chiaasen.stormyweather-第36章

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　When　Augustine　came　out　to　the　truck；　Bonnie　Lamb　and　the　governor　were　gone。　He　found　them　a　few　blocks　away；　behind　a　deserted　hurricane　house。　Skink　was　kneeling　next　to　a　swimming　pool；　scooping　chubby　brown　toads　out　of　the　rancid　water　and　slipping　them　into　his　pockets。　Bonnie　was　busy　fending　off　the　mosquitoes　that　hovered　in　an　inky　cloud　around　her　face。
　
　Augustine　related　what　he'd　learned　about　the　black　Jeep　Cherokee。　Skink　said；　〃Where's　Calusa　Drive？〃
　
　〃They　drew　me　a　map。〃
　
　〃Are　we　going　now？〃　Bonnie　asked。
　
　〃Tomorrow；〃　Skink　said。　〃We'll　need　daylight。〃
　
　He　and　Augustine　decided　to　spend　the　night　nearby。　They　found　an　empty　field　and　built　a　campfire　from　storm　debris。　Nearby　another　small　fire　glowed；　flickering　from　the　mouth　of　a　fifty…five…gallon　drum…itinerant　laborers　from　Ohio。　Two　of　them　wandered　over　in　search　of　crack。　Augustine　spooked　them　off　with　a　casual　display　of　the　。38。　Skink　disappeared　with　the　toads　into　a　scrubby　palmetto　thicket。
　
　Bonnie　said；　〃What's　DMT？〃
　
　〃A　Wall　Street　drug；〃　Augustine　replied。　〃Before　our　time。〃
　
　〃He　said　he　dries　the　toad　poison　and　smokes　it。　He　said　it's　a　chemical　strain　of　DMT。〃
　
　〃I　believe　I'll　stick　to　beer。〃　Augustine　got　two　sleeping　bags　from　the　cab　of　the　truck。　He　shook　them　out　and　spread　them　near　the　fire。
　
　She　said；　〃I'm　sorry　about　last　night。〃
　
　〃Quit　saying　that。〃　Like　it　would　have　been　the　worst　mistake　of　her　entire　life。
　
　〃I　don't　know　what's　wrong　with　me；〃　she　said。
　
　Augustine　arranged　some　dead　branches　on　the　fire。　〃Nothing's　wrong　with　you；　Bonnie。　You're　so　normal　it's　scary。〃　He　sat　cross…legged　on　one　of　the　sleeping　bags。
　
　〃e　here；〃　he　said。　When　he　put　his　arms　around　her；　she　felt　pletely　relaxed　and　secure。　Then　he　said：　〃I　can　take　you　to　the　airport。〃
　
　〃No！〃
　
　〃Because　after　tonight；　you'll　be　in　the　thick　of　it。〃
　
　Bonnie　Lamb　said；　〃That's　what　I　want。　Max　got　his　adventure；　I　want　mine。〃
　
　A　reedy　howl　rose　from　the　palmettos；　diffusing　into　a　creepy　rumble　of　laughter。
　
　Bufo　madness；　thought　Augustine。　Bonnie　stiffened　in　his　embrace。　Firmly　she　said；　〃I'm　not　leaving　now。　No　way。〃
　
　He　lifted　her　chin。　〃This　is　not　a　well　person。　This　is　a　man　who　put　a　shock　collar　on　your　husband；　a　man　who　gets　high　off　frog　slime。　He's　done　things　you　don't　want　to　know　about；　probably　even　killed　people。〃
　
　〃At　least　he　believes　in　something。〃
　
　〃Good　Lord；　Bonnie。〃
　
　〃Then　why　are　you　here？　If　he's　so　dangerous；　if　he's　so　crazy…〃
　
　〃Who　said　he　was　crazy。〃
　
　〃Answer　the　question；　Senor　Herrera。〃
　
　Augustine　blinked　at　the　firelight。　〃I'm　not　so　tightly　wrapped　myself。　That　should　be　obvious。〃
　
　Bonnie　Lamb　pressed　closer。　She　wondered　why　she　so　enjoyed　the　fact　that　both　of　these　new　men　were　unpredictable　and　impulsive…opposites　of　the　man　she'd　married。　Max　was　exceptionally　reliable；　but　he　was　neither　deep　nor　enigmatic。　Five　minutes　with　Max　and　you　had　the　whole　menu。
　
　She　said；　〃I　suppose　I'm　rebelling。　Against　what；　I　don't　know。　It's　a　first　for　me。〃
　
　Augustine　rebuked　himself　for　showing　off　with　the　skulls；　what　woman　could　resist　such　charm？　Bonnie　laughed　softly。
　
　〃Seriously；〃　he　said；　〃there's　a　big　difference　between　your　situation　and　mine。　You've　got　a　husband　and　a　life。　I've　got　nothing　else　to　do；　and　nothing　to　lose　by　not　doing　it。〃
　
　〃Your　uncle's　animals？〃
　
　〃Long　gone；〃　he　said。　〃Anyway；　there's　worse　places　than　Miami　to　be　for　a　monkey。　They'll　make　out　fine。〃　After　a　rueful　pause：　〃I　do　feel　lousy　about　the　water　buffalo。〃
　
　Bonnie　said　there　was　no　point　trying　to　analyze　motivation。　Both　of　them　were　rational；　mature；　intelligent　adults。　Certainly　they　knew　what　they　were　doing；　even　if　they　didn't　know　why。
　
　From　the　thicket；　another　penetrating　wail。
　
　Bonnie　stared　toward　the　palmettos。　〃I　get　the　feeling　he　could　take　us　or　leave　us。〃
　
　〃Exactly。〃　Augustine　came　right　out　and　asked　her　if　she　truly　loved　her　husband。
　
　She　answered　unhesitantly：　〃I　don't　know。　So　there。〃
　
　Without　warning；　the　governor　crashed　shirtless　out　of　the　trees。　He　was　feverish；　drenched　in　sweat。　His　good　eye　was　as　bright　as　a　radish；　the　glass　one　was　turned　askew；　showing　yellowed　bone　in　the　socket。　Bonnie　hurried　to　his　side。
　
　〃Damn；〃　he　wheezed；　〃was　that　some　bad　toad！〃
　
　Augustine　doubted　Skink's　technique　for　removing　the　toxin　and　processing　it　for　inhalation。　Based　on　the　man's　present　state；　it　seemed　likely　that　he'd　bungled　the　pharmacology。
　
　〃Sit　here　by　the　fire；〃　Bonnie　told　him。
　
　He　held　out　his　hands；　which　were　filled　with　leathery；　lightly　freckled　eggs。　Augustine　counted　twelve　in　all。　Skink　palmed　them　like　golf　balls。
　
　〃Supper！　〃he　exulted。
　
　〃What　are　they？〃
　
　〃Eggs；　my　boy！〃
　
　〃Of　what？〃
　
　〃I　don't　have　a　clue。〃　The　governor　stalked　toward　the　laborers'　camp；　returning　five　minutes　later　with　a　fry　pan　and　a　squeeze　bottle　of　ketchup。
　
　Regardless　of　species；　the　eggs　tasted　dandy　scrambled。　Augustine　was　impressed；　watching　Bonnie　dig　in。
　
　When　they　finished　eating；　Skink　said　it　was　time　to　hit　the　rack。　〃Big　day　ahead。　You　take　the　sleeping　bags；　I'll　be　in　the　scrub。〃　And　he　was　gone。
　
　Augustine　returned　the　fry　pan　to　the　Ohio　contingent；　which　was　amiably　drunk　and　nonthreatening。　He　and　Bonnie　stayed　up　watching　the　flames　die；　sitting　close　but　saying　little。　At　the　first　onslaught　of　mosquitoes；　they　dove　into　one　of　the　sleeping　bags　and　zipped　it　over　their　heads。　Like　two　turtles；　Bonnie　said；　sharing　the　same　shell。
　
　They　hugged　each　other　in　the　blackness；　laughing　uncontrollably。　After　Bonnie　caught　her　breath；　she　said；　〃God；　it's　hot　in　here。〃
　
　〃August　in　Florida。〃
　
　〃Well；　I'm　taking　off　my　clothes。〃
　
　〃You　aren't。〃
　
　〃Oh　yes。　And　you're　going　to　help。〃
　
　〃Bonnie；　we　should　get　some　sleep。　Big　day　tomorrow。〃
　
　〃I　need　a　big　night　to　take　my　mind　off　it。〃　She　got　tangled　while　wriggling　out　of　her　top。　〃Give　me　a　hand；　kjnd　sir。〃
　
　Augustine　did　as　he　was　told。　They　were；　after　all；　rational；　mature；　intelligent　adults。
　
　
　
　CHAPTER　NINETEEN
　
　
　The　death　of　Tony　Torres　did　not　go　unnoticed　by　homicide　detectives；　crucifixions　being　rare　even　in　Miami。　However；　most　murder　investigations　were　stuck　on　hold　in　the　frenetic　days　following　the　hurricane。　With　the　roadways　in　disorder；　the　police　department　was　precariously　shorthanded；　every　available　officer　of　every　rank　was　put　to　work　directing　traffic；　chasing　looters　or　escorting　relief　convoys。　In　the　case　of　Juan　Doe　#92…312　（the　whimsical　caption　on　Tony　Torres's　homicide　file）；　the　lack　of　urgency　to　investigate　was　reinforced　by　the　fact　that　no　friends　or　relatives　appeared　to　identify　the　corpse；　which　indicated　to　police　that　nobody　was　searching　for　him；　which　further　suggested　that　nobody　much　cared　he　was　dead。
　
　Two　days　after　the　body　was　found；　a　fingerprint　technician　faxed　the　morgue　to　say　that　a　proper　name　now　could　be　attached　to　the　crucified　man：　Antonio　Rodrigo　Guevara…Torres；　age　forty…five。　The　prints　of　the　late　Mr。　Torres　were　on　file　because　he　had；　during　one　rocky　stretch　of　his　adult　life；　written　thirty…seven　consecutive　bum　checks。　Had　one　of　those　checks　not　been　made　out　to　the　Police　Benevolent　Association；　Tony　Torres　likely　would　have　escaped　prosecution。　To　avoid　jail；　he　pleaded　guilty　and　swore　to　make　full　restitution；　a　pledge　quickly　forgotten　amid　the　pressure　of　his　demanding　new　job　as　a　junior　sales　associate　at　a　trailer…home　franchise　called　A…Plus　Affordable　Homes。
　
　Because　the　arrest　report　was　old；　the　home　address　and　telephone　number　listed　for　Tony　Torres　were　no　good。　The　current　yellow　pages　showed　no　listing　for　A…Plus　Affordable。　Three　fruitless　inquiries　sufficiently　discouraged　the　young　detective　to　whom　the　case　of　the　crucified　check…kiter　had　been　assigned。　He　was　relieved　when　his　lieutenant　ordered　him　to　put　the　homicide　file　aside　and　drive　down　to　Cutler　Ridge；　where　he　parked　squarely　in　the　center　of　the　intersection　of　Eureka　Drive　and　117th　Avenue；　in　order　to　block　traffic　for　the　presidential　motorcade。
　
　The　young　detective　didn't　think　again　of　the　murdered　check…bouncing　mobile…home　salesman　until　two　days　later；　when　the　police　department　got　a　call　from　an　agitated　woman　claiming　to　be　the　victim's　wife。
　
　Avila　phoned　the　Gentlemen's　Choice　escort　service　and　asked　for　Morganna。　She　got　on　the　line　and　said；　〃I　haven't　used　that　name　in　six　months。　It's　Jasmine　now。〃
　
　〃OK。　Jasmine。〃
　
　〃Do　I　know　you；　honey？〃
　
　Avila　reminded　her　of　their　torrid　drunken　night　at　the　motel　on　West　Flagler　Street。
　
　〃Gee；〃　she　said；　〃that　narrows　it　down　to　about　ninety　guys。〃
　
　〃You　had　a　friend。　Daphne；　Diane；　something　like　that。　Redhead　with　a　tattoo　on　her　left　tit。〃
　
　Jasmine　said；　〃What　kinda　tattoo？〃
　
　〃I　think　it　was　a　balloon　or　something。〃
　
　〃Don't　ring　a　bell。〃
　
　Avila　said；　〃The　guy　you　were　with；　you'd　definitely　remember。　Scary　dude　with　a　seriously　fucked…up　face。〃
　
　〃Little　Pepe　that　got　burned？〃
　
　〃No；　it　wasn't　Pepe　with　the　burns。　Man's　name　was　Snapper。　His　jaws　stuck　out　all　gross　and　crooked。　You　remember。　It　was　a　party　before　he　went　upstate。〃
　
　〃Nope；　still　no　bell；〃　said　Jasmine。　〃What're　you　doing　tonight；　sweetheart？　You　need　a　date？〃
　
　What　a　cold　shitty　world；　thought　Avila。　There　was　no　such　thing　as　a　friendly　favor　anymore；　everybody　had　their　greedy　paws　out。
　
　〃Meet　me　at　Cisco's；〃　he　told　her　tersely。　〃Nine　o'clock　at　the　bar。〃
　
　〃That's　my　boy。〃
　
　〃You　still　a　blonde？〃
　
　〃If　you　want。〃
　
　Avila　arrived　twenty　minutes　late；　he　had　taken　a　long　hot　shower　following　another　furtive　raid　on　the　buried　Tupperware　stash。　The　stitches　in　his　groin　still　stung　from　the　soaking。
　
　Jasmine　sat　at　the　bar；　sipping　Perrier　from　the　bottle。　She　wore　a　subtle　scarlet　miniskirt　and　an　alarming　Carol　Channing…style　wig。　Her　perfume　smelled　like　a　fruit　stand。　Avila　sat　down　carefully　and　ordered　a　beer。　He　folded　a　hundred…dollar　bill　into　Jasmine's　empty　hand。
　
　She　siriiled。　〃I　do　remember　you　now。〃
　
　〃What　about　Snapper？〃
　
　〃You're　a　squeaker。〃
　
　〃o？〃
　
　〃You　squeak　when　you　fuck。　Like　a　happy　little　hamster。〃
　
　Avila　flushed；　and　lunged　for　his　beer。
　
　〃Don't　be　embarrassed；〃　Jasmine　said。　She　took　his　left　wrist　and　examined　the　beads　of　his　santeria　bracelet。　〃I　remember　this；　too。　Some　sorta　voodoo。〃
　
　Avila　pulled　away。　〃Has　Daphne　heard　from　Snapper　lately？〃
　
　〃It's　not　Daphne　anymore。　It's　Bridget。〃　Jasmine　dug　a　pack　of　Marlboros　out　of　her　purse。　〃Matter　of　fact；　she　spent　the　hurricane　with　him。　Drunk　as　a　skunk　at　some　motel　up　in　Broward。〃
　
　Avila　made　no　move　to　light　her　cigaret。　He　said；　〃When's　the　last　time　she　saw　him？〃
　
　〃Just　yesterday。〃
　
　〃Yesterday！〃
　
　It　was　too　good　to　be　true！　Thank　you；　mighty　Change！　Avila　was　awestruck　and　humbled。
　
　Jasmine　said；　〃That　Snapper　calls　all　the　time；　ever　since　he　got　out　of　Sumter。　S