chiaasen.stormyweather-第8节

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　Max　Lamb　said；　as　respectfully　as　possible：　〃It　looked　pretty　bad　to　me。〃
　
　〃You　hungry？〃　The　kidnapper　brought　a　burlap　sack　to　the　tree　where　his　prisoner　was　tied。
　
　〃Oh　God；〃　said　Max　Lamb；　staring　inside　the　bag。　〃You　can't　be　serious。〃
　
　
　
　CHAPTER　FOUR
　
　
　Filling　the　BarcaLounger　like　a　stuffed　tuna；　Tony　Torres　encouraged　Edie　Marsh　and　Snapper　to　reveal　the　details　of　their　aborted　scam。　Facing　a　loaded　shotgun；　they　plied。
　
　Snapper　gestured　sourly　toward　Edie；　who　said：　〃Simple。　I　fake　a　fall　in　your　driveway。　My　'brother'　here　threatens　to　sue。　You　freak　out　and　offer　us　money。〃
　
　〃Because　you　guys　know；〃　Tony　said；　slapping　a　mosquito　on　his　blubbery　neck；　〃I'll　be　getting　quite　a　wad　of　dough　on　account　of　the　hurricane。　Insurance　dough。〃
　
　〃Exactly；〃　Edie　Marsh　said。　〃Your　place　is　wrecked；　last　thing　you　need　is　a　lawsuit。　So　Snapper　says　here's　an　idea：　Soon　as　your　hurricane　money　es　in；　cut　us　a　piece　and　we　call　it　even。〃
　
　Tony　Torres　sucked　his　teeth　in　amusement。　〃How　big　a　piece；　darling？〃
　
　〃Whatever　we　could　take　you　for。〃
　
　〃Ah；〃　said　Tony。
　
　〃We　figured　you'd　just　factor　us　in　the　insurance　claim。　Jack　up　your　losses　by　a　few　grand；　who'd　ever　know？〃
　
　〃Beautiful；〃　Tony　said。
　
　〃Oh　yeah；〃　said　Snapper；　〃fucking　genius。　Look　how　good　it　worked。〃
　
　He　and　Edie　sat　with　their　backs　to　the　living…room　wall；　Snapper　with　his　long　legs　drawn　up；　Edie's　straight　out；　kneecaps　pressed　together。　A　picture　of　innocence；　Tony　Torres　thought。　The　runs　in　her　stockings　were　a　nifty　touch。
　
　The　carpet　was　sodden　from　the　storm；　but　Edie　Marsh　didn't　plain。　Snapper　felt　the　wetness　creeping　through　the　seat　of　his　dress　trousers…the　annoyance　was　sufficient　that　he　might　kill　Tony　Torres；　if　the　opportunity　presented　itself。
　
　Deep　in　thought；　the　salesman　slurped　at　a　sweaty　bottle　of　imported　beer。　He'd　offered　his　captives　a　quart　of　warm　Gatorade；　which　they'd　refused　without　ment。　A　humid　breeze　blew　through　the　fractures　in　the　walls　and　rocked　the　bare　sixty…watt　bulb　on　its　beam。　Edie　Marsh　tilted　her　head　and　saw　a　spray　of　stars　where　Tony's　ceiling　had　once　been。　The　noise　from　the　portable　generator　gave　Snapper　an　oppressive　headache。
　
　Eventually；　Tony　Torres　said：　〃You　understand　there's　no　law　to　speak　of。　The　world's　upside　down；　for　the　time　being。〃
　
　〃You　could　kill　us　and　get　clean　away　with　it。　That's　what　you　mean；〃　Snapper　said。
　
　Edie　looked　at　him。　〃You're　a　tremendous　help。〃
　
　Tony　indicated　that　he　preferred　not　to　shoot　them。　〃But　here's　my　thinking；〃　he　said。　〃Tomorrow；　maybe　the　day　after；　somebody　from　Midwest　Casualty　will　e　see　about　the　house。　I　expect　he'll　say　it's　a　total　loss；　unless　he's　blind　as　a　bat。　Anyway；　the　good　news：　I　happen　to　own　the　place　free　and　clear。　Paid　it　off　last　March。〃　Tony　paused　to　stifle　a　burp。　〃I　was　having　a　good　run　at　the　office；　so　what　the　hell。　I　paid　the　mortgage　off。〃
　
　Edie　Marsh　said：　〃Salesman　of　the　Year。〃　She　had　noticed　the　plaque。
　
　〃Mister；〃　Snapper　interjected；　〃you　got　somethin'　I　can　put　under　my　ass？　The　rug's　all　wet。　A　newspaper　maybe？〃
　
　〃Oh；　I　think　you'll　live；〃　said　the　salesman。　〃Anyhow；　since　the　bank　don't　own　the　house；　all　the　insurance　es　to　me。　As　I　say；　there's　the　good　news。　The　bad　news　is；　half　belongs　to　my　wife。　Her　name's　on　the　deed。〃
　
　Snapper　asked　where　she　was。　Tony　Torres　said　she'd　run　off　three　months　ago　with　a　parapsychology　professor　from　the　university。　He　said　they'd　gotten　into　crystal　healing　and　moved　to　Eugene；　Oregon。
　
　〃In　a　VW　van！〃　he　scoffed。　〃But　she'll　be　back　for　her　cut。　Of　that　there's　no　doubt。　Neria　will　return。　See　where　I'm　headed？〃
　
　〃Yeah；〃　said　Snapper。　〃You　want　us　to　kill　your　wife。〃
　
　〃Jesus；　what　a　one…track　mind　you　got。　No；　I　don't　want　you　to　kill　my　wife。〃　The　salesman　appealed　to　Edie　Marsh。　〃You　get　it；　don't　you？　Before　they　cut　a　check；　the　insurance　pany　is　gonna　need　both　signatures。　Me　and　the　missus。　And　I　also　believe　the　adjuster　might　want　to　chat　face…to…face。　What'd　you　say　your　name　was？〃
　
　〃Edie。〃
　
　〃OK；　Edie；　you　wanna　be　an　actress　here's　your　chance。　When　the　man　from　Midwest　Casualty　shows　up；　you　be　Neria　Torres。　My　loving　wife。〃　Tony　smirked　at　the　notion。　〃Well？〃
　
　Edie　Marsh　asked　what　was　in　it　for　her；　and　Tony　Torres　said　ten　grand。　Edie　said　she'd　have　to　think　about　it；　which　took　about　one　one…hundredth　of　a　second。　She　needed　money。
　
　〃What　about　me？〃　Snapper　asked。
　
　Tony　said；　〃I　always　wanted　a　bodyguard。〃
　
　Snapper　grunted　skeptically。　〃How　much？〃
　
　〃Ten　for　you；　too。　It's　more　than　fair。〃
　
　Snapper　admitted　it　was。　〃Why；〃　he　asked；　with　a　trace　of　scorn；　〃do　you　need　a　bodyguard？〃
　
　〃Some　customers　got　really　pissed　off　at　me。　It's　a　long　boring　story。〃
　
　Edie　Marsh　said；　〃How　pissed　off？〃
　
　〃I　don't　intend　to　find　out；〃　said　Tony　Torres。　〃Once　I　get　the　check；　I'm　gone。〃
　
　〃Where？〃
　
　〃None　a　your　damn　business。〃
　
　Middle　America　was　what　Tony　had　in　mind。　A　handsome　two…story　house　with　a　porch　and　a　fireplace；　on　three…quarters　of　an　acre　outside　Tulsa。　What　appealed　to　Tony　about　Middle　America　was　the　absence　of　hurricanes。　There　were　tornadoes　galore；　but　nobody　expected　any　man…made　structure　（least　of　all；　a　trailer　home）　to　withstand　the　terrible　force　of　a　tornado。　Nobody　would　blame　a　person　if　the　double…wides　he　sold　blew　to　pieces；　because　that　was　the　celestial　nature　of　tornadoes。　Tony　Torres　figured　he　would　be　safe　from　disgruntled　customers　in　Tulsa。
　
　Snapper　said；　〃I'm　gonna　be　a　bodyguard；　I'll　need　my　gun。〃
　
　Tony　smiled。　〃No　you　won't。　That　face　of　yours　is　enough　to　scare　the　piss　out　of　most　mortal　men。　Which　is　perfect；　because　the　people　who're　mad　at　me；　they　don't　actually　need　to　be　shot。　They　just　need　to　be　scared。　See　where　I'm　headed？〃
　
　He　took　a　length　of　bathroom　pipe　and　smashed　Snapper's　pistol　to　pieces。
　
　Edie　Marsh　said；　〃I've　got　a　question；　too。〃
　
　〃Well；　bless　your　heart。〃
　
　〃What　happens　if　your　wife　shows　up？〃
　
　〃We　got　probably　six；　seven　days　of　breathing　room；〃　Tony　Torres　said。　〃However　long　it　takes　to　drive　that　old　van　back　from　Oregon。　See；　Neria　won't　fly。　She's　terrified　of　planes。〃
　
　Snapper　remarked　that　money　was　known　to　make　a　person　drive　faster　than　usual；　or　overe　a　fear　of　flying。　Tony　said　he　wasn't　worried。　〃The　radio　said　State　Farm　and　Allstate　are　writing　settlements　already。　Midwest　won't　be　far　behind…see；　no　pany　wants　to　look　stingy　in　a　national　disaster。〃
　
　Edie　asked　Tony　Torres　if　he　intended　to　hold　them　prisoner。　He　gave　a　great　slobbering　laugh　and　said　hell；　no；　they　could　vamoose　anytime　they　pleased。　Edie　stood　and　announced　she　was　returning　to　the　motel。　Snapper　rose　warily；　never　taking　his　eyes　off　the　shotgun。
　
　He　said　to　Tony：　〃Why　are　you　doing　this？　Lettin'　us　walk　out　of　here。〃
　
　〃Because　you'll　be　back；〃　the　salesman　said。　〃You　most　certainly　will。　I　can　see　it　in　your　eyes。〃
　
　〃Really？〃　Edie　said；　tartly。
　
　〃Really；　darling。　It's　what　I　do　for　a　living。　Read　people。〃　The　Naugahyde　hissed　as　Tony　Torres　hoisted　himself　up　from　the　BarcaLounger。　〃I　need　to　take　a　leak；〃　he　declared。　Then；　with　a　hoot：　〃I'm　sure　you　can　find　your　way　out！〃
　
　On　the　slow　drive　back　to　Pembroke　Pines；　Edie　Marsh　and　Snapper　mulled　the　options。　Both　of　them　were　broke。　Both　recognized　the　post…hurricane　turmoil　as　a　golden　opportunity。　Both　agreed　that　ten　thousand　dollars　was　a　good　week's　work。
　
　〃Trouble　is；〃　Edie　said；　〃I　don't　trust　that　asshole。　What　is　it　he　sells？〃
　
　〃Trailer　homes。〃
　
　〃Good　Lord。〃
　
　〃Then　let's　walk　away；〃　Snapper　said；　without　conviction。　〃Try　the　slip…and…fall　on　somebody　else。〃
　
　Edie　contemplated　the　ugly；　self…inflicted　scratch　on　her　arm。　Posing　under　a　pile　of　lumber　had　been　more　unfortable　than　she'd　anticipated。　She　wasn't　eager　to　try　it　again。
　
　〃I'll　coast　with　this　jerkoff　a　day　or　two；〃　she　told　Snapper。　〃You　do　what　you　want。〃
　
　Snapper　configured　his　crooked　jaws　into　the　semblance　of　a　grin。　〃I　know　what　you're　thinkin'。　I　ain't　no　salesman；　but　I　can　read　you　just　the　same。　You're　thinkin'　they's　more　than　ten　grand　in　this　deal；　you　play　it　right。　If　we　play　it　right。〃
　
　〃Why　not。〃　Edie　Marsh　pressed　her　cheek　against　the　cool　glass　of　the　car's　window。　〃It's　about　time　my　luck　should　change。〃
　
　〃Our　luck；〃　Snapper　said；　both　hands　tight　on　the　wheel。
　
　Augustine　helped　Bonnie　Lamb　search　for　her　husband　until　nightfall。　They　failed　to　locate　Max；　but　along　the　way　they　came　upon　an　escaped　male　rhesus。　It　was　up　in　a　grapefruit　tree；　hurling　unripened　fruit　at　passing　humans。　Augustine　shot　the　animal　with　a　tranquilizer　dart；　and　it　toppled　like　a　marionette。　Augustine　was　dismayed　to　discover；　stapled　in　one　of　its　ears；　a　tag　identifying　it　as　property　of　the　University　of　Miami。
　
　He　had　captured　somebody　else's　fugitive　monkey。
　
　〃What　now？〃　asked　Bonnie　Lamb；　reasonably。　She　reached　out　to　pet　the　stunned　animal；　then　changed　her　mind。　The　rhesus　studied　her　through　dopey；　half…clo