chiaasen.stormyweather-第41章

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vernor　didn't　seem　to　care；　of　course；　he　lived　in　a　different　universe。　〃'Happiness　is　never　grand；'〃　he'd　whispered　to　Augustine。　〃Aldous　Huxley。　'Being　contented　has　none　of　the　glamour　of　a　good　fight　against　misfortune。'　You　think　about　that。〃
　
　When　Augustine　got　to　the　truck；　he　broke　down　the　dart　rifle　and　concealed　the　pieces　in　a　gym　bag。　The　。38　pistol　he　tucked　in　the　gut　of　his　jeans；　beneath　his　shirt。　He　slung　the　gym　bag　over　his　shoulder　and　began　hiking　back　toward　Calusa；　wondering　if　Huxley　was　right。
　
　As　soon　as　Dennis　Reedy　and　Fred　Dove　drove　away；　Edie　Marsh　hauled　Levon　Stichler　out　of　the　closet。　Snapper　wasn't　much　help。　He　claimed　to　be　saving　his　energy。
　
　Edie　poked　the　old　man　with　a　bare　toe。　〃So　what　are　we　going　to　do　with　him？〃　It　was　a　question　of　paramount　interest　to　Levon　Stichler　as　well。　His　eyes　widened　in　anticipation　of　Snapper's　answer；　which　was：　〃Dump　him。〃
　
　〃Where？〃　asked　Edie。
　
　〃Far　away；〃　Snapper　said。　〃Fucker　meant　to　kill　me。〃
　
　〃It　was　a　pitiful　try；　you've　got　to　admit。〃
　
　〃So？　It's　the　thought　that　counts。〃
　
　Edie　said；　〃Look　at　him；　Snapper。　He's　not　worth　the　bullet。〃
　
　Levon　Stichler　wasn't　the　slightest　bit　insulted。　Edie　pulled　the　gag　from　his　mouth；　prompting　the　old　man　to　spit　repeatedly　on　the　floor。　The　gag　was　a　dust　cloth　that　tasted　pungently　of　furniture　wax。
　
　〃Thank　you；〃　he　panted。
　
　〃Shut　up；　asshole；〃　said　Snapper。
　
　Edie　Marsh　said：　〃What's　your　name；　Grampy？〃
　
　Levon　Stichler　told　her。　He　explained　why　he'd　e　to　assassinate　the　mobile…home　salesman。
　
　〃Well；　somebody　beat　you　to　it。〃　Edie　described　the　visit　by　the　burly　fellow　with　the　two　dachshunds。　〃He　took　your　scumbag　Tony　away。　I'm　certain　he　won't　be　back。〃
　
　〃Oh；〃　said　Levon　Stichler。　〃Who　are　you？〃
　
　Snapper　gave　Edie　a　cranky　look。　〃See？　I　told　you　we　gotta　kill　the　fucker。〃
　
　The　old　man　immediately　apologized　for　being　so　nosy。　Snapper　said　it　didn't　matter；　they　were　going　to　dump　him　anyway。
　
　Levon　said；　〃That's　really　not　necessary。〃　When　he　began　to　plead　his　case；　Snapper　decided　to　gag　him　again。　The　old　man　coughed　out　the　dust　rag；　crying；　〃Please…I've　got　a　heart　condition！〃
　
　〃Good。〃　Snapper　ordered　Edie　Marsh　to　go　fetch　the　auger　spike。　Levon　Stichler　got　the　message。　He　stopped　talking　and　allowed　his　mouth　to　be　muffled。
　
　〃Cover　his　eyes；　too；〃　said　Snapper。
　
　Edie　used　a　black　chiffon　scarf　that　she'd　found　in　Neria　Torres's　underwear　drawer。　It　made　for　quite　a　classy　blindfold。
　
　〃That　too　tight？〃　she　asked。
　
　Levon　Stichler　grunted　meekly　in　the　negative。
　
　〃Now　what？〃　she　said　to　Snapper。
　
　He　shrugged　unhappily。　〃You　got　any　more　them　Darvons？　My　fucking　leg's　on　fire。〃
　
　〃Honey；　I　sure　don't…〃
　
　〃Shit！〃　With　his　good　leg　he　kicked　Levon　Stichler　in　the　ribs；　for　no　reason　except　that　the　old　man　was　a　convenient　target。　Edie　pulled　Snapper　aside　and　told　him　to　get　a　grip；　for　Christ's　sake。
　
　Under　her　breath：　〃It's　all　working　out；　OK？　Reedy　signed　off　on　the　settlement。　All　that's　left　is　to　wait　for　the　money。　Kill　this　geezer；　you'll　screw　up　everything。〃
　
　Snapper　worked　his　jaw　like　a　steam　shovel。　His　eyes　were　shot　with　pain　and　hangover。　〃Well；　I　can't　think　of　nothin'　else　to　do。〃
　
　Edie　said：　〃Listen。　We　put　old　Levon　in　the　car　and　haul　him　out　to　the　boonies。　We　tell　him　to　take　his　sweet　time　walking　back；　otherwise　we'll　track　down　each　of　his　grandchildren　and　。。。　oh；　I　don't　know…〃
　
　〃Skin　'em　like　pigs？〃
　
　〃Fine。　Whatever。　The　point　is　to　scare　the　hell　out　of　him；　and　he'll　forget　about　everything。　All　he　wants　to　do　is　live。〃
　
　Snapper　said；　〃My　goddamn　leg's　near　to　bust　open。〃
　
　〃Go　watch　TV。　I'll　look　for　some　pills。〃
　
　Edie　searched　the　medicine　cabinets　to　see　if　any　useful　pharmaceuticals　had　survived　the　hurricane。　The　best　she　could　do　was　an　unopened　bottle　of　Midols。　She　told　Snapper　it　was　generic　codeine；　and　pressed　five　tablets　into　his　hand。　He　washed　them　down　with　a　slug　of　warm　Budweiser。
　
　Edie　said；　〃Is　there　gas　in　the　Jeep？〃
　
　〃Yeah。　After　Sally　Jessy　we'll　go。〃
　
　〃And　what　is　today's　topic？〃
　
　〃Boob　jobs　gone　bad。〃
　
　〃How　cheery；〃　said　Edie。　She　went　outside　to　walk　Donald　and　Maria。
　
　After　days　in　a　morphine　fog；　Trooper　Brenda　Rourke　finally　felt　better。　The　plastic　surgeon　promised　to　get　her　on　the　operating…room　schedule　by　the　end　of　the　week。
　
　Through　the　bandages　she　told　Jim　Tile：　〃You　look　whipped；　big　guy。〃
　
　〃We're　still　on　double　shifts。　It's　like　Daytona　out　there。〃
　
　Brenda　asked　if　he'd　heard　what　happened。　〃Some　pawnshop　off　Kendall…the　creep　tried　to　hock　my　mom's　ring。〃
　
　〃Same　guy？〃
　
　〃Sounds　like　it。　The　clerk　was　impressed　by　the　face。〃
　
　Jim　Tile　said；　〃Well；　it's　a　start。〃
　
　But　the　news　worried　him。　He　had　unleashed　the　governor　to　deal　with　Brenda's　attacker　on　the　assumption　that　the　governor　would　move　faster　than　police。　However；　the　pawnshop　incident　freshened　the　trail。　Now　it　was　possible　that　Skink's　pursuit　of　the　man　in　the　black　Cherokee　would　put　him　on　a　collision　course　with　detectives。　It　was　not　a　happy　scenario　to　contemplate。
　
　〃I　must　look　like　hell；〃　Brenda　said；　〃because　I've　never　seen　you　so　gloomy。〃
　
　Of　course　he'd　let　it　get　to　him…Brenda　lying　pale　and　shattered　in　the　hospital。　In　his　work　Jim　Tile　had　seen　plenty　of　blood；　pain　and　heartache；　yet　he'd　never　felt　such　blinding　anger　as　he　had　that　first　day　at　Brenda's　bedside。　Trusting　the　justice　system　to　deal　with　her　attacker　had　struck　the　trooper　as　laughably　naive；　certainly　futile。　This　was　a　special　monster。　It　was　evident　by　what　he'd　done　to　her。　The　guy　hated　either　women；　cops　or　both。　In　any　case；　he　was　a　menace。　He　needed　to　be　cut　from　the　herd。
　
　Now；　upon　reflection；　Jim　Tile　wished　he'd　let　his　inner　rage　subside　before　he'd　made　the　move。　When　Brenda　remembered　the　tag　number　off　the　Cherokee；　he　should've　sent　it　up　the　chain　of　mand；　played　it　by　the　book。　Turning　the　governor　loose　was　a　rash；　foolhardy　impulse；　vigilante　madness。　Brenda　would　recover　from　the　beating；　but　now　Jim　Tile　had　put　his　dear　old　friend　at　dire　risk。　It　would　be　damn　near　impossible　to　call　him　off。
　
　〃I　need　to　ask　you　something；〃　Brenda　said。
　
　〃Sure。〃
　
　〃A　detective　from　Metro　Robbery　came　by　today。　Also　a　woman　from　the　State　Attorney。　They　didn't　know　about　the　black　Jeep。〃
　
　〃Hmmm。〃
　
　〃About　the　license　plate…I　figured　you'd　given　them　the　numbers。〃
　
　〃I　made　a　mistake；　Bren。〃
　
　〃You　forgot？〃
　
　〃No；　I　didn't　forget。　I　made　a　mistake。〃
　
　Jim　Tile　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　bed　and　told　her　what　he'd　done。　Afterwards　she　remained　quiet；　except　to　make　small　talk　when　a　nurse　came　to　dress　her　wounds。
　
　Later；　when　she　and　Jim　Tile　were　alone　again；　Brenda　said；　〃So　you　found　your　crazy　friend。　How？〃
　
　〃Doesn't　matter。〃
　
　〃And　he　was　right　here；　in　this　room；　and　you　didn't　introduce　me？〃
　
　Jim　Tile　chuckled。　〃You　were　zonked；　darling。〃
　
　Brenda　stroked　his　hand。　He　could　tell　she　was　still　thinking　about　it。　Finally　she　said；　〃Boy；　you　must　really　love　Jne；　to　do　something　like　this。〃
　
　〃I　screwed　up　bad。　I'm　sorry。〃
　
　〃Enough　already。　I've　got　one　question。〃
　
　〃OK。〃
　
　〃What　are　the　odds；〃　Brenda　said；　〃that　your　friend　will　catch　up　with　the　asshole　who　got　my　mother's　ring？〃
　
　〃The　odds　are　pretty　good。〃
　
　Brenda　Rourke　nodded　and　closed　her　eyes。　Jim　Tile　waited　until　her　breathing　was　strong　and　regular；　waited　until　he　was　certain　it　was　a　deep　healthy　sleep；　and　not　something　else。　Before　leaving；　he　kissed　her　cheek；　in　a　gap　between　bandages；　and　was　forted　by　the　warmth　of　her　skin。　He　felt　pretty　sure　he　saw　the　trace　of　a　smile　on　her　lips。
　
　Skink's　forehead　was　propped　on　the　windowsill。　He　hadn't　made　a　sound　in　an　hour；　hadn't　stirred　when　Augustine　left　to　get　the　guns。　Bonnie　Lamb　didn't　know　if　he　was　dozing　or　ignoring　her。
　
　〃This　was　the　baby's　room。　Did　you　notice？〃　she　said。
　
　Nothing。
　
　〃Are　you　awake？〃
　
　Still　no　response。
　
　A　yellowjacket　flew　through　the　broken…out　window　and　took　an　instant　liking　to　Skink's　pungent　mane。　Bonnie　shooed　it　away。　From　across　the　street；　at　15600　Calusa；　came　the　sound　of　dogs　barking。
　
　Eventually　the　governor　spoke。　〃Oh；　they'll　be　back。〃　He　didn't　raise　his　head　from　the　sill。
　
　〃Who？〃
　
　〃Folks　who　own　the　baby。〃
　
　〃How　can　you　be　sure？〃
　
　Silence。
　
　〃Maybe　the　hurricane　was　all　they　could　take。〃
　
　〃Optimist；〃　Skink　grumbled。
　
　Glancing　again　at　the　drowned　teddy　bear；　Bonnie　thought　that　no　family　deserved　to　have　their　life　shattered　in　such　a　harrowing　way。　The　governor　seemed　to　be　reading　her　mind。
　
　He　said；　〃I'm　sorry　it　happened　to　them。　I'm　sorry　they　were　here　in　the　first　place。〃
　
　〃And　you'll　be　even　sorrier　if　they　e　back。〃
　
　Skink　looked　up；　blinking　like　a　sleepy　porch　lizard。　〃It's　a　hurricane　zone；〃　he　said　simply。
　
　Bonnie　thought　he　ought　to　hear　an　outsider's　point　of　view。　〃People　e　here　because　they　think　it's　better　than　where　they　were。　They　believe　the　postcards；　and　you　know　what？　For　lots　of　them；　it　is　better　than　where　they　came　from；　whether　it's　Long　Island　or　Des　Moines　or　Havana。　Life　is　brighter；　so　it's　worth　the　risks。　Maybe　even　hurricanes。〃
　
　The　governor　used　his　functional　eye　to　scan　the　baby's　room。　He　said；　〃Fuck　with　Mother　Nature　and　she'll　fuck　back。〃
　
　〃People　have　dreams；　that's　all。　Like　the　settlers　of　the　old　West。〃
　
　〃Oh；　child。〃
　
　〃What？〃　Bonnie　said；　indignantly。
　
　〃Tell　me　what's　left　to　settle。〃　Skink　lowered　his　head　again。
　
　She　tugged　on　the　sleeve　of　his　camo　shirt。　〃I　want　you　to　show　me　what　you　showed　Max。　The　wildest　part。〃
　
　§kink　clucked。　〃Why？　Your　husband　certainly　wasn't　impressed。〃
　
　〃I'm　not　like　Max。〃
　
　〃Let　us　fervently　hope　not。〃
　
　〃Please。　Will　you　show　me？〃
　
　Once　more；　no　reply。　Bonnie　wished　Augustine　would　hurry　back。　She　returned　her　attention　to　the　house　where　the　black　Cherokee　was　parked；　and　thought　about　what　they'd　witnessed　during　the　long　hot　morning。
　
　A　half　hour　after　the　old　man　had　arrived；　a　taxi　pulled　up。　Out　the　doorway　of　15600　Calusa　had　scurried　a　redheaded　woman　in　a　tight　shiny　cocktail　dress　and　formidable　high　heels。　Augustine　and　Bonnie　agreed　she　looked　like　a　prostitute。　As　the　woman　had　wriggled　herself　into　the　back　of　the　cab；　Skink　remarked　that　her　bold　stockings　would　make　a　superb　mullet　seine。
　
　A　short　time　later；　a　teal…blue　Taurus　had　stopped　in　the　driveway。　The　governor　said　it　had　to　be　a　rental；　because　only　rental　panies　bought　teal…blue　cars。
　
　Two　men　had　gotten　out　of　the　Taurus；　neither　had　a　disfigured　jaw。　The　younger　one　was　a　trim…looking　blond　who　wore　eyeglasses　and　carried　a　tan　briefcase。　The　older；　heavier　one　had　cropped　dark　hair　and　carried　a　clipboard；　his　bearing　was　one　of　authority…probably　ex…military；　Skink　guessed；　a　sergeant　in　his　youth。　The　two　men　had　stayed　in　the　house　for　a　long　time。　Finally　the　older　one　had　e　out