rc.theladyinthelake-第36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！


　　A　man　coughed　a　little　way　down　the　hail　and　I　poked　my　head　out　farther　and　he　was　looking　at　me。　He　came　towards　me　briskly；　a　small　sharp　man　in　a　neatly　pressed　police　uniform。　He　had　reddish　hair　and　red…gold　eyes。
　　I　yawned　and　said　languidly：　〃What　goes　on；　officer？〃　He　stared　at　me　thoughtfully。　〃Little　trouble　next　door　to　you。　Hear　anything？〃
　　〃I　thought　I　heard　knocking。　I　just　got　home　a　little　while　ago。〃
　　〃Little　late；〃　he　said。
　　〃That's　a　matter　of　opinion；〃　I　said。　〃Trouble　next　door；　ah？〃
　　〃A　dame；〃　he　said。　〃Know　her？〃
　　〃I　think　I've　seen　her。〃
　　〃Yeah；〃　he　said。　〃You　ought　to　see　her　now　　。　。　。　〃　He　put　his　hands　to　his　throat　and　bulged　his　eyes　out　and　gulped　unpleasantly。　〃Like　that；〃　he　said。　〃You　didn't　hear　nothing；　huh？〃
　　〃Nothing　I　noticed…except　the　knocking。〃
　　〃Yeah。　What　was　the　name？〃
　　〃Talbot。〃
　　〃Just　a　minute；　Mr。　Talbot。　Wait　there　just　a　minute。〃　He　went　along　the　hallway　and　leaned　into　an　open　doorway　through　which　light　streamed　out。　〃Oh；　lieutenant；〃　he　said。　〃The　man　next　door　is　on　deck。〃　A　tall　man　came　out　of　the　doorway　and　stood　looking　along　the　hall　straight　at　me。　A　tall　man　with　rusty　hair　and　very　blue；　blue　eyes。　Degarmo。　That　made　it　perfect。
　　〃Here's　the　guy　lives　next　door；〃　the　small　neat　cop　said　helpfully。　〃His　name's　Talbot。〃　Degarmo　looked　straight　at　me；　but　nothing　in　his　acid　blue　eyes　showed　that　he　had　ever　seen　me　before。　He　came　quietly　along　the　hall　and　put　a　hard　hand　against　my　chest　and　pushed　me　back　into　the　room。　When　he　had　me　half　a　dozen　feet　from　the　door　he　said　over　his　shoulder：　〃e　in　here　and　shut　the　door；　Shorty。〃　The　small　cop　came　in　and　shut　the　door。
　　〃Quite　a　gag；〃　Deganno　said　lazily。　〃Put　a　gun　on　him；　Shorty。〃　Shorty　flicked　his　black　belt　holster　open　and　had　his　。38　in　his　hand　like　a　flash。　He　licked　his　lips。
　　〃Oh　boy；〃　he　said　softly；　whistling　a　little。　〃Oh　boy。　How'd　you　know；　lieutenant？〃
　　〃Know　what？〃　Degarmo　asked；　keeping　his　eyes　fixed　on　mine。　〃What　were　you　thinking　of　doing；　pal…going　down　to　get　a　paper…to　find　out　if　she　was　dead？〃
　　〃Oh　boy；〃　Shorty　said。　〃A　sex…killer。　He　pulled　the　girl's　clothes　off　and　choked　her　with　his　hands；　lieutenant。　How'd　you　know？〃　Degarmo　didn't　answer　him。　He　just　stood　there；　rocking　a　little　on　his　heels；　his　face　empty　and　granite…hard。
　　〃Yah；　he's　the　killer；　sure；〃　Shorty　said　suddenly。　〃Sniff　the　air　in　here；　lieutenant。　The　place　ain't　been　aired　out　for　days。　And　look　at　the　dust　on　those　bookshelves。　And　the　clock　on　the　mantel's　stopped；　lieutenant。　He　e　in　through　the…lemme　look　a　minute；　can　I；　lieutenant？〃　He　ran　out　of　the　room　into　the　bedroom。　I　heard　him　fumbling　around。　Degarmo　stood　woodenly。
　　Shorty　came　back。　〃e　in　at　the　bathroom　window。　There's　broken　glass　in　the　tub。　And　something　stinks　of　gin　in　there　something　awful。　You　remember　how　that　apartment　smelled　of　gin　when　we　went　in？　Here's　a　shirt；　lieutenant。　Smells　like　it　was　washed　in　gin。〃　He　held　the　shirt　up。　It　perfumed　the　air　rapidly。　Degarmo　looked　at　it　vaguely　and　then　stepped　forward　and　yanked　my　coat　open　and　looked　at　the　shirt　I　was　wearing。
　　〃I　know　what　he　done；〃　Shorty　said。　〃He　stole　one　of　the　guy's　shirts　that　lives　here。　You　see　what　he　done；　lieutenant？〃
　　〃Yeah。〃　Degarmo　held　his　hand　against　my　chest　and　let　it　fall　slowly。　They　were　talking　about　me　as　if　I　was　a　piece　of　wood。
　　〃Frisk　him；　Shorty。〃　Shorty　ran　around　me　feeling　here　and　there　for　a　gun。　〃Nothing　on　him；〃　he　said。
　　〃Let's　get　him　out　the　back　way；〃　Degarmo　said。　〃It's　our　pinch；　if　we　make　it　before　Webber　gets　here。　That　lug　Reed　couldn't　find　a　moth　in　a　shoe　box。〃
　　〃You　ain't　even　detailed　on　the　case；〃　Shorty　said　doubtfully。　〃Didn't　I　hear　you　was　suspended　or　something？〃
　　〃What　can　I　lose？〃　Degarmo　asked；　〃if　I'm　suspended？〃
　　〃I　can　lose　this　here　uniform；〃　Shorty　said。
　　Degarmo　looked　at　him　wearily。　The　small　cop　blushed　and　his　bright　red…gold　eyes　were　anxious。
　　〃Okay；　Shorty。　Go　and　tell　Reed。〃　The　small　cop　licked　his　lip。　〃You　say　the　word；　lieutenant；　and　I'm　with　you。　I　don't　have　to　know　you　got　suspended。〃
　　〃We'll　take　him　down　ourselves；　just　the　two　of　us；〃　Degarmo　said。
　　〃Yeah；　sure。〃　Degarmo　put　his　finger　against　my　chin。　〃A　sex…killer；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃Well；　I'll　be　damned。〃　He　smiled　at　me　thinly；　moving　only　the　extreme　corners　of　his　wide　brutal　mouth。
　　
　　
　　34
　　
　　We　went　out　of　the　apartment　and　along　the　hail　the　other　way　from　Apartment　618。　Light　streamed　from　the　still　open　door。　Two　men　in　plain　clothes　now　stood　outside　it　smoking　cigarettes　inside　their　cupped　hands；　as　if　a　wind　was　blowing。　There　was　a　sound　of　wrangling　voices　from　the　apartment。
　　We　went　around　the　bend　of　the　hail　and　came　to　the　elevator。　Degarmo　opened　the　fire　door　beyond　the　elevator　shaft　and　we　went　down　echoing　concrete　steps；　floor　after　floor。　At　the　lobby　floor　Degarmo　stopped　and　held　his　hand　on　the　doorknob　and　listened。　He　looked　back　over　his　shoulder。
　　〃You　got　a　car？〃　he　asked　me。
　　〃In　the　basement　garage。〃
　　〃That's　an　idea。〃　We　went　on　down　the　steps　and　came　out　into　the　shadowy　basement。　The　lanky　Negro　came　out　of　the　little　office　and　I　gave　him　my　car　check。　He　looked　furtively　at　the　police　uniform　on　Shorty。　He　said　nothing。　He　pointed　to　the　Chrysler。
　　Degarmo　climbed　under　the　wheel　of　the　Chrysler。　I　got　in　beside　him　and　Shorty　got　into　the　back　seat。　We　went　up　the　ramp　and　out　into　the　damp　cool　night　air。　A　big　car　with　twin　red　spotlights　was　charging　towards　us　from　a　couple　of　blocks　away。
　　Degarmo　spat　out　of　the　car　window　and　yanked　the　Chrysler　the　other　way。　〃That　will　be　Webber；〃　he　said。　〃Late　for　the　funeral　again。　We　sure　skinned　his　nose　on　that　one；　Shorty。〃
　　〃I　don't　like　it　too　well；　lieutenant。　I　don't；　honest。〃
　　〃Keep　the　chin　up；　kid。　You　might　get　back　on　homicide。〃
　　〃I'd　rather　wear　buttons　and　eat；〃　Shorty　said。　The　courage　was　oozing　out　of　him　fast。
　　Degarmo　drove　the　car　hard　for　ten　blocks　and　then　slowed　a　little。　Shorty　said　uneasily：　〃I　guess　you　know　what　you're　doing；　lieutenant；　but　this　ain't　the　way　to　the　Hall。〃
　　〃That's　right；〃　Degarmo　said。　〃It　never　was；　was　it？〃　He　let　the　car　slow　down　to　a　crawl　and　then　turned　into　a　residential　street　of　small　exact　houses　squatting　behind　small　exact　lawns。　He　braked　the　car　gently　and　coasted　over　to　the　curb　and　stopped　about　the　middle　of　the　block。　He　threw　an　arm　over　the　back　of　the　seat　and　turned　his　head　to　look　back　at　Shorty。
　　〃You　think　this　guy　killed　her；　Shorty？〃
　　〃I'm　listening；〃　Shorty　said　in　a　tight　voice。
　　〃Got　a　flash？〃　I　said：　〃There's　one　in　the　car　pocket　on　the　left　side。〃　Shorty　fumbled　around　and　metal　clicked　and　the　white　beam　of　the　flashlight　came　on。　Degarmo　said：　〃Take　a　look　at　the　back　of　this　guy's　head。〃　The　beam　moved　and　settled。　I　heard　the　small　man's　breathing　behind　me　and　I　felt　it　on　my　neck。　Something　felt　for　and　touched　the　bump　on　my　head。　I　grunted。　The　light　went　off　and　the　darkness　of　the　street　rushed　in　again。
　　Shorty　said：　〃I　guess　maybe　he　was　sapped；　lieutenant。　I　don't　get　it。〃
　　〃So　was　the　girl；〃　Degarmo　said。　〃It　didn't　show　much　but　it's　there。　She　was　sapped　so　she　could　have　her　clothes　pulled　off　and　be　clawed　up　before　she　was　killed。　So　the　scratches　would　bleed。　Then　she　was　throttled。　And　none　of　this　made　any　noise。　Why　would　it？　And　there's　no　telephone　in　that　apartment。　Who　reported　it；　Shorty？〃
　　〃How　the　hell　would　I　know？　A　guy　called　up　and　said　a　woman　had　been　murdered　in　618　Granada　Apartments　on　Eighth。　Reed　was　still　looking　for　a　cameraman　when　you　came　in。　The　desk　said　a　guy　with　a　thick　voice；　likely　disguised。　Didn't　give　any　name　at　all。〃
　　〃All　right　then；〃　Degarmo　said。　〃If　you　had　murdered　the　girl；　how　would　you　get　out　of　there？〃
　　〃I'd　walk　out；〃　Shorty　said。　〃Why　not？　Hey；〃　he　barked　at　me　suddenly；　〃why　didn't　you？〃　I　didn't　answer　him。　Degarmo　said　tonelessly：　〃You　wouldn't　climb　out　of　a　bathroom　window　six　floors　up　and　then　burst　in　another　bathroom　window　into　a　strange　apartment　where　people　would　likely　be　sleeping；　would　you？　You　wouldn't　pretend　to　be　the　guy　that　lived　there　and　you　wouldn't　throw　away　a　lot　of　your　time　by　calling　the　police；　would　you？　Hell；　that　girl　could　have　laid　there　for　a　week。　You　wouldn't　throw　away　the　chance　of　a　start　like　that；　would　you；　Shorty？〃
　　〃I　don't　guess　I　would；〃　Shorty　said　cautiously。　〃I　don't　guess　I　would　call　up　at　alL　But　you　know　these　sex　fiends　do　funny　things；　lieutenant。　They　ain't　normal　like　us。　And　this　guy　could　have　had　help　and　the　other　guy　could　have　knocked　him　out　to　put　him　in　the　middle。〃
　　〃Don't　tell　me　you　thought　that　last　bit　up　all　by　yourself；〃　Degarmo　grunted。　〃So　here　we　sit；　and　the　fellow　that　knows　all　the　answers　is　sitting　here　with　us　and　not　saying　a　word。〃　He　turned　his　big　head　and　stared　at　me。　〃What　were　you　doing　there？〃
　　〃I　can't　remember；〃　I　said。　〃The　crack　on　the　head　seems　to　have　blanked　me　out。〃
　　〃We'll　help　you　to　remember；〃　Degarmo　said。　〃We'll　take　you　up　back　in　the　bills　a　few　miles　where　you　can