ericlustbader.the ninja-第33章

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　It　would　be　all　too　easy；　Nicholas　knew；　to　dismiss　Tomkin　as　villainous　and　have　nothing　more　to　do　with　him。　But　people's　facades　were　all　too　often　just　that。　He　had　touched　a　nerve　and　had　glimpsed　for　an　instant　something　else　in　the　man；　a　spark　that　humbled　him；　made　him　human。　Moreover；　Tomkin　was　intelligent　enough　to　realize　that　he　had　given　away　this　advantage　to　Nicholas　and　now　Nicholas　was　intrigued　enough　to　try　to　find　out　why。　He　did　not　have　long　to　wait。
　'I　want　you　to　work　for　me；'　Tomkin　said　easily。　'I　want　you　to　find　out　what's　going　on。　I　know　all　about　the　Yakuza！　I've　even　had　a　brush　with　Shoto。　You've　heard　of　him；　no　doubt？'　Nicholas　nodded　and　he　went　on。　'Tough　cookie；　that　one。　But　I　managed。'　He　put　his　finger　and　thumb　up；　pinched　his　lower　lip　thoughtfully。　'Don't　know　anything　about　ninja；　though；　and　what　I…　don't　know　about　myself　I　give　over　to　experts。〃　He　stabbed　a　forefinger。　'You're　an　expert　on　these　bastards；　isn't　that　right？〃
　'You　could　say　that。〃
　'Well；　I　want　to　hire　you；　then。　Find　out　what　this　is　all　about。'　He　produced　the　folded　sheet　of　rice　paper　with　the　ninja　crest　painted　on　it；　waved　it。　'Take　the　goddamned　thing。　I　don't　want　it。〃
　Nicholas　did　not　move。　'When　did　you　get　it？'　he　said。
　'Like　I　said；　came　in　the　Japan　pouch；　let　me　see；　oh；　about　a　week　ago。〃
　A　week；　Nicholas　thought。　It　could　not　be　a　coincidence。　Barry's　body　had　been　found　about　that　time。　Then　he　had　been　right。　Tomkin　was　the　target。　'I　think　you've　been　marked　for　assassination；'　he　said。
　Tomkin　did　not　even　blink。　'All　right。　It's　happened　before。'
　'Not　with　a　ninja。'
　'No；'　Tomkin　admitted。　'But　I　told　you　I've　had　a　spot　of　Yakuza　trouble。　Nothing　I　couldn't　handle。'
　'This　is　different。'
　'How　so？　He'll　never　get　to　me。'
　'There　are　a　thousand　ways　he　could　do　it　but　don't　waste　your　time　trying　to　figure　out　how。　You'll　never　do　it。'
　'Is　this　a　sales　pitch？'　Tomkin's　eyes　had　gone　hard。　'A　little　something　you　just　dreamed　up　to　give　yourself　a　raise　before　you've　even　started　work？'
　'I　never　said　I'd　take　the　job。'
　Tomkin　shrugged。　'Suit　yourself。　I've　got　Frank　and　Whistle　there。　I'm　not　worried。'
　Nicholas　did　not　even　look　at　them。　'Tomkin；　if　indeed　a　ninja　has　been　contracted　to　assassinate　you；　he'll　go　right　through　those　two　as　if　they　were　stalks　of　wheat。'
　'Like　I　said；　that's　some　sweet　sales　pitch　you've　got。'
　'It's　no　pitch　at　all。　You've　made　me　late　for　an　important　appointment。　I'm　not　inter　…'
　He　missed　the　signal　but　they　were　on　him；　one　on　each　side。　Frank's　hands　hung　loosely　at　his　sides；　the　fingers　slightly　curled。　Whistle's　gun　was　already　out。　It　was　a　snub…nosed　。38　not　so　good　at　long　range　but　brutal　within　fifteen　yards。　They　were　way　inside　that　now。
　Nicholas　was　in　the　classic　first　position　of　yoroi　kumi…uchi；　originally　grappling　in　armour　but　today　used　quite　effectively　when　one　was　dressed　in　Western　street　clothes。
　Whistle's　revolver　was　at　the　horizontal；　his　forefinger　beginning　to　squeeze　inwards　on　the　trigger。　Nicholas　stepped　forward；　jammed　his　right　foot　into　the　man's　left　instep　while　at　the　same　time　slamming　the　muzzle　of　the　gun　away　with　the　edge　of　his　left　hand。　There　was　an　explosion　and　the　bullet　whined　off　the　inner　wall；　leaving　a　grey　scar　against　the　blue。
　Whistle　dropped　the　useless　gun；　bringing　his　right　hand　upward　towards　Nicholas's　abdomen。　He　watched　it；　wide…eyed；　as　it　was　halted　in　mid…flight　as　if　it　had　e　up　against　a　concrete　barrier。　He　winced　in　pain　as　it　was　twisted　hard　round；　felt　a　hot　tearing　and　then　a　whip　like　snap。　At　the　same　instant；　Nicholas's　left　hand　smashed　into　his　collarbone　and　he　went　down；　unconscious。
　Frank　moved　in。　He　made　no　move　towards　the　gun　under　his　armpit。　His　fingers　were　as　straight　as　boards　as　he　whipped　forward。
　Nicholas　stood　motionless；　watching　the　unfolding　of　the　assault。　There　was　plenty　of　time。　He　is　left…handed；　Nicholas　thought；　and　he's　expecting　karate。
　At　the　point　of　Frank's　attack；　Nicholas　moved　almost　languidly；　separating　the　deadly　hands。　To　Tomkin；　watching　interestedly　from　the　sidelines；　it　appeared　as　if　he　had　not　moved　at　all；　merely　pushed　his　elbows　into　Frank's　rib　cage　almost　gently。　Frank　collapsed　onto　the　concrete　floor。
　'I　knew　you　were　good；'　Tomkin　said　excitedly。　'I　knew　it。　The　reports　said　so；　but　you　often　can't　trust　them。　Take　other　people's　work　for　granted　and　you　find　yourself　in　a　hole。　Happens　all　the　goddamned　time。'　He　stared　down　at　his　two　incapacitated　bodyguards。　'Fucking　great；　that's　all。'　He　looked　up；　extended　a　hand。　'Glad　to　have　you　aboard；　Nick。'
　Nicholas　stared　at　Tomkin's　face　as　he　moved　away　down　the　corridor　towards　the　elevator。　'I　told　you；　I'm　not　interested　in　working　for　you。〃　He　pressed　the　button　and　it　glowed。　The　elevator　began　its　ascent。　'You　have　no　respect　for　people。'　Tomkin　came　towards　him；　stepping　over　the　fallen　bodies。
　'It's　not　like　that。'
　'Sure　it　is。　I　don't　like　being　manipulated。　Any　more　than　I　imagine　Justine　does。　I　don't　owe　you　a　thing；　Tomkin。　You　have　no　claim　over　me。'
　Behind　him　the　elevator　doors　opened。　He　stepped　inside。
　'Wait　a　minute；　Nick。'　Tomkin　reached　out　a　hand。
　'Don't　call　me。　I'll　call　you。'
　The　doors　began　to　close　as　Nicholas　pressed　the　ground　button　but　Tomkin　lunged　forward；　holding　back　the　doors　with　his　hands。　His　face　was　as　hard　as　granite　and　there　was　a　peculiar　feral　light　in　his　eyes。　'Aren't　you　forgetting　something？'　he　spat。　'It's　not　only　my　life　that's　at　stake　but　my　daughters'；　too。　You　wouldn't　want　this　sonovabitch　to　get　his　hands　on　Justine。　Would　you？　Think　about　that；'　he　said　savagely　and　let　the　doors　sigh　shut。
　On　the　way　down；　Nicholas　recalled　the　night　he　and　Justine　were　together；　when　that　thing　came　through　the　kitchen　window。　Red　blood　and　black　fur。　The　Kuji…kiri　ninja　calling　card；　meant　to　create　terror；　one　of　the　ninja's　most　useful　weapons。　The　Kuji…kiri；　most　feared　of　all　the　ninja　ryu。　Whose　crest　was　the　komuso　ideogram；　circled；　surrounded　by　nine　diamonds。
　Justine！　his　mind　cried　out。　He　looked　up；　watching　in　impatience　as　the　floor　numbers　flickered　by。　He　wanted　to　get　to　a　phone　immediately。
　Outside　on　the　street　he　saw　a　dark…haired　man　with　wide　shoulders　and　a　pushed…in　face。　It　had　character；　like　a　cowboy's。　He　stood　beside　a　plain　white　Ford　sedan。　Even　without　the　removable　flashing　red　light　on　top；　he　knew　it　for　a　police　car。　But　he　had　recognized　the　face。　Detective　Lieutenant　Lew　Croaker。　He　walked　out　of　the　shadow　of　the　building's　makeshift　entrance　and；　tossing　his　hard　hat　to　one　of　the　workmen；　went　down　the　wooden　plank　to　the　kerb。
　He　had　used　the　phone　in　Abe　Russo's　portable　headquarters。　He　had　thought　about　calling　Ray　Florum；　the　police　lieutenant　out　at　West　Bay　Bridge；　but　he　knew　Justine　would　never　stand　for　it。　Accordingly；　he　got　Doc　Deerforth's　number　from　Information　and　spoke　to　him　for　several　minutes。　He　had　agreed　to　look　in　on　Justine　every　so　often。
　'Linnear；'　Croaker　said　as　he　came　up　to　him　in　the　sunshine；　'what　the　hell　were　you　doing　with　Raphael　Tomkin？'　He　worked　a　wooden　toothpick　between　his　teeth　with　two　long　slender　fingers。
　'Hello　to　you；　too；　Lieutenant。'　Nicholas　nodded。
　'Cut　the　wise　dialogue　and　get　in；'　Croaker　said；　ducking　his　head　as　he　sat　behind　the　wheel。　'We've　got　business　to　attend　to。'
　Nicholas　opened　the　door　on　the　passenger's　side　and　got　in。　As　soon　as　his　foot　was　off　the　asphalt；　the　car　roared　off。　He　pulled　at　the　door；　slamming　it　shut。
　'Didn't　your　buddy　Ito　give　you　specific　instructions？'　Croaker　said。　He　began　to　weave　through　the　uptown　traffic；　heading　for　the　left　side　of　Park　Avenue　and　the　street　divider。
　'Tomkin　picked　me　up　while　I　was　waiting　for　you。'
　Croaker　snorted。　'Didn't　your　mother　tell　you　never　to　get　into　a　car　filled　with　strangers？　Jesus　1　What'd　that　fucker　want　with　you？'
　'I　don't　have　to　answer　that。'
　Croaker　swung　his　head　round；　unmindful　of　the　tenacious　traffic。　He　glared　at　Nicholas。　'Listen；　buddy；　don't　give　me　a　hard　time。　I'm　telling　you　that　if　it　has　to　do　with　Raphael　Tomkin　it　fucking　is　my　business；　get　me？　Now　give　I'　He　braked　savagely；　in　line　to　make　a　left　onto　the　downtown　side　of　the　avenue。
　'What　makes　you　so　interested　in　Tomkin？'　Nicholas　was　tired　of　being　questioned　without　having　any　of　the　answers。
　'Now；　look；　Linnear；'　Croaker　said；　carefully　enunciating　each　word。　It　was　obvious　he　was　holding　himself　in　with　an　effort。　'I'm　doing　my　best　to　be　civil；　to　treat　you　with　respect。　I've　got　no　beef　with　you。　Yet。　But　today's　just　not　my　day；　I'm　on　a　short　fuse。　That　means；　you　being　here　beside　me；　it's　not　your　day　either。　Now　be　nice　and　tell　me　what　I　want　to　know。　I　promise；　it　won't　hurt。'　He　leant　on　the　horn；　turned　down　Park。
　'I'm　seeing　his　daughter；'　Nicholas　said。　'He　wanted　to　check　me　out。'
　Croaker　hit　the　steering　wheel　with　the　heel　of　his　hand；　bounced　up　and　down。　'Goddamn　I'　he　exclaimed。　'Goddamn　I　Hoi'　He　shook　his　head。　'What　do　you　know！'　Then　he　swore　as　he　was　forced　to　swerve　round　a　slowly　cruising　cab。　He　gunned　the　Ford　and　they　leapt　forward　into　the　semicircle　of　the　overpass　at　Forty…sixth　Street。　When　they　emerged；　below　Forty…second；　he　said；　'Jesus；　I　thought　I'd　pass　up　the　fucking　traffic　on　Second　by　going　down　Park　but　will　you　look　at　this。'　He　gestured　at　the　sea　of　cars　gleaming　in　the　sun　ahead　of　them。　They　were　baking　in　the　interior　and　the　air　stank　of　exhaust　and　overheated　oil。　'To　hell　with　this！'　He　reached　out　his　left　hand；　started　the　siren。　On　top　the　red　light　began　to　flash。　'Christ；'　he　said　as　the　cars　began　reluctantly　to　part；　'summer　in　New　York！'
　They　turned　east　on　Thirtieth　Street　and　Croaker　cut　the　siren。　'Which　one　is　it？〃
　'Which　what？'
　'Daughter；　Linnear。　Which　daughter？　Gelda；　the　one　who　like　Chivas；　or　is　it　the　crazy　younger　one　…　what's　her　name？'
　'Jus　tine。'
　'Yeah。　I　can　never　remember　it。'　He　shrugged。　'Too　pretty　for　a　Tomkin。'　He　turned　his　head；　spat　the　toothpick　out　of　the　open　window。　'Spoke　to　her　once；　couple　of　months　ago。　She's　kinda　hard　to　forget。'
　'Yes；'　Nicholas　said。　'She's　beautiful　all　right。'　He　wished　he　was　with　her　now　instead　of　being　in　this　melting　heat　on　his　way　to　the　morgue。　Goddamn　Tomkin　I　he　thought　savagely。　Then　he　smiled　inwardly。　You　could　say　this　for　the　bastard；　he　sure　knew　his　people。　Which　led　him　to　another　point。　'You　certainly　know　the　family　well。'
　They　had　pulled　up　half　way　down　the　block　between　Third　and　Second　Avenues　as　traffic　piled　up　at　the　red　light。　A　refrigerated　meat　provisions　truck　was　in　the　process　of　pulling　out　into　the　traffic；　its　nose　canted　into　the　flow。
　Croaker　turned　to　look　at　him；　one　elbow　on　the　sill　of　the　open　window。　He　had　grey　eyes　and　thick　hair　cut　rather　long；　bed　straight　back。　He　looked　as　if　he　had　been　through　the　wars；　like　a　character　out　of　From　Here　to　Eternity。　'You　sure　are　nosy　for　a　civilian。'　The　line　of　cars　started　up；　rolling　slowly　forward　after　the　truck　had　nosed　its　way　in；　it　was　no　faster　than　a　funeral　procession。　His　voice　changed　gears；　softening　remarkably。