raymondchandler.thehighwindow-第20章

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　 〃It　got　to　be　too　dear。　That　port…sodden　old　fake　made　the　bargain　too　tough。　How　do　you　like　her　for　a　client？〃
　 〃I've　had　worse。〃
　 She　picked　a　shred　of　tobacco　off　her　lip。　〃You　notice　what　she's　doing　to　that　girl？〃
　 〃Merle？　I　noticed　she　bullied　her。〃
　 〃It　isn't　just　that。　She　has　her　cutting　out　dolls。　The　girl　had　a　shock　of　some　kind　and　the　old　brute　has　used　the　effect　of　it　to　dominate　the　girl　pletely。　In　pany　she　yells　at　her　but　in　private　she's　apt　to　be　stroking　her　hair　and　whispering　in　her　ear。　And　the　kid　sort　of　shivers。〃
　 〃I　didn't　quite　get　all　that；〃　I　said。
　 〃The　kid's　in　love　with　Leslie；　but　she　doesn't　know　it。　Emotionally　she's　about　ten　years　old。　Something　funny　is　going　to　happen　in　that　family　one　of　these　days。　I'm　glad　I　won't　be　there。〃
　 I　said：　〃You're　a　smart　girl；　Linda。　And　you're　tough　and　you're　wise。　I　suppose　when　you　married　him　you　thought　you　could　get　your　hands　on　plenty。〃
　 She　curled　her　lip。　〃I　thought　it　would　at　least　be　a　vacation。　It　wasn't　even　that。　That's　a　smart　ruthless　woman；　Marlowe。　Whatever　she's　got　you　doing；　it's　not　what　she　says。　She's　up　to　something。　Watch　your　step。〃
　 〃Would　she　kill　a　couple　of　men？〃
　 She　laughed。
　 〃No　kidding；〃　I　said。　〃A　couple　of　men　have　been　killed　and　one　of　them　at　least　is　connected　with　rare　coins。〃
　 〃I　don't　get　it；〃　she　looked　at　me　levelly。　〃Murdered；　you　mean？〃
　 I　nodded。
　 〃You　tell　Morny　all　that？〃
　 〃About　one　of　them。〃
　 〃You　tell　the　cops？〃
　 〃About　one　of　them。　The　same　one。〃
　 She　moved　her　eyes　over　my　face。　We　stared　at　each　other。　She　looked　a　little　pale；　or　just　tired。　I　thought　she　had　grown　a　little　paler　than　before。
　 〃You're　making　that　up；〃　she　said　between　her　teeth。
　 I　grinned　and　nodded。　She　seemed　to　relax　then。
　 〃About　the　Brasher　Doubloon？〃　I　said。　〃You　didn't　take　it。　Okay。　About　the　divorce；　what？〃
　 〃That's　none　of　your　affair。〃
　 〃I　agree。　Well；　thanks　for　talking　to　me。　Do　you　know　a　fellow　named　Vannier？〃
　 〃Yes。〃　Her　face　froze　hard　now。　〃Not　well。　He's　a　friend　of　Lois。〃
　 〃A　very　good　friend。〃
　 〃One　of　these　days　he's　apt　to　turn　out　to　be　a　small　quiet　funeral　too。〃
　 〃Hints；〃　I　said；　〃have　sort　of　been　thrown　in　that　direction。　There's　something　about　the　guy。　Every　time　his　name　es　up　the　party　freezes。〃
　 She　stared　at　me　and　said　nothing。　I　thought　that　an　idea　was　stirring　at　the　back　of　her　eyes；　but　if　so　it　didn't　e　out。　She　said　quietly：
　 〃Morny　will　sure　as　hell　kill　him；　if　he　doesn't　lay　off　Lois。〃
　 〃Go　on　with　you。　Lois　flops　at　the　drop　of　a　hat。　Anybody　can　see　that。〃
　 〃Perhaps　Alex　is　the　one　person　who　can't　see　it。〃
　 〃Vannier　hasn't　anything　to　do　with　my　job　anyway。　He　has　no　connection　with　the　Murdocks。〃
　 She　lifted　a　corner　of　her　lip　at　me　and　said：　〃No？　Let　me　tell　you　something。　No　reason　why　I　should。　I'm　just　a　great　big　open…hearted　kid。　Vannier　knows　Elizabeth　Bright　Murdock　and　well。　He　never　came　to　the　house　but　once　while　I　was　there；　but　he　called　on　the　phone　plenty　of　times。　I　caught　some　of　the　calls。　He　always　asked　for　Merle。〃
　 〃Wellthat's　funny；〃　I　said。　〃Merle；　huh？〃
　 She　bent　to　crush　out　her　cigarette　and　again　she　speared　the　stub　and　dropped　it　into　the　wastebasket。
　 〃I'm　very　tired；〃　she　said　suddenly。　〃Please　go　away。〃
　 I　stood　there　for　a　moment；　looking　at　her　and　wondering。　Then　I　said：　〃Good　night　and　thanks。　Good　luck。〃
　 I　went　out　and　left　her　standing　there　with　her　hands　in　the　pockets　of　the　white　coat；　her　head　bent　and　her　eyes　looking　at　the　floor。
　 It　was　two　o'clock　when　I　got　back　to　Hollywood　and　put　the　car　away　and　went　upstairs　to　my　apartment。　The　wind　was　all　gone　but　the　air　still　had　that　dryness　and　lightness　of　the　desert。　The　air　in　the　apartment　was　dead　and　Breeze's　cigar　butt　had　made　it　a　little　worse　than　dead。　I　opened　windows　and　flushed　the　place　through　while　I　undressed　and　stripped　the　pockets　of　my　suit。
　 Out　of　them　with　other　things　came　the　dental　supply　pany's　bill。　It　still　looked　like　a　bill　to　one　H。　R。　Teager　for　30　lbs。　of　crystobolite　and　25　lbs。　of　albastone。
　 I　dragged　the　phone　book　up　on　the　desk　in　the　living　room　and　looked　up　Teager。　Then　the　confused　memory　clicked　into　place。　His　address　was　422　West　Ninth　Street。　The　address　of　the　Belfont　Building　was　422　West　Ninth　Street。
　 H。　R。　Teager　Dental　Laboratories　had　been　one　of　the　names　on　doors　on　the　sixth　floor　of　the　Belfont　Building　when　I　did　my　backstairs　crawl　away　from　the　office　of　Elisha　Morningstar。
　 But　even　the　Pinkertons　have　to　sleep；　and　Marlowe　needed　far；　far　more　sleep　than　the　Pinkertons。　I　went　to　bed。
　
　
　20
　
　 It　was　just　as　hot　in　Pasadena　as　the　day　before　and　the　big　dark　red　brick　house　on　Dresden　Avenue　looked　just　as　cool　and　the　little　painted　Negro　waiting　by　the　hitching　block　looked　just　as　sad。　The　same　butterfly　landed　on　the　same　hydrangea　bushor　it　looked　like　the　same　onethe　same　heavy　scent　of　summer　lay　on　the　morning；　and　the　same　middle…aged　sourpuss　with　the　frontier　voice　opened　to　my　ring。
　 She　led　me　along　the　same　hallways　to　the　same　sunless　sunroom。　In　it　Mrs。　Elizabeth　Bright　Murdock　sat　in　the　same　reed　chaise…longue　and　as　I　came　into　the　room　she　was　pouring　herself　a　slug　from　what　looked　like　the　same　port　bottle　but　was　more　probably　a　grandchild。
　 The　maid　shut　the　door；　I　sat　down　and　put　my　hat　on　the　floor；　just　like　yesterday；　and　Mrs。　Murdock　gave　me　the　same　hard　level　stare　and　said：
　 〃Well？〃
　 〃Things　are　bad；〃　I　said。　〃The　cops　are　after　me。〃
　 She　looked　as　flustered　as　a　side　of　beef。　〃Indeed。　I　thought　you　were　more　petent　than　that。〃
　 I　brushed　it　off。　〃When　I　left　here　yesterday　morning　a　man　followed　me　in　a　coupé。　I　don't　know　what　he　was　doing　here　or　how　he　got　here。　I　suppose　he　followed　me　here；　but　I　feel　doubtful　about　that。　I　shook　him　off；　but　he　turned　up　again　in　the　hall　outside　my　office。　He　followed　me　again；　so　I　invited　him　to　explain　why　and　he　said　he　knew　who　I　was　and　he　needed　help　and　asked　me　to　e　to　his　apartment　on　Bunker　Hill　and　talk　to　him。　I　went；　after　I　had　seen　Mr。　Morningstar；　and　found　the　man　shot　to　death　on　the　floor　of　his　bathroom。〃
　 Mrs。　Murdock　sipped　a　little　port。　Her　hand　might　have　shaken　a　little；　but　the　light　in　the　room　was　too　dim　for　me　to　be　sure。　She　cleared　her　throat。
　 〃Go　on。〃
　 〃His　name　is　George　Anson　Phillips。　A　young；　blond　fellow；　rather　dumb。　He　claimed　to　be　a　private　detective。〃
　 〃I　never　heard　of　him；〃　Mrs。　Murdock　said　coldly。　〃I　never　saw　him　to　my　knowledge　and　I　don't　know　anything　about　him。　Did　you　think　I　employed　him　to　follow　you？〃
　 〃I　didn't　know　what　to　think。　He　talked　about　pooling　our　resources　and　he　gave　me　the　impression　that　he　was　working　for　some　member　of　your　family。　He　didn't　say　so　in　so　many　words。〃
　 〃He　wasn't。　You　can　be　quite　definite　on　that。〃　The　baritone　voice　was　as　steady　as　a　rock。
　 〃I　don't　think　you　know　quite　as　much　about　your　family　as　you　think　you　do；　Mrs。　Murdock。〃
　 〃I　know　you　have　been　questioning　my　soncontrary　to　my　orders；〃　she　said　coldly。
　 〃I　didn't　question　him。　He　questioned　me。　Or　tried　to。〃
　 〃We'll　go　into　that　later；〃　she　said　harshly。　〃What　about　this　man　you　found　shot？　You　are　involved　with　the　police　on　account　of　him？〃
　 〃Naturally。　They　want　to　know　why　he　followed　me；　what　I　was　working　on；　why　he　spoke　to　me；　why　he　asked　me　to　e　to　his　apartment　and　why　I　went。　But　that　is　only　the　half　of　it。〃
　 She　finished　her　port　and　poured　herself　another　glass。
　 〃How's　your　asthma？〃　I　asked。
　 〃Bad；〃　she　said。　〃Get　on　with　your　story。〃
　 〃I　saw　Morningstar。　I　told　you　about　that　over　the　phone。　He　pretended　not　to　have　the　Brasher　Doubloon；　but　admitted　it　had　been　offered　to　him　and　said　he　could　get　it。　As　I　told　you。　Then　you　told　me　it　had　been　returned　to　you；　so　that　was　that。〃
　 I　waited；　thinking　she　would　tell　me　some　story　about　how　the　coin　had　been　returned；　but　she　just　stared　at　me　bleakly　over　the　wine　glass。
　 〃So；　as　I　had　made　a　sort　of　arrangement　with　Mr。　Morningstar　to　pay　him　a　thousand　dollars　for　the　coin〃
　 〃You　had　no　authority　to　do　anything　like　that；〃　she　barked。
　 I　nodded；　agreeing　with　her。
　 〃Maybe　I　was　kidding　him　a　little；〃　I　said。　〃And　I　know　I　was　kidding　myself。　Anyway　after　what　you　told　me　over　the　phone　I　tried　to　get　in　touch　with　him　to　tell　him　the　deal　was　off。　He's　not　in　the　phone　book　except　at　his　office。　I　went　to　his　office。　This　was　quite　late。　The　elevator　man　said　he　was　still　in　his　office。　He　was　lying　on　his　back　on　the　floor；　dead。　Killed　by　a　blow　on　the　head　and　shock；　apparently。　Old　men　die　easily。　The　blow　might　not　have　been　intended　to　kill　him。　I　called　the　Receiving　Hospital；　but　didn't　give　my　name。〃
　 〃That　was　wise　of　you；〃　she　said。
　 〃Was　it？　It　was　considerate　of　me；　but　I　don't　think　I'd　call　it　wise。　I　want　to　be　nice；　Mrs。　Murdock。　You　understand　that　in　your　rough　way；　I　hope。　But　two　murders　happened　in　a　matter　of　hours　and　both　the　bodies　were　found　by　me。　And　both　the　victims　were　connectedin　some　mannerwith　your　Brasher　Doubloon。〃
　 〃I　don't　understand。　This　other；　younger　man　also？〃
　 〃Yes。　Didn't　I　tell　you　over　the　phone？　I　thought　I　did。〃　I　wrinkled　my　brow；　thinking　back。　I　knew　I　had。
　 She　said　calmly：　〃It's　possible。　I　wasn't　paying　a　great　deal　of　attention　to　what　you　said。　You　see；　the　doubloon　had　already　been　returned。　And　you　sounded　a　little　drunk。〃
　 〃I　wasn't　drunk。　I　might　have　felt　a　little　shock；　but　I　wasn't　drunk。　You　take　all　this　very　calmly。〃
　 〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do？〃
　 I　took　a　deep　breath。　〃I'm　connected　with　one　murder　already；　by　having　found　the　body　and　reported　it。　I　may　presently　be　connected　with　another；　by　having　found　the　body　and　not　reported　it。　Which　is　much　more　serious　for　me。　Even　as　far　as　it　goes；　I　have　until　noon　today　to　disclose　the　name　of　my　client。〃
　 〃That；〃　she　said；　still　much　too　calm　for　my　taste；　〃would　be　a　breach　of　confidence。　You　are　not　going　to　do　that；　I'm　sure。〃
　 〃I　wish　you'd　leave　that　damn　port　alone　and　make　some　effort　to　understand　the　position；〃　I　snapped　at　her。
　 She　looked　vaguely　surprised　and　pushed　her　glass　awayabout　four　inches　away。
　 〃This　fellow　Phillips；〃　I　said；　〃had　a　license　as　a　private　detective。　How　did　I　happen　to　find　him　dead？　Because　he　followed　me　and　I　spoke　to　him　and　he　asked　me　to　e　to　his　apartment。　And　when　I　got　there　he　was　dead。　The　police　know　all　this。　They　may　even　believe　it。　But　they　don't　believe　the　connection　between　Phillips　and　me　is　quite　that　much　of　a　coincidence。　They　think　there　is　a　deeper　connection　between　Phillips　and　me　and　they　insist　on　knowing　what　I　am　doing；　who　I　am　working　for。　Is　that　clear？〃
　 〃You'll　find　a　way　out　of　all　that；〃　she　said。　〃I　expect　it　to　cost　me　a　little　more　money；　of　course。〃
　 I　felt　myself　getting　pinched　around　the　nose。　My　mouth　felt　dry。　I　needed　air。　I　took　another　deep　breath　and　another　dive　into　the　tub　of　blubber　that　was　sitting　across　the　room　from　me　on　the　reed　chaise…longue；　looking　as　unperturbed　as　a　bank　president　refusing　a　loan。
　 〃I'm　working　for　you；〃　I　said；　〃now；　this　week；　today。　Next　w