The Brazilian rosewood door of Erica Weiss’s law firm should’ve been usedfor guitar backs. Twenty-six partners were listed in efficient pewter. Weiss’swas near the top.
She kept me waiting for twenty minutes but came out to greet me personally.Late thirties, silver-haired, blue-eyed, statuesque in charcoal1 Armani andcoral jewelry2.
“Sorry for the delay, Doctor. I was willing to come to you.”
“No problem.”
“Coffee?”
“Black would be fine.”
“Cookies? One of our paras whipped up some chocolate chips this morning.Cliff’s a great baker3.”
“No, thanks.”
“Coming up with black coffee.” She crossed a field of soft, navy carpet toan entry square of hardwood. Her exit was a castanet solo of stiletto heels.
Her lair4 was a bright, cool, corner space on the eighth floor of a high-riseon Wilshire, just east of Rossmore in Hancock Park.Gray felt walls, Macassar ebony deco revival6 furniture, chrome and blackleather chair that matched the finish of her computer monitor. Stanford law degreetucked in a corner where it was sure to be noticed.
A coffin-shaped rosewood conference table had been set up with four blackclub chairs on wheels. I took the head seat. Maybe it was meant for EricaWeiss; she could always tell me that.
An eastern wall of glass showcased a view of Koreatown and the distant glossof downtown. To the west, out of sight, was Nora Dowd’s house on McCadden.
Weiss returned with a blue mug bearing the law firm’s name and logo in goldleaf. The icon7 was a helmet over a wreath filled with Latin script. Somethingto do with honor and loyalty8. The coffee was strong and bitter.
She looked at the head chair for a second, settled to my right with nocomment. A Filipina carrying a court-reporter’s stenotype machine entered,followed by a young spike-haired man in a loose-fitting green suit who Weissintroduced as Cliff. “He’ll be witnessing your oath. Ready, Doctor?”
“Sure.”
She put on reading glasses and read a file while I sipped9 coffee. Then offcame the specs, her face got tight, and the blue in her eyes turned to steel.
“First of all,” she said and the change in her voice made me put my cupdown. She concentrated on the top of my head, as if something odd had sproutedthere. Pointing a finger, she turned” Doctor” into something unsavory.
For the next half hour, I fielded questions, all delivered in a stridentrhythm dripping with insinuation. Scores of questions, many taking PatrickHauser’s point of view. No letup; Erica Weiss seemed to be able to speakwithout breathing.
Just as suddenly, she said, “Finished.” Big smile. “Sorry if I was a littlecurt, Doctor, but I consider depositions10 rehearsals11 and I like my witnessesprepared for court.”
“You think it’ll come to that?”
“I’d bet against it, but I don’t bet anymore.” She peeled back a cuff12 andstudied a sapphire-ringed Lady Rolex. “In either event, you’ll be ready. Now,if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got an appointment.”
--- oOo ---
Ten-minute ride to McCadden Place.
Still no Range Rover but the driveway wasn’t empty.
A yacht-sized, baby-blue ’59 Cadillac convertible13 hogged14 the space. Gleamingwire wheels, white top folded down, tailfins that should’ve been registered aslethal weapons. Old black-and-yellow plates bore a classic car designation.
Brad and Billy Dowd stood next to the car, their backs to me. Brad wore alight brown linen15 suit and gestured with his right hand. His left arm rested onBilly’s shoulder. Billy wore the same blue shirt and baggy16 Dockers. Half a footshorter than his brother. But for his gray hair, the two of them could’vepassed for father and son.
Dad talking, son listening.
The sound of my engine cutting made Brad look over his shoulder. A secondlater, Billy aped him.
By the time I got out, both brothers were facing me. The polo shirt underBrad’s jacket was aquamarine pique17. On his feet were perforated,peanut-butter-colored Italian sandals. Cloudy day but he’d dressed for abeachside power lunch. His white hair was ragged18 and he looked tense. Billy’sface was blank. A grease stain rorschached the front of his pants.
He greeted me first. “Hi, Detective.”
“How’s it going, Billy?”
“Bad. Nora’s nowhere and we’re scared.”
Brad said, “More worried than scared, Bill.”
“You said—”
“Remember the brochures, Bill? What did I tell you?”
“Be positive,” said Billy.
“Exactly.”
I said, “Brochures?”
Billy pointed19 at the house. “Brad went in there again.”
Brad said, “First time was superficial. This time I opened some drawers,found travel brochures in my sister’s nightstand. Nothing seems out of placeexcept maybe some extra space in her clothes closet.”
“Packed to go,” I said.
“I hope that’s it.”
“What kind of brochures?” I said.
“Places in Latin America. Want to seethem?”
“Please.”
He jogged to the Caddy and brought back a stack of glossies20.
Pelican’s Pouch21, Southwater Caye, Belize; Turneffe Island, Belize; Posada LaMandragora, Buzios, Brazil; Hotel Monasterio, Cusco, Peru; Tapir Lodge,Ecuador.
“Looks like vacation plans,” I said.
“Still, you’d think she’d tell us,” said Brad. “I was going to call you tosee if you found any flights she took.”
Nora’s passport hadn’t been used.
I said, “Nothing so far but still checking. Does Nora ever fly privately22?”
“No. Why?”
“Covering all bases.”
“We’ve talked about doing that,” said Brad. “Mostly, I’ve talked about it.Being so close to Santa Monica Airport, you see thosebeauties take off and it looks real inviting23.”
Same thing Milo had said. For the Dowds itcould be more than fantasy.
I said, “What did Nora think?”
“She was ready to do a time share. But once I found out the cost, I saidforget it. The cool thing would be owning my own plane but that was never anoption.”
“How come?”
“We’re not close to that financial league, Detective.”
“Did Nora agree with that assessment24?”
Brad smiled. “Nora isn’t much for budgeting. Would she charter something onher own? I suppose it’s possible. But she’d have to get the money from me.”
“She doesn’t have her own funds?”
“She has a checking account for day to day, but for serious money she comesto me. It works out better for all of us.”
Billy’s eyes rose to the sky. “I never get to go anywhere.”
“Come on, Bill,” said Brad. “We flew to San Francisco.”
“That was a long time ago.”
“It was two years ago.”
“That’s a long time.” Billy’s eyes got dreamy. One hand dropped toward hiscrotch. Brad cleared his throat and Billy jammed the hand in his pocket.
I turned back to Brad. “It’s not in character for Nora to take off withouttelling you?”
“Nora does her own thing on a limited level, but she’s never traveled forany length of time without letting me know.”
“Those trips to Paris.”
“Exactly.” Brad glanced at the brochures. “I was going to contact thoseresorts, but if you want to do it, you can keep the information.”
“Will do.”
He rubbed the corner of one eye. “Maybe Nora will waltz in tomorrow with a—Iwas going to say with a terrific tan, but Nora doesn’t like the sun.”
I waved the brochures. “These are all sunny spots.”
Brad glanced at Billy. Billy’s eyes were still aimed at the sky. “I’m surethere’s a logical explanation, Detective. Just wish I…anyway, thanks forstopping by. If you learn anything, please let me know.”
“There’s something you should know,” I said. “Reynold Peaty was murderedlast night.”
Brad gasped25. “What! That’s crazy!”
Billy froze. Stayed that way but his eyes locked into mine. Nothing absentabout his gaze now.
Brad said, “Billy?”
Bill continued to stare at me. Pointed a finger. “You just said somethingterrible.”
“I’m sorry—”
“Reyn got murdered?” Billy’s hands balled. “Noway !”
Brad touched his arm but Billy shook him off and ran to the center of Nora’slawn, where he began punching his thighs26.
Brad hurried over, talked in his brother’s ear. Billy shook his headviolently and walked several feet away. Brad followed, talking nonstop. Billystepped away again. Brad persisted through a series of Billy’s head shakes andgrimaces. Finally, Billy allowed himself to be ushered27 back. Flared28 nostrilsdoubled the width of his pug nose. Thick white spittle flecked his lips.
“Who killed Reyn?” he demanded.
“A neighbor,” I said. “They had an argument and—”
“A neighbor?” said Brad. “One of our tenants29 ?Who? ”
“A man named Armando Vasquez.”
“Thatone. Shit, right from the get-go I had a bad feeling about him, but hisapplication was in order and nowadays you can’t turn down a tenant30 based onintuition.” He tugged31 at a lapel. “Jesus. What happened ?”
“What worried you about Vasquez?”
“He seemed like…you know, the cholo thing.”
“Where is he, Brad?” said Billy. “I wanna kill him back.”
“Shh! An argument? How’d it get from talking to murdering?”
“Hard to say.”
“Christ,” said Brad. “Talking about what?”
Billy’s eyes were slits32. “Where’s the lowlife ?”
“In jail,” said Brad. To me: “Right?”
“He’s in custody33.”
“For how long?” said Billy.
“A long time,” I said.
“Tell me when he gets out so I can shoot his ass5.”
Brad said, “Billy, stop! ”
Billy glared. Breathed heavily.
Brad tried to touch him. Again, Billy shook him off. “I’ll stop now, fine,okay. But when he gets out I’ll shoot a bullet up his ass.” He punched air.
“Billy, that’s—”
“Reyn was my friend. ”
“Bill, he wasn’t a real—okay, okay, whatever, Bill, I’m sorry. He was yourfriend, you have every right to be upset.”
“I’m not upset. I’m pissed. ”
“Fine, be pissed.” Back to me: “An argument ? Jesus, I was going to go bythat building today or tomorrow.”
“Why?”
Brad cocked a head toward his brother. Billy was studying the grass. “Makingthe circuit.”
About to fire and evict34 Peaty.
Billy punched his palm. “Reyn was my friend. Now he’s dead. That’s fucked up.”
I said, “What did you and Reyn do together, Billy?”
Brad tried to step between Billy and me but Billy twisted around him. “Reynwas polite to me.”
Brad said, “Billy, Reyn had some problems. Remember I told you about them—”
“Driving too fast. So what, you do that, Brad.”
“Billy…” Brad smiled and shrugged35.
Billy cocked his head at the Cadillac. “Not in the ’59, the ’59’s too fuckingslow—that’s what you always say, too fucking slow to move its big old fuckingass. You drive fast in the Sting Ray and the Porsche and the Austin—”
“Fine,” Brad snapped. He smiled again. “The detective gets it, Bill.”
“You say the Ray’s as fast as that girl in your class…what was her name—er,er, er, Jocelyn…the Sting Ray’s as fast asJocelyn…Jocelyn…Olderson…Oldenson…and just as expensive. You always say that,the Sting—”
“That’s a joke, Bill.”
“I’m not laughing,” said Billy. To me: “Reyn drove too fast a long time agoand got in trouble. Does that mean he has to get his ass killed?”
Brad said, “No one’s saying that, Billy.”
“I’m asking him, Brad.”
“It doesn’t mean that,” I said.
“It fucking pisses me off. ” Billy broke free again, headed for the driveway.Climbing over the Caddy’s passenger door with some effort, he sank down, armsfolded, and stared straight ahead.
Brad said, “Climbing in like that, he knows that’s against the—he mustreally be upset, though for the life of me I can’t tell you why.”
“He considers Peaty his friend.”
He lowered his voice. “Wishful thinking.”
“What do you mean?”
“My brother has no peer group. When I first hired Peaty I noticed himstaring at Billy like Billy was some kind of freak. I told him to stop doingthat and he did and after that he was friendly to Billy. I figured he waskissing up to me. Anyway, that’s probably what Billy’s responding to. Anyonewho treats him like half a man is his buddy36. After you guys dropped in at theoffice, he told me you were his buddies37.”
Over in the Cadillac, Billy started rocking.
I said, “He’s pretty upset for having no relationship at all with Peaty.”
“My brother has trouble with change.”
“Learning someone you know has been murdered is serious change.”
“Yes, of course, I’m not minimizing it. All I’m saying is it’s harder forBilly to process that kind of thing.” He shook his head. “Shot to death over astupid argument? Now that Billy’s not listening, can you tell me what reallyhappened?”
“Same answer,” I said. “I wasn’t protecting Billy.”
“Oh. Okay, sorry. Look, I’d better go calm him down, so if—”
“You’re sure Billy and Peaty didn’t associate.”
“I’m positive. Peaty was a janitor38, for God’s sake.”
I said, “He’s been to Billy’s apartment.”
Brad’s lower lip dropped. “What are you talking about?”
I repeated what Annalise Holzer had told me.
“Lost articles?” he said. “That makes no sense at all.”
“Is Billy absentminded?”
“Yes, but—”
“We were wondering if Peaty stopped by at your instruction.”
“My instruction? Ridiculous. As far as I knew, he didn’t drive, remember?”Brad wiped his brow. “Annalise said that?”
“Is she reliable?”
“God, I sure hope so.” He scratched his head. “If she said Peaty dropped by,I guess he did. But I’ve got to tell you, I’m astonished.”
“That Peaty and Billy would associate?”
“We don’t know they associated, just that Peaty dropped things off. Yes,Billy’s absentminded but usually he tells me when he’s left something and Itell him don’t worry, we’ll get it tomorrow. If Peaty did drop something offI’m sure that’s where it ended.”
He looked over at Billy. Rocking harder. “First Nora taking off and nowthis…”
I said, “They’re adults.”
“Chronologically39.”
“Must be hard, being the protector.”
“Mostly it’s no big deal. Sometimes it’s a challenge.”
“This is one of those sometimes.”
“This is a real big sometime.”
“At some point,” I said, “we’d like to talk to Billy about Peaty.”
“Why? Peaty’s dead and you know who shot him.”
“Just to be thorough.”
“What does it have to do with Billy?”
“Probably nothing.”
“Is Peaty still a suspect for that girl’s murder?”
“Still?”
“All those questions you asked about him when you came to my house. It waspretty obvious what you were getting at. Do you really think Peaty could’vedone something like that?”
“It’s an open investigation,” I said.
“Meaning you won’t say. Look, I appreciate what you guys do but I can’t justlet you browbeat40 Billy.”
“Browbeating’s not on the agenda, Mr. Dowd. Just a few questions.”
“Believe me, Detective, he has nothing to tell you.”
“You’re sure about that.”
“Of course I am. I can’t allow my brother to be drawn41 into anything sordid42.”
“Because he’s chronologically an adult but…”
“Exactly.”
“He doesn’t seem retarded,” I said.
“I told you, he isn’t,” said Brad. “What he is no one’s ever been sure.Nowadays he’d probably be called some kind of autistic. Back when we were kidshe was just ‘different.’”
“Must’ve been tough.”
“Whatever.” His eyes shifted sideways toward the Cadillac. Billy rested hishead down on the dashboard. “There isn’t a mean bone in his body, Detective,but that didn’t stop other kids from tormenting43 him. I’m younger but I alwaysfelt like the older brother. That’s the way it’s remained and I’m going to haveto ask you to respect our privacy.”
“Maybe it would be good for Billy to talk,” I said.
“Why?”
“He seemed pretty traumatized by the news. Sometimes getting it out helps.”
“Now you sound like a shrink,” said Brad. New edge in his voice.
“You’ve got experience with shrinks?”
“Back when we were kids Billy got taken to all kinds of quacks44. Vitaminquacks, hypnosis quacks, exercise quacks, psychiatric quacks. No one did a damnthing for him. So let’s all just stick to what we know best. You chase bad guysand I’ll take care of my brother.”
I walked over to the Caddy, Brad’s protests at my back. Billy sat up, rigid45.His eyes were shut and his hands clawed the placket of his shirt.
“Nice seeing you again, Billy.”
“It wasn’t nice. This is a bad news day.”
Brad got in the driver’s seat, started up the engine.
“Real bad news,” I said.
Billy nodded. “Real real real bad.”
Brad turned the ignition key. “I’m backing out, Detective.”
I waited until they’d been gone for five minutes, then walked up to NoraDowd’s door and knocked. Got the silence I’d expected.
Empty mailbox. Brother Brad had collected Nora’s correspondence. Cleaning upeveryone’s mess, as usual. He claimed Billy was harmless but his opinion wasworthless.
I got back in the Sevilleand drove away, passing Albert Beamish’s house. The old man’s curtains weredrawn but he opened his door.
Red shirt, green pants, drink in hand.
I stopped and lowered the car window. “How’s it going?”
Beamish started to say something, shook his head in disgust, went backinside.
收听单词发音 |
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charcoal
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| n.炭，木炭，生物炭 | |
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jewelry
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| n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝 | |
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baker
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| n.面包师 | |
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lair
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| n.野兽的巢穴；躲藏处 | |
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ass
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| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
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revival
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| n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振 | |
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icon
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| n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像 | |
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loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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sipped
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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depositions
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| 沉积（物）( deposition的名词复数 )； （在法庭上的）宣誓作证； 处置； 罢免 | |
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rehearsals
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| n.练习( rehearsal的名词复数 )；排练；复述；重复 | |
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cuff
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| n.袖口；手铐；护腕；vt.用手铐铐；上袖口 | |
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convertible
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| adj.可改变的，可交换，同意义的；n.有活动摺篷的汽车 | |
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hogged
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| adj.（船）中拱的，（路）拱曲的 | |
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linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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baggy
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| adj.膨胀如袋的，宽松下垂的 | |
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pique
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| v.伤害…的自尊心，使生气 n.不满，生气 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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glossies
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| 用亮光纸印刷的杂志( glossy的名词复数 ) | |
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pouch
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| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
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privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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assessment
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| n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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thighs
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| n.股，大腿( thigh的名词复数 )；食用的鸡（等的）腿 | |
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ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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tenants
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| n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者 | |
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tenant
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| n.承租人；房客；佃户；v.租借，租用 | |
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tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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slits
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| n.狭长的口子，裂缝( slit的名词复数 )v.切开，撕开( slit的第三人称单数 )；在…上开狭长口子 | |
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custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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evict
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| vt.驱逐，赶出，撵走 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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buddy
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| n.（美口）密友，伙伴 | |
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buddies
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| n.密友( buddy的名词复数 )；同伴；弟兄；（用于称呼男子，常带怒气）家伙v.（如密友、战友、伙伴、弟兄般）交往( buddy的第三人称单数 )；做朋友；亲近（…）；伴护艾滋病人 | |
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janitor
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| n.看门人，管门人 | |
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chronologically
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| ad. 按年代的 | |
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browbeat
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| v.欺侮；吓唬 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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sordid
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| adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的 | |
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tormenting
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| 使痛苦的，使苦恼的 | |
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quacks
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| abbr.quacksalvers 庸医，骗子(16世纪习惯用水银或汞治疗梅毒的人)n.江湖医生( quack的名词复数 )；江湖郎中；（鸭子的）呱呱声v.（鸭子）发出嘎嘎声( quack的第三人称单数 ) | |
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rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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