cwilleford.miamiblues-第19部分

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four　dead　Colombians　had　been　solved。
　　Henderson　had　borrowed　a　skycap's　uniform　and　cap；　put　them　on　one　of　his　black　detectives；　and　had　him　falsely　finger　the　Colombian　woman　as　the　person　in　a　purple　Cadillac　who　had　dropped　off　two　men　at　the　Miami　International　Airport。　Confronted　by　this　direct；　if　false；　identification；　she　had　broken　down。　The　child；　as　it　turned　out；　was　the　maid's；　not　her　own；　and　the　child　was　not　supposed　to　be　killed。　She　was　upset　about　that；　which　helped　to　make　up　her　mind；　too。　The　killers　were　back　safely　in　Cartagena　and　would　never　be　extradited。　But　at　least　their　names　were　known　now；　so　it　was　unlikely　that　the　same　pair　would　be　used　in　Miami　for　more　assassinations。
　　〃I　knew　she　was　in　on　it　for　sure；　Hoke；　when　you　told　me　there　were　no　packages　in　the　trunk。　The　woman　had　nine　hundred　bucks　in　her　purse；　and　there　is　no　way　that　a　woman　could　shop　for　two　hours　with　that　kind　of　money　and　not　buy　something。〃
　　Henderson　shrugged。　〃But　she　hasn't　been　arraigned　yet。　I've　got　a　hunch　that　they'll　set　bail　for　a　hundred　thousand　and　let　her　skip　back　to　Colombia。　That's　what　usually　happens。〃
　　Hoke　nodded；　and　made　a　circle　with　his　thumb　and　forefinger。　Henderson　pulled　his　chair　closer　to　the　bed。
　　〃You　got　any　idea　who　did　this　to　you；　Hoke？〃
　　〃Uh…uh。〃　Hoke　rolled　his　head　back　and　forth　on　the　pillow。
　　〃Got　any　ideas？〃
　　Hoke　nodded　and　then　shrugged。　He　was　tired；　and　he　wanted　Henderson　to　leave。
　　〃I　talked　some　to　Eddie　Cohen；　the　old　fart　on　the　desk；　and　he　says　he　didn't　see　any　strangers　in　the　hotel。　The　manager　questioned　some　of　the　old　ladies　who　sit　around　the　TV　set　in　the　lobby；　and　they　didn't　notice　anyone　either。〃
　　Henderson　got　up；　and　walked　to　the　window。　He　looked　down　into　the　parking　lot。　〃I…ah…I　checked　your　room；　Hoke；　and　I　really　don't　think　you　should　be　living　in　a　crummy　place　like　that。　All　those　social　security　types　and　Marielitos…　it's　depressing　as　shit；　Hoke。　When　you　get　out　of　here；　you'll　have　to　recuperate　for　a　couple　of　weeks。　I　can　put　you　up　at　my　house。　We　can　put　a　cot　out　in　the　Florida　room；　and　Marie'！！　look　after　you。〃
　　〃No　dice；　Bill。〃　Hoke　closed　his　eyes。　After　a　few　seconds；　Henderson　tapped　him　on　the　shoulder。
　　〃Well；　think　about　it　anyway；　old　sport。　I'd　better　get　outta　here　and　let　you　get　some　rest。　If　you　need　anything；　let　me　know。〃
　　After　Henderson　left；　Hoke　found　the　carton　of　Kools　and　the　new　Bic　lighter　his　partner　had　left　in　a　paper　sack　on　the　floor　beside　his　bed。　Hoke　had　lost　his　desire　to　smoke；　if　he　was　lucky；　maybe　the　desire　wouldn't　return。
　　Captain　Willie　Brownley　was　Hoke's　third　visitor。　The　captain　had　been　there　to　look　in　on　him　a　couple　of　times　before。　Brownley　was　black；　and　it　was　the　first　time　Hoke　had　seen　the　Homicide　chief　in　civilian　clothes。　He　always　wore　his　uniform　in　the　office；　plete　with　buttoned…up　jacket。　Now　he　wore　a　pink　Golden　Bear　knitted　shirt；　mauve　corduroy　jeans；　a　white　belt；　and　white　shoes。　With　his　gold…rimmed　glasses；　Brownley　looked　more　like　a　Liberty　City　dentist　than　a　police　captain。　Hoke　had　known　Brownley　for　ten　years；　and　at　one　time　had　worked　for　Brownley　when　he　manded　the　Traffic　Division。　Although　Brownley　had　little　aptitude　for　Homicide　work；　he　had　been　placed　in　charge　of　that　division　so　that　he　could　eventually　be　promoted　to　major。　The　black　caucus　in　the　union　had　been　demanding　a　black　major　for　several　years；　and　Brownley　was　being　groomed。
　　Brownley　opened　his　briefcase　on　the　bed　and　handed　Hoke　a　one…pound　box　of　fudge　that　had　been　wrapped　in　gold　paper　and　tied　with　a　flexible　gold　string。
　　〃My　wife　made　some　fudge　for　you；　Hoke；〃　he　said。　〃And　if　you　can't　eat　it　now；　you'll　be　able　to　later。　And　the　boys　asked　me　to　bring　you　this　card。〃　He　handed　Hoke　a　Hallmark　get…well　card　that　had　been　signed　by　forty　of　the　forty…seven　members　of　the　Homicide　Division；　including　Captain　Brownley。
　　Without　thinking；　Hoke　had　counted　the　signatures　and　was　wondering　why　the　other　seven　hadn't　signed。　Then　he　felt　ashamed　of　himself。　There　were　a　hundred　reasons…sickness；　leave；　shift　changes…why　they　all　couldn't　sign　the　card。
　　〃For　a　while　there；〃　Captain　Brownley　said；　〃we　were　worried　about　you；　but　Dr。　Goldstein　said　you're　going　to　be　fine。　The　only　immediate　problem　is　to　take　care　of　the　paperwork　on　your　lost　gun　and　shield。　I　hate　to　lay　it　on　you；　Hoke；　but　we've　got　to　protect　you。
　　〃I've　brought　the　forms　along　and　a　legal　pad；　and　you　can　take　care　of　the　paperwork　now。　It's　been　about　six　years　since　a　Homicide　cop　lost　his　shield　and　gun；　but　the　big　question　to　answer　in　your　case　is　why　you　were　living　in　Miami　Beach　instead　of　Miami　in　the　first　place。　I　knew　you　were　living　in　the　Eldorado；　and　I　okayed　it　as　a　temporary　residence。　But　you've　been　there　for　almost　a　year　now；　and　that　puts　both　of　us　in　a　spot。　As　you　know；　all　Miami　cops　are　supposed　to　live　in　Miami…〃
　　〃I　know　at　least　a　dozen　who　don't…〃
　　〃I　know　more　than　that；　Hoke；　including　a　city　missioner　who　mutes　down　here　from　Boca　Raton。　But　he　has　an　official　address　in　Miami　to　beat　the　system；　and　we　can　do　the　same。　Henderson　told　me　your　official　address　is　his　house；　so　put　that　down　on　the　forms。〃
　　〃There's　no　way　I　can　live　with　Henderson　and　his　wife。〃
　　〃I'm　not　asking　you　to；　all　I　want　you　to　do　is　use　his　address　on　the　forms　so　we　can　cover　our　ass。　First；　fill　out　the　Victim's　Report　so　I　can　get　a　cop　from　Robbery　to　begin　an　investigation。　Next；　you've　got　to　send　me　a　red…liner　memo　explaining　the　circumstances；　and　third；　you　need　to　fill　in　this　Lost　and　Damaged　Equipment　form。　As　soon　as　you've　done　this；　I'll　get　the　badge　and　gun　numbers　into　the　puter。　Just　write　the　info　on　the　yellow　pad　and　sign　the　forms。　I　can　have　them　typed　at　the　station。　It's　a　legitimate　loss；　so　the　city'll　replace　your　gun　and　badge　at　no　cost　to　you；　and　that's　about　it；　I'll　do　everything　I　can　to　prevent　an　investigation　of　why　you　were　living　in　the　Eldorado　instead　of　Miami。〃
　　〃That　rule's　never　enforced；〃　Hoke　said。　〃There're　guys　with　condos　in　Hialeah　and　Kendall；　captain。〃
　　〃Nothing　is　enforced　until　something　happens。　Then　it's　a　different　story。　A　black　division　chief　isn't　allowed　to　make　any　mistakes。　I　gave　you　temporary　permission　to　live　on　the　Beach；　and　you　stayed　for　a　year。　It's　my　mistake　for　not　following　up　on　you；　because　now　there's　a　thief　running　around　Dade　County　with　your　gun　and　buzzer。　If　he　ever　realizes　the　kind　of　power　that　represents；　the　department'll　be　in　a　lot　of　trouble。〃
　　Hoke　shrugged　and　reached　for　the　ball　point　pen。　〃When　do　you　want　all　this　info？〃
　　〃Why　don't　you　do　it　now？　I'll　go　down　to　the　cafeteria　downstairs　and　get　a　sandwich　and　some　coffee。　I　want　to　get　that　info　into　the　puter。〃　Brownley　turned　in　the　doorway。　〃You　want　anything？　Coffee？〃
　　Hoke　shook　his　head；　and　pulled　his　wheeled　tray　closer　to　the　bed。
　　〃Okay；　then；　Hoke；　I'll　be　back　in　an　hour。　Don't　let　the　nurse　or　no　one　else　touch　my　briefcase。〃
　　Hoke　filled　in　the　forms；　and　wrote　the　red…liner　memo。　Although　it　was　possible　for　a　cop　to　be　suspended　with　pay　for　not　living　in　Miami；　the　rule　was　never　enforced；　and　he　thought　Brownley　was　a　little　paranoid　about　it。　But　then；　Brownley　wanted　that　promotion；　and　Hoke　didn't　want　to　jeopardize　it。　Perhaps　he　would；　after　all；　have　to　move　away　from　the　Eldorado…but　he　sure　as　hell　wouldn't　move　in　with　Henderson。　Hoke　didn't　like　Marie　Henderson；　and　he　liked　Henderson's　kids　even　less。
　　When　Captain　Brownley　returned　for　the　forms；　Hoke　told　him　to　thank　his　wife　for　the　fudge。
　　〃I'll　tell　her。　D'you　want　any　visitors；　Hoke？〃
　　〃I'd　rather　not；　captain。　I　look　like　hell；　and　it　hurts　me　to　talk。〃
　　〃Okay；　I'll　pass　the　word；　but　I'll　be　back　ex　officio。　One　other　thing；　Hoke；　you'll　have　a　new　partner　when　you　e　back　to　duty。　I　let　Henderson　stay　with　you　when　he　was　promoted　to　sergeant　because　you　guys　work　well　together；　but　things've　changed　lately。　I'm　getting　five　new　investigators；　all　Cubans；　all　bilingual；　and　neither　you　nor　Henderson　speak　Spanish。　I've　put　Lopez　with　Henderson；　and　you'll　have　a　bilingual　partner　when　you　get　back。　Even　if　you　and　Henderson　were　bilingual；　I'd　have　to　break　you　up。　I'm　too　short　on　experienced　people　to　let　two　sergeants　work　together　any　longer。〃
　　〃I'm　not　surprised；〃　Hoke　said。　〃Did　you　know　that　Red　Farris　resigned？〃
　　〃In　Robbery？〃
　　〃Yeah；　and　he　had　ten　years　in。　He　was　in　Homicide　before　you　came　in　as　chief。〃
　　〃I　knew　Red。　I　didn't　know　him　well；　but　I　knew　him　enough　to　talk　to　him。　He　was　a　good　man。　We're　losing　too　many　good　people；　Hoke。〃
　　
　　With　his　memory　refreshed　by　the　reports　he　had　just　written；　Hoke　went　over　again　in　his　mind　what　had　happened。　There　had　been　a　knock　on　the　door。　Was　it　timid　or　imperious？　Was　it　three　raps　or　two？　He　couldn't　remember。　Masculine　or　feminine…he　felt；　somehow；　that　it　was　feminine；　but　he　wasn't　sure。　His　response　had　been　so　automatic；　it　was　as　if　he　had　known　the　caller。　He　had　hidden　his　drink　behind　the　photograph　of　his　two　daughters。　Why？　He　was　entitled；　for　Christ's　sake；　to　have　a　drink　in　his　own　room　and　to　answer　his　door　with　a　drink　in　his　hand。　It　wasn't　the　Dominican　maid；　he　knew　her　timid；　tentative　knock；　and　it　wasn't　Mr。　Bennett。　If　that　bastard　Bennett　had　wanted　to　clobber　him；　he　would　have　gypped　the　assailant　on　the　fee；　and　the　job　wouldn't　have　been　so　thorough。
　　That　left　the　Marielitos；　but　Hoke　felt　that　the　resident　Cubans　could　be　eliminated。　When　Hoke　had　first　moved　into　the　Eldorado；　the　refugees　had　been　a　continual　problem。　There　had　been　twenty　of　them　all　in　one　room；　and　Mr。　Bennett　had　charged　them　three　bucks　a　night　to　sleep　on　mattresses　on　the　floor。　They　got　drunk；　they　fought；　they　were　loud；　and　they　brought　women　in；　terrifying　the　Jewish　retirees　who　lived　there　on　social　security。　Hoke　had　shaken　down　their　room　a　couple　of　times　and　picked　up　a　。32　pistol　（no　one　had　claimed　it　or　knew　how　it　got　there）　and　three　knives。　Finally；　when　Reagan　took　away　their　115…a…month　government　checks；　the　refugees