璇玑之心刃·冷血悍将-第111部分

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‘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　the　equipment　bunker　and　took　the　。45　down　from　the　rack。　First　he　depressed　the　stud　and　action　spring。　Next　he　swiveled　the　bushing。　That　allowed　the　spring　to　go　free。　Kelly　dismounted　the　slide　assembly；　removing　the　barrel；　and　now　the　pistol　was　field…stripped。　He　held　the　barrel　up　to　a　light；　and；　as　expected；　it　was　dirty　from　firing。　He　cleaned　every　surface；　using　rags；　Hoppe‘s　cleaning　solvent；　and　a　toothbrush　until　there　was　no　trace　of　dirt　on　any　metal　surface。　Next　he　lightly　oiled　the　weapon。　Not　too　much　oil；　for　that　would　attract　dirt　and　grit；　which　could　foul　and　jam　the　pistol　at　an　inconvenient　moment。　Finished　cleaning；　he　reassembled　the　Colt　quickly　and　expertly　…　it　was　something　he　could　and　did　do　with　his　eyes　closed。　It　had　a　nice　feel　in　his　hand　as　he　jacked　the　slide　back　a　few　times　to　make　sure　it　was　properly　assembled。　A　final　visual　inspection　confirmed　it。
Kelly　took　two　loaded　magazines　from　a　drawer；　along　with　a　single　loose　round。　He　inserted　one　loaded　clip　into　the　piece；　working　the　slide　to　load　the　first　round　in　the　chamber。　He　carefully　lowered　the　hammer　before　ejecting　the　magazine　and　sliding　another　round　into　place。　With　eight　cartridges　in　the　weapon；　and　a　backup　clip；　he　now　had　a　total　of　fifteen　rounds　with　which　to　face　danger。　Not　nearly　enough　for　a　walk　in　the　jungles　of　Vietnam；　but　he　figured　it　was　plenty　for　the　dark　environs　of　a　city。　He　could　hit　a　human　head　with　a　single　aimed　shot　from　ten　yards；　day　or　night。　He‘d　never　once　rattled　under　fire；　and　he‘d　killed　men　before。　Whatever　the　dangers　might　be；　Kelly　was　ready　for　them。　Besides；　he　wasn‘t　going　after　the　Vietcong。　He　was　going　in　at　night；　and　the　night　was　his　friend。　There　would　be　fewer　people　around　for　him　to　worry　about；　and　unless　the　other　side　knew　he　was　there　…　which　they　wouldn‘t　…　he　didn‘t　have　to　worry　about　an　ambush。　He　just　had　to　stay　alert；　which　came　easily　to　him。
Dinner　was　chicken；　something　Pam　knew　how　to　fix。　Kelly　almost　got　out　a　bottle　of　wine　but　thought　better　of　it。　Why　tempt　her　with　alcohol？　Maybe　he‘d　stop　drinking　himself。　It　would　be　no　great　loss；　and　the　sacrifice　would　validate　his　mitment　to　her。　Their　conversation　avoided　serious　matters。　He‘d　already　shut　the　dangers　from　his　mind。　There　was　no　need　to　dwell　on　them。　Too　much　imagination　made　things　worse；　not　better。
‘You　really　think　we　need　new　curtains？‘　he　said。
‘They　don‘t　match　the　furniture　very　well。‘
Kelly　grunted。　‘For　a　boat？‘
‘It‘s　kinda　dull　there；　you　know？‘
‘Dull；‘　he　observed；　clearing　the　table。　‘Next　thing；　you‘ll　say　that　men　are　all　alike　…　‘　Kelly　stopped　dead　in　his　tracks。　It　was　the　first　time　he‘d　slipped　up　that　way。　‘Sorry。。。‘
She　gave　him　an　impish　smile。　‘Well；　in　some　ways　you　are。　And　stop　being　so　nervous　about　talking　to　me　about　things；　okay？‘
Kelly　relaxed。　‘Okay。‘　He　grabbed　her　and　pulled　her　close。　‘If　that‘s　the　way　you　feel。。。　well。。。‘
‘Mmm。‘　She　smiled　and　accepted　his　kiss。　Kelly‘s　hands　wandered　across　her　back；　and　there　was　no　feel　of　a　bra　under　the　cotton　blouse。　She　giggled　at　him。　‘I　wondered　how　long　it　would　take　you　to　notice。‘
‘The　candles　were　in　the　way；‘　he　explained。
‘The　candles　were　nice；　but　smelly。‘　And　she　was　right。　The　bunker　was　not　well　ventilated。　Something　else　to　fix。　Kelly　looked　forward　into　a　very　busy　future　as　he　moved　his　hands　to　a　nicer　place。
‘Have　I　gained　enough　weight；？‘
‘Is　it　my　imagination；　or　。。。　？‘
‘Well；　maybe　just　a　little；‘　Pam　admitted；　holding　his　hands　on　her。
‘We　need　to　get　you　some　new　clothes；‘　he　said；　watching　her　face；　the　new　confidence。　He　had　her　on　the　wheel；　steering　the　proper　pass　course　past　Sharp‘s　Island　Light；　well　east　of　the　shipping　channel；　which　was　busy　today。
‘Good　idea；‘　she　agreed。　‘But　I　don‘t　know　any　good　places。‘　He　checked　the　pass　like　a　good　helmsman。
‘They‘re　easy　to　find。　You　just　look　at　the　parking　lot。‘
‘Huh？‘
‘Lincolns　and　Caddys；　honey。　Always　means　good　clothes；‘　Kelly　noted。　‘Never　fails。‘
She　laughed　as　intended。　Kelly　marveled　at　how　much　more　in　control　she　seemed；　though　there　was　still　a　long　ways　to　go。
‘Where　will　we　stay　tonight？‘
‘On　board；‘　Kelly　answered。　‘We‘ll　be　secure　here。‘　Pam　merely　nodded；　but　he　explained　anyway。
‘You　look　different　now；　and　they　don‘t　know　me　from　Adam。　They　don‘t　know　my　car　or　my　boat。　Frank　Allen　doesn‘t　know　your　name　or　even　that　you‘re　a　girl。　That‘s　operational　security。　We　ought　to　be　safe。‘
‘I‘m　sure　you‘re　right；‘　Pam　said；　turning　to　smile　at　him。　The　confidence　in　her　face　warmed　his　blood　and　fed　his　already　capacious　ego。
‘Going　to　rain　tonight；‘　Kelly　noted；　pointing　at　distant　clouds。　‘That‘s　good；　too。　Cuts　down　visibility。　We　used　to　do　a　lot　of　stuff　in　the　rain。　People　just　aren‘t　alert　when　they‘re　wet。‘
‘You　really　know　about　this　stuff；　don‘t　you？‘
A　manly　smile。　‘I　learned　in　a　really　tough　school；　honey。‘
They　made　port　three　hours　later。　Kelly　made　a　great　show　of　being　alert；　checking　out　the　parking　lot；　noting　that　his　Scout　was　in　its　accustomed　place。　He　sent　her　below　while　he　tied　up；　then　left　her　there　while　he　drove　the　car　right　to　the　dock。　Pam；　as　instructed；　walked　straight　from　the　boat　to　the　Scout　without　looking　left　or　right；　and　he　drove　off　the　property　at　once。　It　was　still　early　in　the　day；　and　they　drove　immediately　out　of　the　city；　finding　a　suburban　shopping　center　in　Timonium；　where　Pam　over　a　period　of　two　…　to　Kelly；　interminable　…　hours　selected　three　nice　outfits；　for　which　he　paid　cash。　She　dressed　in　the　one　he　liked　best；　an　understated　skirt　and　blouse　that　went　well　with　his　jacket　and　no　tie。　For　once　Kelly　was　dressing　in　accordance　with　his　own　　worth；　which　was　fortable。
Dinner　was　eaten　in　the　same　area；　an　upscale　restaurant　with　a　dark　corner　booth。　Kelly　didn‘t　say　so；　but　he‘d　needed　a　good　meal；　and　while　Pam　was　okay　with　chicken；　she　still　had　a　lot　to　learn　about　cooking。
‘You　look　pretty　good…relaxed；　I　mean；‘　he　said；　sipping　his　after…dinner　coffee。
‘I　never　thought　I‘d　feel　this　way。　I　mean；　it‘s　only　been　。。。　not　even　three　weeks？‘
"；That‘s　right。‘　Kelly　set　his　coffee　down。　‘Tomorrow　we‘ll　see　Sarah　and　her　friends。　In　a　couple　of　months　everything　will　be　different；　Pam。‘　He　took　her　left　hand；　hoping　that　it　would　someday　bear　a　gold　ring　on　the　third　finger。
‘I　believe　that　now。　I　really　do。‘
‘Good。‘
‘What　do　we　do　now？‘　she　asked。　Dinner　was　over　and　there　were　hours　until　the　clandestine　meeting　with　Lieutenant　Allen。
‘Just　drive　around　some？‘　Kelly　left　cash　on　the　table　and　led　her　out　to　the　car。
It　was　dark　now。　The　sun　was　nearly　set；　and　rain　was　starting　to　fall。　Kelly　headed　south　on　York　Road　towards　the　city；　well　fed　and　relaxed　himself；　feeling　confident　and　ready　for　the　night‘s　travail。　Entering　Towson；　he　saw　the　recently　abandoned　streetcar　tracks　that　announced　his　proximity　to　the　city　and　its　supposed　dangers。　His　senses　perked　up　at　once。　Kelly‘s　eyes　darted　left　and　right；　scanning　the　streets　and　sidewalks；　checking　his　three　rearview　mirrors　every　five　seconds。　On　getting　in　the　car；　he‘d　put　his　。45　Colt　automatic　in　its　accustomed　place；　a　holster　just　under　the　front　seat　that　he　could　reach　faster　than　one　in　his　belt　…　and　besides；　it　was　a　lot　more　fortable　that　way。
‘Pam？‘　he　asked；　watching　traffic；　making　sure　the　doors　were　locked　…　a　safety　provision　that　seemed　outrageously　paranoid　when　he　was　so　alert。
‘Yes？‘
‘How　much　do　you　trust　me？‘
‘I　do　trust　you；　John。‘
‘Where　did　you　…　work；　I　mean？‘
‘What　do　you　mean？‘
‘I　mean；　it‘s　dark　and　rainy；　and　I‘d　like　to　see　what　it‘s　like　down　there。‘　Without　looking；　he　could　feel　her　body　tense。　‘Look；　I‘ll　be　careful。　If　you　see　anything　that　worries　you；　I‘ll　make　tracks　like　you　won‘t　believe。‘
‘I‘m　scared　of　that；‘　Pam　said　immediately；　but　then　she　stopped　herself。　She　was　confident　in　her　man；　wasn‘t　she？　He‘d　done　so　much　for　her。　He‘d　saved　her。　She　had　to　trust　him　…　no；　he　had　to　know　that　she　did。　She　had　to　show　him　that　she　did。　And　so　she　asked：　‘You　promise　you‘ll　be　careful？‘
‘Believe　it；　Pam；‘　he　assured　her。　‘You　see　one　single　thing　that　worries　you　and　we‘re　gone。‘
‘Okay；　then。‘
It　was　amazing；　Kelly　thought；　fifty　minutes　later。　The　things　that　are　there　but　which　you　never　see。　How　many　times　had　he　driven　through　this　part　of　town；　never　stopping；　never　noticing？　And　for　years　his　survival　had　depended　on　his　noting　everything；　every　bent　branch；　every　sudden　birdcall；　every　footprint　in　the　dirt。　But　he‘d　driven　through　this　area　a　hundred　times　and　never　noticed　what　was　happening　because　it　was　a　different　sort　of　jungle　filled　with　very　different　game。　Part　of　him　just　shrugged　and　said。　Well；　what　did　you　expect？　Another　part　noted　that　there　had　always　been　danger　here；　and　he‘d　failed　to　take　note　of　it；　but　the　warning　was　not　as　loud　and　clear　as　it　should　have　been。
The　environment　was　ideal。　Dark；　under　a　cloudy；　moonless　sky。　The　only　illumination　came　from　sparse　streetlights　that　created　lonely　globes　of　light　along　sidewalks　both　deserted　and　active。　Showers　came　and　went；　some　fairly　heavy；　mostly　moderate；　enough　to　keep　heads　down　and　limit　visibility；　enough　to　reduce　a　person‘s　normal　curiosity。　That　suited　Kelly　fine；　since　he　was　circulating　around　and　around　the　blocks；　noting　changes　from　the　second　to　the　third　pass　by　a　particular　spot。　He　noted　that　not　even　all　the　streetlights　were　functioning。　Was　that　just　the　sloth　of　city　workers　or　creative　maintenance　on　the　part　of　the　local　‘businessmen‘？　Perhaps　a　little　of　both；　Kelly　thought。　The　guys　who　changed　the　bulbs　couldn‘t　make　all　that　much；　and　a　twenty…dollar　bill　would　probably　persuade　them　to　be　a　little　slow；　or　maybe　not　screw　the　bulb　in　all　the　way。　In　any　case；　it　set　the　mood。　The　streets　were　dark；　and　the　dark　had　always　been　Kelly‘s　trusted　friend。
The　neighborhoods　w