The gate to the PlayHouse property was open. A sky heavy with marine1 fogbrowned the grass and deepened the house’s green siding to mustard.
Bradley Dowd stood in front of the garage. One of the barn doors was ajar.Dowd wore a black cashmere crewneck over fawn2 slacks and black sandals. The fogturned his white hair sooty.
No sign of his Porsche on the street. A red, split-windowed, sixtiesCorvette was parked up a bit. All the other vehicles in sight were as glamorousas oatmeal.
Dowd waved as we pulled to the curb3. Something metallic4 glinted in his hand.When we reached the garage, he flung the door open. The structure’s agedexterior was deceiving. Inside were black cement floors polished to a gloss5 andcedar-plank walls adorned6 with racing7 posters. Halogen lights glinted from theceiling rafters.
Triple garage, all three spaces occupied.
To the left was an impeccably restored green Austin Healy, low-slung,waspishly aggressive. Next to that, another Vette, white, happily chromed.Softer body style than the one on the street. Nipple taillights. One of my gradschool profs had tooled around in a car like that. He’d bragged8 about it beinga ’53.
A dust filter hummed between the two sports cars. It hadn’t done much forthe dented9 brown Toyota Corolla in the right-hand slot.
Brad Dowd said, “I got here an hour ago, bringing my ’63 Sting Ray back fromvalve work.” The shiny thing in his grip was a combination padlock. “This pieceof crap was sitting where the Stinger’s supposed to go. The doors were unlockedso I checked the reg. It’s Meserve’s. There’s something on the front seat thatspooks me a little.”
Milo walked past him, circled the Corolla,squinted inside the car, returned.
“See it?” said Brad Dowd.
“Snow globe.”
“It’s the one I told you about. When Nora broke off with him she must’vegiven it back. Don’t you think it’s a little weird10 that he kept it in hisdamned heap? And parked the heap in my space?” Dowd’s jaw11 trembled. “I calledNora yesterday, no answer. Same thing today. She doesn’t have to inform me ofher comings and goings, but usually she returns calls. I’m going over to herhouse but first I wanted you to see this.”
Albert Beamish had spied Nora driving away four days ago. Milosaid nothing about that. “Meserve ever leave his car here before, Mr. Dowd?”
“Hell, no. Nora uses the main building for the school but the garage ismine. I’m always in a space crunch12.”
“Lots of cars?”
“A few. Sometimes I set aside slots in my buildings, but it’s not alwaysenough. I used to keep a hangar at the airport, which was perfect because it’sright near the office. Then all the demand from the jet owners drove therentals up.”
He jiggled the padlock. “What bothers me is that only Nora and I know thecombination. I wanted her to have it in case of fire or some other disaster.She wouldn’t give it out to him. ”
“You’re sure of that,” said Milo.
“What do you mean?”
“Nora’s an adult, sir. Maybe she chose to disregard your advice.”
“About Meserve? No way, Nora agreed with me about that lowlife.” Bradlowered his hand and swung the padlock. “What if he forced her to open up?”
“Why would he do that, sir?”
“To hide that thing, ” said Dowd. He eyed the Toyota. “Leaving that stupid globe,there…there’s something off about it. What are you going to do about it?”
“Any idea how long the car’s been here?”
“No more than two weeks because that’s when I took the Stinger in for valvework.”
Milo circled the car again. “Doesn’t seemto be much in here other than the globe.”
“There isn’t,” said Dowd, wringing13 his hands. The padlock clicked. He hungit on the door hasp and returned, shaking his head. “I warned her about him.”
Milo said, “All we’ve got is his car.”
“I know, I know—think I’m overreacting?”
“It’s normal to worry about your sister but let’s not jump to conclusions.”
“What do I do with the heap?”
“We’ll have the heap towed to the police impound lot.”
“When?”
“I’ll phone right now.”
“Thanks.” Brad Dowd tapped his foot as Milomade the call.
“Within half an hour, Mr. Dowd.”
“Fine, fine—you know what else is bothering me? That girl—the Brand girl.She got mixed up with Meserve and look what happened to her. Nora’s too damnedtrusting, Lieutenant14. What if he showed up and she let him in and he gotviolent?”
“We’ll check the car for signs of violence. Are you sure your sister andyourself are the only ones with the combination?”
“Damned sure.”
“No way Nora could’ve given it to Meserve? Back when she was stillinterested in him?”
“She was never interested in him—we’re talking a brief flirtation15.” Dowdchewed his lip. “She’d never give him the combination. I explicitly16 forbade herto give it out. It’s not logical, anyway. If she wanted to open the garage, shecould do it herself. Which she wouldn’t, because she knew the Stinger would becoming back.”
“Did she know when?”
“That’s what I was calling her about yesterday. To tell her I’d be drivingit back. She didn’t answer.”
“So she didn’t know,” said Milo.
“Let me try her house again.” He produced a shiny black cell phone, puncheda two-digit speed-dial code. “Still no answer.”
“Could Reynold Peaty have learned the combination, sir? From working here?”
Dowd’s eyes widened. “Reynold? Why would he want it? Is there something youhaven’t told me about him?”
“Turns out he does drive. Has an unregistered vehicle.”
“What? Why the hell would he do that? I pay for a van pool to pick him upand take him to work.”
“He drove himself to a job in Pasadenatoday.” Milo read off the address from hispad.
“Yeah, that’s one of mine. Oh, Jesus—you’re sure—of course you are, you’veobviously been watching him.” Dowd ran a thumb through his white hair. Hisother hand clenched17. “I asked you the first time if I should worry about him.Now you’re telling me I should.” Brad shaded his eyes with a shaky hand. “He’sbeen alone with my sister. This is a nightmare—I can’t tell Billy.”
“Where is Billy?”
“Waiting for me at the office—the key is to find Nora. What the hell are yougoing to do about that, Lieutenant?”
Milo eyed the PlayHouse. “Have you checkedin there?”
“There? No—oh, man!” Brad Dowd bolted toward the building, running aroundthe porch rails with long, smooth strides, fumbling18 in his pockets as hevaulted steps two at a time. Milo went after him and when Dowd turned the key, Milo stilled his hand.
“Me first, sir.”
Dowd stiffened19, then backed away. “Fine. Go. Hurry.”
He positioned himself on the east end of the porch where he leaned on therail and stared at the garage. Sun peeked20 out from under the marine layer.Foliage21 was green again. Dowd’s red Corvette took on an orange sheen.
Six silent minutes passed before the door opened. Milosaid, “Doesn’t appear to be any crime scene, but I’ll call the techs and havethem take a look if you’d like.”
“What would that entail22? Would they tear the place up?”
“There’d be fingerprint23 dust but no structural24 damage unless something cameup.”
“Like what?”
“Signs of violence.”
“But you don’t see any?”
“No, sir.”
“You need my permission to bring in your people?”
“With no probable cause I do.”
“Then I don’t see the point. Let me go in, I’ll tell you right away ifanything’s off.”
Polished oak, everywhere.
Paneled walls, broad-plank flooring, beamed ceilings, window casements25.Vigorously grained, quarter-sawn wood milled a century ago, mellowed26 the colorof old bourbon and held together by mortise and tenon joints27. Darker wood—blackwalnut—had been used for the pegs28. Fringed brown velvet29 drapes covered some ofthe windows.
Others had been left clear, revealing stained glass insets. Flowers andfruit and greenery, high-quality work, maybe Tiffany.
Not much natural light flowed in. The house was dim, silent, smaller than itappeared from the street with a modest entry hall centering two front rooms.What had once been the dining room was set up with old overstuffed thrift-shopchairs, vinyl beanbags, rolled up futons, rubber exercise pads. An open doorwayoffered a glimpse of a white kitchen.
A stage had been constructed at the rear of the former parlor30. Raggedplywood affair on raw fir joists made even cruder by its contrast to theprecision joinery and gleaming surfaces everywhere else. Three rows of foldingchairs for the audience. Photos taped to the outer wall, many of themblack-and-white. What looked to be stills from old movies.
Brad Dowd said, “Everything looks normal.” His eyes shifted to an open door,stage right. “Did you check in back?”
Milo nodded. “Yup, but feel free.”
Dowd went in there and I followed. A short, dark hallway led to two smallrooms with an old lav between them. Once-upon-a-time bedrooms paneled with beadboard below the chair rail, painted pea green above. One chamber31 was vacant,the other stored additional folding chairs and was decorated with more moviestills. Both closets were empty.
Brad Dowd moved in and out quickly. The aging-surfer insouciance32 I’d seen athis house had given way to gamecock jumpiness.
Nothing like family to shake you up.
He left. I lingered and glanced at the photos. Mae West, Harold Lloyd, JohnBarrymore. Doris Day and James Cagney in Love Me or Leave Me. Veronica Lakeand Alan Ladd in The Blue Dahlia. Voight and Hoffman in Midnight Cowboy.Black-and-white faces I didn’t recognize. A section devoted33 to youth acts. TheLennon Sisters. The Brady Bunch. The Partridge Family. The Cowsills. A quartetof grinning kids in bell-bottoms called the Kolor Krew.
I returned to the front room. Milo and BradDowd sat at the edge of the stage. Dowd’s head was down. Milowas saying, “You can help by trying to remember where your sister goes when shetravels.”
“She wouldn’t let that thing in the garage and just go off somewhere.”
“Covering bases, Mr. Dowd.”
“Traveling…okay, she flies to Parisevery year. Later in the year, mid-April. She stays at the Crillon, costs afortune. Sometimes she goes on to the south, rents a little chateau34. Thelongest she’s been away is a month.”
“Anywhere else?”
“She used to go everywhere—England,Italy, Germany—but France is the only place she reallylikes. She speaks high school French, never had any of those problems you hearabout.”
“What about here in the States?”
“She’s been to a health spa in Mexico a few times,” said Dowd.“Down in Tecate. I think she also goes to a place in Ojai. Or Santa Barbara, somewhere in that vicinity.She likes the whole spa thing—you think that could be it? She just wanted to bepampered and I’m worrying about nothing? Hell, maybe Meserve did learn thecombination and stashed35 that piece of shit and Nora knows nothing about it andis getting a mud pack or whatever.”
His fingers drummed his knees. “I’ll get on the horn, call every damn spa inthe state.”
“We’ll do that, sir.”
“I want to do something. ”
“Help me by thinking back,” said Milo. “DidNora mention anything about traveling recently?”
“Definitely not.” Brad bounded up. “I’m going to check on Billy, then it’sover to Nora’s house, Lieutenant. She doesn’t like me using my key but what ifshe fell and needs help?”
Milo said, “When’s the last time youremember seeing her with Meserve?”
“After Meserve pulled that stunt36 and she assured me it was over.”
Milo said nothing.
Dowd’s laugh was bitter. “So what’s his damn car doing here, right? Youthink I’m clueless.”
“Your sister’s an adult.”
“So to speak,” said Brad Dowd softly.
“It’s tough being in charge,” I said.
“Yeah, it’s a day at the beach.”
Milo said, “So you have a key to Nora’shouse.”
“In my safe at the office but I’ve never used it. She gave it to me yearsago—same reason I gave her the combination to the garage. If she’s not home,maybe I’ll look around just a little. See if I can find her passport. I’m notsure where she keeps it but I can try. Though I guess you could find outfaster—just call the airlines.”
“After Nine-Eleven, it’s a little complicated,” said Milo.
“Bureaucratic bullshit?”
“Yes, sir. I can’t even go into your sister’s house with you, unless sheexplicitly gave you permission to bring in guests.”
“Guests,” said Brad Dowd. “Like we’re having a goddamn party—no, she neverdid that. Truth is, I’ve never gone in there myself without Nora. Never thoughtI’d need to.”
He brushed invisible dust from his sweater. “I’m firing Reynold.”
“Please don’t,” said Milo.
“But—”
“There’s no evidence against him, Mr. Dowd, and I don’t want to alert him.”
“He’s a goddamn pervert37, ” said Brad Dowd. “What if he does something on thejob? Who gets sued for liability? What else haven’t you told me?”
“Nothing, sir.”
Dowd stared at Milo. “Lieutenant, I’m sorryif it messes up your case, but I am going to fire him. Once I’ve talked to mylawyer and my accountant, make sure everything’s by the book. It’s myprerogative to handle my business any—”
“We’re watching Peaty,” said Milo, “so thelikelihood of his stepping out of line is next to nil38. I’d strongly prefer youto hold off.”
“You’d prefer, ” said Dowd. “I’d prefer not having to deal with everyoneelse’s shit.”
He left us, passed the rows of folding chairs. Kicked a metal leg. Cursedunder his breath.
Milo remained on the stage, chin in hand.
One-man show. The Sad Detective.
Brad Dowd made it to the entry hall and looked back. “You planning onsleeping here? C’mon, I need to lock up.”
收听单词发音 |
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marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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fawn
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| n.未满周岁的小鹿；v.巴结，奉承 | |
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curb
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| n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制 | |
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metallic
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| adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的 | |
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gloss
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| n.光泽，光滑；虚饰；注释；vt.加光泽于；掩饰 | |
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adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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bragged
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| v.自夸，吹嘘( brag的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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dented
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| v.使产生凹痕( dent的过去式和过去分词 )；损害；伤害；挫伤（信心、名誉等） | |
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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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crunch
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| n.关键时刻；艰难局面；v.发出碎裂声 | |
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wringing
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| 淋湿的，湿透的 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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flirtation
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| n.调情，调戏，挑逗 | |
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explicitly
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| ad.明确地，显然地 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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fumbling
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| n. 摸索,漏接 v. 摸索,摸弄,笨拙的处理 | |
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stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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peeked
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| v.很快地看( peek的过去式和过去分词 )；偷看；窥视；微露出 | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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entail
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| vt.使承担，使成为必要，需要 | |
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fingerprint
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| n.指纹；vt.取...的指纹 | |
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structural
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| adj.构造的，组织的，建筑（用）的 | |
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casements
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| n.窗扉( casement的名词复数 ) | |
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mellowed
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| （使）成熟( mellow的过去式和过去分词 )； 使色彩更加柔和，使酒更加醇香 | |
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joints
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| 接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语） | |
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pegs
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| n.衣夹( peg的名词复数 )；挂钉；系帐篷的桩；弦钮v.用夹子或钉子固定( peg的第三人称单数 )；使固定在某水平 | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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insouciance
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| n.漠不关心 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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chateau
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| n.城堡，别墅 | |
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stashed
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| v.贮藏( stash的过去式和过去分词 )；隐藏；藏匿；藏起 | |
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stunt
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| n.惊人表演，绝技，特技；vt.阻碍...发育，妨碍...生长 | |
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pervert
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| n.堕落者，反常者；vt.误用，滥用；使人堕落，使入邪路 | |
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nil
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| n.无，全无，零 | |
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