cpatricia.blacknotice-第77部分

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　of　a　ma。　〃Okay；　so　where　do　I　tape　the　other　end？　How　about　you　move　that　floor　lamp　over　here。　Thanks。　Set　it　right　there。　Perfect；〃　Ham　said；　taping　the　string　to　the　lamp's　finial。
　　〃You　ought　to　quit　your　day　job；　Captain；　and　e　work　with　us。〃
　　〃You　would　hate　it；〃　Eggleston　promised。
　　〃You　got　that　right。　Nothing　I　hate　more　than　wasting　my　time；〃　Marino　said。
　　Stringing　wasn't　a　waste　of　time；　but　it　was　a　nightmare　of　tedium　unless　one　was　fond　of　protractors　and　trigonometry　and　had　an　anal…retentive　mind。　The　point　was　that　each　droplet　of　blood　has　its　individual　trajectory　from　the　impact　site；　or　wound；　to　a　target　surface　such　as　a　wall；　and　depending　on　velocity；　distance　traveled　and　angles；　droplets　have　many　shapes　that　tell　a　gory　story。
　　Although　these　days　puters。　could　e　up　with　the　same　results；　the　scene　work　required　just　as　much　time；　and　all　of　us　who　had　testified　in　court　had　learned　that　jurors　would　rather　see　brightly　colored　string　in　a　tangible；　three…dimensional　model　than　hatch　lines　on　a　chart。　But　calculating　the　exact　position　of　a　victim　when　each　blow　was　struck　was　superfluous　unless　inches　matter；　and　they　didn't　matter　here。　I　didn't　need　measurements　to　tell　me　this　was　a　homicide　versus　a　suicide　or　that　the　killer　had　been　enraged　and　frenzied　and　all　over　the　place。
　　〃We　need　to　get　her　downtown；〃　I　said　to　Marino。　〃Let's　get　the　squad　up　here。〃
　　〃I　just　can't　figure　how　he　got　in；〃　Ham　said。　〃She's　a　cop。　You'd　think　she'd　know　better　than　to　open　the　door　to　a　stranger。〃
　　〃Assuming　he　was　a　stranger。〃
　　〃Hell；　he's　the　same　damn　maniac　who　killed　the　girl　in　the　Quik　Cary。　Gotta　be。〃
　　〃Dr。　Scarpetta？〃　Harris's　voice　came　from　the　hall。
　　I　turned　around　with　a　start。　I'd　thought　he　was　gone。
　　〃Where's　her；　gun？　Has　anybody　found　it？〃　Marino　asked。
　　〃Not　so　far。〃
　　〃Could　I　see　you　for　a　minute；　please？〃　Harris　asked　me。
　　Marino　threw　Harris　a　dirty　look　and　stepped　into　the　bathroom；　calling　out　a　little　too　loudly；　〃You　guys　know　to　check　the　drains　and　pipes；　right？〃
　　〃We'll　get　there；　boss。〃
　　I　joined　Harris　in　the　hall　and　he　moved　us　away　from　the　door　where　no　one　could　hear　what　he　had　to　say。　Richmond's　police　chief　had　surrendered　to　tragedy。　Anger　had　turned　to　fear；　and　that；　I　suspected；　was　what　he　didn't　want　his　troops　to　see。　His　suit　jacket　was　draped　over　an　arm；　his　shirt　collar　open　and　tie　loose。　He　was　having　a　hard　time　breathing。
　　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　I　asked。
　　〃Asthma。〃
　　〃You　have　your　inhaler？〃
　　〃Just　used　it。〃
　　〃Take　it　easy；　Chief　Harris；〃　I　calmly　said；　because　asthma　could　get　dangerous　fast　and　stress　made　everything　worse。
　　〃Look；〃　he　said；　〃there've　been　rumors。　That　she　was　involved　in　certain　activities　in　D。C。　I　didn't　know　anything　about　it　when　I　hired　her。　Where　she　gets　her　money；〃　he　added；　as　if　Diane　Bray　weren't…　dead。　〃And　I　know　Anderson　follows　her　around　like　a　puppy。〃
　　〃Maybe　followed　her　when　Bray　didn't　know　it；　as　well；〃　I　said。
　　〃We've　got　her　in　a　patrol　car；〃　he　said；　as　if　this　were　news　to　me。
　　〃As　a　rule；　it's　not　my　place　to　voice　opinions　about　who's　guilty　of　murder；〃　I　replied；　〃but　I　don't　think　Anderson　mitted　this　one。〃
　　He　got　out　his　inhaler　again　and　took　two　puffs。
　　〃Chief　Harris；　we've　got　a　sadistic　killer　out　there　who　murdered　Kim　Luong。　The　M。O。　here　is　the　same。　It's　too　unique　to　be　someone　else。　There　aren't　enough　details　known　for　it　to　be　a　copycat…many　details　are　known　only　by　Marino　and　me。〃
　　He　struggled　to　breathe。
　　〃Do　you　understand　what　I'm　saying？〃　I　asked。　〃Do　you　want　others　to　die　like　this？　Because　it　will　happen　again。　And　soon。　This　guy's　losing　control　at　a　lightning　rate。　Maybe　because　he　left　his　safe　haven　in　Paris　and　now　he's　like　a　hunted　wild　animal　with　no　place　to　run？　And　he's　enraged；　desperate。　Maybe　he　feels　challenged　and　he's　taunting　us；〃　I　added　as　I　wondered　what　Benton　would　have　said。　〃Who　knows　what　goes　on　inside　a　mind　like　that。〃
　　Harris　cleared　his　throat。
　　〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do？〃　he　asked。
　　〃A　press　release；　and　I　mean　now。　We　know　he　speaks　French。　He　may　have　a　congenital　disorder　that　results　in　excessive　hairiness。　He　may　have　long　pale　hair　on　his　body。　He　may　shave　his　entire　face；　neck　and　head；　and　have　deformed　dentition；　widely　spaced；　small；　pointed　teeth。　His　face　is　probably　going　to　look　odd；　too。〃
　　〃Jesus　Christ〃
　　〃Marino　needs　to　handle　this；〃　I　told　him；　as　if　it　were　my　right　to　do　so。
　　〃What　did　you　say？　We're　supposed　to　tell　the　public　we're　looking　for　some　man　with　hair　all　over　his　body　and　pointed　teeth？　You　want　to　start　a　panic　like　this　city's　never　seen？〃　He　couldn't　catch　his　breath。
　　〃Calm　down。　Please。〃
　　I　put　my　fingers　on　his　neck　to　check　his　pulse。　It　was　running　away　with　his　life。　I　walked　him　into　the　living　room　and　made　him　sit　down。　I　brought　him　a　glass　of　water　and　massaged　his　shoulders；　talking　quietly　to　him；　gently　coaxing　him　to　be　still；　until　he　was　soothed　and　breathing　again。
　　〃You　don't　need　the　pressure　of　this；〃　I　said。　〃Marino　should　be　working　these　cases；　not　riding　around　in　a　uniform　all　night。　God　help　you　if　he's　not　working　these　homicides。　God　help　all　of　us。〃
　　Harris　nodded。　He　got　up　and　moved　in　slow　steps　back　to　the　doorway　。of　that　terrible　scene。　Marino　was　rooting　around　in　the　walk…in　closet　by　now。
　　〃Captain　Marino；〃　Harris　said。
　　Marino　stopped　what　he　was　doing　and　gave　his　chief　a　defiant　look。
　　〃You're　in　charge；〃　Harris　said　to　him。　〃Let　me　know　if　there's　anything　you　need。〃
　　Marino's　gloved　hands　went　through　a　section　of　skirts。
　　〃I　want　to　talk　to　Anderson；〃　he　said。
　　　
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　　Rene　Anderson's　face　was　as　hard　and　glazed　as　the　glass　she　stared　through　when　attendants　carried　Diane　Bray's　pouched　body　past　on　a　stretcher　and　loaded　it　into　a　van。　It　was　still　raining。
　　Dogged　reporters　and　photographers　poised　like　swimmers　on　blocks；　all　of　them　staring　at　Marino　and　the　as　we　approached　the　patrol　car。　Marino　opened　Anderson's　passenger's　door　and　poked　his　head　inside。
　　〃We　need　to　have　a　little　chat；〃　he　said　to　her。
　　Her　frightened　eyes　jumped　from　him　to　me。
　　〃e　on；〃　Marino　said。
　　〃I've　got　nothing　to　say　to　her；〃　she　said；　glancing　at　me。
　　〃I　guess　the　doc　must　think　you　do；〃　Marino　said。　〃e　on。　Get　out。　Don't　make　me　have　to　help　you。〃
　　〃I　don't　want　them　taking　pictures！〃　she　exclaimed；　and　it　was　too　late。
　　Cameras　were　already　on　her　like　a　storm　of　hurled　spears。
　　〃Just　put　your　coat　over　your　head　to　cover　your　face　like　you　see　on　TV；〃　Marino　said　with　a　trace　of　sarcasm。
　　I　walked　over　to　the　removal　van　to　have　a　word　with　the　two　attendants　as　they　shut　the　tailgate　doors。
　　〃When　you　get　there；〃　I　said　as　cold　raindrops　fell　and　my　hair　began　to　drip；　〃I　want　the　body　escorted　into　the　cooler　with　security　present。　I　want　you　to　contact　Dr。　Fielding　and　make　sure　he　supervises。〃
　　〃Yes；　ma'am。〃
　　〃And　we　don't　talk　about　this　to　anyone。〃
　　〃Never　do。〃
　　〃But　especially　not　this　one。　Not　one　word；〃　I　said。
　　〃We　sure　wouldn't：〃
　　They　climbed　inside　the　van　and　backed　out　as　I　walked　to　the　house　and　paid　no　attention　to　questions　and　cameras　and　flashes　going　off。　Marino　and　Anderson　sat　in　the　living　room；　and　Diane　Bray's　clocks　said　it　was　eleven…thirty　now。　Anderson's　jeans　were　wet；　and　her　shoes　were　caked　with　mud　and　grass；　as　if　she'd　fallen　down　at　some　point。　She　was　cold　and　trembling。
　　〃You　know　we　can　get　DNA　off　a　beer　bottle；　right？〃　Marino　was　saying　to　her。　〃We　can　get　it　off　a　cigarette　butt；　right？　Hell；　。ve　can　get　it　off　a　damn　pizza　crust。〃
　　Anderson　was　slumped　on　the　couch　and　didn't　seem　to　have　much　fight　left　in　her。
　　〃It's　got　nothing　to　do　With　。　。　。〃　she　started　to　reply。
　　〃Salem　menthol　butts　in　the　kitchen　trash；〃　he　continued　his　interrogation。　‘；‘Believe　that's　what　you　smoke？　And　yeah。　It　does　have　to　do　with　it；　Anderson。　Because　I　believe　you　was　。here　last　night　not　long　before　Bray　was　murdered。　And　I　also　believe　she　didn't　struggle；　maybe　even　knew　the　person　who　b