cwilleford.miamiblues-第23部分

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yne　Bay　and　the　Miami　Beach　skyline。
　　Freddy　plimented　Susan　on　the　pork　chops　and　biscuits；　even　though　they　were　cold。
　　If　Susan　was　still　curious；　she　kept　her　questions　to　herself。
　　
　　
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　　When　Hoke　moved　his　right　leg　it　hurt　more　than　his　jaw；　but　at　least　he　could　move　it。　The　top　of　his　head　seemed　to　rise　and　fall　eerily　with　each　breath。　His　head　was　immobilized　by　two　pillows　so　that　he　could　not　move　it　more　than　an　inch　or　two　to　either　side。　His　wrists　were　tied　loosely　to　the　bedrails　with　gauze；　which　prevented　him　from　feeling　his　face　or　poking　at　the　bandages。　There　were　tubes　and　racks　with　bottles　on　each　side　of　his　bed；　and　clear　fluids　dripped　into　both　arms。　Perhaps　that　was　why　his　arms　were　restrained。
　　Hoke's　lower　face　was　pletely　numb。　From　his　position　on　the　bed；　with　his　head　raised　slightly；　all　he　could　see　was　a　gray　steel　contraption　on　the　wall。　He　wondered　vaguely　what　it　was；　but　it　was　two　more　days　before　he　found　out　that　the　steel　frame　was　a　bracket　for　a　television　set；　and　that　if　he　signed　a　piece　of　paper　he　could　have　a　TV　set　brought　in　so　he　could　watch　the　tube　instead　of　the　bracket。
　　By　the　end　of　the　first　week；　when　Hoke　could　sit　up　and　go　to　the　bathroom　without　help；　he　considered　ordering　the　TV　set；　but　he　never　did。　As　he　recalled；　there　were　too　many　mercials　about　food；　in　color；　on　TV；　and　he　knew　that　the　mercials　would　make　him　hungrier　than　he　was　already。　Sometimes；　when　he　closed　his　eyes；　he　could　visualize　the　Burger　King　double　cheeseburger　with　the　bacon　sizzling　on　top。　He　was　hungry　all　the　time。
　　There　were　four　beds　in　the　ward；　but　Hoke　was　the　only　occupant。　This　was　a　special　oral　surgeon's　ward　in　St。　Mary's　Hospital　in　Miami　Shores；　and　it　was　used　exclusively　by　dentists　and　oral　surgeons　who　had　patients　with　special　problems。　Except　for　a　fourteen…year…old　Jewish　American　Prince　whose　mother　had　him　checked　in　overnight　to　have　a　back　tooth　extracted；　Hoke　had　the　small　ward　to　himself　throughout　his　stay。　Hoke　disliked　the　room；　hated　the　hospital；　and　detested　the　gay　male　nurse；　a　Canary　Islander　who　took　an　unseemly　pleasure　in　giving　Hoke　an　enema。
　　Hoke　had　been　operated　on　by　an　oral　surgeon　named　Murray　Goldstein；　and　by　his　own　dentist　of　several　years　standing；　Dr。　David　Rubin。　Dr。　Rubin　professed　sympathy　for　Hoke；　but　he　had　never　forgiven　him　for　having　Doc　Evans　pull　his　teeth　out　in　the　morgue。　Still；　he　seemed　elated　by　the　fact　that　Hoke's　damaged　jaw　would　be　able　to　support　a　new　set　of　false　teeth。　But　the　new　teeth　had　to　be　held　off　until　Hoke's　jaw　had　healed　and　all　of　the　bone　splinters　came　out。　Meanwhile；　his　mandible　was　immobilized；　wired　here　and　there；　and　he　drank　his　meals　through　a　glass　straw。　The　bruise　on　top　of　his　right　leg　was　the　size　and　shape　of　a　football；　and　he　limped　for　several　days　after　he　was　up　and　into　his　bedside　chair。
　　While　he　was　still　punchy　from　the　drugs　and　unable　to　talk；　Red　Farris　visited　him　and　brought　Louise　along。　He　could　remember　Red's　droopy　red　mustache　hanging　over　him；　and　Louise's　white　face　and　rain…dark　hair　hovering　ghostily　in　the　doorway。　He　couldn't　remember　what　Red　Farris　had　said；　but　Red　had　left　a　note　with　his　presents；　all　of　which　Hoke　found　later　in　his　bedside　table。　There　was　a　bottle　of　Smirnoff　vodka　and　a　one…pound　package　of　fudge　wrapped　in　gold　paper　with　the　note：
　　
　　Use　the　vodka　for　mouthwash。　It's　breathless。
　　Louise　made　you　some　fudge。　When　I　get　settled
　　in　Sebring；　you　can　e　up　for　recuperation
　　and　we'll　go　dove　hunting。　Take　care。
　　
　　〃Red〃
　　
　　When　Farris　didn't　e　back　later；　after　Hoke　could　have　visitors；　Hoke　assumed　that　he　had　left　for　Sebring。　But　Hoke　knew　that　he　would　never　go　dove　hunting　with　Red　Farris；　once　a　man　left　Miami；　that　was　the　end　of　it；　and　Red　knew　it　as　well　as　he　did。
　　Although　his　jaw　was　still　wired　and　he　could　talk　only　with　difficulty；　Hoke　was　glad　to　see　Bill　Henderson。　Bill　told　Hoke　that　the　case　of　the　four　dead　Colombians　had　been　solved。
　　Henderson　had　borrowed　a　skycap's　uniform　and　cap；　put　them　on　one　of　his　black　detectives；　and　had　him　falsely　finger　the　Colombian　woman　as　the　person　in　a　purple　Cadillac　who　had　dropped　off　two　men　at　the　Miami　International　Airport。　Confronted　by　this　direct；　if　false；　identification；　she　had　broken　down。　The　child；　as　it　turned　out；　was　the　maid's；　not　her　own；　and　the　child　was　not　supposed　to　be　killed。　She　was　upset　about　that；　which　helped　to　make　up　her　mind；　too。　The　killers　were　back　safely　in　Cartagena　and　would　never　be　extradited。　But　at　least　their　names　were　known　now；　so　it　was　unlikely　that　the　same　pair　would　be　used　in　Miami　for　more　assassinations。
　　〃I　knew　she　was　in　on　it　for　sure；　Hoke；　when　you　told　me　there　were　no　packages　in　the　trunk。　The　woman　had　nine　hundred　bucks　in　her　purse；　and　there　is　no　way　that　a　woman　could　shop　for　two　hours　with　that　kind　of　money　and　not　buy　something。〃
　　Henderson　shrugged。　〃But　she　hasn't　been　arraigned　yet。　I've　got　a　hunch　that　they'll　set　bail　for　a　hundred　thousand　and　let　her　skip　back　to　Colombia。　That's　what　usually　happens。〃
　　Hoke　nodded；　and　made　a　circle　with　his　thumb　and　forefinger。　Henderson　pulled　his　chair　closer　to　the　bed。
　　〃You　got　any　idea　who　did　this　to　you；　Hoke？〃
　　〃Uh…uh。〃　Hoke　rolled　his　head　back　and　forth　on　the　pillow。
　　〃Got　any　ideas？〃
　　Hoke　nodded　and　then　shrugged。　He　was　tired；　and　he　wanted　Henderson　to　leave。
　　〃I　talked　some　to　Eddie　Cohen；　the　old　fart　on　the　desk；　and　he　says　he　didn't　see　any　strangers　in　the　hotel。　The　manager　questioned　some　of　the　old　ladies　who　sit　around　the　TV　set　in　the　lobby；　and　they　didn't　notice　anyone　either。〃
　　Henderson　got　up；　and　walked　to　the　window。　He　looked　down　into　the　parking　lot。　〃I…ah…I　checked　your　room；　Hoke；　and　I　really　don't　think　you　should　be　living　in　a　crummy　place　like　that。　All　those　social　security　types　and　Marielitos…　it's　depressing　as　shit；　Hoke。　When　you　get　out　of　here；　you'll　have　to　recuperate　for　a　couple　of　weeks。　I　can　put　you　up　at　my　house。　We　can　put　a　cot　out　in　the　Florida　room；　and　Marie'！！　look　after　you。〃
　　〃No　dice；　Bill。〃　Hoke　closed　his　eyes。　After　a　few　seconds；　Henderson　tapped　him　on　the　shoulder。
　　〃Well；　think　about　it　anyway；　old　sport。　I'd　better　get　outta　here　and　let　you　get　some　rest。　If　you　need　anything；　let　me　know。〃
　　After　Henderson　left；　Hoke　found　the　carton　of　Kools　and　the　new　Bic　lighter　his　partner　had　left　in　a　paper　sack　on　the　floor　beside　his　bed。　Hoke　had　lost　his　desire　to　smoke；　if　he　was　lucky；　maybe　the　desire　wouldn't　return。
　　Captain　Willie　Brownley　was　Hoke's　third　visitor。　The　captain　had　been　there　to　look　in　on　him　a　couple　of　times　before。　Brownley　was　black；　and　it　was　the　first　time　Hoke　had　seen　the　Homicide　chief　in　civilian　clothes。　He　always　wore　his　uniform　in　the　office；　plete　with　buttoned…up　jacket。　Now　he　wore　a　pink　Golden　Bear　knitted　shirt；　mauve　corduroy　jeans；　a　white　belt；　and　white　shoes。　With　his　gold…rimmed　glasses；　Brownley　looked　more　like　a　Liberty　City　dentist　than　a　police　captain。　Hoke　had　known　Brownley　for　ten　years；　and　at　one　time　had　worked　for　Brownley　when　he　manded　the　Traffic　Division。　Although　Brownley　had　little　aptitude　for　Homicide　work；　he　had　been　placed　in　charge　of　that　division　so　that　he　could　eventually　be　promoted　to　major。　The　black　caucus　in　the　union　had　been　demanding　a　black　major　for　several　years；　and　Brownley　was　being　groomed。
　　Brownley　opened　his　briefcase　on　the　bed　and　handed　Hoke　a　one…pound　box　of　fudge　that　had　been　wrapped　in　gold　paper　and　tied　with　a　flexible　gold　string。
　　〃My　wife　made　some　fudge　for　you；　Hoke；〃　he　said。　〃And　if　you　can't　eat　it　now；　you'll　be　able　to　later。　And　the　boys　asked　me　to　bring　you　this　card。〃　He　handed　Hoke　a　Hallmark　get…well　card　that　had　been　signed　by　forty　of　the　forty…seven　members　of　the　Homicide　Division；　including　Captain　Brownley。
　　Without　thinking；　Hoke　had　counted　the　signatures　and　was　wondering　why　the　other　seven　hadn't　signed。　Then　he　felt　ashamed　of　himself。　There　were　a　hundred　reasons…sickness；　le