ericlustbader.the ninja-第76章

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　'No；　they　don't。'
　'…　anything　at　all　about　this。　It's　very　fortunate　that　you've　bee　involved。　Have　you　thought　about　dial？〃
　The　day　was　bright；　not　a　cloud　in　the　sky。　The　dazzle　of　the　car's　chrome　was　so　intense　that　he　put　on　his　sunglasses。
　Nicholas　left　the　town　behind　as　he　drove　back　out　to　Dune　Road。　He　slid　into　the　driveway　at　the　side　of　his　house；　picked　up　the　Times　lying　outside　his　door。　He　glanced　uninterestedly　at　the　headlines；　went　down　the　steps　onto　the　beach。
　He　came　up　on　Justine's　house　from　the　right；　so　he　could　not　tell　if　her　car　was　there。　Both　the　screen　door　and　the　outer　door　were　closed　but　the　Times　had　been　taken　in。　He　went　up　the　sandy　steps。
　'She's　not　in。'
　Nicholas　turned。　Croaker　was　just　ing　round　from　the　left　side　of　the　house。　He　was　dressed　in　a　rumpled　brown　suit。　His　tie　was　pulled　half　off。　He　looked　as　if　he　hadn't　slept　for　two　or　three　nights。
　'Car's　gone。'
　'What　are　you　doing　here；　Croaker？'
　'Let's　take　a　walk。'
　He　led　Nicholas　down　to　the　beach。
　'You're　not　exactly　dressed　for　it；'　Nicholas　observed。
　'That's　all　right。　I　like　sand　in　my　shoes。　Reminds　me　of　when　I　was　a　kid。　We　used　to　stay　in　the　city　during　the　summer。　Never　had　any　money　to　go　anywhere。　We　used　the　hydrants。　Turned　them　on　and　cooled　off。'　The　water　crashed　and　creamed　past　them　on　the　right。　Far　down　the　beach；　blankets　were　being　set　up。　A　portable　radio　blatted　out　disco；　all　booming　bass　and　tattoo　percussion。　'There　were　seven　of　us。　I　don't　know　how　my　old　man　made　ends　meet。　But　you　know；　once　a　month　during　the　summer；　as　regular　as　clockwork；　he'd　call　me　over　just　before　he　went　to　work。　〃Lewis；〃　he'd　say；　〃c'mere。　I　have　something　for　you。〃　He'd　give　me　enough　money　for　a　car　fare　out　to　Coney　Island　and　an　ice　cream。　He　knew　I　loved　the　beach。　〃Promise　me　one　thing；〃　he'd　say　every　time。　〃Take　a　towel。　I〃　don't　want　your　mother　to　worry。　Okay〃？'
　Someone　went　running　out　into　the　surf；　laughing。　One　could　see　heads　bobbing　in　the　water　past　the　surf　line。　A　woman　in　a　one…piece　swimsuit　walked　towards　them；　a　bright　beach　towel　slung　nonchalantly　over　one　shoulder。　Nicholas　thought　of　Justine；　wondered　where　she'd　gone。
　'Yeah；　we're　old　friends；　the　sand　and　I。'
　The　woman　was　close　enough　for　them　to　see　how　beautiful　she　was。　Her　long　hair　had　been　streaked　by　the　sun。　She　ran　past　them　to　meet　her　lover。
　Croaker　squinted　up　at　the　sun　for　a　moment。　'I　threw　Alison　out　of　the　house　last　night。'
　Nicholas　looked　at　him　silently。
　Croaker　gave　him　a　quick　smile　that　didn't　quite　reach　his　eyes。　'Well；　it　wasn't　really　like　that。　I　think　she　wanted　to　go；　too。　Getting　restless。　Yeah。　We　both　were。'　He　stuffed　his　big　hands　in　his　trouser　pockets。　'It　was　bloodless。　Relatively。　She'll　get　over　it。　These　things'　…　his　shoulders　lifted　and　fell　…　'you　know；　they　pass　and　…'
　They　both　stopped　at　once　as　if　on　cue。　The　sea　rolled　up　near　them。　Over　the　slight　hump　of　sand　lay　a　dark　straggle　of　sea　grape。
　Croaker　looked　down　at　his　shoes；　half　sunk　in　the　sand。　When　he　looked　up；　he　said；　'Nick；　Vincent's　dead。　They　found　him　last　night。'　He　didn't　say　where。　'His　neck　had　been　broken。〃
　Nicholas　took　a　deep　breath　and　sat　down　in　the　sand。　He　wrapped　his　arms　round　his　legs；　stared　out　to　sea。
　'Nick。。。'
　He　felt　numb；　as　if　his　brain　had　been　anaesthetized。　He　recalled　Doc　Deerforth　talking　about　pain。　This　seemed　more　than　enough。　This　was　the　day　of　Terry's　and　Ei's　funeral。
　'Jesus；'　he　said。　'Jesus。'
　Croaker　crouched　down　next　to　him。　'Nick；'　he　said　gently；　'there　was　no　other　way　to　tell　you。　There　was　the　phone　but　I　couldn't　do　that。'
　Nicholas　nodded。　Through　the　numbness；　he　understood。　Croaker　had　recognized　the　debt　he　owed　him。　He　appreciated　the　fact　that　the　Lieutenant　had　e　all　the　way　out　here　when　he　only　had　to　have　someone　pick　up　a　phone　and　dial。　He　remembered　that　the　two　had　had　dinner　last　night　and　wondered　if　this　was；　in　part；　Vincent's　legacy。　If　so；　it　was　a　fitting　one。
　'Nick；'　Croaker　said。　He　hesitated。
　Nicholas's　gaze　swung　round。　'What's　going　on？　You　have　to　tell　me。'　'I　don't　know。　What　do　you　mean？　I　…　look；　Tomkin's　involved。　Up　to　his　armpits。　He　received　a　ninja　warning　about　a　week　ago。　It　fits　in。　I've　seen　it。　It's　authentic。　He　has　a　lot　of　business　deals　with　a　number　of　high…powered　Japanese　firms。　No　one's　very　buddy…buddy　in　business；　least　of　all　them。　He　crossed　them　in　some　way。　Anyhow；　it's　a　mortal　offence　he's　mitted。　There's　no　doubt　they've　sent　one　over　to　kill　him。'
　'It's　been　tried　before。　Tomkin's　a　grown…up　bastard　…now。　He　doesn't　need　your　help。'
　Nicholas　shook　his　head。　　'That's　where　you're　wrong。　Without　me；　he's　a　dead　man。'
　'But　it　makes　no　sense；　don't　you　see？　The　two　deaths　out　here；　the　three　in　the　city。　None　have　any　link　with　Tomkin。'
　'They　must　have；'　Nicholas　said；　stubbornly。　'Look；　he's　even　made　an　attempt　to　frighten　Justine。'　He　told　Croaker　about　the　furred　thing　thrown　through　the　kitchen　window。
　Croaker　looked　at　him　for　a　moment。　Beyond；　he　could　hear　the　surf　hissing　as　it　sucked　at　the　beachfront。　The　sounds　of　laughter　were　bright　and　brittle　as　if　they　were　made　to　be　broken。
　'What　if；'　Croaker　said　slowly；　'that　message　wasn't　meant　for　Justine。'
　Nicholas　stared　at　Croaker。
　'What　do　you　mean？'
　'I　think　it's　time　we　faced　the　facts。　I　think　that　warning　was　meant　for　you。'
　Nicholas　gave　a　short；　sharp　laugh。　For　me？　Oh；　don't　be　idiotic。　There's　no　reason　…'
　'There　must　be；'　Croaker　said　earnestly。　'Look　at　the　pattern。　The　two　deaths　out　here。　Terry　and　Eileen。　Now　Vincent　in　the　city。　You're　the　central　point　to　all　the　deaths。'
　'I　didn't　know　the　second　man　out　here。'
　'No；　but　the　murder　happened　close　to　you。'
　'Lew；　they　happened　close　to　a　lot　of　people。'
　'But　only　to　one　who's　had　three　friends　murdered　subsequently。〃
　It　was　logical　of　course；　but；　Nicholas　knew；　logic　was　often　not　the　answer。
　He　shook　his　head。　'I　don't　think　I　can　buy　it。　As　I　said；　there's　no　reason。　'It's　a　smoke…screen。'
　'A　hell　of　a　smoke…screen！'　Croaker　snorted。
　'It　wouldn't　matter　to　him；　don't　you　see？　He　must　know　that　I'm　involved　through　Justine。　I'm　the　danger　to　him；　not　you；　or　Tomkin's　muscle。　He　knows　that。　No；　he's　after　Tom…kin；　plain　and　simple。　He's　just　trying　to　muddy　the　water。〃
　Croaker　held　up　a　hand。　'Okay；　okay。　It　was　just　a　theory。　But　I　gotta　tell　you；　I　hope　you're　right　because　I　cared　a　hell　of　a　lot　more　about　Vincent　Ito　than　I　do　about　Raphael　Tom…kin。'
　Nicholas　looked　at　him。　It　was　as　close　as　they　both　could　e　to　the　outward　recognition　of　their　friendship。　He　smiled。　〃Thanks。　That　means　a　lot　…　to　me。　I　know　it　would　to　Vincent；　too。'
　They　stood　up。　Croaker　had　kept　his　suit　jacket　on　despite　the…heat　of　the　day。　Now　he　was　sweating　profusely　and　he　shrugged　out　of　it。　His　thin　white　shirt　was　stained　with　sweat。　'　　'You　ready　to　go　back？'
　Nicholas　nodded。　'One　thing；　Lew。'　He　hesitated。
　'Shoot。'
　'You　may　not　want　to　tell　me。'
　〃Then　I　won't。　Okay？'
　Nicholas　smiled。　'Okay。'　They　began　to　walk　up　the　beach　towards　Croaker's　car。　'What　is　it　between　you　and　Tom…kin？'
　Croaker　opened　the　door；　slung　his　jacket　onto　the　back　seat。　He　got　in　behind　the　wheel。　He　had　parked　in　the　shade　but　the　interior　was　still　hot。　Nicholas　got　in　on　the　passenger's　side　and　Croaker　started　the　engine。
　'You're　right；'　he　said。　'I　might　not　want　to　tell　you。　And　a　few　days　ago；　I　wouldn't　have。'　He　made　a　broken　U…turn；　began　to　drive　up　Dune　Road　towards　the　bridge　across　the　canal。　'But　everything's　different　now　and　I　guess　I　figure　if　I　can't　trust　you；　there　ain't　nobody　to　trust；　and　I　can't　live　my　life　like　that。'
　They　rumbled　across　the　bridge；　heading　past　the　houses　and　the　small　bobbing　boats　with　their　stowed　outboard　motors；　towards　the　highway。
　'You　know　about　the　Didion　thing。'
　Nicholas　was　surprised。　'You　mean　the　murder　of　dial　model？　Sure；　but　only　what　was　spread　across　the　papers。　I　used　to　see　her　in　practically　every　magazine　I　picked　up。'
　'Yeah；'　Croaker　said　meditatively。　'Beautiful　lady。　Just　beautiful。　Like　they　invented　the