mc.risingsun-第50章

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　〃Alligator　clips？〃
　〃Yes。　For　the　electric　shock　coil。　Damn！〃　Connor　said。　〃Why　didn't　he　tell　me？　All　that　time；　when　we　were　driving　from　your　apartment　to　the　television　station　to　see　the　senator。　He　could　have　said　something　then。　He　could　have　told　me　the　truth。〃
　〃About　what？〃
　Connor　didn't　answer　me。　He　was　lost　in　his　own　thoughts。　He　sighed。　〃You　know；　in　the　end；　we　are　just　gaijin。　Foreigners。　Even　in　his　desperation；　we're　excluded。　And　anyway；　he　probably　wouldn't　tell　us　because　。　。　。〃
　He　fell　silent。　He　stared　at　the　corpse。　Finally；　he　slid　the　body　back　into　the　water。　It　floated　out　again。
　〃Let　somebody　else　do　the　paperwork；〃　Connor　said；　standing　up。　〃We　don't　need　to　be　the　ones　who　found　the　body。　It　doesn't　matter。〃　He　watched　Eddie　drift　back　to　the　center　of　the　pool。　The　head　tilted　down　slightly。　The　heels　bobbed　on　the　surface。
　〃I　liked　him；〃　Connor　said。　〃He　did　favors　for　me。　I　even　met　his　family　when　I　was　in　Japan。　Some　of　his　family。　Not　the　father。〃　He　watched　the　body　rotate　slowly。　〃But　Eddie　was　okay。　And　now；　I　want　to　know。〃
　I　was　lost。　I　had　no　idea　what　he　was　talking　about；　but　I　didn't　think　I　should　say　anything。　Connor　looked　angry。
　〃e　on；〃　he　said　finally。　〃We　have　to　move　fast。　There's　only　a　couple　of　possibilities。　And　once　again；　we　have　fallen　behind　events。　But　if　it's　the　last　thing　I　do；　I　want　to　get　that　son　of　a　bitch。〃
　〃What　son　of　a　bitch？〃
　〃Ishiguro。〃
　
　？
　We　were　driving　back　to　my　apartment。　〃You　take　the　night　off；〃　he　said。
　〃I'm　going　with　you；〃　I　said。
　〃No。　I'll　do　this　alone；　kōhai。　It's　better　if　you　don't　know。〃
　〃Know　what？〃　I　said。
　We　went　on　like　this　for　a　while。　He　didn't　want　to　tell　me。　Finally　he　said；　〃Tanaka　went　to　Eddie's　house　last　night　because　Eddie　had　the　tape。　Presumably；　the　original。〃
　〃Right　。　。　。〃
　〃And　Tanaka　wanted　it　back。　That's　why　they　had　an　argument。　When　you　and　Graham　came；　and　all　hell　broke　loose；　Eddie　told　Tanaka　the　tape　was　in　the　Ferrari。　So　Tanaka　went　down　there；　panicked　when　he　saw　the　police；　and　drove　the　car　away。〃
　〃Right。〃
　〃I　always　assumed　the　tape　was　destroyed　in　the　crash；　and　the　fire。〃
　〃Yes　。　。　。〃
　〃But　obviously　it　wasn't。　Because　Eddie　wouldn't　dare　be　so　cocky　around　Ishiguro　unless　he　still　had　a　tape。　The　tape　would　be　his　ace　in　the　hole。　He　knew　it。　But　he　obviously　didn't　understand　how　ruthless　Ishiguro　would　be。〃
　〃They　tortured　him　for　the　tape？〃
　〃Yes。　But　Eddie　must　have　surprised　them。　He　didn't　tell　them。〃
　〃How　do　you　know？〃
　〃Because；〃　Connor　said；　〃otherwise；　there　wouldn't　be　five　Japanese　nationals　asking　to　inspect　the　wreck　of　a　Ferrari　in　the　middle　of　the　night。〃
　〃So　they're　still　looking　for　the　tape？〃
　〃Yes。　Or　evidence　of　the　tape。　They　may　not　even　know　how　many　are　missing；　at　this　point。〃
　I　thought　it　over。
　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　I　said。
　〃Find　the　tape；〃　Connor　said。　〃Because　it　matters。　People　are　dying　for　that　tape。　If　we　can　find　the　original　。　。　。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃It'll　put　Ishiguro　in　deep　shit。　Which　is　just　where　he　belongs。〃
　I　pulled　up　in　front　of　my　apartment　building。　As　Elaine　had　said；　all　the　reporters　were　gone。　The　street　was　quiet。　Dark。
　〃I　still　want　to　go　with　you；〃　I　said　again。
　Connor　shook　his　head。　〃I'm　on　extended　leave；〃　he　said。　〃You're　not。　You've　got　your　pension　to　think　of。　And　you　don't　want　to　know　exactly　what　I　am　going　to　do　tonight。〃
　〃I　can　guess；〃　I　said。　〃You're　going　to　retrace　Eddie's　steps　from　last　night。　Eddie　left　his　house　and　went　to　stay　with　the　redhead。　Maybe　he　went　somewhere　else；　too…　〃
　〃Look；〃　Connor　said。　〃Let's　not　waste　more　time；　kōhai。　I　have　some　contacts　and　some　people　I　can　lean　on。　Leave　it　at　that。　If　you　need　me；　you　can　call　me　on　the　car　phone。　But　don't　call　unless　you　have　to。　Because　I'll　be　busy。〃
　〃But…　〃
　〃e　on；　kōhai。　Out　of　the　car。　Spend　a　nice　night　with　your　kid。　You　did　a　good　job；　but　your　job　is　finished　now。〃
　Finally；　I　got　out　of　the　car。
　〃Sayonara；〃　Connor　said；　with　an　ironic　wave。　And　he　drove　off。
　
　〃Daddy！　Daddy！〃　She　ran　toward　me；　arms　outstretched。　〃Pick　me　up；　Daddy。〃
　I　picked　her　up。　〃Hi；　Shelly。〃
　〃Daddy；　can　I　watch　Sleeping　Beauty？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　Have　you　had　dinner　yet？〃
　〃She　ate　two　hot　dogs　and　an　ice　cream　cone；〃　Elaine　said。　She　was　washing　dishes　in　the　kitchen。
　〃Jeez；〃　I　said。　〃I　thought　we　were　going　to　stop　feeding　her　junk　food。〃
　〃Well；　it's　all　she　would　eat；〃　Elaine　said。　She　was　irritable。　It　was　the　end　of　a　long　day　with　a　two…year…old。
　〃Daddy；　can　I　watch　Sleeping　Beauty？〃
　〃Just　a　minute；　Shelly；　I'm　talking　to　Elaine。〃
　〃I　tried　that　soup；〃　Elaine　said；　〃but　she　wouldn't　touch　it。　She　wanted　a　hot　dog。〃
　〃Daddy；　can　I　watch　Disney　channel？〃
　〃Michelle；〃　I　said。
　Elaine　said；　〃So　I　thought　it　was　better　that　she　eat　something。　I　think　she　was　thrown　off。　You　know；　the　reporters　and　everything。　All　the　excitement。〃
　〃Daddy？　Can　I？　Sleeping　Beauty？〃　She　was　squirming　in　my　arms。　Patting　my　face　to　get　my　attention。
　〃Okay；　Shel。〃
　〃Now；　Daddy？〃
　〃Okay。〃
　I　put　her　down。　She　ran　into　the　living　room　and　turned　on　the　TV；　pushing　the　remote　without　hesitation。　〃I　think　she　watches　too　much　television。〃
　〃They　all　do；〃　Elaine　said；　shrugging。
　〃Daddy？〃
　I　went　into　the　living　room　and　plugged　in　the　cassette。　I　fast…forwarded　to　the　credits；　then　let　it　run。
　〃Not　this　part；〃　she　said　impatiently。
　So　I　fast…forwarded　to　the　beginning　of　the　action。　Pages　turning　in　a　book。
　〃This　part；　this　part；〃　she　said；　tugging　at　my　hand。
　I　let　the　tape　run　at　normal　speed。　Michelle　sat　in　the　chair　and　started　sucking　her　thumb。　She　pulled　her　thumb　out　of　her　mouth　and　patted　the　seat　beside　her。　〃Here；　Daddy；〃　she　said。
　She　wanted　me　to　sit　with　her。
　I　sighed。　I　looked　at　the　room。　It　was　a　mess。　Her　crayons　and　coloring　books　were　scattered　over　the　floor。　And　the　large　Tinkertoy　windmill。
　〃Let　me　clean　up；〃　I　said。　〃I'll　be　right　here；　with　you。〃
　She　popped　her　thumb　back　in　her　mouth；　and　turned　to　the　screen。　Her　attention　was　total。
　I　cleaned　up　the　crayons　and　put　them　back　in　the　cardboard　box。　I　folded　up　her　coloring　books　and　set　them　on　the　shelf。　I　was　suddenly　tired　and　sat　down　for　a　minute　on　the　floor　next　to　Michelle。　On　the　screen；　three　fairies；　red；　green；　and　blue；　were　flying　into　the　throne　room　of　the　castle。
　〃That's　Merryweather；〃　Michelle　said；　pointing。　〃She's　the　blue　one。〃
　From　the　kitchen；　Elaine　said；　〃Can　I　fix　you　a　sandwich；　Lieutenant？〃
　〃That'd　be　great；〃　I　said。　I　found　I　just　wanted　to　sit　there　and　be　with　my　daughter。　I　wanted　to　forget　everything；　at　least　for　a　while。　I　was　grateful　that　Connor　had　dropped　me　off。　I　sat　and　watched　the　TV　dumbly。
　Elaine　brought　in　a　salami　sandwich　with　lettuce　and　mustard。　I　was　hungry。　Elaine　looked　at　the　TV；　shook　her　head；　and　went　back　into　the　kitchen。　I　ate　my　sandwich；　and　Michelle　insisted　on　a　few　bites。　She　likes　salami。　I　worry　about　the　additives　in　it；　but　I　guess　it's　no　worse　than　hot　dogs。
　After　I　had　the　sandwich；　I　felt　a　little　better。　I　got　up　to　finish　cleaning　up　the　room。　I　picked　up　the　Tinkertoy　windmill　and　started　taking　it　apart；　putting　the　sticks　back　into　the　cardboard　tube。　Michelle　said；　〃No　this；　no　this！〃　in　a　pained　voice。　I　thought　she　didn't　want　me　to　take　apart　the　windmill；　but　that　wasn't　it　at　all。　She　was　cupping　her　hands　over　her　eyes。　She　didn't　like　to　see　Maleficent；　the　bad　witch。　I　fast…forwarded　past　the　witch；　and　she　relaxed　again。
　I　dismantled　the　Tinkertoy　windmill　and　put　everything　back　into　the　tube　container。　I　put　the　metal　cap　on　the　tube　and　set　it　on　the　lowest　shelf　of　the　bookcase。　That　was　where　it　always　went。　I　like　to　keep　the　toys　low；　so　Michelle　can　get　to　them　herself。
　The　tube　fell　off　the　shelf；　onto　the　carpet。　I　picked　it　up　again。　There　was　something　on　the　shelf。　A　small　gray　rectangle。　I　knew　at　once　what　it　was。
　It　was　an　eight…millimeter　video　cassette；　with　Japanese　writing　on　the　label。
　
　？
　Elaine　said；　〃Lieutenant？　Do　you　need　anything　else？〃　She　had　her　coat　on；　she　was　ready　to　go。
　〃Hang　on　a　minute；〃　I　said。
　I　went　to　the　phone；　and　called　the　switchboard　downtown。　I　asked　them　to　connect　me　to　Connor　in　my　car。　I　waited　impatiently。　Elaine　looked　at　me。
　〃Just　another　minute；　Elaine；〃　I　said。
　On　the　TV；　the　prince　was　singing　a　duet　with　Sleeping　Beauty　while　birds　chirped。　Michelle　was　sucking　her　thumb。
　The　operator　said；　〃I'm　sorry；　there　is　no　answer　from　the　car。〃
　〃Okay；〃　I　said。　〃Do　you　have　a　forwarding　number　for　Captain　Connor？〃
　A　pause。　〃He's　not　on　our　active　roster。〃
　〃I　know　that。　But　did　he　leave　a　number？〃
　〃I　don't　have　anything；　Lieutenant。〃
　〃I'm　trying　to　find　him。〃
　〃Wait　a　minute。〃　She　put　me　on　hold。　I　swore。
　Elaine　stood　in　the　front　hallway。　She　was　waiting　to　go。
　The　operator　came　back　on。　〃Lieutenant？　Captain　Ellis　says　that　Captain　Connor　has　gone。〃
　〃Gone？〃
　〃He　was　here　a　while　ago；　but　he's　gone　now。〃
　〃You　mean　he　was　downtown？〃
　〃Yes；　but　he's　gone　now。　I　don't　have　a　number　for　him。　I'm　sorry。〃
　I　hung　up。　What　the　hell　was　Connor　doing　downtown？
　Elaine　was　still　standing　in　the　front　hallway。　〃Lieutenant？〃
　I　said；　〃Just　a　minute；　Elaine。〃
　〃Lieutenant；　I　have　a…　〃
　〃I　said；　just　a　minute。〃
　I　started　pacing。　I　didn't　know　what　to　do。　I　was　suddenly　overwhelmed　with　fear。　They　had　killed　Eddie　for　the　tape。　They　wouldn't　hesitate　to　kill　anybody　else。　I　looked　at　my　daughter；　watching　television　with　her　thumb　in　her　mouth。　I　said　to　Elaine；　〃Where's　your　car？〃
　〃In　the　garage。〃
　〃Okay。　Look。　I　want　you　to　take　Michelle　and　I　want　you　to　go…　〃
　The　phone　rang。　I　grabbed　it；　hoping　it　was　Connor。　〃Hello。〃
　〃Moshi　moshi。　Connor…san　desu　ka？〃
　〃He's　not　here；〃　I　said。　As　soon　as　the　words　were　out　of　my　mouth；　I　cursed　myself。　But　it　was　too　late；　the　damage　was　done。
　〃Very　good；　Lieutenant；〃　the　voice　said；　heavily　accented。　〃You　have　what　we　want；　don't　you？〃
　I　said；　〃I　don't　know　what　you　are　talking　about。〃
　〃I　think　you　do；　Lieutenant。〃
　I　could　hear　a　faint　hiss　on　the　line。　The　call　was　ing　from　a　car　phone。　They　could　be　anywhere。
　They　could　be　right　outside。
　Damn！
　I　said；　〃Who　is　this？〃
　But　I　heard　only　a　dial　tone。
　Elaine　said；　〃What　is　it；　Lieutenant？〃
　I　was　running　to　the　window。　I　saw　three　cars　double…parked　in　the　street　below。　Five　men　getting　out　of　them；　dark　silhouettes　in　the　night。
　
　？
　I　tried　to　stay　calm。　〃Elaine；〃　I　said。　〃I　want　you　to　take　Michelle；　and　both　of　you　go　into　my　bedroom。　Get　under　the　bed。　I　want　you　to　stay　under　there　and　be　very　quiet；　no　matter　what　happens。　Do　you　understand？〃
　〃No；　Daddy！〃
　〃Do　it　now；　Elaine。〃
　〃No；　Daddy！　I　want　to　watch　Sleeping　Beauty。〃
　〃You　can　watch　it　later。〃　I　had　taken　out　my　gun　and　was　checking　the　clip。　Elaine's　eyes　were　wide。
　She　took　Michelle。　〃e　on；　honey。〃
　Michelle　squirmed　in　her　arms；　protesting。　〃No；　Daddy！〃
　〃Michelle。〃
　She　went　silent；　shocked　at　my　tone。　Elaine　carried　her　into　the　bedroom。　I　loaded　another　clip；　and　put　it　in　my　jacket　pocket。
　I　turned　off　the　lights　in