dk.solesurvivor-第58部分

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ed　shrimp　with　his　sad　eyes；　while　the　brunette　murmured　something　and　the　nervous　pink…faced　man　watched。
　　Joe's　puzzlement　turned　to　alarm。
　　For　an　instant；　he　could　not　understand　why　his　mouth　went　dry　or　why　his　heart　began　to　race。　Then　in　his　mind's　eye　he　saw　the　fork　metamorphose　into　a　stiletto；　and　the　shrimp　became　a　sliver　of　Gouda　cheese。
　　Two　men　and　a　woman。　Not　in　a　restaurant　but　in　a　hotel　room。　Not　this　brunette　but　Barbara　Christman。　If　not　these　two　men；　then　two　astonishingly　similar　to　them。
　　Of　course　Joe　had　never　seen　them；　only　listened　to　Barbara's　brief　but　vivid　descriptions。　The　hound…dog　eyes；　the　nose　that　was　'bashed　red　by　decades　of　drinking；'　the　thick…lipped　mouth。　The　younger　of　the　two：　pink…faced　with　the　ceaselessly　flickering　smile。
　　Joe　was　more　than　twenty…four　hours　past　the　ability　ever　to　believe　in　coincidence　again。
　　Impossibly；　Teknologik　was　here。
　　
　　He　hurried　along　the　hallway；　through　one　of　two　swinging　doors；　and　into　a　roomy　antechamber　used　as　a　salad…prep　area。　Two　white…uniformed　men；　artfully　and　rapidly　arranging　plates　of　greenery；　never　even　glanced　at　him。
　　Beyond；　in　the　main　kitchen；　the　heavy…set　black　woman　in　the　voluminous　muumuu　was　waiting　for　him。　Even　her　bright　dress　and　the　cascades　of　glittering　jewellery　could　not　disguise　her　anxiety。　Her　big…mama；　jazz…singer　face　was　pretty　and　lively　and　made　for　mirth；　but　there　was　no　song　or　laughter　in　her　now。
　　'My　name's　Mahalia。　Real　sorry　I　couldn't　have　dinner　with　you；　Presentable　Joe。　That　would've　been　a　treat。'　Her　sexy…smoky　voice　pegged　her　as　the　woman　whom　he　had　named　Demi。　'But　there's　been　a　change　of　plans。　Follow　me；　honey。'
　　With　the　formidable　majesty　of　a　great　ship　leaving　its　dock；　Mahalia　set　out　across　the　busy　and　immaculate　kitchen　crowded　with　chefs；　cooks；　and　assistants；　past　cooktops　and　ovens　and　griddles　and　grills；　through　steam　and　meat　smoke　and　the　eye…watering　fragrance　of　sautéing　onions。
　　Hurrying　after　her；　Joe　said；　'Then　you　know　about　them？'
　　'Sure　do。　Been　on　the　TV　news　today。　The　news　people　show　you　stuff　to　curl　your　hair；　then　try　to　sell　you　Fritos。　This　awful　business　changes　everythin'。'
　　He　put　an　arm　on　her　shoulder；　halted　her。　'TV　news？'
　　'Some　people　been　murdered　after　she　talks　to　them。'
　　Even　with　the　large　culinary　staff　in　white　flurries　of　activity　around　them；　they　were　afforded　privacy　for　their　conversation　by　the　masking　clang　of　pots；　rattle　of　skillets；　whir　of　mixers；　swish　of　whisks；　clatter　of　dishes；　buzz；　clink；　tink；　ping；　pop；　scrape；　chop；　sizzle。
　　'They　call　it　somethin'　else　on　the　news；'　Mahalia　said；　'but　it's　murder　sure　enough。'　…　'That's　not　what　I　mean；'　he　said。　'I'm　talking　about　the　men　in　the　restaurant。'
　　She　frowned。　'What　men？'
　　'Two　of　them。　Black　slacks；　white　silk　shirts；　black　leather　jackets…'
　　'I　walked　'em　to　their　table。'
　　'You　did；　yeah。　I　just　recognized　them　a　minute　ago。'
　　'Bad　folks？'
　　'The　worst。'
　　Baffled；　she　shook　her　head。　'But；　sugar；　we　know　you　weren't　followed。'
　　'I　wasn't；　but　maybe　you　were。　Or　maybe　someone　else　who's　protecting　Rose　was　followed。'
　　'Devil　himself　would　have　a　hard　time　finding　Rose　if　he　had　to　depend　on　getting　to　her　through　us。'
　　'But　somehow　they've　figured　out　who's　been　hiding　her　for　a　year；　and　now　they're　closing　in。'
　　Glowering；　wrapped　by　bulletproof　confidence；　Mahalia　said；　'Nobody's　gonna　lay　one　little　finger　on　Rose。'
　　'Is　she　here？'
　　'Waitin'　for　you。'
　　A　cold　tide　washed　through　his　heart。　'You　don't　understand　the　two　in　the　restaurant　won't　have　e　alone。　There's　sure　to　be　more　outside。　Maybe　a　small　army　of　them。'
　　'Yeah；　maybe；　but　they　don't　know　what　they're　dealin'　with；　honey。'　Thunderheads　of　resolve　massed　in　her　dark　face。　'We're　Baptists。'
　　Certain　that　he　could　not　have　heard　the　woman　correctly；　Joe　hurried　after　her　as　she　continued　through　the　kitchen。
　　At　the　far　end　of　the　big　room；　they　went　through　an　open　door　into　a　sparkling　scullery　where　fruits　and　vegetables　were　cleaned　and　trimmed　before　being　sent　in　to　the　main　cookery。　This　late　in　the　restaurant's　day；　no　one　was　at　work　here。
　　Beyond　the　scullery　was　a　concrete…floored　receiving　room　that　smelled　of　raw　celery　and　peppers；　damp　wood　and　damp　cardboard。　On　pallets　along　the　right…hand　wall；　empty　fruit　and　vegetable　crates；　boxes；　and　cases　of　empty　beer　bottles　were　stacked　almost　to　the　low　ceiling。
　　Directly　ahead；　under　a　red　Exit　sign　was　a　wide；　steel　exterior　door；　closed　now；　beyond　which　suppliers'　trucks　evidently　parked　to　make　deliveries。　To　the　left　was　an　elevator。
　　'Rose　is　down　below。'　Mahalia　pressed　the　call　button；　and　the　elevator　doors　slid　open　at　once。
　　'What's　under　us？'
　　'Well；　one　time；　this　was　the　service　elevator　to　a　banquet　room　and　deck；　where　you　could　have　big　parties　right　on　the　beach；　but　we　can't　use　it　like　the　joint　did　before　us。　Coastal　mission　put　a　hard　rule　on　us。　Now　it's　just　a　storeroom。　Once　you　go　down；　I'll　have　some　boys　e　move　the　pallets　and　empty　crates　to　this　wall。　We'll　cover　the　elevator　real　nice。　Nobody'll　know　it's　even　here。'
　　Uneasy　about　being　cornered；　Joe　said；　'Yeah；　but　what　if　they　e　looking　and　they　do　find　the　elevator？'
　　'Gonna　have　to　stop　callin'　you　Presentable　Joe。　Better　would　be　Worryin'　Joe。'
　　'After　a　while；　they　will　e　looking。　They　won't　just　wait　till　closing　time　and　go　home。　So　once　I'm　down　there；　do　I　have　another　way　out？'　he　persisted。
　　'Never　tore　apart　the　front　stairs；　where　the　customers　used　to　go　down。　Just　covered　the　openin'　with　hinged　panels　so　you　don't　really　see　it。　You　e　up　that　way；　though；　you'll　be　right　across　from　the　hostess　station；　in　the　middle　of　plain　view。'
　　'No　good。'
　　'So　if　somethin'　goes　wrong；　best　to　skedaddle　out　the　lower　door　onto　the　deck。　From　there　you　have　the　beach；　the　whole　coast。'
　　'They　could　be　covering　that　exit　too。'
　　'It's　down　at　the　base　of　the　bluff。　From　the　upper　level；　they　can't　know　it's　there。　You　should　just　try　to　relax；　sugar。　We're　on　the　righteous　side；　which　counts　for　somethin'。'
　　'Not　much。'
　　'Worryin'　Joe。'
　　He　stepped　into　the　elevator　but　blocked　the　sliding　door　with　his　arm　in　case　it　tried　to　close。　'How're　you　connected　with　this　place；　Mahalia？'
　　'Half　owner。'
　　'The　food's　great。'
　　'You　can　look　at　me　the　way　I　am　and　think　I　don't　know？'　she　asked　good…naturedly。
　　'What're　you　to　Rose？'
　　'Gonna　call　you　Curious　Joe　pretty　soon。　Rose　married　my　brother　Louis　about　twenty…two　years　ago。　They　met　in　college　Wasn't　truly　surprised　when　Louis　turned　out　smart　enough　to　go　to　college；　but　I　was　sure　surprised　he　had　the　brains　to　fall　for　someone　like　Rose。　Then；　of　course；　the　man　proved　he　was　a　pure　fool；　after　all；　when　he　up　and　divorced　her　four　years　later。　Rose　couldn't　have　kids；　and　havin'　kids　was　important　to　Louis　though　with　less　air　in　his　skull　and　any　mon　sense　at　all；　the　man　would've　realized　Rose　was　more　treasure　than　a　houseful　of　babies。'
　　'She　hasn't　been　your　sister…in…law　for　eighteen　years；　but　you're　willing　to　put　yourself　on　the　line　for　her？'
　　'Why　not？　You　think　Rose　turned　into　a　vampire　when　Louis；　the　fool；　divorced　her？　She's　been　the　same　sweet　lady　ever　I　met　her。　I　love　her　like　a　sister。　Now　she's　waitin'；　Curious　Joe。'
　　'One　more　thing。　Earlier；　when　you　told　me　these　people　don't　know　who　they're　dealing　with　。　。　。　You　didn't　say…〃We're　Baptists？〃
　　'That's　exactly　what　I　did　say。　〃Tough〃　and　〃Baptists〃　don't　go　together　in　your　head…is　that　it？'
　　'Well…'
　　'Mama　and　Daddy　stood　up　to　the　Klan　down　in　Mississippi　when　the　Klan　had　a　whole　lot　more　teeth　than　they　do　now；　and　so　did　my　Grandma　and　Grandpap　before　them；　and　they　never　let　fear　weigh　'em　down。　When　I　was　a　little　girl；　we　went　through　hurricanes　off　the　Gulf　of　Mexico　and　Delta　floods　and　encephalitis　epidemics　and　poor　times　when　we　didn't　know　where　tomorrow's　food　was　in'　from；　but　we　rode　it　out　and　still　sung　loud　in　the　choir　every　Sunday。　Maybe　the　United　States　Marines　are　so