璇玑之心刃·冷血悍将-第110部分

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e　instead　of　chemicals；　she　worked　herself　onto　a　normal　wake…sleep　routine。　Her　smiles　acquired　more　confidence；　and　twice　he　caught　her　looking　into　the　mirror　with　something　other　than　pain　in　her　eyes。
‘Pretty　nice；　isn‘t　it？‘　he　asked　Saturday　evening；　just　after　her　shower。
‘Maybe；‘　she　allowed。
Kelly　lifted　a　b　from　the　sink　and　started　going　through　her　wet　hair。　‘The　sun　has　really　lightened　it　up　for　you。‘
‘It　took　a　while　to　get　all　the　dirt　out；‘　she　said；　relaxing　to　his　touch。
Kelly　struggled　with　a　tangle；　careful　not　to　pull　too　hard。　‘But　it　did　e　out；　Pammy；　didn‘t　it？‘
‘Yeah；　I　guess　so；　maybe；‘　she　told　the　face　in　the　mirror。
‘How　hard　was　that　to　say；　honey？‘
‘Pretty　hard。‘　A　smile；　a　real　one　with　warmth　and　conviction。
Kelly　set　the　b　down　and　kissed　the　base　of　her　neck；　letting　her　watch　in　the　mirror。　Kelly　got　the　b　back　and　continued　his　work。　It　struck　him　as　very　unmanly；　but　he　loved　doing　this。　‘There；　all　straight；　no　tangles。‘
‘You　really　ought　to　buy　a　hair…dryer。‘
Kelly　shrugged。　‘I‘ve　never　needed　one。‘
Pam　turned　around　and　took　his　hands。　‘You　will；　if　you　still　want　to。‘
He　was　quiet　for　perhaps　ten　seconds；　and　when　he　spoke；　the　words　didn‘t　quite　e　out　at　they　should；　for　now　the　fear　was　his。　‘You　sure？‘
‘Do　you　still　…‘
‘Yes！‘　It　was　hard　lifting　her　with　wet　hair；　still　nude　and　damp　from　the　shower；　but　a　man　had　to　hold　his　woman　at　a　time　like　this。　She　was　changing。　Her　ribs　were　less　pronounced。　She‘d　gained　weight　on　a　regular；　healthy　diet。　But　it　was　the　person　inside　who　had　changed　the　most。　Kelly　wondered　what　miracle　had　taken　place；　afraid　to　believe　that　he　was　part　of　it；　but　knowing　that　it　was　so。　He　set　her　down　after　a　moment；　looking　at　the　mirth　in　her　eyes；　proud　that　he‘d　helped　to　put　it　there。
‘I　have　my　rough　edges；　too；‘　Kelly　warned　her；　unaware　of　the　look　in　his　eyes。
‘I‘ve　seen　most　of　them；‘　she　assured　him。　Her　hands　started　rubbing　over　his　chest；　tanned　and　matted　with　dark　hair；　marked　with　scars　from　bat　operations　in　a　faraway　place。　Her　scars　were　inside；　but　so　were　some　of　his；　and　together　each　would　heal　the　other。　Pam　was　sure　of　that　now。　She‘d　begun　to　look　at　the　future　as　more　than　a　dark　place　where　she　could　hide　and　forget。　It　was　now　a　place　of　hope。
C6
　　　　CHAPTER　6
Ambush
The　rest　was　easy。　They　made　a　quick　boat　trip　to　Solomons；　where　Pam　was　able　to　buy　a　few　simple　things。　A　beauty　shop　trimmed　her　hair。　By　the　end　of　her　second　week　with　Kelly；　she‘d　started　to　run　and　had　gained　weight。　Already　she　could　wear　a　two…piece　swimsuit　without　an　overt　display　of　her　rib　cage。　Her　leg　muscles　were　toning　up；　what　had　been　slack　was　now　taut；　as　it　ought　to　be　on　a　girl　her　age。　She　still　had　her　demons。　Twice　Kelly　woke　to　find　her　trembling；　sweating；　and　murmuring　sounds　that　never　quite　turned　into　words　but　were　easily　understood。　Both　times　his　touch　calmed　her；　but　not　him。　Soon　he　was　teaching　her　to　run　Springer；　and　whatever　the　defects　in　her　schooling；　she　was　smart　enough。　She　quickly　grasped　how　to　do　the　things　that　most　boaters　never　learned。　He　even　took　her　swimming；　surprised　somehow　that　she‘d　learned　the　skill　in　the　middle　of　Texas。
Mainly　he　loved　her；　the　sight；　the　sound；　the　smell；　and　most　of　all　the　feel　of　Pam　Madden。　Kelly　found　himself　slightly　anxious　if　he　failed　to　see　her　every　few　minutes；　as　though　she　might　somehow　disappear。　But　she　was　always　there；　catching　his　eye；　smiling　back　playfully。　Most　of　the　time。　Sometimes　he‘d　catch　her　with　a　different　expression；　allowing　herself　to　look　back　into　the　darkness　of　her　past　or　forward　into　an　alternate　future　different　from　that　which　he　had　already　planned。　He　found　himself　wishing　that　he　could　reach　into　her　mind　and　remove　the　bad　parts；　knowing　that　he　would　have　to　trust　others　to　do　that。　At　those　times；　and　the　others；　for　the　most　part；　he‘d　find　an　excuse　to　head　her　way；　and　let　his　fingertips　glide　over　her　shoulder；　just　to　be　sure　she　knew　that　he　was　there。
Ten　days　after　Sam　and　Sarah　had　left；　they　had　a　little　ceremony。　He　let　her　take　the　boat　out；　tie　the　bottle　of　phenobarbital　to　a　large　rock；　and　dump　it　over　the　side。　The　splash　it　made　seemed　a　fitting　and　final　end　to　one　of　her　problems。　Kelly　stood　behind　her；　his　strong　arms　about　her　waist；　watching　the　other　boats　traveling　the　Bay；　and　he　looked　into　a　future　bright　with　promise。　
‘You　were　right；‘　she　said；　stroking　his　forearms。　
‘That　happens　sometimes；‘　Kelly　replied　with　a　distant　smile；　only　to　be　stunned　by　her　next　statement。
‘There　are　others；　John；　other　women　Henry　has　。。。　like　Helen；　the　one　he　killed。‘　
‘What　do　you　mean？‘
‘I　have　to　go　back。　I　have　to　help　them。。。　before　Henry　…　before　he　kills　more　of　them。‘　
‘There‘s　danger　involved；　Pammy；‘　Kelly　said　slowly。　
‘I　know。。。　but　what　about　them？‘　
It　was　a　symptom　of　her　recovery；　Kelly　knew。　She　had　bee　a　normal　person　again；　and　normal　people　worried　about　others。
‘I　can‘t　hide　forever；　can　I？‘　Kelly　could　feel　her　fear；　but　her　words　defied　it　and　he　held　her　a　little　tighter。
‘No；　you　can‘t；　not　really。　That‘s　the　problem。　It‘s　too　hard　to　hide。‘
‘Are　you　sure　you　can　trust　your　friend　on　the　police？‘　she　asked。
‘Yes：　he　knows　me。　He‘s　a　lieutenant　I　did　a　job　for　a　year　ago。　A　gun　got　tossed；　and　I　helped　find　it。　So　he　owes　me　one。　Besides；　I　ended　up　helping　to　train　their　divers；　and　I　made　some　friends。‘　Kelly　paused。　‘You　don‘t　have　to　do　it；　Pam。　If　you　just　want　to　walk　away　from　it；　that‘s　okay　with　me。　I　don‘t　have　to　go　back　to　Baltimore　ever；　except　for　the　doctor　stuff。‘
‘All　the　things　they　did　to　me；　they‘re　doing　to　the　others。　If　I　don‘t　do　something；　then　it‘ll　never　really　be　gone；　will　it？‘
Kelly　thought　about　that；　and　his　own　demons。　You　simply　could　not　run　away　from　some　things。　He　knew。　He‘d　tried。　Pam‘s　collection　was　in　its　way　more　horrible　than　his　own；　and　if　their　relationship　were　to　go　further；　those　demons　had　to　find　their　resting　place。　‘Let　me　make　a　phone　call。‘
‘Lieutenant　Allen；‘　the　man　said　into　his　phone　in　Western　District。　The　air　conditioning　wasn‘t　working　well　today；　and　his　desk　was　piled　with　work　as　yet　undone。
‘Frank？　John　Kelly；‘　the　detective　heard；　bringing　a　smile。
‘How‘s　life　in　the　middle　of　the　Bay；　fella？‘　Wouldn‘t　I　like　to　be　there。
‘Quiet　and　lazy。　How　about　you？‘　the　voice　asked。
‘I　wish；‘　Allen　answered；　leaning　back　in　his　swivel　chair。　A　large　man；　and　like　most　cops　of　his　generation；　a　World　War　II　Veteran　…　in　his　case　a　Marine　artilleryman　…　Allen　had　risen　from　foot　patrol　on　East　Monument　Street　to　homicide。　For　all　that；　the　work　was　not　as　demanding　as　most　thought；　though　it　did　carry　the　burden　associated　with　the　untimely　end　of　human　life。　Allen　immediately　noted　the　change　in　Kelly‘s　voice。　‘What　can　I　do　for　you？‘
‘I；　uh；　met　somebody　who　might　need　to　talk　with　you。‘
‘How　so？‘　the　cop　asked；　fishing　around　in　his　shirt　pocket　for　a　cigarette　and　matches。
‘It‘s　business；　Frank。　Information　regarding　a　killing。‘
The　cop‘s　eyes　narrowed　a　bit；　while　his　brain　changed　gears。　‘When　and　where？‘
‘I　don‘t　know　yet；　and　I　don‘t　like　doing　this　over　a　phone　line。‘
‘How　serious？‘
‘Just　between　us　for　now？‘
Allen　nodded；　staring　out　the　window。　‘That‘s　fine；　okay。‘
‘Drug　people。‘
Allen‘s　mind　went　click。　Kelly　had　said　his　informant　was　‘so
‘My　friend　doesn‘t　want　much　involvement。　Just　some　information　for　you；　that‘s　it；　Frank。　If　it　goes　further；　we　can　reevaluate　then。　We‘re　talking　some　scary　people　if　this　story　is　true。‘
Allen　considered　that。　He‘d　never　dwelt　upon　Kelly‘s　background；　but　he　knew　enough。　Kelly　was　a　trained　diver；　he　knew；　a　bosun‘s　mate　who‘d　fought　in　the　brown…water　Navy　in　the　Mekong　Delta；　supporting　the　9th　Infantry；　a　squid；　but　a　very　petent；　careful　squid　whose　services　had　e　highly　remended　to　the　force　from　somebody　in　the　Pentagon　and　who‘d　done　a　nice　job　retraining　the　force‘s　divers；　and；　by　the　way；　earning　a　nice　check　for　it；　Allen　reminded　himself。　The　‘person‘　had　to　be　female。　Kelly　would　never　worry　about　guarding　a　man　that　tightly。　Men　just　didn‘t　think　that　way　about　other　men。　If　nothing　else；　it　sure　sounded　interesting。
‘You‘re　not　screwing　me　around；　are　you？‘　he　had　to　ask。
‘That‘s　not　my　way；　man；‘　Kelly　assured　him。　‘My　rules：　it‘s　for　information　purposes　only；　and　it‘s　a　quiet　meet。　Okay？‘
‘You　know；　anybody　else；　I‘d　probably　say　e　right　in　here　and　that　would　be　it；　but　I‘ll　play　along　with　you。　You　did　break　the　Gooding　case　open　for　me。　We　got　him；　you　know。　Life　plus　thirty。　I　owe　you　for　that。　Okay；　I‘ll　play　along　for　now。　Fair　enough？‘
‘Thanks。　What‘s　your　schedule　like？‘
‘Working　late　shift　this　week。‘　It　was　just　after　four　in　the　afternoon；　and　Allen　had　just　e　on　duty。　He　didn‘t　know　that　Kelly　had　called　three　times　that　day　already　without　leaving　a　message。　‘I　get　off　around　midnight；　one　o‘clock；　like　that。　It　depends　on　the　night；‘　he　explained。　‘Some　are　busier　than　others。‘
‘Tomorrow　night。　I‘ll　pick　you　up　at　the　front　door。　We　can　have　a　little　supper　together。‘
Allen　frowned。　This　was　like　a　James　Bond　movie；　secret　agent　crap。　But　he　did　know　Kelly　to　be　a　serious　man；　even　if　he　didn‘t　know　squat　about　police　work。
‘See　you　then；　sport。‘
"；Thanks；　Frank。　‘Bye。‘　The　line　clicked　off　and　Allen　went　back　to　work；　making　a　note　on　his　desk　calendar。
‘Are　you　scared？‘　he　asked。
‘A　little；‘　she　admitted。
He　smiled。　‘That‘s　normal。　But　you　heard　what　I　said。　He　doesn‘t　know　anything　about　you。　You　can　always　back　out　if　you　want。　I‘ll　be　carrying　a　gun　all　the　time。　And　it‘s　just　a　talk。　You　can　get　in　and　get　out。　We‘ll　do　it　in　one　day　…　one　night；　really。　And　I‘ll　be　with　you　all　the　time。‘
‘Every　minute？‘
‘Except　when　you‘re　in　the　ladies‘　room；　honey。　There　you　have　to　look　out　for　yourself。‘　She　smiled　and　relaxed。
‘I　have　to　fix　dinner；‘　she　said；　heading　off　to　the　kitchen。
Kelly　went　outside。　Something　in　him　called　for　more　weapons　practice；　but　he‘d　done　that　already。　Instead　he　walked　into