Marcia Peaty switched the subject and Milodidn’t stop her.
Procedural questions about how to take possession of her cousin’s body. Hisrundown wasn’t much different from the one he’d given Lou Giacomo.
She said, “Paperwork aerobics1. Okay, thanks for your time. Am I wasting mytime asking you to keep me informed?”
“Something resolves, we’ll let you know, Marcia.”
“If, not when? You have any serious leads?”
He smiled.
She said, “That’s why I never did Homicide. Too much effort getting theoptimism meter up.”
“Vice2 can get sketchy3, too.”
“That’s why I didn’t do Vice for long. Give me a nice boosted set ofwheels.”
“Chrome don’t bleed,” said Milo.
“Ain’t that the truth.” She reached for the check. Miloplaced his hand on it.
“Let me pay for my share.”
“On the house,” said Milo.
“You or the department?”
“The department.”
“Right.” She put down a twenty, slid out of the booth, shot us a tightsmile, and hurried off.
Milo pocketed the cash and pushed crumbsaround his plate. “Ol’ Brad’s been a baaad boy.”
“Young blondes,” I said. “Too bad Tori dyed her hair.”
“Amelia, the whole platinum4 bombshell thing. What, he’s killing5 Stepmommyover and over?”
“His own mother abandoned him, handed him over to someone who didn’t evenpretend to care. He has lots of reasons to hate women.”
“He was in his thirties when Julie the Showgirl disappeared. Think she washis first?”
“Hard to say. The main thing was he got away with it, built up hisconfidence for the move back to L.A.After Amelia and the captain died, he managed to take over the family realestate empire. Cared well for Billy and Nora because happy sibs don’t complain.Maybe the PlayHouse is a tax dodge6 and a sop7 for Nora, but it was good for him,too. Start an acting8 school, who shows up?”
“Gorgeous mutants,” he said. “All those blonde auditions10.”
“And rejects like the Gaidelases. Normally, Brad would ignore people likeCathy and Andy but they reminded him of Amelia and the captain, down to thecaptain’s effeminate manner. How’s this for a scenario11: He ran into themleaving an audition9. Or waiting for a tryout. Either way, it had to feel likedestiny, he played nice guy, promised to help. Told them meanwhile enjoy yourvacation. Do some hiking, I know a great spot.”
“Billy’s acreage in Latigo.” He folded and unfolded his napkin. Snatched uphis phone, got Harold Fordebrand’s number from Vegas 411, called, left amessage. “Guy sounds exactly like Ed.”
I said, “The Kolor Krew was a quartet.”
“Who?”
“The kiddie-pop group Amelia tried to market.” I described the publicityshot on the PlayHouse wall. “The Dowd kids plus one. Maybe there’s someone elsewho can fill us in about the good old days.”
He said, “You feel like researching the history of bubblegum music, be myguest. I need another face-to-face with the sib who really ain’t one. Startingwith a drop-in at the BNB office. If Brad’s not there, it’s over to his house.Eventually, a day at the beach will be on the agenda.”
I said, “Think Billy even knows he owns the Latigo property?”
“Brad bought it and put it in Billy’s name?”
“Brad lives near the ocean, has surfed enough to grow knots on his knees.Meaning he knows Malibu.A nice, secluded12 oceanview lot on the land-side might appeal to him, especiallyif it was paid for with Billy’s money. Being in charge of family finances, Bradcould get Billy to sign on the dotted line. Or just forge Billy’s name.Meanwhile, Billy pays the property tax and doesn’t have a clue.”
“The assessor says there are no structures on the lot. What would Brad useit for?”
“Meditation, planning a dream house, burying bodies.”
“Billy pays, Brad plays,” he says. “Nora’s no business type, either. MeaningBrad can basically do what he wants with all the money.” He rubbed his face.“All this time, I’ve been looking for Peaty’s stash13 spots, but Brad has accessto dozens of buildings and garages all over the county.”
“He came right out and told us he stores his cars in some of theproperties.”
“He did, indeed. What was that, playing mind games?”
“Or bragging14 about his collection. This is a guy who needs to feelimportant. I’m wondering if it could’ve been him watching Angeline Wassermanfrom that Range Rover.”
“Why would it be him?”
“Last time I saw him, he had on a nice linen15 suit. There were a bunch justlike it hanging from a rack at the Barneys outlet16.”
“Snappy dresser,” he said. “Maybe a regular, just like Wasserman. Heobserves her, knows she’s absentminded, lifts her purse.”
“The goal was to get her phone, he couldn’t ’ve have cared less about themoney or the credit cards,” I said. “The more I think about that, the better Ilike it: well-dressed middle-aged17 guy who shops there all the time, no reasonto suspect him. Angeline might know his face but the Rover’s tinted18 windowswould’ve prevented her from realizing it was him. It was his ride sheconcentrated on, anyway—‘twinsie karma.’”
He retrieved19 Wasserman’s number from his pad and punched it. “Ms. Wasserman?Lieutenant20 Sturgis, again…I know you are but just one more question, okay?There’s a gentleman who shops at the outlet regularly, mid-forties,nice-looking, white hair—you do…oh…no, it’s more…maybe…okay, thanks…no, that’sit.”
He hung up. “‘That’s Brad, I see him all the time. Did he have something stolen,too ?’”
“Seeing him as a victim, not a suspect,” I said, “because he’s well-off andstylish.”
“You got it. ‘Great guy, terrific taste, you should see the gorgeous cars hedrives, Lieutenant, each time a different one.’ Turns out Angeline and ol’ Bradask each other’s opinions about outfits22 all the time. He’s always honest but hedoes it with ‘sensitivity.’”
“Charming fellow.”
“You think his driving Nora’s wheels means Nora and Meserve are in on itwith him? Or tough luck for them.”
“Don’t know, but either way Brad had something to do with the calls toVasquez.”
“Setting up his own cousin.”
“The same cousin he put to work as a janitor23 and housed in a dump. GivenBrad’s background, blood ties could twist all sorts of ways. If Vasquez wastelling the truth about getting calls the previous week, the setup wasextremely well thought out.”
“Priming a murder,” he said. “How could Brad be sure Vasquez would blow andshoot Peaty?”
“He couldn’t, but he knew both parties and Mrs. Stadlbraun, played the odds24.He told me he had bad feelings about Vasquez but rented to him anyway becausethere was no legal out. That’s nonsense. A landlord, especially one with Brad’sexperience, can always find a reason.”
“Game of chance,” he said.
“Brad lived in Vegas. One table doesn’t work out, move to the next one.”
“Okay, let’s assume he set Peaty up. Why?”
“With Peaty’s police record and pattern of creepy behavior, he’d be aperfect scapegoat25 for Michaela and Tori and any other missing girls who turnedup. Look what happened after the shooting: You got to search Peaty’s van,discovered the rape-kit stashed26 conveniently in back—no real effort to conceal27.And, lo and behold28, there was a snow globe in the toolbox. Just like the oneleft on the seat of Meserve’s Toyota.Which you knew about in the first place because Brad called you in a panicafter finding the car in one of his own parking spaces. If Meserve cut townwith Nora, why would he leave his wheels where they were sure to be discovered?At the very least, he could’ve put the Toyotain Nora’s garage—which, by the way, is empty—and avoided ticking off Brad.”
“By the way,” he said.
“Crowbar.”
He shook his head, drank.
I said, “Maybe Nora’s not the only one with theatrical29 interests. Onlyreason we knew about the snow globe in the first place was Brad brought it upwhen we talked to him at his house.”
“Painting Meserve as a gold digger. What was that? Another misdirect?”
“Or it was true and he had good reason to hate Meserve.”
He loosened his belt, crushed ice with his molars and swallowed it. Pickedup the check.
“On you or the department?” I said.
“For your information, I’m trying out that bumper30 sticker wisdom, spontaneousacts of kindness blah blah blah. Maybe the Almighty31 will reward me with a closeon this mess.”
“Never knew you to be religious.”
“There’s things that can get me praying.”
Walking to the parking lot, I said, “Three personal real estate parcels forBilly and Nora, none for Brad. Just like the birthday parties. His childhoodwas one big exclusion32 because the Dowds never stopped seeing him as anythingbut an imposition. Amelia recruited him for the Kolor Krew only because hecould sing. When his behavior grew troublesome, she sent him away.”
“Used and discarded,” he said. “Persimmons.”
“I’d put money on a whole lot more antisocial behavior. The point is, thesame pattern’s continued into adulthood33: As long as Brad serves apurpose—taking care of Nora and Billy—he gets creature comforts. But at theroot, he’s hired help. Doesn’t even own the house he lives in, legally he’sjust another tenant21. In a sense, it’s to his advantage, spending other people’smoney and living large. But still, it has to grate.”
“Hired help passing himself off as the boss,” he said. “Wonder how hefinagled himself into that position.”
“Probably by default—Nora and Billy are incapable34. He’s the caretaker and the payoff is cars, clothes, properties that he palms off as his. Image. He pullsoff the aw-shucks big-money thing beautifully. Angeline Wasserman’s part ofthat world and she bought it.”
“Good actor.”
“Good at impressing women,” I said. “Young, naive35 women would be nochallenge. Tori’s ex-husband figured she’d been dating someone with money. Astarving actress serving fish to make the rent on a North Hollywood dump and a guy with a Porsche? Same for Michaela.”
“Michaela never indicated to you that she was seeing anyone?”
“No, but it wouldn’t have come up. My consult focused on her legal problems.One thing she did make clear: Dylan was no longer her style. Maybe becauseshe’d found someone better.”
“Mr. Hot Wheels,” he said. “Still doesn’t answer the question of how Bradgot to pull the reins36. Why would the Dowds hand over all that control?”
“Maybe they didn’t but once the parents were dead he wrangled37 his way in asa trustee of the estate. Cozying up to the lawyers, greasing someone’s palm,making the case that he was the best choice—someone with smarts who had Billy’sand Nora’s best interests at heart. If Nora and Billy agreed, why not? Once hewas in, he was set. Trustees don’t come up for review unless someone complainsabout abuse of fiduciary38 responsibility. Nora and Billy get their needs met,everyone’s happy.”
“The PlayHouse and the family manse for her, takeout pizza and a wide-screenfor Billy.”
“Meanwhile Brad collects the monthly rent checks.”
“Think he’s siphoning off cash?”
“Wouldn’t shock me.”
He strode to the parking attendant’s booth, paid for both our cars.
I said, “Now you’re veering39 into Mother Teresa territory.”
He gazed skyward and pressed his palms together. “Hear that? How about someevidentiary manna?”
“God helps those who help themselves,” I said. “Time to check the smallprint on BNB’s letters of incorporation40.”
“First, I want to face Brad one-on-one.”
We sat in his unmarked talking about the best approach. The final decisionwas another chat about Reynold Peaty’s shooting, Milotalking, me scoping out the nonverbal cues. Mentioning the phone calls toArmando Vasquez if the timing41 seemed right.
We took separate cars to the strip mall on Ocean Park.The door to BNB Properties was locked and no one answered. As Miloturned to leave, the door at the end of the second-floor landing caught my eye.
Sunny Sky Travel
We Specialize in Tropical Getaways
Posters in the window. Sapphire42 ocean, emerald palm trees, bronze peoplehoisting cocktails43.
At the bottom: BRAZIL!!!
Milo followed my gaze, had the door open bythe time I got there.
A young cat-eyed woman wearing a sleeveless raspberry top sat at a computerstation typing. Soft eyes, Rubenesque roundness. A nameplate on the desk saidLourdes Texeiros. A hands-free phone headset rested atop a nest of black curls.The walls were papered with more posters. A revolving44 rack of brochures filleda corner.
She smiled at us, said, “Hold on a sec,” to the hands-free mouthpiece. Iwent over to the rack, found what I was looking for.
Turneffe Island, Belize; Posada La Mandragora, Buzios, Brazil; HotelMonasterio, Tapir Lodge45, Pelican’s Pouch46. Housed in adjacent compartments47.
“Can I help you guys?”
“Your neighbor a few doors down, Mr. Bradley Dowd,” said Milo,flashing the badge. “How well do you know him?”
“The real estate guy? Did he do something?”
“His name came up in an investigation48.”
“White-collar crime?”
“He make you uneasy?”
“No, I don’t know him, he’s hardly ever at his office. He just seems like awhite-collar guy. If he did something.”
Dark eyes sharpened with curiosity.
Milo said, “Does he come to his office byhimself?”
“Usually with another guy, I think it’s his brother ’cause he seems to belooking after him. Even though the other guy looks older. Sometimes he leaveshim there by himself. He’s kind of…you know, not quite right. The other guy.”
“Billy.”
“Don’t know his name.” She frowned.
“Has he bothered you?”
“Not really. Once I was here and the air-conditioning wasn’t working so Ihad the door open. He came in, said ‘Hi,’ and just stood there. I said ‘Hi’back and asked if he was thinking of taking a trip. He blushed, said he wished,and left. Only times I saw him after that was downstairs at the Italian place,getting food for his brother. When he saw me he got real embarrassed, like he’dbeen caught doing something naughty. I tried to make a little conversation butit was hard for him. That’s when I realized he wasn’t normal.”
“How so?”
“Kind of retarded49? You can’t tell by looking, he looks like a regular guy.”
“Has Brad ever come in here?”
“Also just once, a couple of weeks ago. He introduced himself, realfriendly, maybe too much, you know?”
“Slick?”
“Exactly. He told me he was thinking of taking a vacation in Latin America and wanted information. I offered to sitdown with him and discuss choices but he said he’d start with those.” Pointingto the rack. “He grabbed a handful but I never heard back. Did he leave thecountry or something?”
“Why would you ask that?” said Milo.
“The places we book,” she said. “In the movies they always have bad guysrunning to Brazil.Everyone thinks there’s no extradition50 treaty. Trust me, anywhere without atreaty you wouldn’t want to vacation.”
“I’ll bet. Anything else you want to tell us about him?”
“Can’t think of any.”
“Okay, thanks.” He leaned over her desk. “We’d appreciate it if you didn’tmention we were here asking about him.”
“Of course not,” said Lourdes Texeiros. “Should I be scared of him?”
Milo looked at her. Took in the blackcurls. “Not at all.”
“Another misdirection,” I said as we descended51 the stairs. “Wanting us tothink Nora traveled with Meserve. Either because he’s protecting her or he madeher and Meserve disappear. I’m betting on door number two.”
“All these years he takes care of a coupla mopes who just happen to bemembers of the Lucky Sperm52 Club. Why change all that now?”
“Nora had always deferred53 to him. Maybe that changed.”
“Meserve shows up,” he said.
“And captures her affections,” I said. “Another self-styled player,good-looking, ambitious, manipulative. Younger than Brad, but not unlike him.Could be that’s what attracted Nora to him in the first place. Whatever thereason, she wasn’t giving him up the way she had the others.”
“Meserve worms his way into her affections and her pocketbook.”
“Deep-pocketbook. Brad’s got nominal54 power but he serves at the discretionof the estate. Nora’s a ditz but it would be hard to claim she’s not of soundmind, legally. If she demanded control over her own assets, it would pose amajor complication for Brad. If she convinced Billy to do the same, it would bea disaster.”
“Bye-bye, fa?ade.”
“Banished when he’s of no further use,” I said. “Just like when he was akid.”
We walked in silence to the cars.
He said, “Michaela and Tori and the Gaidelases and Lord knows how manyothers get done for blood-lust and Nora and Meserve get done for money?”
“Or a mixture of blood-lust and money.”
He considered that. “Nothing new about that, I guess. Rick’s relativesdidn’t just lose their lives in the Holocaust55. Their homes and their businessesand all their other possessions got confiscated56.”
“Take it all,” I said. “The ultimate trophy57.”
收听单词发音 |
1
aerobics
|
|
| n.健身操，健美操，韵律操 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
vice
|
|
| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
sketchy
|
|
| adj.写生的，写生风格的，概略的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
platinum
|
|
| n.白金 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
killing
|
|
| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
dodge
|
|
| v.闪开，躲开，避开；n.妙计，诡计 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
sop
|
|
| n.湿透的东西，懦夫；v.浸，泡，浸湿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
acting
|
|
| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
audition
|
|
| n.(对志愿艺人等的)面试(指试读、试唱等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
auditions
|
|
| n.（对拟做演员、歌手、乐师等人的）试听，试音( audition的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
scenario
|
|
| n.剧本，脚本；概要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
secluded
|
|
| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
stash
|
|
| v.藏或贮存于一秘密处所；n.隐藏处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
bragging
|
|
| v.自夸，吹嘘( brag的现在分词 )；大话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
linen
|
|
| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
outlet
|
|
| n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
middle-aged
|
|
| adj.中年的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
tinted
|
|
| adj. 带色彩的 动词tint的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
retrieved
|
|
| v.取回( retrieve的过去式和过去分词 )；恢复；寻回；检索（储存的信息） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
lieutenant
|
|
| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
tenant
|
|
| n.承租人；房客；佃户；v.租借，租用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
outfits
|
|
| n.全套装备( outfit的名词复数 )；一套服装；集体；组织v.装备，配置设备，供给服装( outfit的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
janitor
|
|
| n.看门人，管门人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
odds
|
|
| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
scapegoat
|
|
| n.替罪的羔羊，替人顶罪者；v.使…成为替罪羊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
stashed
|
|
| v.贮藏( stash的过去式和过去分词 )；隐藏；藏匿；藏起 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
conceal
|
|
| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
behold
|
|
| v.看，注视，看到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
theatrical
|
|
| adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
bumper
|
|
| n.(汽车上的)保险杠；adj.特大的，丰盛的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
almighty
|
|
| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
exclusion
|
|
| n.拒绝，排除，排斥，远足，远途旅行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
adulthood
|
|
| n.成年，成人期 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
incapable
|
|
| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
naive
|
|
| adj.幼稚的，轻信的；天真的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
reins
|
|
| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
wrangled
|
|
| v.争吵，争论，口角( wrangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
fiduciary
|
|
| adj.受托的，信托的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
veering
|
|
| n.改变的；犹豫的；顺时针方向转向；特指使船尾转向上风来改变航向v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的现在分词 )；（指谈话内容、人的行为或观点）突然改变；（指风） （在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向）逐渐转向；风向顺时针转 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
incorporation
|
|
| n.设立，合并，法人组织 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
timing
|
|
| n.时间安排，时间选择 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
sapphire
|
|
| n.青玉，蓝宝石；adj.天蓝色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
cocktails
|
|
| n.鸡尾酒( cocktail的名词复数 )；餐前开胃菜；混合物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
revolving
|
|
| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
lodge
|
|
| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
pouch
|
|
| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
compartments
|
|
| n.间隔( compartment的名词复数 )；（列车车厢的）隔间；（家具或设备等的）分隔间；隔层 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
investigation
|
|
| n.调查，调查研究 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
retarded
|
|
| a.智力迟钝的，智力发育迟缓的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
extradition
|
|
| n.引渡（逃犯） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
sperm
|
|
| n.精子，精液 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
deferred
|
|
| adj.延期的，缓召的v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
nominal
|
|
| adj.名义上的；(金额、租金)微不足道的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
holocaust
|
|
| n.大破坏；大屠杀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
confiscated
|
|
| 没收，充公( confiscate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
trophy
|
|
| n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |