raymondchandler.thehighwindow-第21章

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　 〃I'm　working　for　you；〃　I　said；　〃now；　this　week；　today。　Next　week　I'll　be　working　for　somebody　else；　I　hope。　And　the　week　after　that　for　still　somebody　else。　In　order　to　do　that　I　have　to　be　on　reasonably　good　terms　with　the　police。　They　don't　have　to　love　me；　but　they　have　to　be　fairly　sure　I　am　not　cheating　on　them。　Assume　Phillips　knew　nothing　about　the　Brasher　Doubloon。　Assume；　even；　that　he　knew　about　it；　but　that　his　death　had　nothing　to　do　with　it。　I　still　have　to　tell　the　cops　what　I　know　about　him。　And　they　have　to　question　anybody　they　want　to　question。　Can't　you　understand　that？〃
　 〃Doesn't　the　law　give　you　the　right　to　protect　a　client？〃　she　snapped。　〃If　it　doesn't；　what　is　the　use　of　anyone's　hiring　a　detective？〃
　 I　got　up　and　walked　around　my　chair　and　sat　down　again。　I　leaned　forward　and　took　hold　of　my　kneecaps　and　squeezed　them　until　my　knuckles　glistened。
　 〃The　law；　whatever　it　is；　is　a　matter　of　give　and　take；　Mrs。　Murdock。　Like　most　other　things。　Even　if　I　had　the　legal　right　to　stay　clammed　uprefuse　to　talkand　got　away　with　it　once；　that　would　be　the　end　of　my　business。　I'd　be　a　guy　marked　for　trouble。　One　way　or　another　they　would　get　me。　I　value　your　business；　Mrs。　Murdock；　but　not　enough　to　cut　my　throat　for　you　and　bleed　in　your　lap。〃
　 She　reached　for　her　glass　and　emptied　it。
　 〃You　seem　to　have　made　a　nice　mess　of　the　whole　thing；〃　she　said。　〃You　didn't　find　my　daughter…in…law　and　you　didn't　find　my　Brasher　Doubloon。　But　you　found　a　couple　of　dead　men　that　I　have　nothing　to　do　with　and　you　have　neatly　arranged　matters　so　that　I　must　tell　the　police　all　my　private　and　personal　business　in　order　to　protect　you　from　your　own　inpetence。　That's　what　I　see。　If　I　am　wrong；　pray　correct　me。〃
　 She　poured　some　more　wine　and　gulped　it　too　fast　and　went　into　a　paroxysm　of　coughing。　Her　shaking　hand　slid　the　glass　on　to　the　table；　slopping　the　wine。　She　threw　herself　forward　in　her　seat　and　got　purple　in　the　face。
　 I　jumped　up　and　went　over　and　landed　one　on　her　beefy　back　that　would　have　shaken　the　City　Hall。
　 She　let　out　a　long　strangled　wail　and　drew　her　breath　in　rackingly　and　stopped　coughing。　I　pressed　one　of　the　keys　on　her　dictaphone　box　and　when　somebody　answered；　metallic　and　loud；　through　the　metal　disk　I　said：　〃Bring　Mrs。　Murdock　a　glass　of　water；　quick！〃　and　then　let　the　key　up　again。
　 I　sat　down　again　and　watched　her　pull　herself　together。　When　her　breath　was　ing　evenly　and　without　effort；　I　said：　〃You're　not　tough。　You　just　think　you're　tough。　You　been　living　too　long　with　people　that　are　scared　of　you。　Wait'll　you　meet　up　with　some　law。　Those　boys　are　professionals。　You're　just　a　spoiled　amateur。〃
　 The　door　opened　and　the　maid　came　in　with　a　pitcher　of　ice　water　and　a　glass。　She　put　them　down　on　the　table　and　went　out。
　 I　poured　Mrs。　Murdock　a　glass　of　water　and　put　it　in　her　hand。
　 〃Sip　it；　don't　drink　it。　You　won't　like　the　taste　of　it；　but　it　won't　hurt　you。〃
　 She　sipped；　then　drank　half　of　the　glass；　then　put　the　glass　down　and　wiped　her　lips。
　 〃To　think；〃　she　said　raspingly；　〃that　out　of　all　the　snoopers　for　hire　I　could　have　employed；　I　had　to　pick　out　a　man　who　would　bully　me　in　my　own　home。〃
　 〃That's　not　getting　you　anywhere　either；〃　I　said。　〃We　don't　have　a　lot　of　time。　What's　our　story　to　the　police　going　to　be？〃
　 〃The　police　mean　nothing　to　me。　Absolutely　nothing。　And　if　you　give　them　my　name；　I　shall　regard　it　as　a　thoroughly　disgusting　breach　of　faith。〃
　 That　put　me　back　where　we　started。
　 〃Murder　changes　everything；　Mrs。　Murdock。　You　can't　dummy　up　on　a　murder　case。　We'll　have　to　tell　them　why　you　employed　me　and　what　to　do。　They　won't　publish　it　in　the　papers；　you　know。　That　is；　they　won't　if　they　believe　it。　They　certainly　won't　believe　you　hired　me　to　investigate　Elisha　Morningstar　just　because　he　called　up　and　wanted　to　buy　the　doubloon。　They　may　not　find　out　that　you　couldn't　have　sold　the　coin；　if　you　wanted　to；　because　they　might　not　think　of　that　angle。　But　they　won't　believe　you　hired　a　private　detective　just　to　investigate　a　possible　purchaser。　Why　should　you？〃
　 〃That's　my　business；　isn't　it？〃
　 〃No。　You　can't　fob　the　cops　off　that　way。　You　have　to　satisfy　them　that　you　are　being　frank　and　open　and　have　nothing　to　hide。　As　long　as　they　think　you　are　hiding　something　they　never　let　up。　Give　them　a　reasonable　and　plausible　story　and　they　go　away　cheerful。　And　the　most　reasonable　and　plausible　story　is　always　the　truth。　Any　objection　to　telling　it？〃
　 〃Every　possible　objection；〃　she　said。　〃But　it　doesn't　seem　to　make　much　difference。　Do　we　have　to　tell　them　that　I　suspected　my　daughter…in…law　of　stealing　the　coin　and　that　I　was　wrong？〃
　 〃It　would　be　better。〃
　 〃And　that　it　has　been　returned　and　how？〃
　 〃It　would　be　better。〃
　 〃That　is　going　to　humiliate　me　very　much。〃
　 I　shrugged。
　 〃You're　a　callous　brute；〃　she　said。　〃You're　a　cold…blooded　fish。　I　don't　like　you。　I　deeply　regret　ever　having　met　you。〃
　 〃Mutual；〃　I　said。
　 She　reached　a　thick　finger　to　a　key　and　barked　into　the　talking　box。　〃Merle。　Ask　my　son　to　e　in　here　at　once。　And　I　think　you　may　as　well　e　in　with　him。〃
　 She　released　the　key；　pressed　her　broad　fingers　together　and　let　her　hands　drop　heavily　to　her　thighs。　Her　bleak　eyes　went　up　to　the　ceiling。
　 Her　voice　was　quiet　and　sad　saying：　〃My　son　took　the　coin。　Mr。　Marlowe。　My　son。　My　own　son。〃
　 I　didn't　say　anything。　We　sat　there　glaring　at　each　other。　In　a　couple　of　minutes　they　both　came　in　and　she　barked　at　them　to　sit　down。
　
　
　21
　
　 Leslie　Murdock　was　wearing　a　greenish　slack　suit　and　his　hair　looked　damp；　as　if　he　had　just　been　taking　a　shower。　He　sat　hunched　forward；　looking　at　the　white　buck　shoes　on　his　feet；　and　turning　a　ring　on　his　finger。　He　didn't　have　his　long　black　cigarette　holder　and　he　looked　a　little　lonely　without　it。　Even　his　mustache　seemed　to　droop　a　little　more　than　it　had　in　my　office。
　 Merle　Davis　looked　just　the　same　as　the　day　before。　Probably　she　always　looked　the　same。　Her　copper　blond　hair　was　dragged　down　just　as　tight；　her　shell…rimmed　glasses　looked　just　as　large　and　empty；　her　eyes　behind　them　just　as　vague。　She　was　even　wearing　the　same　one…piece　linen　dress　with　short　sleeves　and　no　ornament　of　any　kind；　not　even　earrings。
　 I　had　the　curious　feeling　of　reliving　something　that　had　already　happened。
　 Mrs。　Murdock　sipped　her　port　and　said　quietly：
　 〃All　right；　son。　Tell　Mr。　Marlowe　about　the　doubloon。　I'm　afraid　he　has　to　be　told。〃
　 Murdock　looked　up　at　me　quickly　and　then　dropped　his　eyes　again。　His　mouth　twitched。　When　he　spoke　his　voice　had　the　toneless　quality；　a　flat　tired　sound；　like　a　man　making　a　confession　after　an　exhausting　battle　with　his　conscience。
　 〃As　I　told　you　yesterday　in　your　office　I　owe　Morny　a　lot　of　money。　Twelve　thousand　dollars。　I　denied　it　afterwards；　but　it's　true。　I　do　owe　it。　I　didn't　want　mother　to　know。　He　was　pressing　me　pretty　hard　for　payment。　I　suppose　I　knew　I　would　have　to　tell　her　in　the　end；　but　I　was　weak　enough　to　want　to　put　it　off。　I　took　the　doubloon；　using　her　keys　one　afternoon　when　she　was　asleep　and　Merle　was　out。　I　gave　it　to　Morny　and　he　agreed　to　hold　it　as　security　because　I　explained　to　him　that　he　couldn't　get　anything　like　twelve　thousand　dollars　for　it　unless　he　could　give　its　history　and　show　that　it　was　legitimately　in　his　possession。〃
　 He　stopped　talking　and　looked　up　at　me　to　see　how　I　was　taking　it。　Mrs。　Murdock　had　her　eyes　on　my　face；　practically　puttied　there。　The　little　girl　was　looking　at　Murdock　with　her　lips　parted　and　an　expression　of　suffering　on　her　face。
　 Murdock　went　on。　〃Morny　gave　me　a　receipt；　in　which　he　agreed　to　hold　the　coin　as　collateral　and　not　to　convert　it　without　notice　and　demand。　Something　like　that。　I　don't　profess　to　know　how　legal　it　was。　When　this　man　Morningstar　called　up　and　asked　about　the　coin　I　immediately　became　suspicious　that　Morny　either　was　trying　to　sell　it　or　that　he　was　at　least　thinking　of　selling　it　and　was　trying　to　get　a　valuation　on　it　from　somebody　who　knew　about　rare　coins。　I　was　badly　scared。〃
　 He　looked　up　and　made　a　sort　of　face　at　me。　Maybe　it　was　the　face　of　somebody　being　badly　scared。　Then　he　took　his　handkerchief　out　and　wiped　his　forehead　and　sat　holding　it　between　his　hands。
　 〃When　Merle　told　me　mother　had　employed　a　detectiveMerle　ought　not　to　have　told　me；　but　mother　has　promised　not　to　scold　her　for　it〃　He　looked　at　his　mother。　The　old　warhorse　clamped　her　jaws　and　looked　grim。　The　little　girl　had　her　eyes　still　on　his　face　and　didn't　seem　to　be　very　worried　about　the　scolding。　He　went　on：　〃then　I　was　sure　she　had　missed　the　doubloon　and　had　hired　you　on　that　account。　I　didn't　really　believe　she　had　hired　you　to　find　Linda。　I　knew　where　Linda　was　all　the　time。　I　went　to　your　office　to　see　what　I　could　find　out。　I　didn't　find　out　very　much。　I　went　to　see　Morny　yesterday　afternoon　and　told　him　about　it。　At　first　he　laughed　in　my　face；　but　when　I　told　him　that　even　my　mother　couldn't　sell　the　coin　without　violating　the　terms　of　Jasper　Murdock's　will　and　that　she　would　certainly　set　the　police　on　him　when　I　told　her　where　the　coin　was；　then　he　loosened　up。　He　got　up　and　went　to　the　safe　and　got　the　coin　out　and　handed　it　to　me　without　a　word。　I　gave　him　back　his　receipt　and　he　tore　it　up。　So　I　brought　the　coin　home　and　told　mother　about　it。〃
　 He　stopped　talking　and　wiped　his　face　again。　The　little　girl's　eyes　moved　up　and　down　with　the　motions　of　his　hand。
　 In　the　silence　that　followed　I　said：　〃Did　Morny　threaten　you？〃
　 He　shook　his　head。　〃He　said　he　wanted　his　money　and　he　needed　it　and　I　had　better　get　busy　and　dig　it　up。　But　he　wasn't　threatening。　He　was　very　decent；　really。　In　the　circumstances。〃
　 〃Where　was　this？〃
　 〃At　the　Idle　Valley　Club；　in　his　private　office。〃
　 〃Was　Eddie　Prue　there？〃
　 The　little　girl　tore　her　eyes　away　from　his　face　and　looked　at　me。　Mrs。　Murdock　said　thickly：　〃Who　is　Eddie　Prue？〃
　 〃Morny's　bodyguard；〃　I　said。　〃I　didn't　waste　all　my　time　yesterday；　Mrs。　Murdock。〃　I　looked　at　her　son；　waiting。
　 He　said：　〃No；　I　didn't　see　him。　I　know　him　by　sight；　of　course。　You　would　only　have　to　see　him　once　to　remember　him。　But　he　wasn't　around　yesterday。〃
　 I　said：　〃Is　that　all？〃
　 He　looked　at　his　mother。　She　said　harshly：　〃Isn't　it　enough？〃
　 〃Maybe；〃　I　said。　〃Where　is　the　coin　now？〃
　 〃Where　would　you　expect　it　to　be？〃　she　snapped。
　 I　almost　told　her；　just　to　see　her　jump。　But　I　managed　to　hold　it　in。　I　said：　〃That　seems　to　take　care　of　that；　then。〃
　 Mrs。　Murdock　said　heavily：　〃Kiss　your　mother；　son；　and　run　along。〃
　 He　got　up　dutifully　and　went　over　and　kissed　her　on　the　forehead。　She　patted　his　hand。　He　went　out　of　the　room　with　his　head　down　and　quietly　shut　the　door。　I　said　to　Merle：　〃I　think　you　had　better　have　him　dictate　that　to　you　just　the　way　he　told　it　and　make　a　copy　of　it　and　get　him　to　sign　it。〃
　 She　looked　startled。　The　old　woman　snarled：
　 〃She　certainly　won't　do　anything　of　the　sort。　Go　back　to　your　work；　Merle。　I　wanted　you　to　hear　this。　But　if　I　ever　again　catch　you　violating　my　confidence；　you　know　what　will　happen。〃
　 The　little　girl　stood　up　and　smiled　at　her　with　shining　eyes。　〃Oh　yes；　Mrs。　Murdock。　I　never　will。　Ne