ch.doublewhammy-第33章

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en　said　so。　But　Tom　and　Lemus；　they　said　how　somebody　went　to　the　newspaper　with　a　made…up　story　that　Dickie　kilt　Bobby；　and　now　this　detective　from　Miami　was　goin'　around　asking　about　Bobby　and　what　happened　at　the　Coon　Bog。　Culver　ast　who　would　try　to　set　Dickie　Lockhart　up　like　that；　but　Tom　said　there　were　about　a　million　guys　jealous　of　Dickie　would　do　it　in　a　flash。　He　said　they'd　try　to　make　it　look　like　Bobby　caught　Dickie　cheating　in　some　tournament。
　〃So　Culver　hears　all　this　and　gets　worried　because；　right　before　the　Curl　boys　e　by；　this　reporter　fella　had　been　in　asting　about　Bobby's　boat　and　the　funeral　and　such…see；　they　sawed　up　his　Ranger　into　a　coffin。　Mr。　Pinky；　he　seemed　real　interested　so　Culver　told　him　Larkin's　place　had　done　the　carpenter　work。　The　man　said　thanks　and　went　off。
　〃Jeez；　when　Tom　and　Lemus　hear　all　this　they　say　we've　got　to　get　over　to　Larkin's　right　away。　Culver　was　busy　with　some　customers　so　he　told　me　to　ride　along　in　the　truck；　which　I　did。　On　the　way　over　Tom　and　Lemus　said　if　we　don't　do　something　fast；　the　newspaper's　gonna　do　a　big　write…up　about　how　Dickie　murdered　Bobby　Clinch；　which　we　all　knew　was　a　lie；　but　still　it　would　ruin　Dickie　and　make　him　lose　the　TV　show。　They　said　we　better　stop　this　guy　and　I　said　yeah；　but　that　was　before　I　knew　what　they　meant。　What　they　meant　by　stopping　him。　Sir；　can　I　have　some　more　tea？〃
　Jim　Tile　held　the　cup　for　Ozzie。
　〃The　green　truck；　that　was　Tom　and　Lemus's；〃　Ozzie　said。
　〃Oh；〃　said　Jim　Tile。
　〃Anyway；　we　get　to　Larkin's　and　there's　the　guy　out　back　by　the　dumpster。　Ott　Pinky。　I　recognized　him　right　off；　and　Lemus　says：　Is　that　the　guy？　And　I　say　yeah；　it　is。〃　Ozzie　paused。　〃I　got　in　the　back　of　the　truck；　the　green　truck。〃
　Jim　Tile　said；　〃And　Mr。　Pickney　rode　up　front？　Between　the　Curl　boys。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　There's　a　deer　camp　on　the　Sumter　property。　Maybe　sixteen　miles　out。　We　took　him　there　for　the　rest　of　the　day。　See；　I　thought　mainly　they　was　just　gonna　ast　him　questions。〃
　Jim　Tile　said；　〃What　did　you　see；　Ozzie？〃
　〃Mainly　I　stayed　in　the　truck。〃
　〃Then　what　did　you　hear？〃
　Ozzie　looked　down。　〃Jesus；　I　don't　know。　Mainly　some　yelling　。。。　〃　The　words　tumbled　slowly；　trailed　off。　Jim　Tile　imagined　Ozzie's　fevered　brain　cells　exploding　like　popcorn。
　The　trooper　said；　〃What　did　Ott　tell　them？〃
　〃We　made　a　fire；　drank　some　beer；　fell　asleep。　About　three　hours　before　dawn　we　headed　for　the　slough。〃
　〃Was　Mr。　Pickney　still　alive？〃
　〃He　didn't　tell　them　hardly　nothing；　according　to　Tom　and　Lemus。〃　Ozzie　was　untracked　again；　answering　Jim　Tile's　questions　in　no　particular　sequence。
　Jim　Tile　said；　〃You　were　the　driver；　that's　all？〃
　〃He　was　still　alive　when　we　got　there。　Banged　up　but　still　alive。　See；　I　thought　they　was　gonna　let　him　go。　I　thought　they　was　through　with　him。　Tom　and　Lemus；　they　said　to　stay　in　the　truck　and　I　did。　But　it　got　cold　and　I　couldn't　figure　what　was　takin'　so　long。　Finally　I　got　out　to　whizz　and　that's　when　I　heard　the　splash。〃
　Jim　Tile　said；　〃You　didn't　see　anything？〃
　〃It　was　a　damn　big　splash。〃　Ozzie　sneezed；　and　more　gunk　came　out　of　his　nose。　He　said；　〃Truth　is；　I　didn't　really　want　to　look。〃
　Jim　Tile　untied　Ozzie's　wrists　and　ankles　and　helped　him　to　his　feet。　Together　they　carried　Culver　out　to　the　pickup　and　laid　him　on　the　flatbed。　Ozzie　put　the　tailgate　back　up。　Jim　Tile　got　an　extra　pillow　and　a　blanket　from　his　apartment。
　〃Think　you'd　best　get　him　over　to　the　hospital　in　Melbourne；〃　Jim　Tile　said。　〃Nobody　here　in　town　can　fix　that　jawbone。〃
　Ozzie　nodded　glumly。　〃I　gotta　go　by　the　house　and　fetch　Momma。〃　He　got　in　the　truck　and　started　the　ignition。
　Jim　Tile　leaned　in　the　driver's　window　and　said；　〃Ozzie；　you　understand　what　happens　if　I　have　to　arrest　you。〃
　〃Culver　goes　to　jail；〃　Ozzie　said　wanly。
　〃For　the　rest　of　his　natural　life。　When　he　gets　to　feeling　better；　please　remind　him；　would　you？〃
　〃I　will；〃　said　Ozzie。　〃Sir；　I　swear　I　don't　think　he　meant　to　shoot　you。〃
　〃Of　course　he　did；〃　said　Jim　Tile；　〃but　I'm　inclined　to　let　the　whole　thing　slide；　long　as　you　boys　stay　out　of　my　way　for　a　while。〃
　Ozzie　was　so　relieved　that　he　nearly　peed　his　pants。　He　didn't　even　mind　that　the　black　man　had　called　them　boys。　Basically　Ozzie　was　happy　to　still　be　alive。　The　trooper　could　have　killed　them　both　and　gotten　away　with　it；　yet　here　he　was；　being　a　true　Christian　and　letting　them　go。
　〃Just　one　favor；'　Jim　Tile　said；　resting　a　coal…black　arm　on　the　door　of　the　truck。
　〃Sure；〃　Ozzie　said。
　〃Where　can　I　find　Thomas　Curl？〃
　
　Richard　Clarence　Lockhart　was　buried　on　January　25　at　the　Our　Lady　of　Tropicana　cemetery　outside　Harney。　It　was　a　relatively　small　turnout；　considering　Dickie's　fame　and　stature　in　the　county；　but　the　low　attendance　could　be　explained　easily　enough。　By　unfortunate　coincidence；　the　day　of　the　funeral　was　also　opening　day　of　the　Okeechobee　Bass　Blasters　Classic；　so　almost　all　Dickie's　friends　and　colleagues　were　out　fishing。　Dickie　would　certainly　forgive　them；　the　preacher　had　chuckled；　especially　since　the　tournament　required　a　nonrefundable　entry　fee　of　two　thousand　dollars　per　boat。
　Dickie　Lockhart　was　buried　in　a　handsome　walnut　coffin；　not　a　bass　boat。　The　hearse　bearing　the　coffin　was　escorted　to　Our　Lady　of　Tropicana　by　three　police　cars；　including　a　trooper's　cruiser　driven；　none　too　happily；　by　Jim　Tile。　Dickie　Lockhart's　casket　was　closed　during　the　eulogy；　since　the　mortician　ultimately　had　been　frustrated　in　his　cosmetic　efforts　to　remove　the　Double　Whammy　spinnerbait　from　Dickie's　lip；　in　the　clammy　New　Orleans　morgue　the　lure's　hook　had　dulled；　while　Dickie's　skin　had　only　toughened。　Rather　than　further　mutilate　the　facial　features　of　the　deceased；　the　mortician　had　simply　advised　Dickie's　sisters　to　keep　the　coffin　closed　and　remember　him　as　he　was。
　Ozzie　Rundell　was　extremely　grateful。　He　couldn't　have　borne　another　glimpse　of　his　murdered　idol。
　Culver　Rundell　did　not　attend　the　funeral；　since　he　was　hospitalized　with　thirty…nine　linear　feet　of　stainless…steel　wire　in　his　jaws。　On　Culver's　behalf；　the　bait　shop　had　ordered　a　special　floral　arrangement　topped　by　a　ceramic　jumping　fish。　Unfortunately　the　ceramic　fish　was　a　striped　marlin；　not　a　largemouth　bass；　but　no　one　at　the　funeral　was　rude　enough　to　mention　it。
　
　The　Reverend　Charles　Weeb　also　did　not　attend　the　funeral；　but　on　behalf　of　the　Outdoor　Christian　Network　he　sent　a　six…foot　gladiola　wreath　with　a　white　ribbon　that　said：　'Tight　Lines；　Old　Friend。〃　This　was　the　hit　of　the　graveside　service；　but　the　best　was　yet　to　e。　The　next　morning；　at　the　closing　of　the　regular　Sunday　broadcast　of　Jesus　in　Tour　Living　Room；　Charlie　Weeb　offered　a　special　benediction　for　the　soul　of　his　dear；　dear　friend　Dickie　Lockhart；　the　greatest　bass　fisherman　in　the　history　of　America。　Then　Dickie's　face　appeared　on　the　big　screen　behind　the　pulpit；　and　the　assembled　flock　lip…synched　to　a　Johnny　Cash　recording　of　〃Nearer；　My　God；　to　Thee。〃　At　the　end　of　the　song　everybody　was　weeping；　even　Charlie　Weeb；　the　man　who　had　so　often　privately　referred　to　Dickie　Lockhart　as　a　shiftless　pellet…brained　cocksucker。
　Twenty…five　minutes　after　the　church　show　was　over　and　the　audience　was　paid；　the　Reverend　Charles　Weeb　strolled　into　a　skybox　in　the　Superdome；　which　had　been　rented　for　the　big　press　conference。　If　Charlie　Weeb　was　disappointed　in　the　sparse　turnout　of　media；　he　didn't　show　it。　He　wore　his　wide…bodied　smile　and　a　cream…colored　suit　with　a　plum　kerchief　in　the　breast　pocket。　At　his　side　stood　a　rangy　tanned　man　with　curly　brown　hair　and　a　friendly；　toothy　smile。　Right　away　the　man　reminded　some　of　the　photographers　of　Bruce　Dern；　the　actor；　but　it　wasn't。　It　was　Eddie　Spurling；　the　fisherman。
　〃Gentlemen；〃　said　Charlie　Weeb；　still　in　character；　〃am　I　a　happy　man　today！　Yes　indeed；　I　am。　It　is　my　pleasure　to　announce　that；　beginning　this　week；　Eddie　Spurling　will　be　the　new　host　of　Fish　Fever。〃
　There　were　only　two　print　reporters　in　the　room；　but　Weeb　politely　waited　for　them　to　jot　the　big　news　in　their　spiral　notebooks。
　Weeb　continued：　〃As　you　know；　for　some　time　Eddie's　been　the　host　of　his　own　popular　bass　show　on　a　peting　network。　We　are　most　pleased　to　have　stolen　him　away；　since　it　means…as　of　yesterday…an　additional　seventy…four　independent　cable　stations　switching　to　the　Outdoor　Christian　Network　for　the　uping　fishing　season。〃　Charlie　Weeb　allowed　himself　a　brief　dramatic　pause。　〃And　let　me　say　that　although　all　of　us　will　miss　Dickie　Lockhart　and　his　special　brand　of　outdoor　entertainment；　I'm　certain　that　his　fans　will　find　Eddie　Spurling　just　as　exciting；　just　as　informative；　and　just　as　much　fun　to　fish　with　every　week。　All　of　us　here　in　the　OCN　family　couldn't　be　more　pleased！〃
　Eddie　stepped　forward　and　tipped　an　invisible　cap。　He　was　looking　pretty　pleased　himself；　and　for　good　reason。　January　had　been　a　fabulous　month。　Without　winning　a　single　bass　tournament　he　had　doubled　both　his　salary　and　his　national　TV　exposure；　and　had　also　landed　the　lucrative　six…figure　endorsement　contract　for　Happy　Gland　Fish　Scent　products。　The　Happy　Gland　package　（entailing　print；　TV；　billboard；　and　radio　mercials）　was　the　envy　of　the　professional　bass…fishing　circuit；　a　prize　held　exclusively　for　the　past　five　years　by　Dickie　Lockhart。　With　Lockhart's　sudden　death；　the　Happy　Gland　people　needed　a　new　star。　The　choice　was　an　obvious　one；　the　ad　agency　didn't　even　bother　to　hold　auditions。　Henceforth　every　bottle　of　Bass　Bolero；　Mackerel　Musk；　and　Catfish　Cum　would　bear　the　grinning　likeness　of　Fast　Eddie　Spurling。
　〃Any　questions？〃　asked　Charlie　Weeb。
　The　reporters　just　looked　at　one　another。　Each　of　them　was　thinking　he　would　go　back　to　the　newsroom　and　kill　the　editor　who　sent　him　on　this　assignment。
　Weeb　said；　〃I've　saved　the　best　for　last。　Girls；　bring　out　the　visuals。〃
　Two　young　women　in　opalescent　bathing　suits　entered　the　skybox　carrying　an　immense　gold…plated　trophy。　The　trophy　easily　stood　five　feet　off　the　ground。　On　the　corners　of　the　base　of　the　trophy　were　toy…size　figures　of　anglers　holding　fishing　rods；　bent　in　varying　degrees　of　mythic　struggle。　At　the　crown　of　the　trophy　was　an　authentic　largemouth　bass　in　a　full　body　mount。　As　bass　went；　it　was　no　hawg；　but　poised　on　the　trophy　it　did　look　impressive。
　〃Well；　there！〃　said　the　Reverend　Weeb。
　〃What　did　you　win　it　for？〃　one　of　the　reporters　asked　Eddie　Spurling。
　〃I　didn't　win　it；〃　Fast　Eddie　said；　〃not　yet。〃
　〃Gentlemen；　read　what　it　says　on　the　trophy；　look　closely；〃　said　Charlie　Weeb。　〃This　is　probably　the　biggest　trophy　most　of　you　ever　saw；　including　Eddie　here；　who's　won　some　pretty　big　ones。〃
　〃None　this　big；〃　Eddie　Spurling　said　admiringly。
　〃Damn　right；〃　Weeb　said。　'That's　because　it's　the　biggest　trophy　ever。　And　it's　the　biggest　trophy　ever　because　it　goes　to　the　winner　of　the　biggest　fishing　tournament　ever。　Three　weeks　from　today；　gentlemen；　on　the　edge　of　the　legendary　Florida　Everglades；　fifty　of　the　best　bass　anglers　in　the　world　will　pete　for　a　first　prize　of　two　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　dollars。〃
　〃Christ；〃　said　one　of　the　reporters。　Finally　something　to　scribble。
　〃The　richest　tournament　ever；〃　Charlie　Weeb　said；　glowing。　〃The　Dickie　Lock