chiaasen.stormyweather-第45章

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bound　for　Cartagena。　It　was　a　high…risk　deal；　and　Johnny　said　for　Snapper　to　call　the　Paradise　Palms　anytime　he　needed　a　place　to　crash　or　hide　out　or　take　some　girl。
　
　Snapper　had　dreamed　up　the　plan　for　old　man　Stichler　all　by　himself；　without　Edie's　input。　He　surely　didn't　want　to　throw　all　that　cleverness　out　the　window；　but　he　couldn't　conceive　of　how　to　fit　the　new　intruders　into　his　scheme；　and　he　was　too　fogged　from　the　pills　to　improvise。　It　seemed　easier　to　kill　the　one…eyed　freak　and　his　woman　panion…and　as　long　as　Snapper　was　being　so　bold；　why　not　do　loony　old　Levon　as　well？　That　way；　Snapper　reasoned；　he　wouldn't　have　to　pay　the　two　whores　anything；　except　for　gas　money　and　possibly　a　seafood　dinner。
　
　On　the　downside：　How　to　get　rid　of　three　dead　bodies？　The　logistics　were　daunting。　Snapper　suspected　that　his　droopy　brain　wasn't　up　to　the　challenge。　Killing　took　energy；　and　Snapper　all　of　a　sudden　felt　like　sleeping　for　three　weeks　solid。
　
　He　worked　up　a　pep　talk　for　himself；　recalling　what　a　wise　guy　once　told　him　in　prison：　Dumping　bodies　is　like　buying　real　estate…location；　location；　location。　Snapper　thought：　Look　around；　boy。　You　got　your　mangrove　islands；　your　Everglades；　your　Atlantic…mother…fucking…Ocean。　What　more　you　want？　A　fast　shot　to　the　head；　then　let　the　sharks　or　the　gators　or　the　crabs　finish　the　job。　What's　so　damn　difficult　about　that？
　
　But　Jesus；　the　stakes　were　high；　one　measly　fuckup　and　it's　back　to　Raiford　for　the　rest　of　my　life。　Probably　locked　in　a　ten…by…ten　with　some　humongous　horny　black　faggot　weight　lifter。　Clean　and　jerk　my　skinny　ass　till　I　walk　like　Julia　Roberts。
　
　And　shooting　people　is　awful　noisy。　Edie　Marsh　wouldn't　go　for　it；　Snapper　knew　for　a　fact。　She'd　make　quite　a　stink。　And　killing　Edie　with　the　others　was　impractical　because　（a）　he　didn't　have　enough　bullets　and　（b）　he　couldn't　cash　the　insurance　checks　without　her。　Damn。
　
　〃What　is　it？〃　Edie　shouted　over　Reba。
　
　Snapper　made　a　sarcastic　zipper　motion　across　his　lips。　He　thought：　I'm　so　goddamn　tired。　If　only　I　could　have　a　nap；　it　would　e　to　me。　A　new　plan。
　
　The　one…eyed　stranger　began　to　sing　along　with　the　stereo。　Snapper　scrutinized　him　coldly。　How'd　he　know　about　the　lady　trooper？　Snapper's　hands　had　a　slight　tremor。　His　lips　were　as　dry　as　ash。　What　if　the　bitch　had　gone　and　died？　What　if　first　she'd　gotten　a　good　look　at　him；　or　maybe　the　Jeep？　What　if　it　was　already　on　TV；　and　every　cop　in　Florida　was　in　the　hunt？
　
　Snapper　told　himself　to　knock　it　off；　think　positive。　For　the　first　time　in　days；　his　busted…up　knee　didn't　hurt　so　much。　That　was　something　to　be　glad　about。
　
　The　young　woman　in　the　back　seat　joined　her　flaky　panion　in　song。　She　was　winging　it　with　the　lyrics；　but　that　was　all　right　with　Snapper；　her　voice　was　pretty。
　
　Edie　Marsh　tapped　the　rim　of　the　steering　wheel　and　acted　peeved　at　the　amateur　chorus。　After　about　three　minutes　she　reached　out　and　poked　the　Off　button　on　the　CD　player。　Reba　fell　silent；　and　so　did　the　chorus。
　
　Snapper　announced　that　the　next　selection　was　Travis　Tritt。
　
　〃Spare　us；〃　Edie　said。　〃Hell's　your　problem？〃
　
　The　woman　in　the　back　seat　spoke　up：　〃My　name's　Bonnie。　This　is　the　governor。　He　prefers　to　be　called　'captain。'　〃
　
　〃Skink　will　be　fine；〃　said　the　one…eyed　man。　〃And　I　would　kill　for　some　Allman　Brothers。〃
　
　Snapper　demanded　to　know　what　they　wanted；　why　they'd　been　snooping　at　the　Torres　house。　The　man　who　called　himself　Skink　said：　〃We　were　looking　for　you。〃
　
　〃How　e？〃
　
　〃As　a　favor　to　a　friend。　You　wouldn't　know　him。〃
　
　Edie　Marsh　said；　〃You're　not　making　a　damn　bit　of　sense。〃
　
　Something　shifted　in　the　bed　of　the　Jeep。　The　sound　was　followed　by　a　faint　quavering　moan。
　
　From　the　woman；　Bonnie：　〃What　are　your　names？〃
　
　Edie　Marsh　rolled　her　eyes。　Bonnie　caught　it　in　the　rearview。
　
　Snapper　said；　〃Fuckin'　idiots；　the　both　of　'em。〃
　
　〃All　I　meant；〃　said　Bonnie　Lamb；　〃is　what　should　we　call　you？〃
　
　〃I'm　Farrah　Fawcett；〃　Edie　said。　Nodding　at　Snapper：　〃He's　Ryan　O'Neal。〃
　
　In　discouragement；　Bonnie　turned　toward　the　window。　〃Just　forget　it。〃
　
　A　warm　hand　settled　on　Edie's　shoulder。　〃Whoever　you　are；〃　Skink　said　intimately；　〃you　make　a　truly　lovely　couple。〃
　
　〃Fuck　you。〃
　
　Snapper　lunged　across　the　seat　and　stuck　the　barrel　of　the　。357　in　a　crease　of　the　stranger's　cheek。　〃You　think　I　don't　got　the　balls　to　shoot？〃
　
　Skink　nonchalantly　pushed　the　gun　away。　He　eased　back　in　the　seat　and　folded　his　arms。　His　fearless　attitude　distracted　Edie　Marsh。　Snapper　manded　her　to　pull　off　at　the　next　exit。　He　needed　to　find　a　bathroom。
　
　Having　never　been　abducted　at　gunpoint；　Bonnie　Lamb　wasn't　as　scared　as　she　thought　she　ought　to　be。　She　attributed　the　unexpected　posure　to　her　resolve　for　adventure　and　to　the　governor's　implausibly　confident　air。　Based　on　nothing　but　blind　faith；　Bonnie　was　sure　that　Skink　wouldn't　allow　them　to　be　harmed　by　a　deformed　auto　thief。　The　guy's　erratic　gun　handling　was　nerve…racking；　but　somehow　not　so　menacing　with　another　woman　in　the　Jeep。　Bonnie　Lamb　could　tell　that　she　wasn't　some　dull…eyed　trailer…park　tramp；　she　was　a　sharp　cookie；　and　not　especially　afraid　of　the　dolt　with　the　pistol。　Bonnie　had　a　feeling　there　wouldn't　be　any　killing　inside　the　truck。
　
　She　wondered　what　Max　Lamb　would　think　if　he　could　see　her　now。　Probably　best　that　he　couldn't。　She　felt　terrible　about　hurting　her　husband；　but　did　she　miss　him？　It　didn't　feel　like　it。　Perhaps　she　was　doing　Max　the　biggest　favor　of　his　life。　Having　waited　all　of　one　week　to　mit　adultery　with　a　near…total　stranger；　Bonnie　surmised　that　she　had；　in　the　parlance　of　pop　psychotherapy；　〃unresolved　issues〃　to　confront。　Poor　eager　Max　was　a　victim　of　misleading　packaging。　He　thought　he　was　getting　one　sort　of　woman　when　he　was　getting　another。　For　that　Bonnie　felt　guilty。
　
　She　vowed　not　to　depress　herself　by　overanalyzing　her　instant　attraction　to　Augustine。　She　wished　he　were　there；　and　wondered　how　he　would　ever　find　them　on　the　road。　Bonnie　herself　had　no　clue　which　way　they　were　headed。
　
　〃South；〃　the　governor　reported。　〃And　south　is　good。〃
　
　The　man　with　the　pistol　snarled：　〃Quiet；　asshole。〃
　
　Suddenly　Bonnie　got　an　eerie　hologrammic　vision　of　the　gunman's　naked　skull　on　the　wall　of　Augustine's　guest　room。　The　broken　mandible　caused　the　bony　orb　to　rest　with　a　sinister　tilt　on　the　shelf；　a　pirate's　crooked　grin。　Then　Bonnie　had　a　flash　of　Augustine；　juggling　the　gunman's　skull　with　the　others。
　
　From　a　pocket　Skink　withdrew　a　squirming　Bufo　toad；　which　immediately　peed　on　him。　The　man　with　the　。357　sneered。
　
　The　woman　who　was　driving　glanced　over　her　shoulder。　〃What　now？〃　she　grumbled。
　
　〃Smoke　the　sweat；〃　Skink　said；　cupping　the　toad　and　its　amber　piddle　in　his　palm；　〃and　then　you　see　mastodons。〃
　
　〃Get　that　stinking　thing　outta　here；〃　said　the　gunman。
　
　〃Did　you　know　mastodons　once　roamed　Florida？　Eons　before　your　ancestors　began　their　ruinous　copulations。　Mastodons　as　big　as　cement　trucks！〃　Skink　put　the　toad　out　the　window。　Then　he　wiped　the　toad　pee　on　the　sleeve　of　the　gunman's　pinstriped　suit。
　
　〃You　fuck！〃　Snapper　took　aim　at　Skink's　good　eye。
　
　The　woman　at　the　wheel　told　him　to　cool　it…other　drivers　were　staring。　She　turned　off　at　the　next　exit　and　pulled　into　an　abandoned　service　station。　The　hurricane　had　blown　down　the　gas　pumps　like　dominoes。　Looters　had　cleaned　out　the　garage。　On　the　roof　lay　the　remains　of　a　Mazda　Miata；　squashed　upside　down　like　a　bright　lady…bug。
　
　While　the　gunman　left　the　Jeep　to　relieve　himself　behind　the　building；　the　woman　reluctantly　took　charge　of　the　。357。　She　looked　so　unfortable　that　Bonnie　Lamb　felt　a　little　sorry　for　her；　the　poor　girl　could　barely　hoist　the　darn　thing。　Surely；　Bonnie　thought；　now　was　the　moment　for　Skink　to　make　his　move。
　
　But　he　didn't。　Instead　he　smiled　at　the　woman　in　the　driver's　seat　and　said；　〃You're　truly　pretty。　And　aware　of　it；　of　course。　The　guiding　force　for　most　of　your　life；　I　imagine…your　good　looks。〃
　
　The　woman　blushed；　then　toughened。
　
　〃Where'd　you　spend　the　storm？〃　Skink　asked。
　
　〃In　a　motel。　With　Mel　Gibson　there；〃　the　woman　said；　nodding　toward　Snapper；　〃and　a　hooker。〃
　
　〃I　was　tied　to　a　bridge。　You　should　try　it　sometime。〃
　
　〃Right。〃
　
　Bonnie　Lamb　said；　〃He　isn't　kidding。〃
　
　The　woman　shifted　the　。357　to　her　other　hand。　〃What　on　earth　are　you　people　doing？　Who　sent　you　to　the　house…Tony's　wife？〃　She　turned　around　on　her　knees；　bracing　her　gun　arm　on　the　front　seat。　〃Bonnie；　dear；〃　she　said　sharply。　〃I'd　really　appreciate　some　answers。〃
　
　〃Would　you　believe　I'm　on　my　honeymoon。〃
　
　〃You're　joking。〃　The　woman　glanced　doubtfully　at　Skink。
　
　Bonnie　said；　〃Oh；　not　him。　My　husband's　in　Mexico。〃
　
　〃Boy；　are　you　ever　lost；〃　said　the　woman。
　
　Bonnie　shook　her　head。　〃Not　really。〃
　
　The　storm　had　knocked　down　the　traffic　signal　at　Florida　City；　or　what　was　left　of　Florida　City。　A　tired　policeman　in　a　yellow　rainsuit　directed　traffic　at　the　intersection。　Edie　Marsh　tensed　behind　the　wheel　of　the　Jeep。　She　told　Snapper　to　make　sure　the　gun　was　out　of　sight。　As　they　passed　the　officer；　Bonnie　Lamb　figured　it　would　be　a　fine　time　to　poke　her　head　out　the　window　and　shout　for　help；　but　Skink　offered　no　encouraging　signal。　His　chin　had　drooped　back　to　his　chest。　〃
　
　Most　of　the　street　signs　remained　down　from　the　hurricane；　but　Bonnie　saw　one　indicating　they　were　about　to　enter　the　Fabulous　Florida　Keys。　Snapper　was　apprehensive　about　possible　checkpoints　along　Highway　One；　so　he　instructed　Edie　Marsh　to　use　Card　Sound　Road　instead。
　
　〃There's　a　toll；〃　she　noted。
　
　〃So？〃
　
　〃I　left　my　purse　at　the　house。〃
　
　Snapper　said；　〃Jesus；　I　got　money。〃
　
　〃I　bet　you　do。〃　Edie　Marsh　couldn't　stop　thinking　about　what　the　one…eyed　stranger　had　said：　Snapper　assaulting　a　woman　cop　and　swiping　her　mother's　ring。
　
　〃How　much　did　you　get　for　it？〃　she　asked。
　
　〃For　what？〃
　
　〃The　ring。〃　Edie　stared　ahead　at　the　flat　strip　of　road；　which　stretched　eastward　as　far　as　she　could　see。
　
　Snapper　muttered　obscenely。　He　fished　in　his　coat　and　came　out　with　a　plain　gold　wedding　band。　He　held　it　three　inches　from　Edie's　face。
　
　〃Happy？〃　he　said。
　
　The　sight　of　the　stolen　ring　affected　Edie　in　an　unexpected　way：　She　felt　repulsed；　then　dejected。　She　tried　to　picture　the　policewoman；　wondered　if　she　was　married　or　had　children；　wondered　what　dreadful　things　Snapper　had　done　to　her。
　
　Lord；　Edie　thought。　What　a　small；　disappointing　life　I've　made　for　myself。　She　wanted　to　believe　it　would've　been　different　if　only　she'd　talked　that　shy　young　Kennedy　into　the　sack。　But　she　was　no　longer　sure。
　
　〃I　couldn't　pawn　it；〃　Snapper　was　saying。　〃Damn　thing's　engraved；　nobody'll　touch　it。〃
　
　〃What　does　it　say？〃　Edie　asked　quietly。　〃On　the　ring。〃
　
　〃Who　cares。〃
　
　〃e　on。　What　does　it　say？〃
　
　The　woman　in　the　back　seat　sat　forward；　also　curious；　as　Snapper　read　the　inscription　aloud：　〃'For　My　Cynthia。　Always。'〃　He　gave　a　scornful　laugh　and　hung　his　bony　arm　out　the　window；　preparing　to　toss　the　ring