mac.thepearlharbormurders-第24部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　Swing　also　jumped　from　jukeboxes　up　and　down　Hotel　Street；　where　sailors　and　soldiers　swarmed　in　ribbons　of　white　and　khaki。　A　fleet　of　rickety　taxis；　wheezing　buses　and　rattletrap　jalopies　charged　down　the　two…lane　highway　connecting　Pearl　Harbor　and　Honolulu；　conveying　the　invading　horde　to　their　dropping…off　spot：　the　Army　and　Navy　YMCA；　at　the　eastern　end　of　Hotel　Street；　a　suitable　starting　point　for　an　evening　of　good…natured　debauchery。
　Awash　in　garish　neon；　flickering　under　the　strobe　of　fluorescent　bulbs；　Hotel　Street　was　a　glorified　alleyway　lined　with　low…slung　stucco　buildings　wearing　tin　awnings　like　gambler's　shades。　To　boys　longing　for　home；　the　midway　that　was　Hotel　Street　seemed　to　echo　carnivals　and　state　fairs；　this　rude　collection　of　taverns；　trinket　counters；　massage　parlors；　photo　booths；　pool　halls；　shooting　galleries；　curio　stores；　tattoo　artists；　and　dime…a…dance　joints。
　Along　the　narrow　sidewalks　of　every　block　were　one　or　two　barbershops；　the　barbers　invariably　young　attractive　Japanese　women；　and　at　least　one　lei　shop；　with　pretty　Hawaiian　girls　stringing　flowers。　Other　sorts　of　〃leis〃　were　available；　as　well：　hotels　whose　rooms　all　had　the　shades　drawn…the　Rex；　the　Anchor；　the　Ritz…　attracted　lines　down　the　block　of　sailors　and　soldiers　waiting　to　choose　between　two　varieties　of　〃room〃：　three　dollars　for　three　minutes；　or　five　dollars　for　an　extended　stay；　up　to　ten。　Relatively　safe；　too：　the　local　police；　in　turning　a　blind　if　well…paid　eye；　insisted　on　weekly　blood　tests　for　these　unofficially　sanctioned　soiled　doves。
　Hully　and　Jardine　had　recruited　Sam　Fujimoto　to　join　on　their　Hotel　Street　expedition。　Sam　knew　both
　Ensign　Bill　Fielder　and　Corporal　Jack　Stanton；　the　former　better　than　the　latter；　but　in　either　case　enough　to　recognize　either　in　this　sea　of　uniforms。　Starting　at　the　west　end；　Hully　and　Jardine；　who　were　on　a　first…name　basis　now；　took　one　side　of　the　street；　while　Sam　took　the　other…they　had　agreed　to　rendezvous　at　the　Black　Cat　Cafe　in　an　hour　and　a　half。
　〃You　figure　whoever　killed　Pearl　Harada；〃　Hully　said　to　the　Portuguese　detective；　〃killed　Terry　Mizuha；　as　well。〃
　They　were　shouldering　their　way　down　the　tight；　teeming　sidewalk；　faces　around　them　flushed　with　neon…theirs；　too。
　〃Probably；〃　Jardine　said。
　〃Why　was　Terry　killed？　What　could　he　have　known？〃
　Jardine　shrugged。　〃It's　possible　this　Terry　was　a　real　eyewitness　。。。　which　may　be　more　than　can　be　said　for　Otto　Kuhn。〃
　A　group　of　sailors　slouched　under　a　tin　awning　in　front　of　a　cafe；　laughing；　smoking；　caps　at　jaunty　an…gles；　pant　legs　flapping　in　the　almost　cool　breeze。
　Hully　said；　'Terry　wouldn't've　had　to　be　an　eyewitness　to　be　dangerous　to　the　killer。　Everybody　knew　he　and　Pearl　were　best　friends。　She　might　have　confided　in　Terry　about　something　that　allowed　him　to　know；　or　anyway　strongly　suspect；　the　murderer's　identity。〃
　Jardine　nodded。　〃There's　another　possibility。〃
　〃Which　is？〃
　They　were　passing　by　a　shooting　gallery　where　soldiers　were　throwing　baseballs　at　milk　cans；　and　sailors　were　playing　Skee…Ball　and　pinball。
　〃Perhaps；〃　Jardine　said；　'Terry　Mizuha　wasn't　strictly　mahu…maybe　he　was　even　closer　to　Pearl　than　we've　been　led　to　believe。〃
　〃Oh；　that's　crazy。。。。〃
　〃Is　it？　Gates　have　been　known　to　swing　both　ways；　on　this　island。　Suppose　this　jealous　sailor　pal　of　yours；　or　that　soldier；　came　upon　Terry　and　Pearl；　together　on　the　beach？〃
　〃What；　and　confronted　by　a　sudden　act　of　violence；　Terry　fled？〃
　〃Yes　。。。　and　was　afraid　to　e　forward；　for　fear　of　looking　a　coward…hoping　his　silence　would　buy　him　a　free　pass　from　the　killer。〃
　〃I　don't　buy　it；　John。〃
　The　detective　summoned　a　thin　smile。　〃Well；　it's　your　own　damn　fault；　Hully。〃
　〃My　fault？〃
　〃You're　the　one　that　started　me　thinking…I　was　content　with　Harry　Kamana　as　the　murderer。〃
　Looking　for　Bill　and　Stanton；　Hully　and　Jardine　tried　various　taverns…the　Two　Jacks；　the　Mint；　the　New　Emma　Cafe…wading　through　clouds　of　cigarette　smoke　laced　with　the　smell　of　stale　beer；　sorting　swarms　of　sailors　and　soldiers；　who　were　crowded　at　tables；　packed　in　booths；　flirting　with　Oriental　waitresses；　whom　they　so　greatly　outnumbered。　None　of　the　fresh；　young；　happy；　sad　faces　belonged　to　Bill　Fielder　or　Jack　Stanton。
　Hully　and　the　detective　checked　tattoo　parlors；　where　boys　sat　bare…chested　under　bare　bulbs　as　Filipino　artists　inscribed　American　flesh　with　hula　girls；　anchors　and　〃Mother。〃　They　tried　curio　shops　where　this　sailor　bought　a　fringed　pillow　cursively　designated　〃Honolulu；〃　and　that　soldier　purchased　a　monkey…pod　carving。　They　tried　storefront　photo　studios；　where　gobs　and　GIs　posed　with　pretty；　grass…skirted　Hawaiian　girls　who　had　no　interest　in　a　date。　They　tried　cafй's…the　Bunny　Ranch；　Lousy　Lui's；　Swanky　Franky…where　servicemen　who　had　gotten　drunk　too　fast　tried　to　sober　up　just　as　quickly。　No　Fielder；　no　Stanton。
　They　tried　a　dime…a…dance　joint；　a　barnlike　second…floor　ballroom　not　unlike　a　church　hall　or　an　Elks　club。　A　small　bo…piano；　guitar；　drums…played　slow　tunes；　tables　were　scattered　on　either　side　of　the　heavily　varnished；　underlit　cavern。　Many　of　the　girls　were　surprisingly　good…looking；　Hully　thought；　a　variety　of　Japanese；　Chinese；　Puerto　Rican；　Hawaiian　and　binations　thereof…also　the　occasional　white　girl…　in　low…cut；　shoulder…baring　evening　gowns。　No　liquor　was　sold　on　the　premises；　nor　was　it　allowed　to　be　brought　in。
　〃These　girls　don't　look　like　prostitutes；〃　Hully　whispered　to　Jardine；　as　the　two　stood　on　the　sidelines。
　〃They　aren't；〃　the　detective　said。　〃See　that　blonde　over　there？〃
　Jardine　was　indicating　a　dazzling　blonde　dancing　with　an　older　man；　a　Filipino。
　〃She's　somebody's　wife；　I'll　lay　odds；〃　the　detective　said。　〃These　are　nice　girls。　They　aren't　allowed　to　date　the　customers…aren't　allowed　to　leave　until　closing；　when　their　mothers　or　their　husbands　pick　them　up。〃
　But　Hully　wasn't　looking　at　the　blonde；　anymore。　He　was　nodding　toward　a　soldier。　〃Hey…that's　him。。。。　That's　Stanton。〃
　Corporal　Jack　Stanton　was　dancing　with　an　attractive　if　overly　made…up　Japanese　girl　in　a　low…cut　blue　satin　gown　that　would　have　made　her　the　hit　of　any　prom；　she　was　holding　the　boyishly　handsome；　brown…haired　soldier　close；　her　small　fist　tightly　clenching　a　curling　strand　of　tickets。　She　looked　just　a　little　bit　like　Pearl　Harada；　particularly　to　somebody　drunk；　like　Jack　Stanton。
　When　the　tune　ended…〃Moonlight　Bees　You〃…　Jardine　went　out　onto　the　dance　floor　and　tapped　Stanton's　shoulder；　as　if　he　were　cutting　in。
　Stanton　glared　at　the　little　fedora…sporting　detective；　but　when　Jardine　held　up　his　wallet；　displaying　his　badge；　Stanton　swallowed　and　nodded；　with　morose　inevitability。　Hully　couldn't　hear　what　either　man　was　saying…he　had　secured　a　small　table　at　Jardine's　request…and　watched　as　the　broad…shouldered；　athletic…looking　Stanton　walked　subserviently　along　with　the　diminutive　detective；　over　to　the　waiting　table。
　Hully　pulled　out　a　chair　for　the　corporal。
　Suddenly　Stanton's　submissive　attitude　shifted；　he　seemed　to　bristle　at　the　sight　of　Hully；　saying；　〃I　know　you。〃
　〃I　know　you；　too；　Jack。〃　Hully　gestured　to　the　chair　and；　in　a　not　unfriendly　way；　said；　〃Sit　down。〃
　Stanton　was　scowling。　〃You're　Bill　Fielder's　friend。〃
　〃I'm　one　of　them。〃
　Jardine　said　to　Stanton；　〃Sit　down。〃　Not　so　friendly。　Stanton　sat。　He　was　inebriated；　but　short　of　sloshed。　Jardine　sat　on　one　side　of　the　soldier；　Hully　on　the　other。
　The　detective　said；　〃I　brought　Mr。　Burroughs　along　to　identify　you。　I　could　have　embarrassed　you　by　going　to　your　manding　officer　and　requesting　a　photo；　you　know。〃
　Stanton's　eyes　narrowed。　〃Why　didn't　you？〃
　〃I　wanted　to　hear　your　story。〃
　〃What　story？〃
　〃The　story　of　you　and　Pearl　Harada。〃
　Stanton　swallowed。　Then　he　put　his　elbows　on　the　table　and　began　to　cry　into　his　hands。　The　shabby　little　bo　was　playing　〃Fools　Rush　In。〃
　Jardine　gave　the　corporal　a　handkerchief。　Stanton　thanked　Jardine　and　used　it；　drying　his　eyes；　blowing　his　nose。
　Then　the　detective　said；　〃You　and　Bill　Fielder　got　into　a　tussle　over　Pearl　Harada　last　night。　Want　to　tell　me　about　it？〃
　Swallowing　again；　Stanton　shrugged；　saying；　〃It　wasn't　much　of　a　'tussle'…I　punched　him　and　he　punched　me。　Then　it　got　broke　up。　That's　all。〃
　〃Why　did　you　punch　him？〃
　〃Because　。。。　Pearl　was　my　girl。　I　wanted　him　to　stay　away　from　her。〃
　〃You　mean　you　were　still　seeing　her？　She　was　dating　you；　at　the　same　time　as　Fielder？〃
　He　shook　his　head；　glumly。　〃No　。。。　no。　She　broke　it　off　with　me；　weeks　ago。　I　just。。。　couldn't　get　her　out　of　my　mind。　Couldn't　accept　it。　She　was。。。　so　beautiful。　So　much　fun。。。　sweet。。。　talented。。。　smart。。。〃
　Jardine　waited　until　Stanton　stopped　crying　again；　then　said；　〃You　were　seen　arguing　with　her　last　night。〃
　〃I　know。〃　Stanton　worked　up　a　sneer。　〃By　that　fairy　Mizuha。　He　told　you；　right？〃
　Jardine's　face　was　as　impassive　as　a　cigarstore　Indian's。　〃The　way　this　works　is；　I　ask　the　questions。　You　argued　with　her？〃
　〃It。。。　it　wasn't　really　an　argument。　I　was　。。。　a　little　drunk。　I　yelled　at　her。〃　The　soldier　leaned　against　an　elbow；　hand　to　his　forehead；　as　if　taking　his　own　temperature。　〃She　just　looked　at　me；　like　。。。　like