mac.thepearlharbormurders-第18章

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　a　tropical　sunset　painted　the　water；　the　world；　with　shades　of　red　and　orange；　but　as　the　sun's　ball　of　fire　slipped　over　the　horizon；　darkness　rapidly　invaded。
　Burroughs　had　told　Sterling　about　the　informal　investigation　he　and　his　son　were　undertaking　into　the　Harada　girl's　death；　assuring　the　agent　that　Hully　had　not　been　clued　in　on　Otto　Kuhn's　suspected　status　as　a　sleeper　agent。
　〃To　me；　the　most　interesting　thing　you've　e　up　with；〃　the　ruggedly　handsome　FBI　agent　said；　stirring　sugar　into　his　coffee；　〃is　that　phone　call　that　Kuhn　and　his　wife　argued　about。〃
　Burroughs　lifted　an　eyebrow。　〃Apparently；　Otto　told　her　to　deny　there'd　been　any　phone　call；　or　anyway　not　to　mention　there　had　been　one。〃
　Sterling's　eyes　narrowed。　〃But　who　rang　Otto；　in　the　middle　of　the　night？　And　why？〃
　〃He's　a　sleeper　agent…maybe　it　was　a　wake…up　call。〃
　The　FBI　agent　nodded。　〃Maybe　in　a　way　it　was…　Otto　receives　a　call；　and　then　before　you　know　it；　he's　on　your　doorstep；　telling　Jardine　he　witnessed　Kamana　killing　that　girl。〃
　〃You　mean。。。　the　real　murderer　called　him；　and　ordered　up　an　alibi？〃
　Sterling　made　an　openhanded　shrugging　gesture。　〃There's　really　only　two　reasonable　alternatives；　here：　Kuhn　did　the　killing　and　blamed　Kamana；　or　someone　else　did　the　killing；　and　Kuhn　is　alibiing　for　him。。。　or　her。〃
　〃Her？　Mrs。　Kuhn；　you　mean？〃
　〃She　remains　a　viable　suspect；〃　Sterling　said；　and　sipped　his　coffee。　〃Otto's　reputation　as　a　playboy　has　been　well　earned…he　does　run　around　on　Elfriede　。。。　and　you　gotta　give　Otto　his　nerve　for　that：　his　wife　is　the　niece　of　Heinrich　Himmler　himself。〃
　The　saltwater　breeze　suddenly　seemed　chilly　to　Burroughs。　〃So　I　really　do　have　Nazis　living　next　door。〃
　〃No　doubt　of　that。〃
　〃Then　where　does　the　damn　phone　call　e　in？〃
　Sterling　threw　his　hands　up。　〃Search　me。　But　I　can　tell　you　this…there's　a　reason　why　Pearl　Harada's　murder　sent　up　a　warning　flare　at　my　office　。。。　particularly　with　Otto　Kuhn　as　a　supposed　eyewitness；　apparently　fingering　a　fall　guy。〃
　〃Why　is　that；　Adam？〃
　The　agent　leaned　forward。　〃Remember　what　I　told　you　about　the　network　of　nisei　who　are　helping　pile　a　list　of　potentially　disloyal　Japs　here　in　Oahu？〃
　〃Sure。〃
　〃Well；　Pearl　Harada's　uncle…the　Chinatown　grocer…is　on　that　list。〃
　Burroughs　half　climbed　out　of　his　wicker　chair。　〃Jesus；　Hully　went　to　question　that　guy　this　afternoon！〃
　Sterling　patted　the　air；　calmingly。　〃I　didn't　say　Uncle　Harada　was　dangerous…just　that　he's　loyal　to　his　native　country。。。　like　a　lot　of　issei　in　Chinatown。〃
　Issei　were　first…generation　immigrants。
　Sterling　was　saying；　〃Until　recently；　Harada　displayed　photographs　of　the　emperor　in　his　shop。　Plus；　he's　vocally　supported　Japan's　war　on　China；　buying　Jap　war　bonds；　helping　organize　an　effort　to　send　'fort　bags'　to　Japanese　soldiers…blankets；　shoes；　candy。〃
　Burroughs　shifted　in　his　chair。　〃Well；　this　is　beginning　to　look　like　Pearl　Harada's　death　may　have　more　to　do　with　espionage　than　affairs　of　the　heart。〃
　Sterling　shrugged　again。　〃There's　no　question　this　was　a　beautiful　girl　who　could　have　driven　a　man　to　some　irrational；　jealous　act　of　violence。。。　but　with　both　her　uncle　and　your　'Nazi…next…door'　in　the　scenario；　an　espionage…related　motive　remains　a　distinct　possibility。〃
　〃And　let's　not　forget　she　knew　Vice　Consul　Mori…mura；　either…or　that　he　was　reading　her　the　Riot　Act　in　the　parking　lot；　a　few　hours　before　she　was　killed。〃
　Sterling's　reaction　was　not　what　Burroughs　had　expected：　the　FBI　agent　laughed。
　Astounded；　Burroughs　said；　〃This　is　funny；　all　of　a　sudden？〃
　〃I'm　sorry。　It's　just。。。　That　guy's　hard　to　take　seriously。　My　guess　is　Morimura　was　yelling　at　her　because　she　wouldn't　give　him　the　time　of　day。〃
　〃How　can　you　say　that；　Adam？　Fielder　admits　this　clown　spends　most　of　his　time　engaged　in　'legal'　spying。〃
　〃　'Clown'　is　the　key　word；　there。〃　Sterling　sipped　his　coffee；　then　leaned　forward　again。　〃Listen；　Ed…　Morimura　is　an　idiot。　I　have　it　on　good　authority　that　everybody　else　at　the　Consulate　hates　his　guts；　considers　him　a　lazy　ass。　We've　had　him　under　surveillance；　from　time　to　time；　and　the　guy　just　wanders　around　like　a　tourist；　never　takes　a　note　or　a　photo　or　makes　a　sketch。〃
　〃Maybe　he　has　a　photographic　memory。〃
　〃I　sincerely　doubt　it；　considering　all　the　brain　cells　he's　lost　to　sake。　Morimura's　a　simpleton　and　a　sybarite。〃
　Burroughs　was　shaking　bis　head；　astounded　by　Sterling's　attitude。　〃Kuhn's　a　playboy　and　you　take　him　seriously。〃
　〃Morimura　spends　all　his　time　drinking　himself　into　a　stupor　and　screwing　geisha　girls…end　of　story。〃
　〃Maybe　he's　just　a　clever　agent…you　were　concerned　enough　about　the　Consulate　burning　their　papers；　yesterday；　and　Morimura's　a　damn　vice　consul。。。。〃
　Sterling　held　up　his　hands　as　if　in　surrender。　〃Check　him　out　yourself；　if　you　like；　Ed…this　is　Saturday　。。。　he'll　no　doubt　be　at　the　Shuncho…ro　teahouse；　tonight。　The　management　keeps　a　room　upstairs　for　him；　to　pursue　his　debaucheries；　and　then　sleep　it　off。〃　Sterling　checked　his　watch。　〃As　for　me；　I　have　to　get　over　to　General　Short's　quarters；　to　try　to　jump…start　him　into　taking　all　of　these　matters　seriously。。。　the　Mori　code；　the　Harada　murder；　the　Consulate　burning　those　papers。　。。。〃
　Burroughs　sighed；　shook　his　head。　〃What　the　hell　does　it　all　mean；　Adam？〃
　Sterling　rose　from　his　wicker　chair。　〃Figuring　that　out　isn't　my　job…my　job　is　convincing　General　Short　to　figure　it　out。〃
　The　Shuncho…ro…Spring　Tide　Restaurant…was　on　Makanani　Drive　on　the　slopes　of　Alewa　Heights；　a　surprisingly　un…Oriental…looking　two…story　wooden　house　with　generous　picture　windows　on　both　floors　and　clean　modern　lines　that　wouldn't　have　been　out　of　place　back　in　Frank　Lloyd　Wright's　Oak　Park；　Illinois；　where　Burroughs　had　lived　in　the　teens。　In　the　midst　of　a　lush　garden…no　palms　in　sight…hugged　by　flowering　hedges；　the　Shuncho…ro　perched　on　the　mountainside　looking　down　on　Honolulu；　a　breathtaking　view　any　tourist…or　spy…might　relish。
　Burroughs　left　his　Pierce　Arrow　in　the　dimly　illuminated　crushed…coral　parking　lot；　which　was　fairly　full；　the　restaurant　doing　a　good　business。　He　noted；　parked　on　the　other　side　of　the　lot；　a　black　Lincoln　with　a　Japanese　chauffeur　in　full　livery　asleep　behind　the　wheel…the　vice　consul's　car；　no　doubt。
　The　writer　also　recognized　another　car　in　the　lot；　a　dark　blue　'41　Cadillac　convertible。　He'd　seen　this　distinctive　vehicle　at　the　Niumalu　many　times：　it　belonged　to　Otto　Kuhn。
　The　wide　entryway　of　the　teahouse　had　horizontal　wooden　spindlework　on　either　side；　a　motif　repeated　in　the　vestibule；　a　strong；　stark　design　that　again　recalled　Oak　Park's　Frank　Lloyd　Wrightand　Wright's　own　Japanese　inspiration。　A　host　in　a　black　suit　and　tie　asked　if　Burroughs　had　a　reservation；　which　he　did；　having　called　ahead；　after　leaving　his　shoes　at　the　door；　Burroughs　was　shown　by　a　teahouse　girl　in　a　pate　blue　kimono　to　a　low　table　for　one；　where　he　sat　on　a　tatami　mat。
　The　sparsely　decorated；　oak…trimmed；　cream…colored　dining　room　seemed　about　evenly　divided　between　Japanese…Americans　and　tourists；　all　of　whom…like　Burroughs…were　rather　informally　dressed；　in　anticipation　of　the　teahouse's　sit…on…the…floor　service。　He　did　not　see　Morimura　or　Kuhn　among　the　diners　here　on　the　first　floor。
　He　drank　a　cup　of　tea；　and　when　the　geisha　returned　for　his　order；　he　said；　〃I　was　hoping　to　link　up　with　two　friends　of　mine；　who　told　me　they'd　be　dining　here；　this　evening…Otto　Kuhn　and　Tadashi　Mori…mura？〃
　She　nodded。　〃The　gentlemen　are　upstairs；　sir。〃
　〃Wonderful！　Which　room？〃
　〃Ichigo　room…sign　on　door。　It　is　private。　May　I　announce　you？〃
　Smiling；　Burroughs　got　up。　〃No；　that's　all　right…　I'd　rather　surprise　them。　Can　you　direct　me？〃
　The　geisha　was　obliging…these　girls　were　paid　to　be…and　Burroughs　was　about　to　go　up　a　stairway　when　he　glimpsed　somebody　starting　down。　Ducking　back　around；　tucking　into　the　recess　of　the　restroom　hallway；　Burroughs　allowed　Otto　Kuhn　to　exit　the　stairwell　and　head　out　the　entryway　to　the　parking　lot。
　Then　the　writer　slipped　his　shoes　back　on　and　followed　after。
　Kuhn　moved　quickly；　his　white　linen　suit　flashing　in　the　night；　like　a　ghost　on　the　run；　but　Burroughs　trotted　after　him　and　caught　up　with　the　German　near　the　parked　Caddy。
　〃Well；　Otto；〃　Burroughs　said；　〃we　just　keep　bumping　into　each　other。〃
　Startled；　Kuhn　wheeled；　blue　eyes　wide　in　the　bland　oval　of　his　face。　〃Burroughs　。。。　Edgar。　I　didn't　know　you　frequented　the　Shuncho…ro。〃
　〃My　first　time。〃
　〃You；　uh；　simply　must　try　the　ogana　tonight。。。　superb。　Well；　if　you'll　excuse　me…〃
　Burroughs　stopped　him　with　a　hand　on　an　elbow。
　〃You're　always　in　such　a　rash；　Otto。　I'm　a　driven；　intense　sort　of　fella　myself。。。　but　I've　learned　to　relax　in　Oahu。〃
　Kuhn　drew　away　from　Burroughs's　grasp。　〃Edgar；　please；　my　wife　is　waiting。〃
　〃Really？　You　didn't　take　her　along　to　the　restaurant；　on　a　Saturday　night？　I　hope　you　two　kids　aren't　having　trouble。〃
　Irritated；　Kuhn　frowned　saying；　〃She　doesn't　care　for　Japanese　cuisine。　If　you'll　excuse　me　。。。〃
　〃Or　maybe　you　were　still　doing　business？　I　know　you　had　business　downtown；　earlier…maybe　this　is　an　extension　of　that。〃
　Kuhn's　eyes　hardened。　〃If　it　is　business…it's　my　business。。。　and；　frankly；　none　of　yours。〃
　〃Funny　that　you　would　be　dining　with　Mr。　Mori…mura；　tonight；　when　you　almost　went　out　of　your　way；　at　the　luau　last　night；　to　avoid　him。〃
　Mention　of　the　vice　consul's　name　had　widened　the　blue　eyes　again；　Kuhn　had　the　look　of　a　startled　deer。　〃Who　says　I　was　dining　with。。。　what　was　the　name？〃
　〃Morimura；　and　the　waitress　in　there　said　you　and　he　had　a　private　room　upstairs。〃
　Kuhn　lifted　his　chin。　〃What　are　you　implying？〃
　〃Not　romance。　You　see；　Otto；　I　think　somebody。。。　maybe　your　Jap　pal　in　there。。。　called　you　last　night；　woke　you　and　your　lovely　wife　up。〃
　〃I　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about。〃
　〃I'm　talking　about　you　pinning　a　murder　on　that　poor　bastard　Harry　Kamana。〃
　Kuhn's　bland　features　contorted　fiercely。　〃You're　out　of　your　mind！　I　saw　that　musician　bludgeon　that　girl　with　a　rock…he　bashed　her　damn　skull　in！〃
　〃Did　he？　Or　did　you？〃
　The　German　drew　back；　sucking　in　a　breath。　Then；　as　if　hurt；　even　offended；　he　said；　〃I　don't　have　to　put　up　with　this。〃
　〃Maybe　not　from　me。。。　but　my　friend　Detective　Jardine；　him　you'll　have　to　talk　to。　Last　night　you　added　to　some　already　damning　evidence　to　help　make　Kamana　the　obvious；　and　only；　suspect。　Today；　though；　things　are　looking　different。〃
　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　〃I'm　talking　about　that　late…night　phone　call。　I'm　talking　about　your　vice…consul　pal　in　there　bawling　out　that　girl　in　public；　just　hours　before　her　murder。〃
　Kuhn　shoved　Burroughs；　roughly；　and　the　writer　knocked　into　the　next　parked　car　with　a　metallic　whump。　Kuhn　was　opening　his　car　door；　getting　in；　when　Burroughs　latched　onto　his　shoulder；　spun　him　around　and　slammed　a　fist　into　his　face。
　His　mouth　bloody；　Kuhn　shoved　Burroughs　again；　then　went　clawing　inside　his　white　jacket；　the　German's　fingers　were　on　a　small　black　Liiger；　snugged　away　in　a　shoulder　holster；　when　Burroughs　doubled　him　over　with　a　hard　fist　to　the　belly。
　Dazed；　Kuhn　tumbled　to　the　crushed　coral；　sitting　between　his　Caddy　and　the　parked