mc.risingsun-第39章

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〃　And　he　holds　out　the　envelope。
　So。
　Everything　is　in　turmoil。　The　wife　is　outside　screaming　at　my　partner。　The　kid　is　in　here　screaming　at　us。　The　guy　is　holding　the　envelope。　He　smiles　and　nods。　Like；　go　ahead　and　take　it。　It's　yours。　And　I　think　。　。　。　I　don't　know　what　I　thought。
　Next　thing　I　know；　I'm　out　in　the　living　room　and　I　say　everything　is　fine　with　the　kid；　and　now　the　woman　starts　to　scream　in　her　drunken　way　that　I　abused　her　child　…　now　it's　me；　not　the　husband　…　and　that　I　am　in　a　conspiracy　with　the　husband；　that　we　are　both　child　abusers。　My　partner　figures　she's　crazy　drunk　and　we　leave；　and　that's　it。　My　partner　says；　〃You　were　in　that　room　a　while。〃　And　I　say；　〃I　had　to　check　the　kid；〃　And　that's　it。　Except　the　next　day　she　es　in　and　makes　a　formal　plaint　that　I　abused　her　child。　She's　hung　over　and　she　has　a　record；　but　even　so　it's　a　serious　charge　and　it　goes　through　the　system　as　far　as　the　preliminary；　where　it　gets　thrown　out　as　entirely　without　merit。
　That's　it。
　That's　what　happened。
　That's　the　whole　story。
　
　〃And　the　money？〃　Connor　said。
　〃I　went　to　Vegas　for　the　weekend。　I　won　big。　I　paid　taxes　on　thirteen　thousand　in　unearned　ine　that　year。〃
　〃Whose　idea　was　that？〃
　〃Lauren。　She　told　me　how　to　handle　it。〃
　〃So　she　knows　what　happened？〃
　〃Sure。〃
　〃And　the　department　investigation？　Did　the　preliminary　board　issue　a　report？〃
　〃I　don't　think　it　got　that　far。　They　just　heard　it　orally　and　dismissed　it。　There's　probably　a　notation　in　the　file；　but　not　an　actual　report。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Connor　said。　〃Now　tell　me　the　rest。〃
　
　So　I　told　him　about　Ken　Shubik；　and　the　Times；　and　the　Weasel。　Connor　listened　silently；　frowning。　As　I　talked；　he　began　to　suck　air　through　his　teeth；　which　was　the　Japanese　way　of　expressing　disapproval。
　〃Kōhai；〃　he　said；　when　I　finished；　〃you　are　making　my　life　extremely　difficult。　And　certainly　you　make　me　appear　foolish　when　I　should　not。　Why　didn't　you　tell　me　this　earlier？〃
　〃Because　it　has　nothing　to　do　with　you。〃
　〃Kōhai。〃　He　was　shaking　his　head。　〃Kōhai　。　。　。〃
　I　was　thinking　about　my　daughter　again。　About　the　possibility　…　just　the　possibility　…　that　I　would　not　be　able　to　see　her　…　that　I　would　not　be　able　to…　
　〃Look；〃　Connor　said；　〃I　told　you　it　could　be　unpleasant；　Take　my　word　for　it。　It　can　get　much　more　unpleasant　than　this。　This　is　only　the　beginning。　It　can　get　nasty。　We　must　proceed　quickly　and　try　to　wrap　everything　up。〃
　〃I　thought　everything　was　wrapped　up。〃
　Connor　sighed；　and　shook　his　head。　〃It's　not；〃　he　said。　〃And　now　we　must　resolve　everything　before　you　meet　your　wife　at　four　o'clock。　So　let's　make　sure　we　are　done　by　then。〃
　
　？
　〃Christ；　I'd　say　it's　pretty　fucking　wrapped　up；〃　Graham　said。　He　was　walking　around　Sakamura's　house　in　the　Hollywood　hills。　The　last　of　the　SID　teams　was　packing　up　cases　to　leave。
　〃I　don't　know　why　the　chief　has　such　a　bug　up　his　ass　on　this；〃　Graham　said。　〃The　SID　boys　have　been　doing　most　of　their　work　right　here；　on　the　spot；　because　he's　in　such　a　rush。　But　thank　God：　everything　ties　up　perfect。　Sakamura　is　our　boy。　We　bed　his　bed　for　pubic　hair　…　it　matches　the　pubic　hair　found　on　the　girl。　We　got　dried　saliva　off　his　toothbrush。　It　matches　blood　type　and　genetic　markers　for　the　sperm　inside　the　dead　girl。　Matchup　is　ninety…seven　percent　sure。　It's　his　e　inside　her；　and　his　pubic　hair　on　her　body。　He　fucked　her　and　then　he　killed　her。　And　when　we　came　to　arrest　him；　he　panicked；　made　a　break　for　it；　and　died　as　a　result。　Where　is　Connor？〃
　〃Outside；〃　I　said。
　Through　the　windows；　I　could　see　Connor　standing　down　by　the　garage；　talking　to　policemen　in　a　black…and…white　patrol　car。　Connor　was　pointing　up　and　down　the　street；　they　were　answering　questions。
　〃What's　he　doing　down　there？〃　Graham　said。
　I　said　I　didn't　know。
　〃Damn；　I　don't　understand　him。　You　can　tell　him　the　answer　to　his　question　is　no。〃
　〃What　question？〃
　〃He　called　me　an　hour　ago；〃　Graham　said。　〃Said　he　wanted　to　know　how　many　pairs　of　reading　glasses　we　found　here。　We　checked。　The　answer　is；　no　reading　glasses。　Lots　of　sunglasses。　Couple　of　pairs　of　women's　sunglasses。　But　that's　it。　I　don't　know　why　he　cared。　Strange　man；　isn't　he？　What　the　hell　is　he　doing　now？〃
　We　watched　as　Connor　paced　back　and　forth　around　the　squad　car；　then　pointed　up　and　down　the　road　again。　One　man　was　in　the　car；　talking　on　the　radio。　〃Do　you　understand　him？〃　Graham　said。
　〃No；　I　don't。〃
　〃He's　probably　trying　to　track　down　the　girls；〃　Graham　said。　〃Christ；　I　wish　we　had　gotten　the　ID　on　that　redhead。　Especially　now　it's　turned　out　this　way。　She　must　have　fucked　him；　too。　We　could　have　gotten　some　sperm　from　her；　and　made　an　exact　match　with　all　the　factors。　And　I　look　like　a　horse's　ass；　letting　the　girls　get　away。　But　shit；　who　knew　it　was　going　to　go　that　way。　It　was　all　so　fast。　Naked　girls　up　here；　prancing　around。　A　guy　gets　a　little　confused。　It's　natural。　Shit；　they　were　good…looking；　weren't　they？〃
　I　said　they　were。
　〃And　there's　nothing　left　of　Sakamura；〃　Graham　said。　〃I　talked　to　the　PEO　boys　an　hour　ago。　They're　downtown；　cutting　the　corpse　out　of　the　car；　but　I　guess　he's　burned　beyond　identification。　The　M。E。's　office　is　going　to　try；　but　good　luck。〃　He　stared　unhappily　out　the　window。　〃You　know　what？　We　did　the　best　we　could　with　this　fucking　case；〃　he　said。　〃And　I　think　we　did　pretty　good。　We　got　the　right　guy。　We　did　it　fast；　no　fuss　no　muss。　But　all　I　hear　now　is　a　lot　of　Japan…bashing。　Fuck。　You　can't　win。〃
　〃Uh…huh；〃　I　said。
　〃And　Christ　they　have　juice　now；〃　Graham　said。　〃The　heat　on　my　ass　is　terrific。　I　got　the　chief　calling　me；　wanting　this　thing　wrapped　up。　I　got　some　reporter　at　the　Times　investigating　me；　hauling　out　some　old　shit　about　a　questionable　use　of　force　on　a　Hispanic　back　in　1978。　Nothing　to　it。　But　this　reporter；　he's　trying　to　show　I've　always　been　a　racist。　And　what　is　the　background　of　his　story？　That　last　night　was　a　'racist'　incident。　So　I　am　now　an　example　of　racism　rearing　its　ugly　head　again。　I　tell　you。　The　Japanese　are　masters　of　the　smear　job。　It's　fucking　scary。〃
　〃I　know；〃　I　said。
　〃They　getting　to　you；　too？〃
　I　nodded。
　〃For　what？〃
　〃Child　abuse。〃
　〃Christ；〃　Graham　said。　〃And　you　got　a　daughter。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Doesn't　it　piss　you　off？　Innuendo　and　smear　tactics；　Petey…san。　Nothing　to　do　with　reality。　But　try　and　tell　that　to　a　reporter。〃
　〃Who　is　it？〃　I　asked。　〃The　reporter　talking　to　you。〃
　〃Linda　Jensen；　I　think　she　said。〃
　I　nodded。　Linda　Jensen　was　the　Weasel's　protégé。　Somebody　once　said　that　Linda　didn't　fuck　her　way　to　the　top。　She　fucked　other　people's　reputations　to　the　top。　She　had　been　a　gossip　columnist　in　Washington　before　graduating　to　the　big　time　in　Los　Angeles。
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Graham　said；　shifting　his　bulk。　〃Personally；　I　think　it's　not　worth　it。　They're　turning　this　country　into　another　Japan。　You've　already　got　people　afraid　to　speak。　Afraid　to　say　anything　against　them。　People　just　won't　talk　about　what's　happening。〃
　〃It　would　help　if　the　government　passed　a　few　laws。〃
　Graham　laughed。　〃The　government。　They　own　the　government。　You　know　what　they　spend　in　Washington　every　year？　Four　hundred　million　fucking　dollars　a　year。　That's　enough　to　pay　the　campaign　costs　of　everybody　in　the　United　States　Senate　and　the　House　of　Representatives。　That　is　a　lot　of　fucking　money。　Now　you　tell　me。　Would　they　spend　all　that　money；　year　after　year；　if　it　wasn't　paying　off　for　them？　Of　course　they　wouldn't。　Shit。　The　end　of　America；　buddy。　Hey。　Looks　like　your　boss　wants　you。〃
　I　looked　out　the　window。　Connor　was　waving　to　me。
　I　said；　〃I　better　go。〃
　〃Good　luck；〃　Graham　said。　〃Listen。　I　may　take　a　couple　of　weeks　off。〃
　〃Yeah？　When？〃
　〃Maybe　later　today；〃　Graham　said。　〃The　chief　mentioned　it。　He　said　as　long　as　the　fucking　Times　is　on　my　ass；　maybe　I　should。　I'm　thinking　of　a　week　in　Phoenix。　I　got　family　there。　Anyway；　I　wanted　you　to　know；　I　might　be　going。〃
　〃Okay；　sure；〃　I　said。
　Connor　was　still　waving　to　me。　He　seemed　impatient。　I　hurried　down　to　see　him。　As　I　came　down　the　steps；　I　saw　a　black　Mercedes　sedan　pull　up；　and　a　familiar　figure　emerge。
　It　was　Weasel　Wilhelm。
　
　？
　By　the　time　I　got　down　there；　the　Weasel　had　his　notepad　and　tape　recorder　out。　A　cigarette　hung　from　the　corner　of　his　mouth。　〃Lieutenant　Smith；〃　he　said。　〃I　wonder　if　I　could　talk　to　you。〃
　〃I'm　pretty　busy；〃　I　said。
　〃e　on；〃　Connor　called　to　me。　〃Time's　a'wasting。〃　He　was　holding　the　door　open　for　me。
　I　started　toward　Connor。　The　Weasel　fell　in　step　with　me。　He　held　a　tiny　black　microphone　toward　my　face。　〃I'm　taping；　I　hope　you　don't　mind。　After　the　Malcolm　case；　we　have　to　be　extra　careful。　I　wonder　if　you　would　ment　on　racial　slurs　allegedly　made　by　your　associate　Detective　Graham　during　last　night's　Nakamoto　investigation？〃
　〃No；〃　I　said。　I　kept　walking。
　〃We've　been　told　he　referred　to　them　as　'fucking　Japs。'　〃
　〃I　have　no　ment；〃　I　said。
　〃He　also　called　them　'little　Nips。'　Do　you　think　that　kind　of　talk　is　appropriate　to　an　officer　on　duty？〃
　〃Sorry。　I　don't　have　a　ment；　Willy。〃
　He　held　the　microphone　up　to　my　face　as　we　walked。　It　was　annoying。　I　wanted　to　slap　it　away；　but　I　didn't。　〃Lieutenant　Smith；　we're　preparing　a　story　on　you　and　we　have　some　questions　about　the　Martinez　case。　Do　you　remember　that　one？　It　was　a　couple　of　years　back。〃
　I　kept　walking。　〃I'm　pretty　busy　now；　Willy；〃　I　said。
　〃The　Martinez　case　resulted　in　accusations　of　child　abuse　brought　by　Sylvia　Morelia；　the　mother　of　Maria　Martinez。　There　was　an　internal　affairs　investigation。　I　wondered　if　you　had　any　ment。〃
　〃No　ment。〃
　〃I've　already　talked　to　your　partner　at　that　time；　Ted　Anderson。　I　wondered　if　you　had　any　ment　on　that。〃
　〃Sorry。　I　don't。〃
　〃Then　you　aren't　going　to　respond　to　these　serious　allegations　against　you？　'
　〃The　only　one　I　know　that's　making　allegations　is　you；　Willy。〃
　〃Actually；　that's　not　entirely　accurate；〃　he　said；　smiling　at　me。　〃I'm　told　the　D。A。's　office　has　started　an　investigation。〃
　I　said　nothing。　I　wondered　if　it　was　true。
　〃Under　the　circumstances；　Lieutenant；　do　you　think　the　court　made　a　mistake　in　granting　you　custody　of　your　young　daughter？〃
　All　I　said　was；　〃Sorry。　No　ment；　Willy。〃　I　tried　to　sound　confident。　I　was　starting　to　sweat。
　Connor　said；　〃e　on；　e　on。　No　time。〃　I　got　into　the　car。　Connor　said　to　Wilhelm；　〃Son；　I'm　sorry；　but　we're　busy。　Got　to　go。〃　He　slammed　the　car　door。　I　started　the　engine。　〃Let's　go；〃　Connor　said。
　Willy　stuck　his　head　in　the　window。　〃Do　you　think　that　Captain　Connor's　Japan…bashing　represents　another　example　of　the　department's　lack　of　judgment　in　racially　sensitive　cases？〃
　〃See　you；　Willy。〃　I　rolled　up　the　window；　and　started　driving　down　the　hill。
　〃A　little　faster　wouldn't　bother　me；〃　Connor　said。
　〃Sure；〃　I　said。　I　stepped　on　the　gas。
　In　the　rearview　mirror；　I　saw　the　Weasel　running　for　his　Mercedes。　I　took　the　turn　faster；　tires　squealing。　〃How　did　that　lowlife　know　where　to　find　us？　He　monitoring　the　radio？〃
　〃We　haven't　been　on　the　radio；〃　Connor　said。　〃You　know　I'm　careful　about　the　radio。　But　maybe　the　patrol　car　phoned　in　something　when　we　arrived。　Maybe　we　have　a　bug　in　this　car。　Maybe　he　just