mc.risingsun-第45章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃And　what　does　that　mean？〃
　〃It　means　they　are　arrogant；〃　she　said。　She　sounded　angry。　I　couldn't　tell　why。
　So　I　asked　her。
　〃Yes。　Now　it　pisses　me　off；〃　she　said。　She　was　zooming　in　on　the　image；　her　one　hand　moving　quickly。　〃It　is　because　they　have　made　an　obvious　mistake。　They　expect　we　will　be　sloppy。　We　will　not　be　thorough。　We　will　not　be　intelligent。　We　will　not　be　Japanese。〃
　〃But…　〃
　〃Oh；　I　hate　them。〃　The　image　moved；　shifted。　She　was　concentrating　on　the　outline　of　the　head；　now。　〃You　know　Takeshita　Noboru？〃
　I　said；　〃Is　that　a　manufacturer？〃
　〃No。　Takeshita　was　prime　minister。　A　few　years　ago；　he　made　a　joke　about　visiting　American　sailors　on　a　Navy　ship。　He　said　America　is　now　so　poor；　the　Navy　boys　cannot　afford　to　e　ashore　to　enjoy　Japan。　Everything　is　too　expensive　for　them。　He　said　they　could　only　remain　on　their　ship　and　give　each　other　AIDS。　Big　joke　in　Japan。〃
　〃He　said　that？〃
　She　nodded。　〃If　I　was　American；　and　someone　said　that　to　me；　I　would　take　this　ship　away；　and　tell　Japan　to　go　fuck　itself；　pay　for　its　own　defense。　You　didn't　know　Takeshita　said　this？〃
　〃No　。　。　。〃
　〃American　news。〃　She　shook　her　head。　〃Such　nothing。〃
　She　was　furious；　working　quickly。　Her　fingers　slipped　on　the　controls；　the　image　jumped　back；　lost　definition。　〃Shit　fuck。〃
　〃Take　it　easy；　Theresa。〃
　〃Fuck；　take　it　easy。　We're　going　to　score　now！〃
　She　moved　in　on　the　silhouetted　head；　isolating　it；　then　following　it；　frame　by　frame。　I　saw　the　image　jump　larger；　distinctly。
　〃You　see；　that　is　the　join；〃　she　said。　〃That　is　where　the　changed　image　goes　back　to　the　original。　Here　on；　it's　original　material　on　the　tape。　This　is　the　original　man　walking　away　from　us；　now。〃
　The　silhouette　moved　toward　the　far　wall。　She　proceeded　frame　by　frame。　Then　the　outline　began　to　change　shape。
　〃Ah。　Okay。　Good；　what　I　hoped　for　。　。　。〃
　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃He　is　taking　a　last　look。　A　look　back　at　the　room。　See？　The　head　is　turning。　There　is　his　nose；　and　now；　the　nose　is　gone　again；　because　he　has　turned　pletely。　Now　he　is　looking　back　at　us。〃
　The　silhouette　was　dense　black。
　〃Lot　of　good　it　does　us。〃
　〃Watch。〃
　More　controls。
　〃The　detail　is　there；〃　she　said。　〃It　is　like　dark　exposure　on　film。　The　detail　has　been　recorded；　but　we　cannot　see　it　yet。　So。　。　。　。　Now　I　have　enhancement。　And　now　I　will　get　the　shadow　detail。　。　。　。　Now！〃
　And　in　a　sudden；　shocking　moment；　the　dark　silhouette　blossomed；　the　wall　behind　flaring　white；　making　a　kind　of　halo　around　the　head。　The　dark　face　became　lighter；　and　we　could　see　the　face　for　the　first　time；　distinctly　and　clearly。
　〃Huh；　white　man。〃　She　sounded　disappointed。
　〃My　God；〃　I　said。
　〃You　know　who　he　is？〃
　〃Yes；〃　I　said。
　The　features　were　twisted　with　tension；　the　lip　turned　up　in　a　kind　of　snarl。　But　the　identity　was　unmistakable。
　I　was　looking　at　the　face　of　Senator　John　Morton。
　
　？
　I　sat　back；　staring　at　the　frozen　image。　I　heard　the　hum　of　the　machinery。　I　heard　water　dripping　into　buckets；　somewhere　in　the　darkness　of　the　laboratory。　I　heard　Theresa　breathing　alongside　me；　panting　like　a　runner　who　has　finished　a　race。
　I　sat　there　and　just　stared　at　the　screen。　Everything　fell　into　place；　like　a　jigsaw　puzzle　that　assembled　itself　before　my　eyes。
　Julia　Young：　She　has　a　boyfriend　who　travels　a　lot。　She's　always　traveling。　New　York；　Washington；　Seattle　。　。　。　she　meets　him。　She's　madly　in　love　with　him。
　Jenny；　in　the　TV　studio：　Morton　has　a　young　girlfriend　that's　driving　him　crazy。　Makes　him　jealous。　Some　young　girl。
　Eddie：　She　likes　to　cause　trouble；　this　girl。　She　likes　to　make　turmoil。
　Jenny：　I've　seen　this　girl　hanging　around　at　parties　with　some　of　the　Washington　types　for　about　six　months　now。
　Eddie：　She　was　a　sick　girl。　She　liked　pain。
　Jenny：　Morton　heads　the　Senate　Finance　mittee。　The　one　that's　been　having　hearings　about　this　MicroCon　sale。
　Cole；　the　security　guard；　in　the　bar：　They　have　the　big　guys　in　their　pocket。　They　own　'em。　We　can't　beat　'em　now。
　And　Connor：　Somebody　wants　this　investigation　to　be　over。　They　want　us　to　give　it　up。
　And　Morton：　So　your　investigation　is　formally　concluded？
　〃Hell；〃　I　said。
　She　said；　〃Who　is　he？〃
　〃He's　a　senator。〃
　〃Oh。〃　She　looked　at　the　screen。　〃And　why　do　they　care　about　him？〃
　〃He　has　a　powerful　position　in　Washington。　And　I　think　he　has　something　to　do　with　the　sale　of　a　pany。　Maybe　other　reasons；　too。〃
　She　nodded。
　I　said；　〃Can　we　print　a　picture　of　this？〃
　〃No。　We　don't　have　equipment　for　hard　copies。　The　lab　can't　afford　it。〃
　〃Then　what　can　we　do？　I　need　something　to　take　with　me。〃
　〃I　can　take　a　Polaroid　for　you；〃　she　said。　〃Not　great；　but　okay　for　now。〃　She　started　poking　around　the　lab；　stumbling　in　the　dark。　Finally　she　came　back　with　a　camera。　She　moved　close　to　the　screen　and　shot　several　copies。
　We　waited　for　them　to　e　out；　standing　in　the　blue　light　from　the　monitors。
　〃Thanks；〃　I　said。　〃For　all　your　help。〃
　〃You　are　wele。　And　I'm　sorry。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃I　know　you　expected　it　would　be　a　Japanese　man。〃
　I　realized　she　was　speaking　for　herself。　I　didn't　answer　her。　The　pictures　darkened。　They　were　good　quality；　the　image　clear。　As　I　slipped　them　in　my　pocket；　I　felt　something　hard　there。　I　brought　it　out。
　〃You　have　a　Japanese　passport？〃　she　said。
　〃No。　It's　not　mine。　It's　Eddie's。〃　I　put　it　back　in　my　pocket。　〃I　have　to　go；〃　I　said。　〃I　have　to　find　Captain　Connor。〃
　〃All　right。〃　She　turned　back　to　the　monitors。
　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　I　said。
　〃I　will　stay；　and　work　more。〃
　I　left　her；　went　out　the　back　door；　and　made　my　way　down　the　dark　passageway　to　the　outside。
　
　Blinking　in　the　harsh　daylight；　I　went　to　a　pay　phone　and　called　Connor。　He　was　in　the　car。
　〃Where　are　you？〃　I　said。
　〃Back　at　the　hotel。〃
　〃What　hotel？〃
　〃The　Four　Seasons；〃　Connor　said。　〃It's　Senator　Morton's　hotel。〃
　〃What　are　you　doing　there？〃　I　said。　〃Do　you　know　that　…〃
　〃Kōhai；〃　he　said。　〃Open　line；　remember？　Call　yourself　a　taxi　and　meet　me　at　1430　Westwood　Boulevard。　We　will　meet　there　in　twenty　minutes。〃
　〃But　how…　〃
　〃No　more　questions。〃　And　he　hung　up。
　
　I　looked　at　the　building　at　1430　Westwood　Boulevard。　It　had　a　plain　brown　facade；　just　a　door　with　a　painted　number。　On　one　side　was　a　French　bookstore。　On　the　other　side　was　a　watch　repair　place。
　I　went　up　and　knocked　on　the　door。　I　noticed　a　small　sign　in　Japanese　characters　beneath　the　numbers。
　Nothing　happened；　so　I　opened　the　door。　I　found　myself　in　an　elegant；　tiny　sushi　bar。　It　had　only　four　seats　for　customers。　Connor　was　alone　there；　sitting　at　the　far　end。　He　waved　to　me。　〃Say　hello　to　Imae。　The　best　sushi　chef　in　Los　Angeles。　Imae…san；　Sumisu…san。〃
　The　chef　nodded　and　smiled。　He　put　something　on　the　shelf　before　my　seat。　〃Kore　o　dōzo；　Sumisu…san。〃
　I　sat　down。　〃Dōmo；　Imae…san。〃
　〃Hai。〃
　I　looked　at　the　sushi。　It　was　some　kind　of　pink　fish　eggs；　with　a　raw　yellow　egg　yolk　sitting　on　top。　I　thought　it　looked　revolting。
　I　turned　to　Connor。
　He　said　〃Kore　o　tabetakoto　arukai？〃
　I　shook　my　head。　〃Sorry。　You　lost　me。〃
　〃You'll　have　to　work　on　your　Japanese；　for　your　new　girlfriend。〃
　〃What　new　girlfriend？〃
　Connor　said；　〃I　thought　you　would　thank　me。　I　gave　you　all　that　time　with　her。〃
　〃You　mean　Theresa？〃
　He　smiled。　〃You　can　do　much　worse；　kōhai。　And　I　gather　you　have；　in　the　past。　Anyway；　I　asked　you　if　you　knew　what　that　was。〃　He　pointed　to　the　sushi。
　〃No；　I　don't。〃
　〃Quail　egg　and　salmon　roe；〃　he　said。　〃Good　protein。　Energy。　You　need　it。〃
　I　said；　〃Do　I　have　to？〃
　Imae　said；　〃Make　you　strong　for　girlfriend。〃　And　he　laughed。　He　said　something　quickly　in　Japanese　to　Connor。
　Connor　replied；　and　the　two　had　a　good　laugh。
　〃What's　funny？〃　I　said。　But　I　wanted　to　change　the　subject；　so　I　ate　the　first　of　the　sushi。　If　you　got　past　the　slimy　texture；　it　was　actually　very　good。
　Imae　said；　〃Good？〃
　〃Very　good；〃　I　said。　I　ate　the　second　one；　and　turned　to　Connor。　〃You　know　what　we　found　on　those　tapes？　It's　unbelievable。〃
　Connor　held　up　his　hand。　〃Please。　You　must　learn　the　Japanese　way　to　have　relaxation。　Everything　in　its　place。　Oaisō　onegai　shimasu。〃
　〃Hai；　Connor…san。〃
　The　sushi　chef　produced　the　bill；　and　Connor　peeled　off　money。　He　bowed　and　there　was　a　rapid　exchange　in　Japanese。
　〃We're　leaving　now？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Connor　said。　〃I've　already　eaten；　and　you；　my　friend；　can't　afford　to　be　late。〃
　〃For　what？〃
　〃For　your　ex…wife；　remember？　We'd　better　go　to　your　apartment　now；　and　meet　her。〃
　
　I　was　driving　again。　Connor　was　staring　out　the　window。　〃How　did　you　know　it　was　Morton？〃
　〃I　didn't；〃　Connor　said。　〃At　least；　not　until　this　morning。　But　it　was　clear　to　me　last　night　that　the　tape　had　been　altered。〃
　I　thought　of　all　the　effort　that　Theresa　and　I　had　gone　to；　all　the　zooming　and　inspection　and　image　manipulation。　〃You're　telling　me　you　just　looked　at　the　tape；　and　you　could　tell？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃How？〃
　〃There　was　one　glaring　error。　Remember　when　you　met　Eddie　at　the　party？　He　had　a　scar　on　his　hand。〃
　〃Yes。　It　looked　like　an　old　burn　scar。〃
　〃Which　hand　was　it　on？〃
　〃Which　hand？〃　I　frowned。　I　thought　back　to　the　meeting。　Eddie　in　the　cactus　garden　at　night；　smoking　cigarettes；　flicking　them　away。　Eddie　turning；　moving　nervously。　Holding　the　cigarettes。　The　scar　had　been　on　。　。　。　〃His　left　hand；〃　I　said。
　〃That's　right；〃　Connor　said。
　〃But　the　scar　appears　on　the　tape；　too；〃　I　said。　〃You　see　it　clearly　when　he　walks　past　the　mirror。　His　hand　touches　the　wall　for　a　moment…　〃
　I　stopped。
　On　the　tape；　his　right　hand　had　touched　the　wall。
　〃Jesus；〃　I　said。
　〃Yes；〃　Connor　said。　〃They　made　a　mistake。　Maybe　they　got　confused　about　what　was　a　reflection　and　what　wasn't。　But　I　imagine　they　were　working　hastily；　and　they　couldn't　remember　which　hand　it　was；　and　they　just　added　the　scar　anyway。　Mistakes　like　that　happen。〃
　〃So　last　night；　you　saw　the　scar　on　the　wrong　hand　。　。　。〃
　〃Yes。　And　I　knew　at　once　that　the　tape　was　changed；〃　Connor　said。　〃I　had　to　prepare　you　to　analyze　the　tape　in　the　morning。　So　I　sent　you　to　SID；　to　get　names　of　places　that　would　work　on　the　tape。　And　then　I　went　home　to　bed。〃
　〃But　you　allowed　us　to　arrest　Eddie。　Why？　You　must　have　known　that　Eddie　wasn't　the　killer。〃
　〃Sometimes；　you　have　to　let　things　play　out；〃　Connor　said。　〃It　was　clear　we　were　meant　to　think　that　Eddie　killed　the　girl。　So：　play　it　out。〃
　〃But　an　innocent　man　died；〃　I　said。
　〃I　wouldn't　call　Eddie　innocent；〃　Connor　said。　〃Eddie　was　in　this　up　to　his　neck。〃
　〃And　Senator　Morton？　How　did　you　know　it　was　Morton？〃
　〃I　didn't；　until　he　called　us　in　for　that　little　meeting　today。　Then　he　gave　himself　away。〃
　〃How？〃
　〃He　was　smooth。　You　have　to　think　about　what　he　actually　said；〃　Connor　said。　〃Wedged　in　between　all　the　bullshit；　he　asked　us　three　times　if　our　investigation　was　finished。　And　he　asked　us　if　the　murder　had　anything　to　do　with　MicroCon。　When　you　think　about　it；　that's　a　very　peculiar　question。〃
　〃Why？　He　has　contacts。　Mr。　Hanada。　Other　people。　He　told　us　that。〃
　〃No；〃　Connor　said；　shaking　his　head。　〃If　you　take　away　all　the　bullshit；　what　Senator　Morton　told　us　was　his　train　of　thought：　Is　the　investigation　over？　And　can　you　connect　it　to　M