chiaasen.stormyweather-第19章

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　An　hour　before　dawn；　Edie　heard　a　terrible　motion　in　the　backyard。　She　couldn't　rise　to　investigate　because　she　was　pinned　beneath　the　insurance　man　in　the　BarcaLounger。　Judging　from　the　tumult　outside；　Donald　and　Maria　had　gone　rabid。　The　confrontation　ended　in　a　flurry　of　plaintive　yips　and　a　hair…raising　roar。　Edie　Marsh　didn't　move　until　the　sun　came　up。　Then　she　stealthily　roused　Fred　Dove；　who　panicked　because　he'd　forgotten　to　phone　his　wife　back　in　Omaha。　Edie　told　him　to　hush　up　and　put　on　his　pants。
　
　She　led　him　to　the　backyard。　The　only　signs　of　the　two　miniature　dachshunds　were　limp　leashes　and　empty　collars。　The　Torres　lawn　was　torn　to　shreds。　Several　large　tracks　were　visible　in　the　damp　gray　soil；　deep　raking　tracks；　with　claws。
　
　Fred　Dove's　left　Hush　Puppy　fit　easily　one　of　the　imprints。　〃Good　Lord；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　wear　a　ten　and　a　half。〃
　
　Edie　Marsh　asked　what　kind　of　wild　animal　would　make　such　a　track。　Fred　Dove　said　it　looked　big　enough　to　be　a　lion　or　a　bear。　〃But　I'm　not　a　hunter；〃　he　added。
　
　She　said；　〃Can　I　e　stay　with　you？〃
　
　〃AttheRamada？〃
　
　〃What…they　don't　allow　women？〃
　
　〃Edie；　we　shouldn't　be　seen　together。　Not　if　we're　going　through　with　this。〃
　
　〃You　expect　me　to　stay　out　here　alone？〃
　
　〃Look；　I'm　sorry　about　your　dogs…〃
　
　〃They　weren't　my　goddamn　dogs。〃
　
　〃Please；　Edie。〃
　
　With　his　round　eyeglasses；　Fred　Dove　reminded　her　of　a　serious　young　English　teacher　she'd　known　in　high　school。　The　man　had　worn　Bass　loafers　with　no　socks　and　was　obsessed　with　T。　S。　Eliot。　Edie　Marsh　had　screwed　the　guy　twice　in　the　faculty　lounge；　but　he'd　still　given　her　a　C　on　her　final　exam　because　（he　claimed）　she'd　missed　the　whole　point　of　〃J。　Alfred　Prufrock。〃　The　experience　had　left　Edie　Marsh　with　a　deep…seated　mistrust　of　studious…looking　men。
　
　She　said；　〃What　do　you　mean；　if　we　go　through　with　this？　We　made　a　deal。〃
　
　〃Yes；〃　Fred　Dove　said。　〃Yes；　we　did。〃
　
　As　he　followed　her　into　the　house；　she　asked；　〃How　soon　can　you　get　this　done？〃
　
　〃Well；　I　could　file　the　claim　this　week…〃
　
　〃Hundred　percent　loss？〃
　
　〃That's　right；〃　replied　the　insurance　man。
　
　〃A　hundred　and　forty…one　grand。　Seventy…one　for　me；　seventy　for　you。〃
　
　〃Right。〃　For　somebody　about　to　score　the　windfall　of　a　lifetime；　Fred　Dove　was　subdued。　〃My　concern；　again；　is　Mister　Torres…〃
　
　〃Like　I　told　you　last　night；　Tony's　in　some　kind　of　serious　jam。　I　doubt　he'll　be　back。〃
　
　〃But　didn't　you　say　Mrs。　Torres；　the　real　Mrs。　Torres；　might　be　returning　to　Miami…〃
　
　〃That's　why　you　need　to　hurry；〃　Edie　Marsh　said。　〃Tell　the　home　office　it's　an　emergency。〃
　
　The　insurance　man　pursed　his　lips。　〃Edie；　every　case　is　an　emergency。　There's　been　a　hurricane；　for　God's　sake。〃
　
　Impassively；　she　watched　him　finish　dressing。　He　spent　five　full　minutes　trying　to　smooth　the　wrinkles　out　of　his　sex…rumpled　Dockers。　When　he　asked　to　borrow　an　iron；　Edie　reminded　him　there　was　no　electricity。
　
　〃How　about　taking　me　to　breakfast；〃　she　said。
　
　〃I'm　already　late　for　an　appointment　in　Cutler　Ridge。
　
　Some　poor　old　man's　got　a　Pontiac　on　top　of　his　house。〃　Fred　Dove　kissed　Edie　on　the　forehead　and　followed　up　with　the　obligatory　morning…after　hug。　〃I'll　be　back　tonight。　Is　nine　all　right？〃
　
　〃Fine；〃　she　said。　Tonight　he'd　undoubtedly　bring　condoms…one　more　ic　speed　bump　on　the　highway　to　passion。　She　made　a　mental　note　to　haul　one　of　Tony's　mattresses　out　in　the　sun　to　dry；　another　strenuous　session　in　the　BarcaLounger　might　put　poor　Freddie　in　traction。
　
　〃Bring　the　claim　forms；〃　she　told　him。　〃I　want　to　see　everything。〃
　
　He　jotted　a　reminder　on　his　clipboard　and　slipped　it　into　the　briefcase。
　
　〃Oh　yeah；〃　Edie　said。　〃I　also　need　a　couple　gallons　of　gas　from　your　car。〃
　
　Fred　Dove　looked　puzzled。
　
　〃For　the　generator；〃　she　explained。　〃A　hot　bath　would　be　nice　。。。　since　you　won't　let　me　share　your　tub　at　the　Ramada。〃
　
　〃Oh；　Edie…〃
　
　〃And　maybe　a　few　bucks　for　groceries。〃
　
　She　softened　up　when　the　insurance　man　took　out　his　wallet。　〃That's　my　boy。〃　She　kissed　him　on　the　neck　and　ended　it　with　a　little　bite；　just　to　prime　the　pump。
　
　〃I'm　scared；〃　he　said。
　
　〃Don't　be；　sugar。　It's　a　breeze。〃　She　took　two　twenties　and　sent　him；　on　his　way。
　
　
　
　CHAPTER　TEN
　
　
　On　the　drive　to　the　morgue；　Augustine　and　Bonnie　Lamb　heard　a　news　report　about　a　fourteen…foot　reticulated　python　that　had　turned　up　in　the　salad　bar　of　a　fast…food　joint　in　Perrine。
　
　〃One　of　yours？〃　Bonnie　asked。
　
　〃I'm　wondering。〃　It　was　impossible　to　know　if　the　snake　had　belonged　to　Augustine's　dead　uncle；　Felix　Mojack's　handwritten　inventory　was　vague　on　details。
　
　〃He　had　a　couple　big　ones；〃　Augustine　said；　〃but　I　never　measured　the　damn　things。〃
　
　Bonnie　said；　〃I　hope　they　didn't　kill　it。〃
　
　〃Me；　too。〃　He　was　pleased　that　she　was　concerned　for　the　welfare　of　a　primeval　reptile。　Not　all　women　would　be。
　
　〃They　could　give　it　to　a　zoo；〃　she　said。
　
　〃Or　turn　it　loose　at　the　county　mission。〃
　
　〃You're　bad。〃
　
　〃I　know；〃　Augustine　said。　As　legal　custodian　of　the　menagerie；　he　felt　a　twinge　of　responsibility　for　Bonnie　Lamb's　predicament。　Without　a　monkey　to　chase；　her　husband　probably　wouldn't　have　been　abducted。　Maybe　the　culprit　was　one　of　Uncle　Felix's　rhesuses；　maybe　not。
　
　Without　reproach；　Bonnie　asked：　〃What'll　you　do　if　one　of　those　critters　kills　a　person？〃
　
　〃Pray　it　was　somebody　who　deserved　it。〃
　
　Bonnie　was　appalled。　Augustine　said；　〃I　don't　know　what　else　to　do；　short　of　a　safari。　You　know　how　big　the　Everglades　are？〃
　
　They　rode　in　silence　for　a　while　before　Bonnie　said：　〃You're　right。　They're　free；　and　that's　how　it　ought　to　be。〃
　
　〃I　don't　know　how　anything　ought　to　be；　but　I　know　how　it　is。　Hell；　those　cougars　could　be　in　Key　Largo　by　now。〃
　
　Bonnie　Lamb　smiled　sadly。　〃I　wish　I　was。〃
　
　Before　entering　the　chill　of　the　Medical　Examiner's　Office；　she　put　on　a　baggy　ski　sweater　that　Augustine　had　brought　for　the　occasion。　This　time　there　were　no　preliminaries　to　the　viewing。　The　same　young　coroner　led　them　directly　to　the　autopsy　room；　where　the　newly　murdered　John　Doe　was　the　center　of　attention。　The　corpse　was　surrounded　by　detectives；　uniformed　cops；　and　an　unenthusiastic　contingent　of　University　of　Miami　medical　students。　They　parted　for　Augustine　and　Bonnie　Lamb。
　
　A　ruddy；　gray…haired　man　in　a　lab　coat　stood　at　the　head　of　the　steel　table。　He　nodded　cordially　and　took　a　step　back。　Holding　her　breath；　Bonnie　lowered　her　eyes　to　the　corpse。　The　man　was　potbellied　and　balding。　His　olive　skin　was　covered　from　shoulder　to　toe　with　sprouts　of　shiny　black　hair。　In　the　center　of　the　chest　was　a　gaping；　raspberry…hued　wound。　His　throat　was　a　necklace　of　bruises　that　looked　very　much　like　purple　fingerprints。
　
　〃It's　not　my　husband；〃　Bonnie　Lamb　said。
　
　Augustine　led　her　away。　A　tall　black　policeman　followed。
　
　〃Mrs。　Lamb？〃
　
　Bonnie；　on　autopilot；　kept　moving。
　
　〃Mrs。　Lamb；　I　need　to　speak　with　you。〃
　
　She　turned。　The　policeman　was　broadly　muscled　and　walked　with　a　hitch　in　his　right　leg。　He　wore　a　state　trooper's　uniform　and　held　a　tan　Stetson　in　his　huge　hands。　He　seemed　as　relieved　to　be　out　of　the　autopsy　room　as　they　were。
　
　Augustine　asked　if　there　was　a　problem。　The　trooper　suggested　they　go　someplace　to　talk。
　
　〃About　what？〃　Bonnie　asked。
　
　〃Your　husband's　disappearance。　I'm　running　down　a　few　leads；　that's　all。〃　The　trooper's　manner　was　uncharacteristically　informal　for　a　cop　in　uniform。　He　said；　〃Just　a　few　questions；　folks。　I　promise。〃
　
　Augustine　didn't　understand　why　the　Highway　Patrol　would　take　an　interest　in　a　missing…person　case。　He　said；　〃She's　already　spoken　to　the　FBI。〃
　
　〃This　won't　take　long。〃
　
　Bonnie　said；　〃If　you've　got　something　new；　anything；　I'd　like　to　hear　about　it。〃
　
　〃I　know　a　great　Italian　place；〃　the　trooper　said。
　
　Augustine　saw　that　Bonnie　had　made　up　her　mind。　〃Is　this　official　business？〃　he　asked　the　trooper。
　
　〃Extremely　unofficial。〃　Jim　Tile　put　on　his　hat。　〃Let's　go　eat；〃　he　said。
　
　In　the　mid…1970s；　a　man　named　Clinton　Tyree　ran　for　governor　of　Florida。　On　paper　he　seemed　an　ideal　candidate；　a　bold　fresh　voice　in　a　cynical　age。　He　was　a　rare　native　son；　handsome；　strapping；　an　ex…college　football　sensation　and　a　decorated　veteran　of　Vietnam。
　
　On　the　campaign　trail；　he　could　talk　smart　in　Palm　Beach　or　play　dumb　in　the　Panhandle。　The　media　were　dazzled　because　he　spoke　in　plete　sentences；　spontaneously　and　without　index　cards。　Best　of　all；　his　private　past　was　uncluttered　by　slimy　business　deals；　the　intricacies　of　which　taxed　the　prehension　of　journalists　and　readers　alike。
　
　Clinton　Tyree's　only　political　liability　was　a　five…year　stint　as　an　English　professor　at　the　University　of　Florida；　a　job　that　historically　would　have　marked　a　candidate　as　too　thoughtful；　educated　and　broad…minded　for　state　office。　But；　in　a　stunning　upset；　voters　forgave　Glint　Tyree's　erudition　and　elected　him　governor。
　
　Naively　the　Tallahassee　establishment　weled　the　new　chief　executive。　The　barkers；　pimps　and　fast…change　artists　who　controlled　the　legislature　assumed　that；　like　most　of　his　predecessors；　Clinton　Tyree　dutifully　would　slide　into　the　program。　He　was；　after　all；　a　local　boy。　Surely　he　understood　how　things　worked。
　
　But　behind　the　governor's　movie…star　smile　was　the　incendiary　fervor　of　a　terrorist。　He　brought　with　him　to　the　capital　a　passion　so　deep　and　untainted　that　it　was　utterly　unrecognizable　to　other　politicians；　they　quickly　decided　that　Clinton　Tyree　was　a　crazy　man。　In　his　first　post…election　interview；　he　told　The　New　York　Times　that　Florida　was　being　destroyed　by　unbridled　growth；　overdevelopment　and　pollution；　and　that　the　stinking　root　of　those　evils　was　greed。　By　way　of　illustration；　he　cited　the　Speaker　of　the　Florida　House　for　possessing　〃the　ethics　of　an　intestinal　bacterium；〃　merely　because　the　man　had　accepted　a　free　trip　to　Bangkok　from　a　Miami　Beach　high…rise　developer。　Later　Tyree　went　on　radio　urging　visitors　and　would…be　residents　to　stay　out　of　the　Sunshine　State　for　a　few　years；　〃so　we　can　gather　our　senses。〃　He　announced　a　goal　of　Negative　Population　Growth　and　proposed　generous　tax　incentives　for　counties　that　significantly　reduced　human　density。　Tyree　couldn't　have　caused　more　of　an　uproar　had　he　been　preaching　satanism　to　preschoolers。
　
　The　view　that　the　new　governor　was　mentally　unstable　was　reinforced　by　his　refusal　to　accept　bribes。　More　appallingly；　he　shared　the　details　of　these　illicit　offers　with　agents　of　the　Federal　Bureau　of　Investigation。　In　that　manner；　one　of　the　state's　richest　and　most　politically　connected　land　developers　got　shut　down；　indicted　and　convicted　of　corruption。　Clearly　Clinton　Tyree　was　a　menace。
　
　No　previous　governor　had　dared　to　disrupt　the　business　of　paving　Florida。　For　seventy　glorious　years；　the　state　had　shriveled　safely　in　the　grip　of　those　most　efficient　at　looting　its　resources。　Suddenly　this　reckless　young　upstart　was　inciting　folks　like　a　damn　munist。　Save　the　rivers。　Save　the　coasts。　Save　the　Big　Cypress。　Whe