chiaasen.stormyweather-第40章

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　〃Mister　Nottage；　I　urge　you　not　to　do　anything　right　now。〃
　
　〃Hell；　it's　already　done。　Made　the　call　this　morning。〃　Nottage　spit　again。　He　opened　the　tissue　and　examined　the　contents　with　a　clinical　eye。　〃Last　time　I　checked；　I　still　had　fifty…one　percent　of　the　pany　stock。　You　wasted　a　perfectly　good　airplane　ticket；　boy。　The　decision's　made。〃
　
　Max　Lamb；　queasy　with　despair；　began　to　protest。　Nottage　hunched　forward；　cupped　his　palms　to　his　face　and　broke　into　a　volcanic　spasm　of　coughing。
　
　Max　jumped　away　from　the　bed。　〃Shall　I　get　Dr　Caulk？〃
　
　The　old　man　gazed　into　his　hands　and　said；　〃Oh　shit。〃
　
　Max　edged　closer。　〃Are　you　all　right？〃
　
　〃Considering　I'm　holding　a　piece　of　my　own　goddamn　lung。〃
　
　〃God！〃　Max　turned　away。
　
　〃Who　knows；〃　the　old　man　mused；　〃it　might　be　worth　something　someday。　Put　it　in　the　Smithsonian；　like　Dillinger's　dick。〃
　
　He　drew　back　his　frail　right　arm　and　lobbed　the　rancid　chunk　of　tissue　at　the　wall；　where　it　hung　like　a　gob　of　salsa。
　
　Max　Lamb　bolted　from　the　room。　Moments　later；　Clyde　Nottage　Jr　put　his　head　on　the　pillow　and　died　with　a　merry　wheeze。　The　expression　on　his　face　was　purely　triumphant。
　
　Dennis　Reedy　possessed　an　inner　radar　for　potential　trouble。　His　legendary　instincts　had　saved　Midwest　Casualty　many　millions　of　dollars　over　the　years；　so　his　services　as　a　claims　supervisor　were　prized　at　the　home　office　in　Omaha。　Reedy　was　an　obvious　choice　to　lead　the　Hurricane　Crisis　Team：　South　Florida　was　the　insurance…scam　capital　of　the　nation；　and　Reedy　knew　the　territory　inside　and　out。
　
　His　radar　went　on　full　alert　at　15600　Calusa　Drive。　The　injury　to　the　man's　jaw　was　old；　and　healed。　But　there　was　another　prospective　problem。
　
　〃Mister　Torres；〃　Reedy　said；　〃how'd　you　hurt　that　leg？〃
　
　Annoyed；　the　man　looked　up　from　the　BarcaLounger。　〃It　was　the　storm；〃　he　said。
　
　Reedy　turned　stiffly　to　Fred　Dove。　〃You　didn't　mention　this。〃
　
　〃They're　not　filing　a　claim　on　the　injury。〃
　
　Reedy　suppressed　the　urge　to　guffaw　in　young　Fred　Dove's　face。　Antonio　Torres　was　a　textbook　profile　of　a　nuisance　claimant。　He　was　disfigured；　morose　and　unsociable…precisely　the　sort　of　malcontent　who'd　have　no　qualms　about　defrauding　an　insurance　pany。　The　notion　might　not　have　occurred　to　Torres　yet；　but　it　would。
　
　Dennis　Reedy　asked　him　how　the　accident　had　happened。　Mr。　Torres　shot　a　look　at　Mrs。　Torres；　standing　next　to　Fred　Dove。　Reedy　detected　nervous　animosity　in　the　husband's　expression。
　
　Mr。　Torres　began　to　speak；　but　his　wife　cut　in　to　answer：　〃Tony　got　hit　by　a　roof　beam。〃
　
　〃Oh？〃
　
　〃While　he　was　walking　the　dogs。　Down　the　end　of　the　street。〃
　
　Fred　Dove　smiled　inwardly　with　relief。　Boy；　she　was　good。　And　quick！
　
　Reedy　said；　〃So　the　accident　didn't　happen　here　on　the　property？〃
　
　〃No；〃　replied　Edie　Marsh；　〃but　I　wish　it　did。　Then　we'd　know　who　to　sue。〃
　
　They　all　chuckled；　except　Snapper。　He　stared　contemptuously　at　the　emblem　of　a　growling　badger；　stitched　to　the　breast　of　Dennis　Reedy's　corporate　blazer。
　
　〃I　hope　you　don't　mind　my　asking　about　the　accident；〃　said　Reedy；　〃but　it's　important　for　us　to　know　all　the　circumstances…so　there's　not　a　misunderstanding　later　down　the　road。〃
　
　Edie　Marsh　nodded　cooperatively。　〃Well；　like　I　explained　to　Mister　Dove；　I　told　Tony　don't　you　walk　those　dogs　in　the　storm。　It　won't　kill　us　if　they　pee　on　the　carpet　or　wherever。　But　would　he　listen？　They're　like　his　little　babies…Donald　and　Maria　is　what　he　named　them。　Spoiled　rotten；　too。　We　don't　have　children；　you　understand。〃
　
　She　gave　Snapper　a　sad　wifely　smile。　The　look　he　sent　back　was　murderous。　She　said；　〃Tony　waited　till　the　eye　passed　over　and　the　wind　died　before　he　went　outside。　'Fore　long　it　started　blowing　hard　all　over　again；　and　before　Tony　could　make　it　back　with　the　dogs；　he　got　hit　by　a　beam　off　somebody's　roof。　Tore　up　his　knee　pretty　bad。〃
　
　Reedy　nodded　neutrally。　〃Mister　Torres；　where　did　this　accident　occur？〃
　
　〃Down　the　end　of　the　street。　Like　she　said。〃　Snapper　spoke　in　a　dull　monotone。　He　hated　answering　questions　from　pencil　dicks　like　Reedy。
　
　〃Do　you　recall　the　address；　Mister　Torres？〃
　
　〃No；　man；　the　rain　was　a　mess。〃
　
　〃Have　you　seen　a　doctor？〃
　
　〃I'll　be　OK。〃
　
　〃I　think　you　should　go　to　a　doctor。〃
　
　Fred　Dove　said；　〃I　suggested　the　same　thing。〃
　
　〃Oh；　Tony's　stubborn　as　a　mule。〃　Edie　Marsh　took　Dennis　Reedy's　arm。　〃Let　me　show　you　the　rest　of　the　house。〃
　
　Reedy　spent　an　hour　bing　through　the　place。　Fred　Dove　was　a　jumble　of　nerves；　but　Edie　stayed　cool。　Flirting　with　Reedy　was　out　of　the　question；　she　could　tell　he　was　an　old　pro。　She　steered　him　away　from　the　hall　closet　where　the　crazy　geezer　with　the　auger　spike　was　propped；　bound　and　gagged。
　
　Snapper　remained　sourly　camped　in　front　of　the　television。　Edie　reminded　him　that　the　portable　generator　was　low　on　gas；　but　he　paid　no　attention。　Donahue　was　doing　a　panel　on　interracial　lesbian　marriages；　and　Snapper　was　riveted　in　disgust。　White　chicks　eating　black　chicks！　That's　what　they　seemed　to　be　getting　at…and　there's　old　Phil；　acting　like　everything's　perfectly　normal；　like　he's　interviewing　the　fucking　Osmonds！
　
　After　inspecting　the　property；　Dennis　Reedy　settled　in　the　kitchen　to　work　up　the　final　numbers。　His　fingers　were　a　blur　on　the　calculator　keypad。　Fred　Dove　and　Edie　Marsh　traded　anticipatory　glances。　Reedy　scratched　some　figures　on　a　long　sheet　of　paper　and　slid　it　across　the　counter。　Edie　scanned　it。　It　was　a　detailed　claims　form　she　hadn't　seen　before。
　
　Reedy　said；　〃Mister　Dove　estimated　the　loss　of　contents　at　sixty…five。　That's　a　little　high；　so　I'm　remending　sixty。〃　He　pointed　with　the　eraser　end　of　his　pencil。　〃That　brings　the　total　to　two　hundred　and　one　thousand。　See？〃
　
　Edie　Marsh　was　baffled。　〃Contents？〃　Then；　catching　on：　〃Oh　yes；　of　course。〃　She　felt　like　a　total　fool。　She'd　assumed　the　estimate　for　the　house　included　the　Torreses'　personal　belongings。　Fred　Dove　gave　her　a　sneaky　wink。
　
　〃One…forty…one　for　the　dwelling；〃　explained　Dennis　Reedy；　〃plus　sixty　for　the　contents。〃
　
　Edie　said；　〃Well；　I　guess　that'll　have　to　do。〃　She　did　a　fine　job　of　acting　disappointed。
　
　〃And　we'd　like　your　husband　to　sign　a　release　confirming　that　he　will　not　file　a　medical　claim　related　to　his　knee　injury。　Otherwise　the　settlement　process　could　bee　quite　plicated。　Under　the　circumstances；　you　probably　don't　want　any　delays　in　receiving　your　payment。〃
　
　〃Tony'll　sign；〃　said　Edie。　〃Let　me　have　it。〃
　
　She　went　to　the　living　room　and　knelt　by　the　Barca…Lounger。　〃We're　in　great　shape；〃　she　whispered；　and　placed　both　documents…the　liability　waiver　and　the　claims　agreement…on　the　armrest。　〃Remember；〃　she　said；　〃it's　Torres　with　an　s。〃
　
　Snapper　barely　took　his　eyes　off　the　television　while　he　forged　Tony's　signature。　〃You　believe　these　perverts？〃　he　said；　pointing　at　Phil's　panel。　〃Bring　me　a　damn　beer。〃
　
　Back　in　the　kitchen；　Edie　Marsh　thanked　Dennis　Reedy　for　his　time。　〃How　long　before　we　get　the　money？〃
　
　〃A　couple　days。　You're　at　the　top　of　the　list。〃
　
　〃That's　wonderful；　Mister　Reedy！〃
　
　Fred　Dove　said；　〃You've　seen　our　mercials；　Mrs。　Torres。　We're　the　fastest　in　the　business。〃
　
　Christ；　Edie　thought；　Fred's　really　overdoing　it。　But；　with　the　exception　of　the　chatty　cartoon　badger；　she　did　recall　being　impressed　by　Midwest　Casualty's　TV　spots。　One　in　particular　showed　an　intrepid　pany　representative　delivering　claims　checks；　by　rowboat；　to　Mississippi　flood　victims。
　
　〃I've　got　a　laptop　at　the　hotel；〃　Dennis　Reedy　was　saying。　〃We　file　by　modem　direct　to　Omaha；　every　night。〃
　
　Edie　said；　〃That's　incredible。〃　A　couple　days！　But　what　about　that　extra　sixty　grand？
　
　As　soon　as　Reedy　went　outside；　Fred　Dove　took　her　in　his　arms。　When　he　tried　to　kiss　her；　she　pushed　him　away　and　said；　〃You　knew。〃
　
　〃It　was　supposed　to　be　a　surprise。〃
　
　〃Oh；　right。〃
　
　〃I　swear！　Sixty　thousand　extra；　for　you　and　me。〃
　
　〃Freddie；　don't　screw　around。〃
　
　〃How　could　I　steal　it；　Edie？　The　check　will　be　made　out　to　'Mister　and　Mrs。　Torres。'　That's　you　guys。　Think　about　it。〃
　
　Irritably　she　paced　the　kitchen。　〃I'm　so　stupid；〃　she　muttered。　〃Jesus。〃
　
　Of　course　the　furnishings　would　be　separate；　along　with　the　clothes　and　appliances　and　every　stupid　little　doodad　inside　the　place。　Fred　Dove　said；　〃You　never　filed　a　big　claim　before。　You　wouldn't　know。〃
　
　〃Dwelling　and　contents。〃
　
　〃Exactly。〃
　
　She　stopped　pacing　and　lowered　her　voice。　〃Snapper　didn't　look　at　the　new　numbers。〃
　
　Fred　Dove　gave　her　a　thumbs…up。　〃That　was　my　next　question。〃
　
　〃I　kept　my　hand　over　the　papers　so　he　wouldn't　see。〃
　
　〃Good　girl。〃
　
　〃Can　we　get　two　checks　instead　of　one？〃
　
　〃I　think　so；　Edie。　Sure。〃
　
　〃One　for　the　dwelling；　one　for　the　contents。〃
　
　〃That's　the　idea；〃　the　insurance　man　said。　〃An　extra　sixty　for　you　and　me。　But　don't　say　a　word　about　this。〃
　
　〃No　shit；　Sherlock。　He's　still　got　three　bullets　left；　remember？〃　She　pecked　Fred　Dove　on　the　lips　and　aimed　him　out　the　back　door。
　
　
　
　CHAPTER　TWENTY…ONE
　
　
　Skink　and　Bonnie　Lamb　kept　watch　over　the　house　on　Calusa　while　Augustine　returned　to　the　pickup　truck　for　the　guns。　He　wasn't　in　the　mood　to　shoot　at　anybody；　even　with　monkey　tranquilizer。　Making　love　to　Bonnie　had　left　him　recklessly　serene　and　sleepy…headed。　He　resolved　to　shake　himself　out　of　it。
　
　First　he　attempted　to　depress　himself　with　misgivings　and　high…minded　reproach。　The　woman　was　married；　newly　married！　She　was　confused；　lonely；　vulnerable…　Augustine　piled　it　on；　struggling　to　feel　like　a　worthless　low…life　piece　of　shit。　But　he　was　too　happy。　Bonnie　dazzled　him　with　her　nerve。　Augustine　hadn't　ever　been　with　a　woman　who　would　stoically　snack　on　roadkill；　or　fail　to　plain　about　mosquitoes。　Moreover；　she　seemed　to　understand　the　psychotherapeutic　benefits　of　skull　juggling。　〃Touching　death；〃　she'd　said；　〃or　maybe　teasing　it。〃
　
　In　the　aftermath　of　passion；　zipped　naked　into　a　sleeping　bag；　a　lover's　groggiest　murmurs　can　be　mistaken　for　piercing　insight。　Augustine　had　cautioned　himself　against　drawing　too　much　from　those　tender　exhausted　moments　with　Bonnie　Lamb。　Yet　here　he　was　with　a　soaring　heart　and　the　hint　of　a　goddamn　spring　in　his　step。　Would　he　ever　learn？
　
　As　much　as　he　craved　her　pany；　Augustine　was　apprehensive　about　Bonnie's　joining　Skink's　expedition。　He　feared　that　he'd　worry　about　her　to　distraction；　and　he　needed　his　brain　to　be　clear；　uncluttered。　As　long　as　the　governor　ran　the　show；　trouble　was　positively　guaranteed。　Augustine　was　counting　on　it；　he　couldn't　wait。　Finally　he　was　on　the　verge　of　recapturing；　at　least　temporarily；　direction　and　purpose。
　
　Bonnie　was　a　plication。　A　week　ago　Augustine　had　nothing　to　lose；　and　now　he　had　something。　Everything。　Love's　lousy　timing；　he　thought。
　
　Secret　moves　would　be　easier　with　only　the　two　of　them；　he　and　Skink。　But　Bonnie　demanded　to　be　in　the　middle；　playing　Etta　to　their　Butch　and　Sundance。　The　governor　didn't　seem　to　care；　of　course；　he　lived　in　a　different　universe。　〃'Happiness　is　never　g