cwilleford.miamiblues-第22部分

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new　where　the　restaurant　was　she　had　no　trouble　finding　the　old　hotel　on　the　bay。
　　〃Wait　in　the　car；〃　Freddy　told　her；　after　she　parked　in　the　small　lot　beside　the　hotel。
　　〃How　long？〃
　　〃Far　as　long　as　it　takes　me。　If　he's　home；　it　won't　take　long。　If　he　isn't　home；　I'll　have　to　wait　in　his　roam　till　he　gets　there。　So　just　sit　here　and　wait。〃
　　〃Can　I　play　the　radio？〃
　　〃Na。　It　might　attract　attention。　Stop　asking　dumb　questions。〃
　　Freddy　went　into　the　lobby；　and　Old　Man　Zuckerman　tottered　over　to　him　and　handed　him　a　napkin。　Freddy　nodded　his　thanks；　and　the　old　man　went　back　to　his　chair　and　fell　into　a　half…daze。　There　were　four　men　playing　dominoes　in　the　corner　of　the　lobby　and　some　old　ladies　watching　TV　at　the　other　end。　The　battered　card　table；　where　the　Latins　were　playing；　was　lighted　by　a　1930s　wrought…iran　bridge　lamp　with　a　rose　shade　and　tarnished　gold　tassels。　The　men　all　wore　T…shirts　and　jeans；　none　of　them　clean。　One　man　had　a　machete　scar　running　from　the　top　of　his　head　dawn　his　left　cheek；　ending　beneath　his　chin。　All　four　men　had　blackish　homemade　tattoos　an　the　backs　of　their　hands　and　arms。
　　Freddy　walked　to　the　table；　and　the　conversation　stopped。
　　〃Sergeant　Maseley's　room？〃　Freddy　handed　10　to　the　man　with　the　scar。
　　〃Top　floor。〃　He　pointed　his　finger　at　the　ceiling。　〃Eight…OhNine。　〃Gracias〃。〃
　　〃A　casa？〃
　　The　man　ignored　the　question；　pursed　his　lips；　and　studied　his　dominoes。　Freddy　grabbed　the　man's　wrist；　squeezed　it；　and　took　the　10　bill　out　of　his　paralyzed　fingers。
　　〃Si；　se？or；〃　the　man　said。　〃A　casa。〃
　　〃Un　hombre　duro；〃　Freddy　said。　He　wadded　the　ten　into　the　man's　palm　and　closed　his　fingers　on　it。
　　〃Despotico！〃　The　scar…faced　man　nodded；　and　the　other　three　Cubans　laughed。　Freddy　crossed　the　dim　lobby　to　the　elevators。
　　Outside　809；　Freddy　took　out　his　pistol；　knocked　on　the　door；　and　pressed　his　back　against　the　wall。　Hoke　Moseley　opened　the　door；　saw　no　one；　and　took　a　step　forward。　Freddy；　with　a　sweeping　motion　of　the　gun；　caught　Hoke　on　the　side　of　the　jaw。　As　Hoke　fell　sideways；　Freddy　had　time　for　another　backhand　blow；　and　Hoke's　false　teeth　flew　out　of　his　mouth　and　bounced　on　the　dusty　hall　carpet。　Freddy　put　the　teeth　into　his　jacket　pocket　and　dragged　the　unconscious　body　inside　the　room。　After　closing　the　door；　he　kicked　the　supine　man　in　the　jaw　with　the　point　of　his　shoe。　The　jaw　cracked　audibly；　and　blood　poured　from　Hoke's　nose　and　mouth。
　　After　taking　off　his　jacket；　Freddy　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　unmade　bed。　He　needed　to　coal　off　for　a　minute　or　so。　His　shirt　was　already　drenched　with　sweat；　and　he　didn't　want　it　to　darken　his　new　suit　jacket。　The　air　conditioner　in　the　window　labored　away；　but　it　produced　more　noise　than　cold　air。　In　the　humidity；　the　slightest　exercise　provoked　a　good　deal　of　perspiration。　In　California；　Freddy　would　have　had　to　work　out　for　at　least　a　half…hour　to　build　up　such　a　sweat。　It　was　like　breathing　through　a　wet　bath　towel。
　　The　room　was　grungy。　Here　was　a　pig；　Freddy　thought；　who　actually　lived　like　a　pig。　Aluminum　foil　covered　the　sliding　glass　door　that　opened　onto　the　tiny　balcony。　The　foil　was　there　to　reflect　the　heat　away　from　the　room　in　the　afternoons；　but　it　hadn't　helped　much。　The　dirty　beige　carpet　was　ringed　and　spotted　with　coffee　and　other　food　spills。　The　sheets　on　the　three…quarter…size　bed　were　dirty；　and　there　was　a　pile　of　unwashed　laundry　in　the　corner　next　to　an　overflowing　wastebasket。
　　There　were　two　police　uniforms　in　heavy　plastic　garment　bags　in　the　closet；　along　with　a　black　suit　and　two　poplin　leisure　suits。　There　were　a　half…dozen　clean　short…sleeve　sports　shirts　on　hangers；　one　white　dress　shirt；　and　three　neckties。
　　In　the　bottom　drawer　of　the　dresser　there　was　a　one…ring　hot　plate；　a　small　saucepan；　a　tablespoon；　a　knife；　a　fork；　three　cans　of　Chunky　Turkey　Soup　with　noodles；　and　a　box　of　Krispy　saltines。　There　was　a　half…loaf　of　rye　bread；　four　eggs　in　a　brown　carton；　a　jar　of　instant　coffee；　and　a　bottle　of　Tabasco　sauce。　The　other　dresser　drawers　contained　papers　neatly　filed　away　in　cardboard　folders；　Fruit　of　the　Loom　underwear；　and　black　lisle　socks。　There　were　several　T…shirts；　two　pairs　of　ragged　khaki　gym　shorts；　and　a　pair　of　blue…and…red　running　shoes。　The　cop　didn't　have　another　pair　of　black　dress　shoes；　except　for　the　pair　he　was　wearing。　Of　course；　Freddy　thought；　he　might　have　more　shoes　and　clothes　in　his　locker　at　the　police　station。
　　The　detective；　in　any　event；　was　living　incredibly　cheap；　and　Freddy　couldn't　understand　it。　On　top　of　the　man's　dresser　was　a　ticket　to　a　lot　of　money：　a　badge　and　an　ID　in　a　worn　leather　holder；　a　holstered　。38　police　special；　a　sap；　and　handcuffs。　Freddy　searched　Hoke's　pockets。　He　found　keys；　a　wallet；　a　package　of　Kools；　Dupont　Plaza　Hotel　paper　matches；　and　eighty　cents　in　change。　There　were　18　in　the　wallet；　several　business　cards　with　notes　on　them；　and　one　MasterCard。　There　were　also　two　small　photos　in　the　wallet；　older　versions　of　the　two　young　girls　in　the　framed　photo　on　the　dresser。　The　detective's　notebook　was　in　his　leisure　jacket。　Freddy　flipped　through　it　idly　but　could　make　out　nothing　intelligible　from　the　shorthand　Hoke　used　in　the　notebook。
　　Freddy　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　bed　again　and　tapped　the　black　leather　sap　gently　into　the　palm　of　his　other　hand。　The　light　blow　stung。　The　tapered　sap；　eight　inches　long；　with　a　wrist　loop　at　one　end；　was　filled　with　buckshot。　Once；　in　Santa　Barbara；　a　cop　had　slapped　Freddy　on　the　leg　with　one　almost　like　this　one。　There　had　been　no　reason　to　hit　Freddy　with　the　blackjack；　Freddy　had　been　handcuffed　at　the　time　and　was　sitting　quietly　in　a　straight…backed　chair。　The　cop　had　tapped　him　because　he　had　wanted　to　tap　him。　The　pain　had　been　excruciating。　His　entire　leg　had　gone　numb；　and　unbidden　tears　had　burned　his　eyes。
　　Still　seated；　Freddy　reached　out；　and　slapped　the　sap　sharply　against　the　top　of　Hoke's　right　leg。　Hoke　groaned；　and　made　scrabbling　motions　with　his　fingers　on　the　frayed　carpet。　Freddy　shrugged。　Hitting　the　unconscious　man　had　given　him　no　pleasure；　he　still　didn't　know　why　the　cop　in　Santa　Barbara　had　tapped　him　with　the　sap。　Policemen　undoubtedly　had　some　kind　of　inborn　perverted　streak　that　normal　men　like　himself　didn't　have。
　　Freddy　got　a　brown　paper　sack　from　the　closet　and　dropped　the　holstered　。38；　the　badge；　and　ID　holder　into　it；　along　with　the　sap。　He　now　possessed　a　cop's　license　to　steal；　and　the　equipment　to　go　with　it。　He　added　the　handcuffs　to　the　sack　and　put　Hoke's　18　on　top　of　the　dresser。　He　then　put　five　20　bills　on　top　of　the　18；　it　would　help　to　confuse　the　pig　even　more　when　he　woke　up。
　　Freddy　closed　the　door；　which　locked　behind　him；　took　the　elevator　down；　and　left　the　lobby　by　the　side　terrace　French　windows　to　avoid　being　seen　by　the　domino　players　and　the　old　ladies。　The　players　could　identify　him；　he　knew；　but　four　Latins　with　homemade　prison　tattoos　wouldn't　volunteer　any　information　about　an　injured　cop。　Not　unless；　Freddy　grinned；　someone　slipped　them　ten　bucks　or　so…and　investigating　officers　didn't　put　out　any　free　money　for　information。
　　Freddy　told　Susan　to　take　the　Venetian　Causeway　back　to　the　Omni　Hotel　in　Miami。　When　they　reached　DiLido　Island；　he　told　her　to　stop　on　the　other　side　of　the　island　by　the　bridge。　When　she　stopped　the　car；　he　got　out　and　threw　the　teeth　in　the　bay。　He　climbed　into　the　front　seat　again。
　　〃What　did　you　throw　away？〃　Susan　said。
　　〃None　of　your　business。　If　you　needed　to　know；　I　would've　told　you。　How　many　times　do　I　have　to　tell　you　not　to　ask　questions？〃
　　〃I'm　sorry；〃　Susan　said。　〃I　forgot。〃
　　They　turned　the　car　over　to　valet　parking；　and　when　Freddy　showed　his　room　key　to　the　doorman；　a　bellman　came　out　with　a　cart　and　brought　Susan's　prepared　dinner　up　to　their　room。　Freddy　dialed　room　service　and　ordered　a　bottle　of　champagne；　a　pot　of　coffee；　and　table　service　for　two。　They　ate　the　stuffed　pork　chops　and　still…warm　sweet　potatoes　by　candlelight　in　the　handsomely　appointed　room；　with　a　magnificent　view　of　Biscayne　Bay　and　the　Miami　Beach　skyline。
　　Freddy　plimented　Susan　on　the　pork　chops　and　biscuits；　eve