p&c.thunderhead-第26章

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　Rowling　passed　over　a　box　of　disposable　gloves。　〃Now　put　these　on。〃　She　tugged　on　a　pair　herself；　then　placed　one　of　the　artifact　bags　between　them　and　unsealed　it　carefully。　Skip　peered　inside；　curious　despite　himself。　The　sherds　came　in　a　variety　of　patterns　and　colors。　Some　were　badly　weathered；　others　still　quite　fresh。　A　few　were　corrugated　and　blackened　with　cooking　smoke。　Many　were　too　small　to　clearly　determine　what　kind　of　designs　had　been　painted　on　them；　but　some　were　large　enough　to　make　out　motifs：　wavy　lines；　series　of　diamonds；　parallel　zig…zags。　Skip　remembered　collecting　similar　sherds　with　his　father。　Back　when　he　was　a　kid；　it　had　been　okay　to　do　that。　Not　anymore。　
　The　lab　technician　removed　a　sherd　from　the　bag。　〃This　is　Cortez　black…on…white。〃　She　laid　it　gingerly　on　the　table　and　her　fingers　moved　back　into　the　bag　and　withdrew　another　sherd。　〃And　this　is　Kayenta　black…on…white。　Take　a　careful　note　of　the　differences。〃　
　She　put　the　sherds　into　two　clear　plastic　containers；　then　drew　another　sherd　from　the　bag。　〃What's　this？〃　
　Skip　scrutinized　it。　〃It　looks　like　the　first　one　you　drew　out。　Cortez。〃　
　〃Correct。〃　Rowling　put　the　sherd　into　the　first　plastic　bin；　then　drew　out　another　sherd。　〃And　this　one？〃　
　〃It's　the　other。　Kayenta。〃　
　〃Very　good。〃　Rowling　placed　the　sherd　into　the　other　bin；　then　drew　out　a　fifth　sample　from　the　bag。　〃And　how　about　this？〃　There　was　a　slightly　sardonic　expression　on　Rowling's　face；　a　faint　challenge。　It　looked　almost　like　the　second　sherd；　but　not　quite。　Skip　opened　his　mouth　to　say　Kayenta；　then　closed　it　again。　He　stared；　reaching　deep　into　his　memory。　
　〃Chuska　Wide　Banded？〃　he　asked。　
　There　was　a　sudden　pause；　and　for　a　moment　Rowling's　face　lost　its　assurance。　〃How　in　the　world…？〃　
　〃My　father　liked　potsherds；〃　said　Skip；　a　little　diffidently。　
　〃That's　going　to　help　us　a　lot；〃　she　said；　her　voice　warming。　〃Maybe　Nora　was　right。　Anyway；　you'll　find　all　sorts　of　good　things　in　here：　Cibola　ware；　St。　John's　Polychrome；　Mogollon　Brownware；　McElmo。　But　see　for　yourself。〃　She　reached　across　the　table　and　pulled　over　a　laminated　sheet。　〃This　shows　you　samples　of　the　two　dozen　or　so　styles　you're　likely　to　find　from　the　Ponderosa　Draw　site。　Separate　them　by　style；　and　put　any　questionable　sherds　to　one　side。　I'll　e　back　and　check　on　your　progress　in　an　hour　or　so。〃　
　Skip　watched　her　leave；　then　sighed　deeply　and　turned　his　attention　to　the　overstuffed　Baggie。　At　first；　the　work　seemed　both　boring　and　confusing；　and　the　heap　of　questionable　sherds　began　to　pile　up。　But　then；　almost　imperceptibly；　he　grew　more　sure　in　his　identification：　it　was　instinctive；　almost；　the　way　the　shape；　condition；　even　position　of　the　sherds　could　speak　as　loudly　as　the　design　itself。　Memories　of　long　afternoons　spent　with　his　father；　pacing　over　some　ruin　in　the　middle　of　nowhere；　came　back　with　a　bittersweet　tang。　And　then；　back　at　the　house；　poring　over　monographs；　sorting　and　gluing　the　sherds　onto　pieces　of　cardboard。　He　wondered　what　had　bee　of　all　their　painstaking　collections。　
　The　lab　was　quiet　except　for　the　occasional　keytaps　of　the　young　technician　in　the　far　corner。　Skip　started　when　he　felt　a　hand　on　his　shoulder。　
　〃So？〃　Rowling　asked　him。　〃How's　it　going？〃　
　〃Has　it　been　an　hour？〃　Skip　asked。　He　sat　up　and　looked　at　his　watch。　The　headache　was　gone。　
　〃Just　about。〃　She　peered　into　the　bins。　〃Good　heavens；　you've　worked　your　way　through　two　bags　already。〃　
　〃Does　that　make　me　teacher's　pet？〃　Skip　asked；　massaging　his　neck。　In　the　distance；　he　heard　a　rap　at　the　laboratory　door。　
　〃Let　me　look　over　your　work　first；　see　how　many　mistakes　you've　made；〃　Rowling　replied。　
　Abruptly；　a　high；　tremulous　voice　rang　out　on　the　far　side　of　the　room：　〃Skip　Kelly？　Is　there　a　Skip　Kelly　here？〃　
　Skip　glanced　up。　It　was　the　young　technician；　looking　very　nervous。　And　easing　past　him；　Skip　could　see　the　source　of　his　nervousness：　a　large　man　in　a　blue　uniform。　The　man　walked　partway　toward　Skip；　the　gun；　baton；　and　handcuffs　on　his　belt　clinking　slightly；　then　stopped。　He　hooked　his　hands　in　his　belt　with　a　slight　smile。　The　room　had　fallen　silent。　
　〃Skip　Kelly？〃　he　asked　in　a　low；　calm　baritone。　
　〃Yes；〃　said　Skip；　going　cold；　his　mind　racing　through　a　dozen　possibilities；　all　of　them　unpleasant。　That　asshole　neighbor　must　have　plained。　Or　maybe　it's　that　woman　with　the　dachshund。　Christ；　I　only　ran　over　its　back　leg；　and…　
　〃Could　I　speak　with　you　outside；　please？〃　
　In　the　solemn　darkness　of　the　anteroom；　the　man　flipped　open　an　ID　wallet　and　aimed　it　in　Skip's　direction。　〃I'm　Lieutenant　Detective　Al　Martinez；　Santa　Fe　Police　Department。〃　
　Skip　nodded。　
　〃You're　a　hard　man　to　reach；〃　Martinez　said　in　a　voice　that　managed　to　be　both　friendly　and　neutral　at　the　same　time。　〃I　wonder　if　I　could　have　a　bit　of　your　time。〃　
　〃My　time？〃　Skip　managed　to　say。　〃Why？〃　
　〃We'll　get　to　that　at　the　station；　Mr。　Kelly；　if　you　don't　mind。〃　
　〃The　station；〃　Skip　repeated。　〃When？〃　
　〃Let's　see；〃　said　Martinez；　glancing　first　at　the　floor；　then　at　the　ceiling；　then　back　at　Skip。　〃Right　about　now　would　be　nice。〃　
　Skip　swallowed。　Then　he　nodded　toward　the　open　laboratory　door。　〃I'm　at　work　right　now。　Can't　it　wait　until　later？〃　
　There　was　a　brief　pause。　〃No；　Mr。　Kelly；〃　the　policeman　replied。　〃e　to　think　of　it；　I　don't　believe　it　can。〃　
　
　
21
　
　SKIP　FOLLOWED　THE　POLICEMAN　OUT　OF　THE　building　to　a　waiting　car。　The　detective　was　enormous；　with　a　neck　like　a　redwood　stump；　yet　his　movements　were　light；　even　gentle。　Martinez　stopped　at　the　passenger　side　and；　to　Skip's　surprise；　held　the　door　open　for　him。　As　the　car　pulled　away；　Skip　glanced　in　the　rearview　mirror。　He　could　see　a　pair　of　white　faces　framed　by　the　open　door　of　the　Artifactual　Assemblages　building；　watching　motionlessly；　dwindling　at　last　to　invisibility。　
　〃My　first　day　on　the　job；〃　Skip　said。　〃Great　impression。〃　
　They　pulled　through　the　gates　of　the　pound　and　began　to　accelerate。　Martinez　slipped　a　stick　of　gum　out　of　his　breast　pocket　and　offered　it　to　Skip。　
　〃No　thanks。〃　
　The　detective　folded　the　stick　into　his　own　mouth　and　began　to　chew；　muscles　in　his　jaw　and　neck　working　slowly。　The　irregular　form　of　the　La　Fonda　Hotel　loomed　on　his　right。　Then　they　passed　the　plaza　and　the　Palace　of　the　Governors；　Indians　selling　jewelry　under　the　portal；　the　sunlight　glinting　off　the　polished　silver　and　turquoise。　
　〃Am　I　going　to　need　a　lawyer？〃　Skip　asked。　
　Martinez　chewed　his　gum　diligently。　〃I　don't　think　so；〃　he　said；　〃'Course；　you're　wele　to　one　if　you　want。〃　
　The　car　moved　past　the　library　and　pulled　around　behind　the　old　police　building。　Several　Dumpsters　sat　in　front；　filled　with　broken　pieces　of　drywall。　
　〃Renovating；〃　Martinez　explained　as　they　entered　a　lobby　draped　in　plastic。　The　lieutenant　stopped　at　a　desk　and　took　a　folder　offered　by　a　uniformed　woman。　He　led　Skip　along　a　hallway　smelling　of　paint；　down　a　flight　of　stairs。　Opening　a　scratched　door；　he　ushered　Skip　in。　Beyond　lay　a　bare　room；　devoid　of　furniture　except　for　three　wooden　chairs；　a　desk；　and　a　dark　mirror。　
　Skip　had　never　been　in　such　a　place　before；　but　he'd　seen　enough　television　to　instantly　recognize　its　purpose。　〃This　looks　like　some　kind　of　interrogation　room；〃　he　said。　
　〃It　is。〃　Martinez　took　a　seat　with　a　protest　of　wood。　He　laid　the　folder　on　the　table　and　offered　Skip　a　chair。　Then　he　pointed　to　the　ceiling。　Skip　glanced　up　to　see　a　lens；　pointed　almost　insolently　at　him。　〃We're　going　to　videotape　you。　Okay？〃　
　〃Do　I　have　a　choice？〃　
　〃Yes。　If　you　say　no；　the　interview　will　be　over；　and　you'll　be　free　to　go。〃　
　〃Great；〃　said　Skip；　starting　to　get　up。　
　〃Of　course；　then　we'd　have　to　subpoena　you；　and　you'd　spend　money　on　that　lawyer。　Right　now；　you're　not　a　suspect。　So　why　don't　you　just　relax　and　answer　a　few　questions？　If　at　any　time　you　want　a　lawyer　or　want　to　terminate　the　interview；　you　can。　How　does　that　sound？〃　
　〃Did　you　say　suspect？〃　Skip　asked。　
　〃Yes。〃　Martinez　looked　at　him　with　uninformative　black　eyes。　Skip　realized　the　man　was　waiting　for　an　answer。　
　〃Okay；〃　he　said；　sighing　mightily。　〃Roll　'em。〃　
　Martinez　nodded　to　someone　behind　the　one…way　glass；　then　turned　back　to　Skip。　〃Please　state　your　name；　address；　and　birthdate。〃　They　rapidly　went　through　the　preliminaries。　Then　Martinez　asked：　
　〃Are　you　the　owner　of　an　abandoned　ranch　house　beyond　Fox　Run；　address　Rural　Route　Sixteen；　Box　Twelve；　Santa　Fe；　New　Mexico？〃　
　〃Yes。　My　sister　and　I　own　it　together。〃　
　〃And　your　sister　is　Nora　Waterford　Kelly？〃　
　〃That's　right。〃　
　〃And　what　are　the　whereabouts　of　your　sister　at　the　moment？〃　
　〃She's　on　an　archaeological　expedition　to　Utah。〃　
　Martinez　nodded。　〃When　did　she　leave？〃　
　〃Three　days　ago。　She　won't　be　back　for　a　couple　of　weeks；　at　least。〃　Once　again；　Skip　began　to　stand。　〃Does　this　have　to　do　with　her？〃　
　Martinez　make　a　suppressing　motion　with　one　palm。　〃Your　parents　are　both　deceased；　correct？〃　
　Skip　nodded。　
　〃And　you　are　currently　employed　at　the　Santa　Fe　Archaeological　Institute。〃　
　〃I　was　until　you　showed　up。〃　
　Martinez　smiled。　〃And　how　long　have　you　been　employed　by　the　Institute？〃　
　〃I　told　you　in　the　car。　This　was　my　first　day。〃　
　Martinez　nodded　again；　more　slowly　this　time。　〃And　prior　to　today；　where　were　you　employed？〃　
　〃I've　been　job　hunting。〃　
　〃I　see。　And　when　were　you　last　employed？〃　
　〃Never。　Not　since　I　graduated　from　college　last　year；　anyway。〃　
　〃Do　you　know　a　Teresa　Gonzales？〃　
　Skip　licked　his　lips。　〃Yeah。　I　know　Teresa。　She　was　our　neighbor　out　at　the　ranch。〃　
　〃When　did　you　last　see　Teresa？〃　
　〃God；　I　don't　know。　Ten　months　ago；　maybe　eleven。　Shortly　after　I　graduated。〃　
　〃How　about　your　sister？　When　did　she　last　see　Ms。　Gonzales？〃　
　Skip　shifted　in　his　chair。　〃Let's　see。　A　couple　of　days　ago；　I　think。　She　helped　Nora　out　at　the　ranch。〃　
　〃You　mean　Nora；　your　sister？〃　Martinez　asked。　〃Helped　her　how？〃　
　Skip　hesitated。　〃She　was　attacked；〃　he　said　slowly。　
　Martinez's　neck　muscles　stopped　working　for　a　moment。　〃Care　to　tell　me　about　it？〃　
　〃Teresa　used　to　call　my　sister　when　she　heard　noises　at　the　old　place。　Vandals；　kids；　that　kind　of　stuff。　Lately　there's　been　a　lot　of　messing　around　over　there；　she's　called　my　sister　several　times。　Nora　went　over　about　a　week　ago。　Said　she　was　attacked。　Teresa　heard　the　racket；　came　over　with　a　shotgun；　scared　them　off。〃　
　〃Did　she　say　anything　more？　A　description　of　the　attackers？〃　
　〃Nora　said　。　。　。〃　Skip　thought　for　a　moment。　〃Nora　said　it　was　two　people。　Two　people；　dressed　up　as　animals。〃　He　decided　not　to　mention　the　letter。　Whatever　was　going　on　here　didn't　need　any　more　plications。　
　〃Why　didn't　she　e　to　us？〃　Martinez　asked　at　last。　
　〃Can't　say　for　sure。　Going　to　the　police　really　isn't　her　style。　She　always　wants　to　do　everything　for　herself。　I　think　she　was　concerned　it　might　delay　her　expedition。〃　
　Martinez　seemed　to　ponder　something。　〃Mr。　Kelly；〃　he　began　again。　〃Can　you　account　for　your　whereabouts　over　the　last　forty…eight　hours？〃　
　Skip　stopped　short。　Then　he　sat　back；　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Except　for　showing　up　at　the　Institute　this　morning；　I　was　at　my　apartment　all　weekend。〃　
　Martinez　consulted　a