mc.risingsun-第5章

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　〃He　owes　you　a　favor？〃　I　said；　having　trouble　with　this　idea。　Connor　had　just　screamed　at　Ishiguro　…　thoroughly　humiliating　him；　as　far　as　I　was　concerned。
　Connor　sighed。　〃Even　if　you　don't　understand　what　happened；　believe　me：　Ishiguro　understands　very　well。　He　had　a　problem；　and　I　helped　him。〃
　I　still　didn't　really　understand；　and　I　started　to　say　more；　but　Connor　held　up　his　hand。　〃I　think　we　better　take　a　look　at　the　scene；　before　Graham　and　his　men　screw　things　up　any　more　than　they　already　have。〃
　
　？
　It'd　been　almost　two　years　since　I　worked　the　detective　division；　and　it　felt　good　to　be　around　a　homicide　again。　It　brought　back　memories：　the　nighttime　tension；　the　adrenaline　rush　of　bad　coffee　in　paper　cups；　and　all　the　teams　working　around　you　…　it's　a　kind　of　crazy　energy；　circling　the　center　where　somebody　is　lying；　dead。　Every　homicide　crime　scene　has　that　same　energy；　and　that　finality　at　the　center。　When　you　look　at　the　dead　person；　there　is　a　kind　of　obviousness；　and　at　the　same　time　there　is　an　impossible　mystery。　Even　in　the　simplest　domestic　brawl；　where　the　woman　finally　decided　to　shoot　the　guy；　you'd　look　at　her；　all　covered　in　scars　and　cigarette　burns；　and　you　had　to　ask；　why　tonight？　What　was　it　about　tonight？　It's　always　clear　what　you　are　seeing；　and　there's　always　something　that　doesn't　add　up。　Both　things　at　once。
　And　at　a　homicide　you　have　the　sense　of　being　right　down　to　the　basic　truths　of　existence；　the　smells　and　the　defecation　and　the　bloating。　Usually　somebody's　crying；　so　you're　listening　to　that。　And　the　usual　bullshit　stops；　somebody　died；　and　it's　an　unavoidable　fact；　like　a　rock　in　the　road　that　makes　all　the　traffic　go　around　it。　And　in　that　grim　and　real　setting；　this　camaraderie　springs　up；　because　you're　working　late　with　people　you　know；　and　actually　know　very　well　because　you　see　them　all　the　time。　L。A。　has　four　homicides　a　day；　there's　another　one　every　six　hours。　And　every　detective　at　the　crime　scene　already　has　ten　homicides　dragging　on　his　backlog；　which　makes　this　new　one　an　intolerable　burden；　so　he　and　everybody　else　is　hoping　to　solve　it　on　the　spot；　to　get　it　out　of　the　way。　There　is　that　kind　of　finality　and　tension　and　energy　all　mixed　together。
　And　after　you　do　it　for　a　few　years；　you　get　so　you　like　it。　And　to　my　surprise；　as　I　entered　the　conference　room；　I　realized　that　I　missed　it。
　The　conference　room　was　elegant：　black　table；　black　high…backed　leather　chairs；　the　lights　of　the　nighttime　skyscrapers　beyond　the　glass　walls。　Inside　the　room；　the　technicians　talked　quietly；　as　they　moved　around　the　body　of　the　dead　girl。
　She　had　blond　hair　cut　short。　Blue　eyes；　full　mouth。　She　looked　about　twenty…five。　Tall；　with　a　long…limbed；　athletic　look。　Her　dress　was　black　and　sheer。
　Graham　was　well　into　his　examination；　he　was　down　at　the　end　of　the　table；　squinting　at　the　girl's　black　patent　high　heels；　a　penlight　in　one　hand；　his　notebook　in　another。
　Kelly；　the　coroner's　assistant；　was　taping　the　girl's　hands　in　paper　bags　to　protect　them。　Connor　stopped　him。　〃Just　a　minute。〃　Connor　looked　at　one　hand；　inspecting　the　wrist；　peering　closely　under　the　fingernails。　He　sniffed　under　one　nail。　Then　he　flicked　the　fingers　rapidly；　one　after　another。
　〃Don't　bother；〃　Graham　said　laconically。　〃There's　no　rigor　mortis　yet；　and　no　detritus　under　the　nails；　no　skin　or　cloth　fibers。　In　fact；　I'd　say　there　aren't　many　signs　of　a　struggle　at　all。〃
　Kelly　slipped　the　bag　over　the　hand。　Connor　said　to　him；　〃You　have　a　time　of　death？〃
　〃I'm　working　on　it。〃　Kelly　lifted　the　girl's　buttocks　to　place　the　rectal　probe。　〃The　axillary　thermocouples　are　already　in　place。　We'll　know　in　a　minute。〃
　Connor　touched　the　fabric　of　the　black　dress；　checked　the　label。　Helen；　part　of　the　SID　team；　said；　〃It's　a　Yamamoto。〃
　〃I　see　that；〃　Connor　said。
　〃What's　a　Yamamoto？〃　I　said。
　Helen　said；　〃Very　expensive　Japanese　designer。　This　little　black　nothing　is　at　least　five　thousand　dollars。　That's　assuming　she　bought　it　used。　New；　it's　maybe　fifteen　thousand。〃
　〃Is　it　traceable？〃　Connor　asked　her。
　〃Maybe。　Depends　on　whether　she　bought　it　here；　or　in　Europe；　or　Tokyo。　It'll　take　a　couple　of　days　to　check。〃
　Connor　immediately　lost　interest。　〃Never　mind。　That'll　be　too　late。〃
　He　produced　a　small；　fiber…optic　penlight；　which　he　used　to　inspect　the　girl's　scalp　and　hair。　Then　he　looked　quickly　at　each　ear；　giving　a　little　murmur　of　surprise　at　the　right　ear。　I　peered　over　his　shoulder；　and　saw　a　drop　of　dried　blood　at　the　pierced　hole　for　her　earring。　I　must　have　been　crowding　Connor；　because　he　glanced　up　at　me。　〃Excuse　me；　kōhai。〃
　I　stepped　back。　〃Sorry。〃
　Next；　Connor　sniffed　the　girl's　lips；　opened　and　closed　her　jaw　rapidly；　and　poked　around　inside　her　mouth；　using　his　penlight　as　a　probe。　Then　he　turned　her　head　from　side　to　side　on　the　table；　making　her　look　left　and　right。　He　spent　some　time　feeling　gently　along　her　neck；　almost　caressing　it　with　his　fingers。
　And　then；　quite　abruptly；　he　stepped　away　from　the　body　and　said；　〃All　right；　I'm　finished。〃
　And　he　walked　out　of　the　boardroom。
　Graham　looked　up。　〃He　never　was　worth　a　damn　at　a　crime　scene。〃
　I　said；　〃Why　do　you　say　that？　I　hear　he's　a　great　detective。〃
　〃Oh；　hell；〃　Graham　said。　〃You　can　see　for　yourself。　He　doesn't　even　know　what　to　do。　Doesn't　know　procedure。　Connor's　no　detective。　Connor　has　connections。　That's　how　he　solved　all　those　cases　he's　so　famous　for。　You　remember　the　Arakawa　honeymoon　shootings？　No？　I　guess　it　was　before　your　time；　Petey…san。　When　was　that　Arakawa　case；　Kelly？〃
　〃Seventy…six；〃　Kelly　said。
　〃Right；　seventy…six。　Big　fucking　case　that　year。　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Arakawa；　a　young　couple　visiting　Los　Angeles　on　their　honeymoon；　are　standing　on　the　curb　in　East　L。A。　when　they　get　gunned　down　from　a　passing　car。　Drive…by　gang…style　shooting。　Worse；　at　autopsy　it　turns　out　Mrs。　Arakawa　was　pregnant。　The　press　has　a　field　day：　L。A。P。D。　can't　handle　gang　violence；　is　the　way　the　story　goes。　Letters　and　money　e　from　all　over　the　city。　Everyone　is　upset　about　what　happened　to　this　fresh　young　couple。　And　of　course　the　detectives　assigned　to　the　case　don't　discover　shit。　I　mean；　a　case　involving　murdered　Japanese　nationals：　they're　getting　nowhere。
　〃So；　after　a　week；　Connor　is　called　in。　And　he　solves　it　in　one　day。　A　fucking　miracle　of　detection。　I　mean；　it's　a　week　later。　The　physical　evidence　is　long　gone；　the　bodies　of　the　honeymooners　are　back　in　Osaka；　the　street　corner　where　it　happened　is　piled　high　in　wilted　flowers。　But　Connor　is　able　to　show　that　the　youthful　Mr。　Arakawa　is　actually　quite　a　bad　boy　in　Osaka。　He　shows　that　the　street…corner　gangland　shooting　is　actually　a　yakuza　killing　contracted　in　Japan　to　take　place　in　America。　And　he　shows　that　the　nasty　husband　is　the　innocent　bystander：　they　were　really　gunning　for　the　wife；　knowing　she　was　pregnant；　because　it's　her　father　they　wanted　to　teach　a　lesson。　So。　Connor　turns　it　all　around。　Pretty　fucking　amazing；　huh？〃
　〃And　you　think　he　did　it　all　with　his　Japanese　connections？〃
　〃You　tell　me；〃　Graham　said。　〃All　I　know　is；　pretty　soon　after　that；　he　goes　to　Japan　for　a　year。〃
　〃Doing　what？〃
　〃I　heard　he　worked　as　a　security　guy　for　a　grateful　Japanese　pany。　They　took　care　of　him；　is　what　it　amounted　to。　He　did　a　job　for　them；　and　they　paid　off。　Anyway；　that's　the　way　I　figure　it。　Nobody　really　knows。　But　the　man　is　not　a　detective。　Christ：　just　look　at　him　now。〃
　Out　in　the　atrium；　Connor　was　staring　up　at　the　high　ceiling　in　a　dreamy；　reflective　way。　He　looked　first　in　one　direction；　and　then　another。　He　seemed　to　be　trying　to　make　up　his　mind。　Suddenly；　he　walked　briskly　toward　the　elevators；　as　if　he　were　leaving。　Then　without　warning；　he　turned　on　his　heel；　and　walked　back　to　the　center　of　the　room；　and　stopped。　Next；　he　began　to　inspect　the　leaves　on　the　potted　palm　trees　scattered　around　the　room。
　Graham　shook　his　head。　〃What　is　this；　gardening？　I'm　telling　you；　he's　a　strange　guy。　You　know　he's　gone　to　Japan　more　than　once。　He　always　es　back。　It　never　works　out　for　him。　Japan　is　like　a　woman　that　he　can't　live　with；　and　can't　live　without；　you　know？　Myself；　I　don't　fucking　get　it。　I　like　America。　At　least；　what's　left　of　it。〃
　He　turned　to　the　SID　team；　which　was　moving　outward　from　the　body。　〃You　guys　find　those　panties　for　me　yet？〃
　〃Not　yet；　Tom。〃
　〃We're　looking；　Tom。〃
　I　said；　〃What　panties？〃
　Graham　lifted　the　girl's　skirt。　〃Your　friend　John　couldn't　be　bothered　to　finish　his　examination；　but　I'd　say　there's　something　significant　here。　I'd　say　that's　seminal　fluid　oozing　out　of　the　vagina；　she's　not　wearing　panties；　and　there's　a　red　line　at　the　groin　where　they　were　ripped　off。　External　genitals　are　red　and　raw。　It's　pretty　clear　she　had　forcible　intercourse　before　she　was　killed。　So　I'm　asking　the　boys　to　find　the　panties。〃
　One　of　the　SID　team　said；　〃Maybe　she　wasn't　wearing　any。〃
　Graham　said；　〃She　was　wearing　them；　all　right。〃
　I　turned　back　to　Kelly。　〃What　about　drugs？〃
　He　shrugged。　〃We'll　get　lab　values　on　all　fluids。　But　to　the　eye；　she　looks　clean。　Very　clean。〃　I　noticed　that　Kelly　was　distinctly　uneasy；　now。
　Graham　saw　it；　too。　〃For　Christ's　sake；　what　are　you　hangdog　about；　Kelly？　We　keeping　you　from　a　late…night　date；　or　what？〃
　〃No；〃　Kelly　said；　〃but　to　tell　you　the　truth；　not　only　is　there　no　evidence　of　a　struggle；　or　of　drugs　…　I　don't　see　any　evidence　that　she　was　murdered　at　all。〃
　Graham　said；　〃No　evidence　she　was　murdered？　Are　you　kidding？〃
　Kelly　said；　〃The　girl　has　throat　injuries　that　suggest　she　may　have　been　into　one　of　the　sexual　bondage　syndromes。　She　has　signs　beneath　the　makeup　that　she's　been　tied　up　before；　repeatedly。〃
　〃So？〃
　〃So；　technically　speaking；　maybe　she　wasn't　murdered。　Maybe　she　experienced　sudden　death　from　natural　causes。〃
　〃Aw；　Christ。　e　on。〃
　〃It's　quite　possible　this　is　a　case　of　what　we　call　death　from　inhibition。　Instantaneous　physiological　death。〃
　〃Meaning　what？〃
　He　shrugged。　〃The　person　just　dies。〃
　〃For　no　reason　at　all？〃
　〃Well；　not　exactly。　There's　usually　minor　trauma　involving　the　heart　or　nerves。　But　the　trauma　isn't　sufficient　to　cause　death。　I　had　one　case　where　a　ten…year…old　kid　got　hit　in　the　chest　with　a　baseball　…　not　very　hard　…　and　fell　down　dead　in　the　school　yard。　Nobody　within　twenty　meters　of　him。　Another　case；　a　woman　had　a　minor　car　accident；　banged　into　the　steering　wheel　with　her　chest；　not　very　hard；　and　while　she　was　opening　the　car　door　to　get　out；　she　dropped　dead。　It　seems　to　happen　where　there　is　neck　or　chest　injury；　which　may　irritate　the　nerves　running　to　the　heart。　So；　yeah；　Tom。　Technically；　sudden　death　is　a　distinct　possibility。　And　since　having　sex　is　not　a　felony；　it　wouldn't　be　murder。〃
　Graham　squinted。　〃So　you're　saying　maybe　nobody　killed　her'？〃
　Kelly　shrugged。　He　picked　up　his　clipboard。　〃I'm　not　putting　any　of　this　down。　I'm　listing　the　cause　of　death　as　asphyxiation　secondary　to　manual　strangulation。　Because　the　odds　are；　she　was　strangled。　But　you　should　file　it　away　in　the　back　of　your　mind　that　maybe　she　wasn't。　Maybe　she　just　popped　off。〃
　〃Fine；〃　Graham　said。　〃We'll　file　it。　Under　medical　examiner's　fantasies。　Meanwhile；　any　of　you　guys　got　a