chiaasen.stormyweather-第27章

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ided　Snapper's　transgression　was　heinous　enough　to　merit　the　offering　of　two　chickens　instead　of　one。　If　that　didn't　work；　he'd　invest　in　a　billy　goat。
　
　The　roosters　did　not　succumb　quietly；　the　clamor　awakening　Avila's　wife；　aunt　and　mother。　The　women　burst；　into　the　garage　to　find　Avila　singing　Spanish　gibberish　to　his　cherished　ceramic　statue。　Avila's　wife　instantly　spied　red　droplets　and　a　waxen　fragment　of　chicken　beak　on　the　left　front　fender　of　her　Electra；　and　savagely　took　to　striking　her　husband　with　a　garden　rake。
　
　On　the　other　side　of　Dade　County；　Snapper　dozed　peacefully　in　a　dead　man's　Naugahyde　recliner。　He　felt　no　pain　from　the　supernatural　hand　of　Chango；　nor　did　he　feel　the　hateful　glare　of　Edie　Marsh；　who　was　stretched　out　on　the　mildewed　carpet　and　trussed　to　a　naked　insurance　man。
　
　
　
　CHAPTER　FOURTEEN
　
　
　As　the　candles　melted　to　lumps；　Snapper's　shadow　flickered　and　shrunk　on　the　pale　bare　walls。　His　profile　reminded　Edie　Marsh　of　a　miniature　tyrannosaurus。
　
　For　laughs；　he　refused　to　let　Fred　Dove　remove　the　red　condom。
　
　〃That's　mean；〃　Edie　said。
　
　〃Well；　I'm　one　mean　motherfucker；〃　Snapper　proclaimed。　〃You　don't　believe　me；　there's　a　lady　cop　in　the　hospital　you　should　see。〃
　
　When　he　yawned；　the　misaligned　mandible　waggled　horizontally；　then　appeared　to　disengage　altogether　from　his　face。　He　looked　like　a　snake　trying　to　swallow　an　egg。
　
　Edie　said；　〃What　is　it　you　want？〃
　
　〃You　know　damn　well。〃　Snapper　held　the　flashlight　on　Fred　Dove's　retreating　cock。　〃Where'd　you　find　a　red　rubber？〃　he　asked。　〃Mail　order；　I　bet。　Looks　like　a　Santy　Claushat。〃
　
　From　the　floor；　the　insurance　man　gave　a　disconsolate　whimper。　Edie　leaned　her　head　against　the　small　of　his　back。　Snapper　had　positioned　them　butt…to…butt；　binding　their　hands　with　a　curtain　sash。　In　Fred　Dove's　briefcase　Snapper　found　the　business　cards　and　policy　folders　from　Midwest　Casualty。　From　that　it　was　easy　to　figure　out…Edie　on　her　knees；　and　so　on。　Snapper　marveled　at　the　exquisite　timing　of　his　entrance。
　
　He　said；　〃Fair　is　fair。　A　three…way　split。〃
　
　〃But　you　took　off！〃　Edie　objected。　〃You　left　me　here　with　that　asshole　Tony。〃
　
　Snapper　shrugged。　〃I　changed　my　mind。　I'm　allowed。　So　how　much　money　we　talkin'　about？〃
　
　〃Fuck　you；〃　said　Edie　Marsh。
　
　Without　leaving　the　recliner；　Snapper　cocked　one　leg　and　kicked　her　in　the　side　of　the　head。　The　sound　of　the　blow　was　sickening。　Edie　moaned　but　didn't　cry。
　
　〃For　God's　sake。〃　Fred　Dove's　voice　cracked；　as　if　he　were　the　one　who'd　been　clobbered。
　
　Snapper　said；　〃Then　tell　me　how　much。〃
　
　〃Don't　you　dare。〃　Edie　was　woozy；　but　sharply　she　dug　both　elbows　into　Fred　Dove's　ribs。
　
　〃I'm　waiting；〃　said　Snapper。
　
　Edie　felt　the　insurance　man　stiffen　against　the　ropes。　Then　she　heard　him　say：　〃A　hundred　forty…one　thousand　dollars。〃
　
　〃Moron！　〃Edie　hissed。
　
　〃But　you　won't　get　a　dime；〃　Fred　Dove　warned　Snapper；　〃without　me　and　Edie。〃
　
　〃That　a　fact？〃
　
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　
　〃Not　a　goddamn　cent；〃　Edie　agreed；　〃because　guess　who's　getting　the　settlement　check。　Missus　Neria　Torres。　Me。〃
　
　Snapper　aimed　the　flashlight　on　Edie's　face；　which　bore　a　puffy　salmon　imprint　of　his　shoe。　〃Sweetie；〃　he　said；　〃it's　hard　to　sign　a　check　if　you're　in　a　body　cast。　Understand？〃
　
　She　turned　away　from　the　harsh　light　and　silently　cursed　her　lousy　taste　in　convicts。
　
　Fred　Dove　said　to　Snapper：　〃You　ought　to　untie　us。〃
　
　〃Well；　listen　to　Santy　Claus！〃
　
　Edie's　pulse　jackhammered　in　her　temples。　〃You　know　what　it　is；　Fred？　Snapper's　jealous。　See；　it's　not　about　the　insurance　money。　It's　that　I　was　going　to　make　love　to　you…〃
　
　〃Haw！〃　Snapper　exclaimed。
　
　〃…and　he　knows；〃　Edie　went　on；　〃he　knows　I　wouldn't　do　it　with　him　for　all　the　money　in　Fort　Knox！〃
　
　Snapper　laughed。　Nudging　Fred　Dove　with　a　toe；　he　said；　〃Don't　kid　yourself；　bubba。　She'd　fuck　a　syphilitic　porky…pine；　she　thought　there　was　a　dollar　in　it。〃
　
　〃Nice　talk；〃　Edie　said。　God　Almighty；　her　head　hurt。
　
　The　insurance　man　fought　to　steady　his　nerves。　He　was　flabbergasted　to　find　himself　in　the　middle　of　something　so　ugly；　plicated　and　dangerous。　Only　hours　ago　the　arrangement　seemed　foolproof　and　exciting：　a　modestly　fraudulent　claim；　a　beautiful　and　uninhibited　co…conspirator；　a　wild　fling　in　an　abandoned　hurricane　house。
　
　A　bright…red　condom　seemed　appropriate。
　
　Then　out　of　nowhere　appeared　this　Snapper　person；　a　hard…looking　sort　and　an　authentic　criminal；　judging　by　what　Fred　Dove　had　seen　and　heard。　The　insurance　man　didn't　want　such　a　violent　character　for　a　third　partner。　On　the　other　hand；　he　didn't　want　to　die　or　be　harmed　seriously　enough　to　require　hospitalization。　Blue　Cross　would　demand　facts；　as　would　Fred　Dove's　wife。
　
　So　he　offered　Snapper　forty…seven　thousand　dollars。　〃That's　how　it　splits　three　ways。〃
　
　Snapper　swung　the　flashlight　to　Fred　Dove's　face。　He　said；　〃You　figured　that　up　in　your　head？　No　pencil　and　paper；　that's　pretty　good。〃
　
　Yeah；　thought　Edie　Marsh。　Thank　you；　Dr　Einstein。
　
　Fred　Dove　said　to　Snapper：　〃Do　we　have　a　deal？〃
　
　〃Fair　is　fair。〃　He　rose　from　the　BarcaLounger　and　made　his　way　to　the　garage。　Within　moments　the　portable　generator　belched　to　life。　Snapper　returned　to　the　living　room　and　turned　on　the　solitary　lightbulb。　Then；　kneeling　beside　Fred　Dove　and　Edie　Marsh；　he　cut　the　curtain　sash　off　their　wrists。
　
　〃Let's　go　eat；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　fuckin'　starved。〃
　
　Fred　Dove　rose　shakily。　He　modestly　locked　his　hands　in　front　of　his　crotch。　〃I'm　taking　this　thing　off；〃　he　declared。
　
　〃The　rubber？〃　Snapper　gave　him　a　thumbs…up。　〃You　do　that。〃　He　glanced　at　Edie；　who　made　no　effort　to　cover　her　breasts　or　anything　else。　She　eyed　Snapper　in　a　dark　poisonous　way。
　
　He　said；　〃That's　how　you　goin'　to　Denny's？　Fine　by　me。　Maybe　we'll　get　a　free　pie。〃
　
　Wordlessly　Edie　walked　behind　the　Naugahyde　recli…ner；　picked　up　the　crowbar　she'd　left　there；　took　two　steps　toward　Snapper；　and　swung　at　him　with　all　her　strength。　He　went　down　squalling。
　
　Weapon　in　hand；　Edie　Marsh　straddled　him。　Her　damp　and　tangled　hair　had　fallen　to　cover　the　bruised　half　of　her　face。　To　Fred　Dove；　she　looked　untamed　and　dazzling　and　alarmingly　capable…of　homicide。　He　feared'　he　was　about　to　witness　his　first。
　
　Edie　inserted　the　sharp　end　of　the　crowbar　between　Snapper's　deviated　jawbones；　pinning　his　bloodless　tongue　to　his　teeth。
　
　〃Kick　me　again；〃　she　said；　〃and　I'll　have　your　balls　in　a　blender。〃
　
　Fred　Dove　snatched　his　pants　and　his　briefcase；　and　ran。
　
　They　returned　the　borrowed　speedboat　to　the　marina　and　went　back　to　Coral　Gables。　With　great　effort　they　carried　the　man　known　as　Skink　into　Augustine's　house。
　
　Max　Lamb　was　unnerved　by　the　wall　of　grinning　skulls；　but　said　nothing　as　he　made　his　way　down　the　hall　to　the　shower。　Augustine　got　on　the　telephone　to　sort　out　what　had　happened　with　his　dead　uncle's　Cape　buffalo。　Bonnie　fixed　a　pot　of　coffee　and　took　it　to　the　guest　room；　where　the　governor　was　recovering　from　the　animal　dart。　He　and　Jim　Tile　were　talking　when　Bonnie　walked　in。　She　wanted　to　stay　and　listen　to　this　improbable　stranger；　but　she　felt　she　was　intruding。　The　men's　conversation　was　serious；　held　in　low　tones。　She　heard　Skink　say：　〃Brenda's　a　strong　one。　She'll　make　it。〃
　
　Then；　Jim　Tile：　〃I've　tried　every　prayer　I　know。〃
　
　As　Bonnie　slipped　out　the　door；　she　encountered　Max；　sucking　on　a　cigaret　as　he　emerged　from　the　bathroom。　She　resolved　to　be　forbearing　about　her　husband's　odious　new　habit；　which　he　blamed　on　the　battlefield　stress　of　the　abduction。
　
　She　followed　him　to　the　living　room　and　sat　beside　him　on　the　sofa。　There；　in　sensational　detail；　he　described　the　torture　he'd　received　at　the　hands　of　the　one…eyed　misfit。
　
　〃The　dog　collar；〃　Bonnie　Lamb　said。
　
　〃That's　right。　Look　at　my　neck。〃　Max　opened　the　top　buttons　of　his　shirt；　which　he'd　borrowed　from　Augustine。　〃See　the　burns？　See？〃
　
　Bonnie　didn't　notice　any　marks；　but　nodded　sympathetically。　〃So　you　definitely　want　to　prosecute。〃
　
　〃Absolutely！〃　Max　Lamb　detected　doubt　in　his　wife's　voice。　〃Christ；　Bonnie；　he　could've　murdered　me。〃
　
　She　squeezed　his　hand。　〃I　still　don't　understand　why…why　he　did　it　in　the　first　place。〃
　
　〃With　a　fruitcake　like　that；　who　knows。〃　Max　Lamb　purposely　didn't　mention　Skink's　disgust　with　the　hurricane　videos；　he　remembered　that　Bonnie　felt　the　same　way。
　
　She　said；　〃I　think　he　needs　professional　help。〃
　
　〃No；　sweetheart；　he　needs　a　professional　jail。〃　Max　lifted　his　chin　and　blew　smoke　at　the　ceiling。
　
　〃Honey；　let's　think　about　this…〃
　
　But　he　pulled　away　from　her；　bolting　for　the　phone；　which　Augustine　had　just　hung　up。　〃I'd　better　call　Pete　Archibald；〃　Max　Lamb　said　over　his　shoulder；　〃let　everyone　at　Rodale　know　I'm　OK。〃
　
　Bonnie　Lamb　got　up　and　went　to　the　guest　room。　The　governor　was　sitting　upright　in　bed；　but　his　eyes　were　half　shut。　His　ragged　beard　was　finely　crusted　with　ocean　salt。　Jim　Tile；　his　Stetson　tucked　under　one　arm；　stood　near　the　window。
　
　Bonnie　poured　each　of　them　another　cup　of　coffee。　〃How's　he　feeling？〃　she　whispered。
　
　Skink's　good　eye　blinked　open。　〃Better；〃　he　said；　thickly。
　
　She　set　the　coffeepot　on　the　bedstand。　〃It　was　monkey　tranquilizer；〃　she　explained。
　
　〃Never　to　be　bined　with　psychoactive　drugs；〃　said　Skink；　〃particularly　toad　sweat。〃
　
　Bonnie　looked　at　Jim　Tile；　who　said；　〃I　asked　him。〃
　
　〃Asked　me　what？〃　Skink　rasped。
　
　〃About　the　dead　guy　in　the　TV　dish；〃　the　trooper　said。　Then；　to　Bonnie：　〃He　didn't　do　it。〃
　
　〃Though　I　do　admire　the　style；〃　said　Skink。
　
　Bonnie　Lamb　did　a　poor　job　of　masking　her　doubt。　Skink　peered　sternly。　〃I　didn't　kill　that　fellow；　Mrs。　Lamb。　But　I　damn　sure　wouldn't　tell　you　if　I　had。〃
　
　〃I　believe　you。　I　do。〃
　
　The　governor　finished　the　coffee　and　asked　for　another　cup。　He　told　Bonnie　it　was　the　best　he'd　ever　tasted。　〃And　I　like　your　boy；〃　he　said；　gesturing　toward　the　wall　of　skulls。　〃I　like　what　he's　done　with　the　place。〃
　
　Bonnie　said：　〃He's　not　my　boy。　Just　a　friend。〃
　
　Skink　nodded。　〃We　all　need　one　of　those。〃　With　difficulty　he　rolled　out　of　bed　and　began　stripping　off　his　wet　clothes。　Jim　Tile　led　him　to　the　shower　and　started　the　water。　When　the　trooper　returned；　carrying　the　governor's　plastic　cap；　he　asked　Bonnie　Lamb　what　her　husband　intended　to　do。
　
　〃He　wants　to　prosecute。〃　She　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　bed；　listening　to　the　shower　run。
　
　Augustine　came　into　the　room　and　said；　〃Well？〃
　
　〃I　can　arrest　him　tonight；〃　Jim　Tile　told　Bonnie；　〃if　your　husband　es　to　the　substation　and　files　charges。　What　happens　then　is　up　to　the　State　Attorney。〃
　
　〃You'd　do　that…arrest　your　own　friend？〃
　
　〃Better　me　than　a　stranger；〃　the　trooper　said。　〃Don't　feel　bad　about　this；　Mrs。　Lamb。　Your　husband's　got　every　right。〃
　
　〃Yes；　I　know。〃　Prosecuting　the　governor　was　the　right　thing…a　person　couldn't　be　allowed　to　run　around　kidnapping　tourists；　no　matter　how　offensively　they　behaved。　Yet　Bonnie　was　saddened　by　the　idea　of　Skink's　going　to　jail。　It　was　naive；　she　knew；　but　that's　h