p&c.brimstone-第66章

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　be　kicked。　
　Grable　seemed　to　be　trying　hard　to　make　sure　that　exposed　ass　was　hers。　
　He　was　in　the　middle　of　a　long…winded　account　of　the　botched　arrest　attempt；　an　account　that　somehow　transformed　his　own　craven　and　erratic　behavior　into　restraint　and　heroism。　The　story　went　on　and　on；　the　climax　ing　when　he　was　obliged　to　fire　into　the　air　to　warn　the　savage　crowd。　As　a　result　they'd　been　able　to　depart　in　good　order；　upholding　the　dignity　of　the　New　York　City　Police　Department；　even　if　they　had　failed　in　their　objective　of　arresting　Buck。　Throughout　the　account；　there　was　the　faint　implication　that　he　had　done　all　the　work；　taken　all　the　risks；　while　Hayward　had　been　a　reluctant　participant　at　best。　He　even　managed　to　give　the　impression　of　refraining　from　criticism；　as　if　she'd　been　a　dead　weight　on　the　whole　operation。　
　If　he　was　as　good　in　the　field　as　he　is　at　ass…covering；　Hayward　thought　grimly；we　wouldn't　be　here　right　now。　She　considered　responding；　but　decided　she　didn't　want　to　play　that　particular　game。　If　she　pointed　out　that　Grable　had　run　like　a　cur　with　its　tail　tucked　between　its　legs；　that　he　had　fired　in　panic　and　lost　his　gun…well；　it　might　set　the　record　straight；　but　it　would　do　her　no　good。　Her　mind　wandered；　tuning　out　the　parade　of　half…truths。　
　One　bright　note　was　that　Pendergast　and　D'Agosta　seemed　to　be　making　progress　in　Italy。　And　Pendergast　was　out　of　her　hair；　no　doubt　making　some　Italian　police　officer's　life　miserable。　On　the　other　hand；　she　missed　D'Agosta。　Missed　him　even　more　than　she'd　thought　she　would。　
　It　was　Wentworth's　turn　next；　and　she　made　an　effort　to　concentrate。　He　expounded　at　length　on　the　psychology　of　crowds；　trotting　out　quotations　on　megalomania　from　file　cards　specially　prepared　for　the　occasion。　It　was　a　huge　smokescreen　of　words　and　theories；　piled　one　on　top　of　another；　signifying　nothing。　This　was　followed　by　some　neighborhood　honcho；　talking　about　how　upset　the　mayor　was；　how　everybody　was　up　in　arms；　how　all　the　important　people　of　the　city　were　beside　themselves　that　nothing　was　being　done。　
　No　one；　it　seemed；　had　any　ideas　on　how　to　get　Buck　out　of　Central　Park。　
　Rocker　heard　them　all　out　with　the　same　tired　expression　on　his　face；　an　expression　which　betrayed　nothing　of　his　inner　thoughts。　Finally；　the　tired　eyes　came　to　rest　on　her。　
　〃Captain　Hayward？〃　
　〃I　have　nothing　to　add。〃　She　said　it　perhaps　a　little　more　curtly　than　she　intended。　
　Rocker's　eyebrows　raised　just　slightly。　〃So　you　agree　with　the　gentlemen　here？〃　
　〃I　didn't　say　that。　I　said　I　had　nothing　to　add。〃　
　〃Did　you　find　out　anything　more　on　Buck's　record？　An　outstanding　warrant；　perhaps？〃　
　〃Yes；〃　said　Hayward；　having　spent　part　of　the　morning　on　the　phone。　〃But　it　isn't　much。　He's　wanted　in　Broken　Arrow；　Oklahoma；　for　violating　parole。〃　
　〃Violating　parole！〃　Grable　laughed。　〃What　a　joke。　The　laws　he's　broken　here　include　assaulting　a　police　officer；　resisting　arrest；　attempted　kidnapping…I　mean；　we　got　enough　here　to　put　him　away　for　years。〃　
　Hayward　said　nothing。　Fact　is；　the　parole　violation　was　the　only　charge　that　would　stick。　As　far　as　the　others　went；　there　were　dozens　of　witnesses　who　would　testify　truthfully　that　Grable　had　drawn　and　fired　his　gun　with　no　real　provocation；　that　Buck　had　not；　in　fact；　resisted　arrest；　that　the　crowd　had　parted　like　the　damn　Red　Sea　to　let　them　go；　and　that　Grable　had　run；　leaving　his　gun　in　the　dust。　
　Rocker　nodded。　〃What　now？〃　
　Silence。　
　Rocker　was　still　looking　at　Hayward。　〃Captain？〃　
　〃I'd　suggest　just　what　I　suggested　in　the　first　meeting。〃　
　〃Even　after　your；　ah；　unpleasant　experience　this　morning？〃　
　〃Nothing　happened　this　morning　to　change　my　mind。〃　
　That　produced　a　long；　leaden　silence。　Grable　was　shaking　his　head；　as　if　to　say；Some　people　never　learn。　
　〃I　see。　You　suggested　going　in　alone；　is　that　right？〃　
　〃Right。　I　go　in　there　and　ask　for　Buck's　cooperation　in　sending　his　people　home　for　a　shower　and　change　of　clothes。　We'll　promise　him　a　parade　permit　in　return。　Treat　him　with　respect。　Deliver　a　fair；　honest　warning。〃　
　There　was　a　snort　of　derision　from　Grable。　
　Rocker　turned。　〃Captain　Grable；　you　have　something　to　say？〃　
　〃I　wasthere　；　missioner。　Buck　is　crazy。　He's　a　dangerous　ex…murderer。　And　his　followers　are　like　Jonestown；　real　fanatics。　She　goes　in　there　alone；　without　a　large　force　to　protect　her；　they'll　take　her　hostage。　Or　worse。〃　
　〃missioner；　I　respectfully　disagree　with　Captain　Grable。　It's　been　almost　a　week　now；　and　Buck　and　his　followers　have　been　reasonably　well　behaved　and　orderly。　I　believe　it's　worth　a　try。〃　
　Wentworth　had　joined　in　the　head…shaking。　
　〃Dr。　Wentworth？〃　Rocker　said。　
　〃I　would　give　Captain　Hayward's　plan　a　very　low　probability　of　success。　Captain　Hayward　is　not　a　psychologist；　and　her　prognostications　of　human　behavior　are　simply　lay　opinion；　not　based　on　scientific　study　of　human　psychology。〃　
　Hayward　looked　at　the　missioner。　〃I'm　not　one　to　toot　my　own　horn；　sir；　but　the　fact　is；　I　do　have　an　M。S。　in　forensic　psychology　from　NYU。　Since　I　believe　Dr。　Wentworth　is　an　assistant　professor　at　the　College　of　Staten　Island…CUNY；　it's　understandable　that　we　never　met　academically。〃　
　In　the　unfortable　silence；　it　seemed　to　Hayward　that　Rocker　might　even　be　suppressing　a　little　smile　of　his　own。　
　〃I　stand　by　my　earlier　ment；〃　Wentworth　said　acidly。　
　Rocker　ignored　him；　still　speaking　to　Hayward。　〃And　that's　it？〃　
　〃That's　it。〃　
　〃You　better　have　a　SWAT　team　standing　by　to　extract　Captain　Hayward；　along　with　paramedics；　for　when　the　inevitable　occurs；〃　said　Grable。　
　Rocker　looked　down　at　his　hands；　his　brow　creased。　Then　he　raised　his　head　again。　〃Sunday　is　the　day　after　tomorrow。　I'd　already　decided　on　using　the　relative　calm　to　go　in　with　overwhelming　force　and　arrest　this　man。　But　I　hate　to　take　a　step　like　that　until　all　avenues　have　been　tried。　I'm　inclined　to　let　Captain　Hayward　have　a　shot　at　it。　If　she　can　get　Buck　out　of　there　without　tear　gas　and　water　cannon；　I'm　all　for　it。〃　He　turned　to　Hayward。　〃You　do　your　thing　at　noon。　If　it　doesn't　work；　we　move　in；　as　scheduled。〃　
　〃Thank　you；　sir。〃　
　A　beat。　〃Hayward；　are　yousure　this　plan　of　yours　is　going　to　work？〃　
　〃No；　sir。〃　
　Rocker　smiled。　〃That's　all　I　wanted　to　hear…a　little　goddamned　humility　for　a　change。〃　His　eyes　raked　the　rest　of　them；　then　returned　to　Hayward。　〃Go　to　it；　Captain。〃　
　　　
　72　
　
　D'Agosta　looked　out　at　the　vague　outlines　of　the　island　looming　off　the　ferry's　port　bow；　rising　steep　and　blue　from　the　sea；　shimmering　slightly　in　the　midmorning　light。　Capraia：　outermost　of　the　Tuscan　islands；　a　mountaintop　lost　in　the　wide　ocean。　It　looked　unreal；　almost　fairylike。　The　Toremar　car　ferry　chiseled　its　way　forward；　squat　steel　bows　stubbornly　parting　the　turquoise　water　as　it　plowed　toward　its　destination。　
　Pendergast　stood　beside　D'Agosta；　sea　breeze　ruffling　his　blond　hair；　his　finely　cut　features　like　alabaster　in　the　glare　of　the　sun。　〃A　most　interesting　island；　Vincent；〃　he　was　saying。　〃Once　a　prison　for　the　most　dangerous　and　intelligent　criminals　in　Italy…Mafia　capos　and　serial　escapees。　The　prison　closed　in　the　mid…sixties；　and　now　most　of　the　island　is　a　national　park。〃　
　〃Strange　place　to　live。〃　
　〃It　is　actually　the　most　charming　of　all　the　Tuscan　islands。　There　is　a　small　port　and　a　tiny　village　on　a　bluff；　connected　by　the　island's　only　road；　which　is　all　of　half　a　mile　in　length。　There's　been　no　ugly　development；　thanks　to　the　fact　that　the　island　doesn't　have　any　beaches。〃　
　〃What's　the　woman's　name　again？〃　
　〃Her　name　is　Viola　Maskelene。　Lady　Viola　Maskelene。　I　couldn't　find　out　much　about　her　on　short　notice…she's　a　private　person。　It　seems　she　spends　her　summers　on　the　island；　leaving　at　the　end　of　October。　Travels　the　rest　of　the　year；　or　so　I've　been　informed。〃　
　〃You　sure　she's　home？〃　
　〃No。　But　I　prefer　to　take　the　chance　of　surprising　our　quarry。〃　
　〃Quarry？〃　
　〃In　an　investigative　sense。　We're　dealing　with　a　sophisticated　and　well…traveled　Englishwoman。　As　the　only　great…grandchild　of　Toscanelli's　greatest　love；　she　is　in　the　best　position　to　know　the　family　secrets。〃　
　〃She　might　be　a　tough　nut　to　crack。〃　
　〃Quite　possibly。　Hence　the　surprise　approach。〃　
　〃How　old　is　she？〃　
　〃I　assume　middle…aged；　if　my　calculations　are　correct。〃　
　D'Agosta　glanced　at　him。　〃So　what's　the　family　story？〃　
　〃It　was　one　of　those　torrid　nineteenth…century　affairs　one　reads　about。　The　stuff　of　opera。　Viola　Maskelene's　great…grandmother；　a　famous　Victorian　beauty；　married　the　Duke　of　Cumberland；　thirty　years　her　senior　and　as　cold　and　correct　a　man　as　you　could　find。　Toscanelli　seduced　her　only　a　few　months　after　her　marriage；　and　they　carried　on　a　legendary　affair。　An　illegitimate　daughter　came　of　the　union；　and　the　poor　duchess　died　in　childbirth。　That　child　was　Lady　Maskelene's　grandmother。〃　
　〃What　did　the　duke　have　to　say　about　all　that？〃　
　〃He　may　have　been　cold；　but　he　also　seems　to　have　been　a　rather　decent　sort。　After　his　wife's　death；　he　took　steps　to　legally　adopt　the　child。　The　greater　titles　and　estates　were　entailed　away；　but　the　daughter　inherited　a　lesser　title　and　some　land　in　Cornwall。〃　
　The　ferry　throbbed　beneath　their　feet；　and　the　island　seemed　to　gain　weight　and　substance　as　they　approached。　As　they　stood　silently；　Pendergast　drew　the　test　tube　out　of　his　pocket。　He　held　it　up；　the　melted　droplets　taken　from　Vanni's　corpse　the　night　before　glittering　in　the　sun。　〃We　haven't　spoken　yet　about　these。〃　
　〃Yeah。　But　I've　been　thinking　about　them。〃　
　〃So　have　I。　Perhaps；　Vincent；　the　time　has　e　at　last　for　each　of　us　to　turn　over　a　card。〃　
　〃You　first。〃　
　Pendergast　smiled　faintly　and　held　up　a　finger。　〃Never。　As　the　officer　in　charge；　I　reserve　the　right　to　call　your　hand。〃　
　〃Pulling　rank　on　me？〃　
　〃Precisely。〃　
　〃Well；　I'd　say　those　drops　came　from　some　device　which　malfunctioned；　spraying　molten　metal　into　Vanni　and　burning　him　terribly。〃　
　Pendergast　nodded。　〃What　kind　of　device？〃　
　〃Some　device　meant　to　torch　Vanni。　Same　device　that　killed　the　others。　But　in　Vanni's　case；　it　didn't　seem　to　work；　so　he　had　to　be　shot　afterwards。〃　
　〃Bravo。〃　
　〃Your　theory？〃　
　〃I　reached　the　same　conclusions。　Vanni　was　an　early　victim…perhaps　a　test　subject…of　a　highly　specialized　killing　device。　It　appears　we　are　dealing　with　a　flesh…and…blood　assassin；　after　all。〃　
　Now　the　ferry　was　slipping　past　surf…scoured　volcanic　cliffs　and　into　a　small　harbor。　A　row　of　crumbling　houses；　stuccoed　yellow　and　red；　crowded　the　quay；　hillsides　rising　steeply　behind　them。　The　ferry　maneuvered　into　port；　and　a　single　car　and　a　scattering　of　passengers　got　off。　Almost　before　D'Agosta's　feet　were　on　firm　ground；　it　was　backing　out　again　and　heading　to　its　next　stop；　the　island　of　Elba。　
　〃We　have　four　hours　before　the　ferry　returns　on　its　homeward　swing。〃　Pendergast　pulled　out　a　little　piece　of　paper；　scrutinized　it。　〃Lady　Viola　Maskelene；　Via　Saracino；　19。　Let's　hope　we　findla　signorina　at　home。〃　
　He　set　off　down　the　quay　toward　a　bus　stop；　D'Agosta　at　his　side。　Within　moments；　an　old　orange　bus　wheezed　into　view；　struggled　to　turn　around　in　the　lone　narrow　street；　then　opened　its　doors。　The