mc.risingsun-第14章

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bilized　again。
　〃There's　Daniel　Okimoto。　Expert　on　Japanese　industrial　policy。　That's　Arnold；　with　Maria。　And　behind　them　is　Steve　Martin；　with　Arata　Isozaki；　the　architect　who　designed　the　Museum…　〃
　Connor　said；　〃Wait。〃
　She　punched　the　console　button。　The　picture　froze。　Jenny　seemed　surprised。　〃You're　interested　in　Isozaki？〃
　〃No。　Back　up；　please。〃
　The　tape　ran　backward；　the　frames　flicking　and　blurring　as　the　camera　panned　off　Steve　Martin；　and　went　back　to　record　the　next　arrival　from　the　limousines。　But　for　a　moment　in　the　pan；　the　camera　swung　past　a　group　of　people　who　had　already　gotten　out　of　their　limousines；　and　were　walking　up　the　carpeted　sidewalk。
　Connor　said；　〃There。〃
　The　image　froze。　Slightly　blurred；　I　saw　a　tall　blonde　in　a　black　cocktail　dress　walking　forward　alongside　a　handsome　man　in　a　dark　suit。
　〃Huh；〃　Jenny　said。　〃You　interested　in　him；　or　her？〃
　〃Her。　〃
　〃Let　me　think；〃　Jenny　said；　frowning。　〃I've　seen　her　at　parties　with　the　Washington　types　for　about　nine　months　now。　She's　this　year's　Kelly　Emberg。　The　athletic　modelly　kind。　But　sophisticated；　sort　of　a　Tatiana　look…alike。　Her　name　is　。　。　。　Austin。　Cindy　Austin；　Carrie　Austin　。　。　。　Cheryl　Austin。　That's　it。〃
　I　said；　〃You　know　anything　else　about　her？〃
　Jenny　shook　her　head。　〃Listen；　I　think　getting　a　name　is　pretty　good。　These　girls　show　up　all　the　time。　You　see　a　new　one　everywhere　for　six　months；　a　year；　and　then　they're　gone。　God　knows　where　they　go。　Who　can　keep　track　of　them？〃
　〃And　the　man　with　her？〃
　〃Richard　Levitt。　Plastic　surgeon。　Does　a　lot　of　big　stars。〃
　〃What's　he　doing　here？〃
　She　shrugged。　〃He's　around。　Like　a　lot　of　these　guys；　he's　a　panion　to　the　stars　in　their　time　of　need。　If　his　patients　are　getting　divorced　or　whatever；　he　escorts　the　woman。　When　he's　not　taking　out　clients；　he　takes　out　models　like　her。　They　certainly　look　good　together。〃
　On　the　monitor；　Cheryl　and　her　escort　walked　toward　us　in　intermittent　jerks：　one　frame　every　thirty　seconds。　Stepping　slow。　I　noticed　they　never　looked　at　each　other。　She　seemed　tense；　expectant。
　Jenny　Gonzales　said；　〃So。　Plastic　surgeon　and　a　model。　Can　I　ask　what's　the　big　deal　about　these　two？　Because　at　an　evening　like　this；　they're　just；　you　know；　party　favors。〃
　Connor　said；　〃She　was　killed　tonight。〃
　〃Oh；　she's　the　one？　Interesting。〃
　I　said；　〃You've　heard　about　the　murder？〃
　〃Oh；　sure。〃
　〃Was　it　on　the　news？〃
　〃No；　didn't　make　the　eleven　o'clock；〃　Jenny　said。　〃And　it　probably　won't　be　on　tomorrow。　I　can't　see　it　myself。　It's　not　really　a　story。〃
　〃Why　is　that？〃　I　asked；　glancing　at　Connor。
　〃Well；　what's　the　peg？〃
　〃I　don't　follow　you。〃
　〃Nakamoto　would　say；　it's　only　news　because　it　happened　at　their　opening。　They'd　take　the　position　that　any　reporting　of　it　is　a　smear　on　them。　But　in　a　way　they're　right。　I　mean；　if　this　girl　got　killed　on　the　freeway；　it　wouldn't　make　the　news。　If　she　got　killed　in　a　convenience　store　robbery；　it　wouldn't　make　the　news。　We　have　two　or　three　of　those　every　night。　So　the　fact　that　she　gets　killed　at　a　party　。　。　。　who　cares？　It's　still　not　news。　She's　young　and　pretty；　but　she's　not　special。　It's　not　as　if　she　has　a　series　or　anything。〃　。
　Connor　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃Shall　we　look　at　the　other　tapes？〃
　〃The　footage　from　the　party？　Sure。　You　looking　for　this　particular　girl？〃
　〃Right。〃
　〃Okay；　here　we　go。〃　Jenny　put　in　the　third　tape。
　We　saw　scenes　from　the　party　on　the　forty…fifth　floor：　the　swing　band；　people　dancing　beneath　the　hanging　decorations。　We　strained　for　a　glimpse　of　the　girl　in　the　crowd。　Jenny　said；　〃In　Japan；　we　wouldn't　have　to　do　this　by　eye。　The　Japanese　have　pretty　sophisticated　video…recognition　software　now。　They　have　a　program　where　you　identify　an　image；　say　a　face；　and　it'll　automatically　search　tape　for　you；　and　find　every　instance　of　that　face。　Find　it　in　a　crowd；　or　wherever　it　appears。　Has　the　ability　to　see　a　single　view　of　a　three…dimensional　object；　and　then　to　recognize　the　same　object　in　other　views。　It's　supposed　to　be　pretty　nifty。　But　slow。〃
　〃I'm　surprised　the　station　hasn't　got　it。〃
　〃Oh；　it's　not　for　sale　here。　The　most　advanced　Japanese　video　equipment　isn't　available　in　this　country。　They　keep　us　three　to　five　years　behind。　Which　is　their　privilege。　It's　their　technology；　they　can　do　what　they　want。　But　it'd　sure　be　useful　in　a　case　like　this。〃
　The　party　images　were　streaming　past；　a　frenetic　blur。
　Suddenly；　she　locked　the　image。
　〃There。　Background　camera　left。　Your　Austin　girl's　talking　to　Eddie　Sakamura。　Of　course　he'd　know　her。　Sakamura　knows　all　the　models。　Normal　speed　here？〃
　〃Please；〃　Connor　said；　staring　at　the　screen。
　The　camera　made　a　slow　pan　around　the　room。　Cheryl　Austin　remained　in　view　for　most　of　the　shot。　Laughing　with　Eddie　Sakamura；　throwing　her　head　back；　resting　her　hand　on　his　arm；　happy　to　be　with　him。　Eddie　clowned　for　her；　his　face　mobile。　He　seemed　to　enjoy　making　her　laugh。　But　from　time　to　time；　her　eyes　flicked　away；　glancing　around　the　room。　As　if　she　was　waiting　for　something　to　happen。　Or　for　someone　to　arrive。
　At　one　point；　Sakamura　became　aware　he　did　not　have　her　full　attention。　He　grabbed　her　arm　and　pulled　her　roughly　toward　him。　She　turned　her　face　away　from　him。　He　leaned　close　to　her　and　said　something　angrily。　Then　a　bald　man　stepped　forward；　very　close　to　the　camera。　The　light　flared　on　his　face；　washing　out　his　features；　and　his　head　blocked　our　view　of　Eddie　and　the　girl。　Then　the　camera　panned　left；　and　we　lost　them。
　〃Damn。〃
　〃Again？〃　Jenny　backed　it　up；　and　we　ran　it　once　more。
　I　said；　〃Eddie's　obviously　not　happy　with　her。〃
　〃I'd　say。〃
　Connor　frowned。　〃It's　so　difficult　to　know　what　we　are　seeing。　Do　you　have　sound　for　this？〃
　Jenny　said；　〃Sure；　but　it's　probably　walla。〃　She　punched　buttons　and　ran　it　again。　The　track　was　continuous　cocktail　party　din。　Only　for　brief　moments　did　we　hear　an　isolated　phrase。
　At　one　point；　Cheryl　Austin　looked　at　Eddie　Sakamura　and　said；　〃。　。　。　can't　help　if　it's　important　to　you　I　get　。　。　。〃
　His　reply　to　her　was　garbled；　but　later；　he　said　clearly　to　her；　〃Don't　understand　。　。　。　all　about　the　Saturday　meeting　。　。　。〃
　And　in　the　last　few　seconds　of　the　pan；　when　he　pulled　her　to　him；　he　snarled　a　phrase　like　〃。　。　。　be　a　fool　。　。　。　no　cheapie　。　。　。〃
　I　said；　〃Did　he　say　'No　cheapie'？〃
　〃Something　like　that；〃　Connor　said。
　Jenny　said；　〃Want　to　run　it　again？〃
　〃No；〃　Connor　said。　〃There's　nothing　more　to　be　learned　here。　Go　forward。〃
　〃Right；〃　Jenny　said。
　The　image　accelerated；　the　party…goers　being　frenetic；　laughing　and　raising　glasses　for　quick　sips。　And　then　I　said；　〃Wait。〃
　Back　to　normal　speed。　A　blond　woman　in　an　Armani　silk　suit　shaking　hands　with　the　bald…headed　man　we　had　seen　a　few　moments　before。
　〃What　is　it？〃　Jenny　said；　looking　at　me。
　〃That's　his　wife；〃　Connor　said。
　The　woman　leaned　forward　to　kiss　the　bald　man　lightly　on　the　mouth。　Then　she　stepped　back　and　made　some　ment　about　the　suit　he　was　wearing。
　〃She's　a　lawyer　in　the　D。A。's　office；〃　Jenny　said。　〃Lauren　Davis。　She's　assisted　on　a　couple　of　big　cases。　The　Sunset　Strangler；　the　Kellerman　shooting。　She's　very　ambitious。　Smart　and　well　connected。　They　say　she　has　a　future　if　she　stays　in　the　office。　It　must　be　true；　because　Wyland　doesn't　ever　let　her　get　air　time。　As　you　see；　she　makes　a　good　appearance；　but　he　keeps　her　away　from　the　microphones。　The　bald　guy　she's　talking　to　is　John　McKenna；　with　Regis　McKenna　in　San　Francisco。　The　pany　that　does　the　publicity　for　most　high…tech　firms；〃
　I　said；　〃We　can　go　forward。〃
　Jenny　pushed　the　button。　〃She　really　your　wife；　or　is　your　partner　kidding？〃
　〃No；　she's　really　my　wife。　Was。〃
　〃You're　divorced　now？〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　Jenny　looked　at　me；　and　started　to　say　something。　Then　she　decided　not　to；　and　looked　back　at　the　screen。　On　the　monitor；　the　party　continued　at　high　speed。
　I　found　myself　thinking　of　Lauren。　When　I　knew　her；　she　was　bright　and　ambitious；　but　she　really　didn't　understand　very　much。　She　had　grown　up　privileged；　she　had　gone　to　Ivy　League　schools；　and　had　the　privileged　person's　deep　belief　that　whatever　she　happened　to　think　was　probably　true。　Certainly　good　enough　to　live　by。　Nothing　needed　to　be　checked　against　reality。
　She　was　young；　that　was　part　of　it。　She　was　still　feeling　the　world；　learning　how　it　worked。　She　was　enthusiastic；　and　she　could　be　impassioned　in　expounding　her　beliefs。　But　of　course　her　beliefs　were　always　changing；　depending　on　whom　she　had　talked　to　last。　She　was　very　impressionable。　She　tried　on　ideas　the　way　some　women　try　on　hats。　She　was　always　informed　on　the　latest　trend。　I　found　it　youthful　and　charming　for　a　while；　until　it　began　to　annoy　me。
　Because　she　didn't　have　any　core；　any　real　substance。　She　was　like　a　television　set：　she　just　played　the　latest　show。　Whatever　it　was。　She　never　questioned　it。
　In　the　end；　Lauren's　great　talent　was　to　conform。　She　was　expert　at　watching　the　TV；　the　newspaper；　the　boss　…　whatever　she　saw　as　the　source　of　authority　…　and　figuring　out　what　direction　the　winds　were　blowing。　And　positioning　herself　so　she　was　where　she　ought　to　be。　I　wasn't　surprised　she　was　getting　ahead。　Her　values；　like　her　clothes；　were　always　smart　and　up…to…date…
　〃。　。　。　to　you；　Lieutenant；　but　it's　getting　late　。　。　。　Lieutenant？〃
　I　blinked；　and　came　back。　Jenny　was　talking　to　me。　She　pointed　to　the　screen；　where　a　frozen　image　showed　Cheryl　Austin　in　her　black　dress；　standing　with　two　older　men　in　suits。
　I　looked　over　at　Connor；　but　he　had　turned　away；　and　was　talking　on　the　telephone。
　〃Lieutenant？　This　of　interest　to　you？〃
　〃Yes；　sure。　Who　are　they？〃
　Jenny　started　the　tape。　It　ran　at　normal　speed。
　〃Senator　John　Morton　and　Senator　Stephen　Rowe。　They're　both　on　the　Senate　Finance　mittee。　The　one　that's　been　having　hearings　about　this　MicroCon　sale。〃
　On　the　screen；　Cheryl　laughed　and　nodded。　In　motion；　she　was　remarkably　beautiful；　an　interesting　mixture　of　innocence　and　sexuality。　At　moments；　her　face　appeared　knowing　and　almost　hard。　She　appeared　to　know　both　men；　but　not　well。　She　did　not　e　close　to　either　of　them；　or　touch　them　except　to　shake　hands。　For　their　part；　the　senators　seemed　acutely　aware　of　the　camera；　and　maintained　a　friendly；　if　somewhat　formal　demeanor。
　〃Our　country's　going　to　hell；　and　on　a　Thursday　night；　United　States　senators　are　standing　around　chatting　with　models；〃　Jenny　said。　〃No　wonder　we're　in　trouble。　And　these　are　important　guys。　They're　talking　about　Morton　as　a　presidential　candidate　in　the　next　election。〃
　I　said；　〃What　do　you　know　about　them　personally？〃
　〃They're　both　married。　Well。　Rowe's　semi…separated。　His　wife　stays　home　in　Virginia。　He　gets　around。　Tends　to　drink　too　much。〃
　I　looked　at　Rowe　on　the　monitor。　He　was　the　same　man　who　had　gotten　on　the　elevator　with　us　earlier　in　the　evening。　And　he　had　been　drunk　then；　almost　falling　down。　But　he　wasn't　drunk　now。
　〃And　Morton？〃
　〃Supposedly　he's　Mr。　Clean。　Ex…athlete；　fitness　nut。　Eats　health　food。　Family　man。　Morton's　big　area　is　science　and　technology。　The　environment。　American　petitiveness；　American　values。　All　that。　But　he　can't　be　that　clean；　I've　heard　he　has　a　young　girlfriend。〃
　〃Is　that　right？〃