mac.thepearlharbormurders-第13部分

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　With　the　defense　boom；　the　city　was　swarming　with　homesick　American　boys…defense　workers　as　well　as　servicemen…stuck　in　these　tropical　surroundings；　pining　for　their　favorite　winter　holiday。　Sears　and　Roebuck　responded　by　hanging　brightly　wrapped　presents　from　the　palm　trees　surrounding　their　parking　lot；　and　festive　colored　lights　had　been　strung　across　major　streets；　even　the　street…corner　Santas…most　of　whom　were　Japanese…were　putting　some　extra　swing　into　theft　bell…ringing。
　Still；　it　seemed　rather　halfhearted　to　Edgar　Rice　Burroughs；　who　was　used　to　sunny　Christmases；　having　lived　in　California　for　some　time　now；　though　his　many　years　in　the　Midwest　meant　he　knew　damn　well　what　a　real　white　Christmas　was　all　about。　The　cellophane　window　wreaths　and　tinsel…draped　palms　of　Honolulu　didn't　really　cut　the　mustard。
　After　last　night's　luau；　a　light　breakfast　seemed　called　for；　and　around　nine　a。m。；　Burroughs　and　Hully…in　their　tennis　whites；　rackets　at　hand…sat　on　wicker　chairs　at　a　small　round　wicker　table　on　the　lodge's　back　patio　and　ate　fresh　cut　pineapple　and　buttered　toast；　and　sipped　coffee。
　This　was　an　exceptionally　beautiful　day；　even　for　Hawaii；　Burroughs　noted…clear　sky；　sharp　light；　fresh　air。　Hard　to　believe；　just　hours　before；　a　young　woman　had　been　murdered　in　such　idyllic　surroundings。　The　prospect　of　playing　tennis；　within　a　few　yards　of　where　her　corpse　had　been　flung；　a　blossom　ripped　roughly　from　a　tree；　seemed　somehow　improper。。。　even　sacrilegious。
　〃I　don't　feel　much　like　tennis　this　morning；〃　Hully　said；　returning　his　china　cup　to　its　dish　with　a　slight　clatter。
　〃I　was　just　thinking　the　same　thing。〃
　His　son's　brow　furrowed。　〃Your　friend。。。　Detective　Jardine。。。〃
　〃Yes？〃
　〃You　respect　him？　He's　a　good　cop？〃
　Burroughs　sipped　his　coffee；　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃Probably　the　best　investigator　on　this　island…that's　why　I　called　him；　sought　him　out　specifically。。。。That　and　his　honesty。〃
　〃So　。。。　the　case　is　in　good　hands。〃
　Burroughs　said　nothing。
　〃Dad？〃
　A　few　of　the　tables　nearby　were　taken　up　by　other　Niumalu　guests。　From　the　expressions　on　various　faces；　it　was　clear　that　news　of　the　murder　had　gotten　around…and　judging　by　the　occasional　glances　he　and　Hully　were　getting；　their　participation　in　the　discovery　of　the　body　was　mon　knowledge　。。。　or　anyway；　mon　gossip。
　〃Let's　take　a　walk；　Hully…let's　return　to　the　scene　of　the　crime。〃
　Within　a　few　minutes；　after　depositing　their　tennis　rackets　at　their　bungalow；　along　with　their　abandoned　thoughts　of　a　morning　round　or　two；　father　and　son　were　sitting　on　the　sand…the　beach　again　a　beach；　a　crime　scene　no　more；　though　one　ominous　blackened　area；　like　a　scab　on　the　sand；　was　marked　by　the　victim's　dried　blood。　The　steady　rash　of　the　surf；　the　understated　thunder　of　it；　might　have　been　soothing…　under　other　circumstances。
　Hully　sat　like　an　Indian；　while　Burroughs　had　his　bronzed；　muscular　legs　sticking　straight　out；　his　palms　on　the　sand；　bracing　him。
　〃Normally　I　would　be　content　to　leave　this　to　John　Jardine；〃　Burroughs　said；　voice　barely　audible　above　the　surf。　〃But　John's　only　flaw；　if　it　is　one；　has　to　do　with　his　working　out　of　the　prosecutor's　office。〃
　〃I　don't　understand。〃
　Burroughs　twitched　a　half　smile。　〃Jardine's　specialty　isn't　so　much　solving　a　crime　as　providing　an　airtight　case　for　his　boss　to　take　into　court。　He'll　dig　in　and　do
　the　legwork；　all　the　tedious　stuff　real　detectives　do。。。　but　he'll　do　it　all　operating　from　the　assumption　that　that　musician　did　the　murder。〃
　Hully　shrugged。　〃It　does　look　open…and…shut。　Ka…mana　had　motive；　opportunity。。。〃
　〃Blood　on　his　hands。〃　Burroughs　tossed　a　pebble　at　the　tide；　raised　a　single　eyebrow。　〃That's　the　problem：　I'm　afraid　Jardine　won't　do　anything　except　dig　into　Harry　Kamana…and　until　or　unless　he　finds　out　that　Kamana　didn't　do　the　murder；　nobody　else　will　get　looked　at　as　a　suspect。〃
　Both　Hully's　eyebrows　had　climbed　his　forehead。　〃Is　that　what　you　think？　That　Kamana　is　innocent？〃
　〃What's　your　opinion？〃
　Hully　sighed；　and　stared　out　at　the　vast　blue　of　the　sky　meeting　the　ocean。　He　was　a　handsome　young　man…Burroughs　could　see　so　much　of　his　own　late　mother　in　the　boy's　sensitive；　oval　face。
　〃Well；　like　you　said　last　night；　O。　B。…Kamana　was　a　hell　of　a　lot　more　credible　than　that　Kuhn　character　。。。　but　why　would　Kuhn　have　lied？〃
　〃Maybe　he　did　the　killing。〃　Burroughs　nodded　to　the　left；　toward　the　foliage　lining　the　beach；　behind　which　the　German's　bungalow　nestled。　〃He　had　easy　access…　as　you　put　it；　opportunity。〃
　Hully　was　making　a　face。　〃What's　his　motive？〃
　〃Pearl　was　a　nice　girl；　but　let's　face　it…she　got　around。　And　Otto；　married　or　not；　has　a　reputation　as　a　playboy。〃
　Hully　snapped　his　fingers。　〃That　makes　his　wife　a　suspect；　too！　Suppose　Otto　and　Pearl　were　down　on　the　beach；　and　Mrs。　Kuhn　caught　'em！〃
　Nodding；　with　a　wry；　rueful　smile；　Burroughs　said；　〃Doesn't　take　long　to　e　up　with　other　suspects；　does　it？　And　there　could　be　other　reasons　why　Kuhn　lied。〃
　〃If　he　did　lie。〃
　〃If　he　did　lie；〃　Burroughs　allowed。　He　wanted　to　share　Kuhn's　supposed　status　as　〃sleeper〃　agent　for　the　Japanese；　but　didn't　feel　he　should　betray　FBI　agent　Sterling's　confidence。
　〃Anyway；　I　can　see　the　problem　with　Jardine；〃　Hully　said。　〃As　a　prosecutor's　investigator；　he's　already　focused　on　one　suspect…when　there　are　plenty　of　others。〃
　Burroughs　glanced　around；　to　make　sure　he　and　his　son　were　still　alone　on　the　beach。　〃I　hate　to　say　so；　but　。。。　Colonel　Fielder　and　his　son　have　to　be　included　on　that　list。〃
　Hully　was　shaking　his　head。　〃I　can't　believe　Bill　would　do　anything　to　harm　Pearl…he　was　crazy　about　her！〃
　〃　'Crazy'　might　be　the　operative　word…suppose　Bill　found　Pearl　with　another　man；　on　the　beach？〃
　〃Well。。。　I　can　see　your　point；　but…〃
　〃Were　you　with　Bill　last　night？　Can　you　alibi　him？〃
　Hully　lowered　his　gaze。　〃No。　Last　I　saw　him；　he　was　on　Hotel　Street。。。　plenty　of　time　to　get　back　here。〃
　〃And　I　know　for　a　fact　Pearl　was　looking　to　talk　to　Fielder。。。。〃
　Quickly；　Burroughs　filled　his　son　in　on　Pearl's　visit
　to　the　bungalow；　and　her　request　for　Burroughs　to　set　up　a　meeting　with　Bill's　father。
　〃She　asked　me　the　same　thing；〃　Hully　said。　〃Wanted　me；　or　you；　to　arrange　a　meet。　Are　you　thinking　the　colonel　may　have　e　back。。。　or　was　still　hanging　around　here　。。。　and　she　approached　him；　and。。。　tried　to　present　her　case；　for　marrying　Bill；　and　。。。〃
　〃Can　you　deny　it's　a　possibility？〃
　Hully　gestured　with　an　open　hand。　〃What　if　you　run　all　of　this　by　Jardine？〃
　〃I　intend　to　。。。　but　I　know　how　that　Portuguese　po…lice　dog's　mind　works；　and　I　know　his　single…minded　technique。〃
　〃What　do　you　suggest；　Dad？〃
　Burroughs　leaned　toward　his　son；　placed　a　hand　on　Hully's　shoulder；　gently　squeezing。　〃Why　don't　we　do　a　little。。。　informal　investigating？　We　can　chat　with　people…many　of　the　suspects　are　our　friends；　after　all。。。。〃
　〃Unfortunately。〃
　〃No…fortunately。〃　Now　Burroughs　looked　out　at　the　ocean　and　the　sky；　his　eyes；　his　whole　face；　tight　as　a　clenched　fist。　〃The　worst　that　could　be　said　of　that　young　woman　is　she　may　have　been　a　little　fast。　She　didn't　deserve　anything　but　a　long；　happy　life。　She　was　pretty　and　smart　and　talented。　Any　'friend'　of　mine　who　murdered　that　girl　is　no　friend　at　all。〃
　〃Dad。。。　Jesus；　Dad。　You　really　were　a　cop。〃
　He　turned　to　Hully　again。　〃What　do　you　say；　son？　Why　don't　we　split　up；　and　do　some　。。。　socializing？〃
　Hully's　eyes　narrowed；　then　he　nodded；　vigorously。　〃Pearl　deserves　our　help。〃
　〃She　sure　as　hell　does…I　only　wish　I'd　been　a　little　earlier　last　night；　and　could　have　really　helped　her；　when　she　needed　it　most。〃
　They　briefly　discussed　who　among　the　Niumalu　residents　and　staff　each　would　attempt　to　interrogate…　without　seeming　to；　of　course…and　soon　Hully　was　heading　off　toward　the　lodge；　and　Burroughs　was　angling　over　toward　the　bungalow　where　the　Kuhns　resided。
　As　he　approached；　he　encountered　Mrs。　Fujimoto；　ing　from　the　direction　of　the　Kuhn　bungalow。　The　slender；　fortyish　kimono…clad　woman；　her　graying　hair　tucked　back　in　a　bun；　worked　as　a　maid　at　the　Niumalu；　she　was　not　on　the　hotel　staff；　rather　worked　for　a　handful　of　guests　who　shared　her　services；　Burroughs　and　the　Kuhns　among　them。
　〃Good　morning；　Mr。　Burroughs；〃　she　said；　stopping；　lowering　her　head　respectfully。
　〃How　are　you　this　morning；　Mrs。　Fujimoto？〃
　〃Very　sad；　since　I　hear　of　Miss　Pearl　Harada's　misfortune。　Very　sad。〃
　Nodding；　Burroughs　said；　〃She　was　a　lovely　girl；　a　nice　person…she'll　be　missed。〃
　Mrs。　Fujimoto　looked　up　and　her　eyes　were　filigreed　red；　she　wore　no　makeup；　which　made　her　seem　rather　plain　when　actually　her　features　were　pleasant。　〃I　am　on　way　to　your　cottage；　Mr。　Burroughs；　to　begin　my　work。〃
　He　checked　his　watch。　〃You're　not　due　till　around　eleven；　are　you？〃
　〃I　ran　early…the　Kuhns　did　not　want　me。。。　what　they　say？　'Underfoot。'　Is　it　inconvenience；　my　early　e？〃
　〃No；　no…go　ahead。〃
　At　the　Kuhns'　bungalow；　Burroughs　stood　on　the　stoop　at　the　screen　door；　about　to　knock；　when　the　German　opened　the　door；　slapping　the　writer　with　it。
　〃Sorry；　Edgar！〃　Kuhn　looked　aghast。　〃Forgive　me！〃
　Burroughs；　knocked　back　a　bit；　touched　his　forehead　and　said；　〃Jeez；　O