mc.risingsun-第44章

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　She　smiled　at　him。　It　was　a　tense　smile；　half…aroused；　half…pleading。
　She　was　excited　by　her　own　fear。
　His　hands　caressed　her　throat。
　
　？
　Standing　in　the　darkened　laboratory；　with　the　hiss　of　skaters　on　the　ice　above；　we　watched　the　final　violent　act；　again　and　again。　It　played　on　five　monitors；　different　angles；　as　her　pale　legs　went　up；　onto　his　shoulders；　and　he　crouched　over　her；　hands　fumbling　at　his　trousers。　With　repetition；　I　noticed　small　things　not　seen　before。　The　way　she　slid　down　the　table　to　meet　him；　wiggling　her　hips。　The　way　his　back　arched　at　the　moment　of　penetration。　The　change　in　her　smile；　catlike；　knowing。　Calculating。　How　she　urged　him　on；　saying　something。　Her　hands　around　his　back；　caressing。　The　sudden　change　in　mood；　the　flash　of　anger　in　her　eyes；　the　abrupt　slap。　The　way　she　fought　him；　first　to　arouse　him；　and　then　later；　struggling　in　a　different　way；　because　then　something　was　wrong。　The　way　her　eyes　bulged；　and　she　had　a　look　of　real　desperation。　Her　hands　pushing　his　arms；　shoving　his　coat　sleeves　up；　revealing　the　tiny　metallic　sparkle　of　cuff　links。　The　glint　of　her　watch。　Her　arm　falling　back；　palm　open。　Five　fingers　pale　against　the　black　of　the　table。　Then　a　tremor；　the　fingers　twitching；　and　stillness。
　His　slowness　to　understand　something　was　wrong。　The　way　he　went　rigid　for　a　moment；　then　took　her　head　in　his　hand；　moved　it　back　and　forth；　trying　to　arouse　her；　before　he　finally　pulled　away。　Even　looking　at　his　back；　you　could　almost　feel　his　horror。　He　remained　slow；　as　if　in　a　trance。　Pacing　around　the　room　in　aimless　half　steps；　first　this　way；　then　that。　Trying　to　recover　his　wits；　to　decide　what　to　do。
　Each　time　I　saw　the　sequence　repeated；　I　felt　a　different　way。　The　first　few　times；　there　was　a　tension；　a　voyeuristic　sensation；　itself　almost　sexual。　And　then　later；　I　felt　progressively　more　detached；　more　analytical。　As　if　I　was　drifting　away；　moving　back　from　the　monitor。　And　finally；　the　entire　sequence　seemed　to　break　down　before　my　eyes；　the　bodies　losing　their　human　identities　altogether；　being　abstractions；　elements　of　design；　shifting　and　moving　in　dark　space。
　Theresa　said；　〃This　girl　is　sick。〃
　〃It　looks　that　way。〃
　〃She　is　not　a　victim。　Not　this　one。〃
　〃Maybe　not。〃
　We　watched　it　again。　But　I　no　longer　knew　why　we　were　watching。　Finally　I　said；　〃Let's　go　forward；　Theresa。〃
　
　We　had　been　running　the　sequence　to　a　certain　point　on　the　tape　counter；　and　then　going　back　to　run　again。　So　we　had　seen　a　part　of　the　tape　again　and　again；　but　we　hadn't　gone　farther。　Almost　immediately　as　we　went　forward；　something　remarkable　happened。　The　man　stopped　pacing　and　looked　sharply　off　to　one　side　as　if　he　had　seen　something；　or　heard　something。
　〃The　other　man？〃　I　said。
　〃Perhaps。〃　She　pointed　to　the　monitors。　〃This　is　the　area　in　the　tapes　where　the　shadows　do　not　seem　to　match　up。　Now；　we　know　why。〃
　〃Something　was　erased？〃
　She　ran　the　tape　backward。　On　the　side　monitor　view；　we　could　see　the　man　look　up；　in　the　direction　of　the　exit。　He　gave　every　appearance　that　he　had　seen　someone。　But　he　did　not　appear　frightened　or　guilty。
　She　zoomed　in。　The　man　was　just　a　silhouette。　〃You　can't　see　anything；　can　you？〃
　〃Profile。〃
　〃What　about　it？〃
　〃I　am　looking　at　the　jaw　line。　Yes。　See？　The　jaw　is　moving。　He　is　talking。〃
　〃Talking　to　the　other　man？〃
　〃Or　to　himself。　But　he　is　certainly　looking　off。　And　now　see？　He　has　sudden　new　energy。〃
　The　man　was　moving　around　the　conference　room。　His　behavior　purposeful。　I　remembered　how　confusing　this　part　had　been；　when　I　saw　it　the　night　before　at　the　police　station。　But　with　five　cameras；　it　was　clear。　We　could　see　exactly　what　he　was　doing。　He　picked　up　the　panties　from　the　floor。
　And　then　he　bent　over　the　dead　girl；　and　removed　her　watch。
　〃No　kidding；〃　I　said。　〃He　took　her　watch。〃
　I　could　only　think　of　one　reason　why：　the　watch　must　have　an　inscription。　The　man　put　the　panties　and　the　watch　in　his　pocket；　and　was　turning　to　go；　when　the　image　froze　again。　Theresa　had　stopped　it。
　〃What　is　it？〃　I　said。
　She　pointed　to　one　of　the　five　monitors。　〃There；〃　she　said。
　She　was　looking　at　the　side　view；　from　the　overall　camera。　It　showed　the　conference　room　as　seen　from　the　atrium。　I　saw　the　silhouette　of　the　girl　on　the　table；　and　the　man　inside　the　conference　room。
　〃Yeah？　So？〃
　〃There；〃　she　said；　pointing。　〃They　forgot　to　erase　that　one。〃　In　the　corner　of　the　screen；　I　saw　a　ghostly　form。　The　angle　and　the　lighting　were　just　right　to　enable　us　to　see　him。　It　was　a　man。
　The　third　man。
　He　had　e　forward；　and　now　was　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　atrium；　looking　toward　the　killer；　inside　the　conference　room。　The　image　of　the　third　man　was　plete；　reflected　in　the　glass。　But　it　was　faint。
　〃Can　you　get　that？　Can　you　make　it　out？〃
　〃I　can　try；〃　she　said。
　The　zooms　began。　She　punched　in；　saw　the　image　depose。　She　sharpened　it；　heightened　contrast。　The　image　streaked；　and　went　dull；　flat。　She　coaxed　it　back；　reconstituted　it。　She　moved　closer；　enlarging　it。　It　was　tantalizing。　We　could　almost　make　an　identification。
　Almost；　but　not　quite。
　〃Frame　advance；〃　she　said。
　Now；　one　by　one；　the　frames　clicked　ahead。　The　image　of　the　man　was　alternately　sharper；　blurred；　sharp。
　And　then　at　last；　we　saw　the　waiting　man　clearly。
　〃No　shit；〃　I　said。
　〃You　know　who　he　is？〃
　〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃It's　Eddie　Sakamura。〃
　
　？
　After　that；　we　made　swift　progress。　We　knew；　without　a　doubt；　that　the　tapes　had　been　altered　and　the　identity　of　the　killer　had　been　changed。　We　watched　as　the　killer　came　out　of　the　room；　and　moved　toward　the　exit；　with　a　regretful　look　back　at　the　dead　girl。
　I　said；　〃How　could　they　change　the　killer's　face　in　just　a　few　hours？〃
　〃They　have　very　sophisticated　mapping　software；〃　she　said。　〃It's　by　far　the　most　advanced　in　the　world。　The　Japanese　are　being　much　better　in　software。　Soon　they　will　surpass　the　Americans　in　that；　as　they　already　have　in　puters。〃
　〃So　they　did　it　with　better　software？〃
　〃Even　with　the　best　software　it　would　be　daring　to　try　it。　And　the　Japanese　are　not　daring。　So　I　suspect　this　particular　job　was　not　so　hard。　Because　the　killer　spends　most　of　his　time　kissing　the　girl；　or　in　shadow；　so　you　can't　see　his　face。　I　am　guessing　they　had　the　idea　very　late；　as　an　afterthought；　to　make　a　change　of　identity。　Because　they　saw　that　they　only　had　to　change　this　part　ing　up　。　。　。　。　There；　where　he　passes　the　mirror。〃
　In　the　mirror；　I　saw　the　face　of　Eddie　Sakamura；　clearly。　His　hand　brushing　the　wall；　showing　the　scar。
　〃You　see；〃　she　said；　〃if　they　changed　that；　the　rest　of　the　tape　could　pass。　In　all　the　cameras。　It　was　a　golden　opportunity；　and　they　took　it。　That　is　what　I　think。〃
　On　the　monitors；　Eddie　Sakamura　went　past　the　mirror；　into　shadow。　She　ran　it　back。　〃Let's　look。〃
　She　put　up　the　reflection　in　the　mirror；　and　step…zoomed　in　to　the　face　until　it　broke　into　blocks。　〃Ah；〃　she　said。　〃You　see　the　pixels。　You　see　the　regularity。　Someone　has　done　some　retouching　here。　Here；　on　the　cheekbone；　where　there　is　a　shadow　beneath　his　eye。　Normally　you　get　some　irregularity　at　the　edge　between　two　gray　scales。　Here；　the　line　is　cleaned　up。　It　has　been　repaired。　And　let　me　see…　〃
　The　image　spun　laterally。
　〃Yes。　Here；　too。〃
　More　blocks。　I　couldn't　tell　what　she　was　looking　at。　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃His　right　hand。　Where　the　scar　is。　You　see；　the　scar　has　been　added；　you　can　tell　from　the　way　the　pixels　configure。〃
　I　couldn't　see　it；　but　I　took　her　word　for　it。　〃Then　who　was　the　actual　killer？〃
　She　shook　her　head。　〃It　will　be　difficult　to　determine。　We　have　searched　the　reflections　and　we　have　not　found　it。　There　is　a　final　procedure　which　I　did　not　try；　because　it　is　the　easiest　of　all；　but　it　is　also　the　easiest　to　change。　That　is　to　search　the　shadow　detail。〃
　〃Shadow　detail？〃
　〃Yes；　We　can　try　to　do　image　intensification　in　the　black　areas　of　the　picture；　in　the　shadows　and　the　silhouettes。　There　may　be　a　place　where　there　is　enough　ambient　light　to　enable　us　to　derive　a　recognizable　face。　We　can　try。〃
　She　didn't　sound　enthusiastic　about　the　prospects。
　〃You　don't　think　it　will　work？〃
　She　shrugged。　〃No。　But　we　might　as　well　try。　It　is　all　that　is　left。〃
　〃Okay；〃　I　said。　〃Let's　do　it。〃
　She　started　to　run　the　tape　in　reverse；　walking　Eddie　Sakamura　backward　from　the　mirror　toward　the　conference　room；　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　I　said。　〃What　happens　after　the　mirror？　We　haven't　looked　at　that　part。〃
　〃I　looked　earlier。　He　goes　under　an　overhang；　and　moves　away；　toward　the　staircase。〃
　〃Let's　see　it　anyway。〃
　〃All　right。〃
　The　tape　ran　forward。　Quickly；　Eddie　Sakamura　went　toward　the　exit。　His　face　flashed　in　the　mirror　as　he　went　past　it。　The　more　often　I　saw　it；　the　more　fake　that　moment　looked。　It　even　seemed　as　if　a　small　delay；　a　tiny　pause；　had　been　added　to　his　movement。　To　help　us　make　the　identification。
　Now　the　killer　walked　on；　into　a　dark　passage　leading　toward　the　staircase；　which　was　somewhere　around　the　corner；　out　of　view。　The　far　wall　was　light；　so　he　was　silhouetted。　But　there　was　no　detail　visible　in　the　silhouette。　He　was　entirely　dark。
　〃No；〃　she　said。　〃I　remember　this　part。　Nothing　here。　Too　dark。　Kuronbō。　What　they　used　to　call　me。　Black　person。〃
　〃I　thought　you　said　you　could　do　shadow　detail。〃
　〃I　can；　but　not　here。　Anyway；　I　am　sure　this　part　has　been　retouched。　They　know　we　will　examine　the　section　of　tape　on　either　side　of　the　mirror。　They　know　we　will　go　in　with　pixel　microscopes　and　scan　every　frame。　So　they　will　have　fixed　that　area　carefully。　And　they　will　blacken　the　shadows　on　this　person。〃
　〃Okay；　but　even　so…　〃
　〃Hey！〃　she　said　suddenly。　〃What　was　that？〃
　The　image　froze。
　I　saw　the　outline　of　the　killer；　walking　away　toward　the　white　wall　in　the　background；　the　exit　sign　above　his　head。
　〃Looks　like　a　silhouette。〃
　〃Yes；　but　something　is　wrong。〃
　She　ran　the　tape　backward；　slowly。
　As　I　watched；　I　said；　〃Machigai　no　umi　oshete　kudasaii。〃　It　was　a　phrase　I　had　learned　from　one　of　my　early　classes。
　She　smiled　in　the　darkness。　〃I　must　help　you　with　your　Japanese；　Lieutenant。　Are　you　asking　me　if　there　has　been　a　mistake？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃The　word　is　umu；　not　umi。　Umi　is　ocean。　Umu　means　you　are　asking　yes　or　no　about　something。　And　yes；　I　believe　there　may　have　been　a　mistake。〃
　The　tape　continued　backward；　the　silhouette　of　the　killer　ing　back　toward　us。　She　sucked　in　her　breath；　in　surprise。
　〃There　is　a　mistake。　I　cannot　believe　it。　Do　you　see　it　now？〃
　〃No；〃　I　said。
　She　ran　the　tape　forward　for　me。　I　watched　as　the　man　walked　away　in　silhouette。
　〃There；　do　you　see　it　now？〃
　〃No；　I'm　sorry。〃
　She　was　being　irritable。　〃Pay　attention。　Look　at　the　shoulder。　Watch　the　shoulder　of　the　man。　See　how　it　rises　and　falls　with　each　step；　in　a　rhythmic　way；　and　then　suddenly　。　。　。　There！　You　see　it？〃
　I　did。　Finally。　〃The　outline　seemed　to　jump。　To　get　bigger。〃
　〃Yes。　Exactly。　To　jump　bigger。〃　She　adjusted　the　controls。　〃Quite　a　lot　bigger；　Lieutenant。　They　tried　to　blend　the　jump　into　the　up…step；　to　make　it　less　conspicuous。　But　they　did　not　try　very　hard。　It　is　clear　anyway。〃
　〃And　what　does　that　mean？〃
　〃It　means　they　are　arrog