Chapter 45

Cold, yellow room.
The interview table had been pushed to one side. Metal table, samebattleship gray as the bomb shelter.
The things you notice.
Two chairs faced a thirty-inch plasma¹ TV on a wheeled table. A DVD playersat on the bottom shelf. Lots of snarled² cables. A sticker affixed³ to thebottom of the monitor warned against anyone outside the D.A.’s office touchingthe equipment.
I said, “Suddenly the prosecutors⁴ turn generous?”
“They’ve sniffed⁵ the air,” said Milo.“Smelled Court TV, screenplays, book deals. The warning from on-high is no O.J.on this one.” He drew a remote control module⁶ from his jacket pocket andflicked on the monitor.
Sat down next to me, slumped⁸ and closed his eyes and stayed that way.
 
Blue screen, video menu printout. Time, date, D.A’s evidence code.
I took the remote from Milo’s hands. Hiseyes remained shut but his breathing quickened.
I flicked⁷.
A face filled the screen.
Big blue eyes, tan skin, symmetrical features, shaggy blond hair.
Jane Doe Number One.
Milo had asked if I wanted to start out ofsequence with Michaela. I’d considered that, said let’s do it in order.
Hoping lack of personal contact would help.
It didn’t.
 
The camera stayed close.
An off-screen voice, male, smooth, amiable⁹, said, “Okay, audition¹⁰ time.Digging it so far?”
Zoom¹¹ shot of the girl’s smile. Moist, white teeth, perfectly¹² aligned¹³. “Suream.”
“Sure am, Brad. When you’re presenting yourself to a casting agent or anyoneelse, it’s important to be direct and specific and personal. ”
The girl’s smile altered course, became an ambiguous crescent. “Um, okay.”The camera moved back. Nervous blue eyes. Giggle¹⁴.
“Take two,” said Brad Dowd.
“Huh?”
“Sure am…”
“Sure, Brad.”
“Sure. Am. Brad.”
The girl’s eyes shifted to the left. “Sure. Am. Brad.”
“Perfect. Okay, go on.”
“With what?”
“Say something.”
“Like what?”
“Improvise.”
“Umm…” Lip-lick. A glance back at battleship-gray walls. “It’s kind ofdifferent. Down here.”
“Dig it?”
“Umm…I guess.”
“I. Guess…”
“I guess, Brad.”
“It is different,” said Brad Dowd. “Hermetic. Know what that means?”
Giggle. “Umm, not really.”
“It means isolated¹⁵ and quiet. Away from all the hassle. The Sturm undDrang.”
No response from the girl.
“Know why we’re auditioning¹⁶ you in a hermetic place?”
“Nora said it was serene¹⁷.”
“Serene,” said Brad. “Sure, that’s a good word. Like one of those meditationthings, ohmmmm, Shakti, bodhi vandana, cabalabaloo. Ever do any meditation¹⁸?”
“I did Pilates.”
“I. Did. Pilates…”
“Brad.”
Off-screen sigh. “A hermetic place means less distraction¹⁹. Right?”
“Right—Brad.”
“A hermetic, serene place strips away superfluous²⁰ elements so it’s easier tofind your center. Not like back in class where everyone’s looking and judging.No one will judge you here. Never.”
The girl smiled again.
“What do you think of that?” said Brad.
“It’s good.”
“It’s good?”
“It’s real good.”
“Brad!”
Blue eyes jumped. “Brad.”
“It’s. Good—”
“It’s good Brad. I’m sorry I’m kinda nervous.”
“Now, you interrupted me.”
“Sorry. Brad.”
Ten-second silence. The girl fidgeted.
Brad Dowd said, “Totally forgiven.”
“Thanks. Brad.”
Ten more seconds. The girl worked at relaxing her posture²¹.
“Okay, we’re serene and hermetic and ready to do some serious work. Do youlike Sondheim?”
“Um, don’t know him—Brad.”
“Doesn’t matter, we’re not going musical, this is a drama day. Lower yourleft shoulder strap²²—make sure it’s the left one because that’s your good side,your right side’s a little weak. Be sure not to take off your whole top, thisisn’t porno²³, we just need to see your undraped posture à la classicalsculpture.”
The camera pulled back, showed the girl sitting primly²⁴ on a folding chair,wearing a skimpy red top held in place by spaghetti straps²⁵. Bare, tan, slenderlegs, advertised by a short, denim²⁶ skirt. Sandaled feet planted on the ground.High-heeled brown sandals.
“Go ahead,” said Brad.
Looking confused, she reached up and loosened the right strap.
“Left!”
“Sorry, sorry, always had trouble with—sorry, Brad, always had trouble…” Sheswitched to the left, fumbled²⁷, lowered.
The camera moved in on smooth, golden shoulder. Drew back to a full-bodyview.
Fifteen seconds passed.
“You’ve got a beautiful torso.”
“Thanks, Brad.”
“Know what a torso is?”
“The body—Brad.”
“The upper body. Yours is classical. You’re very lucky.”
“Thanks, Brad.”
“Think you’ve also got talent?”
“Umm, I hope so—Brad.”
“Oh, c’mon, let’s hear some insouciance²⁸, some confidence, some superstarcan-do attitude. ”
Blue eyes batted. The girl sat up straight, tossed her hair. Pumped a fistand shouted. “I’m the best! Brad!”
“Up for anything?”
“Sure. Brad.”
“Well, that’s good.”
Five seconds. Then: clang clang. Thud thud thud thud thud.
Noise from behind made the girl turn.
“Don’t move,” barked Brad.
The girl froze.
“Here’s your costar.”
“I—umm—oh—didn’t know there was going to be—”
“A star’s got to be up for anything.”
The girl’s head began to swivel again. Froze, once more, responding to acommand that never came.
“Good,” soothed²⁹ Brad. “You’re learning.”
The girl licked her lips and smiled.
The gray behind her turned flesh-colored.
Hirsute³⁰ expanse of chest and belly³¹. Tattooed³² arms.
The camera trailed lower to a bearish³³ clump³⁴ of pubic hair. A limp penisdangled inches from the girl’s cheek.
The girl’s shoulders stiffened³⁵.
“I—uh—”
“Relax,” said Brad Dowd. “Remember what Nora taught you about improv.”
“But—sure. Brad.”
“Remain perfectly still—think body control…that’s a good girl.”
The hairy bulk pulsated³⁶. Tattoos³⁷ jumped.
The camera panned up to a sweat-glossed dinner-plate face. Frizzymuttonchops. Clipped mustache.
Reynold Peaty’s hands lowered onto the girl’s shoulders. His right thumbslipped under the right spaghetti strap. Toyed with the string. Slid it off.
The girl jumped and twisted, craned to see him. His left hand gripped thetop of her head and held her in place.
“He’s hurting—”
“Mouth shut!” said Brad Dowd. “Don’t want to catch flies.”
Peaty’s right hand reached around and clamped over the girl’s mouth.
She made frantic³⁸ little muffled³⁹ noises. Peaty’s hand slapped her so hard,her eyes rolled back. With one hand, Peaty pulled her up by her hair. The otheredged closer to her throat.
“Yeah,” he said.
“Perfect,” said Brad. “This is Reynold. The two of you are going toimprovise a little skit⁴⁰.”
I flicked off the picture.
Milo was wide awake, looking sadder thanI’d ever seen him.
I said, “You told me so,” and walked out of the room.

1 plasma   

n.血浆，细胞质，乳清

参考例句：

• Keep some blood plasma back for the serious cases.留一些血浆给重病号。
• The plasma is the liquid portion of blood that is free of cells .血浆是血液的液体部分，不包含各种细胞。

2 snarled   

v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说

参考例句：

• The dog snarled at us. 狗朝我们低声吼叫。
• As I advanced towards the dog, It'snarled and struck at me. 我朝那条狗走去时，它狂吠着向我扑来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 affixed   

adj.[医]附着的，附着的v.附加( affix的过去式和过去分词 )；粘贴；加以；盖（印章）

参考例句：

• The label should be firmly affixed to the package. 这张标签应该牢牢地贴在包裹上。
• He affixed the sign to the wall. 他将标记贴到墙上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

5 sniffed   

v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说

参考例句：

• When Jenney had stopped crying she sniffed and dried her eyes. 珍妮停止了哭泣，吸了吸鼻子，擦干了眼泪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The dog sniffed suspiciously at the stranger. 狗疑惑地嗅着那个陌生人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 module   

n.组件，模块，模件；(航天器的)舱

参考例句：

• The centre module displays traffic guidance information.中央模块显示交通引导信息。
• Two large tanks in the service module held liquid oxygen.服务舱的两个大气瓶中装有液态氧。

7 flicked   

（尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的过去式和过去分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等）

参考例句：

• She flicked the dust off her collar. 她轻轻弹掉了衣领上的灰尘。
• I idly picked up a magazine and flicked through it. 我漫不经心地拿起一本杂志翻看着。

8 slumped   

大幅度下降，暴跌( slump的过去式和过去分词 )； 沉重或突然地落下[倒下]

参考例句：

• Sales have slumped this year. 今年销售量锐减。
• The driver was slumped exhausted over the wheel. 司机伏在方向盘上，疲惫得睡着了。

9 amiable   

adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的

参考例句：

• She was a very kind and amiable old woman.她是个善良和气的老太太。
• We have a very amiable companionship.我们之间存在一种友好的关系。

10 audition   

n.(对志愿艺人等的)面试(指试读、试唱等)

参考例句：

• I'm going to the audition but I don't expect I'll get a part.我去试音，可并不指望会给我个角色演出。
• At first,they said he was too young,but later they called him for an audition.起初，他们说他太小，但后来他们叫他去试听。

11 zoom   

n.急速上升；v.突然扩大，急速上升

参考例句：

• The airplane's zoom carried it above the clouds.飞机的陡直上升使它飞到云层之上。
• I live near an airport and the zoom of passing planes can be heard night and day.我住在一个飞机场附近，昼夜都能听到飞机飞过的嗡嗡声。

12 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

13 aligned   

adj.对齐的，均衡的

参考例句：

• Make sure the shelf is aligned with the top of the cupboard.务必使搁架与橱柜顶端对齐。

14 giggle   

n.痴笑，咯咯地笑；v.咯咯地笑着说

参考例句：

• Both girls began to giggle.两个女孩都咯咯地笑了起来。
• All that giggle and whisper is too much for me.我受不了那些咯咯的笑声和交头接耳的样子。

15 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

16 auditioning   

vi.试听（audition的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• She was auditioning for the role of Lady Macbeth. 她试演了麦克佩斯夫人的角色。
• Which part are you auditioning for? 你试音什么角色？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 serene   

adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的

参考例句：

• He has entered the serene autumn of his life.他已进入了美好的中年时期。
• He didn't speak much,he just smiled with that serene smile of his.他话不多，只是脸上露出他招牌式的淡定的微笑。

18 meditation   

n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录

参考例句：

• This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。
• I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉，我打断了你的沉思。

19 distraction   

n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐

参考例句：

• Total concentration is required with no distractions.要全神贯注，不能有丝毫分神。
• Their national distraction is going to the disco.他们的全民消遣就是去蹦迪。

20 superfluous   

adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的

参考例句：

• She fined away superfluous matter in the design. 她删去了这图案中多余的东西。
• That request seemed superfluous when I wrote it.我这样写的时候觉得这个请求似乎是多此一举。

21 posture   

n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势

参考例句：

• The government adopted an uncompromising posture on the issue of independence.政府在独立这一问题上采取了毫不妥协的态度。
• He tore off his coat and assumed a fighting posture.他脱掉上衣，摆出一副打架的架势。

22 strap   

n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎

参考例句：

• She held onto a strap to steady herself.她抓住拉手吊带以便站稳。
• The nurse will strap up your wound.护士会绑扎你的伤口。

23 porno   

n.春宫，色情画；色情文学，电影等

参考例句：

• They say she was in a porno movie,with a member of the local police department.他们说她跟本地警察局里的一个人拍过春宫电影。
• The local porno shop has been shut down for selling materials to minors.当地的色情商店因向未成年人出售色情物品而被关闭。

24 primly   

adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地

参考例句：

• He didn't reply, but just smiled primly. 他没回答，只是拘谨地笑了笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He wore prim suits with neckties set primly against the collar buttons of his white shirts. 他穿着整洁的外套，领结紧贴着白色衬衫领口的钮扣。 来自互联网

25 straps   

n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带

参考例句：

• the shoulder straps of her dress 她连衣裙上的肩带
• The straps can be adjusted to suit the wearer. 这些背带可进行调整以适合使用者。

26 denim   

n.斜纹棉布；斜纹棉布裤，牛仔裤

参考例句：

• She wore pale blue denim shorts and a white denim work shirt.她穿着一条淡蓝色的斜纹粗棉布短裤，一件白粗布工作服上衣。
• Dennis was dressed in denim jeans.丹尼斯穿了一条牛仔裤。

27 fumbled   

（笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下

参考例句：

• She fumbled in her pocket for a handkerchief. 她在她口袋里胡乱摸找手帕。
• He fumbled about in his pockets for the ticket. 他（瞎）摸着衣兜找票。

28 insouciance   

n.漠不关心

参考例句：

• He replied with characteristic insouciance:"So what?"他以一贯的漫不经心回答道：“那又怎样？”
• What explains this apparent insouciance?用什么能够解释这种视而不见呢？

29 soothed   

v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦

参考例句：

• The music soothed her for a while. 音乐让她稍微安静了一会儿。
• The soft modulation of her voice soothed the infant. 她柔和的声调使婴儿安静了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

30 hirsute   

adj.多毛的

参考例句：

• He was wearing shorts which showed his long,muscular,hirsute legs.他穿着短裤，露出自己强壮多毛的长腿。
• You're looking very hirsute,Richard are you growing a beard?理查德，瞧你一脸的胡子--是不是在留胡子了？

31 belly   

n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛

参考例句：

• The boss has a large belly.老板大腹便便。
• His eyes are bigger than his belly.他眼馋肚饱。

32 tattooed   

v.刺青，文身( tattoo的过去式和过去分词 )；连续有节奏地敲击；作连续有节奏的敲击

参考例句：

• He had tattooed his wife's name on his upper arm. 他把妻子的名字刺在上臂上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The sailor had a heart tattooed on his arm. 那水兵在手臂上刺上一颗心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

33 bearish   

adj.(行情)看跌的，卖空的

参考例句：

• It is foolish not to invest in stocks,so I will show her how to be bearish without them too,if she chooses.不投资股票是愚蠢的，因此如果她选择股票，我会向她展示怎样在没有长期潜力的情况下进行卖空。
• I think a bearish market must be a good time for bargain-hunters to invest.我觉得熊市对于想买低的人可是个投资的大好机会。

34 clump   

n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走

参考例句：

• A stream meandered gently through a clump of trees.一条小溪从树丛中蜿蜒穿过。
• It was as if he had hacked with his thick boots at a clump of bluebells.仿佛他用自己的厚靴子无情地践踏了一丛野风信子。

35 stiffened   

加强的

参考例句：

• He leaned towards her and she stiffened at this invasion of her personal space. 他向她俯过身去，这种侵犯她个人空间的举动让她绷紧了身子。
• She stiffened with fear. 她吓呆了。

36 pulsated   

v.有节奏地舒张及收缩( pulsate的过去式和过去分词 )；跳动；脉动；受（激情）震动

参考例句：

• A regular rhythm pulsated in our ears. 一种平均的节奏在我们耳边颤动着。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The city pulsated with music and excitement. 这个城市随着音乐和激情而脉动。 来自互联网

37 tattoos   

n.文身( tattoo的名词复数 )；归营鼓；军队夜间表演操；连续有节奏的敲击声v.刺青，文身( tattoo的第三人称单数 )；连续有节奏地敲击；作连续有节奏的敲击

参考例句：

• His arms were covered in tattoos. 他的胳膊上刺满了花纹。
• His arms were covered in tattoos. 他的双臂刺满了纹身。 来自《简明英汉词典》

38 frantic   

adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的

参考例句：

• I've had a frantic rush to get my work done.我急急忙忙地赶完工作。
• He made frantic dash for the departing train.他发疯似地冲向正开出的火车。

39 muffled   

adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己）

参考例句：

• muffled voices from the next room 从隔壁房间里传来的沉闷声音
• There was a muffled explosion somewhere on their right. 在他们的右面什么地方有一声沉闷的爆炸声。 来自《简明英汉词典》

40 skit   

n.滑稽短剧；一群

参考例句：

• The comic skIt sent up the foolishness of young men in love.那幅画把沉溺于热恋中的青年男子的痴态勾勒得滑稽可笑。
• They performed a skit to amuse the crowd.他们表演了一个幽默小品来娱乐观众。