ch.doublewhammy-第35章

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　Finally；　the　afternoon　Catherine　arrived；　Skink　briefly　came　to　life。　He　went　outside　and　stood　on　the　beach　and　started　shooting　at　jetliners　on　final　approach　to　the　Fort　Lauderdale…Hollywood　airport。
　Catherine　had　shown　up　with　a　recent　stock　prospectus　from　the　Outdoor　Christian　Network；　which　was　listed　on　the　New　York　exchange　as　Outdoor　ChristNet。　Decker　was　no　whiz　when　it　came　to　stocks；　so　he　had　telephoned　a　reporter　friend　on　the　business　desk　of　the　Miami　Sun。　The　reporter　had　done　a　search　on　OCN　in　the　newsroom　puter　and　e　up　with　some　interesting　clips；　which　Catherine　had　picked　up　before　she　left　Miami。　From　the　file　it　was　obvious　that　OCN's　rapid　growth　in　the　Sun　Belt　cable　market　had　flooded　the　pany　with　fluid　capital；　capital　which　the　Reverend　Charles　Weeb　and　his　advisers　were　plowing　pell…mell　into　Florida　real　estate。　The　prospectus　made　several　tantalizing　references　to　an　〃exciting　new　waterfront　development　targeted　for　middle…ine　family　home　buyers〃　but　neglected　to　mention　the　protracted　and　somewhat　shady　process　by　which　Lunker　Lakes　had　escaped　all　zoning　regulations　known　to　man。　The　word　〃kickback；〃　for　example；　appeared　nowhere　in　the　stock　brochure。　The　newspaper　articles　dwelt　on　this　aspect　of　the　controversial　project；　and　indeed　it　was　the　only　angle　that　seemed　to　interest　Skink　in　the　slightest。　He　asked　where　exactly　Lunker　Lakes　would　be　located；　then　took　the　prospectus　and　newspaper　clippings　from　Decker's　hands　and　read　them　closely。
　Then　he　pulled　the　flowered　shower　cap　down　tight　on　his　hair；　excused　himself　with　a　mumble；　walked　outside；　and　waited　on　the　beach。　The　first　ining　jet　was　an　Eastern　727　from　La　Guardia；　the　second　was　a　United　DC…10　from　Chicago　via　St。　Louis；　the　third　was　a　Bahamas　Air　shuttle　carrying　day　gamblers　back　from　Freeport。　None　of　the　airliners　went　down　or　even　smoked；　though　Skink　was　sure　he　dinged　the　bellies　a　couple　of　times。　The　noise　of　the　gunfire　was　virtually　smothered　by　the　roar　of　the　jets　and　the　heavy…metal　wail　of　Bon　Jovi　from　some　teenybopper's　boom　box。　In　all　Skink　got　off　eleven　rounds　from　the　nine…millimeter　Browning　before　he　spied　the　lifeguard's　Jeep　speeding　toward　him　down　the　beach。　The　Jeep　was　at　least　three…quarters　of　a　mile　away；　giving　Skink　plenty　of　time　to　jog　back　to　the　hotel；　duck　into　a　john　in　the　lobby；　and　work　on　his　appearance。
　When　he　got　back　to　the　room；　the　shower　cap　and　sunglasses　were　in　his　pocket；　the　orange　rainsuit　was　folded　under　one　arm；　and　his　long　braid　of　hair　was　tucked　down　the　back　of　his　shirt。　R。　J。　Decker　asked　what　happened　and　Skink　told　him。
　〃Excellent；〃　Decker　said。　〃Let's　see；　by　my　estimate　that　means　we're　now　wanted　by　the　Metro…Dade　police；　the　highway　patrol；　the　marine　patrol；　and　now　the　FAA　and　FBI。　Am　I　leaving　anybody　out？〃
　Skink　settled　listlessly　on　the　floor。
　Catherine　said；　〃R。J。；　you've　got　to　get　him　out　of　the　city。〃
　Decker　said；　〃My　father；　rest　his　soul；　would　be　so　proud　to　know　that　he　raised　a　fugitive。　Not　every　FBI　man　can　make　that　claim。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　Skink　sighed。
　It　was　the　most　pathetic　thing　Decker　had　ever　heard　him　say…and　in　one　way　the　scariest。　Skink　acted　like　he　was　on　the　brink　of　losing　it。　Decker　leaned　over　and　said；　〃Captain；　why　were　you　shooting　at　airplanes？〃
　〃Look　who　they're　bringing；〃　Skink　said。　〃They're　bringing　the　suckers　to　Lunker　Lakes。　The　Reverend　Weeb's　lucky　lemmings。〃　He　seemed　out　of　breath。　He　motioned　for　Catherine　to　hand　him　the　OCN　prospectus。　With　a　brown　crusty　finger　he　went　down　the　names　of　directors。
　〃These　guys；〃　he　said　hoarsely。　〃I　know　a　few。〃
　〃From　where？〃　Catherine　asked。
　〃It's　not　important。　Twenty…nine　thousand　units　in　the　Everglades　is　what's　important。　Christian　city；　my　ass。　It's　the　crime　of　the　damn　century。　These　guys　are　like　cockroaches；　you　can't　fucking　get　rid　of　'em。〃
　Decker　said；　〃It's　too　late；　captain。　Dredging　started　a　year　ago。〃
　〃Jesus；〃　Skink　said；　biting　his　lip。　He　put　on　his　sunglasses　and　bowed　his　head。　He　didn't　look　up　for　some　time。　Decker/glanced　over　at　Catherine。　She　was　right：　they　had　to　get　Skink　back　to　the　woods。
　From　the　hallway　came　sounds　of　men　talking　but　trying　not　to　be　heard。　Then　a　knock　on　the　door　to　the　next　room；　another　knock　across　the　hall。
　〃Hotel　security；〃　a　male　voice　said。
　R。　J。　Decker　motioned　Skink　toward　the　bathroom。　He　nodded　and　crab…walked　across　the　floor；　shutting　the　door　behind　him。　Quickly　Decker　peeled　off　his　shirt　and　drew　the　shades。　〃Take　off　your　shoes；〃　he　whispered　to　Catherine；　〃and　lie　down　here　on　the　bed。〃　She　figured　out　the　plan　immediately。　She　was　down　to　bra　and　panties　and　under　the　covers　before　Decker　even　got　a　good　peek。
　A　man　knocked　three　times　on　the　door。
　〃Whoze　it？〃　Decker　hollered。　〃Go　'way。〃
　〃Hotel　security；　please　open　up。〃
　〃We're　sleeping！〃
　Another　voice：　〃Police！〃
　Decker　stomped　to　the　door　as　noisily　as　possible。　He　cracked　it　just　enough　to　give　the　men　a　narrow　view　of　Catherine　in　the　bed。
　〃What's　the　problem？〃　Decker　demanded。
　A　blue…suited　young　man　with　a　walkie…talkie　stood　next　to　a　disinterested　uniformed　cop。　The　security　man　said；　〃Sir；　there　was　an　incident　out　on　the　beach。　A　man　with　a　gun…nobody　was　hurt。〃
　〃That's　damn　good　to　hear；〃　Decker　said　impatiently。
　The　cop　said；　〃You　haven't　seen　anyone　unusual　up　on　this　floor？〃
　〃For　the　last　couple　hours　I　haven't　seen　nuthin'；〃　Decker　said；　〃except　stars。〃　He　nodded　over　his　shoulder；　toward　Catherine。　The　security　man　looked　a　little　embarrassed。
　The　policeman　said；　〃Big　scruffy　guy　with　a　bright　hat　and　pony…tail。　Witnesses　saw　him　run　into　this　hotel；　so　we're　suggesting　that　all　guests　stay　in　their　rooms　for　a　while。〃
　〃Don't　you　worry；〃　Decker　said。
　〃Just　for　a　while；〃　the　security　man　added；　〃until　they　catch　him。〃
　When　Decker　shut　the　door；　Catherine　sat　up　in　bed　and　said；　〃Stars？　You　saw　stars？〃
　〃Don't　you　dare　move；〃　Decker　said；　diving　headfirst　into　the　sheets。
　
　Thomas　Curl　was　not　a　happy　man。　In　the　past　few　weeks　he　had　made　more　money　than　he　or　three　previous　generations　of　Curls　had　ever　seen；　yet　Thomas　was　not　at　peace。　First　of　all；　his　brother　Lemus　was　dead；　and　for　a　while　Thomas　had　been　stuck　with　the　body。　Since　he　had　told　everyone；　including　his　daddy；　that　Lemus　had　accidentally　drowned　on　a　fishing　trip　to　Florida；　there　was　no　way　he　could　bring　back　a　body　with　a　bullet　hole　in　the　head。　People　would　ask　many　questions；　and　answering　questions　was　not　Thomas　Curl's　strong　suit。　So；　after　discovering　Lemus'　turtle…eaten　corpse　on　the　fish　stringer　in　Morgan　Slough；　and　mulling　it　over　for　two　days；　Thomas　decided　what　the　hell　and　just　buried　his　brother　in　a　dry　sandy　grave　on　some　pastureland　east　of　the　Gilchrist。　The　whole　time　he　worked　with　the　shovel；　he　had　a　feeling　that　every　turkey　buzzard　in　Florida　was　wheeling　in　the　sky　overhead；　waiting　to　make　a　smorgasbord　of　Lemus'　remains。　Afterward　Thomas　took　off　his　bass　cap　and　stood　by　the　grave　and　tried　to　remember　a　prayer。　The　only　one　he　could　think　of　began：　〃Now　I　lay　me　down　to　sleep　。。。　〃　Close　enough。
　Almost　every　night　Thomas　Curl　reflected　sadly　on　how　Lemus　had　died；　how　he　had　let　him　dash　off　into　the　scrub　by　himself；　and　how　all　of　a　sudden　he　didn't　hear　Lemus'　Ruger　anymore。　And　how　Thomas　had　panicked　and　leapt　into　the　green　pickup　and　taken　off；　pretty　sure　that　his　brother　was　already　dead…and　how　he'd　returned　with　a　borrowed　coon　dog　and　found　some　heavy　tracks　and　blood；　but　no　body。　At　that　moment　he　had　expected　never　to　see　his　brother　again；　and　later　at　the　slough　was　horrified　to　the　point　of　nausea。　On　orders　Thomas　had　gone　there　to　check　on　things；　just　to　make　sure　the　nigger　cop　hadn't　found　Ott　Pickney's　body。　But　there　was　poor　Lemus；　strung　up　in　the　black　water　with　the　other　one；　and　it　was　then　Thomas　Curl　realized　the　dangerous　magnitude　of　the　opposition。　Thomas　was　not　the　brightest　human　being　in　the　world；　but　he　knew　a　message　when　he　saw　one。
　So　he　had　buried　Lemus；　torched　Ott　Pickney's　body　in　a　phony　truck　accident；　and　driven　straight　back　to　New　Orleans；　where；　again；　things　didn't　go　as　smoothly　as　he'd　hoped。　Thomas　expressed　the　view　that　he　shouldn't　be　blamed　for　every　little　loose　end；　and　was　curtly　instructed　to　return　to　Florida　immediately。　Not　Harney；　either；　but　Miami。
　Thomas　Curl　was　not　wild　about　Miami。　Back　when　he　was　still　boxing　he　had　trained　one　summer　at　the　Fifth　Street　Gym；　out　on　the　beach。　He　remembered　staying　in　a　ratty　pink　hotel　with　two　other　middleweights；　and　he　remembered　getting　drunk　on　Saturday　nights　and；　out　of　sheer　boredom；　beating　the　shit　out　of　skinny　Cuban　refugees　who　lived　in　the　city　parks。　Thomas　remembered　Miami　as　a　hot　and　unfriendly　place；　but　then　again；　he　was　young　and　homesick　and　broke。　Now　he　was　grown…up；　thirty…five　pounds　heavier；　and　rolling　in　new　money。
　To　boost　his　spirits；　Thomas　Curl　splurged　and　got　a　room　at　the　Grand　Bay　Hotel。　The　room　came　with　a　fruit　basket　and　a　sunken　bathtub。　He　was　sucking　on　a　nectarine　and　soaking　in　the　tub　when　Dennis　Gault　called　back。
　Thomas　Curl　said；　〃Hey；　they　got　a　phone　in　the　goddamn　John。〃
　〃Wele　to　the　city；　Jethro。〃　Gault　was　in　a　brusque　mood。　Dealing　with　this　moron　was　at　least　two　notches　below　dealing　with　Decker。　Gault　said；　〃A　cop　came　to　see　me。〃
　Thomas　Curl　spit　the　nectarine　pit　into　his　soapy　hand。　〃Yeah？　They　caught　'em　yet？〃
　〃No；〃　Gault　said；　〃but　the　way　things　are　shaping　up；　maybe　it's　best　if　they　don't。〃
　〃Hell　you　mean？〃
　Gault　said；　〃This　cop；　fucking　Cuban；　he　doesn't　believe　a　word　I　say。〃
　〃Who　cares；　long　as　New　Orleans　believes　you。〃
　〃Ever　heard　of　extradition？〃　Gault　snapped。　〃This　guy　can　cause　us　major　problems；　son。　He　can　keep　Decker　away　from　the　Louisiana　people　a　long　time。　Sit　on　him　for　weeks；　listen　to　his　story；　maybe　even　buy　it。〃
　〃No　way；〃　Curl　said。
　〃We　can't　take　the　chance；　Thomas。〃
　〃I　done　enough　for　you。〃
　Gault　said；　'This　one's　not　for　me；　it's　for　your　brother。〃
　In　the　tub　Thomas　reached　over　and　turned　on　the　hot　water。　He　was　careful　not　to　get　the　telephone　wet；　in　case　it　might　electrocute　him。
　Gault　said；　〃I　need　you　to　find　Decker。　Before　the　cops。〃
　〃What　about　that　crazy　gorilla？〃
　〃They　probably　split　up　by　now。〃
　〃I　don't　want　to　fuck　with　him。　Culver　said　he's　mean　as　a　moccasin。〃
　Gault　said；　〃Culver's　afraid　of　a　tit　in　the　dark。　Besides；　from　what　Elaine　says；　Skink　isn't　the　type　to　stick　with　Decker。　They　probably　split　up；　like　I　said。〃
　Thomas　Curl　was　not　convinced。　He　remembered　the　neatly　centered　bullet　hole　in　his　brother's　forehead。
　〃What's　the　pay？〃
　〃Same　as　before；〃　Gault　said。
　〃Double　if　I　got　to　deal　with　the　gorilla。〃
　〃Hell；　you　ought　to　do　it　for　free；〃　Gault　said。　Greed　was　truly　a　despicable　vice；　he　thought。　〃For　Christ's　sake；　Thomas；　these　are　the　guys　who　killed　Lemus。　One　or　both；　it's　up　to　you。　Decker's　the　one　that　worries　me　most。　He's　the　one　that　could　hurt　us　in　court。　We're　talking　hard　time；　too。〃
　Thomas　Curl　did　not　like　the　idea　of　being　sent　to　the　state　penitentiary　even　for　a　day。　There　was　also　something　powerfully　attract