dk.coldfire-第45章
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tion in a far and wondrous place。
Holly Thorne； who suddenly liked her name； knew where she was going and why。
She knew what she hoped to get from Jim Ironheart…and it was not a good story； journalistic accolades； a Pulitzer。 What she wanted from him was better than that； more rewarding and enduring； and she was eager to confront him with her request。
The funny thing was； if he agreed and gave her what she wanted； she might be buying into more than excitement； joy； and a meaningful existence。 She knew there was danger in it； as well。 If she got what she asked from him； she might be dead a year from now； a month from now or next week。 But for the moment； at least； she focused on the prospect of joy and was not deterred by the possibility of early death and endless darkness。
Part TWo Nowhere can a secret keep always secret dark and deep； half so well as in the past buried deep to last； to last。
Keep it in your own dark heart otherwise the rumors start。
After many years have buried secrets over which you worried no confidant can then betray all the words you didn't he say。
Only you can then exhume secrets safe within the tomb of memory； of memory； within the tomb of memory。
…THE ROOK OF COUNTED SORROWS In the real world as in dreams； nothing is quite what it seems。…THE BOOK OF COUNTED SORROWS II 'I
AUGUST 27 THROUGH AUGUST 29
Holly changed planes in Denver； gained two time zones traveling west； and arrived at at Los Angeles International at eleven o'clock Monday morning。 Unencumbered by luggage； she retrieved her rental car from the parking garage； drove south along the coast to Laguna Niguel； and reached Jim Ironheart's house by twelve…thirty。
She parked in front of his garage； followed the tile…trimmed walkway directly to his front door； and rang the bell。 He did not answer。 She rang it again。 He still did not answer。 She rang it repeatedly； until a reddish impression of the button marked the pad of her right thumb。
Stepping back； she studied the first… and second…floor windows。
Plantation shutters were closed over all of them。 She could see the wide slats through the glass。
〃I know you're in there；〃 she said quietly。
She returned to her car； put the windows down； and sat behind the steering wheel； waiting for him to e out。 Sooner or later he would need food； or laundry detergent； or medical attention； or toilet paper； something； and then she would have him。
Unfortunately； the weather was not conducive to a long stakeout。
The past few days had been warm but mild。 Now the August heat had returned like a bad dragon in a storybook： scorching the land with its fiery breath。
The palm trees drooped and the flowers began to wilt in the blistering sun。
Behind all of the elaborate watering systems that maintained the lush landscaping； the dispossessed desert waited to reassert itself Baking as swiftly and evenly as a muffin in a convection oven； Holly finally put up the windows； started the car； and switched on the air conditioner。
The cold draft was heavenly； but before long the car began to overheat； the needle rose swiftly toward the red section of the arc on the temperature gauge。
At one…fifteen； just three…quarters of an hour after she had arrived； Holly threw the car in reverse； backed out of the driveway； and returned to the Laguna Hills Motor Inn。 She changed into tan shorts and a canary…yellow calypso blouse that left her belly bare。 She put on her new running shoes； but without socks this time。 At a nearby Sav…On drugstore； she bought a vinyl…strap folding lounge chair； beach towel； tube of tanning cream； picnic cooler； bag of ice； six…pack of diet soda； and a Travis McGee paperback by John D。 MacDonald。 She already had sunglasses。
She was back at Ironheart's house on Bougainvillea Way before twoù thirty。 She tried the doorbell again。 He refused to answer。
Somehow she knew he was in there。 Maybe she was a little psychic。
She carried the ice chest； folding lounger； and other items around the side of the house to the lawn in back。 She set up the chair on the grass； just beyond the redwood…covered patio。 In a few minutes； she was fy。
In the MacDonald novel； Travis McGee was sweltering down there in Fort Lauderdale； where they were having a heatwave so intense it even took the bounce out of the beach bunnies。 Holly had read the book before she chose to reread it now because she had remembered that the plot unfolded against a background of tropical heat and humidity。
Steamy Florida； rendered in MacDonald's vivid prose； made the dry air of Laguna Niguel seem less torrid by parison； even though it had to be well over ninety degrees。
After about half an hour； she glanced at the house and saw Jim Ironheart standing at the big kitchen window。 He was watching her。
She waved。
He did not wave back at her。
He walked away from the window but did not e outside。
Opening a diet soda； returning to the novel； she relished the feel of the sun on her bare legs。 She was not worried about a burn。 She already had a little tan。 Besides； though blond and fair…skinned； she had a tanning geno that insured against a burn as long as she didn't indulge in marathon sunbathing。
After a while； when she got up to readjust the lounger so she could lie on her stomach； she saw Jim Ironheart standing on the patio； just outside the sliding glass door of his family room。 He was in rumpled slacks and a wrinkled T…shirt； unshaven。 His hair was lank and oily。 He didn't look well。
He was about fifteen feet away； so his voice carried easily to her。
〃What do you think you're doing？〃 〃Bronzing up a little。〃
〃Please leave； Miss Thorne。〃
〃I need to talk to you。〃
〃We have nothing to talk about。〃
〃Hah！〃 He went back inside and slid the door shut。 She heard the latch click。
After lying on her stomach for almost an hour； dozing instead of reading； she decided she'd had enough sun。 Besides； at three…thirty in the afternoon； the best tanning rays were past。
She moved the lounger； cooler； and the rest of her paraphernalia onto the shaded patio。 She opened a second diet soda and picked up the MacDonald novel again。
At four o'clock she heard the family…room door sliding open again。
His footsteps approached and stopped behind her。 He stood there for a while； evidently looking down at her。 Neither of them spoke； and she pretended to keep reading。
His continued silence was eerie。 She began to think about his dark side …the eight shotgun rounds he had pumped into Norman Rink in Atlanta； for one thing…and she grew increasingly nervous until she decided that he was trying to spook her。
When Holly picked up her can of soda from the top of the cooler； took a sip； sighed with pleasure at the taste； and put the can down again all without letting her hand tremble even once； Ironheart at last came around the lounge chair and stood where she could see him。 He was still slovenly and unshaven。 Dark circles ringed his eyes。 He had an unhealthy pallor。
〃What do you want from me？〃 he asked。
〃That'll take a while to explain。〃
〃I don't have a while。〃
〃How long do you have？〃 〃One minute；〃 he said。
She hesitated； then shook her head。 〃Can't do it in a minute。 I'll just wait here till you've got more time。〃
He stared at her intimidatingly。
She found her place in the novel。
He said； 〃I could call the police； have you put off my property。〃
〃Why don't you do that？〃 she said。
He stood there a few seconds longer； impatient and uncertain； then reentered the house。 Slid the door shut。 Locked it。
〃Don't take forever；〃 Holly muttered。 〃In about another hour； I'm gonna have to use your bathroom。〃
Around her； two hummingbirds drew nectar from the flowers； the shadows lengthened； and exploding bubbles made hollow ticking sounds inside her open can of soda。
Down in Florida； there were also hummingbirds and cool shadows； icy bottles of Dos Equis instead of diet cola； and Travis McGee was getting into deeper trouble by the paragraph。
Her stomach began to grumble。 She had eaten breakfast at the airport in Dubuque； surprised that her appetite had not been suppressed forever by the macabre images burn
