pbien.jaws-第26章

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n　this；　but　I　remember　him　saying　afterward　that　he　had　been　helped　out　by　a　friend；　gotten　a　loan　to　pull　him　through。　It　must　have　been　for　several　thousand　dollars。　Larry　told　me　the　man's　name。　I　wouldn't　have　thought　anything　about　it；　but　Larry　said　something　about　the　man　being　willing　to　help　out　people　in　trouble。　I　was　young　then；　and　I　didn't　have　any　money　either。　So　I　made　a　note　of　the　name　and　stuck　it　away　in　my　files。　It　never　occurred　to　me　to　look　it　up　again　until　you　asked　me　to　start　snooping。　The　name　was　Tino　Russo。〃
　　　　　　　〃Get　to　the　point；　Harry。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am。　Now　jump　to　the　present。　A　couple　of　months　ago；　before　this　shark　thing　ever　began；　a　pany　was　formed　called　Caskata　Estates。　It's　a　holding　pany。　At　the　beginning；　it　had　no　real　assets。　The　first　thing　it　bought　was　a　big　potato　field　just　north　of　Scotch　Road。　When　the　summer　didn't　shape　up　well；　Caskata　began　to　buy　a　few　more　properties。　It　was　all　perfectly　legitimate。　The　pany　obviously　has　cash　behind　it　…　somewhere　…　and　it　was　taking　advantage　of　the　down　market　to　pick　up　properties　at　low　prices。　But　then　…　as　soon　as　the　first　newspaper　reports　about　the　shark　thing　came　out　…　Caskata　really　started　buying。　The　lower　real　estate　prices　fell；　the　more　they　bought。　All　very　quietly。　Prices　are　so　low　now　that　it's　almost　like　during　the　war；　and　Caskata's　still　buying。　Very　little　money　down。　All　short…term　promissory　notes。　Signed　by　Larry　Vaughan；　who　is　listed　as　the　president　of　Caskata。　The　executive　vice…president　of　Caskata　Estates　is　Tino　Russo；　who　the　Times　has　been　listing　for　years　as　a　secondechelon　crumb　in　one　of　the　five　Mafia　families　in　New　York。〃
　　　　　　　Brody　whistled　through　his　teeth。　〃And　the　sonofabitch　has　been　moaning　about　how　nobody's　been　buying　anything　from　him。　I　still　don't　understand　why　he's　being　pressured　to　open　the　beaches。〃
　　　　　　　〃I'm　not　sure。　I'm　not　even　sure　he's　still　being　pressured。　He　may　be　arguing　out　of　personal　desperation。　I　imagine　he's　way　overextended。　He　couldn't　buy　anything　more　no　matter　how　low　the　prices　go。　The　only　way　he　can　get　out　without　being　ruined　is　if　the　market　turns　around　and　the　prices　go　up。　Then　he　can　sell　what　he's　bought　and　get　the　profit。　Or　Russo　can　get　the　profit；　however　the　deal's　worked　out。　If　prices　keep　going　down　…　in　other　words；　if　the　town　is　still　officially　unsafe　…　his　notes　are　going　to　e　due。　He　can't　possibly　meet　them。　He's　probably　got　over　half　a　million　out　now　in　cash　down　payments。　He'll　lose　his　cash；　and　the　properties　will　either　revert　to　the　original　owners　or　else　get　picked　up　by　Russo　if　he　can　raise　the　cash。　I　don't　imagine　Russo　would　want　to　take　the　risk。　Prices　might　keep　going　down；　and　then　he'd　take　a　bath　along　with　Vaughan。　My　guess　is　that　Russo　still　has　hopes　of　big　profits；　but　the　only　way　he　has　a　chance　of　getting　them　is　if　Vaughan　forces　the　beaches　open。　Then；　if　nothing　happens　…　if　the　shark　doesn't　kill　anybody　else　…　before　long　prices　will　go　up　and　Vaughan　can　sell　out。　Russo　will　take　his　cut　…　half　the　gross　or　whatever　…　and　Caskata　will　be　dissolved。　Vaughan　will　get　what's　left；　probably　enough　to　keep　him　from　being　ruined。　If　the　shark　does　kill　someone　else；　then　the　only　one　who　gets　screwed　is　Vaughan。　As　far　as　I　can　tell；　Russo　doesn't　have　a　nickel　in　cash　in　this　outfit。　It's　all。〃
　　　　　　　〃You're　a　goddamned　liar；　Meadows！〃　Vaughan's　voice　shrieked　into　the　phone；　〃You　print　one　word　of　that　crap　and　I'll　sue　you　to　death！〃　There　was　a　click　as　Vaughan　slammed　down　the　phone。
　　　　　　　〃So　much　for　the　integrity　of　our　elected　officials；〃　said　Meadows。
　　　　　　　〃What　are　you　going　to　do；　Harry？　Can　you　print　anything？〃
　　　　　　　〃No；　at　least　not　yet。　I　can't　document　enough。　You　know　as　well　as　I　do　that　the　mob　is　getting　more　and　more　involved　in　Long　Island　…　the　construction　business；　restaurants；　everything。　But　it's　hard　as　hell　to　prove　an　actual　illegality。　In　Vanghan's　case；　I'm　not　sure　there's　anything　illegal　going　on；　in　the　strict　sense　of　the　word。　In　a　few　days；　with　a　little　more　digging；　I　should　be　able　to　put　together　a　piece　saying　that　Vaughan　has　been　associating　with　a　known　mobster。　I　mean　a　piece　that　will　hold　up　if　Vaughan　ever　did　try　to　sue。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　sounds　to　me　like　you've　got　enough　now；〃　said　Brody。
　　　　　　　〃I　have　the　knowledge；　but　not　the　proof。　I　don't　have　the　documents；　or　even　copies　of　them。　I've　seen　them；　but　that's　all。〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　think　any　of　the　selectmen　are　in　on　the　deal？　Larry　loaded　this　meeting　against　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃No。　You　mean　Catsoulis　and　Conover？　They're　just　old　buddies　who　owe　Larry　a　favor　or　two。　If　Thatcher's　there；　he's　too　old　and　too　scared　to　say　a　word　against　Larry。
　　　　　　　And　Lopez　is　straight。　He's　really　concerned　about　jobs　for　his　people。〃
　　　　　　　〃Does　Hooper　know　any　of　this？　He's　making　a　pretty　strong　case　for　opening　the　beaches。〃
　　　　　　　〃No；　I'm　pretty　sure　he　doesn't。　I　only　wrapped　it　up　myself　a　few　minutes　ago；　and　there　are　still　a　lot　of　loose　threads。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　think　I　ought　to　do？　I　may　have　quit　already。　I　offered　them　my　job　before　I　came　out　to　take　your　call。〃
　　　　　　　〃Christ；　don't　quit。　First　of　all；　we　need　you。　If　you　quit；　Russo　will　get　together　with　Vaughan　and　handpick　your　successor。　You　may　think　all　your　troops　are　honest；　but　I'll　bet　Russo　could　find　one　who　wouldn't　mind　exchanging　a　little　integrity　for　a　few　dollars　…　or　even　just　for　a　shot　at　the　chief's　job。〃
　　　　　　　〃So　where　does　that　leave　me？〃
　　　　　　　〃If　I　were　you；　I'd　open　the　beaches。〃
　　　　　　　〃For　God's　sake；　Harry；　that's　what　they　want！　I　might　as　well　go　on　their　payroll。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　said　yourself　that　there's　a　strong　argument　for　opening　the　beaches。　I　think　Hooper's　right。　You're　going　to　have　to　open　them　sometime；　even　if　we　never　see　that　fish　again。　You　might　as　well　do　it　now。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　let　the　mob　take　their　money　and　run。〃　〃What　else　can　you　do？　You　keep　them　closed；　and　Vaughan'll　find　a　way　to　get　rid　of　you　and　he'll　open　them　himself。　Then　you'll　be　no　use　whatever。　To　anybody。　At　least　this　way；　if　you　open　the　beaches　and　nothing　happens；　the　town　might　have　a　chance。　Then；　maybe　later；　we　can　find　a　way　to　pin　something　on　Vaughan。　I　don't　know　what；　but　maybe　there'll　be　something。〃
　　　　　　　〃Shit；〃　said　Brody。　〃All　right；　Harry；　I'll　think　about　it。　But　if　I　open　them；　I'm　gonna　do　it　my　way。　Thanks　for　the　call。〃　He　hung　up　and　went　into　Vaughan's　office。
　　　　　　　Vaughan　was　standing　at　the　southerly　window；　his　back　to　the　door。　When　he　heard　Brody　walk　in；　he　said；　〃The　meeting's　over。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　mean；　over？〃　said　Catsoulis。　〃We　ain't　decided　a　fuckin'　thing。〃
　　　　　　　Vaughan　spun　around　and　said；　〃It's　over；　Tony！　Don't　give　me　any　trouble。　It'll　work　out　the　way　we　want。　Just　give　me　a　chance　to　have　a　little　chat　with　the　chief。
　　　　　　　Okay？　Now　everybody　out。〃
　　　　　　　Hooper　and　the　four　selectmen　left　the　office。　Brody　watched　Vaughan　as　he　ushered　them　out。　He　knew　he　should　feel　pity　for　Vaughan；　but　he　couldn't　suppress　the　contempt　that　flowed　over　him。　Vaughan　shut　the　door；　walked　over　to　the　couch；　and　sat　down　heavily。　He　rested　his　elbows　on　his　knees　and　rubbed　his　temples　with　his　fingertips。　〃We　were　friends；　Martin；〃　he　said。
　　　　　　　〃I　hope　we　can　be　again；〃
　　　　　　　〃How　much　of　what　Meadows　said　is　true？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　won't　tell　you。　I　can't。　Suffice　it　to　say　that　a　man　once　did　a　favor　for　me　and　now　he　wants　me　to　repay　the　favor。〃
　　　　　　　〃In　other　words；　all　of　it。〃
　　　　　　　Vaughan　looked　up；　and　Brody　saw　that　his　eyes　were　red　and　wet。　〃I　swear　to　you；　Martin；　if　I　had　any　idea　how　far　this　would　go；　I'd　never　have　gotten　into　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃How　much　are　you　into　him　for？〃
　　　　　　　〃The　original　amount　was　ten　thousand。　I　tried　to　pay　it　back　twice；　a　long　time　ago；　but　I　could　never　get　them　to　cash　my　checks。　They　kept　saying　it　was　a　gift；　not　to　worry　about　it。　But　they　never　gave　me　back　my　marker。　When　they　came　to　me　a　couple　of　months　ago；　I　offered　them　a　hundred　thousand　dollars　…　cash。　They　said　it　wasn't　enough。　They　didn't　want　the　money。
　　　　　　　They　wanted　me　to　make　a　few　investments。
　　　　　　　Everybody'd　be　a　winner；　they　said。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　how　much　are　you　out　now？〃
　　　　　　　〃God　knows。　Every　cent　I　have。　More　than　every　cent。　Probably　close　to　a　million　dollars。〃　Vaughan　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Can　you　help　me；　Martin？〃
　　　　　　　〃The　only　thing　I　can　do　for　you　is　put　you　in　touch　with　the　D。A。　If　you'd　testify；　you　might　be　able　to　slap　a　loan…sharking　rap　on　these　guys。〃
　　　　　　　〃I'd　be　dead　before　I　got　home　from　the　D。A。's　office；　and　Eleanor　would　be　left　without　anything。　That's　not　the　kind　of　help　I　meant。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know。〃　Brody　looked　down　at　Vaughan；　a　huddled；　wounded　animal；　and　he　did　feel　passion　for　him。　He　began　to　doubt　his　own　opposition　to　opening　the　beaches。　How　much　of　it　was　the　residue　of　prior　guilt；　how　much　fear　of　another　attack？　How　much　was　he　indulging　himself；　playing　it　safe；　and　how　much　was　prudent　concern　for　the　town？　〃I'll　tell　you　what；　Larry；　I'll　open　the　beaches。　Not　to　help　you；　because　I'm　sure　if　I　didn't　open　them　you'd　find　a　way　to　get　rid　of　me　and　open　them　yourself。　I'll　open　the　beaches　because　I'm　not　sure　I'm　right　any　more。〃
　　　　　　　〃Thanks；　Martin。　I　appreciate　that。〃
　　　　　　　〃I'm　not　finished。　Like　I　said；　I'll　open　them。　But　I'm　going　to　post　men　on　the　beaches。　And　I'm　going　to　have　Hooper　patrol　in　the　boat。　And　I'm　going　to　make　sure　every　person　who　es　down　there　knows　the　danger。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　can't　do　that！〃　Vaughan　said。　〃You　might　as　well　leave　the　damn　things　closed。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　can　do　it；　Larry；　and　I　will。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？　Post　signs　warning　of　a　killer　shark？　Put　an　ad　in　the　newspaper　saying　'Beaches　Open　…　Stay　Away'？　Nobody's　going　to　go　to　the　beach　if　it's　crawling　with　cops。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know　what　I'm　going　to　do。　But　something。　I'm　not　going　to　make　believe　nothing　ever　happened。〃　〃All　right；　Martin。〃　Vaughan　rose。　〃You　don't　leave　me　much　choice。　If　I　got　rid　of　you；　you'd　probably　go　down　to　the　beach　as　a　private　citizen　and　run　up　and　down　yelling　'Shark！'　So　all　right。　But　be　subtle　…　if　not　for　my　sake；　for　the　town's。〃
　　　　　　　Brody　left　the　office。　As　he　walked　down　the　stairs；　he　looked　at　his　watch。　It　was　past　one　o'clock；　and　he　was　hungry。　He　went　down　Water　Street　to　Loeffler's；　Amity's　only　delicatessen。　It　was　owned　by　Paul　Loeffler；　a　classmate　of　Brody's　in　high　school。
　　　　　　　As　Brody　pulled　open　the　glass　door；　he　heard　Loeffler　say；　〃。。。like　a　goddam　dictator；　if　you　ask　me。　I　don't　know　what's　his　problem。〃　When　he　saw　Brody；　Loeffler　blushed。　He　had　been　a　skinny　kid　in　high　school；　but　as　soon　as　he　had　taken　over　his　father's　business；　he　had　succumbed　to　the　terrible　temptations　that　surrounded　him　for　twelve　hours　of　every　day　of　every　week；　and　nowadays　he　looked　like　a　pear。
　　　　　　　Brody　smiled。　〃You　weren't　talking　about　me；　were　you；　Paulie？〃
　　　　　　　〃What　makes　you　think　that？〃　said　Loeffler；　his　blush　deepening。
　　　　　　　〃Nothing。　Never　mind。　If　you'll　make　me　a　ham　and　Swiss　on　rye　with　mustard；　I'll　tell　you　something　that　will　make　you　happy。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　I　have　to　hear。〃　Loeffler　began