ch.doublewhammy-第55部分

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　threw　it　out　the　window。
　〃Got　any　Creedence？〃　he　said。
　In　the　seat　Lanie　whirled　and；　through　the　rear　window；　watched　Whitney　Houston　bounce　and　shatter　and　unspool　on　the　highway。　〃You're　crazy；〃　she　snapped　at　Skink。　〃You're　buying　me　a　new　tape；　buster。〃
　Skink　wasn't　paying　attention。　He　had　spotted　something　far　ahead　in　the　road；　a　motionless　brown　lump。　He　started　braking　the　sports　car；　pumping　slowly　so　it　wouldn't　leave　rubber　or　spin　out。　When　it　finally　came　to　a　stop　on　the　shoulder；　he　flicked　on　the　emergency　flashers　and　got　out。　He　made　sure　to　take　the　keys。
　The　thing　in　the　road　was　a　dead　armadillo。　After　a　brief　examination　Skink　carried　it　by　its　scaly　tail　back　to　the　Corvette。
　Lanie　was　aghast。　Skink　tossed　the　carcass　in　the　back　and　started　the　car。
　〃Ever　had　one？〃
　Lanie　shook　her　head　violently。
　〃Makes　one　hell　of　a　gumbo；〃　he　said。　〃Use　the　shell　as　a　tureen；　if　you　do　it　right。　Holds　about　two　gallons。〃
　Lanie　leaned　back　to　see　where　the　armadillo　had　landed；　how　much　of　a　mess　had　been　made　on　the　upholstery。
　〃It's　fresh；　don't　worry；〃　Skink　said。　He　wheeled　the　Corvette　around　and　headed　back。
　〃Okay；　who　are　you？　Really。〃
　Skink　said；　〃You've　seen　who　I　am。〃
　〃Before　this；〃　Lanie　said。　〃You　must　have　been　。。。　somebody。　I　mean；　you　didn't　grow　up　on　roadkills。〃
　〃Unfortunately；　no。〃
　Lanie　said；　〃I　like　you。　Your　hands　especially。　The　day　we　first　met　I　noticed　them；　when　you　were　tying　me　with　that　plastic　rope。〃
　〃Fishing　line；〃　Skink　said；　〃not　rope。　I'm　glad　there's　no　hard　feelings。〃
　〃You　can't　blame　me　for　being　curious。〃
　〃Sure　I　can。　It's　none　of　your　damn　business　who　I　am。〃
　〃Shit；〃　Lanie　said；　〃you're　impossible。〃
　Skink　hit　the　brakes　hard　and　downshifted。　The　sports　car　fishtailed　severely　and　spun　off　the　Gilchrist　and　came　to　rest　in　a　field　of　crackling　dry　pastureland。
　〃My　Vette　is　now　parked　in　cowshit；〃　Lanie　observed；　more　perturbed　than　frightened。
　Skink　took　his　hands　off　the　steering　wheel。
　〃Want　to　know　who　I　am？　I'm　the　guy　who　had　a　chance　to　save　this　place；　only　I　blew　it。〃
　〃Save　what？〃
　Skink　made　a　circular　gesture。　〃Everything。　Everything　that　counts　for　anything。　I'm　the　guy　that　could　have　saved　it；　but　instead　I　ran。　So　there's　your　answer。〃
　〃Clue　me　in；　please。〃
　〃Don't　worry；　it's　ancient　history。〃
　Lanie　said；　〃Were　you　famous　or　something？〃
　Skink　just　laughed。　He　couldn't　help　it。
　〃What's　so　funny？〃　she　asked。　He　had　a　terrific　smile；　no　doubt　about　it。
　〃No　more　damn　questions。〃
　〃Just　one；〃　Lanie　said；　moving　in。　〃How　about　a　kiss？〃
　It　didn't　stop　at　just　one；　and　it　didn't　stop　with　just　kissing。　Skink　was　impressed　by　both　her　energy　and　agility…unless　you　had　circus　experience；　it　wasn't　easy　getting　naked　in　the　bucket　seat　of　a　Corvette。　Skink　himself　tore　the　inseam　of　his　orange　weathersuit　in　the　struggle。　Lanie　had　better　luck　with　her　jeans　and　panties；　somehow　she　even　got　her　long　bare　legs　wrapped　around　him。　Skink　admired　her　tan；　and　said　so。　She　hit　a　button　and　the　seat　slid　down　to　a　full　recline。
　Once　she　was　on　top　Lanie　allowed　her　breasts　to　brush　back　and　forth　against　Skink's　cheeks。　She　looked　down　and　saw　that　he　seemed　to　be　enjoying　himself。　His　huge　boots　were　braced　against　the　dashboard。
　〃What　do　you　like？〃　she　asked。
　〃Worldly　things。〃
　〃You　got　it；〃　Lanie　said。　〃We're　going　to　do　it　and　then　we're　going　to　lie　here　together　and　talk；　all　right？〃
　〃Sure。〃
　She　pressed　down　hard　and　began　to　rock　her　hips。　〃Get　to　know　each　other　a　little　better。〃
　〃Fine　idea；〃　Skink　said。
　Then　she　leaned　down；　snuck　her　tongue　in　his　ear；　and　said；　〃Leave　the　sunglasses　on；　okay？〃
　Even　for　Lanie　Gault；　the　owl　eye　would　have　been　a　glaring　distraction。
　
　Later　that　afternoon；　after　Lanie　was　gone　and　Jim　Tile　had　stashed　Ellen　O'Leary　at　his　apartment；　Skink　took　the　truck　to　town。　He　came　back　towing　a　dented　old　boat　trailer　with　a　sagging　rusty　axle。　In　the　flatbed　of　the　pickup　truck　was　a　six…horsepower　Mercury　outboard　that　had　seen　brighter　days。　There　was　also　a　plastic　forty…gallon　garbage　bucket；　eight　feet　of　aquarium　tubing；　and　four　dozen　D…size　batteries；　which　Skink　had　purchased　at　Harney　Hardware。
　He　was　fiddling　with　his　trash…bucket　contraption　when　Decker　came　up　and　said；　〃Why'd　you　let　her　go？〃
　〃No　reason　to　keep　her。〃
　To　Decker　the　reason　seemed　obvious。　〃She'll　run　straight　to　her　brother。〃
　〃And　tell　him　what？〃
　〃Where　I　am；　for　starters。〃
　〃You　won't　be　here　that　long；〃　Skink　said。　〃We're　all　heading　south。　Jim　Tile　and　the　Cuban…they　been　practicing？〃
　〃All　day；〃　Decker　said。　〃Garcia's　hopeless。〃
　〃He　can　play　captain；　then。〃
　Decker　needed　to　ask　something　else　but　he　didn't　want　to　set　Skink　off。
　〃She　doesn't　know　the　plan；　does　she？〃
　It　was　another　way　of　asking　what　had　happened　in　the　Corvette。　Skink　clearly　didn't　want　to　talk　about　it。
　〃Some　of　us　know　how　to　get　laid　with　our　mouths　shut；〃　he　said　sourly。　〃No；　she　doesn't　know　the　damn　plan。〃
　Decker　was　getting　ominous　vibrations；　maybe　the　beating　in　Delray　had　loosened　a　few　more　bolts　in　the　big　man's　brainpan。　Skink　was　forever　pulling　guns；　and　he　looked　like　he　wanted　to　pull　one　now。　Decker　asked　Jim　Tile　for　a　ride　to　town；　to　make　some　phone　calls。　Al　Garcia　went　along；　he　was　out　of　cigarettes。
　〃Town's　a　bad　idea；〃　Jim　Tile　said；　heading　away　from　Harney　on　Route　222。　〃The　three　of　us　shouldn't　be　seen　together。　There's　a　Zippy　Mart　about　eight　miles　along　here。〃
　Decker　said；　'This　idea　of　his　。。。　I　don't　know；　Jim。〃
　〃It's　his　last　chance；〃　the　trooper　said。　〃You　saw　how　bad　he　looks。〃
　〃Then　let's　get　him　to　a　hospital。〃
　〃It's　not　the　eye；　Decker。　Or　what　those　kids　did　to　him。　He's　all　beat　up　inside。　He's　done　it　to　himself；　you　understand？　Been　doing　it　for　years。〃
　Al　Garcia　leaned　forward　in　the　back　seat　and　said；　〃What's　the　harm；　R。J。？　The　man　wants　to　make　a　point。〃
　Decker　said；　〃Skink　I　almost　understand。　But　why　are　you　guys　going　along？〃
　〃Maybe　we　got　a　point　to　make；　too；〃　Jim　Tile　said。
　After　that；　Decker　left　it　alone。
　〃Relax；〃　Garcia　told　him。　〃Couple　old　road　cops　like　us　need　a　break　in　the　monotony；　that's　all。〃
　
　At　the　Zippy　Mart；　Jim　Tile　waited　in　the　car　while　Garcia　went　to　buy　his　cigarettes　and　Decker　used　the　pay　phone。　It　had　been　several　days　since　he　had　left　Miami　and；　assuming　he'd　still　have　to　make　a　living　when　this　case　was　over；　he　thought　it　a　wise　idea　to　check　his　messages。　He　dialed　his　number；　then　punched　the　playback　code　for　the　tape　machine。
　The　first　voice　made　him　wince。　Lou　Zicutto　from　the　insurance　pany：　〃Hey；　douche…bag；　you're　lucky　Nu？ez　came　down　with　mono。　We　got　a　two…week　postponement　from　the　judge；　so　this　time　no　excuses…be　there　with　your　negatives。　Otherwise　just　go　ahead　and　buy　yourself　some　fucking　crutches；　got　it？〃
　What　a　prince　to　work　for。
　Decker　didn't　recognize　the　second　voice；　didn't　need　to：　〃I　got　your　wife；　Mr。　Decker；　and　she's　just　as　pretty　as　the　pitchers。　So　we're　gonna　trade：　her　tight　little　ass　for　yours。　Call　me　。。。　make　it　Friday　at　the　Holiday　Inn；　Coral　Springs。　We'll　be　registered　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Juan　Gomez。〃
　Decker　hung　up　and　sagged　against　the　wall。
　Al　Garcia；　who'd　e　out　of　the　store　whistling；　grabbed　Decker　by　the　arm。　〃What　is　it；　man？〃
　Jim　Tile　came　up　and　took　the　other　side。
　〃He's　got　Catherine；〃　Decker　said　tonelessly。
　〃Fuck。〃　Garcia　spit　on　the　pavement。
　〃It's　Tom　Curl；〃　said　the　trooper。
　R。　J。　Decker　sat　on　the　fender　of　Jim　Tile's　car　and　said　nothing　for　five　minutes；　just　stared　at　the　ground。　Finally　he　looked　up　at　the　other　two　men。
　〃Is　there　a　place　around　here　to　buy　a　camera？〃　he　asked。
　
　When　they　got　back　to　Lake　Jesup；　Jim　Tile　told　Skink　what　Thomas　Curl　had　done。
　The　big　man　sat　down　heavily　on　the　tailgate　of　the　truck　and　wrapped　his　arms　around　his　head。　R。　J。　Decker　took　a　step　forward　but　Jim　Tile　motioned　him　back。
　After　a　few　moments　Skink　looked　up　and　said；　〃It's　my　fault；　Miami。〃
　〃It's　nobody's　fault。〃
　〃I'm　the　one　who　shot…〃
　〃It's　nobody's　fault；〃　Decker　said　again；　〃so　shut　up。〃　The　less　said　about　Lemus　Curl；　the　better。　Especially　in　the　presence　of　cops。
　Skink　pulled　painfully　at　his　beard。　〃This　could　screw　up　everything；〃　he　said　hoarsely。
　〃I　would　say　so；〃　Al　Garcia　grunted。
　Skink　took　off　the　sunglasses。　His　good　eye　was　red　and　moist。　He　gazed　at　Decker；　and　in　a　small　brittle　voice；　said：　〃The　plan　can't　be　changed；　it's　too　late。〃
　〃Do　what　you　have　to；〃　Decker　said。
　〃I'll　kill　him　afterward；〃　Skink　said；　〃I　promise。〃
　〃Thanks　anyway；　but　it　won't　e　to　that。〃
　〃This　thing…〃　Skink　paused；　raked　feverishly　at　his　beard。　He　was　boiling　inside。　He　pounded　his　fists　against　the　fender　of　the　truck。　〃This　thing　I　have　to　do…it's　so　important。〃
　Decker　said；　〃I　know；　captain。〃
　〃You'd　understand　better　if　you　knew　everything。〃　Skink　spoke　solemnly。　〃If　you　knew　it　all；　then　you'd　see　the　point。〃
　〃It's　all　right；〃　Decker　said。　〃Go　ahead　with　your　plan。　I've　got　one　of　my　own。〃
　Skink　grinned　and　clapped　his　hands。　〃That's　the　spirit！〃　he　said。　'That's　what　I　like　to　hear。〃
　Al