mc.risingsun-第23章

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treat　other　countries；　so　it's　not　surprising　they　worry　about　getting　a　taste　of　their　own　medicine。〃
　〃Then　Ishiguro　is　waiting　for　some　scandal？　Because　that's　what　would　happen　in　Japan？〃
　〃Yes。　He's　afraid　that　Nakamoto　will　be　finished　in　a　single　stroke。　But　I　doubt　that　it　will。　Chances　are；　it'll　be　business　as　usual　in　Los　Angeles　tomorrow。〃
　
　I　drove　Connor　back　to　his　apartment。　As　he　climbed　out　of　the　car　I　said；　〃Well；　it's　been　interesting；　Captain。　Thanks　for　spending　the　time　with　me。〃
　〃You're　wele；〃　Connor　said。　〃Call　me　any　time；　if　you　need　help　in　the　future。〃
　〃I　hope　your　golf　game　isn't　too　early　tomorrow。〃
　〃Actually；　it's　at　seven；　but　at　my　age　I　don't　need　much　sleep。　I'll　be　playing　at　the　Sunset　Hills。〃
　〃Isn't　it　a　Japanese　course？〃　The　purchase　of　the　Sunset　Hills　Country　Club　was　one　of　the　more　recent　outrages　in　L。A。　The　West　Los　Angeles　golf　course　was　bought　for　a　huge　cash　price：　two　hundred　million　dollars　in　1990。　At　the　time；　the　new　Japanese　owners　said　no　changes　would　be　made。　But　now；　the　American　membership　was　slowly　being　reduced　by　a　simple　procedure：　whenever　an　American　retired；　his　place　was　offered　to　a　Japanese。　Sunset　Hills　memberships　were　sold　in　Tokyo　for　a　million　dollars　each；　where　they　were　considered　a　bargain；　there　was　a　long　waiting　list。
　〃Well；〃　Connor　said；　〃I'm　playing　with　some　Japanese。〃
　〃You　do　that　often？〃
　〃The　Japanese　are　avid　golfers；　as　you　know。　I　try　to　play　twice　a　week。　Sometimes　you　hear　things　of　interest。　Good　night；　kōhai。〃
　〃Good　night；　Captain。〃
　I　drove　home。
　
　I　was　pulling　onto　the　Santa　Monica　freeway　when　the　phone　rang。　It　was　the　DHD　operator。　〃Lieutenant；　we　have　a　Special　Services　call。　Officers　in　the　field　request　assistance　of　the　liaison。〃
　I　sighed。　〃Okay。〃　She　gave　me　the　mobile　number。
　〃Hey；　buddy。〃
　It　was　Graham。　I　said；　〃Hi；　Tom。〃
　〃You　alone　yet？〃
　〃Yeah。　I'm　heading　home。　Why？〃
　〃I　was　thinking；〃　Graham　said。　〃Maybe　we　should　have　the　Japanese　liaison　on　hand　for　this　bust。〃
　〃I　thought　you　wanted　to　do　it　alone。〃
　〃Yeah；　well；　maybe　you　want　to　e　over　and　help　out　with　this　bust。　Just　so　everything　is　done　by　the　book。〃
　I　said；　〃Is　this　a　CYA？〃　I　meant　cover　your　ass。
　〃Hey。　You　going　to　help　me　out；　or　not？〃
　〃Sure；　Tom。　I'm　on　my　way。〃
　〃We'll　wait　for　you。〃
　
　？
　Eddie　Sakamura　lived　in　a　small　house　on　one　of　those　narrow　twisting　streets　high　in　the　Hollywood　hills　above　the　101　freeway。　It　was　2：45　a。m。　when　I　came　around　a　curve　and　saw　the　two　black　and　whites　with　their　lights　off；　and　Graham's　tan　sedan；　parked　to　one　side。　Graham　was　standing　with　the　patrolmen；　smoking　a　cigarette。　I　had　to　go　back　a　dozen　meters　to　find　a　place　to　park。　Then　I　walked　over　to　them。
　We　looked　up　at　Eddie's　house；　built　over　a　garage　at　street　level。　It　was　one　of　those　two…bedroom　white　stucco　houses　from　the　1940s。　The　lights　were　on；　and　we　heard　Frank　Sinatra　singing。　Graham　said；　〃He's　not　alone。　He's　got　some　broads　up　there。〃
　I　said；　〃How　do　you　want　to　handle　it？〃
　Graham　said；　〃We　leave　the　boys　here。　I　told　'em　no　shooting；　don't　worry。　You　and　I　go　up　and　make　the　bust。〃
　Steep　stairs　ran　up　from　the　garage　to　the　house。
　〃Okay。　You　take　the　front　and　I'll　take　the　back？〃
　〃Hell；　no；〃　Graham　said。　〃I　want　you　with　me；　buddy。　He's　not　dangerous；　right？〃
　I　saw　the　silhouette　of　a　woman　pass　one　of　the　windows。　She　looked　naked。　〃Shouldn't　be；〃　I　said。
　〃Okay　then；　let's　do　it。〃
　We　started　up　the　stairs　single　file。　Frank　Sinatra　was　singing　〃My　Way。〃　We　heard　the　laughter　of　women。　It　sounded　like　more　than　one。　〃Christ；　I　hope　they　got　some　fucking　drugs　out。〃
　I　thought　the　chances　of　that　were　pretty　good。　We　reached　the　top　of　the　stairs；　ducking　to　avoid　being　seen　through　the　windows。
　The　front　door　was　Spanish；　heavy　and　solid。　Graham　paused。　I　moved　a　few　steps　toward　the　back　of　the　house；　where　I　saw　the　greenish　glow　of　pool　lights。　There　was　probably　a　back　door　going　out　to　the　pool。　I　was　trying　to　see　where　it　was。
　Graham　tapped　my　shoulder。　I　came　back。　He　gently　turned　the　handle　of　the　front　door。　It　was　unlocked。　Graham　took　out　his　revolver　and　looked　at　me。　I　took　out　my　gun。
　He　paused；　held　up　three　fingers。　Count　of　three。
　Graham　kicked　the　front　door　open　and　went　in　low；　shouting　〃Hold　it；　police！　Hold　it　right　there！〃　Before　I　got　into　the　living　room；　I　could　hear　the　women　screaming。
　
　There　were　two　of　them；　pletely　naked；　running　around　the　room　and　shrieking　at　the　top　of　their　lungs；　〃Eddie！　Eddie！〃　Eddie　wasn't　there。　Graham　was　shouting；　〃Where　is　he？　Where　is　Eddie　Sakamura？〃　The　redhead　grabbed　a　pillow　from　the　couch　to　cover　herself；　and　screamed；　〃Get　out　of　here；　you　fucker！〃　and　then　she　threw　the　pillow　at　Graham。　The　other　girl；　a　blonde；　ran　squealing　into　the　bedroom。　We　followed　her；　and　the　redhead　threw　another　pillow　at　us。
　In　the　bedroom；　the　blonde　fell　on　the　floor　and　howled　in　pain。　Graham　leaned　over　her　with　his　gun。　〃Don't　shoot　me！〃　she　cried。　〃I　didn't　do　anything！〃
　Graham　grabbed　her　by　the　ankle。　There　was　all　this　twisting　bare　flesh。　The　girl　was　hysterical。　〃Where　is　Eddie？〃　Graham　said。　〃Where　is　he？〃
　〃In　a　meeting！〃　the　girl　squealed。
　〃Where？〃
　〃In　a　meeting！〃　And　flailing　around；　she　kicked　Graham　in　the　nuts　with　her　other　leg。
　〃Aw；　Christ；〃　Graham　said；　letting　the　girl　go。　He　coughed　and　sat　down　hard。　I　went　back　to　the　living　room。　The　redhead　had　her　high　heels　on　but　nothing　else。
　I　said；　〃Where　is　he？〃
　〃You　bastards；〃　she　said。　〃You　fucking　bastards。〃
　I　went　past　her　toward　a　door　at　the　far　end　of　the　room。　It　was　locked。　The　redhead　ran　up　and　began　to　hit　me　on　the　back　with　her　fists。　〃Leave　him　alone！　Leave　him　alone！〃　I　was　trying　to　open　the　locked　door　while　she　pounded　on　me。　I　thought　I　heard　voices　from　the　other　side　of　the　door。　In　the　next　moment　Graham's　big　bulk　slammed　into　the　door　and　the　wood　splintered。　The　door　opened。　I　saw　the　kitchen；　lit　by　the　green　light　of　the　pool　outside。　The　room　was　empty。　The　back　door　was　open。
　〃Shit。〃
　By　now　the　redhead　had　jumped　on　my　back；　and　locked　her　legs　around　my　waist。　She　was　pulling　my　hair；　screaming　obscenities。　I　spun　around　in　circles；　trying　to　throw　her　off　me。　It　was　one　of　those　strange　moments　where　in　the　middle　of　all　the　chaos　I　was　thinking；　be　careful；　don't　hurt　her；　because　it　would　look　bad　for　a　pretty　young　girl　to　end　up　with　a　broken　arm　or　cracked　ribs；　it　would　mean　police　brutality　even　though　right　now　she　was　tearing　my　hair　out　by　the　roots。　She　bit　my　ear　and　I　felt　pain。　I　slammed　myself　back　against　the　wall；　and　I　heard　her　grunt　as　the　breath　was　knocked　out　of　her。　She　let　go。
　Out　the　window；　I　saw　a　dark　figure　running　down　the　stairs。　Graham　saw　it；　too。
　〃Fuck；〃　he　said。　He　ran。　I　ran；　too。　But　the　girl　must　have　tripped　me　because　I　fell　over；　landing　hard。　When　I　got　to　my　feet　I　heard　the　sirens　of　the　black　and　whites　and　their　engines　starting　up。
　Then　I　was　back　outside；　running　down　the　steps。　I　was　maybe　ten　meters　behind　Graham；　about　thirty　feet；　when　Eddie's　Ferrari　backed　out　of　the　garage；　ground　the　gears；　and　roared　down　the　street。
　The　black　and　whites　immediately　took　up　pursuit。　Graham　ran　for　his　sedan。　He　had　pulled　out　to　follow　while　I　was　still　running　for　my　own　car；　parked　farther　down　the　road。　As　his　car　flashed　past　me；　I　could　see　his　face；　grim　and　angry。
　I　got　into　my　car　and　followed。
　
　*　*　*
　
　You　can't　drive　fast　in　the　hills　and　talk　on　the　phone。　I　didn't　even　try。　I　estimated　I　was　half　a　kilometer　behind　Graham；　and　he　was　some　distance　behind　the　two　patrol　cars。　When　I　got　to　the　bottom　of　the　hill；　the　101　overpass；　I　saw　the　flashing　lights　going　down　the　freeway。　I　had　to　back　up　and　pull　around　to　the　entrance　below　Mulholland；　and　then　I　joined　traffic　heading　south。
　When　the　traffic　began　to　slow　up；　I　stuck　my　flasher　on　the　roof；　and　pulled　into　the　right…hand　breakdown　lane。　I　got　to　the　concrete　embankment　about　thirty　seconds　after　the　Ferrari　hit　it　flat　out　at　a　hundred　and　sixty　kilometers　an　hour。　I　guess　the　gas　tank　had　exploded　on　impact；　and　the　flames　were　jumping　fifteen　meters　into　the　air。　The　heat　was　tremendous。　It　looked　like　the　trees　up　on　the　hill　might　catch　on　fire。　You　couldn't　get　anywhere　near　the　twisted　wreck　of　the　car。
　The　first　of　the　fire　trucks　pulled　up；　with　three　more　black　and　whites。　There　were　sirens　and　flashing　lights　everywhere。
　I　backed　up　my　car　to　make　room　for　the　trucks；　then　walked　over　to　Graham。　He　smoked　a　cigarette　as　the　firemen　began　to　spray　the　wreck　with　foam。
　〃Christ；〃　Graham　said。　〃What　a　fucking　cockup。〃
　〃Why　didn't　the　backup　patrolmen　stop　him　when　he　was　in　the　garage？〃
　〃Because；〃　Graham　said；　〃I　told　them　not　to　shoot　at　him。　And　we　weren't　there。　They　were　trying　to　decide　what　to　do　when　the　guy　drove　away。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃This　is　going　to　look　like　shit　in　the　report。〃
　I　said；　〃Still；　it's　probably　better　you　didn't　shoot　him。〃
　〃Maybe。〃　He　ground　out　his　cigarette。
　By　now；　the　firemen　had　gotten　the　fire　out。　The　Ferrari　was　a　smoking　hulk　crumpled　against　the　concrete。　There　was　a　harsh　smell　in　the　air。
　〃Well；〃　Graham　said。　〃No　point　staying　around　here。　I'll　go　back　up　to　the　house。　See　if　those　girls　are　still　there。〃
　〃You　need　me　for　anything　else？〃
　〃No。　You　might　as　well　go。　Tomorrow　is　another　day。　Shit；　it'll　be　paperwork　until　we　drop。〃　He　looked　at　me。　He　hesitated。　〃We　in　sync　about　this？　About　what　happened？〃
　〃Hell；　yes；〃　I　said。
　〃No　way　to　handle　it　differently；〃　he　said。　〃Far　as　I　can　see。
　〃No；〃　I　said。　〃Just　one　of　those　things。〃
　〃Okay；　buddy。　See　you　tomorrow。〃
　〃Good　night；　Tom。〃
　We　got　into　our　cars。
　I　drove　home。
　
　？
　Mrs。　Ascenio　was　snoring　loudly　on　the　sofa。　It　was　three　forty…five　in　the　morning。　I　tiptoed　past　her　and　looked　in　Michelle's　room。　My　daughter　lay　on　her　back；　her　covers　tossed　aside；　her　arms　flung　over　her　head。　Her　feet　stuck　through　the　bars　of　the　crib。　I　tucked　the　covers　around　her　and　went　into　my　own　room。
　The　television　was　still　on。　I　turned　it　off。　I　pulled　off　my　tie　and　sat　down　on　the　bed　to　remove　my　shoes。　I　suddenly　realized　how　tired　I　was。　I　took　off　my　coat　and　trousers　and　threw　them　onto　the　television　set。　I　lay　down　on　my　back　and　thought　I　should　take　off　my　shirt。　It　felt　sweaty　and　grimy　on　my　body。　I　closed　my　eyes　for　a　moment　and　let　my　head　sink　back　into　the　pillow。　Then　I　felt　a　pinching；　and　something　tugging　at　my　eyelids。　I　heard　a　chirping　sound　and　thought　in　a　moment　of　horror　that　birds　were　pecking　at　my　eyes。
　I　heard　a　voice　saying；　〃Open　your　eyes；　Daddy。　Open　your　eyes。〃　And　I　realized　that　it　was　my　daughter；　trying　to　pull　my　eyelids　up　with　small　fingers。
　〃Yuuuh；〃　I　said。　I　glimpsed　daylight；　rolled　away；　and　buried　my　face　in　the　pillow。
　〃Daddy？　Open　your　eyes。　Open　your　eyes；　Daddy。〃
　I　said；　〃Daddy　was　out　late　last　night。　Daddy　is　tired。〃
　She　paid　no　attention。　〃Daddy；　open　your　eyes。　Open　your　eyes。　Daddy？　Open　your　eyes；　Daddy。〃
　I　knew　that　she　would　continue　saying　the　same　thing；　over　and　over；　until　I　lost　my