chiaasen.stormyweather-第32章

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　woman　who　felt　so　right；　nestled　in　his　embrace。　Even　her　slumbering　snorts　and　sniffles　soothed　him…that's　how　hard　he　was　falling。
　
　It's　just　a　kiss　away。　Like　Mick　and　Keith　said。
　
　A　newly　married　woman。　Brilliant。
　
　Unconsciously　Augustine　found　himself　gazing　at　the　window　of　the　guest　room。　Soon　Bonnie's　shadow　crossed　behind　the　drapes。　Then　the　lights　went　off。
　
　Skink　poked　him　sharply。　〃Settle　down。　Nothing'll　happen　unless　she　wants　it　to。〃　He　stood　in　the　bed　of　the　pickup　for　a　series　of　twisting　calisthenics；　acpanied　by　preternaturally　asthmatic　grunts。　That　went　on　for　twenty　full　minutes　under　the　stars。　Augustine　watched　without　interrupting。　Afterwards　Skink　sat　down　heavily；　rocking　the　truck。
　
　Pointing　at　the　remaining　beer；　he　said：　〃You　gonna　drink　that？〃
　
　〃Help　yourself。〃
　
　〃You're　a　patient　young　man。〃
　
　〃I've　got　nothing　but　time；〃　Augustine　said。　Why　rush　the　guy？
　
　Skink　threw　back　his　head　and　tilted　the　beer　bottle　until　it　was　empty。　Pensively　he　said：　〃You　never　know　how　these　things'll　play　out。〃
　
　〃Doesn't　matter；　captain。　I'm　in。〃
　
　〃OK。　Here。〃　He　handed　Augustine　the　scrap　of　paper　that　Jim　Tile　had　given　him　at　the　hospital。　On　the　paper；　the　trooper　had　written：　black　Jp。　Cherokee　BZQ…42F。
　
　Augustine　was　impressed　that　Brenda　Rourke　remembered　the　license　tag；　or　anything　else；　after　the　hideous　beating。
　
　Skink　said；　〃The　plate's　stolen。　No　surprise　there。〃
　
　〃The　driver？〃
　
　〃White　non…Latin　male；　late　thirties。　Deformed　jaw；　according　to　Trooper　Rourke。　Plus　he　wore　a　pinstriped　suit。〃
　
　Skink　returned　to　a　sprawled　position。　He　folded　his　arms　under　his　head。
　
　Augustine　peered　over　the　side　of　the　truck。　〃Where　do　we　start？〃　The　man　could　be　all　the　way　to　Atlanta　by　now。
　
　〃I've　got　some　ideas；〃　said　the　governor。
　
　Augustine　was　doubtful。　〃The　cops'll　find　him　first。〃
　
　〃They're　all　on　hurricane　duty；　double　shifts。　Even　the　detectives　are　directing　traffic。〃　Skink　chuckled　quietly。　〃It's　not　a　bad　time　to　be　a　fugitive。〃
　
　Augustine　felt　something　brush　his　leg…a　neighbor's　orange　tabby。　When　he　reached　to　pet　it；　the　cat　scooted　beneath　the　pickup。
　
　The　governor　said；　〃I'm　doing　this　for　Jim。　It's　not　often　he　asks。〃
　
　〃But　there's　other　reasons。〃
　
　Skink　nodded。　〃True。　I'm　not　fond　of　shitheads　who　beat　up　women。　And　the　storm　has　left　me；　well；　unfulfilled。。。。〃
　
　It　hadn't　been　the　cataclysmic　purgative　he　had　hoped　for　and　prophesied。　Ideally　a　hurricane　should　drive　people　out；　not　bring　people　in。　The　high　number　of　new　arrivals　to　South　Florida　was　merely　depressing；　the　moral　caliber　of　the　fortune…seekers　was　appalling…low…life　hustlers；　slick…talking　scammers　and　cold…blooded　opportunists；　not　to　mention　pure　gangsters　and　thugs。　Precisely　the　kind　of　creeps　who　would　cave　in　a　lady's　face。
　
　〃Do　not；〃　Skink　said；　〃expect　me　to　control　my　temper。〃
　
　〃Wouldn't　dream　of　it；〃　said　Augustine。
　
　The　light　in　the　guest　bedroom　went　on。　Augustine　found　Bonnie　Lamb　sitting　up　in　bed。　For　a　nightgown　she　wore　a　long　white　T…shirt　that　she'd　found　in　a　drawer：　Tom　Petty　and　the　Heartbreakers。　Augustine　had　purchased　it　at　a　concert　at　the　Miami　Arena。　The　woman　whom　he'd　taken　to　the　show；　the　psychotic　doctor　who　later　tried　to　filet　him　in　the　shower；　had　bought　a　black　shirt　to　match　her　biker　boots。　At　the　time；　Augustine　had　found　the　ensemble　fetching；　in　a　faux…trashy　way。
　
　〃Max　call　yet？〃　Bonnie　asked。
　
　Augustine　checked　the　answering　machine。　No　messages。　He　returned　to　the　bedroom　and　told　her。
　
　She　said；　〃I've　been　married　one　week　and　a　day。　What's　the　matter　with　me？〃　She　drew　her　knees　to　her　chest。　〃I　should　be　home。〃
　
　Exactly！　thought　Augustine。　Absolutely　right！
　
　〃You　think　my　husband's　a　jerk？〃
　
　〃Not　at　all；〃　Augustine　lied；　decorously。
　
　〃Then　why　hasn't　he　called。〃　It　was　not　a　question。　Bonnie　Lamb　said；　〃e　here。〃
　
　She　made　room　under　the　covers；　but　Augustine　positioned　himself　chastely　on　the　edge　of　the　bed。
　
　〃You　must　think　I'm　crazy；〃　said　Bonnie。
　
　〃No。〃
　
　〃My　heart　is　upside　down。　That's　the　only　way　to　describe　it。〃
　
　Augustine　said；　〃Stay　as　long　as　you　want。〃
　
　〃I　want　to　go　along　with　you　and　。。。　him。　The　kidnapper。〃
　
　〃Why？〃
　
　〃Oh；　I　don't　know。　Probably　goes　back　to　Max；　or　my　dad　and　his　model　airplanes；　or　my　wretched　childhood；　even　though　my　memories　are　quite　wonderful。　It's　got　to　be　something。　Happy　normal　little　girls　don't　grow　up　to　dump　their　husbands；　do　they？〃　Bonnie　Lamb　switched　off　the　lamp。　〃You　want　to　lie　down？〃
　
　〃Better　not；〃　said　Augustine。
　
　In　the　dark；　her　hand　found　his　cheek。　She　said；　〃Here's　my　idea：　I　think　we　should　sleep　together。〃
　
　〃But　we　have　slept　together；　Mrs。　Lamb。〃　That　without　missing　a　beat。　Augustine　mended　himself…a　little　humor　to　cut　the　tension。
　
　Bonnie　said；　〃e　on。　You　know　what　I　mean。〃
　
　〃Make　love？〃
　
　〃Oh；　you're　a　quick　one。〃　She　grabbed　his　shoulders　and　pulled　him　down。　His　head　came　to　rest　on　a　pillow。　Before　he　could　get　up　she　was　on　top；　pinning　his　arms。　Impishly　she　planted　her　chin　on　his　breastbone。　In　the　light　slanting　through　the　window；　Augustine　was　able　to　see　her　smile；　the　liveliness　of　her　eyes　and…behind　her…the　wall　of　gaping　skulls。
　
　Bonnie　Lamb　said；　〃Making　love　with　you　might　clear　my　thinking。〃
　
　〃So　would　electroshock　therapy。〃
　
　〃I'm　very　serious。〃
　
　〃And　very　married；〃　said　Augustine。
　
　〃Yes；　but　you're　still　getting　hard。〃
　
　〃Thanks　for　the　bulletin。〃
　
　She　let　go　of　his　arms；　took　his　face　in　both　hands。　Her　smile　disappeared；　and　sadness　entered　her　voice。
　
　〃Don't　be　such　a　smartass；〃　she　whispered。　〃Can't　you　understand…I　don't　know　what　else　to　do。　I　tried　crying；　it　doesn't　work。〃
　
　〃I'm　sorry…〃
　
　〃I　feel　closer　to　you　than　I've　ever　felt　to　Max。　That's　not　a　good　sign。〃
　
　〃No；　it　isn't。〃
　
　〃Especially　after　a　week　of　marriage。　My　own　husband…and　already　I　feel　old　and　invisible　when　we're　together。〃　She　took　his　shirt　in　her　fists。　〃God；　you　know　what？　Forget　everything　I　said。〃
　
　〃Yeah；　right。〃
　
　〃Then　you've　thought　about　it；　too。〃
　
　〃Constantly；〃　said　Augustine。　Then；　in　a　burst　of　foolish　virtue：　〃But　it　would　sure　be　wrong。〃
　
　Her　breasts　were　lined　up　just　below　his　rib　cage。　They　rose　ever　so　slightly　when　she　took　a　breath。　Friendship；　he　reminded　himself；　could　be　excruciating。
　
　Bonnie　asked；　〃What　happens　now？〃
　
　〃Oh；　my　erection　will　eventually　go　away。　Then　we　can　both　get　some　sleep。〃
　
　She　lowered　her　eyes。　Blushing？　In　the　shadows　it　was　hard　to　tell。　She　said；　〃No；　I　meant　with　the　governor。　What're　you　two　guys　up　to？〃
　
　〃Hair…raising　thrills　and　high…speed　adventure。〃
　
　Bonnie　nestled　closer　and　settled　in　for　the　night。　Augustine　was　severely　tempted　to　stroke　her　hair；　or　kiss　the　top　of　her　head；　or　trace　a　finger　along　that　famous　velvet　slope　of　her　neckline。　But；　with　idiotic　decency；　he　held　back。
　
　Mrs。　Max　Lamb　fell　asleep　long　before　he　did。　Shortly　after　midnight；　the　telephone　began　to　ring　in　the　kitchen。　Augustine　didn't　get　out　of　bed　to　answer　it；　because　he　didn't　want　to　wake　his　new　friend。　He　probably　could　have　moved　her　gently　to　one　side　of　the　bed；　but　he　didn't　even　try。
　
　She　was　sleeping　so　soundly；　and　he　felt　so　good。
　
　
　
　CHAPTER　SEVENTEEN
　
　
　Bonnie　Lamb　rolled　over　at　three　in　the　morning；　freeing　Augustine　to　rise　and　answer　the　phone；　which　had　been　ringing　intermittently　for　hours。
　
　Naturally　it　was　Bonnie's　husband　in　New　York。　Augustine　anticipated　a　lively　exchange。
　
　〃What's　going　on！〃　Max　Lamb　demanded。　〃Bonnie's　fine。　She's　asleep。〃
　
　〃Answer　me！〃
　
　〃She　left　you　several　messages。　She　wasn't　up　to　the　airplane　trip…〃
　
　〃Wake　her；　please。　Tell　her　it's　important。〃　As　he　waited；　Max　Lamb　reflected　over　the　unalloyed　rottenness　of　his　long　thankless　day。　The　NIH　press　conference　declaiming　the　hazards　of　Bronco　cigarets　made　CNN；　MTV　and　all　the　networks；　followed　of　course　by　prominent　barbs　in　the　Leno　and　Letterman　monologues。　The　wiseass　MTV　coverage　was　particularly　aggravating　because　it　struck　directly　at　young　female　smokers；　a　key　market　ponent　of　Bronco's　booming　sales　growth。　Front…page　stories　were　expected　the　following　morning　in　the　Times；　the　Wall　Street　Journal　and　the　Washington　Post。　The　word　〃disaster〃　was　insufficient　to　describe　the　crisis；　as　the　splenetic　chairman　of　Durham　Gas　Meat　&c　Tobacco　adamantly　insisted　on　a　total　advertising　embargo　against　all　publications　reporting　the　NIH　findings…which　was　to　say；　all　newspapers　and　magazines　in　the　United　States。　The　atmosphere　at　Rodale　&c　Burns　was　sepulchral；　due　to　the　many　millions　of　dollars　that　the　agency　stood　to　lose　if　Bronco's　print　ads　were　yanked。　Max　Lamb　had　spent　the　better　part　of　the　afternoon　attempting　to　contact　DGM&T's　chairman　in　Guadalajara；　where　he　was　receiving　thrice…daily　injections　of　homogenized　sheep　semen　to　arrest　the　malignant　tumors　in　his　lungs。　Workers　at　the　clinic　said　the　chairman　was　taking　no　calls；　and　refused　to　patch　Max　Lamb　through　to　the　old　geezer's　room。
　
　And　if　that　wasn't　enough；　Max　now　had　to　deal　with　a　flighty；　recalcitrant　wife　in　Florida。
　
　Bonnie's　voice　was　husky　from　sleep。　〃Honey？〃　she　said。
　
　Max　gripped　the　receiver　as　if　it　were　the　neck　of　a　squirming　rattlesnake。　〃Exactly　what's　going　on　down　there！〃
　
　〃I'm　sorry。　I　need　a　few　more　days。〃
　
　〃Why　aren't　you　at　the　motel？〃
　
　〃I　fell　asleep　here。〃
　
　〃With　the　skulls？　Jesus　Christ；　Bonnie。〃
　
　When　Max　Lamb　got　highly　agitated；　he　acquired　a　frenetic　rasp　that　his　coworkers　likened　to　that　of　an　asthmatic　on　amphetamines。　Bonnie　didn't　blame　her　husband　for　getting　upset　that　she　was　with　Augustine。　Trying　to　explain　was　pointless；　because　she　didn't　yet　prehend　it　herself。　Her　attempted　seduction…that　she　understood　too　well。　But　the　urge　to　go　road…tripping　with　the　governor；　the　lack　of　interest　in　returning　home　to　begin　her　new　marriage　。。。　confusing　emotions；　indeed。
　
　〃I　still　don't　feel　very　well；　Max。　Maybe　it's　exhaustion。〃
　
　〃You　can　sleep　on　the　plane。　Or　in　a　damn　motel。〃
　
　〃All　right；　honey；　I'll　get　a　room。〃
　
　〃Has　he　tried　anything？〃
　
　〃No！〃　Bonnie　said　sharply。　〃He's　been　a　perfect　gentleman。〃　Thinking：　I'm　the　one　you've　got　to　worry　about；　buddy　boy。
　
　〃I　don't　trust　him。〃　Max　Lamb's　normal　vibrant　voice　had　returned；　indicating　a　beneficial　drop　in　blood　pressure。
　
　Bonnie　decided　it　was　safe　to　point　out　that　if　it　weren't　for　Augustine；　Max　would　still　be　kidnapped。
　
　That　provoked　a　grinding　silence　on　the　other　end。　Then：　〃There's　something　not　right　about　him。〃
　
　〃Oh；　and　you're　perfectly　normal；　Max。　Driving　hundreds　of　miles　to　take　movies　of　wrecked　houses　and　crying　babies。〃
　
　A　movement　by　Augustine　caught　Bonnie　Lamb's　attention。　With　a　mischievous　grin；　he　produced　three　plump　grapefruits　and　began　to　juggle；　dancing　barefoot　around　the　kitchen。　Bonnie　covered　her　mouth　to　keep　from　giggling　into　the　phone。