ch.doublewhammy-第50部分

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　〃I　don't　ever　want　to　hear　you　talk　about　crazy　Cubans；〃　Garcia　said；　〃never　again。〃
　A　flicker　of　a　smile　crossed　Jim　Tile's　face；　and　then　he　grew　serious。　〃Gault　is　the　big　problem；〃　he　said。　〃He's　the　one　who　can　put　Decker　in　prison。〃
　〃He'd　rather　have　him　dead；〃　Garcia　noted。
　Decker　knew　the　detective　was　right。　By　now　Dennis　Gault　surely　understood　that　a　trial　could　be　disastrous；　the　evidence　against　Decker　was　entirely　circumstantial；　and　Gault　couldn't　risk　taking　the　witness　stand　himself。　There　were　neater　ways　to　close　a　murder　case；　and　one　was　to　make　the　prime　suspect　vanish。　That；　Decker　thought；　would　be　Thomas　Curl's　department。
　Garcia　said　to　Decker；　〃We　need　to　get　to　Gault　before　Curl　gets　to　you。〃
　〃That's　brilliant；　Al。〃
　〃Any　ideas；　smartass？〃
　〃Yes；　as　a　matter　of　fact。　My　idea　is　that　you　plant　your　lazy　Cuban　butt　right　here　for　a　day　or　so；　and　keep　an　eye　on　our　sick　friend。〃　Decker　turned　to　Jim　Tile。　〃I　need　a　favor　from　you。〃
　〃Starting　tonight；〃　the　trooper　said；　〃I'm　on　vacation。〃　
　〃Good；〃　Decker　said。　〃You　feel　like　taking　a　drive　to　the　beach？〃　
　Jim　Tile　chuckled。　〃My　Coppertone's　already　packed。〃
　
　Crescent　Beach　is　a　few　miles　south　of　St。　Augustine。　The　broad　expanse　of　sand　is　sugary　white；　but　packed　so　hard　you　could　drive　a　truck　to　the　water's　edge　without　fear　of　getting　stuck。　For　a　long　time　Crescent　Beach　and　adjacent　munities　existed　in　a　rare　and　splendid　quiet。　To　the　south；　Daytona　got　all　the　publicity　and　the　crowds　to　go　with　it；　to　the　north；　the　beach　at　Jacksonville　was　still　clean　enough　to　keep　the　city　folks　home　on　weekends。　As　the　condo　market　boomed　in　the　seventies；　though；　developers　scouted　and　scoured　all　of　the　state's　oceanfront　possibilities；　and　spied　lovely　Crescent　Beach　as　a　promoter's　wet　dream…the　perfect　escape。　See　Florida　as　it　used　to　be！　Enjoy　the　solitude　of　long　romantic　walks；　the　Atlantic　nipping　at　your　toes！　Lie　down　among　the　dunes！　The　dunes　became　a　crucial　selling　point　for　North　Florida's　long…ignored　beaches；　because　the　people　in　South　Florida　didn't　know　what　a　dune　was…the　developers　had　flattened　them　all　back　in　the　fifties。　True；　by　Northern　standards　Florida　dunes　weren't　much　to　write　home　about…stubbled　little　hillocks；　really…but　the　condo　salesmen　made　the　most　of　them　and　customers　thought　they　were　quaint。　Once　the　building　boom　took　hold　south　of　Jacksonville　and　the　beachfront　became　clogged　with　exclusive　resorts　and　high…rises　and　golf　munities；　the　state　was　forced　to　start　buying　up　the　remaining　dunes；　making　parks；　and　nailing　boardwalks　every　which…way　to　keep　the　dunes　from　getting　leveled。　Mysteriously；　tourists　would　drive　for　miles　and　pay　admission　just　to　see　a　three…foot　crest　of　sand　with　a　few　strands　of　sea　oats…a　genuine　touch　of　wilderness　among　the　cabanas。
　Lanie　Gault　had　not　chosen　Crescent　Beach　for　its　dunes。　She　hadn't　chosen　it　at　all；　a　lover　had　bought　the　condo　and　given　it　to　her　for　Valentine's　Day　in　1982。　He　was　a　wonderful　and　basically　harmless　man；　had　his　own　insurance　pany；　and　Lanie　didn't　mind　that　he　was　married。　He　wasn't　the　sort　of　guy　you；　wanted　to　have　around　all　the　time　anyway。　Every　other　weekend　was　just　fine。　It　lasted　for　about　two　years　until　his　wife　found　out…somebody　called　her　up　with　the　juicy　details。　The　insurance　man　couldn't　figure　out　who　would　do　such　a　thing；　but　Lanie　knew。　It　was　her　brother。　Dennis　never　admitted　to　making　the　phone　call；　but　Lanie　had　no　doubt　he　was　the　one。　Dennis　couldn't　stand　the　insurance　man　（nothing　new）　and　for　months　had　been　telling　her　to　clear　the　deed　and　dump　the　guy；　he's　bad　news。　He　isn't　bad　news；　Lanie　had　argued；　thinking：　He's　just　slightly　boring。　When　the　wife　found　out；　Lanie　was　angry　with　her　brother　but　also　a　little　relieved。　A　few　days　later　the　insurance　man　came　to　the　condo　and　told　her　he　was　moving　back　to　St。　Louis　and　kissed　her　good…bye。　Lanie　cried　and　said　she　understood　and　asked　if　he　wanted　her　to　give　the　condo　back。　The　insurance　man　said　heavens　no；　it's　all　yours；　just　don't　tell　anyone　where　you　got　it。　A　week　later　Lanie　put　in　brand…new　wine　carpeting　and　decided　maybe　her　heart　wasn't　truly　broken　after　all。
　Lanie's　condominium　was　on　the　east　wing　of　the　ninth　floor；　and　featured　a　scallop…shaped　balcony　with　an　ocean　view。　One　of　the　things　she　liked　about　the　building　was　the　security…not　only　a　gatehouse　at　the　entrance；　but　an　armed　guard　in　the　lobby　and　a　closed…circuit　TV　bank。　Nobody　got　upstairs　without　clearance；　and　the　security　people　had　strict　instructions　to　phone　ahead；　no　matter　what。　Given　such　procedures；　Lanie　was　understandably　alarmed　to　be　awakened　by　someone　knocking　on　the　door。　She　squirmed　across　the　king…size　bed　and　snatched　the　phone　off　the　nightstand　and　called　the　desk。　The　guard　said；　〃It's　the　police；　Miss　Gault；　we　had　to　let　them　up。〃
　When　she　opened　the　door；　she　saw　the　problem。　Jim　Tile　was　wearing　his　state　trooper's　uniform。
　〃Can　I　help　you？〃　Lanie　asked。
　〃Not　me；〃　Jim　Tile　said；　〃my　friend。〃
　R。　J。　Decker　peeked　around　the　corner　of　the　doorway。　〃Remember　me？　We　exchanged　bodily　fluids　not　long　ago。〃
　Lanie　looked　stunned　to　see　him。　〃Hi；〃　she　said　tentatively。
　The　two　men　walked　in；　Jim　Tile　courteously　removing　his　Stetson；　Decker　closing　the　door　behind　them。　〃I　can　see　you're　wondering　how　to　play　this　scene；〃　he　said　to　Lanie；　〃because　you　don't　know　how　much　I　know。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　Decker　opened　the　living…room　curtains　without　remarking　on　the　view。　〃Lovey…dovey　is　one　way　to　go。　You　know　the　bit：　Where　you　been？　I　missed　you。　Why　haven't　you　called？　But　that's　only　good　if　I　don't　know　that　you　went　to　the　New　Orleans　cops。　And　if　I　don't　know　you　helped　your　brother　set　me　up。〃
　Lanie　sat　down　and　fiddled　with　her　hair。　Jim　Tile　went　to　the　kitchen　and　fixed　three　glasses　of　orange　juice。
　〃Another　way　to　go；〃　Decker　continued；　〃is　the　Terrified　Witness　routine。　Murder　suspect　barges　into　your　apartment；　scares　the　shit　out　of　you。　Please　don't　hurt　me。　I'll　do　anything　you　want；　just　don't　hurt　me。　That's　if　you're　trying　to　sell　me　the　idea　that　you　really　believe　I　killed　Dickie　Lockhart。　Which　is　horseshit。〃
　Lanie　smiled　weakly。　〃Any　other　choices？〃
　〃Try　the　truth；〃　said　Decker；　〃just　as　an　experiment。〃
　〃You　got　a　tape　player？〃　Jim　Tile　asked。
　Lanie　said；　〃On　the　balcony；　with　the　beach　stuff。〃　She　shook　her　head　no　when　Jim　Tile　offered　a　glass　of　juice。
　The　trooper　went　outside　and　got　the　portable　stereo。　He　came　back　and　set　it　up　on　the　coffee　table　in　the　living　room。　There　was　already　a　cassette　in　the　tape　player。
　Jim　Tile　punched　the　Record　button。　He　said；　〃You　don't　mind？〃
　〃Hey；　that's　my　Neil　Diamond　you're　erasing；〃　Lanie　plained。
　〃What　a　loss；〃　Decker　said。
　Jim　Tile　fiddled　with　the　volume　dial。　〃Nice　box；〃　he　said。　〃Graphic　equalizers　and　everything。〃
　〃Let's　start　with　Dennis；〃　Decker　said。
　〃Forget　it；　R。J。〃
　Jim　Tile　said；　〃She's　right。　Let's　don't　start　with　her　brother。　Let's　start　with　Robert　Clinch。〃
　Lanie　stared　coldly　at　the　big　black　man。　〃I　could　get　you　in　a　lot　of　trouble。〃
　〃Don't　flatter　yourself；〃　said　Jim　Tile。
　Decker　was　impressed　at　how　unimpressed　Jim　Tile　was。　He　said；　〃Okay；　princess；　guess　who　killed　Bobby。〃
　〃Dickie　Lockhart　did。〃
　〃Wrong。〃
　〃Then　who？〃
　Jim　Tile　got　up　and　opened　the　glass　doors　to　the　balcony。　A　cool　breeze　stirred　the　curtains。　Lanie　shivered。
　Decker　said；　〃Dennis　didn't　think　much　of　your　affair　with　Bobby　Clinch；　did　he？　I　mean；　a　sexy　high…class　girl　like　you　can't　be　sneaking　off　with　a　grotey　redneck　bass　fisherman。〃
　〃What？〃　Lanie　looked　aggravated；　not　cool　at　all。
　Jim　Tile　said；　〃Your　brother　had　Robert　Clinch　killed。　He　hired　two　men　to　do　it。　They　waited　for　him　at　the　Coon　Bog　that　morning；　jumped　him；　then　rigged　his　boat　for　a　bad　wreck。　Dennis　wanted　everyone　to　think　Dickie　was　behind　it。〃
　〃No；〃　said　Lanie；　glassy…eyed。
　She　really　doesn't　know；　Decker　thought。　If　she's　acting；　it's　the　performance　of　her　life。
　〃Bobby　wasn't　getting　anywhere　on　the　cheating；〃　she　said　numbly。　〃Dickie's　people　were　too　slick。　Dennis　was　impatient；　he　was　riding　Bobby　pretty　hard。　Then　。。。　well。〃
　〃He　found　out　you　and　Bobby　were　involved。〃
　Lanie　gave　a　shallow　laugh。　〃The　spottfucking；　he　didn't　mind。　A　different　fella　each　night　and　he'd　never　say　a　word　to　me。　Whenever　things　got　serious　is　when　he　acted　weird。　Like　when　Bobby　said　he　was　going　to　leave　his　wife　and　go　away　with　me；　Dennis　got　furious。　But　still　he　would　never　do　what　you　say。　Never！〃
　Decker　said；　〃Lanie；　he　needed　you　more　than　he　needed　Bobby。〃
　〃For　what；　Decker？　Needed　me　for　what？〃
　Decker　tapped　his　chest。　〃For　me。〃
　By　now　Lanie　was　crying。　Not　the　best　job　of　crying　Decker　had　ever　seen；　but　still　pretty　convincing。　〃What　are　you　saying？〃　she　hacked　between　sobs。　〃You　think　I　was　whoring　for　my　own　brother！　I　cared　for　Bobby；　you　don't　believe　me　but　it's　true。〃
　Jim　Tile　was　not　moved。　In　years　of　writing　traffic　tickets；　he'd　heard　every　imaginable　tale　of　woe。　With　his　usual　remoteness　he　said；　〃When's　the　last　time　you　spoke　to　him？〃
　〃Bobby？　I　saw　him　t