cwilleford.miamiblues-第13部分

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h。　There's　more'n　four　thousand　in　it。　So　I'm　going　to　draw　it　all　out　and　start　another　CD　and　another　NOW　account　in　some　other　S　and　L。　That　way　they　won't　be　able　to　get　none　of　it　because　it'll　all　be　in　my　name。〃
　　〃That's　no　good；〃　Freddy　said；　shaking　his　head。　〃They　can　still　sue　you；　those　Krishnas　with　their　lawyers；　and　then　they'll　tie　up　all　the　money　until　the　judge　decides　who　gets　it。　What　you　do；　when　you　go　down　there；　is　take　out　all　the　money　and　bring　it　to　me。　I'll　take　care　of　it。〃
　　〃That's　too　much　money　to　keep　around　in　cash。　In　Miami；　somebody'll　steal　it　from　you。〃
　　〃I'll　rent　a　safe…deposit　box；　except　for　some　walking　around　money。　I　don't　want　you　to　worry　about　it。　What　you　don't　have；　they　can't　take　away　from　you。〃　He　finished　his　coffee；　handed　her　the　cup。　〃Now　that　we've　got　our　platonic　marriage　going；　I'll　take　care　of　you。　Don't　you　worry　about　interest　or　anything　else。　If　you　want　something；　anything…and　I　don't　mean　just　because　you　need　something；　I　mean　want　something…tell　me；　and　I'll　get　it　for　you。　Who's　that　guy　down　there？〃　Freddy　pointed　to　a　man　wearing　a　dark　blue　suit；　plete　with　vest；　getting　into　a　new　Buick　Skylark　in　the　parking　lot。
　　〃I　don't　know　his　name。　He　lives　down　in　two…fourteen；　and　he　carried　some　groceries　up　here　for　me　once。　He's　a　prephase　real　estate　salesman；　he　told　me。　That's　why　he　has　to　wear　a　suit　and　tie　all　the　time。〃
　　〃What's　a　prephase　salesman？〃
　　〃I　don't　know；　but　that's　what　he　said　he　was。　He　seemed　very　nice　and　said　he　had　a　daughter　about　my　age　in　junior　high　back　in　Ohio。　I　didn't　tell　him　how　old　I　was　or　proposition　him。　I　don't　think　it's　a　good　idea　to　fuck　people　where　you　have　to　live。〃
　　〃You'd　better　get　going　to　the　S　and　L。　So　go　ahead　and　get　dressed。〃
　　〃I　am　dressed。　You　don't　have　to　get　all　dressed　up　out　here　in　Kendall。　All　the　women　out　here　wear　shorts　and　halters。〃
　　〃Except　you。　I　don't　want　my　wife　running　around　like　some　little　kid。　Put　on　a　dress　and　shoes　and　stockings。　Do　something　about　your　hair；　too。　It's　all　tangled。〃
　　〃Aren't　you　going　with　me？〃
　　〃No。　I'm　going　to　study　the　street　map　of　Miami。　We'll　go　out　when　you　e　back。〃
　　
　　Freddy　watched　Susan　drive　out　of　the　parking　lot。　He　put　on　his　shirt；　but　not　his　shoes；　and　took　the　fire　stairs　down　to　the　second　floor。　He　twisted　the　knob　of　the　front　door　to　214　as　far　as　it　would　go；　and　then　forced　the　door　open　with　his　shoulder。　It　sprung　open　easily。
　　He　found　two　100　bills　in　the　bible　on　the　bedside　table　and　a　loaded　。38　caliber　pistol　in　its　leather　holster　in　the　drawer　of　the　same　table。　There　was　a　locked　drawer　in　the　metal　home　desk　in　the　living　room；　but　he　found　the　key　in　the　middle　pencil　drawer。　He　opened　the　locked　drawer　and　found　a　cowhide　case　containing　fifty　silver　dollars；　each　mounted　in　a　round　numbered　slot。　This　was　a　collection；　and　much　more　valuable；　he　knew；　than　the　50　face　value。　When　he　rented　the　safe…deposit　box；　it　might　be　a　good　idea　to　keep　the　collection　to　use　as　getaway　bread。　He　took　two　pairs　of　black　silk　socks　from　the　dresser　and　put　his　stolen　items　into　a　brown　paper　grocery　sack　he　got　from　a　stack　under　the　kitchen　sink。　He　added　a　package　of　six　frozen　pork　chops　from　the　freezer　partment　to　the　sack；　then　returned　to　his　own　apartment。
　　The　clothes　in　the　salesman's　closet；　unhappily；　had　been　at　least　two　sizes　too　large　for　Freddy；　but　he　was　satisfied　with　his　haul；　especially　with　the　pistol。　He　put　the　pork　chops　on　the　kitchen　table　so　they　would　thaw　for　dinner。　Then　he　shaved　with　a　disposable　lady's　shaver　Susan　had　unwrapped　for　him；　and　took　a　long　tub　bath。
　　Soaking　in　the　tub；　Freddy　examined　the　Miami　city　map；　section　by　section；　from　Perrine　to　North　Bay　Village。　The　Greater　Miami　area　was　five　times　longer　than　it　was　wide；　a　long　narrow　urban　strip　hugging　the　coast　and　the　bay；　with　no　way　to　expand　unless　the　buildings　were　built　higher　and　higher。　There　was　no　way　the　city　could　expand　any　farther　into　the　Everglades　until　they　were　drained；　and　the　coastline　was　pletely　filled。　If　a　man　had　to　escape　from　the　cops；　he　could　only　drive　north　or　south。　Only　two　roads　crossed　the　Everglades　to　Naples；　and　both　of　these　could　be　blocked。　If　a　man　drove　south　he　would　be　caught；　eventually；　in　Key　West；　and　the　cops　could　easily　bottle　up　a　man　on　the　highways　if　he　headed　north；　especially　if　he　tried　to　take　the　Sunshine　Parkway。
　　The　only　way　to　escape　from　anyone；　in　case　he　had　to；　would　be　to　have　three　or　four　hidey…holes。　One　downtown；　one　in　North　Miami；　and　perhaps　a　place　over　in　Miami　Beach。　There　would　be　no　other　safe　method　to　get　away　except　by　going　to　ground　until　whatever　it　was　that　he'd　have　done　was　more　or　less　forgotten　about。　Then；　when　the　search　was　over；　he　could　drive　or　take　a　cab　to　the　airport　and　get　a　ticket　to　anywhere　he　wanted　to　go。
　　Well；　Freddy　thought；　I've　already　got　me　a　nice　little　hideyhole　out　here　in　Kendall。
　　Susan　returned　before　noon　with　two　bags　of　groceries　and　4；280　in　fifties　and　twenties。　Freddy　sat　at　the　uncleared　breakfast　table　and　counted　the　money　while　Susan　began　to　put　away　the　groceries。
　　〃It's　ten　thousand　dollars　short；〃　he　said。
　　〃That's　because　I　took　out　another　CD　at　the　S　and　L　in　Miller　Square。　There's　plenty　of　money　right　there　to　spend　or　to　lock　away　in　a　safe…deposit　box；　without　losing　interest　on　the　other　ten　thousand　every　month。　There　was　already　a　penalty　of　almost　four　hundred　dollars　I　had　to　pay　for　cashing　in　the　CD　early。　I　had　to　pay　the　penalty；　but　it's　stupid　not　to　have　the　interest　ing　in　every　month。　I　was　getting　onethirty…two　a　month　before；　but　the　new　S　and　L's　only　paying　ninety…two。〃　Susan　picked　up　the　package　of　frozen　pork　chops　and　frowned。　〃That's　funny；　I　don't　remember　getting…〃
　　Without　rising；　Freddy　slapped　Susan　a　sharp　blow　across　the　face。　She　fell　down；　dropping　the　pork　chops；　and　the　package　slid　across　the　linoleum　floor。　She　began　to　cry　and　to　rub　her　reddened　cheek；　which　began　to　swell　immediately。
　　〃Part　of　being　married；〃　Freddy　explained；　〃is　learning　to　do　exactly　what　your　platonic　husband　tells　you　to　do。　I'm　not　some　daddy　you　can　defy；　and　I'm　not　a　dumb　brother　you　can　manipulate。　Do　you　know　what　'manipulate'　means？〃
　　Susan　nodded　through　her　tears。　〃Uh…huh。　I　saw　a　program　on　it　once；　on　'Donahue。'〃
　　〃I'm　not　unreasonable。　You're　probably　right　about　the　interest　rate　and　all。　I　don't　know　much　about　things　like　that。　But　the　main　thing　here　is　that　you　didn't　do　what　I　told　you　to　do。　And　you　weren't　really　concerned　about　the　interest　rate；　either。　You　kept　the　other　ten　thousand　because　you　didn't　trust　me。　Don't　say　anything。　Not　a　word。　I　don't　want　to　hear　any　lies。　What　I'm　going　to　do；　I'm　going　to　let　you　keep　the　other　ten　thousand　in　the　S　and　L。　I　don't　need　it　right　now；　and　you　don't　need　it；　and　I　realize　you're　insecure　and　need　the　money　for　your　peace　of　mind。　Now；　put　the　pork　chops　back　on　the　table　and　leave　them　there　so　they'll　thaw　out。　I'll　want　them　for　dinner　tonight；　with　whatever　else　you　fix　that'll　go　good　with　the　pork　chops。〃
　　〃Will　baked　sweet　potatoes　be　all　right？〃
　　〃That's　your　department。　Now；　aren't　you　going　to　ask　me　where　I　got　the　pork　chops？〃
　　〃I　figure　that's　none　of　my　business。〃
　　〃That's　right。　Now　you're　learning。〃
　　Freddy　looked　through　Susan's　purse　and　took　out　the　car　keys。　〃I'm　going　down　to　the　hotel　to　fix　things　up　with　Pablo　for　you。　Then　I'm　going　to　get　oriented　around　town。　I　should　be　back　around　six…that　is；　if　I　don't　get　lost。　But　I've　checked　out　the　map；　and　I　don't　think　I　will　as　long　as　I　keep　the　avenues　and　the　streets　straight。〃
　　〃I'm　supposed　to　go　to　social　science　tonight。　English　on　Monday　and　Wednesday；　and　social　science　on　Tuesday　and　Thursday　nights。〃
　　〃No；　I　don't　think　so。　I　don't　want　you　in　school　right　now。　Call　up　and　tell　your　science　teacher　there's　been　a　death　in　the　family。　Professor　Turner　already　knows。　I'll　decide　whether　I　want　you　to　go　back　at　all。〃
　　Freddy　counted　off　a　thousand　dollars　and　pushed　the　rest　of　the　money　across　the　table。　〃Here。〃　He　folded　the　bills　in　half　and　put　the　roll　into　his　right　front　pocket。　〃Take　the　rest　of　the　money　and　stash　it　in　a　safe　place　somewhere　in　the　apartment。〃
　　Freddy　turned　at　the　door。　〃One　other　thing。　Call　a　locksmith　and　have　him　e　out　and　put　a　deadbolt　lock　on　the　door。　These　push…button　locks　are　engraved　invitations　for　burglars。〃
　　〃I　already　checked　on　deadlocks；　and　they　cost　more　than　sixty　dollars。　Is　that　all　right？　To　pay　that　much；　I　mean？〃
　　Freddy　pointed　to　the　stack　of　money　on　the　table。　〃What　would　you　rather　lose？　Sixty　dollars；　or　all　of　that？〃　He　pushed　in　the　button　on　the　doorknob；　and　closed　the　door　gently　behind　him　as　he　left。
　　Susan；　slightly　dazed；　opened　the　refrigerator；　stared　into　its　depths　for　a　moment；　closed　the　door；　took　a　roll　of　toilet　paper　out　of　the　grocery　sack；　looked　at　it；　dropped　it　back　inside；　started　toward　the　bathroom；　changed　her　mind；　and　then　ran　swiftly　to　the　South　Miami　telephone　book　and　turned　to　the　Yellow　Pages。
　　
　　
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　　Hoke　Moseley　and　Bill　Henderson　sat　close　together　on　a　pink　silk　loveseat　in　the　living　room　of　11K；　a　townhouse　in　the　Tahitian　Village。　Two…bedroom　townhouses　in　the　Tahitian　Village　started　at　189；000；　and　the　owners　of　this　three…bedroom　townhouse　had　also　put　out　a　good　deal　of　money　for　the　Latin　Baroque　furnishings。　There　were　twisted；　ornate　bars　on　all　of　the　downstairs　windows。　The　interior　color　scheme　was　predominantly　purple　and　rose。　The　wall…to…wall　carpeting　was　richly　purple；　and　the　color　was　echoed　without　subtlety　in　the　violet　velvet　draperies。　The　thick　draperies　hung　in　deep　folds　from　two…headed　iron　spears　in　the　living　and　dining　rooms。
　　In　the　purple　living　room；　two　men；　definitely　Latins；　with　their　hands　and　feet　bound　with　copper　wire；　were　face　down　on　the　floor。　They　had　both　been　shot　in　the　back　of　the　head；　and　their　faces　were　unrecognizable。　A　dark…haired　young　woman　wearing　a　black…and…white　maid's　uniform；　plete　with　a　white　frilly