mc.risingsun-第69章

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　〃Okay；　Shel。〃
　〃Now；　Daddy？〃
　〃Okay。〃
　I　put　her　down。　She　ran　into　the　living　room　and　turned　on　the　TV；　pushing　the　remote　without　hesitation。　〃I　think　she　watches　too　much　television。〃
　〃They　all　do；〃　Elaine　said；　shrugging。
　〃Daddy？〃
　I　went　into　the　living　room　and　plugged　in　the　cassette。　I　fast…forwarded　to　the　credits；　then　let　it　run。
　〃Not　this　part；〃　she　said　impatiently。
　So　I　fast…forwarded　to　the　beginning　of　the　action。　Pages　turning　in　a　book。
　〃This　part；　this　part；〃　she　said；　tugging　at　my　hand。
　I　let　the　tape　run　at　normal　speed。　Michelle　sat　in　the　chair　and　started　sucking　her　thumb。　She　pulled　her　thumb　out　of　her　mouth　and　patted　the　seat　beside　her。　〃Here；　Daddy；〃　she　said。
　She　wanted　me　to　sit　with　her。
　I　sighed。　I　looked　at　the　room。　It　was　a　mess。　Her　crayons　and　coloring　books　were　scattered　over　the　floor。　And　the　large　Tinkertoy　windmill。
　〃Let　me　clean　up；〃　I　said。　〃I'll　be　right　here；　with　you。〃
　She　popped　her　thumb　back　in　her　mouth；　and　turned　to　the　screen。　Her　attention　was　total。
　I　cleaned　up　the　crayons　and　put　them　back　in　the　cardboard　box。　I　folded　up　her　coloring　books　and　set　them　on　the　shelf。　I　was　suddenly　tired　and　sat　down　for　a　minute　on　the　floor　next　to　Michelle。　On　the　screen；　three　fairies；　red；　green；　and　blue；　were　flying　into　the　throne　room　of　the　castle。
　〃That's　Merryweather；〃　Michelle　said；　pointing。　〃She's　the　blue　one。〃
　From　the　kitchen；　Elaine　said；　〃Can　I　fix　you　a　sandwich；　Lieutenant？〃
　〃That'd　be　great；〃　I　said。　I　found　I　just　wanted　to　sit　there　and　be　with　my　daughter。　I　wanted　to　forget　everything；　at　least　for　a　while。　I　was　grateful　that　Connor　had　dropped　me　off。　I　sat　and　watched　the　TV　dumbly。
　Elaine　brought　in　a　salami　sandwich　with　lettuce　and　mustard。　I　was　hungry。　Elaine　looked　at　the　TV；　shook　her　head；　and　went　back　into　the　kitchen。　I　ate　my　sandwich；　and　Michelle　insisted　on　a　few　bites。　She　likes　salami。　I　worry　about　the　additives　in　it；　but　I　guess　it's　no　worse　than　hot　dogs。
　After　I　had　the　sandwich；　I　felt　a　little　better。　I　got　up　to　finish　cleaning　up　the　room。　I　picked　up　the　Tinkertoy　windmill　and　started　taking　it　apart；　putting　the　sticks　back　into　the　cardboard　tube。　Michelle　said；　〃No　this；　no　this！〃　in　a　pained　voice。　I　thought　she　didn't　want　me　to　take　apart　the　windmill；　but　that　wasn't　it　at　all。　She　was　cupping　her　hands　over　her　eyes。　She　didn't　like　to　see　Maleficent；　the　bad　witch。　I　fast…forwarded　past　the　witch；　and　she　relaxed　again。
　I　dismantled　the　Tinkertoy　windmill　and　put　everything　back　into　the　tube　container。　I　put　the　metal　cap　on　the　tube　and　set　it　on　the　lowest　shelf　of　the　bookcase。　That　was　where　it　always　went。　I　like　to　keep　the　toys　low；　so　Michelle　can　get　to　them　herself。
　The　tube　fell　off　the　shelf；　onto　the　carpet。　I　picked　it　up　again。　There　was　something　on　the　shelf。　A　small　gray　rectangle。　I　knew　at　once　what　it　was。
　It　was　an　eight…millimeter　video　cassette；　with　Japanese　writing　on　the　label。
　
　？
　Elaine　said；　〃Lieutenant？　Do　you　need　anything　else？〃　She　had　her　coat　on；　she　was　ready　to　go。
　〃Hang　on　a　minute；〃　I　said。
　I　went　to　the　phone；　and　called　the　switchboard　downtown。　I　asked　them　to　connect　me　to　Connor　in　my　car。　I　waited　impatiently。　Elaine　looked　at　me。
　〃Just　another　minute；　Elaine；〃　I　said。
　On　the　TV；　the　prince　was　singing　a　duet　with　Sleeping　Beauty　while　birds　chirped。　Michelle　was　sucking　her　thumb。
　The　operator　said；　〃I'm　sorry；　there　is　no　answer　from　the　car。〃
　〃Okay；〃　I　said。　〃Do　you　have　a　forwarding　number　for　Captain　Connor？〃
　A　pause。　〃He's　not　on　our　active　roster。〃
　〃I　know　that。　But　did　he　leave　a　number？〃
　〃I　don't　have　anything；　Lieutenant。〃
　〃I'm　trying　to　find　him。〃
　〃Wait　a　minute。〃　She　put　me　on　hold。　I　swore。
　Elaine　stood　in　the　front　hallway。　She　was　waiting　to　go。
　The　operator　came　back　on。　〃Lieutenant？　Captain　Ellis　says　that　Captain　Connor　has　gone。〃
　〃Gone？〃
　〃He　was　here　a　while　ago；　but　he's　gone　now。〃
　〃You　mean　he　was　downtown？〃
　〃Yes；　but　he's　gone　now。　I　don't　have　a　number　for　him。　I'm　sorry。〃
　I　hung　up。　What　the　hell　was　Connor　doing　downtown？
　Elaine　was　still　standing　in　the　front　hallway。　〃Lieutenant？〃
　I　said；　〃Just　a　minute；　Elaine。〃
　〃Lieutenant；　I　have　a…　〃
　〃I　said；　just　a　minute。〃
　I　started　pacing。　I　didn't　know　what　to　do。　I　was　suddenly　overwhelmed　with　fear。　They　had　killed　Eddie　for　the　tape。　They　wouldn't　hesitate　to　kill　anybody　else。　I　looked　at　my　daughter；　watching　television　with　her　thumb　in　her　mouth。　I　said　to　Elaine；　〃Where's　your　car？〃
　〃In　the　garage。〃
　〃Okay。　Look。　I　want　you　to　take　Michelle　and　I　want　you　to　go…　〃
　The　phone　rang。　I　grabbed　it；　hoping　it　was　Connor。　〃Hello。〃
　〃Moshi　moshi。　Connor…san　desu　ka？〃
　〃He's　not　here；〃　I　said。　As　soon　as　the　words　were　out　of　my　mouth；　I　cursed　myself。　But　it　was　too　late；　the　damage　was　done。
　〃Very　good；　Lieutenant；〃　the　voice　said；　heavily　accented。　〃You　have　what　we　want；　don't　you？〃
　I　said；　〃I　don't　know　what　you　are　talking　about。〃
　〃I　think　you　do；　Lieutenant。〃
　I　could　hear　a　faint　hiss　on　the　line。　The　call　was　ing　from　a　car　phone。　They　could　be　anywhere。
　They　could　be　right　outside。
　Damn！
　I　said；　〃Who　is　this？〃
　But　I　heard　only　a　dial　tone。
　Elaine　said；　〃What　is　it；　Lieutenant？〃
　I　was　running　to　the　window。　I　saw　three　cars　double…parked　in　the　street　below。　Five　men　getting　out　of　them；　dark　silhouettes　in　the　night。
　
　？
　I　tried　to　stay　calm。　〃Elaine；〃　I　said。　〃I　want　you　to　take　Michelle；　and　both　of　you　go　into　my　bedroom。　Get　under　the　bed。　I　want　you　to　stay　under　there　and　be　very　quiet；　no　matter　what　happens。　Do　you　understand？〃
　〃No；　Daddy！〃
　〃Do　it　now；　Elaine。〃
　〃No；　Daddy！　I　want　to　watch　Sleeping　Beauty。〃
　〃You　can　watch　it　later。〃　I　had　taken　out　my　gun　and　was　checking　the　clip。　Elaine's　eyes　were　wide。
　She　took　Michelle。　〃e　on；　honey。〃
　Michelle　squirmed　in　her　arms；　protesting。　〃No；　Daddy！〃
　〃Michelle。〃
　She　went　silent；　shocked　at　my　tone。　Elaine　carried　her　into　the　bedroom。　I　loaded　another　clip；　and　put　it　in　my　jacket　pocket。
　I　turned　off　the　lights　in　the　bedroom；　and　in　Michelle's　room。　I　looked　at　her　crib；　and　the　covers　with　little　elephants　sewn　into　it。　I　turned　off　the　lights　in　the　kitchen。
　I　went　back　into　the　living　room。　The　TV　was　still　playing。　The　wicked　witch　was　instructing　her　raven　to　find　Sleeping　Beauty。　〃You　are　my　last　hope；　my　pet；　do　not　fail　me；〃　she　said　to　the　bird。　The　bird　flew　away。
　I　stayed　low。　I　moved　toward　the　door。　The　phone　rang　again。　I　crawled　back　to　answer　it。
　〃Hello。〃
　〃Kōhai。〃　It　was　Connor's　voice。　I　heard　the　static　hiss　of　the　car　phone。
　I　said；　〃Where　are　you？〃
　〃You　have　the　tape？〃
　〃Yes；　I　have　the　tape。　Where　are　you？〃
　〃At　the　airport。〃
　〃Well；　get　here。　Right　away。　And　call　for　backup！　Jesus！〃
　I　heard　a　sound　on　the　landing；　outside　my　door。　A　soft　sound；　like　footsteps。
　I　hung　up　the　phone。　I　was　sweating。
　Christ。
　If　Connor　was　at　the　airport；　he　was　twenty　minutes　away　from　me。　Maybe　more。
　Maybe　more。
　I　was　going　to　have　to　handle　this　on　my　own。
　I　watched　the　door；　listening　intently。　But　I　didn't　hear　anything　else　on　the　landing　outside。
　From　the　bedroom；　I　heard　my　daughter　say；　〃I　want　Sleeping　Beauty。　I　want　Daddy；〃　I　heard　Elaine　whispering　to　her。　Michelle　whimpered。
　Then　it　was　quiet。
　The　phone　rang　again。
　〃Lieutenant；〃　the　heavily　accented　voice　said；　〃there　is　no　need　for　backups。〃
　Christ；　they　were　listening　to　the　car　phone。
　〃We　want　no　harm；　Lieutenant。　We　want　only　one　thing。　Will　you　be　so　kind；　to　bring　the　tape　out　to　us？〃
　〃I　have　the　tape；〃　I　said。
　〃We　know。〃
　I　said；　〃You　can　have　it。〃
　〃Good。　It　will　be　better。〃
　I　knew　I　was　on　my　own。　I　was　thinking　fast。　My　sole　idea　was：　Get　them　away　from　here。　Get　them　away　from　my　daughter。
　〃But　not　here；〃　I　said。
　There　was　a　knock　at　the　front　door。　Quick；　insistent　rapping。
　Damn！
　I　could　feel　events　closing　in　around　me。　Things　were　happening　too　fast。　I　was　crouched　down　on　the　floor；　with　the　phone　pulled　down　from　the　table　above。　Trying　to　stay　below　the　windows。