preston&child.thecabinetofcuriosities-第56部分

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　〃Now；　Mrs。　Lee；　I'm　going　to　ask　you　to　go　back　quietly　to　your　apartment。　Tell　no　one　about　this。　Call　no　one。　Lock　and　bolt　your　door。　Do　not　let　anyone　in　unless　they　show　you　one　of　these。〃　O'Shaughnessy　shoved　the　badge　closer　to　her　face。
　〃Do　you　understand；　Mrs。　Lee？〃
　She　nodded　dumbly；　eyes　wide。
　〃Now　go　on　upstairs。　We　need　twenty…four　hours　of　absolute　quiet。　Then　of　course　there　will　be　a　large　group　of　police　arriving。　Medical　examiners；　forensic　experts…it　will　be　a　mess。　Then　you　can　talk。　But　for　now…〃　He　lifted　a　finger　to　his　lips　and　pantomimed　an　exaggerated　shhhhhh。
　Mrs。　Lee　turned　and　shuffled　up　the　stairs。　Her　movements　were　slow；　like　a　sleepwalker's。　Nora　heard　the　upstairs　door　open；　then　close。　And　then　all　was　quiet　once　again。
　In　the　silence；　Pendergast　opened　one　eye。　It　swiveled　around　to　O'Shaughnessy；　then　to　Nora。
　〃Well　done；　you　two；〃　he　said　in　a　weak　voice。　And　the　faintest　of　smiles　played　about　his　lips。
　
　SEVEN
　　
　AS　THE　SQUAD　CAR　carrying　Captain　Sherwood　Custer　turned　the　corner　onto　Doyers　Street；　the　captain　stared　through　the　windshield；　tensing　at　the　noisy　group　of　reporters。　It　was　a　smallish　group；　but　he　could　see　they　were　the　worst　of　the　lot。
　Noyes　angled　the　car　into　the　curb　and　Custer　opened　his　door；　heaving　his　frame　out　onto　the　street。　As　he　approached　the　brownstone；　the　reporters　began　calling　to　him。　And　there　was　the　worst　of　all；　that　man…Smithbutt；　or　whatever…arguing　with　the　uniformed　officer　standing　on　the　front　steps。　〃It　isn't　fair！〃　he　was　crying　in　an　outraged　tone；　oversized　cowlick　jiggling　atop　his　head。　〃You　let　him　in；　so　you've　got　to　let　me　in！〃
　The　officer　ignored　this；　stepping　aside　to　let　Custer　pass　the　yellow　crime　scene　tape。
　〃Captain　Custer！〃　the　reporter　cried；　turning　to　him：　〃missioner　Rocker　has　refused　to　speak　with　the　press。　Will　you　ment　on　the　case；　please？〃
　Custer　did　not　respond。　The　missioner；　he　thought。　The　missioner　himself　was　here。　He　was　going　to　be　chewed　out　but　good。　Let　this　particular　sleeping　dog　lie；　the　man　had　said。　Custer　had　not　only　wakened　the　dog；　but　it　had　bitten　him　in　the　ass。　Thanks　to　O'Shaughnessy。
　They　signed　him　in　at　the　door　and　Custer　stepped　through；　Noyes　following　at　his　heels。　They　made　their　way　quickly　down　to　the　basement　apartment。　Outside；　the　reporter　could　still　be　heard；　voice　raised　in　protest。
　The　first　thing　Custer　noticed　when　he　stepped　into　the　apartment　was　a　big　hole；　lots　of　dirt。　There　were　the　usual　photographers；　lights；　forensics；　an　ME；　the　SOC　people。　And　there　was　the　missioner。
　The　missioner　glanced　up　and　spotted　him。　A　spasm　of　displeasure　went　across　his　face。　〃Custer！〃　he　called；　nodding　him　over。
　〃Yes；　sir。〃　Custer　swallowed；　gritted　his　teeth。　This　was　it。
　〃Congratulations。〃
　Custer　froze。　Rocker's　sarcasm　was　a　bad　sign。　And　right　in　front　of　everybody；　too。
　He　stiffened。　〃I'm　sorry；　sir；　this　was　pletely　unauthorized　from　beginning　to　end；　and　I'm　personally　going　to…〃
　He　felt　the　missioner's　arm　snake　around　his　shoulder；　pull　him　closer。　Custer　could　smell　stale　coffee　on　his　breath。　〃Custer？〃
　〃Yes　sir？〃
　〃Please；　just　listen；〃　the　missioner　muttered。　〃Don't　speak。　I'm　not　here　to　attend　to　excuses。　I'm　here　to　put　you　in　charge　of　this　investigation。〃
　This　was　a　really　bad　sign。　He'd　been　victimized　by　the　missioner's　sarcasm　before；　but　not　like　this。　Never　like　this。
　Custer　blinked。　〃I'm　truly　sorry；　sir…〃
　〃You're　not　listening　to　me；　Captain。〃　Arm　still　around　his　shoulder；　the　missioner　steered　Custer　away　from　the　press　of　officials；　back　into　the　rear　of　the　narrow　apartment。　〃I　understand　your　man　O'Shaughnessy　had　something　to　do　with　uncovering　this　site。〃
　〃Yes；　and　I　am　going　to　severely　reprimand…〃
　〃Captain；　will　you　let　me　finish？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃The　mayor　has　called　me　twice　this　morning。　He's　delighted。〃
　〃Delighted？〃　Custer　wasn't　sure　if　this　was　more　sarcasm；　or　something　even　worse。
　〃Delighted。　The　more　attention　that　gets　deflected　from　the　new　copycat　murders；　the　happier　he　is。　New　murders　are　very　bad　for　approval　ratings。　Thanks　to　this　discovery；　you're　the　cop　of　the　hour。　For　the　mayor；　at　least。〃
　Silence。　It　was　clear　to　Custer　that　Rocker　didn't　fully　share　the　mayor's　good　opinion。
　〃So　are　we　crystal…clear；　Captain？　This　is　now　officially　your　case。〃
　〃What　case？〃　Custer　was　momentarily　confused。　Were　they　opening　an　official　investigation　into　these　old　killings；　too？
　〃The　Surgeon　case。〃　Rocker　waved　his　hand　dismissively　at　the　huge　hole　with　their　skeletons。　〃This　is　nothing。　This　is　archaeology。　This　is　not　a　case。〃
　〃Right。　Thank　you；　sir；〃　Custer　said。
　〃Don't　thank　me。　Thank　the　mayor。　It　was　his；　ah；　suggestion　that　you　handle　it。〃
　Rocker　let　his　arm　slip　from　Custer's　shoulder。　Then　he　stood　back　and　looked　at　the　captain：　a　long；　appraising　glance。　〃Feel　you　can　do　this；　Captain？〃
　Custer　nodded。　The　numbness　was　beginning　to　fade。
　〃The　first　order　of　business　is　damage　control。　These　old　murders　will　give　you　a　day；　maybe　two；　before　the　public's　attention　returns　to　the　Surgeon。　The　mayor　may　like　seeing　these　old　murders　getting　the　attention；　but　frankly　I　don't。　It'll　give　the　copycat　killer　ideas；　egg　him　on。〃　He　jerked　a　thumb　over　his　shoulder。　〃I　brought　in　Bryce　Harriman。　You　know　him？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃He's　the　one　who　first　put　a　finger　on　the　copycat　angle。　We　need　to　keep　him　where　we　can　see　him。　We'll　give　him　an　exclusive；　but　we'll　control　the　information　he　gets。　Understand？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Good。　He's　a　nice　sort；　eager　to　please。　He's　waiting　out　front。　Remember　to　keep　the　conversation　on　the　old　bones　and　on　this　site。　Not　on　the　Surgeon　or　the　new　killings。　The　public　may　be　confounding　the　two；　but　we're　sure　as　hell　not。〃
　Custer　turned　back　toward　the　living　room。　But　Rocker　put　out　a　hand　to　stop　him。
　〃And；　Captain？　Once　you're　done　with　Harriman；　I'd　suggest　you　get　to　work　on　this　new　case　of　yours。　Get　right　to　work。　Catch　that　killer。　You　don't　want　another；　fresher　stiff　turning　up　on　your　watch…do　you？　Like　I　said；　you've　got　a　little　breathing　space　here。　Make　use　of　it。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　Rocker　continued　to　peer　at　him　from　beneath　lowered　brows。　Then　he　grunted；　nodded；　and　gestured　Custer　on　ahead　of　him。
　The　living　room　was；　if　possible；　even　more　crowded　than　it　had　been　moments　before。　At　the　missioner's　signal；　a　tall；　slender　man　stepped　out　of　the　shadows：　horn…rimmed　glasses；　slicked…back　hair；　tweed　jacket；　blue　oxford　shirt；　tasseled　loafers。
　〃Mr。　Harriman？〃　Rocker　said。　〃This　is　Captain　Custer。〃
　Harriman　gave　Custer's　hand　a　manly　shake。　〃Nice　to　meet　you　in　person；　sir。〃
　Custer　returned　the　handshake。　Despite　his　instinctive　distrust　of　the　press；　he　found　himself　approving　of　the　man's　deferential　attitude。　Sir。　When　was　the　last　time　a　reporter　had　called　him　sir？
　The　missioner　glanced　gravely　from　one　man　to　the　other。　〃Now；　if　you'll　excuse　me；　Captain？　I　have　to　get　back　to　One　Police　Plaza。〃
　Custer　nodded。　〃Of　course；　sir。〃
　He　watched　the　man's　broad　back　as　it　disappeared　through　the　door。
　Noyes　was　suddenly　there；　in　front　of　Custer；　hand　extended。　〃Allow　me　to　be　the　first　to　congratulate　you；　sir。〃
　Custer　shook　the　limp　hand。　Then　he　turned　back　to　Harriman；　who　was　smiling　beneath　the　horn…rims；　impeccably　knotted　repp　tie　snugged　against　a　buttoned…down　collar。　A　dweeb；　without　doubt。　But　a　very　useful　dweeb。　It　occurred　to　Custer　that　giving　Harriman　an　exclusive　would　take　that　other　pesky　reporter…the　one　whose　voice　was　still　clamoring　out　in　the　street…down　a　few　notches。　Slow　him　down；　get　him　off　their　asses　for　a　while。　It　was　bracing　how　quickly　he　was　adjusting　to　his　new　responsibility。
　〃Captain　Custer？〃　the　man　said；　notebook　poised。
　〃Yeah？〃
　〃May　I　ask　you　a　few　questions？〃
　Custer　gestured　magnanimously。　〃Shoot。〃
　
　EIGHT
　　
　O'SHAUGHNESSY　STEPPED　INTO　the　captain's　outer　office；　automatically　looking　around　for　Noyes。　He　had　a　pretty　good　idea　why　Custer　wanted　to　see　him。　He　wondered　if　the　subject　of　the　prostitute's　two　hundred　bucks　would　e　up；　as　it　sometimes　did　when　he　got　a　little