mg.cityofcrime-第4部分

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　〃All　the　better；〃　decided　Borman。　〃If　he　thinks　I'm　the　man　he　has　to　deal　with；　he　won't　be　expecting　you　tomorrow。〃
　Kirk　Borman　clapped　his　hand　upon　Lieutenant　Maclare's　shoulder；　then　turned　about　and　strode　from　the　office。　Policemen　saluted；　as　the　director　passed　through　the　patrol　room。　Outside　the　station　house；　Borman　stepped　aboard　an　official　limousine　and　told　the　chauffeur　to　take　him　to　the　Club　Adair。
　
　
　LOCATED　just　within　the　limits　of　the　first　precinct；　the　Club　Adair　fronted　on　one　of　Westford's　main　streets。　The　club　itself　was　on　the　second　floor；　over　a　row　of　shops。
　Alighting　from　his　car；　Kirk　Borman　entered　a　pretentious　doorway　and　ascended　a　broad　flight　of　thick…carpeted　stairs。　At　the　top；　he　left　his　hat　and　coat　at　a　check　room。　Attired　in　tuxedo；　the　police　director　entered　a　glittering　night　club；　where　tobacco　smoke　clouded　a　thick　throng　of　dancers　who　occupied　the　center　of　the　floor。
　An　orchestra　was　producing　strident　music。　Buzzed　conversation；　bursts　of　laughter　sounded　everywhere。　The　place　was　doing　capacity　business；　a　bowing　head　waiter　was　apologetic　when　he　ushered　the　police　director　to　an　obscure　table；　behind　a　pillar。　It　was　one　of　the　few　tables　that　remained　vacant。
　A　heavy…jowled　man　spied　Borman　immediately　and　came　over　to　the　director's　table。　He　was　one　of　the　headquarters　men；　he　reported　in　an　undertone：
　〃They've　been　going　through　that　door　over　there；　a　lot　of　em。　Looks　like　the　gambling　joint's　on　the　other　side…〃
　Borman　whispered　an　interruption。　The　headquarters　man　silenced　as　the　head　waiter　approached　the　table。　Directly　behind　the　head　waiter　came　a　man　in　full　evening　clothes。　The　arrival　was　Lance　Gillick。
　The　night　club　proprietor　was　tall　and　long…limbed。　His　manner　was　polished；　his　speech　was　suave。　His　features　were　handsome；　despite　their　sallowness。　His　wavy　black　hair；　his　pointed　mustache　gave　him　a　debonair　air。
　〃Good　evening；　Director　Borman；〃　greeted　Gillick；　with　a　bow。　〃It　is　not　often　that　I　have　the　pleasure　of　meeting　you　here。　I　somewhat　expected　your　arrival　tonight〃…Lance　smiled；　as　he　looked　in　the　direction　of　the　headquarters　man…〃because　I　saw　two　of　your　advance　agents。　This　gentleman　and　the　other；　over　by　the　wall。〃
　Borman　turned　to　the　headquarters　man。
　〃Go　over　there；　Thompson；〃　he　ordered；　〃and　bring　Rhine　here。　I　want　both　of　you　to　e　along　with　me。〃
　Lance　Gillick　arched　his　clipped　eyebrows；　as　he　heard　Borman　give　the　order。　When　the　two　headquarters　men　arrived　at　the　table；　Borman　snapped　brisk　words　to　Lance：
　〃We're　going　through　that　far　door；　Gillick！　You　can　conduct　us　there！〃
　〃With　pleasure；〃　said　Lance；　with　a　bow。　〃e　at　once；　director。〃
　
　
　LANCE　led　the　way　to　the　door　in　question。　He　rapped　a　signal；　the　door　opened。　Borman　and　his　men　followed　through　into　a　large　room；　where　some　twenty　people　were　seated　at　tables；　laughing　as　they　chatted　and　drank。　All　were　well　attired；　the　men　in　evening　clothes；　the　women　in　evening　gowns。
　The　room；　itself；　was　magnificent。　Its　walls　were　adorned　with　huge　oil　paintings；　the　windows　were　covered　by　expensive　velvet　draperies。　Lance　conducted　Borman　and　the　others　to　a　far　door；　he　opened　it；　to　show　a　small　office　with　oak　furniture　and　paneled　walls　to　match。
　〃My　private　office；〃　explained　Lance。　〃The　large　room　through　which　we　came　is　simply　an　exclusive　dining　room　for　my　more　important　guests。〃
　〃It　passes　muster；〃　decided　Borman。　Then；　eyeing　the　office：　〃I　suppose　you　are　very　careful　in　your　bookkeeping；　Gillick？〃
　〃I　am；〃　replied　Lance；　smoothly。　〃Perhaps　you　would　like　to　see　my　books？〃
　〃I　would。〃
　〃Step　into　the　office；　director。〃
　Borman　hesitated；　then　turned　to　the　headquarters　men；　with　an　order：
　〃Go　back　to　the　night　club　proper。　Take　my　table。　I'll　join　you　there。〃
　Thompson　and　Rhine　departed；　out　through　the　door　by　which　they　had　entered。　Lance　Gillick　ushered　Kirk　Borman　into　the　oak…paneled　office。　Closing　the　door；　the　night　club　proprietor　grinned。　He　pressed　a　wall　panel；　it　slid　open；　to　reveal　a　darkened　passage。
　〃Step　in　there；　Kirk；〃　chuckled　Lance。　〃Take　a　look　through　the　back　of　the　big　painting　on　the　far　wall。〃
　Smiling；　Borman　followed　directions。　Looking　through　a　peek　hole；　the　director　saw　a　quick　transformation　in　progress。
　Waiters　were　lifting　the　top　of　a　huge　buffet；　as　they　rolled　the　bulky　object　forward；　its　sides　fell　away　and　it　became　a　roulette　table。　Small　tables　were　pushed　in　line；　their　covers　whipped　away。　They　produced　the　green　board　upon　which　players　could　place　their　bets。
　Other　waiters　were　bringing　boxes　loaded　with　playing　chips；　serving　them　to　guests　in　return　for　credit　slips。　The　chips　began　to　click；　a　waiter　took　charge　of　the　wheel　and　it　began　its　spin。　Director　Borman　stepped　back　into　Lance　Gillick's　office。　Lance　closed　the　panel。
　〃They　think　it's　hot；〃　laughed　Lance。　〃As　soon　as　you're　ready　to　go　out；　they'll　see　the　lights　blink。　It　will　just　be　tables　and　drinks　again；　when　you　go　through。　A　great　set…up；　eh；　Kirk？〃
　
　
　KIRK　BORMAN　nodded。　Lance　caught　a　troubled　look　on　the　director's　face。
　Quickly；　Lance　questioned：
　〃Something　went　sour　tonight？〃
　Borman　nodded。
　〃What　was　it？〃　quizzed　Lance。　〃Didn't　they　rub　out　Maclare？〃
　〃Maclare　made　a　clean…up；〃　answered　Borman。　〃He　and　his　squad　bumped　off　more　than　half　dozen　of　the　mob。　About　the　same　number　went　to　the　hospital。
　Maclare　hauled　in　pretty　near　twenty　of　the　bunch　that　were　in　the　Mississippi　Hotel。〃
　Lance　glared　sourly。　〃I　can't　figure　why　that　outfit　didn't　get　Maclare。
　As　soon　as　you　gave　me　the　tip…off；　Kirk；　I　phoned　Beezer　Dorsch　and　told　him　to　be　on　the　job。　Beezer　should　have　gotten　Maclare。〃
　〃Smart　work；　using　Beezer；〃　mended　Borman。　〃He's　the　one　real　mobster　in　town　who's　supposed　to　be　at　odds　with　you。〃
　〃Sure！〃　Lance　laughed　as　he　spoke。　〃That　covers　me　perfect；　in　case　Beezer　gets　recognized！　Say；　have　you　seen　Maclare　since　the　raid？〃
　Borman　smiled；　then　nodded。
　〃I　told　him　to　blow　in　here　tomorrow　night；〃　informed　the　director。　〃When　he　and　his　squad　find　nothing；　they'll　owe　you　an　apology；　Lance。　Only；　be　ready　to　duck　the　roulette　layout　so　deep　that　they'll　never　find　it。〃
　〃I　won't　run　the　gambling　joint　tomorrow；〃　stated　Lance。　〃I'll　tell　the　customers　to　stay　away；　on　account　of　you　being　here　tonight。　Maclare　and　his　crew　of　flatfeet　won't　even　find　a　gambling　chip。　All　the　stuff　will　be　out　of　the　place。〃
　Lance　sat　down　at　his　desk；　brought　out　a　box　of　expensive　cigars。　Borman　helped　himself　to　one　of　the　perfectos。　Lance　lighted　up　also。
　〃Let's　forget　Maclare；〃　decided　Borman。　〃There's　something　bigger　to　think　about。　We've　got　to　worry　about　Prescott　Dunson。　If　he　runs　for　district　attorney；　we'll　have　a　tough　guy　to　deal　with。〃
　〃Then　it's　up　to　Stephen　Ruthley；〃　decided　Lance。　〃As　the　big　reform　champion　of　Westford；　he　can　find　fault　with　Dunson。　No　one　has　even　guessed　that　you　and　I　are　working　together；　that　Mayor　Marclot　is　also　with　us。　So　how　can　they　ever　figure　that　Stephen　Ruthley；　the　big　philanthropist　and　reformer；　is　the　man　we　all　take　orders　from？〃
　
　
　KIRK　BORMAN　shook　his　head。
　〃A　lot　of　reformers　like　Prescott　Dunson；〃　he　said。　〃Therefore；　Ruthley　can't　move　against　him。　Ruthley　has　to　put　up　a　bigger　front　than　the　rest　of　us。　There's　only　one　thing　to　do；　Lance。　Bump　Dunson！〃
　〃My　specialty〃　laughed　Lance。　〃Tip　me　off　to　where　Dunson　is。　I'll　do　the　rest。　Say；　though〃…he　stroked　his　chin　ruefully…〃I　wish　I'd　kept　Trig　Callister　here。〃
　〃Who　is　Trig　Callister？〃
　〃A　bird　who　was　here　to　see　me　last　night。　He's　a　one…man　arsenal；　that　guy。　Packs　a　couple　of　gats　and　knows　how　to　use　them。　I　let　Trig　go　back　to　New　York。　I'll　get　hold　of　him　again；　though；　before　next　week。〃
　〃We　won't　have　to　rub　out　Dunson　before　then。　It　will　take　a　while　to　find　him；　too。　You're　right；　though；　Kirk。　We've　got　to　put　Dunson　on　the　spot。　With　him　out；　there'll　be　no　opposition　to　Louis　Wilderton　running　for　re…election。〃
　Borman　chuckled　at　Lance's　reference　to　Wilderton；　the　man　who　was；　at　present；　district　attorney。
　〃Wilderton　is　a　babe　in　the　woods