ch.doublewhammy-第13章

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　His　identity　was　the　worst…kept　secret　in　Harney　County。　It　was　Ott　Pickney；　of　course。
　
　R。　J。　Decker　lived　in　a　trailer　court　about　a　mile　off　the　Palmetto　Expressway。　The　trailer　was　forty　feet　long　and　ten　feet　wide；　and　made　of　the　finest　sheet　aluminum。　Inside　the　walls　were　covered　with　cheap　paneling　that　had　warped　in　the　tropical　humidity；　the　threadbare　carpet　was　the　color　of　liver。　For　amenities　the　trailer　featured　a　badly　wired　kitchenette；　a　drip　of　a　shower；　and　a　decrepit　air　conditioner　that　leaked　gray　fluid　all　over　the　place。　Decker　had　converted　the　master　closet　to　a　darkroom；　and　it　was　all　the　space　he　needed；　it　was　a　busy　week　if　he　used　it　more　than　once　or　twice。
　He　didn't　want　to　live　in　a　trailer　park；　hated　the　very　idea；　but　it　was　all　he　could　afford　after　the　divorce。　Not　that　his　wife　had　cleaned　him　out；　she　hadn't；　she　had　merely　taken　what　was　hers；　which　amounted　to　practically　everything　of　value　in　the　marriage。　Except　for　the　cameras。　In　aggregate；　R。　J。　Decker's　camera　equipment　was　worth　twice　as　much　as　the　trailer　where　he　lived。　He　took　no　special　steps　to　protect　or　conceal　the　cameras　because　virtually　all　his　trailer…park　neighbors　owned　free…running　pit　bulldogs；　canine　psychopaths　that　no　burglar　dared　to　challenge。
　For　some　reason　the　neighbors'　dogs　never　bothered　Catherine。　Decker　was　printing　film　when　she　dropped　by。　As　soon　as　he　let　her　in　the　door；　she　wrinkled　her　nose。　〃Yuk！　Hypo。〃　She　knew　the　smell　of　the　fixer。
　〃I'll　be　done　in　a　second；〃　he　said；　and　slipped　back　into　the　darkroom。　He　wondered　what　was　up。　He　wondered　where　James　was。　James　was　the　chiropractor　she　had　married　less　than　two　weeks　after　the　divorce。
　The　day　Catherine　had　married　Dr。　James　was　also　the　day　Decker　had　clobbered　the　burglar。　Catherine　had　always　felt　guilty；　as　if　she'd　lighted　the　fuse。　She'd　written　him　two　or　three　times　a　month　when　he　was　at　Apalachee；　once　she'd　even　mailed　a　Polaroid　of　herself　in　a　black　bra　and　panties。　Somehow　it　got　by　the　prison　censor。　〃For　old　times；〃　she'd　printed　on　the　back　of　the　snapshot；　as　a　joke。　Decker　was　sure　Dr。　James　had　no　idea。　Years　after　the　marriage　Catherine　still　called　or　stopped　by；　but　only　at　night　and　never　on　weekends。　Decker　always　felt　good　for　a　little　while　afterward。
　He　washed　a　couple　of　eight…by…tens　and　hung　the　prints　from　a　clothesline　strung　across　the　darkroom。　He　could　have　turned　on　the　overheads　without　harm　to　the　photographs；　but　he　preferred　to　work　in　the　red　glow　of　the　safelight。　Catherine　tapped　twice　and　came　in；　shutting　the　door　quickly。　She　knew　the　routine。
　〃Where's　the　mister？〃　Decker　asked。
　〃Tampa；〃　Catherine　said。　〃Big　convention。　Every　other　weekend　is　a　big　convention。　What've　we　got　here？〃　She　stood　on　her　toes　and　studied　the　prints。　〃Who's　the　weight…lifter？〃
　〃Fireman　out　on　ninety…percent　disability。〃
　〃So　what's　he　doing　hulking　out　at　Vie　Tanny？〃
　〃That's　what　the　insurance　pany　wants　to　know；〃　Decker　said。
　〃Pretty　dull　stuff；　Rage。〃　Sometimes　she　called　him　Rage　instead　of　R。　J。　It　was　a　pet　name　that　had　something　to　do　with　his　temper。　Decker　didn't　mind　it；　ing　from　Catherine。
　〃I've　got　a　good　one　cooking；〃　he　said。
　〃Yeah？　Like　what？〃
　She　looked　great　in　the　warm　red　light。　Catherine　was　a　knockout。　Was；　is；　always　will　be。　An　expensive　knockout。
　〃I'm　investigating　a　professional　fisherman；〃　Decker　said；　〃for　cheating　in　tournaments。　Allegedly。〃
　〃e　on；　Rage。〃
　〃I'm　serious。〃
　Catherine　folded　her　arms　and　gave　him　a　motherly　look。　〃Why　don't　you　ask　the　paper　for　your　old　job　back？〃
　〃Because　the　paper　won't　pay　me　a　hundred　large　to　go　fishing。〃
　Catherine　said；　〃Wow。〃
　She　smelled　wonderful。　She　knew　Decker　liked　a　certain　perfume　so　she　always　wore　it　for　him…what　was　the　name？　He　couldn't　remember。　Something　fashionably　neurotic。　pulsion；　that　was　it。　A　scent　that　probably　wouldn't　appeal　to　Dr。　James；　at　least　Decker　hoped　not。　He　wondered　if　Catherine　was　still　on　the　same　four…ounce　bottle　he'd　bought　for　her　birthday　three　years　ago。
　Decker　tweezered　another　black…and…white　of　the　goldbrick　fireman　out　of　the　fixer　and　rinsed　it　down。
　〃No　pictures　of　fish？〃　Catherine　asked。
　〃Not　yet。〃
　〃Somebody　is　really　gonna　pay　you　a　hundred　thousand？〃
　〃Well；　at　least　fifty。　That's　if　I　get　what　he　wants。〃
　She　said；　〃What　are　you　going　to　do　with　all　that　money？〃
　〃Try　to　buy　you　back。〃
　Catherine's　laugh　died　in　her　throat。　She　looked　hurt。　〃That's　not　really　funny；　R。J。〃
　〃I　guess　not。〃
　〃You　didn't　mean　it；　did　you？〃
　〃No；　I　didn't　mean　it。〃
　〃You've　got　a　nasty　streak。〃
　〃I　was　beaten　as　a　child；〃　Decker　said。
　〃Can　we　get　out　of　here？　I'm　getting　high　on　your　darn　chemicals。〃
　
　Decker　took　her　to　a　barbecue　joint　on　South　Dixie　Highway。　Catherine　ordered　half　a　chicken　and　iced　tea；　he　had　beer　and　ribs。　They　talked　about　a　thousand　little　things；　and　Decker　thought　about　how　much　fun　it　was　to　be　with　her；　still。　It　wasn't　a　sad　feeling；　just　wistful；　he　knew　it　would　go　away。　The　best　feelings　always　did。
　〃Have　you　thought　about　New　York？〃　Catherine　asked。
　The　free…lance　speech。　Decker　knew　it　by　heart。
　〃Look　at　Foley。　He　had　a　cover　shot　on　Sports　Illustrated　last　summer；〃　she　said。
　Foley　was　another　photographer　who'd　quit　the　newspaper　and　gone　free…lance。
　〃Hale　Irwin；〃　Decker　said　derisively。
　〃What？〃
　〃That　was　Foley's　big　picture。　A　golfer。　A　fucking　golfer；　Catherine。　That's　not　what　I　want　to　do；　follow　a　bunch　of　Izod　shirts　around　a　hot　golf　course　all　day　for　one　stupid　picture。〃
　Catherine　said；　〃It　was　just　an　example；　Rage。　Foley's　had　plenty　of　business　since　he　moved　to　New　York。　And　not　just　golfers；　so　don't　give　me　that　pissed…off　look。〃
　〃He's　a　good　shooter。〃
　〃But　you're　better；　by　a　mile。〃　She　reached　across　the　table　and　pinched　his　arm　gently。　〃Hey；　it　doesn't　have　to　be　heavy…duty。　No　Salvadors；　no　murders；　no　dead　girls　in　Cadillacs。　Just　stick　to　the　soft　stuff；　Rage；　you've　earned　it。〃
　Decker　guessed　it　was　about　time　for　the　all…that…wasted…talent　routine。
　Catherine　came　through。　〃I　just　hate　to　see　you　wasting　all　your　talent；〃　she　said。　〃Snooping　around　like　a　thief；　taking　pictures　of　。。。　〃
　〃Guys　who　cheat　insurance　panies。〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　Decker　said；　〃Maybe　you're　right。〃
　〃Will　you　think　about　New　York？〃
　〃Take　some　of　these　ribs；　I　can't　eat　'em　all。〃
　〃No；　thanks；　I'm　fall。〃
　〃So　tell　me　about　the　quack。〃
　〃Stop　it；〃　Catherine　said。　〃James's　patients　are　wild　about　him。　He's　very　generous　with　his　time。〃
　〃And　the　spine…cracking　business　is　good。〃
　〃Good；　but　it　could　be　better；〃　Catherine　said。　〃James　is　talking　about　moving。〃
　Decker　grinned。　〃Let　me　guess　where。〃
　Catherine　reddened。　〃His　brother's　got　a　practice　on　Long　Island。　It's　going　gangbusters；　James　says。〃
　〃No　shit？〃
　〃Don't　look　so　cocky；　R。J。　This　has　nothing　to　do　with　you。〃
　〃So　you　wouldn't　e　see　me；〃　Decker　said。　〃I　mean；　if　I　were　to　move　to　New　York　and　you　somehow　wound　up　on　Long　Island；　you　wouldn't　drop　by　and　chat？〃
　Catherine　wiped　her　hands　on　a　napkin。　〃Jesus；　I　don't　know。〃　Her　voice　was　different　now；　the　airy　confidence　gone。　〃I　don't　know　what　I've　done；　R。J。　Sometimes　I　wonder。　James　is　special　and　I　realize　how　lucky　I　am；　but　still　。。。　The　man　irons　his　socks；　did　I　tell　you　that？〃
　Decker　nodded。　〃You　called　me　from　your　honeymoon　to　tell　me　that。〃　From　Honolulu　she'd　called。
　〃Yeah；　well。〃
　〃That's　okay；〃　Decker　said。　〃I　didn't　mind。〃　It　was　better　than　losing　her　pletely。　He　would　miss　her　if　the　sock…ironing　chiropractor　whisked　her　away　to　New　York。
　〃You　know　the　hell　of　it？〃　Catherine　said。　〃My　back's　still　killing　me。〃
　
　Decker's　telephone　was　ringing　when　he　returned　to　the　trailer。　The　man　on　the　other　end　didn't　need　to　identify　himself。
　〃Hello；　Miami。〃
　〃Hey；　captain。〃　Decker　was　surprised。　Skink　would　do　anything　to　avoid　the　phone。
　〃The　Armadillo　is　dead；〃　said　Skink。
　Decker　figured　Skink　was　talking　about　his　supper。
　〃You　listening？〃　Skink　said。
　〃The　armadillo。〃
　〃Yeah；　your　little　pal　from　the　newspaper。〃
　〃Ott？〃
　〃Officially　he's　only　missing。　Unofficially　he's　dead。　You　better　get　up　here。　It's　time　to　go　to　work。〃
　Decker　sat　down　at　the　kitchen　counter。　〃Start　at　the　beginning；〃　he　said。　Gruffly　Skink　summarized　the　facts　of　the　disappearance；　closing　with　a　neutral　explanation　of　Ott　Pickney's　alter　ego；　Davey　Dillo。
　〃They　say　he　was　very　convincing；〃　Skink　said；　by　way　of　condolence。
　Decker　had　a　hell　of　a　hard　time　imagining　Ott　in　an　armadillo　costume　on　a　skateboard。　He　had　a　harder　time　imagining　Ott　dead。
　〃Maybe　they　just　took　him　somewhere　to　put　a　scare　in　him；〃　he　speculated。
　〃No　way；〃　Skink　said。　〃I'll　see　you　soon。　Oh　yeah…when　you　get　to　Harney；　don't　check　in　at　the　motel。　It's　not　safe。　You'd　better　stay　out　here　with　me。〃
　〃I'd　rather　not；〃　Decker　said。
　〃Aw；　it'll　be　loads　of　fun；〃　Skink　said　with　a　grunt。　〃We　can　roast　weenies　and　marshmallows。〃
　
　Decker　drove　all　night。　He　shot　straight　up　Interstate　95　and　got　off　at　Route　222；　just　west　of　Wabasso。　Another　ninety　minutes　and　he　was　in　Harney　County。　By　the　time　he　got　to　Skink's　place　on　the　lake；　it　was　four…thirty　in　the　morning。　Already　one　or　two　bass　boats　were　out　on　the　water；　Decker　could　hear　the　big　engines　chewing　up　the　darkness。
　At　the　sound　of　Decker's　car　Skink　clumped　onto　the　porch。　He　was　fully　dressed…boots；　sunglasses；　the　orange　weathersuit。　Decker　wondered　if　he　slept　in　uniform。
　〃That's　some　driving；〃　Skink　said。　〃Get　your　gear　and　e　on　inside。〃
　Decker　carried　his　duffel　into　the　shack。　It　was　the　first　time　he　had　ventured　beyond　the　porch；　and　he　wasn't　sure　what　to　expect。　Pelts；　maybe。　Wallpaper　made　from　rabbit　pelts。
　As　he　pushed　past　the　screen　door；　Decker　was　amazed　by　what　he　saw：　books。　Every　wall　had　raw　pine　shelves　to　the　ceiling；　and　every　shelf　was　lined　with　books。　The　east　wall　was　for　classic　fiction：　Poe；　Hemingway；　Dostoyevsky；　Mark　Twain；　Jack　London；　Faulkner；　Fitzgerald；　even　Boris　Pasternak。　The　west　wall　was　for　political　biographies：　Churchill；　Sandburg's　Lincoln；　Hitler；　Huey　Long；　Ei…senhower；　Joseph　McCarthy；　John　F。　Kennedy；　even　Robert　Caro's　Lyndon　Johnson；　though　it　looked　like　a　book…club　edition。　The　south　wall　was　exclusively　for　reference　books：　the　Britannica；　Current　Biography；　the　Florida　Statutes；　even　the　Reader's　Guide　to　Periodic　Literature。　This　was　the　wall　of　the　shack　that　leaned　so　precipitously；　and　now　Decker　knew　why：　it　held　the　heaviest　books。
　The　shelves　of　the　north　wall　were　divided　into　two　sections。　The　top　was　philosophy　and　the　humanities。　The　bottom　half　was　for　children's　books。　The　Hardy　Boys；　Tom　Swift；　Dr。　Seuss。　Charlotte's　Web　and　the　Brothers　Grimm。
　〃What're　you　staring　at？〃　Skink　demanded。
　〃These　are　great　books；〃　Decker　said。
　〃No　shit。〃
　In　the　middle　of　the　floor　there　was　a　bare　mattress　and　army　blanket；　but　no　pillow。　The　Remington　was　propped　in　a　corner。　The　Coleman　lantern　hung　from　a　slat　in　the　ceiling；　it　offered　only　a　fuzzy　white　light　that　would　flare　or　dim　as　the　mantle　burned　down。　Decker　thought　Skink　must　do　his　reading　in　the　daytime；　o