ericlustbader.the ninja-第34章

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cession。　His　voice　changed　gears；　softening　remarkably。　'Guess　the　old　bastard　didn't　take　it　too　well；　you　seeing　his　baby。'
　'You　could　put　it　that　way。'　They　had　stopped　again；　the　heat　was　oppressive。　'How'd　you　find　me　anyway？'
　Croaker　shrugged。　'I　got　to　Penn　Station　in　time　to　see　you　gettin'　into　the　limo。　Frank's　a　wiseacre。〃
　'Yeah。　I　know。'　Nicholas　grinned。　'He　and　Whistle　tried　their　best　to　evict　me　from　the　premises。'
　Croaker　eyed　him。　'Don't　look　like　it　bothered　you　none。〃
　'I　wanted　to　leave　anyway。'
　Croaker　threw　his　head　back　and　laughed。　'Linnear；'　he　said；　'you　just　made　my　day。'
　They　soon　came　to　the　source　of　the　slow　up。　The　gutter　gurgled　and　the　street　swished　with　running　water。　Farther　down　the　block　four　or　five　shirtless　kids；　their　pants　rolled　up　to　their　knees；　danced　about　an　open　fire　hydrant。　Croaker　rolled　up　his　window　and　they　splashed　through　as　if　they　were　in　a　car　wash。
　'Do　you　miss　it？'　Nicholas　asked。
　'What？　Miss　what？'　Croaker　took　them　through　the　intersection　on　the　amber；　accelerated。
　'Smoking。'　He　had　noticed　that　the　ends　of　the　other's　fingers　on　his　right　hand　were　yellowed。
　'Goddamn　right　I　miss　it；'　Croaker　growled。　'Why'n　hell　d'you　think　I　chew　these　goddamned　Mint　Picks？　Huh　You　think　I've　got　time　to　eat　with　all　the　shit　ing；　down　in　this　city？　I　ain't　been　in　a　proper　bed　in　three　days。'　He　hung　a　left　onto　First　Avenue　and；　with　a　squeal　of　brakes　that　must　have　left　several　inches　of　rubber　on　the　city's　asphalt；　he　pulled　up　in　front　of　the　turquoise…glazed　brick　facade　of　the　Chief　Medical　Examiner's　office。　He　double…parked　and　they　went　up　the　steps。
　。　Croaker　led　them　over　to　a　desk；　flipped　open　a　brown　plastic　case　to　display　his　badge　and　I。D。　to　the　receptionist。　The　man　nodded　when　Croaker　said；　'Dr　Ito；'　and　dialled　a　three…digit　number　on　the　telephone　on　the　small　desk。
　He　looked　up　as　he　cradled　the　phone。　'Dr　Ito　will　be　right　up；　Lieutenant。　He's　in　the　morgue。'
　Croaker　looked　around；　watched　the　policeman　on　duty　for　several　minutes。　He　did　not　know　the　man。
　Vincent　came　out。　He　was　wearing　a　green　lab　smock　that　tied　at　the　back。　'Hello；　Nick；'　he　said　gravely。　He　shook　Croaker's　hand。　He　led　them　back　the　way　he　had　e；　past　the　identifying　room　with　its　hydraulic　lift　to　the　morgue　and　down　a　set　of　stairs　to　the　basement。
　There　was　no　smell　at　all　down　here；　Nicholas　had　always　imagined　it　would　stink　of　disinfectant　and　formaldehyde。　It　was　silent　save　for　the　monotone　drone　ing　from　behind　a　set　of　swing…doors；　an　autopsy　was　in　progress。　Vincent　went　to　the　bank　of　stainless…steel　doors；　opened　two。　Then　he　described　in　detail　what　he　had　found。
　'It　was　no　ordinary　intruder　who　found　them；'　he　concluded。　'You　see　how　the　sternum　and　rib　cage　are　fractured？'
　'Christ；'　Croaker　said。　'I've　never　seen　anything　like　that。　He　looks　like　he's　been　battered　with　a　baseball　bat。'
　Vincent　shook　his　head。　'Nothing　so　crude；　Lieutenant。　It　was　a　human　body。'
　Croaker　snorted。　'Idiotic！　A　human　body　by　itself　couldn't　cause　such　extensive　damage　in　such　a　short　amount　of　time。　The　man　must've　had　fists　like　hammers。'
　'No　fists；'　Vincent　said。
　Croaker　stared　at　him。　I'm　　sure　this　is　leading　somewhere；　Doctor。'
　'Lieutenant；'　Nicholas　said。　'Terry　was　a　sensei；　a　master　of　kenjutsu；　karate；　aikido。　No　man　alive　could　get　close　enough　to　him　to　kill　him；　unless。。。'
　'Unless　what？　I　want　to　hear　this。'　Croaker　crossed　his　legs；　leaning　nonchalantly　against　the　bank　of　doors。
　'There　is　a　kenjutsu　technique；　perfected　and　written　about　by　Miyamoto　Musashi；　Japan's　greatest　swordsman。　It's　called　the　Body　Strike；　for　obvious　reasons。　Using　one's　shoulder　…'
　'This　guy　must　have　been　built　like　a　tank；'　Croaker　said。
　'On　the　contrary；'　Nicholas　said；　'his　stature　could　have　been　quite　a　bit　smaller　than　Vincent's。　We　are　speaking　not　so　much　of　pure　physical　strength　now；　Lieutenant；　but　of　an　inner　strength。'
　'Look；　Linnear；　the　only　inner　strength　I've　ever　seen　is　from　David　Carradine　in　〃Kung　Fu〃　and　I　didn't　believe　a　bit　of　it。'
　Nicholas　smiled。　'Then　we　must　begin　to　educate　you；　Lieutenant。'
　Croaker　stood　up；　said；　'Then　you　agree　with　Ito　here。　You　think　these　two　were　killed　by　a　Japanese。'
　'Well；　I　can　think　of　a　small　number　of　occidentals　who　are　kenjutsu　sensei。　But　none　of　them　could　kill　this　way。　This　is　a　spiritual　killing　that　would　be　far　beyond　them。'
　Croaker　stared　down　at　Terry's　smashed　chest。　'Ain't　nothing　spiritual　about　this；　my　man。　This　is　the　work　of　a　pile　driver。'
　'Was　there　any　kind　of　a　murder　weapon　found　in　Terry's　house？〃　Nicholas　asked。
　'Just　a　sword　…'
　'Terry's　katana；'　Vincent　interrupted；　his　gaze　shooting　the　message；　'lying　by　his　side。'
　'Yeah；'　Croaker　said。　'But　no　blood　on　it；　nothing　like　that。　No　other　possible　weapon　that　could've　done　that。　But　that　don't　mean　shit。　The　guy　could've　taken　off　with　it。'
　'He　didn't；'　Nicholas　said。　'Lieutenant；　killing　has　been　a　high　art　in　Japan　for　almost　two　centuries。　In　another　time；　it　was　a　way　of　life　for　the　Japanese。　And　today；　though　there　is　the　modern　Japan　which　stands　in　its　place；　still　the　old　ways　remain。　Still　there　is　bushido；　the　Way　of　the　Warrior。'
　〃Yeah？　What　the　hell　is　it；　then？'
　Nicholas　laughed。　'I　don't　think　I　could　explain　it　in　a　few　minutes。'
　'That's　okay；　I've　got　bags　of　time。'　Croaker　extracted　a　MintyPick　from　his　breast　pocket；　rolled　it　between　his　teeth。　'I　ain't　eaten　in　much　too　long。　What　say　you　and　I　talk　mis　out　over　a　meal？'
　Nicholas　nodded　and　Croaker　turned　to　Vincent。　'Say；　Doc；　I'll　sign　for　the　bags　while　I'm　here。'
　'Right。'　Vincent　went　round　the　corner　to　the　small　alcove　where　a　number　of　polythene　bundles　waited　for　collection　by　the　police：　homicide　victims'　effects　and　clothes。　Vincent　brought　two　bundles　back　to　Croaker；　gave　him　a　form　to　sign。
　Croaker　looked　up；　giving　Vincent　back　his　pen。　'I'll　be　in　touch；'　he　said。
　Nicholas's　call　made　Doc　Deerforth　uneasy；　and　while　Nicholas　had　been　brief；　he'd　given　more　than　enough　for　Doc　Deerforth　to　chew　on。
　He　had　appointments　until　twelve…thirty　but　directly　his　last　patient　said　good…bye；　he　left　the　office　and　drove　out　to　Dune　Road。　He　had　been　in　constant　touch　with　Ray　Florum；　of　course；　but　there　had　been　no　progress　on　the　two　murder　cases　and；　reluctantly；　he　had　had　to　let　the　county　detectives　in。　Not　that　it　would　do　any　good；　Doc　Deerforth　thought　sourly　as　he　drove　across　the　steel　drawbridge　onto　Dune　Road：　the　county　people　were　like　the　Keystone　Kops；　all　gung…ho　and　no　expertise。
　He　turned　right　and　settled　back。　Gulls　rose；　wheeling　over　the　water　on　his　left；　circling　about　the　two　stories　of　The　Crosstree；　Dune　Road's　newest　condominium。　It　was　tan　and　dark　brown　with　a　maze　of　outside　staircases　on　this；　the　landward　side。　Soon　the　condominiums　gave　grudging　way　to　private　houses。
　The　thought　of　the　ninja　haunted　him　all　the　way　out　to　Justine's　house。　Ever　since　he　had　bee　aware　of　the　evidence；　he　hadn't　had　a　decent　night's　sleep。　In　dreams　he　would　return　to　the　steaming　jungles；　to　the　mortar　fire　by　day；　the　snipers'　fire　by　night。　But　it　was　one　specific　night　he　dreaded　most　of　all　and　even　in　his　dreams　he　fought　against　remembering。　Soon；　he　knew；　he　would　have　to　resort　to　chloral　hydrate　to　knock　himself　into　a　dreamless　abyss。
　He　parked　the　car　on　the　side　of　the　house；　took　the　elevated　slatted…wood　pathway　over　the　dunes　and　scrub　grass　to　the　beach。　He　went　up　the　stairs；　knocked　on　the　screen　door。　Behind　him　the　water　surged　and；　down　the　beach；　he　could　hear　the　cries　of　children　as　they　ran　into　the　surf。　A　shaggy　dog　barked；　leaping　along　the　sand　in　pursuit　of　a　wobbling　Frisbee。　The　sand　was　a　patchwork　of　oiled　bodies；　brightly　coloured　blankets　and　striped　sun　umbrellas。　A　cool　breeze　blew　in　off　the　water　and；　for　a　moment　at　least；　there　came　the　drone　of　an　airplane。
　Justine　came　to　the　door；　opened　it。　She　smiled。　'Hi。　What　brings　you　out　here？'
　'Nothing　special；'　Doc　Deerforth　lied。　'I　was　out　this　way　and　thought　I'd　say　hello。　Haven't　seen　you　since　the　beginning　of　the　summer。'
　Justine　laughed　as　she　stepped　back　to　let　him　in；　Thank　God　that　allergy　doesn't　last　for　long。　I　couldn't　endure　it　all　summer。'　She　went　into　the　kitchen。　'Would　you　like　a　drink？'　And　when　he　nodded；　she　added；　'Gin　and　tonic？'
　'Fine。'
　She　went　about　fixing　it。
　'Seems　quiet　around　here；'　he　said。　'Had　any　visitors？'　'What？'　she　said　over　the　sound　of　cracking　ice。　'I　can't　hear　you？'
　He　went　into　the　kitchen。　'Any　visitors　lately？'　She　handed　him　his　drink；　began　to　make　hers。　'Only　Nicholas。'　She　tasted　it。　'Umm。　But　that's　the　way　I　like　it。　I've　never　been　fortable　with　a　lot　of　people；　not　at　home　at　least。'　They　went　into　the　living　room；　sat　on　the　sofa。　'In　business；　it's　different。　I　don't　like　to　mix　the　two。'
　Doc　Deerforth　nodded。　'I　know　what　you　mean。　I　don't　like　to　either。〃
　She　regarded　him　over　the　rim　of　her　tall　glass。　She　pressed　the　condensation　against　her　lip；　rolling　the　glass。　'Tell　me；　Doc；'　she　said。　'You　didn't　e　all　the　way　out　here　to　exchange　pleasantries；　did　you？'　'I　came　to　see　how　you　were。'　'I'm　not　ill；'　she　pointed　out。
　Doc　Deerforth　smiled。　'I　didn't　say　anything　about　that。　This　isn't　a　business　call。'
　'I　see。'　Her　eyes　wouldn't　let　him　get　away。　'Did　Nicholas　call　you？'
　He　laughed；　relieved。　'You　know；　you　remind　me　of　Kathy；　my　youngest。　Nothing　gets　past　her；　either。'　He　shook　his　head。　'Nicholas　called　this　morning。'
　'I　wish　he'd　called　me　instead；'　Justine　said。　'I　wish　he　hadn't　gone　into　the　city。'
　'He　had　to；　from　what　I　gathered。'　Doc　Deerforth　put　his　drink　down。　'Anyway；　you　could've　gone　in　with　him。'
　She　shook　her　head。　'Too　much　work　and；　besides；　they　were　his　friends。　I'd　just　be　out　of　place。　I've　got　no　desire　to　tag　along　after　him。'　She　took　a　sip。　'We　each　have　our　own　lives。　Where　they　touch；　well　…　that's　where　we　love。　The　involvement　…　we're　like　two　fiercely　spinning　wheels；　each　with　its　own　orbit。　We　lean　towards　each　other；　we　touch　hesitantly；　we　calculate　how　far　each　of　us　can　go　without　disturbing　the　orbits；'
　'What　happens　if　you　go　too　far；'　Doc　Deerforth　said；　'and　your　…　orbits；　as　you　put　it　…　are　disturbed？'
　Justine　unfolded　herself；　went　across　the　room　to　stare　out　at　the　hot　beach　and　the　cool　curling　surf。　'In　that　event；'　she　said；　her　voice　as　thin　as　a　ghost's；　I'm　　afraid　it　would　be　disastrous。'
　'The　girls　will　take　care　of　you；　m'sieur。'　The　maitre　d'　hotel　moved　a　little　to　his　right；　lifting　an　arm　towards　the　steep；　dark　staircase。　He　touched　his　thin　moustache　with　a　forefinger；　stroked　it。
　'You　know；　I　thought　you'd　take　me　to　that　place　on　Park；'　Nicholas　said。　'You　know；　downtown。'　They　were　in　the　low　Fifties　on　the　East　Side。
　'You　mean　the　Belmore　Cafeteria？'　Croaker　said。　'Jesus；　I　leave　that　to　the　undercover　bastards。　Christ；　I　wouldn't　go　there　for　a　proper　meal。'
　It　was　quiet　on　the　second　floor；　only　a　table　near　the　door　was　occupied。　The　far　end　of　the　room　was　on　an　elevated　platform　beside　a　row　of　windows。
　The　two　waitresses　were　pretty。　They　wore　dark　tops