mac.thepearlharbormurders-第21章

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　〃You　should　have　a　lawyer；〃　Dan　said。　〃This　is　a　murder　case。〃
　Bill　batted　the　air。　〃They　already　caught　the　guy。　Didn't　you　catch　the　guy？〃
　〃Harry　Kamana　is　in　custody；〃　Jardine　said。　〃When　did　you　see　Pearl　last；　Ensign？〃
　〃At　the　Niumalu。　I　left　about　a　quarter　to　midnight。　。。。　The　Harbor　Lights　were　still　playing。〃
　Jardine　gazed　out　from　under　the　shadow　of　the　fedora　brim。　〃She　was　your　girl；　wasn't　she？　Why　didn't　you　hang　around　to　spend　some　time　with　her；　after？〃
　〃I　wanted　to　talk　to　my　father。　I　was　spending　the　weekend　with　my　folks…and　I　knew　I'd　have　the　chance　to　talk　to　Dad　about。。。　about　Pearl　and　me。　About　us　getting　married。〃
　〃Did　you　talk　to　him？〃
　〃Yes。〃　He　shook　his　head；　rolled　his　eyes。　〃Oh　yes　indeed。〃
　〃It　did　not　go　well？〃
　He　grunted　a　humorless　laugh。　〃It　did　not　go　well。〃
　〃What　happened？〃
　Bill　leaned　forward；　weaving　slightly；　his　words　remained　slurred　but　coherent。　〃Just　a　shouting　match。　My　mother　tried　to　calm　both　of　us　down；　but。。。　I　went　to　the　guest　room；　slammed　the　door。　That　was　the　end　of　it。〃
　〃What　time　was　this？〃
　〃I　got　home　just　after　midnight。　We　must　have　argued　till　one　o'clock；　one…fifteen。〃
　Jardine　glanced　at　Hully：　this　would　seem　to　be　an　alibi　for　both　Bill　and　his　father。　。　。　unless　one　was　covering　for　the　other。
　〃Ensign　Fielder；〃　the　detective　said；　〃I　mean　no　disrespect　。。。　but　you　were　not　the　only　man　in　Pearl's　life。〃
　Bill　slapped　the　metal　table　and　the　coffee　cups　jumped；　spilling　a　little。　〃You're　wrong！　I　was　the　only　man　in　her　life。〃
　Jardine's　voice　was　a　persistent　near　monotone。　〃What　about　Jack　Stanton？　Harry　Kamana？〃
　Bill　gestured　with　an　awkward　hand。　〃They　were　old　boyfriends。　I　didn't　say　she　was　a。。。　a　nun。　But　we　were　engaged…she　wasn't　dating　anybody　else；　wasn't　seeing　anybody　else。　Just　me。〃
　〃How　would　you　have　felt　if　you　found　her　in　the　arms　of　another　man？〃
　The　ensign　bobbed　forward。　〃Would　it　make　me　want　to　kill　somebody？　Is　that　what　you　want　to　know？　Sure；　Detective　。。。〃
　Touching　his　friend's　arm；　Dan　said；　〃Bill…easy；　now　。。。　watch　what　you're　saying。。。。〃
　〃I'd　have　wanted　to　kill　the　son　of　a　bitch　who　was　with　her。。。　not　Pearl。　Never　Pearl。　But　that　didn't　happen；　Detective；　and　it　wouldn't　happen；　couldn't　happen。　She　loved　me；　I　loved　her。　We　were　engaged。　She　was　going　to　be　。。。　my　wife。〃
　〃What　if　you　found　her　in　the　arms　of　Terry　Mi…zuha？〃
　Bill　blinked。　〃Why　would　she　be　in　that　queer's　arms？　What　the　hell　kind　of　stupid　question　is　that？〃
　Jardine　handed　Bill　a　business　card。　〃That's　my　office　number　at　City　Hall。　But　I　want　you　down　at　Central　Police　Station　at　eleven　o'clock　Monday　morning。　Can　you　remember　that？〃
　〃Yeah。〃　Bill　was　looking　at　the　business　card；　trying　to　make　his　eyes　focus。　〃Why　do　you　wanna　talk　to　me　again？〃
　〃I　want　your　formal　statement。　I　don't　think　you　did　this　thing；　Ensign　Fielder；　but　you　are　a　suspect。　You　may　wish　to　bring　an　attorney　along。〃
　Bill's　head　was　rocking；　slightly。　〃I　don't　understand　this…Harry　Kamana　did　it！　He　had　goddamn　blood　all　over　himself！　Somebody　saw　him　do　it；　right？　Why。。。〃
　〃We　can　discuss　this　Monday。　Show　up　sober；　Ensign。〃
　Then　Bill　was　on　his　feet；　raving；　ranting。　〃You　let　that　bastard　Kamana　out；　I'll　kill　his　ass！　You　understand？　You　wanna　arrest　me　for　a　murder；　you'll　get　your　chance。。。。〃
　Dan　also　got　to　his　feet；　latching　onto　Bill's　arm。　〃Take　it　easy；　Bill。　Just　stop　talking；　goddamnit。〃
　A　male　voice　chimed　in：　〃Did　you　kill　her；　Fielder？　Did　you　murder　my　girl？〃
　As　if　he'd　materialized；　Corporal　Jack　Stanton　was　standing　next　to　the　table。　Now　Hully　and　Jardine　were　getting　to　their　feet；　as　Stanton　grabbed　the　startled　Bill　Fielder　by　his　khaki　blouse；　with　both　hands。
　〃Why　did　you　do　it；　Fielder？〃　Stanton　demanded；　his　eyes　crazed。　〃Was　she　throwing　you　over？　ing　back　to　me？〃
　Bill　threw　the　first　punch。　Then　the　two　heartsick；　drunken　servicemen　were　slugging　away　at　each　other；　flailing；　stumbling　out　into　the　street；　mostly　missing；　occasionally　connecting。　Within　seconds　a　crowd　of　sailors　and　soldiers　had　formed　around　them；　cheering　them　on。
　Jardine　was　shaking　his　head；　giving　Hully　a　look。　〃Oh　hell；〃　he　said　wearily。
　It　was　only　a　matter　of　minutes　before　the　crowd　turned　itself　into　a　brawling　mob；　sailors　belting　soldiers；　soldiers　smacking　sailors。　Fielder　and　Stanton　were　no　longer　visible；　swallowed　in　the　sea　of　white　and　khaki；　with　shouted　obscenities　mingling　with　cries　of　pain。
　The　gunshot　froze　them　all。
　Then　their　eyes　turned　to　the　little　Portuguese　detective　who　had　fired　his　。38　revolver　into　the　air。　The　sailors　and　soldiers　did　not　have　time　to　process　this　before　the　MPs　and　Shore　Patrol　descended；　blowing　whistles；　shouting　admonitions；　arresting　a　few　of　them；　the　bulk　scattering。
　Hully　found　Bill　Fielder　in　a　pile　on　the　pavement；
　barely　conscious；　fairly　battered；　Stanton　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。　Hully　and　Dan　Pressman…who　had　not　gotten　involved　in　the　fracas…walked　Bill　to　the　table　and　sat　him　down。
　Dan　said　to　Hully；　〃Listen；　I　need　to　catch　a　liberty　ship。　You　want　me　to　haul　him　back　to　the　Arizona？'
　〃No…I'll　baby…sit　him　tonight；〃　Hully　said。　〃Clean　him　up；　and　let　him　sleep　it　off。〃
　Jardine　was　talking　to　the　Shore　Patrol　and　the　MPs；　showing　them　his　badge。
　〃You　guys　always　have　this　much　fun　on　Hotel　Street？〃　Hully　asked　Pressman。
　Dan　grinned。　〃Every　time。〃
　
　
　TWELVE
　Party　Crashers
　
　In　the　golden　Hawaiian　moonlight；　Schofield　Barracks…the　largest　military　base　in　the　United　States…　looked　like　a　perfecdy　idealized　American　town；　right　off　the　cover　of　The　Saturday　Evening　Post　or　the　back　lot　of　MGM。　If　it　were　not　for　the　surrounding　fields　of　sugarcane　and　pineapple；　no　one　would　guess　the　Hawaiian　location；　if　it　were　not　for　the　sentry…guarded　entry；　no　one　would　take　this　for　an　Army　post。　Street　after　street　was　lined　with　stucco　and　brick　houses　on　well…manicured　lawns；　ranging　from　bungalows　to　near　mansions；　depending　on　the　ranks　of　their　occupants；　of　course；　and…set　off　in　splendid　isolation；　like　castles　of　the　realm…massive　brick　structures　for　various　military　purposes。
　Burroughs　pulled　up　outside　the　gate；　waiting　for　FBI　agent　Adam　Sterling。　He　had　called　the　agent　at　the　Niumalu；　where　Sterling　had　been　brooding　in　his　bungalow；　after　an　unsuccessful　meeting　with　General　Short　on　the　lanai　of　the　latter's　home；　at　Fort　Shafter；　the　Army　administrative　quarters　just　outside　Honolulu。
　〃Well；　get　out　here　to　Schofield；〃　Burroughs　had　told　the　FBI　man；　from　a　phone　booth　outside　a　gas　station　with　a　magnificent　view　of　Pearl　Harbor　that　rivaled　the　Shuncho…ro's。　〃I　have　new　information　for　the　general；　and　I　won't　be　able　to　get　past　the　guard　without　your　help。〃
　Burroughs　filled　Sterling　in　on　what　he'd　learned　from　Kuhn　and　Morimura；　and　the　FBI　man；　excited；　said　he　was　on　his　way　and　hung　up。
　The　writer　had　paused　to　look　at　the　view；　before　driving　to　nearby　Schofield。　Pearl　Harbor　was　spread　out　before　him；　warships　moored　in　pools　of　yellow　luminance；　signal　lights　blinking　back　and　forth；　search　beams　stroking　the　sky。
　A　chatty　little　Japanese　man　in　coveralls…who　had　introduced　himself　as　Mr。　Sumida；　the　service　station's　owner；　and　who　had　smiled　during　every　moment　of　gas　pumping　and　windshield　cleaning…was　also　admiring　the　glittering　view；　as　Burroughs　paid　for　his　gas。
　〃So　beautiful；〃　Mr。　Sumida　said。　〃Like　great　big　Christmas　tree！〃
　Somehow　this　observation　was　less　than　forting；　and　now…as　Burroughs　waited　for　Sterling　outside　the　Schofield　gate…he　wondered　how　his　son　and　Sam　Fujimoto　were　faring。　About　now　they　would　be　bing　Hotel　Street　for　Bill　Fielder　and　Jack　Stanton；　and　the　writer　was　well　aware　of　the　potential　perils　of　that　sleazy　strip　of　sin。
　Sterling　pulled　up　in　a　black　Ford；　government　issue　no　doubt；　and　Burroughs　left　the　Pierce　Arrow　and　hopped　in　front；　on　the　passenger　side。　The　FBI　man　showed　his　ID　to　the　guard　and　they　soon　were　rolling　through　the　lush；　suburban　〃barracks。〃
　〃We're　probably　on　a　fool's　errand；　Ed；〃　the　FBI　agent　said。　The　rangy；　square…jawed　Sterling…who　still　reminded　Burroughs　of　a　hero　from　one　of　his　own　books…seemed　frazzled　at　the　end　of　this　long　day；　his　white　linen　suit　rumpled；　his　tie　a　limp；　wrinkled　rag。
　Sterling　proceeded　to　tell　Burroughs　that　when　he'd　arrived　at　Fort　Shafter　at　seven；　for　a　promised　ten…minute　audience　with　the　general；　both　Mrs。　Short　and　Mrs。　Fielder　were　already　seated　in　the　general's　car　with　its　motor　running；　in　the　driveway；　waiting　to　go　to　the　party　at　the　Schofield　Officers'　Club。
　Short　had　been　unimpressed　with　the　transcript　of　the　Mori　radiophone　call。　〃If　this　is　code；〃　the　general　had　asked　skeptically；　〃why　do　they　talk　in　the　clear　about　things　like　planes　and　searchlights？〃
　While　the　wives　fretted　and　fumed　in　the　car；　Sterling　had　tried　to　make　his　case　to　Short　and　Fielder　（who　lived　next　door　to　the　general）。
　〃General　Short　thought　the　Mori　call　was　'quite　an　ordinary　message；'　〃　Steriing　said　to　Burroughs；　pulling　into　the　officers'…club　parking　lot。　〃Nothing　much　to　get　excited　about。〃
　〃And　of　course　Fielder　parroted　that　view；〃　Burroughs　said　dryly。
　〃The　worst　of　it　is；　the　general　said　he　appreciated　my　'zeal；'　but　perhaps　I　was　being　'too　intelligence…conscious。'　〃
　Burroughs；　shaking　his　head；　said；　〃Is　there　such　a　thing；　with　war　hanging　over　us？〃
　〃When　it　es　to　matters　like　these；〃　Sterling　said；　as　he　parked　his　car　in　the　nearly　filled　lot；　〃it's　easy　to　be　wrong。。。。　Morimura　being　a　case　in　point；　on　my　part。〃
　Burroughs　was　getting　out　of　the　car。　〃You　might　have　done　better　with　General　Short　during　working　hours。　When　a　man's　wife　is　waiting　for　him　in　a　car；　dressed　to　the　nines　ready　to　go　to　a　party；　his　judgment　is　easily　impaired。〃
　As　they　walked　up　to　the　entry　of　the　unpretentious　brick　building；　the　FBI　agent　warned　Burroughs：　〃The　general　was　pretty　patient　with　me　at　his　house；　all　considering；　but　this　interruption　may　be　something　else　again。〃
　Sterling　had　already　explained　that　this　was　not　just　the　club's　weekly　Saturday…night　dance；　but　an　annual　cabaret…style　benefit　show　put　on　by　〃talented　young　ladies〃　who　worked　on　the　post。　Right　now　they　could　hear　a　small　bo…piano；　drums；　guitar　and　bass　fiddle…acpanying　a　thin　female　voice　doing　Ella　Fitzgerald's　〃A　Tisket　a　Tasket；〃　passably。
　Once　inside；　they　peeked　in　at　the　wood…paneled　dining　room；　which　was　decked　out　with　ferns　and　floral　arrangements；　and　every　linen…covered　table　had　fresh…cut　flowers；　between　two　lava…rock　columns　was　the　stage　area；　where　various　amateurs　were　ing　up　to　sing　and　dance　and　do　their　best。　The　men　in　the　audience　were　in　dress　uniform　and　the　women　in　their　fanciest　gowns；　and　the　club　was　brimming　with　brass…in　addition　to　Short　and　Fielder；　who　were　positioned　up　front　（unfortunately）；　Burroughs　spotted　Major　Durward　Wilson　of　the　24th　Infantry　Division；　Lieutenant　Colonel　Emil　Leard；　and　Lieutenant　Colonel　Walter　Phillips；　Short's　chief　of　staff。
　〃Wait　in　the　bar；〃　Sterling　told　Burroughs；　who　did　as　he　was　told；　as　the　FBI　man　waded　gingerly　into　the　sea　of　high…ranking　officers。
　With　the　ben