preston&child.thecabinetofcuriosities-第52部分

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　Nora　followed　the　indicated　direction　with　her　eyes。　It　was　a　narrow　building　like　all　the　others：　a　three…story　structure　of　dirty　green　brick。
　〃Sure　you　don't　want　me　to　go　in　with　you？〃　O'Shaughnessy　asked。
　Nora　swallowed。　〃I　think　it'd　be　better　if　you　stayed　here　and　watched　the　street。〃
　O'Shaughnessy　nodded；　then　slipped　into　the　shadow　of　a　doorway。
　Taking　a　deep　breath；　Nora　started　forward。　The　sealed　envelope　containing　Pendergast's　banknotes　felt　like　a　lead　weight　within　her　purse。　She　shivered　again；　glancing　up　and　down　the　dark　street；　fighting　her　feeling　of　agitation。
　The　attack　on　her；　and　Puck's　brutal　murder；　had　changed　everything。　It　had　proven　these　were　no　mere　psychotic　copycat　killings。　It　had　been　carefully　planned。　The　murderer　had　access　to　the　Museum's　private　spaces。　He　had　used　Puck's　old　Royal　typewriter　to　type　that　note；　luring　her　to　the　Archives。　He　had　pursued　her　with　terrifying　coolness。　She'd　felt　the　man's　presence；　mere　inches　away　from　her；　there　in　the　Archives。　She'd　even　felt　the　sting　of　his　scalpel。　This　was　no　lunatic：　this　was　someone　who　knew　exactly　what　he　was　doing；　and　why。　Whatever　the　connection　between　the　old　killings　and　the　new；　this　had　to　be　stopped。　If　there　was　anything…anything…she　could　do　to　get　the　killer；　she　was　willing　to　do　it。
　There　were　answers　beneath　the　floor　of　Number　99　Doyers　Street。　She　was　going　to　find　those　answers。
　Her　mind　returned　to　the　terrifying　chase；　in　particular　to　the　flash　of　the　Surgeon's　scalpel　as　it　flicked　toward　her；　faster　than　a　striking　snake。　It　was　an　image　that　she　found　herself　unable　to　shake。　Then　the　endless　police　questioning；　and　afterward　her　trip　to　Pendergast's　bedside；　to　tell　him　she　had　changed　her　mind　about　Doyers　Street。　Pendergast　had　been　alarmed　to　hear　of　the　attack；　reluctant　at　first；　but　Nora　refused　to　be　swayed。　With　or　without　him；　she　was　going　down　to　Doyers。　Ultimately；　Pendergast　had　relented：　on　the　condition　that　Nora　keep　O'Shaughnessy　by　her　side　at　all　times。　And　he　had　arranged　for　her　to　receive　the　fat　packet　of　cash。
　She　mounted　the　steps　to　the　front　door；　steeling　herself　for　the　task　at　hand。　She　noticed　that　the　apartment　names　beside　the　buzzers　were　written　in　Chinese。　She　pressed　the　buzzer　for　Apartment　1。
　A　voice　rasped　out　in　Chinese。
　〃I'm　the　one　interested　in　renting　the　basement　apartment；〃　she　called　out。
　The　lock　snapped　free　with　a　buzz；　she　pushed　on　the　door；　and　found　herself　in　a　hallway　lit　by　fluorescent　lights。　A　narrow　staircase　ascended　to　her　right。　At　the　end　of　the　hallway　she　could　hear　a　door　being　endlessly　unbolted。　It　opened　at　last　and　a　stooped；　depressed…looking　man　appeared；　in　shirtsleeves　and　baggy　slacks；　peering　down　the　hall　at　her。
　Nora　walked　up。　〃Mr。　Ling　Lee？〃
　He　nodded　and　held　the　door　open　for　her。　Beyond　was　a　living　room　with　a　green　sofa；　a　Formica　table；　several　easy　chairs；　and　an　elaborate　red…and　gold…carved　bas…relief　on　the　wall；　showing　a　pagoda　and　trees。　A　chandelier；　grossly　oversized　for　the　space；　dominated　the　room。　The　wallpaper　was　lilac；　the　rug　red　and　black。
　〃Sit　down；〃　the　man　said。　His　voice　was　faint；　tired。
　She　sat　down；　sinking　alarmingly　into　the　sofa。
　〃How　you　hear　about　this　apartment？〃　Lee　asked。　Nora　could　see　from　his　expression　he　was　not　pleased　to　see　her。
　Nora　launched　into　her　story。　〃A　lady　who　works　in　the　Citibank　down　the　block　from　here　told　me　about　it。〃
　〃What　lady？〃　Lee　asked；　more　sharply。　In　Chinatown；　Pendergast　had　explained；　most　landlords　preferred　to　rent　to　their　own。
　〃I　don't　know　her　name。　My　uncle　told　me　to　talk　to　her；　said　that　she　knew　where　to　find　an　apartment　in　this　area。　She　told　me　to　call　you。〃
　〃Your　uncle？〃
　〃Yes。　Uncle　Huang。　He's　with　the　DHCR。〃
　This　bit　of　information　was　greeted　with　a　dismayed　silence。　Pendergast　figured　that　having　a　Chinese　relative　would　make　it　easier　for　her　to　get　the　apartment。　That　he　worked　for　the　Department　of　Housing　and　munity　Renewal…the　city　division　that　enforced　the　rent　laws…made　it　all　the　better。
　〃Your　name？〃
　〃Betsy　Winchell。〃
　Nora　noticed　a　large；　dark　presence　move　from　the　kitchen　into　the　doorway　of　the　living　room。　It　was　apparently　Lee's　wife；　arms　folded；　three　times　his　size；　looking　very　stern。
　〃Over　the　phone；　you　said　the　apartment　was　available。　I'm　prepared　to　take　it　right　away。　Please　show　it　to　me。〃
　Lee　rose　from　the　table　and　glanced　at　his　wife。　Her　arms　tightened。
　〃Follow　me；〃　he　said。
　They　went　back　into　the　hall；　out　the　front　door；　and　down　the　steps。　Nora　glanced　around　quickly；　but　O'Shaughnessy　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。　Lee　removed　a　key；　opened　the　basement　apartment　door；　and　snapped　on　the　lights。　She　followed　him　in。　He　closed　the　door　and　made　a　show　of　relocking　no　fewer　than　four　locks。
　It　was　a　dismal　apartment；　long　and　dark。　The　only　window　was　a　small；　barred　square　beside　the　front　door。　The　walls　were　of　painted　brick；　once　white　but　now　gray；　and　the　floor　was　covered　with　old　brick　pavers；　cracked　and　chipped。　Nora　looked　at　them　with　professional　interest。　They　were　laid　but　not　cemented。　What　was　beneath？　Dirt？　Sand？　Concrete？　The　floor　looked　just　uneven　and　damp　enough　to　have　been　laid　on　dirt。
　〃Kitchen　and　bedroom　in　back；〃　said　Lee；　not　bothering　to　point。
　Nora　walked　to　the　rear　of　the　apartment。　Here　was　a　cramped　kitchen；　leading　into　two　dark　bedrooms　and　a　bath。　There　were　no　closets。　A　window　in　the　rear　wall；　below　grade；　allowed　feeble　brown　light　from　an　air　shaft　to　enter　between　thick　steel　bars。
　Nora　emerged。　Lee　was　examining　the　lock　on　the　front　door。　〃Have　to　fix　lock；〃　he　said　in　a　portentous　tone。　〃Many　robber　try　to　get　in。〃
　〃You　have　a　lot　of　break…ins？〃
　Lee　nodded　enthusiastically。　〃Oh　yes。　Many　robber。　Very　dangerous。〃
　〃Really？〃
　〃Many　robber。　Many　mugger。〃　He　shook　his　head　sadly。
　〃The　apartment　looks　safe；　at　least。〃　Nora　listened。　The　ceiling　seemed　fairly　soundproof…at　least；　she　could　hear　nothing　from　above。
　〃Neighborhood　not　safe　for　girl。　Every　day；　murder；　mugging；　robber。　Rape。〃
　Nora　knew　that；　despite　its　shabby　appearance；　Chinatown　was　one　of　the　safest　neighborhoods　in　the　city。　〃I'm　not　worried；〃　she　said。
　〃Many　rule　for　apartment；〃　said　Lee；　trying　another　tack。
　〃Is　that　right？〃
　〃No　music。　No　noise。　No　man　at　night。〃　Lee　seemed　to　be　searching　his　mind　for　other　strictures　a　young　woman　would　find　objectionable。　〃No　smoke。　No　drink。　Keep　clean　every　day。〃
　Nora　listened；　nodding　her　agreement。　〃Good。　That　sounds　perfect。　I　like　a　neat；　quiet　place。　And　I　have　no　boyfriend。〃　With　a　renewed　flash　of　anger　she　thought　of　Smithback　and　how　he　had　dragged　her　into　this　mess　by　publishing　that　article。　To　a　certain　extent　Smithback　had　been　responsible　for　these　copycat　killings。　Just　yesterday；　he'd　had　the　nerve　to　bring　up　her　name　at　the　mayor's　news　conference；　for　the　whole　city　to　hear。　She　felt　certain　that；　after　what　happened　in　the　Archives；　her　long…term　prospects　at　the　Museum　were　even　more　questionable　than　before。
　〃Utility　not　include。〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃No　air…condition。〃
　Nora　nodded。
　Lee　seemed　at　a　loss；　then　his　face　brightened　with　a　fresh　idea。　〃After　suicide；　no　allow　gun　in　apartment。〃
　〃Suicide？〃
　〃Young　woman　hang　herself。　Same　age　as　you。〃
　〃A　hanging？　I　thought　you　mentioned　a　gun。〃
　The　man　looked　confused　for　a　moment。　Then　his　face　brightened　again。　〃She　hang；　but　it　no　work。　Then　shoot　herself。〃
　〃I　see。　She　favored　the　prehensive　approach。〃
　〃Like　you；　she　no　have　boyfriend。　Very　sad。〃
　〃How　terrible。〃
　〃It　happen　right　in　there；〃　said　Lee；　pointing　into　the　kitchen。　〃Not　find　body　for　three　day。　Bad　smell。〃　He　rolled　his　eyes　and　added；　in　a　dramatic　undertone：　〃Many　worm。〃
　〃How　dreadful；〃　Nora　said。　Then　she　smiled。　〃But　the　apartment　is　just　perfect。　I'll　take　it。〃
　Lee's　look　of　depression　deepened；　but　he　said　nothing。
　She　followed　him　back　up　to　his　apartment。　Nora　sat　back　down　at　the　sofa；　uninvited。　The　wife　was　still　there；　a　formidable　presence　in　the　kitchen　doorway。　Her　face　was　screwed　into　an　expression　of　suspicion　and　displeasure。　Her　crossed　arms