lh.narcissusinchains-第41章

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who　else　could　it　be？
　Zerbrowski　walked　me　through　the　squad　room　in　silence。　A　man　turned　as　we　entered　the　room。　He　was　tall；　dark…haired；　with　gray　starting　at　the　temples。　The　clean；　strong　lines　of　his　face　were　beginning　to　soften　around　the　edges；　but　it　was　still　a　handsome　face　in　a　manly　man；　Marlboro　sort　of　way。　He　looked　vaguely　familiar。　But　it　wasn't　until　he　turned　his　head；　exposing　the　claw　scars　on　the　side　of　his　neck；　that　I　recognized　him。　Orlando　King　had　been　one　of　the　premiere　bounty　hunters　in　the　country　until　a　rogue　shapeshifter　had　nearly　killed　him。　The　stories　could　never　agree　on　what　animal　did　it；　some　said　wolf；　others　bear　or　leopard。　The　story　had　grown　in　the　telling　until　I　doubt　anyone　but　King　himself　knew　the　truth。　King　and　the　shapeshifters　that　had　nearly　killed　him；　if　they　hadn't　all　died　in　the　attempt；　that　is。　He　had　a　rep　that　he　never　lost　a　bounty；　never　stopped　until　his　creature　was　dead。　He　earned　good　money　lecturing　across　the　country　and　in　other　countries。　For　his　finale　he'd　take　his　shirt　off　and　show　his　scars。　It　smacked　a　little　too　much　of　circus　sideshow　for　my　taste；　but；　hey；　it　wasn't　my　body。　He　also　did　some　consulting　with　the　police。
　〃Anita　Blake；　this　is　Orlando　King；〃　Zerbrowski　said。　〃We　brought　him　in　to　help　convict　Count　Dracula　of　your　murder。〃
　I　glared　at　Zerbrowski；　who　only　smiled　wider。　He'd　keep　calling　Jean…Claude　by　his　pet　names　until　it　stopped　getting　a　rise　out　of　me。　The　quicker　I　ignored　it　the　better。
　〃Ms。　Blake；〃　Orlando　King　said　in　the　deep　rolling　voice　that　I　remembered　from　his　lectures；　〃so　good　to　see　you　alive。〃
　〃It's　good　to　be　alive；　Mr。　King。　Last　I　heard　you　were　lecturing　on　the　West　Coast。　I　hope　you　didn't　interrupt　your　tour　to　e　solve　my　murder。〃
　He　shrugged；　and　there　was　something　about　the　way　he　moved　his　shoulders　that　made　him　seem　taller；　broader　than　he　was。　〃There　are　so　few　of　us　that　truly　pit　ourselves　against　the　monsters；　how　could　I　not　e？〃
　〃I'm　flattered；〃　I　said。　〃I've　heard　you　lecture。〃
　〃You　came　up　and　spoke　to　me　afterwards；〃　he　said。
　〃I'm　flattered　again。　You　must　meet　thousands　of　people　a　year。〃
　He　smiled　and　touched　my　left　arm；　ever　so　lightly。　〃But　not　many　with　scars　to　rival　mine。　And　none　half　so　pretty　in　this　line　of　business。〃
　〃Thanks。〃　He　was　at　least　two　generations　removed　from　me；　so　I　figured　his　plimenting　me　wasn't　so　much　flirting　as　habit。
　Zerbrowski　was　grinning　at　me；　and　his　grin　said　he　didn't　think　King　was　simply　being　polite。　I　shrugged　and　ignored　it。　I've　found　that　if　you　pretend　not　to　notice　that　a　man　is　flirting　with　you；　most　of　them　will　eventually　grow　tired　and　stop。
　〃It's　good　to　meet　you　again；　Ms。　Blake。　Especially　alive。　But　I　know　that　you　must　be　in　a　hurry　if　you're　going　to　rescue　your　vampire　boyfriend　before　dawn。〃　There　was　the　faintest　hesitation　before　the　word　boyfriend。　I　studied　his　face　and　found　it　neutral。　There　was　no　condemnation；　nothing　but　a　smile　and　goodwill。　After　Dolph's　little　fit；　it　was　kind　of　nice。
　〃Thank　you　for　understanding。〃
　〃I'd　love　a　chance　to　talk　to　you　before　I　leave　town；〃　he　said。
　Again；　I　wondered　if　he　was　flirting；　and　I　said　the　only　thing　I　could　think　of。　〃pare　notes；　you　mean？〃
　〃Exactly；〃　he　said。
　I　just　did　not　understand　my　effect　on　men。　I　wasn't　that　attractive　　or　maybe　I　just　couldn't　see　it。　We　shook　hands；　and　he　didn't　hold　my　hand　any　longer　than　necessary；　didn't　squeeze　it；　or　any　of　those　funky　things　men　do　when　they're　interested。　Maybe　I　was　just　getting　paranoid　where　men　were　concerned。
　Zerbrowski　led　me　through　the　sea　of　desks　to　fetch　Nathaniel。　The　police　woman；　Detective　Jessica　Arnet；　one　of　the　newest　members　of　the　squad；　was　still　entertaining　Nathaniel　at　her　desk。　She　was　gazing　into　his　lilac　eyes　as　if　there　was　some　hypnotic　power　in　them。　There　wasn't；　but　Nathaniel　was　a　good　listener。　That's　rare　enough　in　men　for　it　to　be　a　bigger　selling　point　than　an　attractive　body。
　〃e　on；　Nathaniel；　we've　got　to　go。〃
　He　stood　instantly　but　tossed　a　smile　towards　Detective　Arnet　that　made　her　eyes　sparkle。　Nathaniel's　real…life　job　was　as　a　stripper；　so　he　flirted　instinctively。　He　seemed　both　aware　and　unaware　of　his　effect　on　women。　When　he　concentrated；　he　understood　what　he　was　doing。　But　when　he　simply　walked　into　a　room　and　heads　turned；　he　was　oblivious。
　I　touched　his　arm。　〃Say　good…bye　to　the　nice　detectives。　We've　got　to　hurry。〃
　He　said；　〃Good…bye；　nice　detectives。〃　I　gave　him　a　small　push　towards　the　doors。
　Zerbrowski　followed　us　out。　I　think　if　Nathaniel　hadn't　been　with　us　he'd　have　asked　more　questions。　But　he'd　never　met　Nathaniel　and　wasn't　sure　of　him。　So　we　moved　in　silence　to　the　Prisoner　Processing　Area；　where　Jean…Claude　was　sitting　on　one　of　the　three　chairs。　Normally　the　processing　area　was　full　of　people　ing　in；　going　out；　and　since　it's　the　size　of　a　walk…in　closet；　that　makes　it　seem　crowded。　The　two　vending　machines　took　up　room；　but　except　for　the　prisoner　processing　clerk　　the　new　name　since　turnkey　fell　out　of　fashion　　behind　his　little　barred　bankteller　window；　the　place　was　deserted。　But　it　was　3：30　in　the　morning。
　Jean…Claude　rose　when　he　saw　me；　his　white　shirt　was　stained；　torn　on　one　sleeve。　He　didn't　look　like　he'd　been　beaten；　or　hurt。　But　he　was　usually　a　fanatic　about　his　clothes。　Only　something　drastic　would　have　changed　that。　A　struggle　perhaps？
　I　did　not　run　to　him；　but　I　did　wrap　my　arms　around　him；　press　my　ear　to　his　chest；　hold　on　to　him　as　if　he　were　the　last　solid　thing　in　the　world。　He　stroked　my　hair　and　murmured　to　me　in　French。　I　understood　enough　to　know　he　was　glad　to　see　me　and　that　he　thought　I　looked　beautiful。　But　beyond　that　it　was　just　pretty　noise。
　It　wasn't　until　I　felt　Zerbrowski　behind　me　that　I　pulled　away；　but　when　Jean…Claude's　hand　found　mine；　I　weled　it。
　Zerbrowski　was　looking　at　me　as　if　he'd　never　seen　me　before。　〃What？〃　It　came　out　hostile。
　〃I've　never　seen　you　be　that　。。。　soft　with　anyone　before。〃
　It　startled　me。　〃You've　seen　me　kiss　Richard　before。〃
　He　nodded。　〃That　was　lust。　This　is　。。。　〃　He　shook　his　head；　glancing　up　at　Jean…Claude；　then　back　to　me。　〃He　makes　you　feel　safe。〃
　I　realized　with　a　jolt　that　he　was　right。　〃You're　smarter　than　you　look；　Zerbrowski。〃
　〃Katie　reads　self…help　books　to　me。　I　just　look　at　the　pictures。〃　He　touched　my　right　hand。　〃I'll　talk　to　Dolph。〃
　〃I　don't　think　it's　going　to　help；〃　I　said。
　He　shrugged。　〃If　Orlando　King　can　have　a　conversion　experience　where　the　monsters　are　concerned；　anybody　can。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　I　asked。
　〃Have　you　ever　read；　or　seen；　any　of　his　interviews　before　his　accident？〃　Zerbrowski　made　little　quote　marks　with　his　fingers　when　he　said　accident。
　〃No。　That　was　before　I　was　interested　in　the　topic；　I　think。〃
　He　frowned　at　me。　〃I　keep　forgetting；　you　were　still　in　diapers　then。〃
　I　just　shook　my　head。　〃So　tell　me。〃
　〃King　was　one　of　the　shining　lights　behind　trying　to　get　lycanthropes　declared　nonhuman；　so　they　could　be　executed　just　for　existing；　without　a　trial。　Then　he　got　cut　up；　and；　lo　and　behold；　he　mellowed。〃
　〃Nearly　dying　will　do　that　to　you；　Zerbrowski。〃
　He　grinned　at　me。　〃It　didn't　make　me　a　better　man。〃　I'd　held　my　hands　over　his　stomach；　kept　his　insides　from　spilling　out；　while　we　waited　for　an　ambulance。　It　had　happened　just　before　Christmas　about　two　years　ago。　Zerbrowski　live　and　well　had　been　all　I　put　on　my　list　to　Santa　that　year。
　〃If　Katie　couldn't　make　you　a　better　man；　then　nothing　could；〃　I　said。
　He　grinned　wider；　then　his　face　sobered。　〃I'll　talk　to　the　boss　for　you；　see　if　I　can　get　him　to　mellow　without　a　near…death　experience。〃
　I　looked　up　into　his　serious　face。　〃Just　because　you　saw　me　hug　Jean…Claude？〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　I　gave　Zerbrowski　a　quick　hug。　〃Thank　you。〃
　He　pushed　me　back　towards　Jean…Claude。　〃Better　get　him　under　wraps　before　dawn。〃　He　looked　past　me　to　the　vampire。　〃Take　care　of　her。〃
　Jean…Claude　gave　a　small　bow　from　his　neck。　〃I　will　take　care　of　her　as　much　as　she　allows　it。〃
　Zerbrowski　laughed。　〃Oh；　he　does　know　you。〃
　We　left　with　Zerbrowski　laughing；　the　clerk　staring；　and　the　ni