rs.inthebestfamelies-第31章

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w　to　go　about　it。　It　didn't　bother　you　that　one　by…product　was　making　me　out　a　cheap　crook；　did　it？　Many　thanks　sincerely　yours。〃
　　She　dropped　her　head　into　her　hands　to　cover　her　face；　and　convulsions　began。
　　They　sat　and　looked　at　her。　I　looked　at　them。　Archer　was　pulling　jerkily　at　his　lower　lip。　Dykes　was　shaking　his　head；　his　lips　pressed。
　　〃I　suggest；〃　I　said　modestly；　raising　my　voice　to　carry　over　the　noise　Lina　Darrow　was　making；　〃that　when　she　quiets　down　it　might　pay　to　find　out　if　Rackham　has　told　her　anything　that　might　help。　That　item　about　his　getting　dough　from　gambling　or　rackets　could　be　true；　if　they　actually　got　intimate　enough　for　him　to　tell　her　the　story　of　his　life。〃
　　They　kept　their　eyes　on　her。　She　was　crying　away　what　had　looked　like　a　swell　chance　to　wrap　up　a　tough　one；　and　I　wouldn't　have　been　surprised　if　they　had　burst　into　tears　too。　I　pushed　back　my　chair　and　stood　up。
　　〃If　you　get　anything　that　I　can　be　of　any　help　on；　give　me　a　ring。　I'll　have　a　crowded　afternoon；　but　word　will　reach　me。〃
　　I　walked　out。
　　
　　19
　　AS　I　hit　the　sidewalk　in　front　of　the　courthouse　my　watch　said　11：17。　It　was　sunny　and　warm；　and　people　looked　as　if　they　felt　pleased　with　the　way　things　were　going。　I　did　not。　In　another　few　minutes　they　would　have　Lina　Darrow　talking　again；　and　whether　she　gave　it　to　them　straight　this　time　or　tried　her　hand　on　a　revised　version；　they　might　decide　any　minute　that　they　wanted　to　talk　with　Barry　Rackham；　and　that　could　lead　to　anything。　The　least　it　could　lead　to　was　delay；　and　my　nerves　were　in　no　condition　for　it。
　　I　dived　across　the　street　to　a　drugstore；　found　a　booth；　and　dialed　Roeder's　number。　No　answer。　I　went　to　where　my　car　was　parked；　got　in；　and　headed　for　the　parkway。
　　On　my　way　back　to　Manhattan　I　stopped　four　times　to　find　a　phone　and　dial　Roeder's　number；　and　the　fourth　try；　at　i　i6th　Street；　I　got　him。　I　told　him　where　I　was。　He　asked　what　they　had　wanted　at　White　Plains。
　　〃Nothing　much；　just　to　ask　some　questions　about　a　lead　they　had　got。　I'm　going　to　the　Churchill　to　fix　it　to　go　ahead　with　that　date　today。〃
　　〃You　can't。　It　has　been　postponed　until　tomorrow　at　the　other　end。　Arrange　it　for　tomorrow。〃
　　〃Can't　you　switch　it　back　to　today　at　your　end？〃
　　〃It　would　be　difficult　and　therefore　inadvisable。〃　I　considered　how　to　put　it；　in　view　of　the　fact　that　there　was　no　telling　who　or　how　many　might　hear　me。　〃There　is　a　possibility；〃　I　said；　〃that　the　Churchill　will　have　a　vacant　suite　tomorrow。　So　my　opinion　is　that　it　would　be　even　more　inadvisable　to　postpone　it。　I　don't　know；　but　I　have　an　idea　that　it　may　be　today　or　never。〃
　　A　silence。　Then；　〃How　long　will　it　take　you　to　get　to　your　office？〃
　　〃Fifteen　minutes；　maybe　twenty。〃
　　〃Go　there　and　wait。〃
　　I　returned　to　the　car；　drove　to　a　parking　lot　on　Third　Avenue　in　the　upper　Forties；　left　the　car　there；　and　made　steps　to　Madison　Avenue　and　up　to　1019。　I　sat　down；　stood　at　the　window；　sat　down；　and　stood　at　the　window。　I　wouldn't　ring　the　phone…answering　service　because　I　wanted　my　line　free；　but　after　a　few　minutes　I　began　thinking　I　better　had；　in　case　Roeder　had　tried　for　me　before　I　arrived。　The　debate　on　that　was　getting　hot　when　the　ring　came　and　I　jumped　for　it。
　　It　was　Roeder。　He　asked　me　through　his　nose；　〃Have　you　phoned　the　Churchill？〃
　　〃No；　I　was　waiting　to　hear　from　you。〃
　　〃I　hope　you　will　have　no　trouble。　It　has　been　arranged　for　today　at　four　o'clock。〃
　　I　felt　a　tingle　in　my　spine。　My　throat　wanted　to　tighten；　but　I　wouldn't　let　it。　〃I'll　do　my　best。　In　my　car？〃
　　〃No。　I'll　have　a　car。　I'll　stop　in　front　of　your　office　building　precisely　at　two　forty…five。〃
　　〃It　might　be　better　to　make　it　the　Churchill。〃
　　〃No。　Your　building。　If　you　have　to　reach　me　I'll　be　here　until　two…thirty。　I　hope　you　won't　have　to。〃
　　〃I　do　too。〃
　　I　pressed　the　button　down；　held　it　for　three　breaths；　and　dialed　the　Churchill's　number。　It　was　only　ten　to　one；　so　surely　I　would　get　him。
　　I　did。　As　soon　as　he　heard　my　name　he　started　yapping　about　the　message　I　had　sent　him；　but　I　didn't　want　to　try　to　fix　it　on　the　phone；　so　I　merely　said　I　had　managed　to　call　off　the　trip　out　of　town　and　was　ing　to　see　him。　He　said　he　didn't　want　to　see　me。　I　said　I　didn't　want　to　see　him　either；　but　we　were　both　stuck　with　this　and　I　would　be　there　at　one…thirty。
　　At　a　fountain　service　down　on　a　side　street　I　ate　three　corned…beef　sandwiches　and　three　glasses　of　milk　without　knowing　how　they　tasted；　humed　my　tongue　on　hot　coffee；　and　then　walked　to　the　Churchill　and　took　the　elevator　to　the　tower。
　　Rackham　was　eating　lunch；　and　it　was　pitiful。　Apparently　he　had　done　all　right　with　a　big　glass　of　clam　juice；　since　the　glass　was　empty　and　I　couldn't　see　where　the　contents　had　been　thrown　at　anything；　but　all　he　did　in　my　presence　was　peck　at　things…some　wonderful　broiled　ham；　hashed　brown　potatoes；　an　artichoke　with　anchovy　sauce；　and　half　a　melon。　He　swallowed　perhaps　five　bites　altogether；　while　I　sat　at　a　distance　with　a　magazine；　not　wanting　to　disturb　his　meal。　When；　arriving；　I　had　told　him　that　the　appointment　with　Zeck　was　set　for　four　o'clock；　he　had　just　glared　at　me　with　no　ment。　Now；　as　he　sat　staring　at　his　coffee　without　lifting　the　cup；　I　got　up　and　crossed　to　a　chair　near　him　and　remarked　that　we　would　ride　up　to　Westchester　with　Roeder。
　　I　don't　think　I　handled　it　very　well；　that　talk　with　Barry　Rackham；　as　he　sat　and　let　his　coffee　get　cold　and　tried　to　pretend　to　himself　that　he　still　intended　to　eat　the　melon。　It　happened　that　he　had　already　decided　that　his　only　way　out　was　to　e　to　some　kind　of　an　understanding　with　Arnold　Zeck；　but　if　he　had　been　balky　I　doubt　if　I　would　have　been　able　to　manage　it。　I　was　so　damned　edgy　that　it　was　all　I　could　do　to　sit　still。　It　had　been　a　long　spring　and　summer；　those　five　months；　and　here　was　the　day　that　would　give　us　the　answer。　So　there　are　two　reasons　why　I　don't　report　in　detail　what　Rackham　and　I　said　there　that　afternoon：　first；　I　doubt　if　it　affected　the　oute　any；　one　way　or　another；　and　second；　I　don't　remember　a　word　of　it。　Except　that　I　finally　said　it　was　time　to　go；　and　he　got　himself　a　man…sized　straight　bourbon　and　poured　it　down。
　　We　walked　the　few　blocks　to　my　building。　As　we　waited　at　the　curb　I　kept　my　eyes　peeled　for　a　Chewy　sedan；　but　apparently　Roeder　had　been　promoted；　either　that　or　the　Chewy　wasn't　used　for　important　guests；　for　when　a　car　nosed　in　to　us　it　was　a　shiny　black　Cadillac。　I　got　in　front　with　the　driver　and　Rackham　joined　Roeder　in　the　rear。　They　didn't　shake　hands　when　I　pronounced　names。　The　driver　was　new　to　me…a　stocky　middleaged　number　with　black　hair　and　squinty　black　eyes。　He　had　nothing　whatever　to　say　to　anyone；　and　for　that　matter　neither　did　anybody　else；　all　the　way　to　our　destination。　Once　on　the　Taconic　State　Parkway　a　car　passed　and　cut　in　ahead　of　us　so　short　that　it　damn　near　grazed　our　bumper；　and　the　driver　muttered　something；　and　I　went　so　far　as　to　glance　at　him　but　ventured　no　words。　Anyway；　my　mind　was　occupied。
　　Evidently　Rackham　had　been　there　before　with　his　eyes　open；　for　there　was　no　suggestion　that　he　should　take　to　the　floor；　and　of　course　I　was　now　a　B。　We　left　the　parkway　a　couple　of　miles　south　of　Millwood；　to　the　right；　followed　a　curving　secondary　road　a　while；　turned　onto　another　main　route；　soon　left　it　for　another　secondary　road；　and　after　some　more　curves　hit　concrete　again。　The　garage　was　at　a　four…ers　a　little　out　of　Mount　Kisco；　and　I　never　did　know　what　the　idea　was　of　that　roundabout　way　of　getting　there。　In　front　it　looked　like　any　other　garage；　with　gas…pumps　and　a　graveled　plaza；　and　cars　and　miscellaneous　objects　around；　except　that　it　seemed　a　little　large　for　its　location。　Two　men　were　there　in　front；　one　dressed　like　a　mechanic　and　the　other　in　a　summer　suit；　even　a　necktie；　and　they　exchanged　nods　with　our　driver　as　we　headed　in。
　　The　big　room　we　drove　into　was　normal　too；　like　a　thousand　others　anywhere；　but　a　variation　was　ing。　Our　car　rolled　across；　past　pillars；　to　the　far　end；　and　stopped　just　in　front　of　a　big　closed　door；　and　our　driver　stuck　his　head　out；　but　said　nothing。　Nothing　happened　for　thirty　seconds；　then　the　big　door　slowly　opened；　rising；　the　driver　pulled　his　head　in；　and　the　car　went　forward。　As　we　cleared　the　entrance　the　door　started　back　down；　and　by　the　time　we　had　eased　across　to　a　stop　the　door　was　shut　again；　and　our　reception　mittee　was　right　there…two　on　one　side　and　one　on　the　other。　I　had　seen　two　of　them　before；　but　one　was　a　stranger。　The　stranger　was　in　shirt　sleeves；　with　his　gun　in　a　belt　holster。
　　Stepping　out；　I　announced；　〃I've　got　that　same　gun　under　my　armpit。〃
　　〃Okay；　Goodwin；〃　the　tenor　said。　'We'll　take　care　of　it。〃
　　They　did。　I　may　have　been　a　B；　but　there　was　no　discernible　difference　between　inspection　of　a　B　and　of　an　unknown。　In　fact；　it　seemed　to　me　that　they　were　slightly　more　thorough　than　they　had　been　on　Sunday；　which　may　have　been　because　there　were　three　of　us。　They　did　us　one　at　a　time；　with　me　first；　then　Rackham；　then　Roeder。　With　Roeder　they　were　a　little　more　superficial。　They　went　over　him；　but　not　so　enthusiastically；　and　all　they　did　with　the　brief　case　was　open　it　and　glance　inside　and　let　Roeder　himself　shut　it　again。
　　One　change　from　Sunday　was　that　two　of　them；　not　one；　acpanied　us　to　the　door　in　the　rear　wall；　and　through；　across　the　vestibule；　and　down　the　fourteen　steps　to　the　first　metal　door。　The　sentinel　who　opened　and　let　us　in　was　the　same　pasty…faced　bird　with　a　pointed　chin…Schwartz。　This　time　the　other　sentinel　did　not　stay　at　the　table　with　his　book　work。　He　was　right　there　with　Schwartz；　and　interested　in　the　callers；　especially　Rackham。
　　〃We're　a　little　early；〃　Roeder　said；　〃but　they　sent　us　on　in。〃
　　〃That's　all　right；〃　Schwartz　rumbled。　〃He's　ahead　of　schedule　today。　One　didn't　e。〃
　　He　went　to　the　big　metal　door　at　the　other　end；　pulled　it　open；　and　jerked　his　head。　〃On　in。〃
　　Entering；　Roeder　took　the　lead；　then　Rackham；　then　me。　Schwartz　brought　up　the　rear。　He　came　in　three　paces　and　stood。　Arnold　Zeck；　from　behind　his　desk；　told　him；　in　the　cold　precise　tone　that　he　used　for　everything；　〃All　right；　Schwartz。〃
　　Schwartz　left　us。　As　the　door　closed　I　hoped　to　heaven　it　was　as　soundproof　as　it　was　supposed　to　be。
　　Zeck　spoke。　〃The　last　time　you　were　here；　Rackham；　you　lost　control　of　yourself　and　you　know　what　happened。〃
　　Rackham　did　not　reply。　He　stood　with　his　hands　behind　him　like　a　man　ready　to　begin　a　speech；　but　his　trap　stayed　shut；　and　from　the　expression　of　his　face　it　was　a　good　guess　that　his　hands；　out　of　sight；　were　making　a　tight　knot。
　　〃Sit　down；〃　Zeck　told　him。
　　Since　the　seating　was　an　important　item　of　the　staging；　I　had　stepped　up　ahead　after　we　entered　and　made　for　the　chair　farthest　front；　a　little　to　the　left　of　Zeck's　desk　and　about　even　with　it；　and　Roeder　had　taken　the　one　nearest　me；　to　my　right。　That　left；　for　Rackham；　of　the　chairs　near　the　desk；　the　one　on　the　other　side；　and　he　went　to　it。　He　was　about　twelve　feet　from　Zeck；　Roeder　about　the　same；　and　I　was　slightly　closer。
　　Zeck　asked　Roeder；　〃Have　you　had　a　talk？〃
　　R