mc.risingsun-第21章

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　As　we　watched；　the　night　lights　came　on。　The　desks　were　all　empty。　Now　the　tape　began　to　flicker　rapidly；　almost　like　a　strobe。
　〃Something　wrong　with　this　tape？〃　Graham　said；　suspiciously。　〃They　fucked　around　with　it？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　No；　wait。　It's　not　that。　Look　at　the　clock。〃
　On　the　far　wall；　we　could　see　the　office　clock。　The　minute　hands　were　sweeping　smoothly　from　seven…thirty　toward　eight　o'clock。
　〃It's　time　lapse；〃　I　said。
　〃What　is　it；　taking　snapshots？〃
　I　nodded。　〃Probably；　when　the　system　doesn't　detect　anybody　for　a　while；　it　begins　to　take　single　frames　every　ten　or　twenty　seconds；　until…　〃
　〃Hey。　What's　that？〃
　The　flickering　had　stopped。　The　camera　had　begun　to　pan　to　the　right；　across　the　deserted　floor。　But　there　was　nobody　in　the　frame。　Just　empty　desks；　and　occasional　night　lights；　which　flared　in　the　video。
　〃Maybe　they　have　a　wide　sensor；〃　I　said。　〃That　looks　beyond　the　borders　of　the　image　itself。　Either　that；　or　it's　being　moved　manually。　By　a　guard；　somewhere。　Maybe　down　in　the　security　room。〃
　The　panning　image　came　to　rest　on　the　elevator　doors。　The　doors　were　at　the　far　right；　in　deep　shadow；　beneath　a　kind　of　ceiling　overhang　that　blocked　our　view。
　〃Jeez；　dark　under　there。　Is　someone　there？〃
　〃I　can't　see　anything；〃　I　said。
　The　image　began　to　swim　in　and　out　of　focus。
　〃What's　happening　now？〃　Graham　said。
　〃Looks　like　the　automatic　focus　is　having　trouble。　Maybe　it　can't　decide　what　to　focus　on。　Maybe　the　overhang　is　bothering　the　logic　circuits。　My　video　camera　at　home　does　the　same　thing。　The　focus　gets　screwed　up　when　it　can't　tell　what　I　am　shooting。〃
　〃So　is　the　camera　trying　to　focus　on　something？　Because　I　can't　see　anything。　It　just　looks　black　under　there。〃
　〃No；　look。　There's　someone　there。　You　can　see　pale　legs。　Very　faint。〃
　〃Christ；〃　Graham　said；　〃that's　our　girl。　Standing　by　the　elevator。　No；　wait。　Now　she's　moving。〃
　A　moment　later；　Cheryl　Austin　stepped　from　beneath　the　ceiling　overhang；　and　we　saw　her　clearly　for　the　first　time。
　
　She　was　beautiful　and　assured。　She　moved　unhesitatingly　into　the　room。　She　was　direct；　purposeful　in　her　movements；　with　none　of　the　awkward；　shuffling　sloppiness　of　the　young。
　〃Jesus；　she's　good…looking；〃　Graham　said。　Cheryl　Austin　was　tall　and　slender；　her　short　blond　hair　made　her　seem　even　taller。　Her　carriage　was　erect。　She　turned　slowly；　surveying　the　room　as　if　she　owned　it。
　〃I　can't　believe　we're　seeing　this；〃　Graham　said。
　I　knew　what　he　meant。　This　was　a　girl　who　had　been　killed　just　a　few　hours　before。　Now　we　were　seeing　her　on　a　videotape；　walking　around　just　minutes　before　her　death。
　On　the　monitor；　Cheryl　picked　up　a　paperweight　on　one　of　the　desks；　turned　it　in　her　hand；　put　it　back。　She　opened　her　purse；　closed　it　again。　She　glanced　at　her　watch。
　〃Starting　to　fidget。〃
　〃She　doesn't　like　to　be　kept　waiting；〃　Graham　said。　〃And　I　bet　she　doesn't　have　much　practice　at　it；　either。　Not　a　girl　like　that。〃
　She　began　to　tap　on　the　desk　with　her　fingers　in　a　distinct　rhythm。　It　seemed　familiar　to　me。　She　bobbed　her　head　to　the　rhythm。　Graham　squinted　at　the　screen；　〃Is　she　talking？　Is　she　saying　something？〃
　〃It　looks　like　it；〃　I　said。　We　could　barely　see　her　mouth　moving。　And　then　I　suddenly　put　it　together；　her　movements；　everything。　I　realized　I　could　sync　her　lips。　〃I　chew　my　nails　and　I　twiddle　my　thumbs。　I'm　real　nervous　but　it　sure　is　fun。　Oh　baby；　you　drive　me　crazy　。　。　。〃
　〃Jesus；〃　Graham　said。　〃You're　right。　How'd　you　know　that？〃
　〃Goodness；　gracious；　great　balls　of…　〃
　Cheryl　stopped　singing。　She　turned　toward　the　elevators。
　〃Ah。　Here　we　go。〃
　Cheryl　walked　toward　the　elevators。　Just　as　she　stepped　beneath　the　overhang；　she　threw　her　arms　around　the　man　who　had　arrived。　They　embraced　and　kissed　warmly。　But　the　man　remained　beneath　the　overhang。　We　could　see　his　arms　around　Cheryl；　but　we　could　not　see　his　face。
　〃Shit；〃　Graham　said。
　〃Don't　worry；〃　I　said。　〃We'll　see　him　in　a　minute。　If　not　this　camera；　another　camera。　But　I　think　we　can　say　this　is　not　somebody　she　just　met。　This　is　somebody　she　already　knows。〃
　〃Not　unless　she's　real　friendly。　Yeah；　look。　This　guy　isn't　wasting　any　time。〃
　The　man's　hands　slid　up　the　black　dress；　raising　her　skirt。　He　squeezed　her　buttocks。　Cheryl　Austin　pressed　against　his　body。　Their　clinch　was　intense；　passionate。　Together　they　moved　deeper　into　the　room；　turning　slowly。　Now　the　man's　back　was　to　us。　Her　skirt　was　bunched　around　her　waist。　She　reached　down　to　rub　his　crotch。　The　couple　half　walked；　half　stumbled　to　the　nearest　desk。　The　man　bent　her　back　against　the　desk　and　suddenly　she　protested；　pushing　him　away。
　〃Ah；　ah。　Not　so　fast；〃　Graham　said。　〃Our　girl　has　standards；　after　all。〃
　I　wondered　if　that　was　it。　Cheryl　seemed　to　have　led　him　on；　then　changed　her　mind。　I　noticed　that　she　had　changed　moods　almost　instantaneously。　It　made　me　wonder　if　she　had　been　acting　all　along；　if　her　passion　was　faked。　Certainly　the　man　did　not　seem　particularly　surprised　by　her　sudden　change。　Sitting　up　on　the　desk；　she　kept　pushing　at　him；　almost　angrily。　The　man　stepped　away。　His　back　was　still　to　us。　We　couldn't　see　his　face。　As　soon　as　he　had　stepped　back；　she　changed　again：　smiling；　kittenish　now。　With　slow　movements；　she　got　off　the　desk　and　adjusted　her　skirt；　twisting　her　body　provocatively　as　she　looked　around。　We　could　see　his　ear　and　the　side　of　his　face；　just　enough　to　see　that　his　jaw　was　moving。　He　was　talking　to　her。　She　smiled　at　him；　and　came　forward；　slid　her　arms　around　his　neck。　Then　they　began　kissing　again；　their　hands　moving　over　each　other。　Walking　slowly　through　the　office；　toward　the　conference　room。
　〃So。　Did　she　choose　the　conference　room？〃
　〃Hard　to　say。〃
　〃Shit；　I　still　can't　see　his　face。〃
　By　now　they　were　near　the　center　of　the　room；　and　the　camera　was　shooting　almost　directly　down。　All　we　saw　was　the　top　of　his　head。
　I　said；　〃Does　he　look　Japanese　to　you？〃
　〃Fuck。　Who　can　tell。　How　many　other　cameras　were　in　that　room？〃
　〃Four　others。〃
　〃Well。　His　face　can't　be　blocked　in　all　four。　We'll　nail　his　ass。〃
　I　said；　〃You　know；　Tom；　this　guy　looks　pretty　big。　He　looks　taller　than　she　is。　And　she　was　a　tall　girl。〃
　〃Who　can　tell；　in　this　angle？　I　can't　tell　anything　except　he　has　a　suit　on。　Okay。　There　they　go；　toward　the　conference　room。〃
　As　they　approached　the　room；　she　suddenly　began　to　struggle。
　〃Oops；〃　Graham　said。　〃She's　unhappy　again。　Moody　young　thing；　isn't　she？〃
　The　man　gripped　her　tightly　and　she　spun；　trying　to　twist　free。　He　half　carried　her；　half　dragged　her　to　the　room。　At　the　doorway；　she　spun　a　final　time；　grabbed　the　door　frame；　struggling。
　〃She　lose　the　purse　there？〃
　〃Probably。　I　can't　see　clearly。〃
　The　conference　room　was　located　directly　opposite　the　camera；　so　we　had　a　view　of　the　entire　room。　But　the　interior　of　the　conference　room　was　very　dark；　so　the　two　people　were　silhouetted　against　the　lights　of　the　skyscrapers　through　the　outer　glass　windows。　The　man　lifted　her　up　in　his　arms　and　set　her　down　on　the　table；　rolled　her　onto　her　back。　She　became　passive；　liquid；　as　he　slid　her　skirt　up　her　hips。　She　seemed　to　be　accepting；　moving　to　meet　him；　and　then　he　made　a　quick　movement　between　their　bodies；　and　suddenly　something　flew　away。
　〃There　go　the　panties。〃
　It　looked　as　if　they　landed　on　the　floor。　But　it　was　hard　to　tell　for　sure。　If　they　were　panties；　they　were　black；　or　some　other　dark　color。　So　much；　I　thought；　for　Senator　Rowe。
　〃The　panties　were　gone　by　the　time　we　got　there；〃　Graham　said；　staring　at　the　monitor。　〃Fucking　withholding　of　evidence；　pure　and　simple。〃　He　rubbed　his　hands　together。　〃You　got　any　Nakamoto　stock；　buddy；　I'd　sell　it。　'Cause　it　isn't　going　to　be　worth　shit　by　tomorrow　afternoon。〃
　On　the　screen；　she　was　still　weling　him；　and　he　was　fumbling　with　his　zipper；　when　suddenly　she　tried　to　sit　up；　and　slapped　him　hard　on　the　face。
　Graham　said；　〃There　we　go。　A　little　spice。〃
　The　man　grabbed　her　hands；　and　tried　to　kiss　her；　but　she　resisted　him；　turning　her　face　away。　He　pushed　her　back　on　the　table。　He　leaned　his　weight　on　her　body；　holding　her　there。　Her　bare　legs　kicked　and　churned。
　The　two　silhouettes　merged　and　separated。　It　was　difficult　to　determine　exactly　what　was　happening。　It　looked　as　if　Cheryl　kept　trying　to　sit　up；　and　the　man　kept　shoving　her　back。　He　held　her　down；　one　hand　on　her　upper　chest；　while　her　legs　kicked　at　him；　and　her　body　twisted　on　the　table。　He　still　held　her　on　the　table；　but　the　whole　scene　was　more　arduous　than　arousing。　As　it　continued；　I　had　trouble　with　the　image　I　was　seeing。　Was　this　a　genuine　rape？　Or　was　she　play…acting？　After　all；　she　kept　kicking　and　struggling；　but　she　wasn't　succeeding　in　pushing　him　away。　The　man　might　be　stronger　than　she　was；　but　I　had　the　feeling　that　she　could　have　kicked　him　back　if　she　had　really　wanted　to。　And　sometimes　it　looked　as　if　her　arms　were　locked　around　his　neck；　instead　of　trying　to　push　him　away。　But　it　was　difficult　to　know　for　sure　when　we　were　seeing…
　〃Uh…oh。　Trouble。〃
　The　man　stopped　his　rhythmic　pumping。　Beneath　him；　Cheryl　went　limp。　Her　arms　slid　away　from　his　shoulders；　dropped　back　on　the　table。　Her　legs　fell　slack　on　either　side　of　him。
　Graham　said；　〃Is　that　it？　Did　it　just　happen？〃
　〃I　can't　tell。〃
　The　man　patted　her　cheek；　then　shook　her　more　vigorously。　He　seemed　to　be　talking　to　her。　He　remained　there　for　a　while；　maybe　thirty　seconds；　and　then　he　slipped　away　from　her　body。　She　stayed　on　the　table。　He　walked　around　her。　He　was　moving　slowly；　as　if　he　could　not　believe　it。
　Then　he　looked　off　to　the　left；　as　if　he　had　heard　a　sound。　He　stood　frozen　for　a　moment；　and　then　he　seemed　to　make　up　his　mind。　He　went　into　action；　moving　around　the　room；　looking　in　a　methodical　way。　He　picked　up　something　from　the　floor。
　〃The　panties。〃
　〃He　took　'em　himself；〃　Graham　said。　〃Shit。〃
　Now　the　man　moved　around　the　girl；　and　bent　briefly　over　her　body　on　the　far　side。
　〃What's　he　doing　there？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　I　can't　see。〃
　〃Shit。〃
　The　man　straightened　and　moved　away　from　the　conference　room；　back　into　the　atrium。　He　was　no　longer　silhouetted。　There　was　a　chance　we　could　identify　him。　But　he　was　looking　back　into　the　conference　room。　Back　at　the　dead　girl。
　〃Hey；　buddy；〃　Graham　said；　talking　to　the　image　on　the　monitor。　〃Look　over　here；　buddy。　e　on。　Just　for　a　minute。〃
　On　the　screen；　the　man　continued　to　look　at　the　dead　girl　as　he　took　several　more　steps　into　the　atrium。　Then　he　began　to　walk　quickly　away　to　the　left。
　〃He's　not　going　back　to　the　elevators；〃　I　said。
　〃No。　But　I　can't　see　his　face。〃
　〃Where　is　he　going？〃
　〃There's　a　stairwell　at　the　far　end；〃　Graham　said。　〃Fire　exit。〃
　〃Why　is　he　going　there；　instead　of　the　elevator？〃
　〃Who　knows？　I　just　want　to　see　his　face。　Just　once。〃
　But　now　the　man　was　to　the　far　left　of　our　camera；　and　even　though　he　was　no　longer　turned　away；　we　could　see　only　his　left　ear　and　cheekbone。　He　walked　quickly。　Soon　he　would　be　gone　from　our　view；　beneath　the　ceiling　overhang　at　the　far　end　of　the　room。
　〃Ah；　shit。　This　angle's　no　good。　Let's　look　at　another　tape。
　〃Just　a　minute；〃　I　said。
　Our　man　was　moving　toward　a　dark　passageway