chiaasen.stormyweather-第20章

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ve　the　coasts。　Save　the　Big　Cypress。　Where　would　it　end？　Time　magazine　put　him　on　the　cover。　David　Brinkley　called　him　a　New　Populist。　The　National　Audubon　Society　gave　him　a　frigging　medal。。。。
　
　One　night；　in　a　curtained　booth　of　a　restaurant　called　the　Silver　Slipper；　a　pact　was　made　to　stop　the　madman。　His　heroics　in　Southeast　Asia　made　him　immune　to　customary　smear　tactics；　so　the　only　safe　alternative　was　to　neutralize　him　politically。　It　was　a　straightforward　plan：　No　matter　what　the　new　governor　wanted；　the　legislature　and　cabinet　would　do　the　opposite…a　voting　pattern　to　be　ensured　by　magnanimous　contributions　from　bankers；　contractors；　real　estate　brokers；　hoteliers；　farm　conglomerates　and　other　special…interest　groups　that　were　experiencing　philosophical　differences　with　Clinton　Tyree。
　
　The　strategy　succeeded。　Even　the　governor's　fellow　Democrats　felt　sufficiently　threatened　by　his　reforms　to　abandon　him　without　punction。　Once　it　became　clear　to　Glint　Tyree　that　the　freeze　was　on；　he　slowly　began　to　e　apart。　Each　defeat　in　the　legislature　hit　him　like　a　sledge。　His　public　appearances　were　marked　by　bilious　oratory　and　dark　mutterings。　He　lost　weight　and　let　his　hair　grow。　During　one　cryptic　press　conference；　he　chose　not　to　wear　a　shirt。　He　wrote　acidulous　letters　on　official　stationery；　and　gave　interviews　in　which　he　quoted　at　length　from　Carl　Jung；　Henry　Thoreau　and　David　Crosby。　One　night　the　state　trooper　assigned　to　guard　the　governor　found　him　creeping　through　a　graveyard；　Clinton　Tyree　explained　his　intention　was　to　dig　up　the　remains　of　the　late　Napoleon　Bonaparte　Broward；　the　governor　who　had　first　schemed　to　drain　the　Everglades。　Tyree's　idea　was　to　distribute　Governor　Broward's　bones　as　souvenirs　to　visitors　in　the　capitol　rotunda。
　
　Meanwhile　the　ravaging　of　Florida　continued　unabated；　as　did　the　ining　stampede。　A　thousand　fortune…seekers　took　up　residence　in　the　state　every　day；　and　there　was　nothing　Glint　Tyree　could　do　about　it。
　
　So　he　quit；　fled　Tallahassee　on　a　melancholy　morning　in　the　back　of　a　state　limousine；　and　melted　into　the　tangled　wilderness。　In　the　history　of　Florida；　no　governor　had　ever　before　resigned；　in　fact；　no　elected　officeholder　had　made　such　an　abrupt　or　eccentric　exit　from　public　life。　Journalists　and　authors　hunted　the　missing　Clinton　Tyree　but　never　caught　up　with　him。　He　moved　by　night；　fed　off　the　road；　and　adopted　the　solitary　existence　of　a　swamp　rattler。　Those　who　encountered　him　knew　him　by　the　name　of　Skink；　or　simply　〃captain；〃　a　solemn　hermitage　interrupted　by　the　occasional　righteous　arson；　aggravated　battery　or　highway　sniping。
　
　Only　one　man　held　the　runaway　governor's　plete　trust…the　Highway　Patrol　trooper　who　had　been　assigned　to　guard　him　during　the　gubernatorial　campaign　and　later　had　e　to　work　at　the　governor's　mansion；　the　same　trooper　who　was　driving　the　limousine　on　the　day　Clinton　Tyree　disappeared。　It　was　he　alone　who　knew　the　man's　whereabouts；　kept　in　touch　and　followed　his　movements；　who　was　there　to　help　when　Clinton　Tyree　went　around　the　bend；　which　he　sometimes　did。　The　trooper　had　been　there　soon　after　his　friend　lost　an　eye　in　a　vicious　beating；　again　after　he　shot　up　some　rental　cars　in　a　roadside　spree；　again　after　he　burned　down　an　amusement　park。
　
　Some　years　were　quieter　than　others。
　
　〃But　he's　been　waiting　for　this　hurricane；〃　Jim　Tile　said；　twirling　a　spoonful　of　spaghetti。　〃There's　cause　to　be　concerned。〃
　
　Augustine　said：　〃I've　heard　of　this　guy。〃
　
　〃Then　you　understand　why　I　need　to　talk　to　Mrs。　Lamb。〃
　
　〃Mrs。　Lamb；〃　Bonnie　said；　caustically；　〃can't　believe　what　she's　hearing。　You　think　this　lunatic's　got　Max？〃
　
　〃An　old　lady　in　the　neighborhood　saw　a　man　fitting　the　governor's　description　carrying　a　man　fitting　your　husband's　description。　Over　his　shoulder。　Buck　naked。〃　Jim　Tile　paused　to　allow　Mrs。　Lamb　to　form　a　mental　picture　of　the　scene。　He　said；　〃I　don't　know　about　the　lady's　eyesight；　but　it's　worth　checking　out。　You　mentioned　a　tape　you　made…the　kidnapper's　voice。〃
　
　〃It's　back　at　the　house；〃　said　Augustine。
　
　〃Would　you　mind　if　I　listened　to　it？〃
　
　Bonnie　said；　〃This　is　ludicrous；　what　you're　saying…〃
　
　〃Humor　me；〃　said　Jim　Tile。
　
　Bonnie　pushed　away　her　plate　of　lasagna；　half　eaten。　〃What's　your　interest？〃
　
　〃He's　my　friend。　He's　in　trouble；〃　the　trooper　said。
　
　〃All　I　care　about　is　Max。〃
　
　〃They're　both　in　danger。〃
　
　Bonnie　demanded　to　know　about　the　fat　man　in　the　morgue。　The　trooper　said　he'd　been　strangled　and　impaled　on　a　TV　satellite　dish。　The　motive　didn't　appear　to　be　robbery。
　
　〃Did　your　'friend'　do　that；　too？〃
　
　〃They're　talking　to　some　dumb　goober　from　Alabama；　but　I　don't　know。〃
　
　To　Bonnie；　it　was　all　incredible。　〃You　did　say　'impaled'？〃
　
　〃Yes；　ma'am。〃　The　trooper　didn't　mention　the　mock　crucifixion。　Mrs。　Lamb　was　plenty　upset　already。
　
　Through　clenched　teeth　she　said；　〃This　place　is　insane。〃
　
　Jim　Tile　was　in　full　agreement。　Tiredly　he　looked　at　Augustine。　〃I'm　just　tracking　down　a　few　leads。〃
　
　〃e　on　back　to　the　house。　We'll　play　that　tape　for　you。〃
　
　Ira　Jackson's　intention　had　been　to　kill　the　mobile…home　salesman　and　then　drive　home　to　New　York　and　arrange　that　came　naturally。　Avila　had　said　it　was　important　to　make　lots　of　noise；　like　legitimate　roofers；　so　the　black　guys　staged　a　truss…hammering　contest；　with　the　Latin　guy　as　referee。　The　white　crackhead　was　left　to　cut　plywood　for　the　decking。
　
　Snapper　waited　in　the　cab　of　the　truck；　which　smelled　like　stale　Coors　and　marijuana。　Mercifully　the　sky　darkened　after　about　an　hour；　and　a　hard　thunderstorm　broke　loose。　While　the　roofers　scrambled　to　load　the　truck；　Snapper　told　Nathaniel　Lewis　they'd　return　first　thing　in　the　morning。　Lewis　handed　him　a　cashier's　check　for　three　thousand　dollars。　The　check　was　made　out　to　Fortress　Roofing；　Avila's　bogus　pany。　Snapper　thought　it　was　a　very　amusing　name。
　
　He　got　in　the　stolen　Jeep　Cherokee　and　headed　south。　The　crew　followed　in　the　truck。　Avila　had　advised　Snapper　to　move　around；　don't　stay　in　one　area。　A　smart　strategy；　Snapper　agreed。　They　made　it　to　Cutler　Ridge　ahead　of　the　weather。　Snapper　found　an　expensive　ranch…style　house　sitting　on　two　acres　of　pinelands。　Half　the　roof　had　been　torn　off　by　the　hurricane。　A　Land　Rover　and　a　black　Infiniti　were　parked　in　the　tiled　driveway。
　
　Jackpot；　Snapper　thought。
　
　The　lady　of　the　house　let　him　in。　Her　name　was　Whitmark；　and　she　was　frantic　for　shelter。　She'd　been　scouting　the　rain　clouds　on　the　horizon；　and　the　possibility　of　more　flooding　in　the　living　room　had　sent　her　dashing　to　the　medicine　chest。　The　〃roofing　foreman〃　listened　to　Mrs。　Whitmark's　woeful　story：　〃The　pile　carpet　already　was　ruined；　as　was　Mr。　Whit…mark's　state…of…the…art　stereo　system；　and　of　course　mildew　had　claimed　all　the　drapery；　the　linens　and　half　her　winter　evening　wardrobe；　the　Italian　leather　sofa　and　the　cherry　buffet　had　been　moved　to　the　west　wing；　but…〃
　
　〃We　can　start　this　afternoon；〃　Snapper　cut　in；　〃but　we　need　a　deposit。〃
　
　Mrs。　Whitmark　asked　how　much。　Snapper　pulled　a　figure　out　of　his　head：　seven　thousand　dollars。
　
　〃You　take　cash；　I　assume。〃
　
　〃Sure；〃　Snapper　said；　trying　to　sound　matter…of…fact；　like　all　his　customers　had　seven　grand　lying　around　in　cookie　jars。
　
　Mrs。　Whitmark　left　Snapper　alone　while　she　went　for　the　money。　He　raised　his　eyes　to　the　immense　hole　in　the　ceiling。　At　that　moment；　a　sunbeam　broke　through　the　bruised　clouds；　flooding　the　house　with　golden　light。
　
　Snapper　shielded　his　eyes。　Was　this　a　sign？
　
　When　Mrs。　Whitmark　returned；　she　was　flanked　by　two　blackand…silver　German　shepherds。
　
　Snapper　went　rigid。　〃Mother　of　Christ；〃　he　murmured。
　
　〃My　babies；〃　said　Mrs。　Whitmark；　fondly。　〃We　don't　have　a　problem　with　looters。　Do　we；　sugars？〃　She　stroked　the　larger　dog　under　its　chin。　On　mand；　both　of　them　sat　at　her　feet。　They　cocked　their　heads　and　gazed　expectantly　at　Snapper；　who　felt　a　spasm　in　his　colon。
　
　His　hands　trembled　so　severely　that　he　was　barely　able　to　write　up　the　contract。　Mrs。　Whitmark　asked　what　had　happened　to　his　face。　〃Did　you　fall　off　a　roof？〃
　
　〃No；〃　he　said　curtly。　〃Bungee　accident。〃
　
　Mrs。　Whitmark　gave　him　the　cash　in　a　scented　pink　envelope。　〃How　soon　can　you　start？〃
　
　Snapper　promised　that　the　crew　would　return　in　half　an　hour。　〃We'll　need　to　pick　up　some　lumber。　It's　a　big　place　you've　got　here。〃
　
　Mrs。　Whitmark　and　her　guard　dogs　acpanied　Snapper　to　the　front　door。　He　kept　both　hands　jammed　in　his　pockets；　in　case　one　of　the　vicious　bastards　lunged　for　him。　Of　course；　if　they　were　trained　like　police　K…9s；　they　wouldn't　bother　with　his　hands。　They'd　go　straight　for　the　balls。
　
　〃Hurry；〃　Mrs。　Whitmark　said；　scanning　the　clouds　with　dilated　pupils。　〃I　don't　like　the　looks　of　this　sky。〃
　
　Snapper　walked　to　the　truck　and　gave　the　crew　the　bad　news。　〃She　didn't　go　for　it。　Says　her　husband's　already　got　a　roofer　lined　up　for　the　job。　Some　pany　from　Palm　Beach；　she　said。〃
　
　〃Thank　God；〃　said　one　of　the　black　guys；　yawning。　〃I'm　beat；　boss。　How　about　we　call　it　a　day？〃
　
　〃Fine　by　me；〃　said　Snapper。
　
　Jim　Tile　rewound　the　tape　and　played　it　again。
　
　〃Honey；　I've　been　kidnapped…〃
　
　〃Abducted！　Kidnapping　implies　ransom；　Max。　Don't　fucking　flatter　yourself。。。。〃
　
　Bonnie　Lamb　said；　〃Well？〃
　
　〃It's　him；〃　the　trooper　said。
　
　〃You're　sure？〃
　
　〃I　love　you；　Bonnie。　Max　forgot　to　tell　you；　so　I　will。　By　enow。。。。〃
　
　〃Oh　yeah；〃　said　Jim　Tile。　He　popped　the　cassette　out　of　the　tape　deck。
　
　Bonnie　asked　Augustine　to　call　his　agent　friend　at　the　FBI。　Augustine　said　it　wasn't　such　a　hot　idea。
　
　The　trooper　agreed。　〃They'll　never　find　him。　They　don't　know　where　to　look；　they　don't　know　how。〃
　
　〃But　you　do？〃
　
　〃What　will　probably　happen；〃　Jim　Tile　said；　〃is　the　governor　will　keep　your　husband　until　he　gets　bored　with　him。〃
　
　〃Then　what？〃　Bonnie　demanded。　〃He　kills　him？〃
　
　〃Not　unless　your　husband　tries　something　stupid。〃
　
　Augustine　thought：　We　might　have　a　problem。
　
　The　trooper　told　Bonnie　Lamb　not　to　panic；　the　governor　wasn't　irrational。　There　were　ways　to　track　him；　make　contact；　engage　in　productive　dialogue。
　
　Bonnie　excused　herself　and　went　to　take　some　aspirin。　Augustine　walked　outside　with　the　trooper。　〃The　FBI　won't　touch　this；〃　Jim　Tile　said；　keeping　his　voice　low。　〃There's　no　ransom　demand；　no　interstate　travel。　It's　hard　for　her　to　understand。〃
　
　Augustine　observed　that　Max　Lamb　wasn't　helping　matters；　calling　New　York　to　check　on　his　advertising　accounts。　〃Not　exactly　your　typical　victim；〃　he　said。
　
　Jim　Tile　got　in　the　car　and　placed　his　Stetson　on　the　seat。　〃I'll　get　back　with　you　soon。　Meanwhile　go　easy　with　the　lady。〃
　
　Augustine　said；　〃You　don't　think　he's　crazy；　do　you？〃
　
　The　trooper　laughed。　〃Son；　you　heard　the　tape。〃
　
　〃Yeah。　I　don't　think　he's　crazy；　either。〃
　
　〃'Different'　is　the　word。　Seriously　different。〃　Jim　Tile　turned　up　the　patrol　car's　radio　to　hear　the　latest　hurricane　dementia。　The　Highway　Patrol　dispatcher　was　directing　troopers　to　the　intersection　of　U。S。　1　and　Kendall　Dri