cpatricia.blacknotice-第30部分

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　　〃Perfect；〃　I　said　to　the　hostess。
　　This　scenario　curdled　my　sensibilities。　It　was　my　nature；　my　training　and　my　professional　practice　to　always　tell　the　truth；　in　no　way　to　slip　into　the　behavior　of　the　wily；　lowlife　trial　lawyer　I　could　have　been　had　I　given　myself　up　to　manipulation；　evasion　and　the　gray　areas　of　the　law。
　　The　hostess　penciled　my　name　in　the　book　as　my　pager　vibrated　like　a　big　insect。　I　read　the　10…4　on　the　display　and　hurried　back　through　the　bar。　I　had　no　choice　but　to　open　the　front　door　because　the　windows　were　opaque　and　I　could　not　see　through　them。　I　spotted　the　dark　Crown　Victoria。
　　Marino　didn't　do　anything　right　away。　My　anxiety　grew　as　Bray　parked　and　turned　her　headlights　off。　I　felt　sure　she　wouldn't　wait　for　Chuck　very　long　and　could　already　imagine　her　annoyance。　Little　nobodies　like　him　didn't　dare　to　keep　Deputy　Chief　Diane　Bray　waiting。
　　〃Is　there　something　I　can　do　for　you？〃　the　bartender　asked　me　as　he　dried　off　a　glass。
　　I　continued　to　peer　through　the　barely　open　door；　wondering　what　Marino　was　going　to　do　next。
　　〃I'm　expecting　someone　who　isn't　sure　exactly　where　you're　located；'　I　said。
　　〃Just　tell　'em　we're　next　to　Michelle's　Face　Works；〃　he　said　as…Marino　got　out　of　his　truck。
　　I　met　him　in　the　parking　lot　and　we　walked　with　purpose　toward　Bray's　car。　She　didn't　notice　us　because　she　was　talking　on　her　portable　phone　and　writing　something　down。　When　Marino　tapped　on　her　window；　she　turned　to　us；　startled。　Then　her　face　turned　hard。　She　said　something　else　on　her　portable　and　ended　her　call。　The　window　hummed　down。
　　〃Deputy　Chief　Bray？　Thought　that　was　you；〃。　Marino　said　as　if　they　were　old　friends。
　　He　bent　down　and　peered　inside　her　car。　Bray　was　clearly　off　balance　and　one　could　almost　see　her　calculating　thoughts　regrouping　in　her　lead　as　she　pretended　there　was　nothing　unusual　about　our　running　into　her　here。
　　〃Good　evening；〃　I　politely　said。　〃What　a　pleasant　coincidence。〃
　　〃Kay；　what　a　surprise；〃　she　said　in　a　flat　voice。　〃How　are　you？　So　you've　discovered　Richmond's　little　secret〃
　　〃By　now；　I　know　most　of　Richmond's　little　secrets；〃　I　said　with　irony。　〃There　are　many　of　them　if　you　know　where　to　look。〃
　　〃I　stay　away　from　red　meat　as　much　as　possible。〃　Bray　switched　conversational　lanes。　〃But　their　fish　is　very　good。〃
　　〃That's　like　going　to　a　whorehouse　and　playing　solitaire；〃　Marino　remarked。
　　Bray　ignored　him　and　tried　to　stare　me　down　with　no　success。　I'd　learned　from　many　years　of　warring　with　bad　employees；　dishonest　defense　attorneys　and　ruthless　politicians　that　if　I　stated　between　a　person's　eyes；　he　didn't　know　I　wasn't；　in　fact；　staring　into　his　eyes；　and　I　could　keep　up　the　intimidation　all　day。
　　〃I'm　eating　dinner　here；〃　she　said　as　if　she　were　distracted　and　in　a　hurry。
　　〃We'll　wait　until　your　guest　shows　up；〃　Marino　said。　〃Sure　don't　want　you　sitting　alone　out　here　in　the　dark　or　being　bothered　inside。　Truth　is；　Deputy　Chief　Bray；　you　shouldn't　be　roaming　around　without　security；　as　recognizable　as　you've　gotten　to　be　since　you　moved　here。　You've　kind　of　gotten　to　be　a　celebrity；　you　know。〃
　　〃I'm　not　meeting　anyone；〃　she　said；　irritation　honing　her　tone。
　　〃We've　never　had　a　woman　so　high　up　in　the　department；　especially　one　so　attractive　and　so　loved　by　the　media。〃　Marino　wouldn't　shut　up。
　　She　collected　her　pocketbook　and　mail　off　the　seat；　her　cold　anger　palpable。
　　〃Now　if　you'll　please　excuse　me？〃　She　said　it　as　an　order。
　　〃It's　not　going　to　be　easy　to　get　a　table　tonight；'　l　let　her　know　as　she　opened　her　door。　〃Unless　you　have　a　reservation；〃　I　added；　implying　I　knew　damn　well　she　didn't。
　　Bray's　poise　and　self…confidence　slipped　just　enough　to　unmask　the　evil　coiling　within。　Her　eyes　struck　at　me；　then　revealed　nothing　as　she　climbed　out　of　the　car　and　Marino　blocked　her　way。　She　couldn't　get　past　him　without　ducking　around　him　and　brushing　against　him；　and　her　enormous　ego　would　never　allow　that。
　　She　was　almost　pinned　against　the　door　of　her　shiny　new　car。　It　didn't　escape　my　notice　that　she　was　dressed　in　corduroys；　running　shoes；　and　a　Richmond　Police　Department　jacket。　Vain　woman　that　she　was；　she　would　never　show　up　in　a　fine　restaurant　dressed　like　that。
　　〃Excuse　me；〃　she　said　loudly　to　Marino。
　　〃Oh　gee；　I'm　sorry；〃　he　gushed；　stepping　to　one　side。
　　I　chose　my　next　words　carefully。　I　〃could　not　directly　accuse　her；　but　I　intended　to　make　sure　she　knew　she'd　gotten　away　with　nothing　and　if　she　persisted　in　her　ambushes；　she　would　lose　and　she　would　pay。
　　〃You're　an　investigator；〃　I　thoughtfully　said　to　her。　〃Maybe　you　can　tell　me　your　opinion　on　how　someone　might　have　gotten　hold　of　my　password　and　e…mailed　messages；　impersonating　me。　And　then　someone…most　likely　the　same　person…started　an　asinine；　lobotomized　chat　room　on　the　Internet　called　Dear　Dr。　Kay。〃
　　〃How　awful。　I'm　sorry；　I　can't　help　you。　puters　are　not　my　specialty；〃　she　said　with　a　smile。
　　Her　eyes　were　dark　holes；　her　teeth　flashing　like　steel　blades　in　the　glow　of　sodium　lights。
　　〃All　I　can　suggest　is　you　look　at　the　people　closest　to　you；　perhaps　someone　disgruntled；　a　friend　you've　fallen　out　with；〃　she　continued　her　act。　〃I　really　have　no　idea；　but　I　would　expect　it's　someone　with　a　link　to　you。　I've　heard　your　niece　is　an　expert　in　puters。　Maybe　she　could　help　you。〃
　　Her　mention　of　Lucy　infuriated　me。
　　〃I've　been　wanting　to　talk　to　her；〃　Bray　said　as　a　by…theway。　〃You　know；　we're　implementing　PSTAT　and　need　a　puter　expert。〃
　　PSTAT；　or　puter…driven　statistics；　was　a　new　model　of　enlightened；　technologically　advanced　policing　devised　by　the　New　York　Police　Department。　puter　experts　would　be　needed　for　it；　but　to　suggest　a　project　like　that　for　someone　with　Lucy's　skills　and　experience　was　an　insult。
　　〃You　might　pass　this　along　to　her　when　you　talk　next；〃　Bray…　added。
　　Marino's　rage　was　boiling　like　water　in　a　pot。
　　〃We　really　should　sit　down　sometime；　Kay；　and　let　me　tell　you　about　some　of　my　experiences　in　Washington；〃　she　said　as　if　I　had　never　worked　anywhere　but　in　a　small　town。　〃You　can't　even　begin　to　know　the　things　people　will　try　to　bring　you　down。　Especially　women　against　the　women；　sabotage　in　the　workplace。　I've　seen　the　best　topple。〃
　　〃I'm　sure　you　have；〃　I　said。
　　She　locked　her　car　door　and　said；　〃Just　so　you　know；　you　don't　need　a　reservation　to　sit　at　the　bar。　That's　where　I　usually　eat　anyway。　They're　famous　for　their　steak　fromage；　but　I　remend　you　try　the　lobster；　Kay。　And　you；　Captain　Marino；　would　love　their　onion　rings。　I　hear　they're　to　die　for。〃
　　We　watched　her　walk　off。
　　〃Fucking　bitch；〃　Marino　said。
　　〃Let's　get　out　of　here；〃。I　said。
　　〃Yeah；　last　thing　I　want　to　do　is　eat　anywhere　near　poison　like　that。　I　ain't　even　hungry。〃
　　〃That　won't　last。〃
　　We　climbed　into　his　truck　and　I　sank　beneath　a　heavy　depression　that　held　me　down　like　tar。　I　wanted　to　find　some　victory；　some　ray　of　optimism　in　what　had　just　transpired；　but　I　couldn't。　I　felt　defeated。　Worse；　I　felt　foolish。
　　〃Want　a　cigarette？〃　Marino　asked　inside　the　dark　cab　as　he　punched　in　the　lighter。
　　〃Why　not；〃　I　muttered。　〃I'm　going　to　stop　again　pretty　soon。〃
　　He　handed　one　to　me　and　lit　his。　He　gave　me　the　lighter。　He　kept　glancing　over　at　me；　knowing　how　I　felt。
　　〃I　still　think　it　was　a　good　thing　we　done；〃　he　said。　〃I　bet　she's　in　that　restaurant　belting　down　whiskeys　because　we　got　her　good：〃
　　〃We　didn't　get　her　good；〃　I　replied；　squinting　at　the　lights　of　cars　passing　by。　〃With　her；　I'm　afraid　the　only　silver　bullet　is　prevention。　We　have　to　guard　against　further　damage　by　not　only　anticipating　but　also　following　up　on　everything　we　do。〃
　　I　opened　the　window　several　inches；　cold　air　touching　my　hair。　I　blew　out　smoke。
　　〃No…show　Chuck：'　I　mented。
　　〃Oh；　he　showed　up。　You　just　didn't　see　him　because　he　saw　us　first　and　hightailed　it　out　of　there。〃
　　〃You　sure？〃
　　〃I　saw　his　piece…of…shit　Miata　turning　into　the　road　leading　to　the　shopping　center；　and　then　about　halfway　to　the　parking　lot　it　suddenly　did　a　U…turn　and　got　the　hell　out　of　Dodge。　And　this　was　at　the　exact　time　Bray　said　somethi