mac.thepearlharbormurders-第14部分

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　〃Sorry；　Edgar！〃　Kuhn　looked　aghast。　〃Forgive　me！〃
　Burroughs；　knocked　back　a　bit；　touched　his　forehead　and　said；　〃Jeez；　Otto；　where's　the　fire？〃
　〃Fire？〃　Shutting　the　screen；　Kuhn　joined　the　writer；　at　the　bottom　of　the　short　stoop。　The　German　was　again　in　white　linen；　his　tie　a　light　blue；　damn　near　matching　the　light　blue　of　his　eyes…the　whiteness　of　his　suit　was　stark　against　the　rose…colored　bougainvillea　blanketing　his　bungalow。
　Burroughs　explained；　〃　'Where's　the　fire'…what's　your　hurry？〃
　Kuhn　blinked；　raised　his　chin。　〃Oh；　I　have　a　business　appointment。〃　Then　he　put　a　hand　on　the　writer's　shoulder。　〃I　feel　the　fool…are　you　all　right？〃
　〃I'll　survive。〃　Actually；　the　wooden　frame　had　clipped　Burroughs　on　the　forehead　and　it　did　hurt；　a　little。　〃I　just　wanted　to　see　how　you　were　doing；　this　morning…after　that　unpleasantness　last　night。〃
　Kuhn　withdrew　his　hand　from　Burroughs's　shoulder；　and　summoned　an　unconvincing　smile；　it　was　like　a　gash　in　his　pasty　pale　face。　〃How　thoughtful；　Edgar。　Well；　of　course；　it　was　a　terrible　thing　to　witness。〃　He　said　this　as　offhandedly　as　a　man　describing　an　overcooked　steak　he'd　had　to　send　back。
　Burroughs　shook　his　head。　〃I　should　say…her　scream　woke　me　from　a　deep　sleep；　and　scared　the　bejesus　out　of　me。〃　That　wasn't　exactly　true；　but　the　writer　liked　the　effect　of　it。　〃Did　Pearl　scream　when　Kamana　raised　the　rock？〃
　Kuhn　cocked　his　head。　〃Pardon　me？〃
　〃Well；　you　saw　the　murder…did　she　scream　when　Kamana　raised　his　hand；　to　strike　her？　Or　did　he　hit　her　more　than　once；　and　she　screamed　after　one　glancing　blow　。。。　and　then　another　blow；　or　blows；　silenced　her？〃
　The　blue　eyes　were　wide；　white　showing　all　around。　〃I；　uh。。。　my　God；　Edgar；　this　is　an　unpleasant　subject。　I've　already　。had　to　go　over　this　with　the　police；　again　and　again。。。　I　was　up　until　all　hours。〃
　Burroughs　raised　his　palms；　as　if　in　surrender。　〃My　mistake…I　thought；　since　we'd　both　been　witnesses　to　this　thing；　that　we　had　something　in　mon。　That　we'd　shared　something；　however　horrible。〃
　Kuhn　nodded；　once。　〃I　do　understand…I　meant　no　offense。　But　I　would　prefer　not　to　discuss　the　matter　any　further。〃
　Not　the　murder…the　〃matter。〃
　〃Sure；　Otto。　I　guess　I　don't　blame　you。〃
　The　ambiguity　of　what　Burroughs　had　just　said　froze　the　German　for　a　moment；　then　he　gave　the　writer　another　curt　nod。　〃If　you'll　excuse　me；　Edgar…I　have　business　downtown。〃
　Kuhn　strode　off　across　the　grass；　toward　the　lodge　and　its　parking　lot；　and　Burroughs　began　back　toward　his　own　quarters；　then；　when　Kuhn　was　out　of　sight；　the　writer　cut　back　toward　the　bougainvillea…covered　bungalow。
　He　didn't　have　to　knock　on　the　screen　door；　this　time…Kuhn's　wife；　the　person　he　had　hoped　to　casually　interview；　was　already　outside。　He　didn't　see　her；　at　first…she　was　down　at　the　far　end　of　the　bungalow；　tucked　back　in　the　cool　blue　shade　of　sheltering　palms；　seated　in　a　wood…and…canvas　beach…type　chair。
　Elfriede　Kuhn's　slender　shape　was　well　served　by　a　white　halter　top　and　matching　shorts。　Honey…blonde　hair　brushing　her　shoulders；　eyes　a　mystery　behind　the　dark　blue　circles　of　white…framed　sunglasses；　she　sat　slumped　with　the　back　of　her　head　resting　on　the　wooden　chair；　using　both　armrests；　her　legs　stretched　out；　ankles　crossed。　Her　thin；　wide；　pretty　mouth　was　red　with　lipstick；　but　otherwise　she　wore　no　makeup　that　he　could　detect。
　She　was　a　handsome　woman　of　perhaps　forty…five；　but　she　looked　better　from　a　distance。
　Perhaps　she　was　staying　out　of　the　sun　because　her　flesh　had　already　passed　the　merely　tanned　stage　into　dark　leather；　and　her　high…cheekboned　face…which　most　likely　had；　in　her　twenties　and　probably　thirties；　rivaled　that　of　any　fashion　model…bore　a　crinkly；　weathered　look。
　〃Mr。　Burroughs；〃　she　said；　as　he　wandered　into　sight。　She　had　a　cigarette　in　a　clear　holder　in　one　hand　and　a　half…empty　glass　of　orange　juice　in　the　other。　〃If　you're　looking　for　a　tennis　partner；　I'm　afraid　I'm　simply　too　tired。〃
　She　spoke　with　only　the　faintest　German　accent。
　〃I'm　in　no　mood　myself；　Mrs。　Kuhn。　May　I　join　you　for　a　moment？　It　looks　cool　there　in　the　shade。〃
　〃Certainly。〃　She　gestured　to　another　beach　chair；　near　the　side　of　the　house。　〃I　can　go　in　and　get　you　one　of　these。〃
　She　was　lifting　the　orange…juice　glass；　he　was　dragging　the　chair　around；　to　sit　beside　her。
　〃No　thanks；〃　he　said。　〃I've　had　my　breakfast。〃
　〃Ah；　but　this　isn't　just　breakfast。　It's　a　rejuvenating　tonic　known　as　a　screwdriver。〃
　He　grinned　a　little；　shook　his　head。　〃No　thanks…　I'm　on　the　wagon。。。　holding　on　by　my　thumbs；　but　holding　on。。。。Little　early　for　that；　isn't　it？〃
　She　sipped　from　the　glass。　〃Is　it　ever　too　early　for　vitamin　C？　Or　vodka？　Citrus　is　rich　in　it；　you　know。　Vitamin　C；　that　is。〃
　〃Yeah；　I　know…I　used　to　live　in　California。　Plenty　of　citrus。　And　vodka。〃
　Mrs。　Kuhn　blew　a　smoke　ring；　regally。　〃I　would　love　to　live　in　California。　I　have　had　more　than　enough　of　。。。　paradise。〃
　〃But　your　husband　has　his　business　here。〃
　〃Yes。　Oh　yes。〃
　Burroughs　shifted　in　the　canvas　seat。　〃I　ran　into　him　a　few　minutes　ago；　on　his　way　to　some　business　appointment　or　other。　He　didn't　say　what；　exactly。〃
　She　said　nothing；　she　might　not　even　have　been　listening。　The　wind　was　rippling　the　fronds　overhead；　making　gently　percussive　music；　while　underneath　the　sibilant　rash　of　the　nearby　surf　provided　its　monotonous　melody。
　'Terrible　thing；　last　night；〃　Burroughs　said。
　She　nodded；　almost　imperceptibly。　〃You　caught　the　murderer；　I　understand。〃
　〃I　heard　a　scream。　Ran　out　to　the　beach。　That　musician　was　leaning　over　the　poor　girl's　body；　blood　on　his　hands。〃
　〃Awful；〃　she　said　emotionlessly。
　〃What　did　you　hear？〃
　〃Pardon？〃
　〃When　did　you　wake　up？〃
　She　turned　her　head　toward　him　and　lowered　her　sunglasses　and　her　pale　blue　eyes　studied　him；　her　thin　lips　curved　in　mild　amusement。　〃Is　this　really　the　proper　subject　for　casual　midmorning　conversation？〃
　〃No　disrespect　meant；　to　either　you　or　the　deceased。〃　He　shrugged。　〃It's　just　that。。。　you　and　I　and　your　husband；　we're　the　only　witnesses　to　this　tragedy。〃
　She　frowned　and　turned　away；　put　her　sunglasses　back　into　position。　〃I'm　not　a　witness；　Mr。　Burroughs。　I　didn't　wake　up　until　my　husband's　。。。　activity　awoke　me。〃
　〃Activity？〃
　〃He　was　quite　understandably　agitated　by　what　he　saw。〃
　〃So　he　woke　you。〃
　She　heaved　an　irritated　sigh　and　looked　at　him　again；　not　bothering　to　lower　the　sunglasses；　this　time。　〃Really；　Mr。　Burroughs；　this　is　nothing　I　want　to　talk　about…I　spent　half　the　night　blathering　with　that　dreadful　little　foreign　policeman；　and　I　don't　want　to　gossip　about　such　a　misfortune　with　a　neighbor…if　you　don't　mind。〃
　〃I　meant　no　offense。〃
　〃Neither　did　I。〃
　She　wasn't　looking　at　him；　now…neither　one　of　their　apologies　had　sounded　very　convincing。
　He　shrugged　again。　〃It　just　rather　casts　a　pall　over　this　lovely　day。〃
　〃You　can　have　this　lovely　day；　and　every　other　lovely　Hawaiian　day；　as　far　as　I'm　concerned。〃
　〃Pearl　Harada　might　not　agree　with　you。〃
　〃What　is　that　supposed　to　mean？〃
　〃It　means　she　had　every　day　taken　away　from　her　。。。　and　it　wasn't　her　idea。　That's　all　it　means。〃
　She　sipped　the　screwdriver。　〃I'm　sorry　the　young　woman　is　dead；　but　I　barely　knew　her。〃
　〃You　did　know　her；　though。〃
　〃I　knew　her　as　any　guest　at　the　Niumalu　knew　her…　she　was　an　entertainer；　here…a　decent　one；　too。　She　seemed　pleasant　enough；　when　I　would　encounter　her　around　the　place。　Not　stuck…up　like　some　show…business　types。　I'm　sorry　she's　gone。〃　She　looked　at　him　over　the　rims　of　the　sunglasses。　〃Is　there　anything　else；　Mr。　Burroughs？〃
　〃I　apologize；　Mrs。　Kuhn…I　was　just　making　conversation。　I　thought。。。　as　mutual　witnesses　。。。　we　had　something　in　mon。〃
　〃You　said　that。　Mr。　Burroughs；　if　you'd　like　to　go　get　your　tennis　racket；　I'll　meet　you　on　the　court。　Or　if　you'd　like　to　sit　here　and　share　some　stories　about　the　Hollywood　celebrities　you've　encountered；　please　feel　wele。　Otherwise；　change　the　subject；　or　find　someone　else　to　gossip　with。〃
　He　rose。　〃Sorry；　Mrs。　Kuhn。　And　I'm　still　in　no　mood　for　tennis；　and　I　like　talking　about　Hollywood　about　as　much　as　you　like　discussing　murder。。。。　Have　you　seen　Mr。　Sterling　this　morning？〃
　The　FBI　man's　bungalow　was　the　next　one　over；　the　only　other　bungalow　near　enough　to　the　beach　for　someone　within　to　have　possibly　heard　or　seen　something　last　night。
　〃Yes；　I　have…he　chatted　with　Otto　this　morning；　on　this　same　dreadful　subject。　Then　he　headed　off。〃
　Burroughs　frowned。　〃Do　you　know　where　he　went？〃
　Her　patience　clearly　all　but　exhausted；　Mrs。　Kuhn　said；　〃I　believe　Mr。　Sterling　said　he　was　going　in　to　work。〃
　〃Oh。。。　well；　thanks；　Mrs。　Kuhn。　Sorry…didn't　mean　to　disturb　you　with　this　unpleasantness。〃
　〃I'm　sure；〃　she　said；　coldly。　〃Just　as　I　did　not　mean　to　be　rude。〃
　Burroughs　headed　over　to　the　lodge；　to　catch　up　with　Hully；　mind　abuzz。　It　was　unusual　for　the　FBI　man　to　work　on　a　Saturday　morning；　and　he　and　Sterling　were　set　to　go　to　the　Shriners　game　this　afternoon；　with　Colonel　Fielder。　He　wondered　if　Sterling's　Saturday…morning　business　had　anything　to　do　with　Pearl　Harada's　murder。
　He　wondered　the　same　about　Otto　Kuhn's　business　downtown。
　
　
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