mc.risingsun-第13章

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　He　looked　at　us　in　a　puzzled　way。
　〃You　fellows　are　interested　in　the　tapes？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Connor　said。
　〃Because　I　never　paid　much　attention　to　the　tapes。　I　was　interested　in　the　cameras。〃
　〃How's　that？〃
　〃They　were　getting　the　building　ready　for　the　big　party；　and　there　were　lots　of　last…minute　details。　But　you　still　had　to　wonder　why　they　pulled　so　many　security　cameras　off　other　parts　of　the　building　and　put　them　up　on　that　floor。〃
　I　said；　〃They　what？〃
　〃Those　cameras　weren't　on　the　forty…sixth　floor　yesterday　morning；〃　Cole　said。　〃They　were　scattered　all　around　the　building。　Somebody　moved　them　during　the　day。　They're　easy　to　move；　you　know；　because　there's　no　wires　attached。〃
　〃The　cameras　have　no　wires？〃
　〃No。　It's　all　cellular　transmission　inside　the　building　itself。　Built　that　way。　That's　why　they　don't　have　audio：　they　can't　transmit　full　bandwidth　on　cellular。　So　they　just　send　an　image。　But　they　can　move　those　cameras　around　to　suit　their　purposes。　See　whatever　they　want　to　see。　You　didn't　know　that？〃
　〃No；〃　I　said。
　〃I'm　surprised　nobody　told　you。　It's　one　of　the　features　of　the　building　they're　most　proud　of。〃　Cole　drank　his　beer。　〃Only　question　I　have　is　why　somebody　would　take　five　cameras　and　install　them　on　the　floor　above　the　party。　'Cause　there's　no　security　reason。　You　can　lock　off　the　elevators　above　a　certain　floor。　So　for　security；　you'd　want　your　cameras　on　the　floors　below　the　party。　Not　above。〃
　〃But　the　elevators　weren't　locked　off。〃
　〃No。　I　thought　that　was　kind　of　unusual；　myself。〃　He　looked　at　the　Japanese　across　the　room。　〃I　got　to　be　going　soon；〃　he　said。
　〃Well；〃　Connor　said。　〃You've　been　very　helpful；　Mr。　Cole。　We　may　want　to　question　you　again…　〃
　
　〃I'll　write　down　my　phone　number　for　you；〃　Cole　said；　scribbling　on　a　bar　napkin。
　〃And　your　address？〃
　〃Yeah；　right。　But　actually；　I'm　going　out　of　town　for　a　few　days。　My　mother's　been　feeling　sick；　and　she　asked　me　to　take　her　down　there　to　Mexico　for　a　few　days。　Probably　go　this　weekend。〃
　〃Long　trip？〃
　〃Week　or　so。　I　got　vacation　days　ing　up；　it　seems　like　a　good　time　to　take　it。〃
　〃Sure；〃　Connor　said。　〃I　can　see　how　it　would。　Thanks　again　for　your　help。〃　He　shook　hands　with　Cole；　and　punched　him　lightly　on　the　shoulder。　〃And　you　take　care　of　your　health。〃
　〃Oh；　I　will。〃
　〃Stop　drinking；　and　have　a　safe　drive　home。〃　He　paused。　〃Or　wherever　you　may　decide　to　go　tonight；　instead。〃
　Cole　nodded。　〃I　think　you're　right。　That's　not　a　bad　idea。〃
　〃I　know　I'm　right。〃
　Cole　shook　my　hand。　Connor　was　heading　out　the　door。　Cole　said；　〃I　don't　know　why　you　guys　are　bothering。〃
　〃With　the　tapes？〃
　〃With　the　Japanese。　What　can　you　do？　They're　ahead　of　us　every　step　of　the　way。　And　they　have　the　big　guys　in　their　pocket。　We　can't　beat　'em　now。　You　two　guys'll　never　beat　'em。　They're　just　too　good。〃
　Outside；　beneath　the　crackling　neon　sign；　Connor　said；　〃e　on；　time　is　wasting。〃
　We　got　in　the　car。　He　handed　me　the　bar　napkin。　On　it　was　scrawled　in　block　letters：
　
　THEY　STOLE　THE　TAPES
　
　〃Let's　get　going；〃　nnor　said。
　I　started　the　car。
　
　？
　The　eleven　o'clock　news　was　finished　for　the　night；　and　the　newsroom　was　nearly　deserted。　Connor　and　I　went　down　the　hall　to　the　sound　stage　where　the　Action　News　set　was　still　lit　up。
　On　the　set；　the　evening　broadcast　was　being　replayed　with　the　sound　off。　The　anchorman　pointed　to　the　monitor。　〃I'm　not　stupid；　Bobby。　I　watch　these　things。　She　did　the　lead…in　and　the　wrap…up　the　last　three　nights。〃　He　sat　back　in　his　chair　and　crossed　his　arms。　〃I'm　waiting　to　hear　what　you　have　to　say；　Bobby。〃
　My　friend　Bob　Arthur；　the　heavyset；　tired　producer　of　the　eleven　o'clock　news；　sipped　a　tumbler　of　straight　scotch　as　big　as　his　fist。　He　said；　〃Jim；　it　just　worked　out　that　way。〃
　〃Worked　out　that　way　my　ass；〃　the　anchorman　said。
　The　anchorwoman　was　a　gorgeous　redhead　with　a　killer　figure。　She　was　taking　a　long　time　to　shuffle　through　her　notes；　making　sure　she　stayed　to　overhear　the　conversation　between　Bob　and　her　coanchor。
　〃Look；〃　the　anchorman　said。　〃It's　in　my　contract。　Half　the　lead…ins　and　half　the　wraps。　It's　contractual。〃
　〃But　Jim；〃　the　producer　said。　〃The　lead　tonight　was　Paris　fashions　and　the　Nakamoto　party。　That's　human　interest　stuff。〃
　〃It　should　have　been　the　serial　killer。〃
　Bob　sighed。　〃His　arraignment　was　postponed。　Anyway；　the　public　is　tired　of　serial　killers。〃
　The　anchorman　looked　incredulous。　〃The　public　is　tired　of　serial　killers？　Now；　where'd　you　get　that？〃
　〃You　can　read　it　yourself　in　the　focus　groups；　Jim。　Serial　killers　are　overexposed。　Our　audience　is　worried　about　the　economy。　They　don't　want　any　more　serial　killers。〃
　〃Our　audience　is　worried　about　the　economy　so　we　lead　off　with　Nakamoto　and　Paris　fashions？〃
　〃That's　right；　Jim；〃　Bob　Arthur　said。　〃In　hard　times；　you　do　star　parties。　That's　what　people　want　to　see：　fashion　and　fantasy。〃
　The　anchor　looked　sullen。　〃I'm　a　journalist；　I'm　here　to　do　hard　news；　not　fashion。〃
　〃Right；　Jim；〃　the　producer　said。　〃That's　why　Liz　did　the　intros　tonight。　We　want　to　keep　your　image　hard　news。〃
　〃When　Teddy　Roosevelt　led　this　country　out　of　the　Great　Depression；　he　didn't　do　it　with　fashion　and　fantasy。〃
　〃Franklin　Roosevelt。〃
　〃Whatever。　You　know　what　I'm　saying。　If　people　are　worried；　let's　do　the　economy。　Let's　do　the　balance　of　payments　or　whatever　it　is。〃
　〃Right；　Jim。　But　this　is　the　eleven　o'clock　news　in　the　local　market；　and　people　don't　want　to　hear…　〃
　〃And　that's　what's　wrong　with　America；〃　the　anchorman　pronounced；　stabbing　the　air　with　his　finger。　〃People　don't　want　to　hear　the　real　news。〃
　〃Right；　Jim。　You're　absolutely　right。〃　He　put　his　arm　over　the　anchorman's　shoulder。　〃Get　some　rest；　okay？　We'll　talk　tomorrow。〃
　That　seemed　to　be　a　signal　of　some　kind；　because　the　anchorwoman　finished　with　her　notes　and　strode　off。
　〃I'm　a　journalist；〃　the　anchor　said。　〃I　just　want　to　do　the　job　I　was　trained　for。〃
　〃Right；　Jim。　More　tomorrow。　Have　a　good　night。〃
　
　〃Stupid　dickhead；〃　Bob　Arthur　said；　leading　us　down　a　corridor。　〃Teddy　Roosevelt。　Jesus。　They're　not　journalists。　They're　actors。　And　they　count　their　lines；　like　all　actors。〃　He　sighed；　and　took　another　drink　of　scotch。　〃Now　tell　me　again；　what　do　you　guys　want　to　see？〃
　〃Tape　from　the　Nakamoto　opening。〃
　〃You　mean　the　air　tapes？　The　story　we　ran　tonight？〃
　〃No；　we　want　to　see　the　original　footage　from　the　camera。〃
　〃The　field　tapes。　Jeez。　I　hope　we　still　have　them。　They　may　have　been　bulked。〃
　〃Bulked？〃
　〃Bulk　degaussed。　Erased。　We　shoot　forty　cassettes　a　day　here。　Most　of　them　get　erased　right　away。　We　used　to　save　field　tapes　for　a　week；　but　we're　cutting　costs；　you　know。〃
　On　one　side　of　the　newsroom　were　shelves　of　stacked　Betamax　cartridges。　Bob　ran　his　finger　along　the　boxes。　〃Nakamoto　。　。　。　Nakamoto　。　。　。　No；　I　don't　see　them。〃　A　woman　went　past。　〃Cindy；　is　Rick　still　here？〃
　〃No；　he's　gone　home。　You　need　something？〃
　〃The　Nakamoto　field　tapes。　They　aren't　on　the　shelf。〃
　〃Check　Don's　room。　He　cut　it。〃
　〃Okay。〃　Bob　led　us　across　the　newsroom　to　the　editing　bays　on　the　far　side。　He　opened　a　door；　and　we　entered　a　small；　messy　room　with　two　monitors；　several　tape　decks；　and　an　editing　console。　Tapes　in　boxes　were　scattered　around　the　floor。　Bob　rummaged　through　them。　〃Okay；　you　guys　are　in　luck。　Camera　originals。　There's　a　lot　of　it。　I'll　get　Jenny　to　run　you　through　them。　She's　our　best　spotter。　She　knows　everybody。〃　He　stuck　his　head　out　the　door。　〃Jenny？　Jenny！〃
　
　〃Okay；　let's　see；〃　Jenny　Gonzales　said；　a　few　minutes　later。　She　was　a　bespectacled；　heavyset　woman　in　her　forties。　She　scanned　the　editor's　notes　and　frowned。　〃It　doesn't　matter　how　many　times　I　tell　them；　they　just　will　not　put　things　in　proper　。　。　。　Finally。　Here　we　are。　Four　tapes。　Two　limo　driveups。　Two　roving　inside；　at　the　party。　What　do　you　want　to　see？〃
　Connor　said；　〃Start　with　the　driveups。〃　He　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃Is　there　any　way　to　do　this　fast？　We're　in　a　hurry。〃
　〃Fast　as　you　want。　I'm　used　to　it。　Let's　see　it　at　high　speed。
　She　hit　a　button。　At　high　speed；　we　saw　the　limousines　pulling　up；　the　doors　jumping　open；　the　people　getting　out；　jerkily　walking　away。
　〃Looking　for　anyone　in　particular？　Because　I　see　somebody　marked　footages　for　celebrities　during　the　edit。〃
　〃We're　not　looking　for　a　celebrity；〃　I　said。
　〃Too　bad。　It's　probably　all　we　shot。〃　We　watched　the　tape。　Jenny　said；　〃There's　Senator　Kennedy。　He's　lost　some　weight；　hasn't　he。　Oops；　gone。　And　Senator　Morton。　Looking　very　fit。　No　surprise。　That　creepy　assistant　of　his。　He　makes　my　teeth　shiver。　Senator　Rowe；　without　his　wife；　as　usual。　There's　Tom　Hanks。　I　don't　know　this　Japanese　guy。
　Connor　said；　〃Hiroshi　Masukawa；　vice…president　of　Mitsui。〃
　〃There　you　go。　Senator　Chalmers；　hair　transplant　looking　good。　Congressman　Levine。　Congressman　Daniels。　Sober　for　a　change。　You　know；　I'm　surprised　Nakamoto　got　so　many　of　these　Washington　people　to　attend。〃
　〃Why　do　you　say　that？〃
　〃Well；　when　you　get　down　to　it；　it's　just　the　opening　of　some　new　building。　An　ordinary　corporate　bash。　It's　on　the　West　Coast。　And　Nakamoto　is　pretty　controversial　right　at　the　moment。　Barbra　Streisand。　I　don't　know　who　the　guy　is　with　her。〃
　〃Nakamoto　is　controversial？　Why？〃
　〃Because　of　the　MicroCon　sale。〃
　I　said；　〃What's　MicroCon？〃
　〃MicroCon　is　an　American　pany　that　makes　puter　equipment。　A　Japanese　pany　named　Akai　Ceramics　is　trying　to　buy　it。　There's　opposition　to　the　sale　in　Congress；　because　of　worries　about　America　losing　technology　to　Japan。〃
　I　said；　〃And　what　does　this　have　to　do　with　Nakamoto？〃
　〃Nakamoto's　the　parent　pany　of　Akai。〃　The　first　tape　finished；　and　popped　out。　〃Nothing　there　you　wanted？〃
　〃No。　Let's　go　on。〃
　〃Right。〃　She　slid　the　second　tape　in。　〃Anyway；　I'm　surprised　how　many　of　these　senators　and　congressmen　felt　it　was　acceptable　to　show　up　here　tonight。　Okay；　here　we　go。　More　driveups。　Roger　Hillerman；　under　secretary　of　state　for　Pacific　affairs。　That's　his　assistant　with　him。　Kenichi　Aikou；　consul　general　of　Japan；　here　in　L。A。　Richard　Meier；　architect。　Works　for　Getty。　Don't　know　her。　Some　Japanese　。　。　。〃
　Connor　said；　〃Hisashi　Koyama；　vice…president　of　Honda　U。S。〃
　〃Oh；　yeah；〃　Jenny　said。　〃He's　been　here　about　three　years　now。　Probably　going　home　soon。　That's　Edna　Morris；　she　heads　the　U。S。　delegation　to　the　GATT　talks。　You　know；　General　Agreement　on　Tariffs　and　Trade。　I　can't　believe　she　showed　up　here；　it's　an　obvious　conflict　of　interest。　But　there　she　is；　all　smiling　and　relaxed。　Chuck　Norris。　Eddie　Sakamura。　Sort　of　a　local　playboy。　Don't　know　the　girl　with　him。　Tom　Cruise；　with　his　Australian　wife。　And　Madonna；　of　course。〃
　On　the　accelerated　tape；　the　strobes　flashed　almost　continuously　as　Madonna　stepped　from　her　limousine　and　preened。　〃Want　to　slow　it　down？　You　interested　in　this？〃
　Connor　said；　〃Not　tonight。〃
　〃Well；　we　probably　have　a　lot　on　her；〃　Jenny　said。　She　pushed　the　very　high…speed　fast…forward　and　the　image　streaked　gray。　When　she　punched　back；　Madonna　was　wiggling　toward　the　elevator；　leaning　on　the　arm　of　a　slender　Hispanic　boy　with　a　mustache。　The　image　blurred　as　the　camera　swung　back　toward　the　street。　Then　it　stabilized　again。
　〃