mc.risingsun-第10章

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　Then；　from　the　living　room；　a　tentative　voice　said；　〃Lynn？　Honey？　You　here？〃
　
　？
　She　was　silhouetted　in　the　doorway；　looking　in。　Barefooted；　wearing　shorts　and　a　tank　top。　I　couldn't　see　her　face　well；　but　she　was　obviously　what　my　old　partner　Anderson　would　call　a　snake　charmer。
　Connor　showed　his　badge。　She　said　her　name　was　Julia　Young。　She　had　a　Southern　accent；　and　a　slight　slur　to　her　speech。　Connor　turned　on　the　light　and　we　could　see　her　better。　She　was　a　beautiful　girl。　She　came　into　the　room　hesitantly。
　〃I　heard　the　music　…　is　she　here？　Is　Cherylynn　okay？　I　know　she　went　to　that　party　tonight。〃
　〃I　haven't　heard　anything；〃　Connor　said；　with　a　quick　glance　at　me。　〃Do　you　know　Cherylynn？〃
　〃Well；　sure。　I　live　right　across　the　hall；　in　number　eight。　Why　is　everybody　in　her　room？〃
　〃Everybody？〃
　〃Well；　you　two。　And　the　two　Japanese　guys。〃
　〃When　were　they　here？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　Maybe　half　an　hour　ago。　Is　it　something　about　Cherylynn？〃
　I　said；　〃Did　you　get　a　look　at　the　men；　Miss　Young？〃　I　was　thinking　she　might　have　been　looking　out　of　the　peephole　of　her　door。
　〃Well；　I　guess。　I　said　hello　to　them。〃
　〃How's　that？〃
　〃I　know　one　of　them　pretty　well。　Eddie。〃
　〃Eddie？〃
　〃Eddie　Sakamura。　We　all　know　Eddie。　Fast　Eddie。〃
　I　said；　〃Can　you　describe　him？〃
　She　gave　me　a　funny　look。　〃He's　the　guy　in　the　pictures　…　the　young　guy　with　the　scar　on　his　hand。　I　thought　everybody　knew　Eddie　Sakamura。　He's　in　the　newspaper　all　the　time。　Charities　and　stuff。　He's　a　big　party　guy。〃
　I　said；　〃Do　you　have　any　idea　how　I　could　find　him？〃
　Connor　said；　〃Eddie　Sakamura　is　part　owner　of　a　Polynesian　restaurant　in　Beverly　Hills　called　Bora　Bora。　He　hangs　out　there。〃
　〃That's　him；〃　Julia　said。　〃That　place　is　like　his　office。　I　can't　stand　it　myself；　it's　too　noisy。　But　Eddie's　just　running　around；　chasing　those　big　blondes。　He　loves　to　look　up　to　a　girl。〃
　She　leaned　against　a　table；　and　pushed　her　full　brown　hair　back　from　her　face　seductively。　She　looked　at　me　and　gave　a　little　pout。　〃You　two　guys　partners？〃
　〃Yes；〃　I　said。
　〃He　showed　me　his　badge。　But　you　didn't　show　me　yours。〃
　I　took　out　my　wallet。　She　looked　at　it。　〃Peter；〃　she　said；　reading。　〃My　very　first　boyfriend　was　named　Peter。　But　he　wasn't　as　handsome　as　you。〃　She　smiled　at　me。
　Connor　cleared　his　throat　and　said；　〃Have　you　been　in　Cherylynn's　apartment　before？〃
　〃Well；　I　guess。　I　live　right　across　the　way。　But　she　hasn't　been　in　town　much　lately。　Seems　like　she's　always　traveling。〃
　〃Traveling　where？〃
　〃All　over。　New　York；　Washington；　Seattle；　Chicago　。　。　。　all　over。　She　has　this　boyfriend　who　travels　a　lot。　She　meets　him。　Actually　I　think　she　just　meets　him　when　his　wife　isn't　around。〃
　〃This　boyfriend　is　married？〃
　〃Well；　there's　something　in　the　way。　You　know。　Obstructing。〃
　〃Do　you　know　who　he　is？〃
　〃No。　She　once　said　he'd　never　e　to　her　apartment。　He's　some　big　important　guy。　Real　rich。　They　send　the　jet　for　her；　and　off　she　goes。　Whoever　he　is；　he　drives　Eddie　crazy。　But　Eddie　is　the　jealous　type；　you　know。　Got　to　be　iro　otoko　to　all　the　girls。　The　sexy　lover。〃
　Connor　said；　〃Is　Cheryl's　relationship　a　secret？　With　this　boyfriend？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　I　never　thought　it　was。　It's　just　real　intense。　She's　madly　in　love　with　the　guy。〃
　〃She's　madly　in　love？〃
　〃You　can't　imagine。　I've　seen　her　drop　everything　to　run　and　meet　him。　One　night　she　es　over；　gives　me　two　tickets　to　the　Springsteen　concert；　but　she's　all　excited　because　she's　going　to　Detroit。　She's　got　her　little　carry…on　in　her　hand。　She's　got　her　little　nice…girl　dress　on。　Because　he　just　called　ten　minutes　ago　and　said；　'Meet　me。'　Her　face　all　bright；　she　looks　about　five　years　old。　I　don't　know　why　she　can't　figure　it　out。〃
　〃Figure　what　out？〃
　〃This　guy　is　just　using　her。〃
　〃Why　do　you　say　that？〃
　〃Cherylynn　is　beautiful；　and　real　sophisticated…looking。　She's　worked　all　over　the　world　as　a　model；　mostly　in　Asia。　But　deep　down　she's　a　small…town　girl。　I　mean；　Midland　is　an　oil　town；　there's　lots　of　money；　but　it's　still　a　small　town。　And　Cherylynn　wants　the　ring　on　the　finger　and　the　kids　and　the　dog　in　the　yard。　And　this　guy　isn't　going　to　do　it。　She　hasn't　figured　it　out。〃
　I　said；　〃But　you　don't　know　who　this　man　is？〃
　〃No；　I　don't。〃　A　sly　look　crossed　her　face。　She　shifted　her　body；　dropping　one　shoulder　so　her　breasts　thrust　forward。　〃But　you're　not　really　here　because　of　some　old　boyfriend；　are　you？〃
　Connor　nodded。　〃Not　really；　no。〃
　Julia　smiled　in　a　knowing　way。　〃It's　Eddie；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Umm；〃　Connor　said。
　〃I　knew　it；〃　she　said。　〃I　knew　he'd　get　in　trouble　sooner　or　later。　We　all　talked　about　it；　all　the　girls　here　in　the　Arms。〃　She　made　a　vague　gesture。　〃Because　he's　just　going　too　fast。　Fast　Eddie。　You　wouldn't　think　he　was　Japanese。　He's　so　flashy。〃
　Connor　said；　〃He's　from　Osaka？〃
　〃His　father's　a　big　industrialist　there；　with　Daimatsu。　He's　a　nice　old　guy。　When　he　es　over　to　visit；　sometimes　he　sees　one　of　the　girls　on　the　second　floor。　And　Eddie。　Eddie　was　supposed　to　get　educated　here　for　a　few　years；　then　go　home　to　work　for　the　kaisha；　the　pany。　But　he　won't　go　home。　He　loves　it　here。　Why　not？　He's　got　everything。　He　buys　a　new　Ferrari　every　time　he　bangs　up　the　old　one。　He's　got　more　money　than　God。　He's　lived　here　long　enough；　he's　just　like　an　American。　Handsome。　Sexy。　And　with　all　the　drugs。　You　know；　real　party　animal。　What's　in　Osaka　for　him？〃
　I　said；　〃But　you　said　you　always　knew　。　。　。〃
　〃That　he'd　get　in　trouble？　Sure。　Because　of　that　crazy　side。　That　edge。〃　She　shrugged。　〃A　lot　of　them　have　it。　These　guys　e　over　from　Tokyo；　and　even　if　they　have　a　shōkai；　an　introduction；　you　still　have　to　be　careful。　They　think　nothing　of　dropping　ten　or　twenty　thousand　in　a　night。　It's　like　a　tip　for　them。　Leave　it　on　the　dresser。　But　then；　what　they　want　to　do　…　at　least；　some　of　them　。　。　。〃
　She　drifted　into　silence。　Her　eyes　had　a　vacant；　unfocused　look。　I　didn't　say　anything；　I　just　waited。　Connor　was　looking　at　her；　nodding　sympathetically。
　Abruptly；　she　began　to　speak　again；　as　if　unaware　of　the　pause。　〃And　to　them；〃　she　said；　〃their　wishes；　their　desires；　it's　just　as　natural　as　leaving　the　tip。　It's　pletely　natural　to　them。　I　mean；　I　don't　mind　a　little　golden　shower　or　whatever；　handcuffs；　you　know。　Maybe　a　little　spanking　if　I　like　the　guy。　But　I　won't　let　anybody　cut　me。　I　don't　care　how　much　money。　None　of　those　things　with　knives　or　swords　。　。　。　But　they　can　be　。　。　。　A　lot　of　them；　they　are　so　polite；　so　correct；　but　then　they　get　turned　on；　they　have　this　。　。　。　this　way　。　。　。〃　She　broke　off；　shaking　her　head。　〃They're　strange　people。〃
　Connor　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃Miss　Young；　you've　been　very　helpful。　We　may　need　to　speak　to　you　again。　Lieutenant　Smith　will　take　your　phone　number…　〃
　〃Yes；　of　course。〃
　I　flipped　open　my　pad。
　Connor　said；　〃I'm　going　to　have　a　word　with　the　doorman。〃
　〃Shinichi；〃　she　said。
　Connor　left。　I　took　down　Julia's　number。　She　licked　her　lips　as　she　watched　me　write。　Then　she　said；　〃You　can　tell　me。　Did　he　kill　her？〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃Eddie。　Did　he　kill　Cherylynn？〃
　She　was　a　pretty　girl　but　I　could　see　the　excitement　in　her　eyes。　She　was　looking　at　me　with　a　steady　gaze。　Her　eyes　were　shining。　It　was　creepy。　I　said；　〃Why　do　you　ask？〃
　〃Because。　He　was　always　threatening　to。　Like　this　afternoon；　he　threatened　her。〃
　I　said；　〃Eddie　was　here　this　afternoon？〃
　〃Sure。〃　She　shrugged。　〃He's　here　all　the　time。　He　came　to　see　her　this　afternoon；　real　worked　up。　They　put　extra　soundproofing　to　the　walls　in　this　building　when　they　took　it　over。　But　even　so；　you　could　hear　them　scream　at　each　other　in　her　apartment。　Him　and　Cherylynn。　She'd　have　on　her　Jerry　Lee　Lewis；　the　one　she　played　day　and　night　until　you　just　about　went　crazy；　and　they'd　be　screaming　and　throwing　things。　He'd　always　say；　'I'll　kill　you；　I'll　kill　you；　you　bitch。'　So。　Did　he？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　〃But　she's　dead？〃　Her　eyes　still　shining。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃It　had　to　happen；〃　she　said。　She　seemed　pletely　calm。　〃We　all　knew　it。　It　was　just　a　matter　of　time。　If　you　want；　call　me。　If　you　need　more　information。〃
　〃Yes。　I　will。〃　I　gave　her　my　card。　〃And　if　you　think　of　anything　else；　you　can　call　me　at　this　number。〃
　She　slipped　it　into　the　hip　pocket　of　her　shorts；　twisting　her　body。　〃I　like　talking　to　you；　Peter。〃
　〃Yes。　Okay。〃
　I　walked　down　the　corridor。　When　I　got　to　the　end　I　looked　back。　She　was　standing　in　her　doorway；　waving　good…bye。
　
　？
　Connor　was　using　the　phone　in　the　lobby　while　the　doorman　stared　sullenly　at　him；　as　if　he　wanted　to　stop　him；　but　couldn't　think　of　a　reason　why。
　〃That's　right；〃　Connor　was　saying。　〃All　the　outgoing　calls　from　that　phone　between　eight　and　ten　p。m。　That's　right。〃　He　listened　for　a　moment。　〃Well；　I　don't　care　if　your　data　isn't　organized　that　way；　just　get　it　for　me。　How　long　will　it　take？　Tomorrow？　Don't　be　ridiculous。　What　do　you　think　this　is？　I　need　it　within　two　hours。　I'll　call　you　back。　Yes。　Fuck　you；　too。〃　He　hung　up。　〃Let's　go；　kōhai。〃
　We　walked　outside　to　the　car。
　I　said；　〃Checking　your　contacts？〃
　〃Contacts？〃　He　looked　puzzled。　〃Oh。　Graham　said　something　to　you　about　my　'contacts。'　I　don't　have　any　special　informants。　He　just　thinks　I　do。〃
　〃He　mentioned　the　Arakawa　case。〃
　Connor　sighed。　〃That　old　thing。〃　We　walked　toward　the　car。　〃You　want　to　know　that　story？　It's　simple。　Two　Japanese　nationals　get　killed。　The　department　puts　detectives　on　the　case　who　can't　speak　Japanese。　Finally；　after　a　week；　they　give　the　case　to　me。〃
　〃And　what　did　you　do？〃
　〃The　Arakawas　were　staying　at　the　New　Otani　Hotel。　I　got　the　phone　records　of　the　calls　they　made　to　Japan。　I　called　those　numbers；　and　spoke　to　some　people　in　Osaka。　Then　I　called　Osaka　and　talked　to　the　police　there。　Again；　in　Japanese。　They　were　surprised　to　hear　we　didn't　know　the　whole　story。〃
　〃I　see。〃
　〃Not　quite；〃　Connor　said。　〃Because　the　police　department　here　was　very　embarrassed。　The　press　had　gone　out　on　a　limb；　criticizing　the　department。　All　sorts　of　people　had　sent　flowers。　There　had　been　a　big　show　of　sympathy　for　what　turned　out　to　be　gangsters。　A　lot　of　people　were　embarrassed。　So　the　whole　thing　became　my　fault。　I　had　done　something　underhanded　to　solve　the　case。　Pissed　me　off；　I　can　tell　you。〃
　〃That's　why　you　went　to　Japan？〃
　〃No。　That's　another　story。〃
　We　came　to　the　car。　I　looked　back　at　the　Imperial　Arms；　and　saw　Julia　Young　standing　at　the　window；　staring　down　at　us。　〃She's　seductive；〃　I　said。
　〃The　Japanese　call　women　like　that　shirigaru　onna。　They　say　she　has　a　light　ass。〃　He　opened　the　car　door；　and　got　in。　〃But　she's　on　drugs。　We　can't　trust　anything　she　told　us。　Even　so；　there's　starting　to　be　a　pattern　I　don't　like。〃　He　glanced　at　his　watch；　and　shook　his　head。　〃Damn。　We're　taking　too　long。　We'd　better　go　to　the　Palomino；　to　see　Mr。　Cole。〃
　I　started　driving　south；　toward　the　airport。　Connor　sat　back　in　his　seat　and　folded　his　arms　across　his　chest。　He　stared　at　his　feet；　looking　unhappy。
　〃Why　do　you　say　there's　a　pattern　you　don't　like？〃
　Connor　said；　〃The　wrappers　in　the　waste　basket。　The　Polaroid　in　the　trash。　Those　things　shouldn't　have　been　left　behind。〃
　〃You　said　yourself；　they're　in　a　hurry。〃
　〃Maybe。　But