rc.theladyinthelake-第25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！


ken　up　with　some　bad　pany　and　got　into　a　jam。　I　came　down　to　see　Lavery　and　he　denied　to　me　that　he　had　gone　with　her。　I　half　believed　him　but　later　I　got　reasonable　proof　that　he　had　been　with　her　in　a　San　Bernardino　hotel　the　night　she　was　believed　to　have　left　the　mountain　cabin　where　she　had　been　staying。　With　that　in　my　pocket　I　came　down　to　tackle　Lavery　again。　No　answer　to　the　bell；　the　door　was　slightly　open。　I　came　inside；　looked　around；　found　the　gun　and　searched　the　house。　I　found　him。　Just　the　way　he　is　now。〃
　　〃You　had　no　right　to　search　the　house；〃　Webber　said　coldly。
　　〃Of　course　not；〃　I　agreed。　〃But　I　wouldn't　be　likely　to　pass　up　the　chance　either。〃
　　〃The　name　of　this　man　you're　working　for？〃
　　〃Kingsley。〃　I　gave　him　the　Beverly　Hills　address。　〃He　manages　a　cosmetic　pany　in　the　Treloar　Building　on　Olive。　The　Gillerlain　pany。〃　Webber　looked　at　Degarmo。　Degarmo　wrote　lazily　on　an　envelope。　Webber　looked　back　at　me　and　said：　〃What　else？〃
　　〃I　went　up　to　this　mountain　cabin　where　the　lady　had　been　staying。　It's　at　a　place　called　Little　Fawn　Lake；　near　Puma　Point；　forty…six　miles　into　the　mountains　from　San　Bernardino。〃　I　looked　at　Degarmo。　He　was　writing　slowly。　His　hand　stopped　a　moment　and　seemed　to　hang　in　the　air　stiffly；　then　it　dropped　to　the　envelope　and　wrote　again。　I　went　on：　〃About　a　month　ago　the　wife　of　the　caretaker　at　Kingsley's　place　up　there　had　a　fight　with　him　and　left　as　everybody　thought。　Yesterday　she　was　found　drowned　in　the　lake。〃　Webber　almost　closed　his　eyes　and　rocked　on　his　heels。　Almost　softly　he　asked：　〃Why　are　you　telling　me　this？　Are　you　implying　a　connection？〃
　　〃There's　a　connection　in　time。　Lavery　had　been　up　there。　I　don't　know　of　any　other　connection；　but　I　thought　I'd　better　mention　it。〃　Degarmo　was　sitting　very　still；　looking　at　the　floor　in　front　of　him。　His　face　was　tight　and　he　looked　even　more　savage　than　usual。　Webber　said：　〃This　woman　that　was　drowned？　Suicide？〃
　　〃Suicide　or　murder。　She　left　a　goodby　note。　But　her　husband　has　been　arrested　on　suspicion。　The　name　is　Chess。　Bill　and　Muriel　Chess；　his　wife。〃
　　〃I　don't　want　any　part　of　that；〃　Webber　said　sharply。　〃Let's　confine　ourselves　to　what　went　on　here。〃
　　〃Nothing　went　on　here；〃　I　said；　looking　at　Degarmo。　〃I've　been　down　here　twice。　The　first　time　I　talked　to　Lavery　and　didn't　get　anywhere。　The　second　time　I　didn't　talk　to　him　and　didn't　get　anywhere。〃　Webber　said　slowly：　〃I'm　going　to　ask　you　a　question　and　I　want　an　honest　answer。　You　won't　want　to　give　it；　but　now　will　be　as　good　a　time　as　later。　You　know　I'll　get　it　eventually。　The　question　is　this。　You　have　looked　through　the　house　and　I　imagine　pretty　thoroughly。　Have　you　seen　anything　that　suggests　to　you　that　this　Kingsley　woman　has　been　here？〃
　　〃That's　not　a　fair　question；〃　I　said。　〃It　calls　for　a　conclusion　of　the　witness。〃
　　〃I　want　an　answer　to　it；〃　he　said　grimly。　〃This　isn't　a　court　of　law。〃
　　〃The　answer　is　yes；〃　I　said。　〃There　are　women's　clothes　hanging　in　a　closet　downstairs　that　have　been　described　to　me　as　being　worn　by　Mrs。　Kingsley　at　San　Bernardino　the　night　she　met　Lavery　there。　The　description　was　not　exact　though。　A　black　and　white　suit；　mostly　white；　and　a　panama　hat　with　a　rolled　black　and　white　band。〃　Degarmo　snapped　a　finger　against　the　envelope　he　was　holding。　〃You　must　be　a　great　guy　for　a　client　to　have　working　for　him；〃　he　said。　〃That　puts　the　woman　right　in　this　house　where　a　murder　has　been　mitted　and　she　is　the　woman　he's　supposed　to　have　gone　away　with。　I　don't　think　we'll　have　to　look　far　for　the　killer；　chief。〃　Webber　was　staring　at　me　fixedly；　with　little　or　no　expression　on　his　face　but　a　kind　of　tight　watchfulness。　He　nodded　absently　to　what　Degarmo　had　said。
　　I　said：　〃I'm　assuming　you　fellows　are　not　a　pack　of　damn　fools。　The　clothes　are　tailored　and　easy　to　trace。　I've　saved　you　an　hour　by　telling　you；　perhaps　even　no　more　than　a　phone　call。〃
　　〃Anything　else？〃　Webber　asked　quietly。
　　Before　I　could　answer；　a　car　stopped　outside　the　house；　and　then　another。　Webber　skipped　over　to　open　the　door。　Three　men　came　in；　a　short　curly…haired　man　and　a　large　ox…like　man；　both　carrying　heavy　black　leather　cases。　Behind　them　a　tall　thin　man　in　a　dark　gray　suit　and　black　tie。　He　had　very　bright　eyes　and　a　poker　face。
　　Webber　pointed　a　finger　at　the　curly…haired　man　and　said：　〃Downstairs　in　the　bathroom；　Busoni。　I　want　a　lot　of　prints　from　all　over　the　house；　particularly　any　that　seem　to　be　made　by　a　woman。　It　will　be　a　long　job。〃
　　〃I　do　all　the　work；〃　Busoni　grunted。　He　and　the　ox…like　man　went　along　the　room　and　down　the　stairs。
　　〃We　have　a　corpse　for　you；　Garland；〃　Webber　said　to；　the　third　man。　〃Let's　go　down　and　look　at　him。　You've　ordered　the　wagon？〃　The　bright…eyed　man　nodded　briefly　and　he　and　Webber　went　downstairs　after　the　other　two。
　　Degarmo　put　the　envelope　and　pencil　away。　He　stared　at　me　woodenly。
　　I　said：　〃Am　I　supposed　to　talk　about　our　conversation　yesterday…or　is　that　a　private　transaction？〃
　　〃Talk　about　it　all　you　like；〃　he　said。　〃It's　our　job　to　protect　the　citizen。〃
　　〃You　talk　about　it；〃　I　said。　〃I'd　like　to　know　more　about　the　Almore　case。〃　He　flushed　slowly　and　his　eyes　got　mean。　〃You　said　you　didn't　know　Almore。〃
　　〃I　didn't　yesterday；　or　know　anything　about　him。　Since　then　I've　learned　that　Lavery　knew　Mrs。　Almore；　that　she　mitted　suicide；　that　Lavery　found　her　dead；　and　that　Lavery　has　at　least　been　suspected　of　blackmailing　him…or　of　being　in　a　position　to　blackmail　him。　Also　both　your　prowl…car　boys　seemed　interested　in　the　fact　that　Almore's　house　was　across　the　street　from　here。　And　one　of　them　remarked　that　the　case　had　been　killed　pretty；　or　words　to　that　effect。〃　Degarmo　said　in　a　slow　deadly　tone：　〃I'll　have　the　badge　off　the　son　of　a　bitch。　All　they　do　is　flap　their　mouths。　God　danm　empty…headed　bastards。〃
　　〃Then　there's　nothing　in　it；〃　I　said。
　　He　looked　at　his　cigarette。　〃Nothing　in　what？〃
　　〃Nothing　in　the　idea　that　Almore　murdered　his　wife；　and　had　enough　pull　to　get　it　fixed。〃　Degarmo　came　to　his　feet　and　walked　over　to　lean　down　at　me。　〃Say　that　again；〃　he　said　softly。
　　I　said　it　again。
　　He　hit　me　across　the　face　with　his　open　hand。　It　jerked　my　head　around　hard。　My　face　felt　hot　and　large。
　　〃Say　it　again；〃　he　said　softly。
　　I　said　it　again。　His　hand　swept　and　knocked　my　head　to　one　side　again。
　　〃Say　it　again。〃
　　〃Nope。　Third　time　lucky。　You　might　miss。〃　I　put　a　hand　up　and　rubbed　my　cheek。
　　He　stood　leaning　down；　his　lips　drawn　back　over　his　teeth；　a　hard　animal　glare　in　his　very　blue　eyes。
　　〃Any　time　you　talk　like　that　to　a　cop；〃　he　said；　〃you　know　what　'you　got　ing。　Try　it　on　again　and　it　won't　be　the　flat　of　a　hand　I'll　use　on　you。〃　I　bit　hard　on　my　lips　and　rubbed　my　cheek。
　　〃Poke　your　big　nose　into　our　business　and　you'll　wake　'up　in　an　alley　with　the　cats　looking　at　you；〃　he　said。
　　I　didn't　say　anything。　He　went　and　sat　down　again；　breathing　hard。　I　stopped　rubbing　my　face　and　held　my　hand　out　and　worked　the　fingers　slowly；　to　get　the　hard　clench　out　of　them。
　　〃I'll　remember　that；〃　I　said。　〃Both　ways。〃
　　
　　
　　22
　　
　　It　was　early　evening　when　I　got　back　to　Hollywood　and　up　to　the　office。　The　building　had　emptied　out　and　the　corridors　were　silent。　Doors　were　open　and　the　cleaning　women　were　inside　with　their　vacuum　cleaners　and　their　dry　mops　and　dusters。
　　I　unlocked　the　door　to　mine　and　picked　up　an　envelope　that　lay　in　front　of　the　mail　slot　and　dropped　it　on　the　desk　without　looking　at　it。　I　ran　the　windows　up　and　leaned　out；　looking　at　the　early　neon　lights　glowing；　smelling　the　warm；　foody　air　that　drifted　up　from　the　alley　ventilator　of　the　coffee　shop　next　door。
　　I　peeled　off　my　coat　and　tie　and　sat　down　at　the　desk　and　got　the　office　bottle　out　of　the　deep　drawer　and　bought　myself　a　drink。　It　didn't　do　any　good。　I　had　another；　with　the　same　result。
　　By　now　Webber　would　have　seen　Kingsley。　There　would　be　a　general　alarm　out　for　his　wife；　already；　or　very　soon。　The　thing　looked　cut　and　dried　to　them。　A　nasty　affair　between　two　rather　nasty'　people；　too　much　loving；　too　much　drinking；　too　much　proximity　ending　in　a　savage　hatred　and　a　murderous　impulse　and　death。
　　I　thought　this　was　all　a　little　too　simple。
　　I　reached　for　the　envelope　and　tore　it　open。　It　had　no　stamp。　It　read：　〃Mr。　Marlowe：　Florence　Almore's　parents　are　a　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Eustace　Grayson；　presently　residing　at　the　Rossmore　Arms；　640　South　Oxford　Avenue。　I　checked　this　by　calling　the　listed　phone　number。　Yrs。　Adrienne　Fromsett。〃　An　elegant　handwriting；　like　the　elegant　hand　that　wrote　it。　I　pushed　it　to　one　side　and　had　another　drink。　I　began　to　feel　a　little　less　savage。　I　pushed　things　around　on　the　desk。　My　hands　felt　thick　and　hot　and　awkward。　I　ran　a　finger　across　the　corner　of　the　desk　and　looked　at　the　streak　made　by　the　wiping　off　of　the　dust。　I　look　at　the　dust　on　my　finger　and　wiped　that　off。　I　looked　at　my　watch。　I　looked　at　the　wall。　I　looked　at　nothing。
　　I　put　the　liquor　bottle　away　and　went　over　to　the　washbowl　to　rinse　the　glass　out。　When　I　had　done　that　I　washed　my　hands　and　bathed　my　face　in　cold　water　and　looked　at　it。　The　flush　was　gone　from