rs.inthebestfamelies-第28章

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　　〃Well；　hello；〃　I　said　appreciatively。
　　〃You're　early；　Goodwin；〃　Barry　Rackham　said。　He　was　standing　in　the　doorway。
　　Lina's　expression　was　not　appreciative。　It　didn't　look　like　embarrassment；　more　like　some　kind　of　suspicion；　though　I　had　no　notion　what　she　could　suspect　me　of　so　spontaneously。
　　〃How　are　you？〃　she　asked；　and　then；　to　make　it　perfectly　clear　that　she　didn't　give　a　damn；　went　by　me　toward　the　elevator。　Rackham　moved　aside；　giving　me　enough　space　to　enter；　and　I　did　so　and　kept　going　to　the　living　room。　In　a　moment　the　door　closed；　and　in　another　moment　he　joined　me。
　　〃You're　early；〃　he　repeated；　not　reproachfully。
　　He　looked　as　if；　during　the　seventy　hours　since　I　had　last　seen　him；　he　had　had　at　least　seventy　drinks。　His　face　was　molded；　his　eyes　were　bloodshot；　and　his　left　cheek　was　twitching。　Also　his　tie　had　a　dot　of　egg　yolk　on　it；　and　he　needed　a　shave。
　　〃A　week　ago　Saturday；〃　I　said；　〃I　think　it　was；　one　of　my　men　described　a　girl　you　were　out　with；　and　it　sounded　like　Miss　Darrow；　but　I　wasn't　sure。　I'm　not　leading　up　to　something；　I'm　just　gossiping。〃
　　He　wasn't　interested　one　way　or　the　other。　He　asked　what　I　would　have　to　drink；　and　when　I　said　nothing　thank　you　he　went　to　the　bar　and　got　himself　a　straight　one；　and　then　came　and　moved　a　chair　around　to　sit　facing　me。
　　〃Hell；〃　I　said；　〃you　look　even　more　scared　than　you　did　the　other　day。　And　according　to　my　men；　either　you've　started　sneaking　out　side　doors　or　you've　bee　a　homebody。　Who　said　boo？〃
　　Nothing　I　had　to　say　interested　him。　〃I　said　I　wanted　to　see　you　every　day；〃　he　stated。　His　voice　was　hoarse。
　　〃I　know；　but　I've　been　busy。　Among　other　things；　I　spent　an　hour　yesterday　afternoon　with　Arnold　Zeck。〃
　　That　did　interest　him。　〃I　think　you're　a　goddam　liar；　Goodwin。〃
　　〃Then　I　must　have　dreamed　it。　Driving　into　the　garage；　and　being　frisked；　and　the　little　vestibule；　and　fourteen　steps　down；　and　the　two　sentinels；　and　the　soundproof　door　five　inches　thick；　and　the　pinkish　gray　walls　and　chairs　and　rugs；　and　him　sitting　there　drilling　holes　in　things；　including　me；　with　his　eyes；　and…〃
　　〃When　was　this？　Yesterday？〃
　　〃Yeah。　I　was　driven　up；　but　now　I　know　how　to　get　there　myself。　I　haven't　got　the　password　yet；　but　wait。〃
　　With　an　unsteady　hand　he　put　his　glass　down　on　a　little　table。　〃I　told　you　before；　Goodwin；　I　did　not　kill　my　wife。〃
　　〃Sure；　that's　out　of　the　way。〃
　　〃How　did　it　happen？　Your　going　to　see　him。〃
　　〃He　sent　Max　Christy　for　me。〃
　　〃That　son　of　a　bitch。〃　Suddenly　his　mottled　face　got　redder　and　he　yelled　at　me；　〃Well；　go　on！　What　did　he　say？〃
　　〃He　said　I　may　have　a　big　career　ahead　of　me。〃
　　〃What　did　he　say　about　me？〃
　　I　shook　my　head。　〃I'll　tell　you；　Rackham。　I　think　it's　about　time　I　let　my　better　judgment　in　on　this。　I　had　never　seen　Zeck　before；　and　he　made　quite　an　impression　on　me。〃　I　reached　to　my　breast　pocket。　〃Here's　your　six　thousand　dollars。　I　hate　to　let　go　of　it；　but…〃
　　〃Put　that　back　in　your　pocket。〃
　　〃No；　really；　I…〃
　　〃Put　it　back。〃　He　wasn't　yelling　now。　〃I　don't　blame　you　for　being　impressed　by　Zeck…God　knows　you're　not　the　first。　But　you're　wrong　if　you　think　he　can't　ever　miss　and　I'm　all　done。　There's　one　thing　you　ought　to　realize：　I　can't　throw　in　my　hand　on　this　one；　I've　got　to　play　it　out；　and　I'm　going　to。　You've　got　me　hooked；　because　I　can't　play　it　without　you　since　you　were　there　that　night　All　right；　name　it。　How　much？〃
　　I　put　the　six　grand　on　the　little　table。　〃My　real　worry；〃　I　said；　〃is　not　Zeck。　He　is　nothing　to　sneer　at　and　he　does　make　a　strong　impression；　but　I　have　been　impressed　before　and　got　over　it。　What　called　my　better　judgment　in　was　the　New　York　statutes　relating　to　accessories　to　murder。　Apparently　Zeck　has　got　evidence　that　will　convict　you。　If　you…〃
　　〃He　has　not。　That's　a　Be。〃
　　〃He　seems　to　think　he　has。　If　you　want　to　take　dough　from　a　murderer　for　helping　him　beat　the　rap　you　must　be　admitted　to　the　bar；　and　I　haven't　been。　So　with　my　sincere　regret　at　my　inability　to　assist　you　in　your　difficulty；　there's　your　dough。〃
　　〃I'm　not　a　murderer；　Goodwin。〃
　　〃I　didn't　mean　an　actual　murderer。　I　meant　a　man　against　whom　evidence　has　been　produced　in　court　to　convince　a　jury。　He　and　his　accessory　get　it　just　the　same。〃
　　Rackham's　bloodshot　eyes　were　straight　and　steady　at　me。　〃I'm　not　asking　you　to　help　me　beat　a　rap。　I'm　asking　you　not　to　help　frame　me…and　to　help　me　keep　Zeck　from　framing　me。〃
　　〃I　know；〃　I　said　sympathetically。　〃That's　the　way　you　tell　it；　but　not　him。
　　I　don't　intend　to　get　caught　in　a　backwash。　I　came　here　chiefly　to　return　your　money　and　to　tell　you　that　it's　got　beyond　the　point　where　I　name　a　figure　and　you　pay　it　and　then　we're　all　hunky…dory；　but　I　do　have　a　suggestion　to　make　if　you　care　to　hear　it…strictly　on　my　own。〃
　　Rackham　started　doing　calisthenics。　His　hands；　resting　on　his　thighs；　tightened　into　fists　and　then　opened　again；　and　repeated　it　several　times。　It　made　me　impatient　watching　him；　because　it　seemed　so　inadequate　to　the　situation。　By　now　the　picture　was　pretty　clear；　and　I　thought　that　a　guy　who　had　had　enough　initiative　to　venture　into　the　woods　at　night　to　stalk　his　wife；　armed　only　with　a　steak　knife；　when　she　had　her　Doberman　pinscher　with　her；　should　now；　finding　himself　backed　into　a　er；　respond　with　something　more　forceful　than　sitting　there　doing　and　undoing　his　fists。
　　He　spoke。　〃Look；　Goodwin；　I'm　not　myself；　I　know　damn　well　I'm　not。
　　It's　been　nearly　five　months　now。　The　first　week　it　wasn't　so　bad…there　was　the　excitement；　all　of　us　suspected　and　being　questioned；　if　they　had　arrested　me　then　I　wouldn't　have　skipped　a　pulse　beat。　I　would　have　met　it　fair　and　square　and　fought　it　out。　But　as　it　stretched　out　it　got　tougher。　I　had　broken　off　with　Zeck　without　thinking　it　through…the　way　it　looked　then；　I　ought　to　get　clean　and　keep　clean；　especially　after　the　hearings　in　Washington；　those　first　ones；　and　after　the　New　York　District　Attorney　took　a　hand。　But　what　happened；　every　time　the　phone　rang　or　the　doorbell；　it　hit　me　in　the　stomach。　It　was　murder。　If　they　came　and　took　me　or　sent　for　me　and　kept　me；　I　could　be　damn　sure　it　had　been　fixed　so　they　thought　it　would　stick。　A　man　can　stand　that　for　a　day　or　a　week；　or　a　month　perhaps；　but　with　me　it　went　on　and　on；　and　by　God；　I've　had　about　all　I　can　take。〃
　　He　had　ended　his　calisthenics　with　the　fists　closed　right；　the　knobs　of　the　knuckles　the　color　of　boils。　〃I　made　a　mistake　with　Zeck；〃　he　said　fretfully。
　　〃When　I　broke　it　off　he　sent　for　me　and　as　good　as　told　me　that　the　only　thing　between　me　and　the　electric　chair　was　his　influence。　I　lost　my　temper。　When　I　do　that　I　can　never　remember　what　I　said；　but　I　don't　think　I　actually　told　him　that　I　had　evidence　of　blackmailing　against　him　personally。　Anyhow；　I　said　too　much。〃　He　opened　his　fists　and　spread　his　fingers　wide；　his　palms　flat　on　his　thighs。　〃Then　this　started；　this　stretching　into　months。　Did　you　say　you　have　a　suggestion？〃
　　〃Yeah。　And　brother；　you　need　one。〃
　　〃What　is　it？〃
　　〃On　my　own；　I　said。〃
　　〃What　is　it？〃
　　〃For　you　and　Zeck　to　have　a　talk。〃
　　〃What　for？　No　matter　what　he　said　I　couldn't　trust　him。〃
　　〃Then　you'd　be　meeting　on　even　terms。　Look　straight　at　it。　Could　your　wife　trust　you？　Could　your　friends　trust　you…the　ones　you　helped　Zeck　get　at？　Could　I　trust　you？　I　warned　you　not　to　trust　me；　didn't　I？　There　are　only　two　ways　for　people　to　work　together；　when　everybody　trusts　everyone　or　nobody　trusts　no　one。　When　you　mix　them　up　it's　a　mess。　You　and　Zeck　ought　to　get　along　fine。〃
　　〃Get　along　with　Zeck？〃
　　〃Certainly。〃　I　turned　a　palm　up。　〃Listen；　you're　in　a　hole。　I　never　saw　a　man　in　a　deeper　one。　You're　even　willing　and　eager　to　shell　out　to　me；　a　double…crosser　you　can't　trust；　to　give　you　a　lift。　You　can't　possibly　expect　to　get　out　in　the　clear　with　no　ropes　tied　to　you…what　the　hell；　who　is？　Your　main　worry　is　getting　framed　for　murder；　so　your　main　object　is　to　see　that　you　don't。　That　ought　to　be　a　cinch。　Zeck　has　a　new　man；　a　guy　named　Roeder；　came　here　recently　from　the　coast；　who　has　started　to　line　up　an　operation　that's　a　beaut。　I've　been　assigned　to　help　on　it；　and　I　think　I'm　going　to。　It's　as　right　as　a　drum　and　as　slick　as　a　Doberman　pinscher's　coat。
　　With　the　help　of　a　man　placed　as　you　are；　there　would　be　absolutely　nothing　to　it；　without　the　slightest　risk　of　any　noise　or　a　eback。〃
　　〃No。　That's　what　got…〃
　　〃Wait　a　minute。　As　I　said；　this　is　on　my　own。　I'm　not　going　to　tell　you　what　Zeck　said　to　me　yesterday；　but　I　advise　you　to　take　my　suggestion。　Let　me　arrange　for　you　to　see　him。　You　don't　have　to　take　up　where　you　left　off；　a　lot　of　dirty　little　errands；　you're　a　man　of　wealth　now　and　can　act　accordingly。　But　also　you're　a　man　who　is　suspected　by　thirty　million　people　of　killing　his　wife；　and　that　calls　for　concessions。　e　with　me　to　see　Zeck；　let　him　know　you're　willing　to　discuss　things；　and　if　he　mentions　Boeder's　operation　let　him　describe　it　and　then　decide　what　you　want　to　do。　I　told　you　why　I　don't　want　to　see　you　or　anyone　else　framed　for　that　murder；　and　I　don't　think　Zeck　will　either　if　it　looks　as　though　you　might　be　useful。〃
　　〃I　hate　him；〃　Rackham　said　hoarsely。　〃I'm　afraid　of　him　and　I　hate　him！〃
　　〃I　don't　like　him　myself。　I　told　him　so。　What　about　tomorrow？　Say　four　o'clock　tomorrow；　call　for　you　here　at　a　quarter　to　three？〃
　　〃I　don't…not　tomorrow…〃
　　〃Get　it　over　with！　Would　you　rather　keep　on　listening　for　the　phone　and　the　doorbell？　Get　it　over　with！〃
　　He　reached　for　his　straight　drink；　which　he　hadn't　touched；　swallowed　it　at　a　gulp；　shuddered　all　over；　and　wiped　his　mouth　with　the　back　of　his　hand。
　　〃I'll　ring　you　around　noon　to　confirm　it；〃　I　said；　and　stood　up　to　go。　He　didn't　e　with　me　to　the　door；　but　under　the　circumstances　I　didn't　hold　it　against　him。
　　So　that　evening　when　Wolfe　came　to　1019　it　appeared　to　be　high　rime　for　getting　the　false　bottom　in　the　brief　case　ready；　and　we　went　on　until　midnight；　discussing　the　program　from　every　angle　and　trying　to　cover　every　contingency。　It's　always　worth　trying；　though　it　can　never　be　done；　especially　not　with　a　layout　as　tricky　as　that　one。　Then　the　next　morning；　Tuesday；　a　monkey　wrench；　thrown　all　the　way　from　White　Plains；　flew　into　the　machinery　and　stopped　it。　I　had　just　finished　breakfast；　with　Fritz；　when　the　phone　rang　and　I　went　to　the　office　to　get　it。　It　was　the　Westchester　DA's　office。
　　The　talk　was　brief。　When　I　had　hung　up　I　sat　a　while；　glaring　at　the　phone；　then　with　an　exasperated　finger　dialed　the　Churchill's　number。　That　talk　was　brief　too。　Finished　with　it；　I　held　the　button　down　for　a　moment　and　dialed　another　number。
　　There　had　been　only　two　buzzes　when　a　voice　came　through　a　nose　to　me。
　　〃Yes？〃
　　〃I'd　like　to　speak　to　Mr。　Boeder。〃
　　〃Talking。〃
　　〃This　is　Goodwin。　I've　just　had　a　call　from　White　Plains　to　e　to　the　DA's　office　at　once。　I　asked　if　I　could　count　on　keeping　a　two　o'clock　appointment　and　was　told　no。　I　phoned　the　Churchill　and　left　a　message　that　I　had　been　called　out　of　town　for　the　day。　I　hope　it　can　be　tomorrow。　I'll　let　you　know　as　soon　as　I　can。〃
　　Silence。