mc.risingsun-第3章

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isposition　of　a　body。'　Male　with　a　thick　Asian　accent；　doesn't　speak　good　English。　The　operator　couldn't　get　much　out　of　him；　except　an　address。　The　Nakamoto　Tower。　Black　and　white　goes　over；　arrives　at　eight　thirty…nine　p。m。；　finds　it's　a　homicide。　Forty…sixth　floor；　which　is　an　office　floor　in　this　building。　Victim　is　Caucasian　female；　approximately　twenty…five　years　old。　Hell　of　a　good…looking　girl。　You'll　see。
　〃The　blue　suits　stretch　the　tape　and　call　the　division。　I　go　over　with　Merino；　arriving　at　eight　fifty…three。　Crime　scene　IU　and　SID　show　up　about　the　same　time　for　PE；　prints；　and　pics。　Okay　so　far？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Connor　said；　nodding。
　Graham　said；　〃We're　just　getting　started　when　some　Jap　from　the　Nakamoto　Corporation　es　up　in　a　thousand…dollar　blue　suit　and　announces　that　he　is　entitled　to　a　fucking　conversation　with　the　L。A。P。D。　liaison　officer　before　anything　is　done　in　their　fucking　building。　And　he's　saying　things　like　we　got　no　probable　cause。
　〃I　go；　what　the　fuck　is　this。　We　got　an　obvious　homicide　here。　I　think　this　guy　should　get　back。　But　this　Jap　speaks　excellent　fucking　English　and　he　seems　to　know　a　lot　of　law。　And　everybody　at　the　scene　bees；　you　know；　concerned。　I　mean；　there's　no　point　in　pushing　to　start　an　investigation　if　it's　going　to　invalidate　due　process；　right？　And　this　Jap　fucker　is　insisting　the　liaison　must　be　present　before　we　do　anything。　Since　he　speaks　such　fucking　good　English　I　don't　know　what　the　problem　is。　I　thought　the　whole　idea　of　a　liaison　was　for　people　who　don't　speak　the　language　and　this　fucking　guy　has　Stanford　law　school　written　all　over　him。　But　anyway。〃　He　sighed。
　〃You　called　me；〃　I　said。
　〃Yeah。〃
　I　said；　〃Who　is　the　man　from　Nakamoto？〃
　〃Shit。〃　Graham　scowled　at　his　notes。　〃Ishihara。　Ishiguri。　Something　like　that。〃
　〃You　have　his　card？　He　must　have　given　you　his　card。〃
　〃Yeah；　he　did。　I　gave　it　to　Merino。〃
　I　said；　〃Any　other　Japanese　there？〃
　〃What　are　you；　kidding？〃　Graham　laughed。　〃The　place　is　swarming　with　them。　Fucking　Disneyland　up　there。〃
　〃I　mean　the　crime　scene。〃
　〃So　do　I；〃　Graham　said。　〃We　can't　keep　'em　out。　They　say　it's　their　building；　they　have　a　right　to　be　there。　Tonight　is　the　grand　opening　of　the　Nakamoto　Tower。　They　have　a　right　to　be　there。　On　and　on。〃
　I　said；　〃Where　is　the　opening　taking　place？〃
　〃One　floor　below　the　murder；　on　the　forty…fifth　floor。　They're　having　one　hell　of　a　bash。　Must　be　eight　hundred　people　there。　Movie　stars；　senators；　congressmen；　you　name　it。　I　hear　Madonna　is　there；　and　Tom　Cruise。　Senator　Hammond。　Senator　Kennedy。　Elton　John。　Senator　Morton。　Mayor　Thomas's　there。　District　Attorney　Wyland's　there。　Hey；　maybe　your　ex…wife　is　there；　too；　Pete。　She　still　works　for　Wyland；　doesn't　she？〃
　〃Last　I　heard。〃
　Graham　sighed。　〃Must　be　great　to　fuck　a　lawyer；　instead　of　getting　fucked　by　them。　Must　make　for　a　nice　change。〃
　I　didn't　want　to　talk　about　my　ex…wife。　〃We　don't　have　a　lot　of　contact　any　more；〃　I　said。
　A　little　bell　rang；　then　the　elevator　said；　〃Yonjūsan　kai。〃
　Graham　glanced　at　the　glowing　numbers　above　the　door。　〃Can　you　believe　that　shit？〃
　〃Yonjūyon　kai；〃　the　elevator　said。　〃Mōsugu　de　gozaimasu。〃
　〃What'd　it　say？〃
　〃　'We're　almost　at　the　floor。'　〃
　〃Fuck；〃　Graham　said。　〃If　an　elevator's　going　to　talk；　it　should　be　English。　This　is　still　America。〃
　〃Just　barely；〃　Connor　said；　staring　out　at　the　view。
　〃Youjūgo　kai；〃　the　elevator　said。
　The　door　opened。
　
　Graham　was　right：　it　was　a　hell　of　a　party。　The　whole　floor　had　been　made　into　a　replica　forties　ballroom。　Men　in　suits。　Women　in　cocktail　dresses。　The　band　playing　Glenn　Miller　swing　music。　Standing　near　the　elevator　door　was　a　gray…haired；　suntanned　man　who　looked　vaguely　familiar。　He　had　the　broad　shoulders　of　an　athlete。　He　stepped　onto　the　elevator　and　turned　to　me。　〃Ground　floor；　please。〃　I　smelled　whiskey。
　A　second；　younger　man　in　a　suit　instantly　appeared　by　his　side。　〃This　elevator　is　going　up；　Senator。〃
　〃What's　that？〃　the　gray…haired　man　said；　turning　to　his　aide。
　〃This　elevator's　going　up；　sir。〃
　〃Well。　I　want　to　go　down。〃　He　was　speaking　with　the　careful；　over…articulated　speech　of　the　drunk。
　〃Yes；　sir。　I　know　that；　sir；〃　the　aide　replied　cheerfully。　〃Let's　take　the　next　elevator；　Senator。〃　He　gripped　the　gray…haired　man　firmly　by　the　elbow　and　led　him　off　the　elevator。
　The　doors　closed。　The　elevator　continued　up。
　〃Your　tax　dollars　at　work；〃　Graham　said。　〃Recognize　him？　Senator　Stephen　Rowe。　Nice　to　find　him　partying　here；　considering　he's　on　the　Senate　Finance　mittee；　which　sets　all　Japanese　import　regulations。　But　like　his　pal　Senator　Kennedy；　Rowe　is　one　of　the　great　pussy　patrollers。〃
　〃Oh；　yeah？〃
　〃They　say　he　can　drink　pretty　good；　too。〃
　〃I　noticed　that。〃
　〃That's　why　he's　got　that　kid　with　him。　To　keep　him　out　of　trouble。〃
　The　elevator　stopped　at　the　forty…sixth　floor。　There　was　a　soft　electronic　ping。　〃Yonjūroku　kai。　Goriyō　arigatō　gozaimashita。〃
　〃Finally；〃　Graham　said。　〃Now　maybe　we　can　get　to　work。〃
　
　？
　The　doors　opened。　We　faced　a　solid　wall　of　blue　business　suits；　backs　turned　to　us。　There　must　have　been　twenty　men　jammed　in　the　area　just　beyond　the　elevator。　The　air　was　thick　with　cigarette　smoke。
　〃ing　through；　ing　through；〃　Graham　said；　pushing　his　way　roughly　past　the　men。　I　followed；　Connor　behind　me；　silent　and　inconspicuous。
　The　forty…sixth　floor　had　been　designed　to　house　the　chief　executive　offices　of　Nakamoto　Industries；　and　it　was　impressive。　Standing　in　the　carpeted　reception　area　just　beyond　the　elevators；　I　could　see　the　entire　floor　…　it　was　a　gigantic　open　space。　It　was　about　sixty　by　forty　meters；　half　the　size　of　a　football　field。　Everything　added　to　the　sense　of　spaciousness　and　elegance。　The　ceilings　were　high；　paneled　in　wood。　The　furnishings　were　all　wood　and　fabric；　black　and　gray；　and　the　carpet　was　thick。　Sound　was　muted　and　lights　were　low；　adding　to　the　soft；　rich　quality。　It　looked　more　like　a　bank　than　a　business　office。
　The　richest　bank　you　ever　saw。
　And　it　made　you　stop　and　look。　I　stood　by　the　yellow　crime…scene　tape；　which　blocked　access　to　the　floor　itself；　and　got　my　bearings。　Directly　ahead　was　the　large　atrium；　a　kind　of　open　bullpen　for　secretaries　and　lower…level　people。　There　were　desks　in　clusters；　and　trees　to　break　up　the　space。　In　the　center　of　the　atrium　stood　a　large　model　of　the　Nakamoto　Tower；　and　the　plex　of　surrounding　buildings　still　under　construction。　A　spotlight　shone　on　the　model；　but　the　rest　of　the　atrium　was　relatively　dark；　with　night　lights。
　Private　offices　for　the　executives　were　arranged　around　the　perimeter　of　the　atrium。　The　offices　had　glass　walls　facing　the　atrium；　and　glass　walls　on　the　outside　walls　as　well；　so　that　from　where　I　was　standing　you　could　look　straight　out　to　the　surrounding　skyscrapers　of　Los　Angeles。　It　made　you　think　the　floor　was　floating　in　midair。
　There　were　two　glass…walled　conference　rooms；　on　the　left　and　right。　The　room　on　the　right　was　smaller；　and　there　I　saw　the　body　of　the　girl；　lying　on　a　long　black　table。　She　was　wearing　a　black　dress。　One　leg　dangled　down　toward　the　floor。　I　didn't　see　any　blood。　But　I　was　pretty　far　away　from　her；　maybe　sixty　meters。　It　was　hard　to　see　much　detail。
　I　heard　the　crackle　of　police　radios；　and　I　heard　Graham　saying；　〃Here's　your　liaison；　gentlemen。　Now　maybe　we　can　get　started　on　our　investigation。　Peter？〃
　I　turned　to　the　Japanese　men　by　the　elevator。　I　didn't　know　which　I　should　talk　to；　there　was　an　awkward　moment　until　one　of　them　stepped　forward。　He　was　about　thirty…five　and　wore　an　expensive　suit。　The　man　gave　a　very　slight　bow；　from　the　neck；　just　a　hint。　I　bowed　back。　Then　he　spoke。
　〃Konbanwa。　Hajimemashite；　Sumisu…san。　Ishiguro　desu。　Dōzo　yoroshiku。〃　A　formal　greeting；　although　perfunctory。　No　wasted　time。　His　name　was　Ishiguro。　He　already　knew　my　name。
　I　said；　〃Hajimemashite。　Watashi　wa　Sumisu　desu。　Dōzo　yoroshiku。〃　How　do　you　do。　Glad　to　meet　you。　The　usual。
　〃Watashi　no　meishi　desu。　Dōzo。〃　He　gave　me　his　business　card。　He　was　quick　in　his　movements；　brusque。
　〃Dōmo　arigatō　gozaimasu。　〃　I　accepted　his　card　with　both　hands；　which　wasn't　really　necessary；　but　taking　Connor's　advice；　I　wanted　to　do　the　most　formal　thing。　Next　I　gave　him　my　card。　The　ritual　required　us　both　to　look　at　each　other's　cards；　and　to　make　some　minor　ment；　or　to　ask　a　question　like　〃Is　this　your　office　telephone　number？〃
　Ishiguro　took　my　card　with　one　hand　and　said；　〃Is　this　your　home　phone；　Detective？〃　I　was　surprised。　He　spoke　the　kind　of　unaccented　English　you　can　only　learn　by　living　here　for　a　long　time；　starting　when　you're　young。　He　must　have　gone　to　school　here。　One　of　the　thousands　of　Japanese　who　studied　in　America　in　the　seventies。　When　they　were　sending　150；000　students　a　year　to　America；　to　learn　about　our　country。　And　we　were　sending　200　American　students　a　year　to　Japan。
　〃That's　my　number　at　the　bottom；　yes；〃　I　said。
　Ishiguro　slipped　my　card　into　his　shirt　pocket。　I　started　to　make　a　polite　ment　about　his　card；　but　he　interrupted　me。　〃Look；　Detective。　I　think　we　can　dispense　with　the　formalities。　The　only　reason　there's　a　problem　here　tonight　is　that　your　colleague　is　unreasonable。〃
　〃My　colleague？〃
　Ishiguro　gave　a　head　jerk。　〃The　fat　one　there。　Graham。　His　demands　are　unreasonable；　and　we　strongly　object　to　his　intention　to　carry　out　an　investigation　tonight。〃
　I　said；　〃Why　is　that；　Mr。　Ishiguro？〃
　〃You　have　no　probable　cause　to　conduct　one。〃
　〃Why　do　you　say　that？〃
　Ishiguro　snorted。　〃I　would　think　it's　obvious；　even　to　you。〃
　I　stayed　cool。　Five　years　as　a　detective；　and　then　a　year　in　the　press　section　had　taught　me　to　stay　cool。
　I　said；　〃No；　sir；　I'm　afraid　it's　not　obvious。〃
　He　looked　at　me　disdainfully。　〃The　fact　is；　Lieutenant；　you　have　no　reason　to　connect　this　girl's　death　to　the　party　we're　holding　downstairs。〃
　〃It　looks　like　she's　wearing　a　party　dress…　'
　He　interrupted　me　rudely。　〃My　guess　is　you'll　probably　discover　that　she　has　died　of　an　accidental　drug　overdose。　And　therefore　her　death　has　nothing　to　do　with　our　party。　Wouldn't　you　agree？〃
　I　took　a　deep　breath。　〃No；　sir；　I　wouldn't　agree。　Not　without　an　investigation。〃　I　took　another　breath。　〃Mr。　Ishiguro；　I　appreciate　your　concerns；　but…　〃
　〃I　wonder　if　you　do；〃　Ishiguro　said；　interrupting　me　again。　〃I　insist　that　you　appreciate　the　position　of　the　Nakamoto　pany　tonight。　This　is　a　very　significant　evening　for　us；　a　very　public　evening。　We　are　naturally　distressed　by　the　prospect　that　our　function　might　be　marred　by　unfounded　allegations　of　a　woman's　death；　especially　this；　a　woman　of　no　importance　。　。　。〃
　〃A　woman　of　no　importance？〃
　Ishiguro　made　a　dismissing　wave。　He　seemed　to　be　tired　of　talking　to　me。　〃It's　obvious；　just　look　at　her。　She's　no　better　than　a　mon　prostitute。　I　can't　imagine　how　she　came　to　be　in　this　building　at　all。　And　for　this　reason；　I　strongly　protest　the　intention　of　Detective　Graham　to　interrogate　the　guests　at　the　reception　downstairs。　That's　entirely　unreasonable。　We　have　many　senators；　congressmen；　and　officials　of　Los　Angeles　among　our　guests。　Surely　you　agree　that　such　prominent　people　will　find　it　awkward…〃
　I　said；　〃Just　a　minute。　Detective　Grah