sidneysheldon.astrangerinthemirror-第13章

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　〃It's　like　an　aphrodisiac；〃　one　of　the　girls　confided　to　by。　〃A　few　hours　in　a　pair　of　tight　pants　and　a　girl　bees　having　nymphomaniac。〃　
　Toby　did　not　bother　to　learn　any　of　their　names。　They　were　all　〃baby〃　or　〃honey〃；　and　they　became　a　marvelous；　sensuous　blur　of　thighs　and　lips　and　eager　bodies。　
　
　During　the　final　week　of　Toby's　engagement　at　the　Oasis；　he　had　a　visitor。　Toby　had　finished　the　first　show　and　was　in　his　dressing　room；　creaming　off　his　makeup；　when　dining　room　captain　opened　the　door　and　said　in　hushed　tones；　〃Mr。　Al　Caruso　would　like　you　to　join　his　table。〃　
　Al　Caruso　was　one　of　the　big　names　in　Las　Vegas。　He　owned　one　hotel　outright；　and　it　was　rumored　that　he　had　shares　in　two　or　three　others。　It　was　also　rumored　that　he　had　bad　connections；　bur　that　was　no　concern　of　Toby's。　What　was　important　was　that　if　Al　Caruso　liked　him；　Toby　would　get　bookings　in　Las　Vegas　for　the　rest　of　his　life。　He　hurriedly　finished　dressing　and　went　into　the　dining　room　to　meet　Caruso。　
　Al　Caruso　was　a　short　man　in　his　fifties　with　gray　hair；　nkling；　soft　brown　eyes　and　a　little　paunch。　He　reminded　by　of　a　miniature　Santa　Claus。　As　Toby　came　up　to　the　tabIe；　Caruso　rose；　held　out　his　hand；　smiled　warmly　and　said；　
　〃Al　Caruso。　Just　wanted　to　tell　you　what　I　think　of　you；　Toby。　Pull　up　a　chair。〃　
　There　were　two　other　men　at　Caruso's　table；　dressed　in　dark　suits。　They　were　both　burly；　sipped　Coca…Colas　and　did　not　say　a　word　during　the　entire　meeting。　Toby　never　learned　their　names。　Toby　usually　had　his　dinner　after　the　first　show　and　was　ravenous　now；　but　Caruso　had　obviously　just　finished　eating；　and　Toby　did　not　want　to　appear　to　be　more　interested　in　food　than　in　his　meeting　with　the　great　man。　
　〃I'm　impressed　with　you；　kid；〃　Caruso　said。　〃Real　impressed。〃　And　he　beamed　at　Toby　with　those　mischievous　brown　eyes。　
　〃Thanks；　Mr。　Caruso；〃　Toby　said　happily。　〃That　means　a　lot　to　me。〃　
　〃Call　me　Al。〃　
　〃Yes；　sirAl。〃　
　〃You　got　a　future；　Toby。　I've　seen　'em　e　and　I've　seen　'em　go。　But　the　ones　with　talent　last　a　long　time。　You　got　talent。〃　
　Toby　could　feel　a　pleasant　warmth　suffusing　his　body。　He　fleetingly　debated　whether　to　tell　Al　Caruso　to　discuss　business　with　Clifton　Lawrence；　but　Toby　decided　it　might　be　better　if　he　made　the　deal　himself。　If　Caruso　is　this　excited　about　me；　Toby　thought；　I　can　make　a　better　deal　than　Cliff。　Toby　decided　he　would　let　Al　Caruso　make　the　first　offer　and　then　he　would　do　some　hard　bargaining。　
　〃I　almost　wet　my　pants；〃　Caruso　was　telling　him。　〃That　monkey　routine　of　yours　is　the　runniest　thing　I　ever　heard。〃　
　〃ing　from　you；　that's　a　real　pliment；〃　Toby　said　with　sincerity。　The　little　Santa　Claus　eyes　were　filled　with　tears　of　laughter。　He　took　out　a　white　silk　handkerchief　and　wiped　them　away。　He　turned　to　his　two　escorts。　〃Did　I　say　he's　a　funny　man？〃　The　two　men　nodded。　Al　Caruso　turned　back　to　Toby。　
　〃Tell　you　why　I　came　to　see　you；　Toby。〃　
　This　was　the　magical　moment；　his　entrance　into　the　big　time。　Clifton　Lawrence　was　off　in　Europe　somewhere；　making　deals　for　has…been　clients　when　he　should　have　been　here　making　this　deal。　Well；　Lawrence　would　have　a　real　surprise　in　store　for　him　when　he　returned。　Toby　leaned　forward　and　said；　smiling　engagingly；　
　〃I'm　listening；　Al。〃　
　〃Millie　loves　you。〃　　
　Toby　blinked；　sure　that　he　had　missed　something。　The　man　was　watching　him；　his　eyes　twinkling。　
　〃I　　I'm　sorry；〃　Toby　said；　in　confusion。　〃What　did　you　say？〃　
　Al　Caruso　smiled　warmly。　〃Millie　loves　you。　She　told　me〃。
　Millie？　Could　that　be　Caruso's　wife？　His　daughter？　Toby　started　to　speak；　but　Al　Caruso　interrupted。　
　〃She's　a　great　kid。　I　been　keepin'　her　for　three；　four　years。〃　He　turned　to　the　other　two　men。　〃Four　years？〃　They　nodded。　Al　Caruso　turned　back　to　Toby。　
　〃I　love　that　girl；　Toby。　really　crazy　about　her。〃　Toby　could　feel　the　blood　beginning　to　drain　from　his　face。　
　〃Mr。　Caruso〃　
　Al　Caruso　said；　〃Millie　and　me　got　a　deal。　I　don't　cheat　her　except　with　my　wife；　and　she　don't　cheat　on　me　unless　tells　me。〃　
　He　beamed　at　Toby；　and　this　time　Toby　saw　something　beyond　the　cherubic　smile　that　turned　his　blood　cold。　
　〃Mr。　Caruso〃　
　〃You　know　something；　Toby？　You're　the　first　guy　she　cheated　on　me　with。〃　He　turned　to　the　two　men　at　the　table　〃Is　that　the　honest　truth？〃　They　nodded。　When　Toby　spoke；　his　voice　was　trembling。　
　〃I　　I　swear　to　you　I　didn't　know　Millie　was　your　girlfriend。　If　I　had　even　guess　it；　I　wouldn't　have　touched　her。　I　wouldn't　have　me　within　a　mile　of　her；　Mr。　Caruso　〃　
　The　Santa　Claus　beamed　at　him。　〃Al。　Call　me　Al。〃　
　〃Al。〃　It　came　out　as　a　croak。　Toby　could　feel　the　perspiration　running　down　under　his　arms。　
　〃Look；　Al；〃　he　said。　I　I'll　never　see　her　again。　Never。　Believe　me；　I　〃　
　Caruso　was　staring　at　him。　〃Hey！　I　don't　think　you　were　faking　to　me。〃　
　Toby　swallowed。　〃Yes。　Yes；　I　was。　I　heard　every　word　said。　And　you　don't　ever　have　to　worry　about　〃　
　〃I　said　the　kid　loves　you。　If　she　wants　you；　then　I　want　to　have　you。　I　want　her　to　be　happy。　Understand？〃　
　Drops　were　creeping　down　Toby's　back。　But　it　was　all　right。　Caruso　was　beaming　and　saying；　
　〃You　were　great　tonight；　Toby；　really　great。〃　Toby　began　to　relax。　〃It　was　a　good　audience。〃　Caruso's　brown　eyes　twinkled　and　he　said；　〃You　made　them　a　good　audience；　Toby。　I　told　you　　you　got　talent。〃　〃Thanks；　Al。〃　He　wished　they　would　all　leave；　so　he　could　be　on　his　way。　〃You　work　hard；〃　Al　Caruso　said。　He　turned　to　his　two　lieutenants。　〃Did　I　say　I　never　seen　nobody　work　so　hard？〃　The　two　men　nodded。　Caruso　turned　back　to　Toby。　〃HeyMillie　was　kinda　upset　you　didn't　call　her。　I　told　her　it　was　because　you　was　workin'　so　hard。〃　
　〃That's　right；〃　Toby　said　quickly。　〃I'm　glad　you　understand。　Al。〃　
　Al　smiled　benignly。　〃Sure。　But　you　know　what　I　don't　understand？　You　didn't　call　to　find　out　what　time　the　wedding　is。〃　
　〃I　was　going　to　call　in　the　morning。〃　Al　Caruso　laughed　and　said　chidingly；　〃From　L。A。？〃　
　Toby　felt　a　small　pang　of　anxiety。　〃What　are　you　talking　about；　Al？〃　
　Caruso　regarded　him　reproachfully。　〃You　got　your　suitcases　all　packed　in　there。〃　He　pinched　Toby's　cheek　playfully。　〃I　told　you　I'd　kill　anyone　who　hurt　Millie。〃　
　〃Wait　a　minute！　Honest　to　God；　I　wasn't〃　
　〃You're　a　good　kid；　but　you're　stupid；　Toby。　I　guess　that's　part　of　being　a　genius；　huh？〃　
　Toby　stared　at　the　chubby；　beaming　countenance；　not　knowing　what　to　say。　
　〃You　gotta　believe　me；〃　Al　Caruso　said　warmly；　〃I'm　your　friend。　I　wanna　make　sure　nothing　bad　happens　to　you。　For　Millie's　sake。　But　if　you　won't　listen　to　me；　what　can　I　do？　You　know　how　you　get　a　mule　to　pay　attention？〃　Toby　shook　his　head　dumbly。　〃First；　you　hit　it　over　the　head　with　a　two…by…four。〃　Toby　felt　fear　rising　in　his　throat。　〃Which　is　your　good　arm？〃　Caruso　asked。　　
　'My　　my　right　one；〃　Toby　mumbled。　Caruso　nodded　genially　and　fumed　to　the　two　men。　
　〃Break　it〃　he　said。　
　From　out　of　nowhere；　a　tire　iron　appeared　in　the　hands　ie　of　the　men。　The　two　of　them　began　closing　in　on　。　The　river　of　fear　became　a　sudden　flood　that　made　whole　body　shake。　
　''For　Christ's　sake；〃　Toby　heard　himself　say；　insanely。　''You　can't　do　this。〃　
　One　of　the　men　hit　him　hard　in　the　stomach。　In　the　next　second；　Toby　felt　excruciating　pain　as　the　tire　iron　slammed　against　his　right　arm；　shattering　bones。　He　fell　to　the　flooring　in　an　unbearable　agony。　He　tried　to　scream；　but　he　could　not　catch　his　breath。　Through　tear…filled　eyes；　he　looked　and　saw　Al　Caruso　standing　over　him；　smiling。　
　〃Have　I　got　your　attention？〃　Caruso　asked　softly。　
　Toby　nodded；　in　torment。　
　〃Good；〃　Caruso　said。　He　turned　to　one　of　the　men。　〃Turn　up　his　pants。〃　
　The　man　leaned　down　and　unzipped　Toby's　fly。　He　took　tire　iron　and　flicked　out　Toby's　penis。　Caruso　stood　Acre　a　moment；　looking　down　at　it。　
　〃You're　weak　man；　Toby。　You're　really　hung。〃　
　Toby　was　filled　with　a　dread　such　as　he　had　never　known。　
　''O　God　。。。　please　。。。　don't。。。　don't　do　it　to　me；〃　he　gasped。
　〃I　wouldn't　hurt　you；〃　Caruso　told　him　〃As　long　as　you're　good　to　Millie；　you're　my　friend。　If　she　ever　tells　me　you　did　anything　to　hurt　heranythingyou　understand　〃　He　nudged　Toby's　broken　arm　with　the　toe　of　his　shoe。　Toby　screamed　aloud。　〃I'm　glad　we　understand　each　other；〃　Caruso　beamed。　〃The　wedding　is　at　one　o'clock。〃　
　Caruso's　voice　was　fading　in　and　out　as　Toby　felt　himself　falling　into　unconsciousness。　But　he　knew　he　had　to　hang　on。　
　''Ican't；〃　he　whimpered。　〃My　arm。。。〃　
　〃Don't　worry　about　that；〃　AI　Caruso　said。　〃There's　a　doc　on　the　way　up　to　take　care　of　you。　He's　gonna　set　your　arm　and　give　you　some　stuff　so　you　won't　feel　no　pain。　The　boys　be　here　tomorrow　to　pick　you　up。　You　be　ready；　huh？〃　
　Toby　lay　there　in　a　nightmare　of　agony；　staring　up　at　Santa　Claus's　smiling　face；　unable　to　believe　that　any　of　this　was　really　happening。　He　saw　Caruso's　foot　moving　toward　his　arm　again。　
　〃S　　sure；〃　Toby　moaned。　〃I'll　be　ready。。。〃　And　he　lost　consciousness。　
　
　　
　The　wedding；　a　gala　event；　was　held　in　the　ballroom　of　Morocco　Hotel。　It　seemed　that　half　of　Las　Vegas　was　present。　There　were　entertainers　and　owners　from　all　the　other　hotels　and　showgirls　and；　in　the　center　of　it　all；　Al　Caruso　with　a　couple　dozen　of　his　friends；　quiet；　conservatively　dressed；　most　of　whom　did　not　drink。　There　were　lavish　arrangements　of　flowers　everywhere；　strolling　musicians；　a　gargantuan　banquet　and　two　fountains　that　flowed　champagne。　Al　Caruso　taken　care　of　everything。　Everyone　sympathized　with　the　groom；　whose　arm　was　in　the　cast　as　a　result　of　an　accidental　fall　down　some　stairs。　But　all　mented　on　what　a　marvelous…looking　couple　the　bride　and　groom　made　and　what　a　wonderful　wedding　it　was。　
　Toby　had　been　in　such　a　daze　from　the　opiates　that　the　doctor　had　given　him　that　he　had　walked　through　the　ceremony　almost　oblivious　to　what　was　going　on。　Then；　as　the　drugs　began　to　wear　off　and　the　pain　began　to　take　hold　again；　the　despair　and　hate　flooded　back　into　him。　He　wanted　to　scream　to　everyone　in　the　room　the　unspeakable　humiliation　that　been　forced　upon　him。　Toby　turned　to　look　at　his　bride　across　the　room。　He　remembered　Millie　now。　She　was　a　pretty　girl　in　her　twenties；　with　honey…blonde　hair　and　a　good　figure。　Toby　recalled　that　she　had　laughed　louder　than　the　others　at　his　stories　and　had　wed　him　around。　Something　else　came　back　to　him　too。　It　was　one　of　the　few　who　had　refused　to　go　to　bed　with　him；　which　had　only　served　to　whet　Toby's　appetite。　It　was　all　ing　back　to　him　now。　
　〃I'm　crazy　about　you；〃　he　had　said。　〃Don't　you　like　me？〃　
　〃Of　course　I　do；〃　she　had　replied。　〃But　I　have　a　boyfriend。〃　
　Why　hadn't　he　listened　to　her！　Instead；　he　had　coaxed　her　up　to　his　room　for　a　drink　and　then　had　started　telling　her　funny　stories。　Millie　was　laughing　so　hard　that　she　hardly　noticed　what　Toby　was　doing　until　he　had　her　undressed　and　in　bed。　
　〃Please；　Toby；''　she　had　begged。　〃Don't。　My　boyfriend　will　be　angry。〃　
　〃Forget　about　him。　I'll　take　care　of　the　jerk　later；〃　Toby　had　said。　〃I'm　going　to　take　care　of　you；　now。〃　
　They　had　had　a　wild　night　of　lovemaking。　In　the　morning；　when　Toby　had　awakened；　Millie　was　lying　beside　him；　crying。　In　a　benevolent　mood；　Toby　had　taken　her　in　his　arms　and　said；　
　〃Hey；　baby