ch.doublewhammy-第10章

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　breaths　and　the　rhythmic　squeak　of　the　rusty　oarlocks。
　Slowly　the　details　of　the　southern　shoreline；　including　the　crooked　silhouette　of　the　cabin；　came　into　Decker's　view。　The　trip　was　almost　over。
　Decker　asked；　〃You　e　out　here　every　night？〃
　〃Only　when　I'm　in　the　mood　for　fish　dinner；〃　Skink　replied。
　〃And　you　always　use　that　big　purple　worm？〃
　〃Nope；〃　Skink　said；　beaching　the　boat　with　a　final　stroke；　〃what　I　usually　use　is　a　twelve…gauge。〃
　
　When　R。　J。　Decker　got　back　to　the　motel；　he　found　a　note　from　the　night　manager　on　the　door。　The　note　said　Ott　Pickney　had　called；　but　it　didn't　say　why。
　Decker　already　had　the　key　in　the　lock　when　he　heard　a　car　pull　in　and　park。　He　glanced　over　his　shoulder；　half…expecting　to　see　Ott's　perky　Toyota　flatbed。
　What　he　saw　instead　was　a　tangerine　Corvette。
　Decker　had　a　poor　memory　for　names。　Terrific　eye　for　faces；　but　no　name　recollection　whatsoever。
　〃It　was　a　spring…fashion　shoot；〃　Lanie　Gault　prodded。　〃You　acted　like　you'd　rather　be　in　Salvador。〃
　〃I　think　I　remember　now；〃　Decker　said。　〃On　Sanibel　Beach；　right？〃
　Lanie　nodded。　She　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　bed；　looking　relaxed。　Strange　motel　room；　strange　man；　but　still　relaxed。　Decker　was　not　nearly　so　fortable。
　〃Must　have　been　five；　six　years　ago；〃　he　said。　Trying　to　be　professional；　trying　not　to　look　at　her　legs。
　〃You've　put　on　some　weight；〃　Lanie　said。　〃It's　good　weight；　though；　don't　worry。〃
　Decker　turned　on　the　television；　looking　for　Letterman。　He　stopped　flipping　channels　when　he　found　one　of　those　dreadful　syndicated　game　shows。　He　sat　down　heavily　and　pretended　to　watch　the　tube。
　〃Do　I　look　any　different？〃　Lanie　asked。　She　didn't　say　it　as　if　she　were　begging　a　pliment。
　〃You　look　great；〃　Decker　said；　turning　from　the　TV。
　〃Believe　it　or　not；　I　think　I've　still　got　the　swimsuit　I　wore　for　the　pictures。〃
　On　this　detail　Decker's　memory　was　clear。　Yellow　one…piece　thong；　the　kind　that　required　some　touch…up　shaving。
　Lanie　said；　〃You　screwed　one　of　the　other　models；　didn't　you？〃
　Decker　sighed。
　〃She　was　talking　about　it　on　the　drive　back　to　Boca。〃
　〃I　hope　she　was　kind；〃　Decker　said。　Diane　was　her　name。　A　very　nice　lady。　Hadn't　seemed　like　the　magpie　type；　but　here　you　had　it。　He'd　kept　a　phone　number；　except　now　she　was　married　to　a　large　Puerto　Rican　police　captain。　Her　number　was　filed　under　S；　for　suicide。
　Lanie　Gault　kicked　her　sandals　off　and　sat　cross…legged　on　the　bedspread。　She　wore　a　fruity…colored　sleeveless　top　and　white　shorts。　Her　arms　and　legs；　even　the　tops　of　her　feet；　were　a　golden　tan。　So　were　her　neck　and　chest；　the　part　Decker　could　see。　He　wondered　about　the　rest；　wondered　if　it　was　worth　a　try。　Bad　timing；　he　decided。
　〃Can　we　turn　that　shit　down；　please？〃　Lanie　said。　On　the　television　a　young　couple　from　Napa　had　just　won　an　Oldsmobile　Cutlass；　and　the　audience　was　going　nuts。
　Decker　twisted　down　the　volume。
　She　said；　〃Look；　I'm　sorry　about　this　morning。　I'd　had　a　couple　martinis　to　get　me　going。〃
　〃Don't　blame　you；〃　Decker　said。
　〃I　must　have　sounded　like　a　coldhearted　whore；　which　I'm　not。〃
　Decker　went　along　with　it。　〃It　was　a　tough　funeral；〃　he　said；　〃especially　with　the　wife　there。〃
　〃You　said　it。〃
　〃Before　you　tell　me　about　Bobby；〃　Decker　said；　〃I'd　like　to　know　how　you　knew　about　me。　About　why　I　was　here。〃　He　guessed　it　was　her　brother　but　he　wanted　to　make　sure。
　〃Dennis　called　me；〃　Lanie　said。
　〃Why？〃
　〃Because　he　knows　I've　got　a　personal　interest。　Or　maybe　he's　just　feeling　guilty　about　Bobby　and　wants　me　to　know　he's　not　giving　up　on　it。〃
　Or　maybe　he　wants　you　to　try　me　out；　Decker　thought。
　Lanie　said；　〃I　met　Bobby　Clinch　at　a　bass　tournament　in　Dallas　two　summers　ago。　I　was　doing　outdoor　layouts　for　the　Neiman…Marcus　catalog…beach　togs；　picnic　wear；　stuff　like　that。　Dennis　happened　to　be　in　town　for　this　big　tournament；　so　I　drove　out　to　the　reservoir　one　afternoon；　just　to　say　hi。　Must　have　been　sixty　boats；　a　hundred　guys；　and　they　all　looked　exactly　the　same。　They　dressed　alike；　walked　alike；　talked　alike；　chewed　tobacco　alike。　All　dragging　fish　to　be　weighed。　Afterward　they　gathered　around　this　tall　chalkboard　to　see　who　was　ahead　in　the　points。　Christ；　I　thought　I'd　died　and　gone　to　redneck　hell。〃
　〃Then　Bobby　came　along。〃
　〃Right；〃　Lanie　said。　〃He　said　hello；　introduced　himself。　It　sounds　corny；　but　I　could　tell　he　was　different　from　the　others。〃
　〃Corny〃　was　not　the　word　for　how　it　sounded。　Decker　listened　politely　anyway。　He　figured　there　was　a　love　scene　ing。
　Lanie　said；　〃That　night；　while　the　rest　of　the　guys　were　playing　poker　and　getting　bombed；　he　took　me　out　on　the　reservoir　in　his　boat；　just　the　two　of　us。　I'll　never　forget；　it　was　a　crescent　moon；　not　a　cloud　anywhere。〃　She　laughed　gently　and　her　eyes　dropped。　〃We　wound　up　making　it　out　on　the　water。　In　the　bow　of　Bobby's　boat　was　this　fancy　pedestal　seat　that　spun　around　。。。　and　that's　what　we　did。　Lucky　we　didn't　capsize。〃
　This　girl；　Decker　thought；　has　a　wondrous　imagination。
　〃Bobby　wasn't　one　of　these　full…time　tournament　freaks；〃　Lanie　said。　〃He　had　a　good　job　laying　cable　for　the　phone　pany。　He　fished　four；　maybe　five　pro　events　a　year；　so　he　wasn't　a　serious　threat　to　anybody。　He　had　no　enemies；　Decker。　All　the　guys　liked　Bobby。〃
　〃So　what　made　him　different？〃　Decker　asked。
　〃He　enjoyed　himself　more；〃　Lanie　said。　〃He　seemed　so　happy　just　to　be　out　there　。。。　and　those　were　the　best　nights　for　us；　after　he'd　spent　a　day　on　the　lake。　Even　if　he　hadn't　caught　a　thing；　he'd　be　happy。　Laughing；　oh　brother；　he'd　laugh　at　the　whole　damn　ritual。　Bobby　loved　fishing；　that's　for　sure；　but　at　least　he　saw　how　crazy　it　looked　from　the　outside。　And　that's　more　than　I　can　say　for　my　brother。〃
　R。　J。　Decker　got　up　and　switched　off　the　TV。　This　was　the　part　he'd　been　waiting　for。
　〃Did　Dennis　tell　you　exactly　why　he　hired　me？〃
　〃No；〃　Lanie　said；　〃but　it　can　only　be　one　thing。　The　cheating。〃
　As　if　it　were　no　secret。
　〃Dennis　knows　Dickie　Lockhart's　been　rigging　the　tournaments；〃　she　said。　〃It's　all　he　talks　about。　At　first　he　actually　tried　to　hire　some　killers。　He　said　that's　what　Hemingway　would　have　done。〃
　〃No；　Hemingway　would　have　done　it　himself。〃
　〃About　six　months　ago　Dennis　flew　down　two　mob　guys　from　Queens。　Offered　them　eighty…five　grand　to　bump　off　Dickie　and　grind　the　body　into　puppy　chow。　My　brother　didn't　know　one　of　the　creeps　was　working　for　the　feds…Sal　something…or…other。　He　blabbed　the　whole　crazy　story。　Luckily　no　one　at　the　FBI　believed　it；　but　for　a　while　Dennis　was　scared　out　of　his　pants。　At　least　it　cured　him　of　the　urge　to　kill　Dickie　Lockhart。　Now　he　says　he'll　settle　for　an　indictment。〃
　〃So　your　brother's　next　move；〃　R。　J。　Decker　said；　〃was　to　hire　me。〃
　Lanie　shook　her　head。　〃Bobby。〃
　Decker　had　been　hoping　she　wouldn't　say　that。
　〃Dennis　met　Bobby　on　the　pro　circuit　and　they　hit　it　off　right　away。　They　even　fished　together　in　a　few　of　the　buddy　tournaments；　and　always　finished　in　the　loot。　Dennis　told　Bobby　his　suspicions　about　Lockhart　and　offered　him　a　ton　of　money　to　get　the　proof。〃
　〃What　could　Bobby　do　that　your　brother　couldn't　do　himself？〃
　〃Snoop；〃　Lanie　said；　〃inconspicuously。　Everybody　knows　Dennis　has　a　hard…on　for　Dickie　Lockhart。　Dickie　knows　it　too；　and　he's　damn　careful　with　Dennis　around。　So　my　brother's　plan　was　to　pull　out　of　the　next　few　tournaments…claim　the　family　business　as　an　excuse…and　hope　that　Dickie　got　careless。〃
　〃With　Bobby　Clinch　watching　every　move。〃
　〃Exactly。〃
　Decker　asked；　〃How　much　money　did　Dennis　offer　him？〃
　〃Plenty。　Bobby　wasn't　greedy；　but　he　wanted　enough　to　be　able　to　get　out　of　his　marriage。　See；　he　wanted　Clarisse　to　have　the　house；　free　and　clear。　He'd　never　just　walk　out　on　her　and　the　kids。〃
　R。　J。　Decker　wasn't　exactly　moved　to　tears。　Lanie's　story　was　murky；　and　Decker　was　ready　to　say　goodnight。
　〃Did　your　brother　know　about　you　and　Bobby？〃　he　asked。
　〃Sure　he　did。　Dennis　never　said　a　word；　but　I'm　sure　he　knew。〃　Lanie　Gault　put　her　hands　under　her　chin。　〃I　thought　he　might　bring　it　up；　after　Bobby　was　killed。　Just　a　note　or　a　phone　call…something　to　let　on　that　he　knew　I　was　hurting。　Not　Dennis。　The　sonofabitch　has　Freon　in　his　veins；　I'm　warning　you。　My　brother　wants　to　nail　Dickie　Lockhart　and　if　you　happen　to　die　in　the　chase　he　won't　be　sending　a　wreath　to　the　funeral。　Just　another　replacement。　Like　you。〃
　The　possibility　of　being　murdered　over　a　dead　fish　did　not　appeal　to　R。　J。　Decker's　sense　of　adventure。　He　had　photographed　men　who　had　died　for　less；　and　many　who　had　died　for　more。　Over　the　years　he　had　adopted　a　carrion　fly's　unglamorous　view　of　death：　it　didn't　really　matter　how　you　got　that　way；　it　stunk　just　the　same。
　〃You　think　Lockhart　killed　your　boyfriend？〃　Decker　asked　Lanie。
　〃Who　else　would　do　it？〃
　〃You're　sure　it　was　no　accident？〃
　〃Positive；〃　Lanie　said。　〃Bobby　knew　every　log　in　that　lake。　He　could've　run　it　blindfolded。〃
　Decker　was　inclined　to　believe　her。　〃Who　owns　Dickie's　TV　show？〃　he　asked。
　〃The　Outdoor　Christian　Network。　You　heard　of　it？〃
　〃TV　Bible　geysers；〃　Decker　said。
　Lanie　straightened；　as　if　working　out　a　crick　in　her　spine。　〃More　than　old…time　religion；〃　she　said。　〃OCN　is　quite　the　modern　conglomerate。　They're　into　health　insurance；　unit　trusts；　oil　futures；　real…estate　development　。。。　〃
　〃I'll　check　into　it；〃　Decker　promised。　〃I'm　tired；　Lanie。　I've　got　a　rotten　drive　tomorrow。〃
　She　nodded；　got　up；　and　slipped　into　her　sandals。　She　stood　in　front　of　the　mirror　and　brushed　through　her　hair　in　brisk；　sure　strokes。
　〃One　more　thing；〃　Decker　said。　〃Out　at　the　cemetery；　how　did　you　know　which　one　was　me？　Sanibel　was　a　long　time　ago。〃
　Lanie　laughed。　〃You　kidding？〃
　〃Don't　tell　me　I　stood　out。〃
　〃Yeah；　you　did；〃　she　said；　〃but　Dennis　wired　me　a　picture；　in　case　I　wasn't　sure。〃
　〃A　picture。〃
　Lanie　reached　in　her　purse。　〃Courtesy　of　the　booking　desk　at　the　Dade　County　Jail。〃
　Decker　recognized　the　old　mug　shots。　Cute　move；　Dennis。　Just　a　touch　of　the　hot　needle。
　〃I've　seen　friendlier　smiles；〃　Lanie　said；　studying　the　police　photos。　〃You　still　taking　pictures；　Decker？〃
　〃Once　in　a　while。〃
　〃Maybe　you　could　do　me　sometime。　I'm　thinking　of　going　back　into　modeling。〃　Lanie　put　the　purse　under　her　arm　and　opened　the　door。　〃It's　been　so　long　I've　probably　forgotten　how　to　pose。〃
　You're　doing　just　fine；　Decker　thought。　〃Good　night；〃　he　said。
　
　Decker　had　to　go　back　to　Miami　to　soup　some　film　for　an　insurance…fraud　trial；　set　for　the　ing　week。　He　figured　he'd　use　the　long　drive　to　decide　what　to　do　about　Dennis　Gault　and　the　fishing　scam。　His　instincts　about　the　cast　of　characters　told　him　to　drop　the　case…but　what　about　the　death　of　Bobby　Clinch？
　As　he　packed　his　suitcase　Decker　heard　himself　say：　So　what？　He　hated　the　way　he　sounded　because　he　sounded　like　every　lazy　asshole　cop　or　P。I。　he'd　ever　met。　Big　cases；　big　problems。　Go　for　the　easy　bucks；　that　would　be　the　advice。
　Yet　Decker　knew　he　couldn't　drop　it　now。　Bobby　Clinch　got　killed　because　he　went　snooping　for　a　secret　fish；　such　a　remarkable　crime　couldn't　easily　be　ignored。　The　idea　that　somebody　had　bee　homicidal　over　a　largemouth　bass　was　perversely　appealing　to　Decker；　and　it　m