mc.risingsun-第15章

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s。　All　that。　But　he　can't　be　that　clean；　I've　heard　he　has　a　young　girlfriend。〃
　〃Is　that　right？〃
　She　shrugged。　〃The　story　is；　his　staffers　are　trying　to　break　it　off。　But　who　knows　what's　true。〃
　The　tape　ejected　and　Jenny　pushed　in　the　next　one。　〃This　is　the　last；　fellas。〃
　Connor　hung　up　the　phone　and　said；　〃Forget　the　tape。〃　He　stood。　〃We've　got　to　go；　kōhai。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃I've　been　talking　to　the　phone　pany　about　the　calls　made　from　the　pay　phone　in　the　lobby　of　the　Nakamoto　building　between　eight　and　ten。〃
　〃And？〃
　〃No　calls　were　made　during　those　hours。〃
　I　knew　that　Connor　thought　that　someone　had　gone　out　of　the　security　room　and　called　from　the　pay　phone　…　Cole；　or　one　of　the　Japanese。　Now　his　hopes　of　following　a　promising　lead　by　tracing　the　call　were　dashed。　〃That's　too　bad；〃　I　said。
　〃Too　bad？〃　Connor　said；　surprised。　〃It's　extremely　helpful。　It　narrows　things　down　considerably。　Miss　Gonzales；　do　you　have　any　tapes　of　people　leaving　the　party？〃
　〃Leaving？　No。　Once　the　guests　arrived；　all　the　crews　went　upstairs　to　shoot　the　actual　party。　Then　they　brought　the　tape　back　here　to　make　the　deadline；　while　the　party　was　still　going　on。〃
　〃Fine。　Then　I　believe　we're　finished　here。　Thanks　for　your　help。　Your　knowledge　is　remarkable。　Kōhai；　let's　go。〃
　
　？
　Driving　again。　This　time　to　an　address　in　Beverly　Hills。　By　now　it　was　after　one　in　the　morning；　and　I　was　tired。　I　said；　〃Why　does　the　pay　phone　in　the　lobby　matter　so　much？〃
　〃Because；〃　Connor　said；　〃our　whole　conception　of　this　case　revolves　around　whether　someone　made　a　call　from　that　phone；　or　not。　The　real　question　now　is；　which　pany　in　Japan　has　locked　horns　with　Nakamoto？〃
　〃Which　pany　in　Japan？〃　I　said。
　〃Yes。　It　is　clearly　a　corporation　belonging　to　a　different　keiretsu；〃　Connor　said。
　I　said；　〃Keiretsu？〃
　〃The　Japanese　structure　their　businesses　in　large　organizations　they　call　keiretsu。　There　are　six　major　ones　in　Japan；　and　they're　huge。　For　example；　the　Mitsubishi　keiretsu　consists　of　seven　hundred　separate　panies　that　work　together；　or　have　interrelated　financing；　or　interrelated　agreements　of　various　sorts。　Big　structures　like　that　don't　exist　in　America　because　they　violate　our　antitrust　laws。　But　they　are　the　norm　in　Japan。　We　tend　to　think　of　corporations　as　standing　alone。　To　see　it　the　Japanese　way；　you'd　have　to　imagine；　say；　an　association　of　IBM　and　Citibank　and　Ford　and　Exxon；　all　having　secret　agreements　among　themselves　to　cooperate；　and　to　share　financing　or　research。　That　means　a　Japanese　corporation　never　stands　alone　…　it's　always　acting　in　partnership　with　hundreds　of　other　panies。　And　in　petition　with　the　panies　of　other　keiretsu。
　〃So　when　you　think　about　what　Nakamoto　Corporation　is　doing；　you　have　to　ask　what　the　Nakamoto　keiretsu　is　doing；　back　in　Japan。　And　what　panies　in　other　keiretsu　oppose　it。　Because　this　murder　is　embarrassing　to　Nakamoto。　It　could　even　be　seen　as　an　attack　against　Nakamoto。〃
　〃An　attack？〃
　〃Think　about　it。　Nakamoto　plans　a　great；　star…studded　opening　night　for　their　building。　They　want　it　to　go　perfectly。　For　some　reason；　a　guest　at　the　party　gets　strangled。　And　the　question　is　…　who　called　it　in？〃
　〃Who　reported　the　murder？〃
　〃Right。　Because　after　all；　Nakamoto　controls　that　environment　pletely：　it's　their　party；　their　building。　And　it　would　be　a　simple　matter　for　them　to　wait　until　eleven　o'clock；　after　the　party　was　over　and　the　guests　had　left；　to　report　the　murder。　If　I　were　preoccupied　with　appearances；　with　the　nuances　of　public　face；　that's　the　way　I'd　do　it。　Because　anything　else　is　potentially　dangerous　to　the　corporate　image　of　Nakamoto。〃
　〃Okay。〃
　〃But　the　report　wasn't　delayed；〃　Connor　said。　〃On　the　contrary；　somebody　called　it　in　at　eight　thirty…two；　just　as　the　party　was　getting　under　way。　Thus　putting　the　whole　evening　at　risk。　And　our　question　has　always　been：　who　called　it　in？〃
　I　said；　〃You　told　Ishiguro　to　find　the　person　who　called。　And　he　hasn't　done　it　yet。〃
　〃Correct。　Because　he　can't。〃
　〃He　doesn't　know　who　called　it　in？〃
　〃Correct。〃
　〃You　don't　think　anybody　from　the　Nakamoto　Corporation　made　the　call？〃
　〃Correct。〃
　〃An　enemy　of　Nakamoto　called？〃
　〃Almost　certainly。〃
　I　said；　〃So　how　do　we　find　out　who　called　the　report　in？〃
　Connor　laughed。　〃That's　why　I　checked　the　lobby　phone。　It's　crucial　to　that　question。〃
　〃Why　is　it　crucial？〃
　〃Suppose　you　work　for　a　peting　corporation；　and　you　want　to　know　what's　going　on　inside　Nakamoto。　You　can't　find　out；　because　Japanese　corporations　hire　their　executives　for　life。　The　executives　feel　they　are　part　of　a　family。　And　they'd　never　betray　their　own　family。　So　Nakamoto　Corporation　presents　an　impenetrable　mask　to　the　rest　of　the　world；　which　makes　even　the　smallest　details　meaningful：　which　executives　are　in　town　from　Japan；　who　is　meeting　with　whom；　ings　and　goings；　and　so　on。　And　you　might　be　able　to　learn　those　details；　if　you　strike　up　a　relationship　with　an　American　security　guard　who　sits　in　front　of　monitors　all　day。　Particularly　if　that　guard　has　been　subjected　to　Japanese　prejudice　against　blacks。〃
　〃Go　on；〃　I　said。
　〃The　Japanese　often　try　to　bribe　local　security　officers　from　rival　firms。　The　Japanese　are　honorable　people；　but　their　tradition　allows　such　behavior。　All's　fair　in　love　and　war；　and　the　Japanese　see　business　as　war。　Bribery　is　fine；　if　you　can　manage　it。〃
　〃Okay。〃
　〃Now；　in　the　first　few　seconds　after　the　murder；　we　can　be　certain　of　only　two　people　who　knew　a　girl　had　been　killed。　One　is　the　killer　himself。　The　other　is　the　security　guard；　Ted　Cole；　who　watched　it　on　the　monitors。〃
　〃Wait　a　minute。　Ted　Cole　watched　it　on　the　monitors？　He　knows　who　the　killer　is？〃
　〃Obviously。〃
　〃He　said　he　left　at　eight…fifteen。〃
　〃He　was　lying。〃
　〃But　if　you　knew　that；　then　why　didn't　we…　〃
　〃He'll　never　tell　us；〃　Connor　said。　〃The　same　way　Phillips　won't　tell　us。　That's　why　I　didn't　arrest　Cole；　bring　him　down　for　questioning。　In　the　end　it　would　be　a　waste　of　time　…　and　time　is　of　the　essence　here。　We　know　he　won't　tell　us。　My　question　is；　did　he　tell　anyone　else？〃
　I　began　to　see　what　he　was　driving　at。　〃You　mean；　did　he　walk　out　of　the　security　office　to　the　lobby　pay　phone；　and　call　somebody　to　tell　them　that　a　murder　had　occurred？〃
　〃Correct。　Because　he　wouldn't　use　the　phone　in　his　office。　He'd　use　the　pay　phone；　and　call　somebody　…　an　enemy　of　Nakamoto；　a　peting　corporation。　Somebody。〃
　I　said；　〃But　now　we　know　that　no　calls　were　made　from　that　phone。〃
　〃Correct；〃　Connor　said。
　〃So　your　whole　line　of　reasoning　collapses。〃
　〃Not　at　all。　It　is　clarified。　If　Cole　didn't　notify　anybody；　then　who　phoned　in　the　murder？　Clearly；　the　source　can　only　be　the　murderer　himself。〃
　I　felt　a　chill。
　〃He　called　it　in　to　embarrass　Nakamoto？〃
　〃Presumably；〃　Connor　said。
　〃Then　where　did　he　call　from？〃
　〃That's　not　clear　yet。　I　assume　from　somewhere　inside　the　building。　And　there　are　a　few　other　confusing　details　that　we　have　not　begun　to　consider。〃
　〃Such　as？〃
　The　car　phone　rang。　Connor　answered　it；　and　handed　the　receiver　to　me。　〃It's　for　you。〃
　
　〃No；　no；〃　Mrs。　Ascenio　said。　〃The　baby　is　fine。　I　checked　on　her　a　few　minutes　ago。　She　is　fine。　Lieutenant；　I　wanted　you　to　know　Mrs。　Davis　called。〃　That　was　how　she　referred　to　my　ex…wife。
　〃When？〃
　〃I　think　ten　minutes　ago。〃
　〃Did　she　leave　a　number？〃
　〃No。　She　say　she　can't　be　reached　tonight。　But　she　want　you　to　know：　something　has　e　up；　and　maybe　she　go　out　of　town。　So　she　say　maybe　she　don't　take　the　baby　this　weekend。〃
　I　sighed。　〃Okay。〃
　〃She　say　she　call　you　tomorrow　and　let　you　know　for　sure。〃
　〃Okay。〃
　I　wasn't　surprised。　It　was　typical　Lauren。　Last…minute　changes。　You　could　never　make　plans　involving　Lauren　because　she　was　always　changing　her　mind。　Probably　this　latest　change　meant　that　she　had　a　new　boyfriend　and　she　might　go　away　with　him。　She　wouldn't　know　until　tomorrow。
　I　used　to　think　all　this　unpredictability　was　bad　for　Michelle；　that　it　would　make　her　insecure。　But　kids　are　practical。　Michelle　seems　to　understand　that's　the　way　her　mother　is；　and　she　doesn't　get　upset。
　I'm　the　one　who　gets　upset。
　Mrs。　Ascenio　said；　〃You　ing　back　soon；　Lieutenant？〃
　〃No。　It　looks　like　I'll　be　out　all　night。　Can　you　stay？〃
　〃Yes；　but　I　have　to　leave　by　nine　in　the　morning。　You　want　I　pull　out　the　couch'？〃
　I　had　a　couch　bed　in　the　living　room。　She　used　it　when　she　stayed　over。　〃Yes；　sure。〃
　〃Okay；　good…bye；　Lieutenant。〃
　〃Good…bye；　Mrs。　Ascenio。〃
　
　Connor　said；　〃Anything　wrong？〃　I　was　surprised　to　hear　tension　in　his　voice。
　〃No。　Just　my　ex　pulling　her　usual　shit。　She's　not　sure　she'll　take　the　baby　this　weekend。　Why？〃
　Connor　shrugged。　〃Just　asking。〃
　I　didn't　think　that　was　all　there　was　to　it。　I　said；　〃What　did　you　mean　earlier；　when　you　said　that　this　case　could　turn　ugly？〃
　〃It　may　not；〃　Connor　said。　〃Our　best　solution　is　to　wrap　it　up　in　the　next　few　hours。　And　I　think　we　can。　Here's　the　restaurant　up　ahead　on　the　left。〃
　I　saw　the　neon　sign。　Bora　Bora。
　〃This　is　the　restaurant　owned　by　Sakamura？〃
　〃Yes。　Actually　he's　just　a　part　owner。　Don't　let　the　valet　take　the　car。　Park　it　in　the　red。　We　may　need　to　leave　quickly。〃
　
　The　Bora　Bora　was　this　week's　hot　L。A。　restaurant。　The　decor　was　a　jumble　of　Polynesian　masks　and　shields。　Lime　green　wooden　outriggers　jutted　out　over　the　bar　like　teeth。　Above　the　open　kitchen；　a　Prince　video　played　ghostlike　on　an　enormous　five…meter　screen。　The　menu　was　Pacific　Rim；　the　noise　deafening；　the　clientele　movie…industry　hopeful。　Everyone　was　dressed　in　black。
　Connor　smiled。　〃It　looks　like　Trader　Vic's　after　a　bomb　went　off；　doesn't　it？　Stop　staring。　Don't　they　let　you　out　enough？〃
　〃No；　they　don't；〃　I　said。　Connor　turned　to　speak　to　the　Eurasian　hostess。　I　looked　at　the　bar；　where　two　women　kissed　briefly　on　the　lips。　Farther　down；　a　Japanese　man　in　a　leather　bomber　jacket　had　his　arm　around　a　huge　blonde。　They　were　both　listening　to　a　man　with　thinning　hair　and　a　pugnacious　manner　whom　I　recognized　as　the　director　of…
　〃e　on；〃　Connor　said　to　me。　〃Let's　go。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Eddie's　not　here。〃
　〃Where　is　he？〃
　〃At　a　party　in　the　hills。　Let's　go。〃
　
　？
　The　address　was　on　a　winding　road　in　the　hills　above　Sunset　Boulevard。　We　would　have　had　a　good　view　of　the　city　up　here；　but　the　mist　had　closed　in。　As　we　approached；　the　street　was　lined　on　both　sides　with　luxury　cars：　mostly　Lexus　sedans；　with　a　few　Mercedes　convertibles　and　Bentleys。　The　parking　attendants　looked　surprised　as　we　pulled　up　in　our　Chevy　sedan；　and　headed　up　to　the　house。
　Like　other　residences　on　the　street；　the　house　was　surrounded　by　a　three…meter　wall；　the　driveway　closed　off　with　a　remote…controlled　steel　gate。　There　was　a　security　camera　mounted　above　the　gate；　and　another　at　the　path　leading　up　to　the　house　itself。　A　private　security　guard　stood　by　the　path　and　checked　our　badges。
　I　said；　〃Whose　house　is　this？〃
　Ten　years　ago；　the　only　people　in　Los　Angeles　who　maintained　such　elaborate　security　were　either　Mafioso；　or　stars　like　Stallone　whose　violent　roles　attracted　violent　attention。　But　lately　it　seemed　everybody　in　wealthy　residential　areas　had　security。　It　was　expected；　almost　fashionable。　W