mac.thepearlharbormurders-第17章

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　〃She　did。　I　was　grateful。〃
　Sam　said；　〃But　you　weren't　close。〃
　〃No。〃
　Hully　tried　another　angle。　〃Did　she　have　any　friends　down　here？　Or　for　that　matter；　enemies？〃
　Harada's　eyes　narrowed；　his　face　seemed　to　harden　even　more。　〃Why　do　you　ask　this？〃
　〃Well；　someone　killed　her。。。。〃
　Harada's　chin　lifted。　〃A　man　is　under　arrest。　She　had　loose　morals　and　a　man　killed　her。　He　is　in　custody；　is　he　not？〃
　〃Yeah；　sure；　but…〃
　〃The　circle　has　closed。　Why　do　you　ask　questions　as　if　you　are　a　policeman？〃
　Hully　gestured　with　an　open　hand。　〃Mr。　Harada；　I　meant　no　offense。　I　merely　。。。　we　merely　。。。　thought　we'd　offer　our　sympathies　in　what　we　had　assumed　would　be　a　dark　hour；　for　you。〃
　Harada　said　nothing。
　Sam　said；　〃I　guess　that　was　our　mistake。〃
　For　several　long　seconds；　Hully　just　stared　at　the　little　grocer；　who　didn't　even　blink。　Then　Hully　rushed　out　onto　the　wooden　sidewalk；　anger　bubbling；　Sam　followed。　Hully　was　several　storefronts　down；　moving　quickly　through　the　interracial　crowd；　when　Sam　caught　up　with　him。　'Take　it　easy；　Hul。。。。You　just　ran　head…on　into　a　cultural　war　I've　fought　every　day　of　my　life。〃
　Hully　stopped；　looked　at　his　friend。　〃Something　smells。〃
　〃Yeah；　fish　and　dirty　diapers　and　incense。　What；　you　think　Harada　killed　his　own　niece？　Why？　Because　she　was　Christian？〃
　Hully　didn't　know　what　to　say；　and　was　still　looking　for　words　when　a　small　dark　man　in　a　snap…brim　fedora；　orange　tie；　and　brown　rumpled　suit　was　suddenly　in　their　midst。
　〃What　the　hell　do　you　think　you're　doing？〃　Detective　John　Jardine　demanded。　His　dark　eyes　were　daggers。
　〃I；　uh。。。　well。。。〃
　Jardine　took　Hully　by　the　back　of　the　arm　and　bus…tied　him　into　a　booth　in　a　nearby　cafe。　Sam　came　along；　a　wide…eyed　bystander；　who　slipped　in　next　to　Hully。
　A　waitress　in　a　kimono　came　over；　and　Jardine　said；　〃Three　coffees；〃　and　she　went　away。
　〃You　were　grilling　that　guy；〃　Jardine　said。
　〃You。。。　you　heard？〃
　〃There's　no　damn　door。　Sure　I　heard…I　was　on　my　way　in　to　interrogate　him　myself。　What　in　the　hell　are　you　doing；　walking　my　damn　beat？〃
　Calmly；　Hully　said；　〃Have　you　talked　to　my　dad　today？〃
　〃No…we've　missed　each　other；　traded　phone　calls。　Why；　is　he　in　this　too？〃
　With　another　glance　at　Sam；　who　shrugged；　Hully　sighed　and　made　a　clean　breast　it…sharing　not　only　the　notion　of　the　informal　investigation　he　and　his　father　had　been　conducting；　but　the　various　pieces　of　information　they　had　discovered。
　Though　he　looked　irritated；　the　Portuguese　detective　jotted　much　of　this　down　in　his　small　notebook。
　〃Thank　you　for　the　information；〃　Jardine　said；　sliding　the　notebook　into　an　inside　suit…jacket　pocket。　〃Now…give　your　father　a　message　for　me：　leave　this　to　the　professionals。　I　won't　write　about　his　jungle；　and　you　and　your　father　need　to　stay　the　hell　out　of　mine。〃
　Hully　leaned　forward。　〃Are　you　looking　at　any　suspects；　other　than　Harry　Kamana？〃
　An　eyebrow　arched。　〃I　was　about　to　interview　that　grocer；　wasn't　I？　Damnit；　boy…leave　this　to　the　police。〃　He　looked　sharply　at　Sam。　〃What's　your　part　in　this？〃
　Sam's　eyes　widened。　〃I'm　just　a　friend　of　Hully's　。。。　I　was　a　friend　of　Pearl's；　too。〃
　〃Where　were　you　last　night？〃
　〃At　a　college　dance…pregame　bash。〃
　〃But　you　weren't　at　the　game　today？〃
　〃I　don't　like　football。〃
　〃But　you　went　to　the　'pregame　bash'？〃
　〃Well；　sure…I　do　like　girls。〃
　〃Did　you　like　Pearl　Harada？〃
　〃Not　that　way。。。　hey；　what　is　this？〃
　Jardine　looked　pointedly　at　Hully。　〃How's　this　guy　for　another　suspect？　We're　looking　at　everybody　and　everything。。。　including　you；　Mr。　Burroughs。〃
　A　uniformed　officer；　a　young　Polynesian；　peered　in　the　cafй's　storefront　window　and　seemed　relieved　to　see　Jardine。　The　cop　hurried　in　and　stood　next　to　the　booth；　hands　behind　him。
　〃Detective；　may　I　have　a　word？〃　Jardine　rose　and；　pointing　to　Hully　and　then　at　Sam；　said；　〃Stay；〃　as　if　to　a　pair　of　dogs。
　Hully　and　Sam　watched　out　the　window　as　the　uniformed　cop　delivered　some　slice　of　detailed　information　that　made　Jardine　cover　his　mouth；　then　the　detective　pushed　his　fedora　back　on　his　head；　and　turned　and　gazed　through　the　cafe　window　at　Hully。　He　crooked　a　finger。
　Hully　raised　his　eyebrows　and　gestured　to　himself。　Jardine　frowned　and　nodded。　Soon　Sam　had　been　left　behind　and　Jardine…with　the　uniformed　cop　at　the　wheel…was　sitting　in　the　front　seat　of　a　squad　car　with　Hully　in　back；　feeling　like　a　suspect。
　〃What's　this　about？〃　Hully　asked。　〃Just　ride；〃　Jardine　said。
　Past　the　end　of　the　Waikiki　streetcar　line；　Jardine's　driver　headed　out　Diamond　Head　Road。　The　road　was　just　about　to　begin　making　its　winding　way　up　the　cliffs；　when　the　squad　car　drew　up　along　the　roadside　where　another　squad　car　was　already　parked。
　Wordlessly；　Jardine　approached　an　opening　between　the　rocks　where　another　Polynesian　uniformed　cop　was　posted　at　the　mouth　of　the　path；　the　cop　nodded　to
　Jardine　and　pointed　down。　Following　the　swarthy　little　detective…whose　driver　had　stayed　behind…Hully　did　his　best　to　keep　his　balance　as　he　navigated　van…sized　rocks　down　the　grassy；　sandy　slope。　On　the　beach　below；　the　rock…infested　white　beach；　lay　a　body…a　naked　man；　sprawled　on　his　stomach。　Two　more　cops　stood　watch；　but　this　fellow　wasn't　going　anywhere。
　The　sand　was　moist　under　his　slippers；　as　Hully　trailed　after　the　detective；　who　made　a　beeline　to　the　body　and　knelt。　The　nude；　slender　frame　of　the　corpse　became　a　specific　person　when　Hully　got　close　enough　to　see　the　pale；　sand…flecked；　bulging…eyed　face；　the　surf　rolling　up　nearby；　threatening　to　dampen　the　dead　features。
　〃Recognize　him？〃　Jardine　said　to　Hully；　looking　up　from　beside　the　body。
　'Terry　Mizuha；〃　Hully　said。　His　tongue　felt　thick；　his　head　was　spinning。　He　turned　away　from　the　corpse；　walked　a　few　steps　down　the　beach；　his　back　to　the　cops　and　the　body。
　Then　Jardine　was　at　his　side。　〃You　said　this　boy　might　have　more　information　to　share。〃
　Hully　had　included　a　summary　of　his　conversation　with　the　（late）　guitar　player　when　he　had　filled　Jardine　in；　at　the　Chinatown　coffee　shop。
　〃Yes…he　said　he　had　to　think。。。　to　'sort　things　out'　He'd　said　maybe　we'd　talk　in　a　few　hours。〃
　〃It's　been　a　few　hours…but　Terry　doesn't　seem　too　talkative。〃
　Hully　swallowed；　shivered。　〃How　was　he　killed？〃　
　The　wind　off　the　ocean　was　threatening　to　whip　away　Jardine's　fedora；　but　somehow　it　stayed　put。　〃Garroted…probably　with　a　small　rope。〃
　Hully　shook　his　head…such　a　violent　way　for　so　gentle　a　soul　to　meet　his　fate。　〃Do　you　still　think　Harry　Kamana　killed　Pearl　Harada？〃
　Jardine　twitched　a　nonsmile。　〃I'd　say　a　little　doubt　is　raised。〃
　Hully　snorted　a　humorless　laugh。　〃Well；　Kamana　sure　as　hell　didn't　kill　this　guy！　I　saw　Terry　at　the　Niumalu；　well　before　lunch！〃
　Jardine　heaved　a　sigh；　and　looked　back　toward　the　body。　〃We　were　probably　not　meant　to　find　him　so　soon。。。。　This　is　a　rocky　portion　of　the　beach；　not　visible　from　the　highway。　But　some　tourists　stumbled　across　him。。。　forty…five　minutes　ago。〃
　〃What's　the　significance　of　finding　him　sooner；　rather　than　later？〃
　The　sharp　eyes　landed　back　on　Hully；　the　faintest　of　smiles　etched　itself　on　Jardine's　thin　lips。　〃I'm　supposed　to　write　this　off　as　a　mahu　kill。〃
　〃A　what？〃
　〃Mahu　。。。　fairy…homosexual。　Lots　of　queers　get　killed　in　Waikiki；　usually　by　soldiers　or　sailors。　Kind　of　a。。。　local　tradition　that　horny　servicemen；　short　of　money；　pick　up　a　mahu　on　a　street　corner　for　a　free　'thrill。'　Some　of　these　servicemen　are　sickened　by　the　experience；　and　take　it　out　on　the　poor　bastards；　after。〃
　〃You　don't　really　think　this　is　a…〃
　〃No。　But　I'm　supposed　to。　Terry　Mizuha　was　a　known　mahu…and　he's　nude；　possibly　preparing　for　。。。　you　know。〃
　〃In　the　middle　of　the　day？〃
　Jardine　frowned。　〃That's　why　I　say　we　weren't　supposed　to　find　him　so　soon I　would　like　to　talk　to　your　servicemen　friends；　Fielder　and　Stanton。〃
　〃Why；　you　think　one　of　them　may　have　lured　him　out　here；　on　a　pretext？〃
　〃Possibly。　It's　secluded　enough；　even　for　a　daytime　tryst　Anyway；　there　are　no　signs　of　the　body　being　carried　down　the　slope。　He　would　seem　to　have　been　killed　here；　on　the　beach。〃
　〃But　he　could　have　been　killed　elsewhere。〃
　〃Yes…if　the　killer　had　an　acplice　to　help　him　carry　the　body　down　the　slope。　The　body　could　have　been　transported　here　in　the　trunk　of　a　car。〃
　〃Did　you　find　the　clothes？〃
　Jardine　nodded。　〃I'm　told　they　were　neatly　stacked　in　the　rocks　nearby。〃
　The　afternoon　was　dying。　The　setting　sun　seemed　a　red…hot　ball　of　flame；　tinting　the　waves　pink；　as　if　the　ocean　were　watered…down　blood。
　The　detective　looked　up　at　Hully　with　eyes　that　were　bright　but　no　longer　hard　or　sharp。　〃Would　you　help　me　tonight；　Mr。　Burroughs？　We'll　go　to　Hotel　Street　and　find　that　sailor　and　that　soldier。〃
　There　was　no　question　about　it：　Hully　would　go　along　with　Jardine。　But　just　the　same；　he　said；　〃I　thought　I　was　supposed　to　leave　this　to　the　professionals。〃
　〃You'll　be　with　a　professional。　What　do　you　say？〃
　Down　the　beach；　foamy　surf　licking　ever　nearer；　Terry　Mizuha　seemed　to　have　no　objection。
　〃I　had　nothing　else　planned；〃　Hully　said。
　
　
　TEN
　An　Evening　at　the　Shuncho…ro
　
　At　the　top　of　Red　Hill；　Burroughs　slowed　his　Pierce　Arrow　to　take　in　the　panoramic　view　of　Pearl　Harbor　on　this　peaceful　evening…the　scattering　of　stars　in　God's　purple　Hawaiian　sky　peting　with　the　man…made　twinkling　of　buildings　and　ships；　the　ebony　sea　highlighted　shimmeringly　by　the　rays　of　the　near…golden　moon。　Dance　band　music　drifted　up　from　the　officers'　club　below；　the　view　including　the　Naval　Station；　Luke　Field；　and…in　the　distance…the　Ewa　Sugar　Plantation；　but　the　equipment；　the　trappings；　of　the　great　base　were　lost　in　the　night；　the　workshops；　the　big　hammerhead　crane；　swallowed　by　darkness；　with　only　the　lights　of　the　Pacific　Fleet　remaining…and　there　were　plenty；　what　with　every　battleship　in　port。　Winding　down　the　hill；　passing　through　Halawa　Gulch；　the　convertible　glided　by　fields　of　sugarcane；　which　waved　at　the　writer；　friendly　in　the　moonlight。
　A　sign　told　Burroughs　that　Pearl　City　Road　Junction　lay　ahead　just　three　miles；　where　a　left　turn　would　take　him　to　the　Peninsula　residential　section　and　the　Shuncho…ro　teahouse。
　He　had　not　connected　with　Hully；　and　Burroughs　wondered　what　his　son　might　have　uncovered…he　only　hoped　the　boy　hadn't　gotten　himself　in　any　jam。　For　once　Burroughs　valued　his　son's　friendship　with　Sam　Fujimoto…snooping　in　Chinatown　without　a　safari　guide　would　have　been　reckless。　Not　that　he　was　worried；　really；　other　than　a　standard　fatherly　concern：　Hully　was　as　smart　as　he　was　strapping；　and　could　damn　well　take　care　of　himself。
　On　the　other　hand；　it　was　a　murderer　they　were　chasing。　And　Burroughs　was　starting　to　wonder　whether　Pearl　Harada's　death　really　had　been　a　simple　crime　of　passion；　driven　by　the　jealousy　of　one　suitor　or　another　。。。　or　was　it　a　small　yet　important　part　of　something　greater　and　far　more　sinister？
　Back　at　the　Waikiki　Tavern；　after　Colonel　Fielder　had　departed；　Burroughs　and　FBI　agent　Sterling　had　sat　and　talked　for　another　fifteen　minutes；　in　the　matched…roofed　pergola　on　the　beach。　No　more　rum　punch：　a　waiter　was　dispatched　to　bring　coffee　for　both　men。　As　they　spoke；　a　tropical　sunset　paint