rc.theladyinthelake-第16章

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n　the　bathroom；　or　the　kids　locked　themselves　in　and　got　sassy。
　　The　key　for　this　ought　to　be　kept　on　the　top　shelf　of　the　linen　closet；　but　it　wasn't。　I　tried　my　knife　blade；　but　that　was　too　thin。　I　went　back　to　the　bedroom　and　got　a　flat　nail　file　off　the　dresser。　That　worked。　I　opened　the　bathroom　door。
　　A　man's　sand…colored　pajamas　were　tossed　over　a　painted　hamper。　A　pair　of　heelless　green　slippers　lay　on　the　floor。　There　was　a　safety　razor　on　the　edge　of　the　washbowl　and　a　tube　of　cream　with　the　cap　off。　The　bathroom　window　was　shut；　and　there　was　a　pungent　smell　in　the　air　that　was　not　quite　like　any　other　smell。
　　Three　empty　shells　lay　bright　and　coppery　on　the　nile　green　tiles　of　the　bathroom　floor；　and　there　was　a　nice　clean　hole　in　the　frosted　pane　of　the　window。　To　the　left　and　a　little　above　the　window　were　two　scarred　places　in　the　plaster　where　the　white　showed　behind　the　paint　and　where　something；　such　as　a　bullet；　had　gone　in。
　　The　shower　curtain　was　green　and　white　oiled　silk　and　it　hung　on　shiny　chromium　rings　and　it　was　drawn　across　the　shower　opening。　I　slid　it　aside；　the　rings　making　a　thin　scraping　noise；　which　for　some　reason　sounded　indecently　loud。
　　I　felt　my　neck　creak　a　little　as　I　bent　down。　He　was　there　all　right…there　wasn't　anywhere　else　for　him　to　be。　He　was　huddled　in　the　corner　under　the　two　shining　faucets；　and　water　dripped　slowly　on　his　chest；　from　the　chromium　showerhead。
　　His　knees　were　drawn　up　but　slack。　The　two　holes　in　his　naked　chest　were　dark　blue　and　both　of　them　were　close　enough　to　his　heart　to　have　killed　him。　The　blood　seemed　to　have　been　washed　away。
　　His　eyes　had　a　curiously　bright　and　expectant　look；　as　if　he　smelled　the　morning　coffee　and　would　be　ing　right　out。
　　Nice　efficient　work。　You　have　just　finished　shaving　and　stripped　for　the　shower　and　you　are　leaning　in　against　the　shower　curtain　and　adjusting　the　temperature　of　the　water。　The　door　opens　behind　you　and　somebody　es　in。　The　somebody　appears　to　have　been　a　woman。　She　has　a　gun。　You　look　at　the　gun　and　she　shoots　it。
　　She　misses　with　three　shots。　It　seems　impossible；　at　such　short　range；　but　there　it　is。　Maybe　it　happens　all　the　time。　I've　been　around　so　little。
　　You　haven't　anywhere　to　go。　You　could　lunge　at　her　and　take　a　chance；　if　you　were　that　kind　of　fellow；　and　if'　you　were　braced　for　it。　But　leaning　in　over　the　shower　faucets；　holding　the　curtain　closed；　you　are　off　balance。　Also　you　are　apt　to　be　somewhat　petrified　with　panic；　if　you　are　at　all　like　other　people。　So　there　isn't　anywhere　to　go；　except　into　the　shower。
　　That　is　where　you　go。　You　go　into　it　as　far　as　you　can；　but　a　shower　stall　is　a　small　place　and　the　tiled　wall　stops　you。　You　are　backed　up　against　the　last　wall　there　is　now。　You　are　all　out　of　space；　and　you　are　all　out　of　living。　And　then　there　are　two　more　shots；　possibly　three；　and　you　slide　down　the　wall；　and　your　eyes　are　not　even　frightened　any　more　now。　They　are　just　the　empty　eyes　of　the　dead。
　　She　reaches　in　and　turns　the　shower　off。　She　sets　the　lock　of　the　bathroom　door。　On　her　way　out　of　the　house　she　throws　the　empty　gun　on　the　stair　carpet。　She　should　worry。　It　is　probably　your　gun。
　　Is　that　right？　It　had　better　be　right。
　　I　bent　and　pulled　at　his　arm。　Ice　couldn't　have　been　any　colder　or　any　stiffer。　I　went　out　of　the　bathroom；　leaving　it　unlocked。　No　need　to　lock　it　now。　It　only　makes　work　for　the　cops。
　　I　went　into　the　bedroom　and　pulled　the　handkerchief　out　from　under　the　pillow。　It　was　a　minute　piece　of　linen　rag　with　a　scalloped　edge　embroidered　in　red。　Two　small　initials　were　stitched　in　the　corner；　in　red。　A。F。
　　〃Adrienne　Fromsett；〃　I　said。　I　laughed。　It　was　a　rather　ghoulish　laugh。
　　I　shook　the　handkerchief　to　get　some　of　the　chypre　out　of　it　and　folded　it　up　in　a　tissue　and　put　it　in　a　pocket。　I　went　back　upstairs　to　the　living　room　and　poked　around　in　the　desk　against　the　wall。　The　desk　contained　no　interesting　letters；　phone　numbers　or　provocative　match　folders。　Or　if　it　did；　I　didn't　find　them。
　　I　looked　at　the　phone。　It　was　on　a　small　table　against　the　wall　beside　the　fireplace。　It　had　a　long　cord　so　that　Mr。　Lavery　could　be　lying　on　his　back　on　the　davenport；　a　cigarette　between　his　smooth　brown　lips；　a　tall　cool　one　at　the　table　at　his　side；　and　plenty　of　time　for　a　nice　long　cosy　conversation　with　a　lady　friend。　An　easy；　languid；　ifirtatious；　kidding；　not　too　subtle　and　not　too　blunt　conversation；　of　the　sort　he　would　be　apt　to　enjoy。
　　All　that　wasted　too。　I　went　away　from　the　telephone　to　the　door　and　set　the　lock　so　I　could　e　in　again　and　shut　the　door　tight；　pulling　it　hard　over　the　sill　until　the　lock　clicked。　I　went　up　the　walk　and　stood　in　the　sunlight　looking　across　the　street　at　Dr。　Almore's　house。
　　Nobody　yelled　or　ran　out　of　the　door。　Nobody　blew　a　police　whistle。　Everything　was　quiet　and　sunny　and　calm。　No　cause　for　excitement　whatever。　It's　only　Marlowe；　finding　another　body。　He　does　it　rather　well　by　now。　Murder…a…day　Marlowe；　they　call　him。　They　have　the　meat　wagon　following　him　around　to　follow　up　on　the　business　he　finds。
　　A　nice　enough　fellow；　in　an　ingenuous　sort　of　way。
　　I　walked　back　to　the　intersection　and　got　into　my　car　and　started　it　and　backed　it　and　drove　away　from　there。
　　
　　
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　　The　bellhop　at　the　Athletic　Club　was　back　in　three　minutes　with　a　nod　for　me　to　e　with　him。　We　rode　up　to　the　fourth　floor　and　went　around　a　corner　and　he　showed　me　a　half　open　door。
　　〃Around　to　the　left；　sir。　As　quietly　as　you　can。　A　few　of　the　members　are　sleeping。〃　I　went　into　the　club　library。　It　contained　books　behind　glass　doors　and　magazines　on　a　long　central　table　and　a　lighted　portrait　of　the　club's　founder。　But　its　real　business　seemed　to　be　sleeping。　Outward…jutting　bookcases　cut　the　room　into　a　number　of　small　alcoves　and　in　the　alcoves　were　high…backed　leather　chairs　of　an　incredible　size　and　softness。　In　a　number　of　the　chairs　old　boys　were　snoozing　peacefully；　their　faces　violet　with　high　blood　pressure；　thin　racking　snores　ing　out　of　their　pinched　noses。
　　I　climbed　over　a　few　feet　and　stole　around　to　the　left。　Derace　Kingsley　was　in　the　very　last　alcove　in　the　far　end　of　the　room。　He　had　two　chairs　arranged　side　by　side；　facing　into　the　corner。　His　big　dark　head　just　showed　over　the　top　of　one　of　them。　I　slipped　into　the　empty　one　and　gave　him　a　quick　nod。
　　〃Keep　your　voice　down；〃　he　said。　〃This　room　is　for　after…luncheon　naps。　Now　what　is　it？　When　I　employed　you　it　was　to　save　me　trouble；　not　to　add　trouble　to　what　I　aheady　had。　You　made　me　break　an　important　engagement。〃
　　〃I　know；〃　I　said；　and　put　my　face　close　to　his。　He　smelled　of　highballs；　in　a　nice　way。　〃She　shot　him。〃　His　eyebrows　jumped　and　his　face　got　that　stony　look。　His　teeth　clamped　tight。　He　breathed　softly　and　twisted　a　large　hand　on　his　kneecap。
　　〃Go　on；〃　he　said；　in　a　voice　the　size　of　a　marble。
　　I　looked　back　over　the　top　of　my　chair。　The　nearest　；old　geezer　was　sound　asleep　and　blowing　the　dusty　fuzz　in　his　nostrils　back　and　forth　as　he　breathed。
　　〃No　answer　at　Lavery's　place；〃　I　said。　〃Door　slightly　open。　But　I　noticed　yesterday　it　sticks　on　the　sill。　Pushed　it　open。　Room　dark；　two　glasses　with　drinks　having　been　in　them。　House　very　still。　In　a　moment　a　slim　dark　woman　calling　herself　Mrs。　Fallbrook；　landlady；　came　up　the　stairs　with　her　glove　wrapped　around　a　gun。　Said　she　found　it　on　the　stairs。　Said　she　came　to　collect　her　three　months'　back　rent。　Used　her　key　to　get　in。　Inference　is　she　took　the　chance　to　snoop　around　and　look　the　house　over。　Took　the　gun　from　her　and　found　it　had　been　fired　recently；　but　didn't　tell　her　so。　She　said　Lavery　was　not　home。　Got　rid　of　her　by　making　her　mad　and　she　departed　in　high　dudgeon。　She　may　call　the　police；　but　it's　much　more　likely　she　will　just　go　out　and　hunt　butterifies　and　forget　the　whole　thing…except　the　rent。〃　I　paused。　Kingsley's　head　was　turned　towards　me　and　his　jaw　muscles　bulged　with　the　way　his　teeth　were　clamped。　His　eyes　looked　sick。
　　〃I　went　downstairs。　Signs　of　a　woman　having　spent　the　night。　Pajamas；　face　powder；　perfume；　and　so　on。　Bathroom　locked；　but　got　it　open。　Three　empty　shells　on　the　floor；　two　shots　in　the　wall；　one　in　the　window。　Lavery　in　the　shower　stall；　naked　and　dead。〃
　　〃My　God！〃　Kingsley　whispered。　〃Do　you　mean　to　say　he　had　a　woman　with　him　last　night　and　she　shot　him　this　morning　in　the　bathroom？〃
　　〃Just　what　did　you　think　I　was　trying　to　say？〃　I　asked。
　　〃Keep　your　voice　down；〃　he　groaned。　〃It's　a　shock；　naturally。　Why　in　the　bathroom？〃
　　〃Keep　your　own　voice　down；〃　I　said。　〃Why　not　the　bathroom？　Could　you　think　of　a　place　where　a　man　would　be　more　pletely　off　guard？〃　He　said：　〃You　don't　know　that　a　woman　shot　him。　I　mean；　you're　not　sure；　are　you？〃
　　〃No；〃　I　said。　〃That's　true。　It　might　have　been　somebody　who　used　a　small　gun　and　emptied　it　carelessly　to　look　like　a　woman's　work。　The　bathroom　is　downhill；　facing　outwards　on　space　and　I　don't　think　shots　down　there　would　be　easily　heard　by　anyone　not　in　the　house。　The　woman　who　spent　the　night　might　have　left…or　there　need　not　have　been　any　woman　at　all。　The　appearances　could　have　been　faked。　You　might　have　shot　him。〃
　　〃What　would　I　want　to　shoot　him　for？〃　he　almost　bleated；　squeezing　both　kneecaps　hard。　〃I'm　a　civilized　man。〃　That　didn't　seem　to　be　worth　an　argument　either。　I　said：　〃Does　your　wife　own　a　gun？〃　He　turned　a　drawn　miserable　face　to　me　and　said　hollowly：　〃Good　God；　man；　you　can't　really　think　that！〃
　　〃Well　does　she？〃　He　got　the　words　out　in　small　gritty　pieces。　〃Yes…she　does。　A　small　automatic。〃
　　〃You　buy　it　locally？〃
　　〃I…I　didn't　buy　it　at　all。　I　took　it　away　from　a　drunk　at　a　party　in　San　Francisco　a　couple　of　years　ago。　He　was　waving　it　around；　with　an　idea　that　that　was　very　funny。　I　never　gave　it　back　to　him。〃　He　pinched　his　jaw　hard　until　his　knuckles　whitened。　〃He　probably　doesn't　even　remember　how　or　when　he　lost　it。　He　was　that　kind　of　a　drunk。〃
　　〃This　is　working　out　almost　too　neatly；〃　I　said。　〃Could　you　recognize　this　gun？〃　He　thought　hard；　pushing　his　jaw　out　and　half　closing　his　eyes。　I　looked　back　over　the　chairs　again。　One　of　the　elderly　snoozers　had　waked　himself　up　with　a　snort　that　almost　blew　him　out　of　his　chair。　He　coughed；　scratched　his　nose　with　a　thin　dried…up　hand；　and　fumbled　a　gold　watch　out　of　his　vest。　He　peered　at　it　bleakly；　put　it　away；　and　went　to　sleep　again。
　　I　reached　in　my　pocket　and　put　the　gun　on　Kingsley's　hand。　He　stared　down　at　it　miserably。
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃It's　like　it；　but　I　can't　tell。〃
　　〃There's　a　serial　number　on　the　side；〃　I　said。
　　〃Nobody　remembers　the　serial　numbers　of　guns。〃
　　〃I　was　hoping　you　wouldn't；〃　I　said。　〃It　would　have　worried　me　very　much。〃　His　hand　closed　around　the　gun　and　he　put　it　down　beside　him　on　the　chair。
　　〃The　dirty　rat；〃　he　said　softly。　〃I　suppose　he　ditched　her。〃
　　〃I　don't　get　it；〃　I　said。　〃The　motive　was　inadequate　f　or　you；　on　account　of　you're　a　civilized　man。　But　it　was　adequate　for　her。〃
　　〃It's　not　the　same　motive；〃　he　snapped。　〃And　women　are　more　impetuous　than　men。〃
　　〃Like　cats　are　more　impetuous　than　dogs。〃
　　〃How？〃
　　〃Some　women　are　mor