mac.thepearlharbormurders-第12章

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　〃I'm　in　no　mood　myself；　Mrs。　Kuhn。　May　I　join　you　for　a　moment？　It　looks　cool　there　in　the　shade。〃
　〃Certainly。〃　She　gestured　to　another　beach　chair；　near　the　side　of　the　house。　〃I　can　go　in　and　get　you　one　of　these。〃
　She　was　lifting　the　orange…juice　glass；　he　was　dragging　the　chair　around；　to　sit　beside　her。
　〃No　thanks；〃　he　said。　〃I've　had　my　breakfast。〃
　〃Ah；　but　this　isn't　just　breakfast。　It's　a　rejuvenating　tonic　known　as　a　screwdriver。〃
　He　grinned　a　little；　shook　his　head。　〃No　thanks…　I'm　on　the　wagon。。。　holding　on　by　my　thumbs；　but　holding　on。。。。Little　early　for　that；　isn't　it？〃
　She　sipped　from　the　glass。　〃Is　it　ever　too　early　for　vitamin　C？　Or　vodka？　Citrus　is　rich　in　it；　you　know。　Vitamin　C；　that　is。〃
　〃Yeah；　I　know…I　used　to　live　in　California。　Plenty　of　citrus。　And　vodka。〃
　Mrs。　Kuhn　blew　a　smoke　ring；　regally。　〃I　would　love　to　live　in　California。　I　have　had　more　than　enough　of　。。。　paradise。〃
　〃But　your　husband　has　his　business　here。〃
　〃Yes。　Oh　yes。〃
　Burroughs　shifted　in　the　canvas　seat。　〃I　ran　into　him　a　few　minutes　ago；　on　his　way　to　some　business　appointment　or　other。　He　didn't　say　what；　exactly。〃
　She　said　nothing；　she　might　not　even　have　been　listening。　The　wind　was　rippling　the　fronds　overhead；　making　gently　percussive　music；　while　underneath　the　sibilant　rash　of　the　nearby　surf　provided　its　monotonous　melody。
　'Terrible　thing；　last　night；〃　Burroughs　said。
　She　nodded；　almost　imperceptibly。　〃You　caught　the　murderer；　I　understand。〃
　〃I　heard　a　scream。　Ran　out　to　the　beach。　That　musician　was　leaning　over　the　poor　girl's　body；　blood　on　his　hands。〃
　〃Awful；〃　she　said　emotionlessly。
　〃What　did　you　hear？〃
　〃Pardon？〃
　〃When　did　you　wake　up？〃
　She　turned　her　head　toward　him　and　lowered　her　sunglasses　and　her　pale　blue　eyes　studied　him；　her　thin　lips　curved　in　mild　amusement。　〃Is　this　really　the　proper　subject　for　casual　midmorning　conversation？〃
　〃No　disrespect　meant；　to　either　you　or　the　deceased。〃　He　shrugged。　〃It's　just　that。。。　you　and　I　and　your　husband；　we're　the　only　witnesses　to　this　tragedy。〃
　She　frowned　and　turned　away；　put　her　sunglasses　back　into　position。　〃I'm　not　a　witness；　Mr。　Burroughs。　I　didn't　wake　up　until　my　husband's　。。。　activity　awoke　me。〃
　〃Activity？〃
　〃He　was　quite　understandably　agitated　by　what　he　saw。〃
　〃So　he　woke　you。〃
　She　heaved　an　irritated　sigh　and　looked　at　him　again；　not　bothering　to　lower　the　sunglasses；　this　time。　〃Really；　Mr。　Burroughs；　this　is　nothing　I　want　to　talk　about…I　spent　half　the　night　blathering　with　that　dreadful　little　foreign　policeman；　and　I　don't　want　to　gossip　about　such　a　misfortune　with　a　neighbor…if　you　don't　mind。〃
　〃I　meant　no　offense。〃
　〃Neither　did　I。〃
　She　wasn't　looking　at　him；　now…neither　one　of　their　apologies　had　sounded　very　convincing。
　He　shrugged　again。　〃It　just　rather　casts　a　pall　over　this　lovely　day。〃
　〃You　can　have　this　lovely　day；　and　every　other　lovely　Hawaiian　day；　as　far　as　I'm　concerned。〃
　〃Pearl　Harada　might　not　agree　with　you。〃
　〃What　is　that　supposed　to　mean？〃
　〃It　means　she　had　every　day　taken　away　from　her　。。。　and　it　wasn't　her　idea。　That's　all　it　means。〃
　She　sipped　the　screwdriver。　〃I'm　sorry　the　young　woman　is　dead；　but　I　barely　knew　her。〃
　〃You　did　know　her；　though。〃
　〃I　knew　her　as　any　guest　at　the　Niumalu　knew　her…　she　was　an　entertainer；　here…a　decent　one；　too。　She　seemed　pleasant　enough；　when　I　would　encounter　her　around　the　place。　Not　stuck…up　like　some　show…business　types。　I'm　sorry　she's　gone。〃　She　looked　at　him　over　the　rims　of　the　sunglasses。　〃Is　there　anything　else；　Mr。　Burroughs？〃
　〃I　apologize；　Mrs。　Kuhn…I　was　just　making　conversation。　I　thought。。。　as　mutual　witnesses　。。。　we　had　something　in　mon。〃
　〃You　said　that。　Mr。　Burroughs；　if　you'd　like　to　go　get　your　tennis　racket；　I'll　meet　you　on　the　court。　Or　if　you'd　like　to　sit　here　and　share　some　stories　about　the　Hollywood　celebrities　you've　encountered；　please　feel　wele。　Otherwise；　change　the　subject；　or　find　someone　else　to　gossip　with。〃
　He　rose。　〃Sorry；　Mrs。　Kuhn。　And　I'm　still　in　no　mood　for　tennis；　and　I　like　talking　about　Hollywood　about　as　much　as　you　like　discussing　murder。。。。　Have　you　seen　Mr。　Sterling　this　morning？〃
　The　FBI　man's　bungalow　was　the　next　one　over；　the　only　other　bungalow　near　enough　to　the　beach　for　someone　within　to　have　possibly　heard　or　seen　something　last　night。
　〃Yes；　I　have…he　chatted　with　Otto　this　morning；　on　this　same　dreadful　subject。　Then　he　headed　off。〃
　Burroughs　frowned。　〃Do　you　know　where　he　went？〃
　Her　patience　clearly　all　but　exhausted；　Mrs。　Kuhn　said；　〃I　believe　Mr。　Sterling　said　he　was　going　in　to　work。〃
　〃Oh。。。　well；　thanks；　Mrs。　Kuhn。　Sorry…didn't　mean　to　disturb　you　with　this　unpleasantness。〃
　〃I'm　sure；〃　she　said；　coldly。　〃Just　as　I　did　not　mean　to　be　rude。〃
　Burroughs　headed　over　to　the　lodge；　to　catch　up　with　Hully；　mind　abuzz。　It　was　unusual　for　the　FBI　man　to　work　on　a　Saturday　morning；　and　he　and　Sterling　were　set　to　go　to　the　Shriners　game　this　afternoon；　with　Colonel　Fielder。　He　wondered　if　Sterling's　Saturday…morning　business　had　anything　to　do　with　Pearl　Harada's　murder。
　He　wondered　the　same　about　Otto　Kuhn's　business　downtown。
　
　
　SEVEN
　Mourning　After
　
　Hully　drifted　through　an　open　archway　into　the　airy；　A…frame　lobby　of　the　Niumalu；　its　sun…reflecting　parquet　floor　dotted　with　Oriental　rags；　potted　ferns　perching　on　the　periphery　like　silent　witnesses。　Nary　a　guest　was　partaking　of　the　cushioned　wicker　chairs　and　sofas；　but　manager　Fred　Bivens　was　behind　the　front　desk　of　the　lodge；　at　the　far　end；　distributing　mail　into　key　slots。
　Fred's　aloha　shirt　was　an　all…purpose　blue　on　which　floated　the　fluffy　clouds　and　palmy　island　of　its　pattern。　The　affable；　heavyset　Bivens　put　aside　his　work　to　chat　with　Hully…the　manager's　eyes　were　dark　and　baggy；　bis　normally　pleasant　features　seeming　to　droop；　as　if　last　night's　tragedy　had　melted　his　face　slightly。
　〃How　late　did　the　cops　keep　you　up　last　night？〃　Bivens　asked。
　Their　voices　echoed　in　the　high…ceilinged　room。
　〃Not　as　late　as　some；〃　Hully　said。　〃Dad　and　I　were　the　first　questioned　。。。　us　and　Harry　Kamana。　Did　they　wake　up　a　lot　of　your　guests；　for　questioning？〃
　〃No；　just　the　residents　in　the　bungalows　adjacent　to　the　beach。　But　that　little　Puerto　Rican　cop　said　he'd　be　back　either　today　or　Monday；　to　talk　to　everybody　else。〃
　Hully　didn't　correct　Bivens's　assumption　about　Jardine's　ethnicity。　〃You　have　any　guests　checking　out　before　then？〃
　〃That　cop　asked　the　same　thing…no。　We're　about　half　and　half；　at　the　moment；　residents　like　you　and　your　father；　and　tourists　。。。　but　nobody's　leaving　before　the　middle　of　next　week。〃
　Hully　leaned　an　arm　on　the　counter。　He　was　trying　to　keep　things　conversational…he　didn't　want　the　manager　to　figure　out　he　was　poking　around。　Then　he　shook　his　head　and　said；　〃Damn　shame…I　really　liked　Pearl。　I　know　she　dated　a　lot　of　guys；　but　I　never　got　the　feeling　she　was　。。。〃
　〃Round…heeled　or　anything？　No。　I　don't　think　she　was　any　virgin；　but　she　wasn't　any；　you　know。。。　tramp。　She　was　a　good　kid；　with　a　good　heart；　but　hell；　all　those　show…business　types　have　different　moral　codes　than　the　rest　of　us。〃
　〃How　so？〃
　Now　Bivens　leaned　on　the　counter。　〃e　on；　Hully…you　and　your　dad　live　in　Hollywood。　You　know　how　those　movie　actors　sleep　around；　you　know　how　those　musicians　drink　and　smoke　。。。　and　I'm　not　talking　about　cigarettes。〃
　Hully　shrugged。　〃I　didn't　have　the　feeling　Pearl　wanted　to　stay　in　show　business。　Matter　of　fact；　she　told　me　she　wanted　to　get　married　and　settle　down。〃
　Bivens's　head　rocked　back：　〃What；　with　that　Fielder　kid？　e　on；　Hully…that　was　a　pipe　dream！　White　soldier　with　a　high…ranking　father；　marry　a　Jap？〃
　〃Yeah；〃　Hully　admitted；　〃it　was　a　loaded　situation。。。。1　wonder　if　that　had　anything　to　do　with　her　murder。〃
　Bivens　started　filling　the　mail　slots　again；　talking　as　he　did；　occasionally　glancing　back　at　Hully。　〃Sure　it　did。　That　poor　Kamana　musta　gone　off　his　noodle；　with　jealousy。　He　loved　that　girl…everybody　knew　it。〃
　〃Does　Harry　Kamana　seem　like　the　violent　type　to　you；　Fred？　You　ever　see　him　lose　his　temper？〃
　〃No。。。。　That's　the　pity。　He's　always　been　a　sweet　guy。　But　still　waters　run　deep。〃　He　paused；　several　letters　in　hand；　and　his　gaze　held　Hully's。　〃Funny　thing；　that。　He's　the　leader；　you　know；　of　the　Harbor　Lights；　and　some　of　his　guys　have　e　to　me　to　plain。〃
　〃What　about？〃
　Letters　distributed；　he　folded　his　arms；　leaned　against　the　back　counter。　〃Well；　they　know　I　do　the　deals　with　Harry　。。。　book　the　gigs；　as　they　put　it。　And　they　think　I　take　advantage　of　Harry。。。　that　he's　too　nice；　too　soft。〃
　〃Any　truth　in　it？〃
　〃Hey；　I　give　the　boys　a　fair　shake。　They　get　pretty　close　to　top　dollar；　for　the　size　of　the　Niumalu　and　its　dance　floor。〃
　〃They're　popular…a　real　draw。〃
　Bivens　shook　his　head；　sadly。　〃Without　Pearl。。。　without　Harry。。。　I　don't　know。　They're　having　a　meeting　right　now；　over　in　the　dining　room。　I　don't　know　what　the　hell　they're　gonna　do。。。。　Supposed　to　play　for　me；　tonight。〃
　The　musicians　were　in　the　dining　room；　up　on　the　bandstand；　casually　dressed；　sitting　in　their　respective　seats　in　front　of　music　stands；　but　they　weren't　rehearsing…no　instruments　were　in　sight。
　A　guy　in　a　dark　blue　sportshirt　and　chinos　was　standing　in　front　of　them；　as　if　directing…but　he　was　really　just　conducting　a　meeting。　Hully　knew　him；　knew　most　of　the　remaining　eight　members　of　the　Harbor　Lights；　the　guy　out　front　was　Jim　Kaupiko；　a　round…faced　but　slender　trumpet　player　in　his　late　twenties。　Most　tourists　assumed　the　entire　band　was　Hawaiian；　and　Kaupiko　and　Kamana　and　a　few　other　Harbor　Lights　were　indeed　natives；　but　the　band　was　otherwise　a　mix　of　Japanese；　Chinese；　Filipino　and　Korean。
　〃I　know　how　everybody　here　feels；〃　Kaupiko　said。　〃Pearl　was　the　best。。。〃
　The　various　Polynesian　and　Oriental　faces　on　the　bandstand　were　as　grave　as　carved　masks。
　〃。。。　and　we　can't　ever　hope　to　find　someone　to　fill　her　shoes。　Whether　we're　even　gonna　be　able　to　keep　going；　that's　up　in　the　air。　But　we　owe　it　to　Mr。　Bivens　to　play　out　our　contract；　at　least。〃
　〃Including　tonight？〃　a　voice　called　out。
　〃Including　tonight；　Terry。〃
　Hully　knew　the　band　member　who　had　spoken：　Taro　'Terry〃　Mizuha；　the　only　Japanese　in　the　group　other　than　Pearl。
　〃I　don't　know；　Jim；〃　Mizuha　said；　shaking　his　head。　A　slender；　almost　pretty　young　man…a　guitar　player…　he　really　looked　devastated。　〃I　just　don't　know。。。。〃
　〃I've　asked　Sally　Suziki　to　fill　in　on　vocals…she　was　singing　with　the　Kealoha　Trio　at　the　Halekulani；　but　they　recently　broke　up。〃
　〃She'll　do　fine；〃　somebody　said　numbly。
　〃She's　no　Pearl；〃　somebody　else　said。
　〃She'll　do　fine；〃　Kaupiko　affirmed。　〃And　I've　got　Sammy　Amaulu；　trombone　player　from　the　Surfriders…　they're　not　gigging　tonight。　Sammy　can　fill　in；　but　just　this　once。〃
　Somebody　asked；　〃Are　we　gonna　rehearse　with　these　fill…ins？〃
　'Today　at　three…any　objections？〃
　There　were　none；　and　Kaupiko　seemed　about　to　adjourn　the　informal　meeting；　when　Hully　strolled　up　and　said；　〃What　do　you　guys　think　about　Harry？〃
　About　half　of　them　had　been　getting　up　out　of　their　chairs；　all　of　them　had　wide…eyed；　sucker…punched　expressions。
　Kaupiko；　still