chiaasen.stormyweather-第46部分

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y　then　he'd　seen　enough　hurricane　destruction　to　be　utterly　unmoved　by　the　sight　of　another　gutted；　roofless　home。　At　least　it　still　had　walls；　which　was　more　than　Levon　Stichler　could　say　for　his　own。
　
　A　pretty　Anglo　woman　met　him　at　the　open　front　doorway。　She　wore　baggy　jeans　and　a　long　lavender　T…shirt。　Levon　Stichler　noticed　she　was　barefoot　and　（unless　his　seventy…one…year…old　eyeballs　were　mistaken）　she　was　not　wearing　a　bra。　Her　toenails　were　the　shade　of　red　hibiscus。
　
　He　said；　〃Is　this　the　Torres　residence？〃
　
　The　woman　said　yes。
　
　〃Antonio　Torres？　The　salesman？〃
　
　〃That's　right。〃　The　woman　held　out　a　hand。　〃I'm　Mrs。　Torres。　e　on　in；　we've　been　expecting　you。〃
　
　Levon　Stichler　jerked　and　said；　〃What？〃
　
　He　followed　the　barefoot　braless　woman　into　the　house。　She　led　him　to　the　kitchen；　which　was　a　shambles。
　
　〃Where's　your　husband？〃
　
　〃In　the　bedroom。　Is　Mister　Dove　on　the　way？〃
　
　〃I　don't　know；〃　answered　Levon　Stichler；　thinking：　Who　the　hell　is　Mr。　Dove？
　
　〃Listen；　Mrs。　Torres…〃
　
　〃Please。　It's　Neria。〃　The　woman　excused　herself　to　tend　the　generator；　which　was　in　the　garage。　When　she　returned　to　the　kitchen；　she　turned　on　the　electric　coffeemaker　and　made　three　cups。
　
　Levon　Stichler　thanked　her；　stiffly；　and　took　a　sip。　The　wife　would　be　a　problem；　he　needed　to　have　Tony　Torres　alone。
　
　The　barefoot　woman　stirred　two　spoonfuls　of　sugar　into　her　coffee。　〃Is　this　your　first　stop　of　the　day？〃
　
　〃Sure　is；〃　said　Levon　Stichler；　hopelessly　puzzled。　Having　never　before　murdered　anybody；　he　was　full　of　the　jitters。　He　glanced　at　his　wristwatch　so　often　that　the　woman　couldn't　help　but　notice。
　
　She　said；　〃Tony's　in　the　shower。　He'll　be　out　very　soon。〃
　
　〃That's　OK。〃
　
　〃Is　the　coffee　all　right？　Sorry　there's　no　cream。〃
　
　Levon　Stichler　said；　〃It's　fine。〃
　
　She　seemed　like　a　nice　enough　person。　What　was　she　doing　with　a　crooked　slob　like　Torres？
　
　He　heard　muffled　noises　from　another　room；　two　voices：　a　man's　guttural　laughter　and　a　woman's　high…pitched　giggle。　Levon　Stichler　reached　slowly　into　the　right　pocket　of　his　windbreaker。　His　hand　tightened　on　the　cool　shaft　of　the　weapon。
　
　〃Honey？〃　the　barefoot　woman　called。　〃Mister　Ree…dy's　waiting。〃
　
　Reedy？　Levon　Stichler's　bold　determination　began　to　dissolve　in　a　muddle。　Something　was　awry　with　this　particular　Tony　Torres。　Yet　Levon　had　spied　the　Salesman　of　the　Year　plaque　on　the　wall；　Prefab　Luxury　Homes；　in　raised　gold　lettering。　Had　to　be　the　same　creep。
　
　Levon　Stichler　knew　he　must　act　swiftly；　or　lose　forever　the　opportunity　to　avenge。　He　removed　the　concealed　weapon　from　his　jacket　and　raised　it；　ominously；　for　the　wife　to　see。
　
　〃You　better　leave；〃　he　advised。
　
　Calmly　she　set　her　coffee　cup　on　the　counter。　Her　brow　furrowed；　but　not　in　fear；　more　as　if　she　were　stymied　on　a　crossword　puzzle。　〃What　is　that？〃　Pointing　at　the　thing　in　Levon　Stichler's　hand。
　
　〃What's　it　look　like？〃
　
　〃A　giant　screw？〃
　
　〃It's　an　auger　spike；　Mrs。　Torres。　It　was　supposed　to　anchor　my　trailer　in　the　storm。〃
　
　Levon　Stichler　had　choreographed　the　crime　a　hundred　times　in　his　mind；　most　recently　while　sharpening　the　point　of　the　auger　on　a　whetstone　wheel。　The　fat　face　of　Tony　Torres　would　make　an　easy　target。　Either　of　those　cavernous　hairy　nostrils　could　be　forcibly　modified　to　accept　the　steel　bit；　which　would　（according　to　Levon's　calculation）　extrude　well　beyond　the　nasal　cavity　and　into　the　brainpan。
　
　The　barefoot　woman　said；　〃Excuse　me；　but　are　you　fucking　nuts？〃
　
　Before　Levon　Stickler　could　respond；　the　tall　shape　of　a　man　materialized　in　the　kitchen　doorway。　Levon　Stichler　aimed　the　spike　like　a　lance；　and　charged。　The　woman　shouted　a　sharp　warning；　and　the　man　threw　himself　backward　onto　the　wet　tile　floor。　The　auger　impaled　itself　in　the　wooden　shelf　of　a　cabinet；　with　both　hands　Levon　Stichler　could　not　pull　it　free。　Frantically　he　looked　down　at　his　intended　victim。
　
　〃Oh　shit；〃　he　said。　〃You're　not　the　one。〃　He　released　his　grip　on　the　spike。　〃You're　not　the　one　who　sold　me　the　double…wide！〃
　
　Another　woman…wild…looking　and　half　dressed…　burst　from　the　bedroom。　Together　she　and　the　barefoot　one　helped　Snapper　rise　to　his　feet。
　
　In　an　accusatory　tone；　Levon　Stichler　said；　〃You　are　not　Tony　Torres。〃
　
　〃Like　hell；〃　Snapper　said。
　
　Edie　Marsh　moved　between　the　two　men。　〃Honey；〃　she　said；　facing　Snapper；　〃Mister　Reedy　here　appears　to　be　nuts。〃
　
　〃Worse　than　nuts；〃　Bridget　asserted。
　
　〃My　name's　not　Reedy。〃
　
　Edie　wheeled　on　the　old　man。　〃Wait　a　second…you　aren't　from　Midwest　Casualty？〃
　
　Levon　Stichler；　who　by　now　had　gotten　a　close…up　look　at　Snapper's　feral　eyes　and　disfigured　mug；　felt　his　brittle　old　bones　turn　to　powder。　〃Where's　Mister　Torres？〃　he　asked；　with　noticeably　less　spunk。
　
　Edie　sighed　in　annoyance。　〃Incredible；〃　she　said　to　Snapper。　〃He's　not　Reedy。　Can　you　believe　this　shit？〃
　
　Snapper　wanted　to　be　sure　for　himself。　He　leaned　forward　until　he　was　two　inches　from　the　old　man's　nose。　〃You're　not　from　the　insurance　pany？　You're　not　Dove's　boss？〃
　
　Misjudging　the　situation；　Levon　Stichler　emphatically　shook　his　head　no。　Edie　Marsh　stepped　out　of　the　way　so　Snapper　could　punch　him　into　unconsciousness。
　
　They　sat　on　the　rolled…up　sleeping　bags　and　waited　for　the　governor　to　wake　up　in　the　palmettos。
　
　Augustine　assumed；　as　men　sometimes　do　when　they've　had　a　particularly　glorious　time；　that　he　should　apologize。
　
　Bonnie　Lamb　said；　〃For　what？　It　was　my　idea。〃
　
　〃No；　no；　no。　You're　supposed　to　say　it　was　all　a　terrible　mistake。　You　got　carried　away。　You　don't　know　what　got　into　you。　Now　you　feel　rotten　and　cheap　and　used；　and　you　want　to　rush　home　to　your　husband。〃
　
　〃Actually　I　feel　pretty　terrific。〃
　
　〃Me；　too。〃　Augustine　kissed　her。　〃Forgive　me；　but　I　was　raised　Catholic。　I　can't　be　sure　I've　had　fun　unless　I　feel　guilty　afterwards。〃
　
　〃Oh；　it's　guilt　you're　talking　about？　Sure　I　feel　guilty。　So　should　you；　allowing　yourself　to　be　seduced　by　a　newlywed。〃　She　stood　up　and　stretched　her　arms。　〃However；　Senor　Herrera；　there's　a　big　difference　between　guilt　and　remorse。　I　don't　feel　any　remorse。〃
　
　Augustine　said；　〃Me；　neither。　And　I　feel　guilty　that　I　don't。〃
　
　Bonnie　whooped　and　climbed　on　his　back。　They　rolled　to　the　ground　in　an　amorous　tangle。
　
　Skink　came　out　of　the　thicket　and　smiled。　〃Animals！〃　he　bellowed；　evangelically。　〃No　better　than　animals；　rutting　in　public！〃
　
　Bonnie　and　Augustine　got　up　and　brushed　themselves　off。　The　governor　was　a　sight。　Twigs　and　wet　leaves　stuck　to　his　knotted　hair。　Gossamer　strands　of　a　broken　spider's　web　glistened　from　his　chin。
　
　He　tromped　melodramatically　toward　the　campfire；　shouting：　〃Fornicators！　Fellaters！　You　ought　to　be　ashamed！〃
　
　Augustine　winked　at　Bonnie　Lamb。　〃That's　one　I　hadn't　thought　of：　shame。〃
　
　〃Yeah；　that's　a　killer。〃
　
　The　governor　announced　he　had　a　tasty　surprise　for　breakfast。　〃Your　carnal　frolics　awoke　me　last　night；〃　he　said；　〃so　I　went　walking　the　roads。〃
　
　From　his　fatigues　he　produced　two　small；　freshly　skinned　carcasses。　〃Who　wants　rabbit；〃　he　asked；　〃and　who　wants　the　squirrel？〃
　
　Later　they　doused　the　fire　and　loaded　the　truck。　Using　the　hand…drawn　map　that　Augustine　had　been　given　by　the　helpful　Margo　and　David；　they　located　Calusa　Drive　with　no　difficulty。　The　black　Jeep　Cherokee　was　parked　halfway　down　the　street；　in　front　of　a　badly　damaged　house；　the　bawdy　mud　flaps　were　impossible　to　miss。　Skink　told　Augustine　to　keep　driving。　They　left　the　pickup　half　a　mile　away　and　backtracked　on　foot。
　
　Bonnie　Lamb　noticed；　uneasily；　that　Augustine　wasn't　carrying　either　the　pistol　or　the　dart　rifle。　〃Scouting　mission；〃　he　explained。
　
　They　stayed　off　Calusa　and　approached　on　a　parallel　street；　one　block　north。　When　they　got　close；　they　cut　through　a　yard　and　slipped　into　an　abandoned　house　directly　across　from　15600。　From　the　broken　window　of　a　front　bedroom；　they　had　a　clear　view　of　the　front　door；　the　garage；　the　black　Cherokee　and　two　other　cars　in　the　driveway。
　
　Margo　and　David　were　right。　Their　stolen　license　plate　had　been　removed　from　the　Jeep。　Skink　said：　〃Here's　what　happened。　After　the　guy　beat　up　Brenda；　he　pulled　the　tag　from　the　Cherokee　and　tossed　it。　What's　on　there　now　probably　came　off　that　Chevy。〃
　
　The　car　parked　nearest　to　the　garage　was　a　late…model　Caprice。　The　license　plate　was　missing。　The　second　car　was　a　rusty　barge　of　an　Oldsmobile　with　a　lacerated　vinyl　top　and　no　hubcaps。　Augustine　said　it　would　be　useful　to　know　how　many　people　were　inside　the　house。　Skink　grunted　in　assent。
　
　Bonnie　tried　to　guess　what　the　next　move　would　be。　Notifying　the　police；　she　surmised；　was　not　in　the　governor's　plans。　Looking　around；　she　felt　a　stab　of　melancholy。　The　room　had　belonged　to　a　baby。　Gaily　colored　plastic　toys　were　strewn　on　the　floor；　a　sodden　stuffed　teddy　bear　lay　facedown　in　a　dank　puddle　of　rainwater。　Mounted　on　the　facing　wall　were　wooden　cutouts　of　popular　Disney　characters…Mickey　Mouse；　Donald　Duck；　Snow　White。　Oddly；　they　made　Bonnie　Lamb　think　of　her　honeym