃　explained　the　driver；　a　wiry；　unshaven　fellow　with　biblical　tattoos　on　both　arms。　He　said　his　first　name　was　Matthew　and　his　middle　name　was　Luke。
　
　Neria　was　nervous　nonetheless。　The　men　stared　ravenously。　〃What　do　you　guys　do？〃　she　asked。
　
　〃Construction。　We're　here　for　the　hurricane。〃　Matthew　had　a　spare　gas　can。　He　poured　four　gallons　into　the　van。　Neria　thanked　him。
　
　She　said；　〃All　I　can　give　you　is　three　bucks。〃
　
　〃That's　fine。〃
　
　〃What　kind　of　construction？〃
　
　Matthew　said：　〃Any　damn　thing　we　can　find。〃　The　other　men　laughed。　〃We　do　trees；　also。　I　got　chain　saw　experience；〃　Matthew　added。
　
　Neria　Torres　didn't　ask　if　the　crew　was　licensed　to　do　business　in　Florida。　She　knew　the　answer。　The　men　climbed　out　of　the　truck　to　stretch　their　legs　and　urinate。
　
　One　of　them　was　actually　mannered　enough　to　turn　his　back　while　unzipping。
　
　Neria　decided　it　was　a　good　time　to　go。　Matthew　stood　between　her　and　the　van。　〃I　dint　ketch　your　name。〃
　
　〃Neria。〃
　
　〃That's　Cuban；　right？〃
　
　〃Yes。〃
　
　〃You　don't　talk　with　no　accent。〃
　
　She　thought：　Well；　thank　you；　Gomer。　〃I　was　born　in　Miami；〃　she　said。
　
　Matthew　seemed　pleased。　〃So　you're　on　the　way　home…hey；　how'd　you　make　out　in　the　big　blow？〃
　
　Neria　said；　〃I　won't　know　till　I　get　there。〃
　
　〃We　do　residential。〃
　
　〃Do　you　really。〃
　
　〃Wood　or　masonry；　it　don't　matter。　Also　roofs。　We　got　a　helluva　tar　man。〃　Matthew　pointed。　〃That　bald　guy　doin'　his　bidness　in　the　bushes…he　worked　on　that　new　Wal…Mart　in　Chat'nooga。　My　wife's　cousin　Chip。〃
　
　Neria　Torres　said；　〃From　what　I　understand；　you　won't　have　a　bit　of　trouble　finding　jobs　when　you　get　to　Dade　County。〃
　
　〃Hey；　what　about　your　place？〃
　
　〃I　don't　know。　I　haven't　seen　it　yet。〃
　
　〃So　it　could　be　totaled；〃　Matthew　said；　hopefully。
　
　Slowly　Neria　opened　the　door　of　the　van。　Only　when　it　stubbed　his　shoulder　blades　did　Matthew　move　out　of　the　way。
　
　Neria　got　behind　the　wheel　and　revved　the　engine。　〃Tell　you　what。　When　I　get　home　and　see　how　the　roof　looks；　then　I'll　give　you　a　call。　Where　you　staying？〃
　
　The　other　workers　laughed　again。　〃Sterno　Hilton；〃　said　Matthew。　〃See；　we're　campin'　out。〃　He　said　they　couldn't　afford　a　motel；　no　way。
　
　Neria　fumbled　in　the　console　until　she　found　a　gnawed　stub　of　pencil　and　one　of　the　professor's　match…books；　which　reeked　of　weed。　She　wrote　down　a　bogus　telephone　number　and　gave　it　to　Matthew。　〃OK；　then；　you　call　me。〃
　
　He　didn't　even　glance　at　the　number。　〃I　got　a　better　idea。　Since　none　of　us　ever　been　to　Miami　before　。。。〃
　
　Oh　no！　she　thought。　Please　no。
　
　〃。。。　we'll　just　follow　you　down。　That　way；　we're　sure　not　to　get　lost。　And　if　your　place　needs　work；　we　can　git　on　it　rightaways。〃
　
　Matthew's　plan　was　well　received　by　his　crew。　Neria　said；　uselessly：　〃I　don't　think　that's　a　good　idea。〃
　
　〃We　got　references。〃
　
　She　was　eyeing　the　pickup　truck；　wondering　if　there　was　a　chance　in　hell　that　the　professor's　van　could　outrun　it。
　
　〃We　kicked　some　ass　over　Charleston；〃　Matthew　was　saying；　〃after　Hurricane　Hugo。〃
　
　Neria　said；　〃It's　getting　pretty　late。〃
　
　〃We'll　be　right　behind　you。〃
　
　And　they　were；　all　the　way　down　the　Turnpike。
　
　The　truck's　solitary　headlight；　stuck　on　high　beam；　illuminated　the　interior　of　the　VW　van　like　a　TV　studio。　Neria　stiffened　in　the　harsh　brightness；　knowing　that　seven　pairs　of　inbred　male　eyes　were　fixed　on　the　back　of　her　head。　She　drove　ludicrously　slow；　hoping　the　rednecks　would　grow　impatient　and　decide　to　pass。　They　didn't。
　
　All　she　could　do　was　make　the　best　of　it。　Even　if　the　Neanderthals　didn't　know　a　thing　about　construction；　they　might　be　helpful　in　tracking　a　thieving　husband。
　
　Max　Lamb　cracked　the　door　to　poke　his　head　out。　He'd　never　met　an　FBI　man　before。　This　one　didn't　look　like　Efrem　Zimbalist　Jr。　He　wore　a　green　Polo　shirt；　tan　Dockers　and　cordovan　Bass　Weejuns。　He　also　toted　a　bag　from　Ace　Hardware。
　
　When　it　came　to　name　brands；　Max　was　nothing　if　not　observant。　He　believed　it　was　part　of　his　job；　knowing　who　in　America　was　buying　what。
　
　The　agent　said；　〃Is　Augustine　home？〃
　
　〃No；　he　isn't。〃
　
　〃Who　are　you？〃
　
　〃Could　I　see　some　ID？〃　Max　asked。
　
　The　agent　showed　him　a　badge　in　a　billfold。　Max　told　him　to　e　in。　They　sat　in　the　living　room。　Max　asked　what　was　in　the　bag；　and　the　agent　said　it　was　drill　bits。　〃Storm　sucked　the　cabinets　right　out　of　my　kitchen；〃　he　explained。
　
　〃Black　and　Decker？〃
　
　〃Makita。〃
　
　〃That's　a　first…rate　tool；〃　said　Max。
　
　The　agent　was　exceedingly　patient。　〃You're　a　friend　of　Augustine's？〃
　
　〃Sort　of。　My　name　is　Max　Lamb。〃
　
　〃Really？　I'm　glad　to　see　you're　all　right。〃
　
　Max's　eyebrows　hopped。
　
　〃From　the　kidnapping；〃　the　agent　said。　〃You're　the　one　who　was　kidnapped；　right？〃
　
　〃Yes！〃　Max's　spirits　skied；　realizing　that　Bonnie　had　been　so　concerned　that　she'd　called　the　FBI。　It　was　proof　of　her　devotion。
　
　The　agent　said；　〃She　played　the　tape　for　me；　the　message　you　left　on　the　answering　machine。〃
　
　〃Then　you　heard　his　voice…the　guy　who　snatched　me。〃　Max　got　a　Michelob　from　the　refrigerator。　The　FBI　man　accepted　a　Sprite。
　
　〃Where's　your　wife？〃　he　asked。
　
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　
　Excitedly　Max　Lamb　related　the　whole　story；　from　his　kidnapping　on　Calusa　Drive　to　the　midnight　rescue　in　Stiltsville；　up　to　Bonnie's　disappearance　with　Augustine　and　the　deranged　one…eyed　governor。　The　FBI　man　listened　with　what　seemed　to　be　genuine　interest；　but　took　no　notes。　Max　wondered　if　they　were　specially　trained　to　remember　everything　they　heard。
　
　〃These　are　dangerous　men；〃　he　told　the　agent；　portentously。
　
　〃Was　your　wife　taken　against　her　will？〃
　
　〃No；　sir。　That's　why　they're　so　dangerous。〃
　
　〃You　say　he　put　a　collar　on　your　neck。〃
　
　〃A　shock　collar；〃　Max　said　gravely；　〃the　kind　used　to　train　hunting　dogs。〃
　
　The　FBI　man　asked　if　the　kidnapper　had　done　the　same　thing　to　Bonnie。　Max　said　he　didn't　think　so。　〃She's　very　trusting　and　impressionable。　They　took　advantage　of　that。〃
　
　〃What's　Augustine's　role　in　all　this？〃
　
　〃I　believe；〃　said　Max；　〃the　kidnapper　has　brainwashed　him；　too。〃　He　got　another　beer　and　tore　into　a　bag　of　pretzels。
　
　The　agent　said；　〃Prosecution　won't　be　easy。　It's　your　word　against　his。〃
　
　〃But　you　believe　me；　don't　you？〃
　
　〃Mister　Lamb；　it　doesn't　matter　what　I　believe。　Put　yourself　in　the　jury　box。　This　is　a　very　weird　story　you'll　be　asking　them　to　swallow。。。。〃
　
　Max　shot　to　his　feet。　His　cheeks　were　stuffed　with　pretzel　fragments。　〃Jeshush　Chritht；　mahh　wife's　misshing！〃
　
　〃I　understand。　I'd　be　upset；　too。〃　The　FBI　man　was　maddeningly　agreeable　and　polite。　〃And　I'm　not　trying　to　tell　you　what　to　do。　But　you　need　to　know　what　you're　up　against。〃
　
　Max　sat　down；　glowering。
　
　The　agent　explained　that　the　Bureau　seldom　got　involved　unless；　a　ransom　demand　was　issued。　〃There　was　none　in　your　case。　There's　been　none　for　your　wife。〃
　
　〃Well；　I　think　her　life's　in　danger；〃　Max　said；　〃and　I　think　you　people　are　in　deep　trouble　if　something　happens　to　her。〃
　
　〃Believe　me；　Mister　Lamb；　I　understand　your　frustration。〃
　
　No　you　don't；　Max　fumed　silently；　or　you　wouldn't　talk　to　me　like　I　was　t