cwilleford.miamiblues-第8部分

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ed　trailers　to　keep　up　with　the　flow　of　bodies　that　were　delivered　every　day。　Hoke　parked；　and　they　followed　him　into　the　office。　Dr。　Evans　had　left　for　the　day；　but　Dr。　Ramirez；　an　assistant　pathologist；　took　them　to　a　gurney　in　the　hallway　and　showed　them　the　body。
　　〃That's　Martin；　all　right；〃　Susan　said　quietly。
　　〃I　never　met　Martin；　sergeant；　but　he　looks　like　a　nice　guy；〃　Freddy　said。　〃He　doesn't　look　anything　like　you；　Susan。〃
　　〃Not　now　he　doesn't；　but　back　when　we　were　little　and　almost　the　same　size；　people　used　to　take　us　for　fraternal　twins。〃　She　looked　up　at　Hoke。　〃We　were　born　only　ten　months　apart；　although　Marty　looks　much　older　than　me　now。〃　Tears　welled　from　Susan's　eyes；　and　she　brushed　them　away　impatiently。
　　〃Is　it　true；〃　Freddy　asked　Hoke；　〃that　a　man's　hair　and　fingernails　keep　growing　after　he's　dead？　I　noticed　some　stubble　there　on　Marty's　chin。〃
　　〃I　don't　know；　although　I've　heard　that　myself。　Is　it　true；　Dr。　Ramirez？〃
　　〃No；　it　isn't　true。　That's　just　normal　stubble　on　his　face。　He　probably　shaved　this　morning；　and　that's　just　his　growth　for　today。　One　thing　for　sure；　the　nail　on　his　middle　finger　won't　grow　any　longer。　The　finger　was　broke　clean　off。　We　haven't　done　the　autopsy　yet；　but　Pussgut　took　a　cursory　look　when　he　first　came　in；　and　there　were　no　other　wounds。〃
　　〃'Pussgut；'　〃Hoke　explained　to　Freddy　and　Susan；　〃is　what　the　people　around　here　call　Dr。　Evans　when　he　isn't　around　to　hear　them　say　it。　They　call　him　that　because　of　his　paunch。〃
　　〃I'm　sorry；〃　Dr。　Ramirez　said。　〃I　meant　to　say　'Dr。　Evans。'　Is　the　sister　here　going　to　sign　the　papers？〃
　　〃I'll　sign　something　to　say　he's　my　brother；　but　I　won't　sign　anything　else。　Anything　else；　funeral　arrangements　or　anything；　you'll　have　to　notify　my　father。　It's　his　responsibility；　not　mine。〃
　　In　the　office；　Susan　signed　the　form　Dr。　Ramirez　made　out。　He　Xeroxed　a　copy　on　the　office　machine　and　gave　it　to　Hoke。　Hoke　folded　the　Xeroxed　form　into　a　square　and　tucked　it　into　his　notebook。　They　shook　hands　with　Dr。　Ramirez　and　then　went　out　to　the　car。　When　they　were　seated；　Hoke　suggested　that　they　stop　for　a　drink。
　　〃Fine　with　me；〃　Freddy　said。　〃But　make　it　some　place　where　I　can　get　a　sandwich。〃
　　〃We'll　stop　at　a　Brazilian　steak　house　on　Biscayne。　They've　got　the　best　steak　sandwiches　in　town。〃
　　They　were　shown　to　a　table　right　away。　Hoke　ordered　a　rum　and　Coke；　Freddy　a　glass　of　red　wine；　and　Susan　asked　for　a　Shirley　Temple；　claiming　she　never　drank　anything　stronger　than　beer　and　that　she　didn't　feel　like　having　a　beer　on　top　of　the　yogurt　she　had　eaten　for　dinner。　The　waiter；　a　Salvadoran　with　very　little　English；　had　difficulty　with　the　Shirley　Temple。　Hoke　had　to　cross　over　to　the　bar　and　explain　to　the　Costa　Rican　bartender　how　to　make　it。
　　Hoke　waved　away　the　menu；　which　was　printed　in　Portuguese；　and　ordered　two　steak　sandwiches　and　three　flans。　The　steak　sandwiches　arrived；　redolent　of　garlic；　along　with　the　desserts。
　　Freddy　dug　into　the　custard　immediately；　and　finished　it　before　he　covered　his　sandwich　with　A…1　Sauce。
　　〃Where'd　you　do　your　time？〃　Hoke　asked　Freddy。　〃Marianna　or　Raiford？〃
　　〃Time？　What　time？　What　makes　you　think　I　did　time？〃
　　Hoke　shrugged。　〃The　way　you　tucked　into　that　flan；　and　because　you　ate　it　first；　before　tackling　your　sandwich。　How　long　were　you　in　Marianna？〃
　　〃I　don't　even　know　where　Marianna　is。〃
　　〃It's　our　state　juvenile　reform　school。　Where're　you　from？〃
　　〃California。　Santa　Barbara。　I　came　here　to　Miami　to　study　management　at　Miami…Dade。　When　we　graduate；　me　and　Susan're　going　to　get　us　a　Burger　King　franchise　somewhere。　So　she's　studying　business　and　management；　too。　I　think　I　see　what　you　mean；　though；　about　eating　my　dessert　first。　But　that's　because　I　was　an　orphan　and　raised　in　a　foster　home。　There　were　three　other　guys　there；　all　of　us　about　the　same　age；　and　you　more　or　less　had　to　eat　your　dessert　first　or　somebody　else　would　snatch　it。〃
　　〃The　same　ritual；　you'll　discover；　is　practiced　at　Raiford。　So　at　least　if　you　ever　get　into　trouble　down　here　you've　got　a　good　habit　going　for　you。　I　didn't　get　your　name；　except　for　the　'Junior。'〃
　　〃Ramon　Mendez。〃
　　〃You　don't　have　a　Spanish　accent。　Have　you　got　your　green　card？〃
　　〃I'm　not　a　Chicano；　I'm　an　American　citizen。　And　I've　got　ID　if　you　want　to　see　it。　Just　because　a　man's　got　a　Spanish　name；　that　doesn't　make　him　a　refugee　or　something。　It　just　so　happens　that　Mendez　was　my　father's　name；　but　my　mother　was　as　big　a　WASP　as　you　are。　Besides；　I　already　told　you　I　was　brought　up　with　all　white　guys　in　a　foster　home！〃
　　〃Don't　get　excited；　Ramon。　We're　just　having　a　little　pleasant　conversation　here。　Do　you　speak　Spanish？〃
　　〃A　little；　sure。　I　went　to　school　in　Santa　Barbara；　and　we　had　our　share　of　Chicanos　out　there。　You　pick　it　up　a　little　playing　softball。　You　know；　shouting　'Arriba；　arriba！'　when　a　guy's　trying　to　reach　second　base　on　a　steal。〃
　　〃You　pump　a　little　iron；　too；　right？〃
　　〃A　little。　I　can　jerk　three…twenty…five；　but　I　don't　like　to　do　it。　I'm　not　really　into　heavy　lifting。　I　just　like　to　work　out；　that's　all。〃
　　〃What's　your　bicep？〃
　　Freddy　shrugged。　〃I　haven't　measured　in　a　while。　It　used　to　be　twenty…one　inches。　I　doubt　if　it's　that　much　now。〃
　　〃I'm　impressed。〃
　　〃Well；　I'm　not　one　of　your　body　lovers。　As　I　said；　I　just　like　to　work　out　for　the　exercise；　that's　all。〃
　　Hoke　turned　to　Susan。　〃How's　your　Shirley　Temple；　Miss　Waggoner？　Would　you　rather　have　some　coffee？　Some　espresso？〃
　　〃No；　no；　this　is　fine。　I　was　supposed　to　meet　my　brother　at　the　airport　tonight　at　eight…thirty。　And　he　was　gonna　give　me　two　hundred　dollars　to　make　the　car　payment。　D'you　have　his　wallet　and　money　for　me？〃
　　〃If　you　phone　your　father　and　ask　him　to　call　me　and　okay　it；　I　can　hand　over　the　effects。　There's　a　little　more　than　two　hundred　in　the　wallet。　I've　got　it　locked　in　my　office　drawer。〃
　　〃Do　I　have　to　call　my　father？　Can't　you　just　give　it　to　me？〃
　　〃No。　He's　the　one　who　should　decide　on　the　disposition　of　the　effects；　money　included。〃
　　〃He'll　just　say　no；　and　I　need　the　money　for　the　car　payment。　He'll　probably　take　the　car；　too；　won't　he？〃
　　〃Is　the　car　in　your　brother's　name？〃
　　She　nodded　and　began　to　cry。　〃It　just　isn't　fair！　We　both　worked　hard　to　buy　that　car；　to　make　the　down　payment　and　all；　and　now　my　father'll　get　it！〃
　　〃Maybe　your　brother　left　a　will？〃
　　〃Why　would　he　have　a　will？　He　was　only　twenty…one　years　old。　He　didn't　expect　to　die　from　a　broken　finger！　I　still　don't　see　how　anybody　can　die　from　a　broken　finger。〃
　　〃Let　me　explain；〃　Hoke　said。　He　finished　the　last　bite　of　his　sandwich　and　wiped　his　mouth　with　his　napkin。　〃Dr。　Evans　is　the　best　pathologist　in　America；　and　he's　the　best　doctor　and　dentist；　too。　He　said　it　wasn't　the　finger；　but　the　shock　that　set　in　because　of　the　broken　finger。　And　if　he　says　that；　it's　gospel。　Let　me　tell　you　about　Dr。　Evans。　'Bout　a　year　ago；　I　had　some　abscessed　teeth；　and　the　only　way　I　could　chew　was　to　hold　my　head　over　on　one　side　and　chew　like　a　dog　on　the　side　that　didn't　hurt。　I　was　having　lunch　with　Dr。　Evans；　and　after　lunch；　he　took　me　back　to　the　morgue；　shot　me　up　with　Novocaine；　and　pulled　all　my　teeth。　Every　one　of　them。　Then　he　made　an　impression　and　had　these　teeth　made　for　me　by　the　same　technician　who　makes　all　of　the　Miami　Dolphins'　false　teeth。〃
　　Hoke　took　out　his　dentures；　put　them　on　a　napkin；　and　handed　them　to　Susan。
　　〃I　didn't　even　know　you　had　false　teeth；〃　Susan　said。　〃Did　you；　Junior？〃
　　〃No；　I　didn't；〃　Freddy　said。　〃Let　me　take　a　look　at　those。〃
　　Susan　passed　the　teeth　to　Freddy；　and　he　examined　them　closely　before　giving　them　back　to　Hoke。　〃Nice；〃　he　said。
　　〃I　call　'em　my　Dolphin　choppers；〃　Hoke　said。　He　sprinkled　some　water　from　his　glass　on　his　dentures；　then　slipped　the　dentures　back　into　his　mouth　and　adjusted　them。　〃That's　the　kind　of　doctor　Dr。　Evans　is…and　he　didn't　charge　me　a　dime。　He　just　did　it　for　the　experience；　he　said。　I　went　home　after　he　pulled　my　teeth；　drank　a　half　of　a　fifth　of　bourbon；　and　didn't　feel　a　thing。
　　〃But　to　get　back　to　the　will；　if　your　brother　was　a　sworn…in　Krishna；　they　might've　had　him　make　out　a　will　for　them。　As　I　understand　it；　when　you　join　the　group；　you're　supposed　to　sign　over　everything　you　own　to　them。　I'd　better　check　that　out。〃
　　〃In　that　case；　the　Krishnas'll　get　the　two　hundred　dollars　and　the　car。　Either　way；　I'll　be　shit　out　of　luck；　won't　I？〃
　　〃Perhaps。　His　partner's　notified　them　at　the　ashram　by　now；　so　if　he　does　have　a　will　on　file；　they'll　probably　e　down　to　the　station　tomorrow　to　see　me。　They　may　not　know　about　the　car；　but　his　partner　will　know　he　collected　some　money　out　at　the　airport　today。　Just　in　case；　I　won't　mention　the　car　to　them。　As　a　Krishna；　I　know　he　isn't　supposed　to　own　a　private　vehicle。　Does　your　father　know　about　the　car？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　But　I　don't　think　so。〃
　　〃Don't　worry　about　it；　then。　Just　keep　quiet；　and　make　the　payments。　After　a　few　months；　or　when　it's　paid　for；　you　can　get　a　lawyer　to　have　it　changed　over　to　your　name。〃
　　Hoke　took　out　his　wallet；　shuffled　through　his　card　case；　and　handed　Susan　a　business　card。　〃When　you　need　a　lawyer；　try　this　guy；　Izzy　Steinmetz。　He　costs　a　little　more；　just　like　the　breath　mints；　but　he's　worth　it。〃　Hoke　smiled　at　Freddy。　〃He's　a　good　criminal　lawyer；　too；　in　case　you　ever　get　into　trouble。〃
　　〃Hang　onto　the　card；〃　Freddy　said　to　Susan。　〃Maybe　Mr。　Steinmetz　can　help　us　when　we　get　our　Burger　King　franchise。〃
　　The　waiter　brought　the　check。　Hoke　took　it；　and　left　a　3　tip　on　the　table。　They　walked　over　to　the　cashier　by　the　doubledoors。　Hoke　put　the　check　and　his　credit　card　on　the　counter。　The　manager　smiled；　tore　the　check　in　half；　and　pushed　the　card　back。
　　〃Your　credit's　no　good　here；　Sergeant　Moseley。　Why　don't　we　see　you　in　here　more　often？　It's　been　quite　a　while　now。〃
　　〃I'm　working　days　now；　and　living　over　at　the　Beach。　I'll　try　to　get　by　more　often。　Thanks；　Aquilar。〃
　　〃That　was　nice　of　him；〃　Freddy　said；　after　they　were　outside；　〃to　tear　up　the　check　that　way。〃
　　〃But　you　noticed；〃　Hoke　said；　〃that　I　offered　to　pay。　Aquilar's　a　nice