璇玑之心刃·冷血悍将-第117部分

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　legitimacy；　their　pipeline　to　the　street；　and　that　made　him　safe　…　for　a　while。　As　long　as　Eddie　stayed　smart　and　alert。
‘What　room　do　you　suppose　this　was？‘　Tucker　asked　Piaggi；　just　to　make　conversation。
‘What　do　you　mean？‘
‘When　this　was　a　ship；　looks　like　it　was　a　cabin　or　something；‘　he　said；　sealing　the　last　envelope　and　placing　it　inside　the　beer　cooler。　‘I　never　thought　about　that。‘　Which　was　actually　true。
‘Captain‘s　cabin；　you　think？‘　Tony　wondered。　It　was　something　to　pass　the　time；　and　he　was　thoroughly　sick　of　what　they‘d　done　all　night。
‘Could　be；　I　suppose。　It‘s　close　to　the　bridge。‘　The　man　stood；　stretching；　wondering　why　it　was　that　he　had　to　do　all　the　hard　work。　The　answer　came　easily　enough。　Tony　was　a　‘made‘　man。　Eddie　wanted　to　bee　one。　He　would　never　be；　and　neither　would　Angelo；　Henry　Tucker　reflected；　glad　for　it。　He‘d　never　trusted　Angelo；　and　now　he　was　no　longer　a　problem。　One　thing　about　these　people；　they　seemed　to　keep　their　word　…　and　they　would　continue　to；　as　long　as　he　was　their　connection　to　the　raw　material；　and　not　one　minute　longer。　Tucker　had　no　illusions　about　that。　It　had　been　good　of　Angelo　to　make　his　connection　with　Tony　and　Eddie；　and　Angelo‘s　death　had　had　exactly　the　effect　on　Henry　that　his　own　death　would　have　on　the　other　two：　none。　All　men　have　their　uses；　Tucker　told　himself；　closing　the　beer　cooler。　And　the　crabs　had　to　eat　too。
With　luck　that　would　be　the　last　killing　for　a　while。　Tucker　didn‘t　shrink　from　it；　but　he　disliked　plications　that　often　came　from　killing。　A　good　business　ran　smoothly；　without　fuss；　and　made　money　for　everyone；　which　kept　everyone　happy；　even　the　customers　at　the　far　end　of　the　process。　Certainly　this　load　would　keep　them　happy。　It　was　good　Asian　heroin；　scientifically　processed　and　moderately　cut　with　nontoxic　elements　that　would　give　the　users　a　rocketship　high　and　a　calm；　gentle　descent　back　to　whatever　reality　they　were　trying　to　escape。　The　sort　of　rush　they　would　want　to　experience　again；　and　so　they‘d　return　to　their　pushers；　who　could　charge　a　little　extra　for　this　very　good　stuff。　‘Asian　Sweet‘　was　already　the　trade　name。
There　was　danger；　having　a　street　name。　It　gave　the　police　something　to　target；　a　name　to　chase　after；　specific　questions　to　ask；　but　that　was　the　risk　in　having　a　hot　product；　and　for　that　reason　he‘d　selected　his　associates　for　their　experience；　connections；　and　security。　His　processing　site　had　also　been　selected　with　an　eye　to　security。　They　had　a　good　five　miles　of　visibility；　and　a　fast　boat　with　which　to　make　their　escape。　Yeah；　there　was　danger；　to　be　sure；　but　all　life　was　danger；　and　you　measured　risk　against　reward。　Henry　Tucker‘s　reward　for　less　than　a　single　day‘s　work　was　one　hundred　thousand　dollars　in　untaxed　cash；　and　he　was　willing　to　risk　a　lot　for　that。　He　was　willing　to　risk　far　more　for　what　Piaggi‘s　connections　could　do；　and　now　he　had　them　interested。　Soon　they‘d　bee　as　ambitious　as　he　was。
The　boat　from　Solomons　arrived　a　few　minutes　early；　with　the　propellers。　The　doctors　hadn‘t　told　Kelly　to　keep　Pam　busy；　but　it　was　a　simple　enough　prescription　for　her　problems。　Kelly　wheeled　the　portable　pressor　back　onto　the　dock　and　started　it　up；　telling　her　how　to　regulate　the　airflow　by　keeping　an　eye　on　a　gauge。　Next　he　got　the　wrenches　he　needed　and　set　them　on　the　dock　also。
‘One　finger；　this　one；　two　fingers；　that　one；　and　three　fingers；　this　one　here；　okay？‘
‘Right；‘　Pam　replied；　impressed　with　Kelly‘s　expertise。　He　was　hamming　things　up　a　little；　the　rest　of　them　knew；　but　that　was　okay　with　everyone。
Kelly　climbed　down　the　ladder　into　the　water；　and　his　first　job　was　to　check　the　threads　on　the　prop　shafts；　which　appeared　to　be　in　decent　shape。　He　reached　his　hand　out　of　the　water　with　one　finger　up　and　was　rewarded　with　the　right　wrench；　which　he　used　to　remove　the　retaining　nuts；　then　handed　them　up　one　at　a　time。　The　whole　operation　took　only　fifteen　minutes；　and　the　shiny　new　screws　were　fully　attached；　and　new　protective　anodes　set　in　place。　He　took　his　time　giving　the　rudders　a　look；　and　decided　that　they‘d　be　okay　for　the　rest　of　the　year；　though　Sam　should　keep　an　eye　on　them。　It　was　a　relief；　as　usual；　to　climb　out　of　the　water　and　breathe　air　that　didn‘t　taste　like　rubber。
‘What　do　I　owe　you？‘　Rosen　asked。
‘For　what？‘　Kelly　took　off　his　gear　and　switched　off　the　pressor。
‘I　always　pay　a　man　for　his　work；‘　the　surgeon　said　somewhat　self…righteously。
Kelly　had　to　laugh。　‘Tell　you　what；　if　I　ever　need　a　back　operation；　you　can　make　it　a　freebie。　What　is　it　you　docs　call　this　sort　of　thing？‘
‘Professional　courtesy　…　but　you‘re　not　a　physician；‘　Rosen　objected。
‘And　you‘re　not　a　diver。　You‘re　not　a　seaman　yet；　either；　but　we‘re　going　to　fix　that　today；　Sam。‘
‘I　was　at　the　top　of　my　Power　Squadron　class！‘　Rosen　boomed。
‘Doc；　when　we　got　kids　from　training　school；　we　used　to　say；　"；That‘s　fine；　sonny；　but　this　here‘s　the　fleet。"；　Let　me　get　the　gear　stowed　and　we‘ll　see　how　well　you　can　really　drive　this　thing。‘
‘I　bet　I‘m　a　better　fisherman　than　you　are；‘　Rosen　proclaimed。
‘Next　they‘re　going　to　see　who　can　pee　the　farthest；‘　Sarah　observed　acidly　to　Pam。
‘That；　too。‘　Kelly　laughed　on　his　way　back　inside。　Ten　minutes　later　he‘d　cleaned　off　and　changed　into　a　T…shirt　and　cutoffs。
He　took　a　place　on　the　flying　bridge　and　watched　Rosen　prepare　his　boat　for　getting　under　way。　The　surgeon　actually　impressed　Kelly；　particularly　with　his　line　handling。
‘Next　time　let　your　blowers　work　for　a　while　before　you　light　off　the　engines；‘　Kelly　said　after　Rosen　started　up。
‘But　it‘s　a　diesel。‘
‘Number　one；　"；it"；　is　a　"；she；"；　okay？　Number　two；　it‘s　a　good　habit　to　get　into。　The　next　boat　you　drive　might　be　gas。　Safety；　doc。　You　ever　take　a　vacation　and　rent　a　boat？‘
‘Well；　yes。‘
‘In　surgery　you　do　the　same　thing　the　same　way；　every　time？‘　Kelly　asked。　‘Even　when　you　don‘t　really　have　to？‘
Rosen　nodded　thoughtfully。　‘I　hear　you。‘
‘Take　her　out。‘　Kelly　waved。　This　Rosen　did；　and　rather　smartly；　the　surgeon　thought。　Kelly　didn‘t：　‘Less　rudder；　more　screws。　You　won‘t　always　have　a　breeze　helping　you　away　from　alongside。　Propellers　push　water；　rudders　just　direct　it　a　little。　You　can　always　depend　on　your　engines；　especially　at　low　speed。　And　steering　breaks　sometimes。　Learn　how　to　do　without　it。‘
‘Yes；　Captain；‘　Rosen　growled。　It　was　like　being　an　intern　again；　and　Sam　Rosen　was　used　to　having　those　people　snap　to　his　orders。　Forty…eight；　he　thought；　was　a　little　old　to　be　a　student。
‘You‘re　the　captain。　I‘m　just　the　pilot。　These　are　my　waters；　Sam。‘　Kelly　turned　to　look　down　at　the　well　deck。　‘Don‘t　laugh；　ladies；　it‘ll　be　your　turn　next。　Pay　attention！‘　Quietly：　‘You‘re　being　a　good　sport；　Sam。‘
Fifteen　minutes　later　they　were　drifting　lazily　on　the　tide；　fishing　lines　out　under　a　warm　holiday　sun。　Kelly　had　little　interest　in　fishing；　and　instead　assigned　himself　lockout　duty　on　the　flying　bridge　while　Sam　taught　Pam　how　to　bait　her　line。　Her　enthusiasm　surprised　all　of　them。　Sarah　made　sure　that　she　was　liberally　covered　with　Coppertone　to　protect　her　pale　skin；　and　Kelly　wondered　if　a　little　tan　would　highlight　her　scars。　Alone　with　his　thoughts　on　the　flying　bridge；　Kelly　asked　himself　what　sort　of　man　would　abuse　a　woman。　He　stared　out　through　squinted　eyes　at　a　gently　rolling　surface　dotted　with　boats。　How　many　people　like　that　were　within　his　sight？　Why　was　it　that　you　couldn‘t　tell　from　looking　at　them？
Packing　the　boat　was　simple　enough。　They‘d　stocked　in　a　good　supply　of　chemicals；　which　they　would　have　to　replenish　periodically；　but　Eddie　remembered　the　spot；　well　enough；　and　the　water　was　still　clear。
‘Sweet　Jesus！‘　Tony　gasped。
‘Gonna　be　a　good　year　for　crabs；‘　Eddie　noted；　glad　that　Tony　was　shocked。　A　fitting　kind　of　revenge；　Eddie　thought；　but　it　was　not　a　pleasant　sight　for　any　of　them。　Half　a　bushel‘s　worth　of　crabs　were　already　on　the　body。　The　face　was　fully　covered；　as　was　one　arm；　and　they　could　see　more　of　the　creatures　ing　in；　drawn　by　the　smell　of　decay　that　drifted　through　the　water　as　efficiently　as　through　the　air：　nature‘s　own　form　of　advertising。　On　land；　Eddie　knew；　it　would　be　buzzards　and　crows。
‘What　do　you　figure？　Two　weeks；　maybe　three；　and　then　no　more　Angelo。‘
‘What　if　somebody　…‘
‘Not　much　chance　of　that；‘　Tucker　said；　not　bothering　to　look。　‘Too　shallow　for　a　sailboat　to　risk　ing　in；　and　motorboats　don‘t　bother　much。　There‘s　a　nice　wide　channel　half　a　mile　south；　fishing‘s　better　there；　they　say。　I　guess　the　crabbers　don‘t　like　it　here　either。‘
Piaggi　had　trouble　looking　away；　though　his　stomach　had　already　turned　over　once。　The　Chesapeake　Bay　blue　crabs；　with　their　claws；　were　dismantling　the　body　already　softened　by　warm　water　and　bacteria；　one　little　pinch　at　a　time；　tearing　with　their　claws；　picking　up　the　pieces　with　smaller　pincers；　feeding　them　into　their　strangely　alien　mouths。　He‘d　wondered　if　there　would　still　be　a　face　there；　eyes　to　stare　up　at　a　world　left　behind；　but　crabs　covered　it；　and　somehow　it　seemed　likely　that　the　eyes　had　been　the　first　things　to　go。　The　frightening　part