ericlustbader.the ninja-第63章

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　She　twisted　her　head　over　her　shoulder　to　look　at　him。　Her　topaz　eyes　were　very　light。　She　smiled　ingenuously。　'There。'　The　voice　was　but　a　wisp。　'That　wasn't　so　bad；　was　it？'
　'I　wish　you'd　put　on　some　clothes。'
　She　walked　across　the　room。　He　tried　not　to　stare　at　the　movement　of　her　breasts　at　each　step　but　he　had　given　himself　an　impossible　task。　When　she　reached　the　wardrobe　she　raised　her　arms　and　his　temperature　at　the　same　time。　She　drew　out　a　forest…green　satin　robe；　came　towards　him。　'Is　that　better；　Lew　…　I　can　call　you　Lew？　After　all；　I　threw　up　all　over　you　in　the　van；　I　ought　to　be　able　to　call　you　by　your　first　name。　At　the　very　least。'　She　brushed　by　him；　went　into　the　living　room　with　the　ghost　of　a　smile。
　He　detached　himself　from　the　doorjamb；　wondering　what　he　was　doing　still　here；　always　on　the　job；　that's　me；　he　thought。　But　what　was　really　on　his　mind　was　his　dark　apartment　crouching　as　deserted　as　Wall　Street　at　a　weekend　waiting　for　him　to　return。　Going　home　to　that　seemed　as　out　of　the　question　as　when　it　had　been　filled　with　Alison's　scent。
　'Should　we　go　to　bed　now　or　after　the　food　gets　here？'　He　could　not　quite　keep　the　anger　out　of　his　voice。　There　was　a　degree　of　control　he　felt　had　abandoned　him　some　time　when　his　attention　had　been　elsewhere。
　Gelda　turned　in　the　middle　of　the　room。　Her　belted　robe　opened　as　if　on　cue　and　he　saw　the　gleaming　length　of　one　leg。　'Is　that　what　you　think？'　She　was　still　smiling　softly；　like　the　gentle　glow　from　a　heavily　shaded　lamp。
　'It's　obvious；　isn't　it？'
　'Is　it？'　One　eyebrow　arched。　'You　know　my　sexual　preference。'
　Of　course；　he　had　forgotten。　Deliberately？　He　felt　an　idiot。　He　put　his　hands　in　his　pockets　again；　turned　away　too　embarrassed　to　apologize。　Mental　sets；　he　thought　savagely。　Isn't　it　odd　how　the　eyes　see　one　thing　and　the　mind　…　that　great　plex　monstrosity　…　makes　leaps　of　illogicality　to　form　conclusions。　He　felt；　abruptly；　just　as　he　had　that　scorching　summer's　day　in　Hell's　Kitchen　when　not　even　the　turned…on　hydrants　helped；　when　the　steaming　air　hung　like　layers　of　blankets　your　well…meaning　but　misguided　mother　had　wrapped　you　in　when　sick；　impossible　to　take　off。　Tempers　were　short　and　incendiary　as　if　everyone　had　an　itch　they　couldn't　scratch。
　The　cry　came　through　the　wide…open　window　and　he　was　racing　down　the　dark　narrow　stairs　and　into　the　baking　sunshine。　Just　two　doors　away；　he　lay　in　the　alley；　his　uniform　dark　with　sweat　and　blood。　Trash　cans　lay　tumbled　around　him；　having　divulged　their　slimy　secrets　as　if　in　one　last　paroxysm。　The　grey　eyes　were　open　and　already　glazing；　eyes　that　had　always　reminded　him　of　a　storm…tossed　sky。　Gentle　eyes。
　So　this　was　how　it　ended　for　Martin　Croaker。　After　twenty…nine　years　on　the　New　York　City　Police　Force；　lying　sprawled　in　an　alley　piled　high　with　garbage；　surrounded　by　summer　stink；　fearful　rats　and　incurious　roaches；　the　wail　of　sirens　forlorn　in　the　distance；　closing；　shot　four　times　forty　feet　from　his　own　home。
　He　stared　down　at　the　corpse　of　his　father　and　the　world　had　spun　around；　canted　dangerously　on　its　axis。　He　felt　that；　at　any　moment；　its　momentum　and　crazy　angle　would　bine　to　throw　him　off。
　That's　what　he　wanted；　of　course；　to　run　far；　far　away　from　this　stinking　hole；　never　to　return。　Never。
　But　that　was　the　easy　way　out；　the　coward's　way。　Not　Lew　Croaker's　way。　His　father　had　taught　him　too　well。
　So　he　stayed　on。　To　join　the　police。　Old　and　grey；　his　mother　had　e　to　his　Academy　graduation　and　had　cried　as　he　was　sworn　in。
　He　had　never　found　the　man　responsible　for　his　father's　death　but；　after　a　time；　that　pain；　too；　had　been　put　to　rest。
　He　felt　her　touch　his　arm；　he　hadn't　realized　the　wound　was　still　sensitive。　After　all　this　time。
　Tm　sorry；'　she　said。　'I　shouldn't　have　teased　you。　I　was　just。。。'
　'What？　You　were　just　what？'
　Her　eyes　lowered。　'Happy　to　be　with　you。'　She　tried　to　make　a　half　joke　out　of　it；　failed。　'You　make　me　feel。。。〃
　'What？'
　She　looked　up。　'Just　feel。'
　He　felt　torn。　'I　bet　you　could　do　that　and　not　feel　a　thing。'
　She　nodded。　'I　could。　I'm　an　actress；　of　course。　Do　you　distrust　me？　You　couldn't。　Not　after　what　you　said　to　me　in　the　van。　You　took　an　enormous　chance；　telling　me　what　you　suspect　about　my　father。　It　was　an　idiotic　thing　to　do。'
　'That's　me。　Always　the　idiot。'
　'Yes。'　Her　voice　was　as　soft　as　silk。
　'You　know；　you　could　sell　me　anything。'　He　said　it　defensively；　because　she　was　so　close。　He　wanted　her　to　know　he　knew。　He　felt　he　needed　that　precaution　now。
　'No；'　she　said；　'I　couldn't。　Not　now；　anyway。'　She　put　her　fingers　along　his　arm；　they　seemed　very　warm。　The　challenge；　for　myself；　is　to　be　honest　with　you。　It's　what　will　make　me　happy。〃
　There　came　the　sound　of　muted　chimes。'
　She　disengaged　herself　from　him；　disappeared　into　the　old　fashioned　foyer。　Her　voice　floating；　'Hi；　darling。　e　on　in。'　Returning　with　her　arm　around　a　rather　tall　boy；　dark…haired；　almond…eyed。　Philip。　Croaker　turned　his　back　on　the　proceedings；　stared　out　at　the　dazzle　of　the　water。　A　long　barge　laden　with　garbage　wallowed　slowly　up…river；　a　tug　at　its　side。　A　man　in　a　red　and　white　tracksuit　was　jogging　along　the　promenade。　He　passed　the　barge；　going　the　other　way；　and　disappeared　from　view。　He　and　Gelda　in　bed　…　flash　of　flesh　against　flesh。
　'What　happened　to　you；　darling？　Your　face　looks　awful。'
　Her　voice　was　like　the　background　chatter　of　a　TV　left　on　at　low　volume。　He　wanted　that　calico　e　in　so　bad　he　could　taste　it：　the　satisfaction　of　putting　a　bastard　like　Tomkin　away　for　twenty　years。
　'What　in　God's　name　happened　to　you；　darling？　You　look　like　you've　been　in　a　fight。'
　'No　fight；　G。'
　'Well；　what　then？'
　'Nothing。　I　fell　down。。。'
　There　was　a　sailboat　out　there　…　can　you　imagine？　In　the　middle　of　the　goddamned　week。　The　sail　white　against　the　patchwork　colours　of　the　buildings　on　the　far　shore；　scudding　along　as　effortlessly　as　a　cloud。　No　pressure　out　there　on　the　river；　just　the　wind　and　the　salt　spray　and　a　long　way　until　you　reach　port。　Your　own　master。　Her　breasts　heavy　in　his　hands；　her　lips　parting。
　'。。。　In　an　alley。　The　garbage　cans　…'
　'Don't　be　an　idiot；　Philip。　And　don't　lie　to　me。　Darling；　you　must　tell　me　what　happened。　Here；　let　me　put　some　ice　on　it　…do　as　I　say。'　A　soft　clatter。　'There。'
　There　would　be　time；　after　Tomkin　was　put　away；　to　take　some　time　off。　Go　to　the　sea　as　Melville　did　when　he　was　sick　at　heart　and　he　felt　like　screaming　at　anyone　who　came　too　close。　Yes；　the　sea。　Not　to　fish；　he　hated　fishing。　But　to　sail；　perhaps。　He'd　never　done　that　and　it　might　be　time　now　to　try　it。　Try　her。
　'At　Ah　Ma's　…　I　worked　there　last　night。'
　'Well；　she'd　never　do　that　to　you。'
　'No。　A　man　…'
　'A　bastard；　that's　what。　Here；　keep　the　ice　on　for　a　little　longer。　I　forbid　you　to　go　there　again。'
　'But　the　man　is　ing　here　again　tonight。　She　wants　to　be　there　…'
　'I　don't　care　what　Ah　Ma　wants；　you're　not　going。　She'll　have　to　learn　to　do　without　you。'
　'It　won't　be　any　good　without　me。'
　'What　do　you　mean？'
　'The　man　wants　me。　That's　how　he　…　ejaculates。　I　said　that　right；　didn't　I？'
　'My　God　…　who　is　this　man？'
　'I　don't　know。　A　Japanese。　A　very　strange　man。　Eyes　like　dead　stones　…　you　know；　like　he　was　from　another　world。'
　But　Croaker　was　already　turning；　his　face　flushed　with　the　adrenalin　building　in　his　body。　'Talk　to　me；　Philip；'　he　said　slowly　and　carefully；　masking　his　excitement。　'Tell　me　about　the　Japanese　with　eyes　like　dead　stones。'
　Croaker　was　waiting　for　them　at　the　tower's　Park　Avenue　side。　His　big　figure　was　leaning　negligently　against　the　side　of　his　unmarked　sedan。　The　detachable　red　light　revolved　atop　the　car；　piercing　the　long　twilight's　sapphire　haze　like　a　lighthouse　beacon's　unerring　warning。
　Nicholas　emerged　from　the　limo　as　soon　as　it　pulled　over　to　the　kerb　just　to　the　uptown　side　of　Croaker。　As　he　went　quickly　towards　the　detective；　he　was　acutely　aware　of　Tomkin's　presence　blooming　behind　him　as　Tom；　the　thin　chauffeur；　held　the　heavy　door　open。
　He　was　aware；　too；　of　the　city　around　him；　everything　shrouded　in　blue。　The　sun　was　just　a　memory　but　its　heat　refused　to　leave　the　asphalt　under　his　shoe　soles。　The　atmosphere　was　thick　with　exhaust　fumes。　The　strings　of　dull　yellow　cabs　along　both　sides　of　the　avenue　seemed　like　streaming　caravans　entering　and　leaving　the　bowels　of　the　gilt…edged　Helmsley　Building。
　'How's　your　boss？'　Croaker's　voice　was　flat　and　hard　and　unyielding；　he　stared　past　Nicholas's　right　shoulder。
　Nicholas；　feeling　the　live…wire　buildup　of　tension；　said；　'Leave　it　alone；　Lew。　Forget　about　…'
　'Too　late　for　that；　buddy。'
　He　felt　the　presence　directly　behind　him　even　before　he　heard
　Tomkin's　voice　say；　'Still　patrolling　the　streets；　I　see；　Lieutenant。　Keeping　New　York　safe　for　us　citizens？'　The　note　of　sarcasm　was　unmistakable。
　'This　city's　still　dangerous　for　some；〃　Croaker　said　pointedly。
　'What　the　hell's　that　supposed　to　mean？'
　'Figure　it　out　for　yourself；　Tomkin。'
　'I　don't　like　veiled　threats；　Lieutenant。　Not　from　anyone。　Perhaps　I　should　have　another　　talk　with　the　missioner　and　…'
　'I　knew　it　was　you；　you　dirty　…'
　'…we'll　see　how　long　you　remain　a　lieutenant　…'
　'…reassigned　now　to　this　case　Nicholas　was　hired　for；　so　I　guess　we'll　be　seeing　a　lot　of　each　other。'
　'What？'
　There　was　a　malicious　grin　on　his　face　now；　his　skin　alternately　lighter　and　darker　yellow；　with　the　wash　of　passing　headlights　from　the　traffic　flow。
　Brake　lights　turned　Tomkin's　face　reddish。　'My　God；　I　won't　be　saddled　with　you　again！'
　'Nothing　you　can　do　about　it　now；　I'm　afraid。　The　transfer　came〃　down　directly　from　the　missioner　himself。　Even　you　won't　get　him　to　change　that　order。　He'd　look　far　too　foolish；　scurrying　to　rescind　a　reassignment。'
　'Christ；　haven't　I　had　enough　of　you　already？　You've　hounded　me　about　…'
　'I'm　only　here　to　protect　you；'　Croaker　pointed　out；　'and　to　nail　the　ninja　before　he　gets　you。'
　Tomkin's；　eyes　narrowed。　The　peculiar　monochromatic　light　had　washed　out　all　colour　from　his　eyes；　they　looked　oddly　pale。　'Wouldn't　you　just　love　to　sit　back　and　let　him　do　your　dirty　work？　Sure；　sure。　You　could　say；　〃Well；　I'm　sorry；　Captain；　but　I　did　my　best。　I　got　beaten；　is　all。　Can't　blame　me　for　that。〃'
　'Listen；　you　bastard'　…　Croaker　lunged　forward；　trying　to　get　around　Nicholas's　body　…　'I　do　my　job　better　than　anyone　else　in　this　creepy　city　and　if　that　means　making　sure　you　don't　buy　it；　I'll　do　it。　When　I　nail　you；　buddy；　it's　gonna　be　for　the　same　reasons　…'
　'What　reasons？'　Tomkin　snarled。　'You　got　nothing　…'
　'No；　but　I　will　have；'　Croaker　shouted。　'And　when　I　do；　I'll
　be　ing　for　you　with　a　warrant　that'll　stand　up　to　any　of　your　high…priced　attorneys　I'
　'You've　got　nothing；〃　Tomkin　sneered；　'and　you'll　get　nothing。　I　was　nowhere　near　Angela　Didion　the　night　she　was　murdered。　There's　nothing　linking　me　to　…'
　They　were　pushing　and　shoving　now。　Nicholas　heard　swift　reports　on　the　asphalt　as　sharp　as　rifle　shots　as　Tom　headed　their　way。　He　shouldered　the　two　roughly　apart；　said；　'Knock　it　off；　both　of　you。'
　Then　Tom　had　hold　of　his　boss　and　was　pulling　at　him。　Tomkin　allowed　himself　to　be　drawn　away　from　the　confr