thunter.fearloathinglasvegas-第24章

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　　She　was　holding　that　mop　like　an　axe…handle；〃　he　said　〃So　I　came　out　of　the　closet　in　a　kind　of　running　crouch；　vomiting；　and　hit　her　right　at　the　knees　。　。　。　it　was　pure　instinct；　I　thought　she　was　ready　to　kill　me。。。and　then；　she　screamed；　that's　when　I　put　the　icebag　on　her　mouth。〃　I　remembered　that　scream。。。one　of　the　most　terrifiying　sounds　I'd　ever　heard。　I　woke　up　and　saw　my　attorney　grappling　desperately　on　the　floor　right　next　to　my　bed　with　what　appeared　to　be　an　old　woman。　The　room　was　full　of　electric　noise。　The　TV　set；　hissing　at　top　volume　on　a　nonexistent　channel。　I　could　barely　hear　the　woman's　cries　as　she　struggled　to　get　the　icebag　away　from　her　face。。。but　she　was　no　match　for　my　attorney's　naked　bulk；　and　he　finally　managed　to　pin　her　in　a　corner　behind　the　TV　set；　clamping　his　hands　on　her　throat　while　she　babbled　I。。。〃Please。。。please。。。I'm　only　the　maid；　I　did'nt　mean　anything。。。〃　I　was　out　of　bed　in　a　flash；　grabbing　my　wallet　and　waving　the　gold　Policemen's　Benevolent　Assn。　press　badge　in　front　of　her　face。〃You're　under　arrest！〃　I　shouted。
　　〃No！〃　she　groaned。　〃I　just　wanted　to　clean　up！〃　My　attorney　got　to　his　feet；　breathing　heavily。　〃She　must　have　used　a　pass　key；〃　he　said。　〃I　was　polishing　my　shoes　in　the　closet　when　I　noticed　her　sneaking　in…so　I　took　her。〃　He　was　trembling；　drooling　vomit　off　his　chin；　and　I　could　see　at　a　glance　that　he　understood　the　gravity　of　this　situation。　Our　behavior；　this　time；　had　gone　far　past　the　boundaries　of　private　kinkiness。　Here　we　were；　both　naked；　staring　down　at　a　terrified　old　woman…a　hotel　employee…stretched　out　on　the　floor　of　our　suite　in　a　paroxysm　of　fear　and　hysteria。　She　would　have　to　be　dealt　with。
　　〃What　made　you　do　it？〃　I　asked　her。　〃Who　paid　you　off？〃
　　〃Nobody！〃　she　wailed。　〃I'm　the　maid！〃
　　〃You're　lying！〃　shouted　my　attorney。　〃You　were　after　the　evidence！　Who　put　youup　to　this…the　manager？〃
　　〃I　work　for　the　hotel；〃　she　said。　〃All　I　do　is　clean　up　the　rooms。〃　I　turned　to　my　attorney。　〃This　means　they　know　what　we　have；〃　I　said。　〃So　they　sent　this　poor　old　woman　up　here　to　steal　it。〃
　　〃No！〃　she　yelled。　〃I　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about！〃
　　〃Bullshit！〃　said　my　attorney。　〃You're　just　as　much　a　part　of　it　as　they　are。〃
　　〃Part　of　what？〃
　　〃The　dope　ring；〃　I　said。　〃You　must　know　what's　going　on　in　this　hotel。　Why　do　you　think　we're　here？〃　She　stared　at　us；　trying　to　speak　but　only　blubbering。　〃I　know　you're　cops；〃　she　said　finally。　〃But　I　thought　you　were　just　here　for　that　convention。　I　swear！　All　I　wanted　to　do　was　clean　up　your　room。　I　don't　know　anything　about　dope！〃　My　attorsey　laughed。　〃e　on；　baby。　Don't　try　to　tell　us　you　never　heard　of　the　Grange　Gorman。〃
　　〃No！〃　she　yelled。　〃No！　I　swear　to　Jesus　I　never　heard　of　that　stuff！〃　My　attorney　seemed　to　think　for　a　moment；　then　he　leaned　to　help　the　old　lady　to　her　feet。　〃Maybe　she's　telling　the　he　said　to　me。　〃Maybe　she's　not　part　of　it。〃
　　〃No！　I　swear　I'm　not！〃　she　howled。
　　〃Well　。。　。〃　I　said。　〃In　that　case；　maybe　we　won't　have　to　put　her　away。。。maybe　she　can　help。〃
　　〃Yes！〃　she　said　eagerly。　〃I'll　help　you　all　you　need！　I　hate　dope！〃
　　〃So　do　we；　lady；〃　I　said。
　　〃I　think　we　should　put　her　on　the　payroll；〃　said　my　attorney。　〃Have　her　checked　out；　then　line　her　up　for　a　Big　One　each　month；　depending　on　what　she　es　up　with。〃
　　The　old　woman's　face　had　changed　markedly。　She　no　longer　seemed　disturbed　to　find　herself　chatting　with　two　naked　men；　one　of　whom　had　tried　to　strangle　her　just　a　few　moments　earlier。
　　〃Do　you　think　you　could　handle　it？〃　I　asked　her。
　　〃What？〃
　　〃One　phone　call　every　day；〃　said　my　attorney。　〃Just　tell　us　what　you've　seen。〃　He　patted　her　on　the　shoulder。　〃Don't　worry　if　it　doesn't　add　up。　That's　our　problem。〃　She　grinned。　〃You'd　pay　me　for　that？〃
　　〃You're　damn　right；〃　I　said。　〃But　the　first　time　you　say　anything　about　this；　to　anybody…you'll　go　straight　to　prison　for　the　rest　of　your　life。〃　She　nodded。　〃I'll　help　any　way　that　I　can；〃　she　said。　〃But　who　should　I　call？〃
　　〃Don't　worry；〃　said　my　attorney。　〃What's　your　name？〃
　　〃Alice。〃　she　said。　〃Just　ring　Linen　Service　and　ask　for　Alice。〃
　　〃You'll　be　contacted；〃　I　said。　〃It'll　take　about　a　week。　But　keep　your　eyes　open　and　try　to　act　normal。　Can　you　do　that？〃
　　〃Oh；　yes　sir！〃　she　said。　〃Will　I　see　you　gentlemen　again？〃　She　grinned　sheepishly。　〃After　this；　I　mean。。
　　〃No；〃　said　my　attorney。　〃They　sent　us　down　from　Carson　City。　You'll　be　contacted　by　Inspector　Rock。　Arthur　Rock。　He'll　be　posing　as　a　politician；　but　you　won't　have　any　trouble　recognizing　him。〃　She　seemed　to　be　shuffling　nervously。
　　〃What's　wrong？〃　I　said。　〃Is　there　something　you　haven't　told　us？〃
　　〃Oh　no！〃　she　said　quickly。　〃I　was　just　wondering…who's　going　to　pay　me？〃
　　〃Inspector　Rock　will　take　care　of　that；〃　I　said。　〃It'll　all　be　in　cash：　a　thousand　dollars　on　the　ninth　of　every　month。〃
　　〃Oh　Lord！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃I'd　do　just　about　anything　for　that！〃
　　〃You　and　a　lot　of　other　people；〃　said　my　attorney。　〃You'd　be　surprised　who　we　have　on　the　payroll…right　here　in　this　same　hotel。〃　She　looked　stricken。　〃Would　I　know　them？〃
　　〃Probably；〃　I　said。　〃But　they're　all　undercover。　The　only　way　you'll　ever　know　is　if　something　really　serious　happens　and　one　of　them　has　to　contact　you　in　public；　with　the　pass　word。〃
　　〃What　is　it？〃　she　asked。
　　〃'One　Hand　Washes　the　Other；〃'　I　said。　〃The　minute　you　hear　that；　you　say：　'I　fear　nothing。'　That　way；　they'll　know　you。〃　She　nodded。　repeating　the　code　several　times；　while　we　listened　tomake　sure　she　had　it　right。　〃OK；〃　said　my　attorney。　〃That's　it　for　now。　We　probably　won；t　be　seeing　you　again　until　the　hammer　es　down。　You'll　be　better　off　ignoring　us　until　we　leave。　Don't　bother　to　make　up　the　room。　Just　elave　a　pile　of　towels　and　soap　outside　the　door；　exactly　at　modnight。〃　He　smiled。　〃That　way；　we　won；t　have　to　risk　another　one　of　these　little　incidents；　will　we？〃　She　moved　towards　the　door。　〃Whatever　you　say　gentlemen。　I　can；t　tell　you　how　sorry　I　am　about　what　happened。。。but　it　was　only　because　I　didn't　realize。〃　My　attorney　ushered　her　out。　〃We　understand；〃　he　said　〃But　it's　all　over　now。　Thank　God　for　the　decent　people。〃　She　smiled　as　she　closed　the　door　behind　her。
　　She　nodded；　repeating　the　code　several　times；　while　we　lis　tened　to　make　sure　she　had　it　right。
　　〃OK；〃　said　my　attorney。　〃That's　it　for　Dow。　We　probably　won't　be　seeing　you　again　until　the　hammer　es　down。　You'll　be　better　off　ignoring　us　until　we　leave。　Don't　bother　to　make　up　the　room。　Just　leave　a　pile　of　towels　and　soap　outside　the　door；　exactly　at　midnight。〃　lie　smiled。　〃That　way；　we　won't　have　to　risk　another　one　of　theep　little　incidents；　will　we？〃
　　
　　　12。　Return　to　the　Circus…Circus。。。Looking　for　the　Ape。。。to　Hell　with　the　American　Dream
　　
　　Almost　seventy…two　hours　had　passed　since　that　strange　encounter；　and　no　maid　had　set　foot　in　the　room。　I　wondered　what　Alice　had　told　them。　We　had　seen　her　once；　trundling　a　laundry　cart　across　the　parking　area　as　we　rolled　up　in　the　Whale　but　we　offered　no　sign　of　recognition　and　she　seemed　understand。
　　But　it　couldn't　last　much　longer。　The　room　was　full　of　used　towels；　they　were　hanging　everywhere。　The　bathroom　floor　was　about　six　inches　deep　with　soap　bars；　vomit；　and　grape　fruit　rinds；　mixed　with　broken　glass。　I　had　to　put　my　boots　on　every　I　went　in　there　to　piss。　The　nap　of　the　mottled　grey　rug　was　so　thick　with　marijuana　seeds　that　it　appeared　to　be　turning　green。
　　The　general　back…alley　ambience　of　the　suite　was　so　rotten；　so　incredibly　foul；　that　I　figured　I　could　probably　get　away　with　claiming　it　was　some　kind　of　〃Life…slice　exhibit〃　that　we'd　brought　down　from　Haight　Street；　to　show　cops　from　other　parts　of　the　country　how　deep　into　filth　and　degeneracy　the　drug　people　will　sink；　if　left　to　their　own　devices。
　　But　what　kind　of　addict　would　need　all　these　coconut　husks　and　crushed　honeydew　rinds？　Would　the　presence　of　junkies　account　for　all　these　uneaten　french　fries？　These　puddles　of　glazed　catsup　on　the　bureau？
　　Maybe　so。　But　then　why　all　this　booze？　and　these　crude　pornographic　photos；　ripped　out　of　pulp　magazines　like　Whores　of　Sweden　and　Orgies　in　the　Casbah；　that　were　plastered　on　the　broken　mirror　with　smears　of　mustard　that　had　dried　to　a　hard　yellow　crust。。。and　all　these　signs　of　violence；　these　strange　red　and　blue　bulbs　and　shards　of　broken　glass　embedded　in　the　wall　plaster　。。。
　　No；　these　were　not　the　hoofprints　of　your　normal；　godfearing　junkie。　It　was　far　too　aggressive。　There　was　evidence；　in　this　room；　of　excessive　consumption　of　almost　every　type　of　drug　known　to　civilized　man　since　1544　A。D。　It　could　only　be　explained　as　a　montage；　a　sort　of　exaggerated　medical　exhibit；　put　together　very　carefully　to　show　what　might　happen　if　twenty…two　serious　drug　felons…each　with　a　different　addiction…were　penned　up　together　in　the　same　room　for　five　days　and　nights；　without　relief。
　　Indeed。　But　of　course　that　would　never　happen　in　Real　Life；　gentlemen。　We　just　put　this　thing　together　for　demonstration　purposes。。。
　　Suddenly　the　phone　was　ringing；　jerking　me　out　of　my　fantasy　stupor。　I　looked　at　it。　Riiiinnnnnggggggg。。。Jesus；　what　now？　Is　this　it？　I　could　almost　hear　the　shrill　voice　of　the　Manager；　Mr。　Heem；　saying　the　police　were　on　their　way　up　to　my　room　and　would　I　please　not　shoot　through　the　door　when　they　began　kicking　it　down。
　　Riinnnngggg。。。No；　they　wouldn't　call　first。　Once　they　decided　to　take　me；　they　would　probably　set　an　ambush　in　the　elevator：　first　Mace；　then　a　gang…swarm。　It　would　e　with　no　warning。
　　So　I　picked　up　the　phone。　It　was　my　friend　Bruce　Innes；　calling　from　the　Circus…Circus。　He　had　located　the　man　who　wanted　to　sell　the　ape　I'd　been　inquiring　about。　The　price　was　750。
　　〃What　kind　of　a　greedhead　are　we　dealing　with　here？〃　I　said。　〃Last　night　it　was　four　hundred。〃
　　〃He　claims　he　just　found　out　it　was　housebroken；〃　said　Bruce。　〃He　let　it　sleep　in　the　trailer　last　noght；　and　the　thing　actually　shiot　in　the　shower　stall。〃
　　〃That　doesn't　mean　anything；〃　I　said。　〃Apes　are　attracted　to　water。　Next　time　it'll　shit　in　the　sink。〃
　　〃Maybe　you　should　e　down　and　argue　with　the　guy；〃　said　Bruce。　〃He's　here　in　the　bar　with　me。　I　told　him　you　really　wanted　the　ape　and　that　you　could　give　it　a　fine　home。　I　think　he'll　negotiate。　He's　really　attached　to　the　stinking　thing。　It's　here　in　the　bar　with　us；　sitting　up　on　a　goddamn　stool；　slobbering　into　a　beer　schooner。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　I　said。　〃I'll　be　there　in　ten　minutes。　Don't　let　the　bastard　get　drunk。　I　want　to　meet　him　under　natural　conditions。〃
　　When　I　got　to　the　Circus…Circus　they　were　loading　an　old　man　into　an　ambulance　outside　the　main　door。　〃What　happened？〃　I　asked　the　car…keeper。
　　〃I'm　not　sure；〃　he　said。　〃Somebody　said　he　had　a　stroke。　But　I　noticed　the　back　of　his　head　was　all　cut　up。〃　He　slid　into　the　Whale　and　handed　me　a　stub。　〃You　want　me　to　save　your　drink　for　you？〃　he　asked；　holding　up　a　big　glass　of　tequila　that　was　on　the　seat　of　the　car。　〃I　can　put　it　in　the　cooler　if　want。〃　I　nodded。　These　people　were　familiar　with　my　habits。　I　had　been　in　and　out　of　the　place　so　often；　with　Bruce　and　the　and　members；　that　the　car…keepers　knew　me　by　name…altho