preston&child.thecabinetofcuriosities-第57部分

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ttle　too　independent　for　some　ass…kisser's　taste。　Normally　he　wouldn't　care；　he'd　had　years　to　practice　letting　it　all　roll　off　his　back。　Ironic；　he　thought；　that　the　shit　was　about　to　e　down　now…now；　just　when　he'd　gotten　on　an　investigation　he　found　himself　caring　about。
　Noyes　came　around　the　corner；　chewing　gum；　his　arms　full　of　papers；　his　perpetually　wet　lower　lip　hanging　loose　from　a　row　of　brown　teeth。　〃Oh；〃　he　said。　〃It's　you。〃　He　dropped　the　pile　on　his　desk；　took　his　sweet　time　sitting　down；　then　leaned　toward　a　speaker。
　〃He's　here；〃　he　called　into　it。
　O'Shaughnessy　sat　down；　watching　Noyes。　The　man　always　chewed　that　nasty；　old…fashioned；　violet…scented　gum　favored　by　dowagers　and　alcoholics。　The　outer　office　reeked　of　it。
　Ten　minutes　later　the　captain　appeared　in　the　door；　hiking　up　his　pants　and　tucking　in　his　shirt。　He　jerked　his　chin　at　O'Shaughnessy　to　indicate　he　was　ready　for　him。
　O'Shaughnessy　followed　him　back　into　the　office。　The　captain　sank　heavily　into　his　chair。　He　rolled　his　eyes　toward　O'Shaughnessy　with　a　stare　that　was　meant　to　be　tough　but　only　looked　baleful。
　〃Jesus　Christ；　O'Shaughnessy。〃　He　wagged　his　head　from　side　to　side；　jowls　flapping　like　a　beagle。　〃Jesus　H。　Christ。〃
　There　was　a　silence。
　〃Gimme　the　report。〃
　O'Shaughnessy　took　a　long　breath。　〃No。〃
　〃Whaddya　mean；　no？〃
　〃I　don't　have　it　anymore。　I　gave　it　to　Special　Agent　Pendergast。〃
　The　captain　stared　at　O'Shaughnessy　for　at　least　a　minute。　〃You　gave　it　to　that　prick？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃May　I　ask　why？〃
　O'Shaughnessy　did　not　answer　immediately。　Fact　was；　he　didn't　want　to　get　put　off　this　case。　He　liked　working　with　Pendergast。　He　liked　it　a　lot。　For　the　first　time　in　years；　he　found　himself　lying　awake　at　night；　thinking　about　the　case；　trying　to　fit　the　pieces　together；　dreaming　up　new　lines　of　investigation。　Still；　he　wasn't　going　to　kiss　ass。　Let　the　showdown　e。
　〃He　requested　it。　For　his　investigation。　You　asked　me　to　assist　him；　and　that's　what　I　did。〃
　The　jowls　began　to　quiver。　〃O'Shaughnessy；　I　thought　I　made　it　clear　that　you　were　to　seem　to　be　helpful；　not　to　be　helpful。〃
　O'Shaughnessy　tried　to　look　puzzled。　〃I　don't　think　I　quite　understand　you；　sir。〃
　The　captain　rose　from　his　chair　with　a　roar。　〃You　know　damn　well　what　I'm　talking　about。〃
　O'Shaughnessy　stood　his　ground；　feigning　surprise　now　as　well　as　puzzlement。　〃No；　sir；　I　don't。〃
　The　jowls　began　to　shake　with　rage。　〃O'Shaughnessy；　you　impudent　little…〃　Custer　broke　off；　swallowed；　tried　to　get　himself　under　control。　Sweat　had　broken　out　above　his　thick；　rubbery　upper　lip。　He　took　a　deep　breath。　〃I'm　putting　you　down　for　administrative　leave。〃
　God　damn　it。　〃On　what　grounds？〃
　〃Don't　give　me　that。　You　know　why。　Disobeying　my　direct　orders；　freelancing　for　that　FBI　agent；　undermining　the　department…not　to　mention　getting　involved　in　that　excavation　down　on　Doyers　Street。〃
　O'Shaughnessy　knew　well　that　the　discovery　had　been　a　boon　to　Custer。　It　had　temporarily　taken　the　heat　off　the　mayor；　and　the　mayor　had　thanked　Custer　by　putting　him　in　charge　of　the　investigation。
　〃I　followed　procedure；　sir；　in　my　liaison　work　with　Special　Agent　Pendergast。〃
　〃The　hell　you　did。　You've　kept　me　in　the　dark　every　step　of　the　way；　despite　these　endless　goddamn　reports　you　keep　filing　which　you　know　damn　well　I　don't　have　time　to　read。　You　went　way　around　me　to　get　that　report。　Christ；　O'Shaughnessy；　I've　given　you　every　opportunity　here；　and　all　you　do　is　piss　on　me。〃
　〃I'll　file　a　grievance　with　the　union；　sir。　And　I'd　like　to　state　for　the　record　that；　as　a　Catholic；　I　am　deeply　offended　by　your　profanity　involving　the　name　of　Our　Savior。〃
　There　was　an　astonished　silence；　and　O'Shaughnessy　saw　that　Custer　was　about　to　lose　it　pletely。　The　captain　spluttered；　swallowed；　clenched　and　unclenched　his　fists。
　〃As　for　the　police　union；〃　said　Custer；　in　a　strained；　high　voice；　〃bring　'em　on。　As　for　the　other；　don't　think　you　can　out…Jesus　me；　you　sanctimonious　prick。　I'm　a　churchgoing　man　myself。　Now　lay　your　shield　and　piece　down　here〃…he　thumped　his　desk…〃and　get　your　Irish　ass　out。　Go　home　and　boil　some　potatoes　and　cabbage。　You're　on　administrative　leave　pending　the　result　of　an　Internal　Affairs　investigation。　Another　Internal　Affairs　investigation；　I　might　add。　And　at　the　union　hearing；　I'm　going　to　ask　for　your　dismissal　from　the　force。　With　your　record；　that　won't　be　too　hard　to　justify。〃
　O'Shaughnessy　knew　this　wasn't　an　empty　threat。　He　removed　his　gun　and　badge　and　dropped　them　one　at　a　time　on　the　table。
　〃Is　that　all；　sir？〃　he　asked；　as　coolly　as　possible。
　With　satisfaction；　he　saw　Custer's　face　blacken　with　rage　yet　again。　〃Is　that　all？　Isn't　that　enough？　You　better　start　pulling　your　résumé　together；　O'Shaughnessy。　I　know　a　McDonald's　up　in　the　South　Bronx　that　needs　a　rent…a…cop　for　the　graveyard　shift。〃
　As　O'Shaughnessy　left；　he　noticed　that　Noyes's　eyes…brimming　with　wet　sycophantic　satisfaction…followed　him　out　the　door。
　　
　He　paused　on　the　steps　of　the　station　house；　momentarily　blinded　by　the　sunlight。　He　thought　of　the　many　times　he'd　trudged　up　and　down　these　stairs；　on　yet　another　aimless　patrol　or　pointless　piece　of　bureaucratic　busywork。　It　seemed　a　little　odd　that…despite　his　carefully　groomed　attitude　of　nonchalance…he　felt　more　than　a　twinge　of　regret。　Pendergast　and　the　case　would　have　to　make　do　without　him。　Then　he　sighed；　shrugged；　and　descended　the　steps。　His　career　was　over；　and　that　was　that。
　To　his　surprise；　a　familiar　car…a　Rolls…Royce　Silver　Wraith…was　idling　silently　at　the　curb。　The　door　was　opened　by　the　invisible　figure　in　the　rear。　O'Shaughnessy　approached；　leaned　his　head　inside。
　〃I've　been　put　on　administrative　leave；〃　he　said　to　the　occupant　of　the　rear　seat。
　Pendergast；　leaning　back　against　the　leather；　nodded。　〃Over　the　report？〃
　〃Yup。　And　that　mistake　I　made　five　years　ago　didn't　help　any。〃
　〃How　unfortunate。　I　apologize　for　my　role　in　your　misfortune。　But　get　in；　if　you　please。　We　don't　have　much　time。〃
　〃Didn't　you　hear　what　I　said？〃
　〃I　did。　You're　working　for　me　now。〃
　O'Shaughnessy　paused。
　〃It's　all　arranged。　The　paperwork　is　going　through　as　we　speak。　From　time　to　time；　I　have　need　of；　ah；　consulting　specialists。〃　Pendergast　patted　a　sheaf　of　papers　lying　on　the　seat　beside　him。　〃It's　all　spelled　out　in　here。　You　can　sign　them　in　the　car。　We'll　stop　by　the　FBI　office　downtown　and　get　you　a　photo　ID。　It's　not　a　shield；　unfortunately；　but　it　should　serve　almost　as　well。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；　Mr。　Pendergast；　but　you　should　know；　they're　opening　an…〃
　〃I　know　all　about　it。　Get　in；　please。〃
　O'Shaughnessy　climbed　in　and　closed　the　door　behind　him；　feeling　slightly　dazed。
　Pendergast　gestured　toward　the　papers。　〃Read　them；　you　won't　find　any　nasty　surprises。　Fifty　dollars　an　hour；　guaranteed　minimum　thirty　hours　a　week；　benefits；　and　the　rest。〃
　〃Why　are　you　doing　this？〃
　Pendergast　gazed　at　him　mildly。　〃Because　I've　seen　you　rise　to　the　challenge。　I　need　a　man　with　the　courage　of　his　convictions。　I've　seen　how　you　work。　You　know　the　streets；　you　can　talk　to　the　people　in　a　way　I　can't。　You're　one　of　them。　I'm　not。　Besides；　I　can't　push　this　case　alone。　I　need　someone　who　knows　his　way　around　the　byzantine　workings　of　the　NYPD。　And　you　have　a　certain　passion。　Remember；　I　saw　that　tape。　I'm　going　to　need　passion。〃
　O'Shaughnessy　reached　for　the　papers；　still　dazed。　Then　he　stopped。
　〃On　one　condition；〃　he　said。　〃You　know　a　lot　more　about　this　than　you've　let　on。　And　I　don't　like　working　in　the　dark。〃
　Pendergast　nodded。　〃You're　quite　right。　It's　time　we　had　a　talk。　And　once　we've　processed　your　papers；　that's　the　next　order　of　business。　Fair　enough？〃
　〃Fair　enough。〃　And　O'Shaughnessy　took　the　papers；　scanned　them　quickly。
　Pendergast　turned　to　the　driver。　〃Federal　Plaza；　please；　Proctor。　And　quickly。〃
　
　NINE
　　
　NORA　PAUSED　BEFORE　the　deep　archway；　carved　of　sand…colored　stone　streaked　with　gray。　Although　it　had　been　recently　cleaned；　the　massive　Gothic　entrance　looked　old　and　forbidding。　It　reminded　Nora　of　Traitor's　Gate　at　the　Tower　of　London。　She　half　expected　to　see　the　iron　teeth　of　a　portcullis　winking　from　the　ceilin