ericlustbader.the ninja-第87章

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s　parting。
　'。。。　In　an　alley。　The　garbage　cans　…'
　'Don't　be　an　idiot；　Philip。　And　don't　lie　to　me。　Darling；　you　must　tell　me　what　happened。　Here；　let　me　put　some　ice　on　it　…do　as　I　say。'　A　soft　clatter。　'There。'
　There　would　be　time；　after　Tomkin　was　put　away；　to　take　some　time　off。　Go　to　the　sea　as　Melville　did　when　he　was　sick　at　heart　and　he　felt　like　screaming　at　anyone　who　came　too　close。　Yes；　the　sea。　Not　to　fish；　he　hated　fishing。　But　to　sail；　perhaps。　He'd　never　done　that　and　it　might　be　time　now　to　try　it。　Try　her。
　'At　Ah　Ma's　…　I　worked　there　last　night。'
　'Well；　she'd　never　do　that　to　you。'
　'No。　A　man　…'
　'A　bastard；　that's　what。　Here；　keep　the　ice　on　for　a　little　longer。　I　forbid　you　to　go　there　again。'
　'But　the　man　is　ing　here　again　tonight。　She　wants　to　be　there　…'
　'I　don't　care　what　Ah　Ma　wants；　you're　not　going。　She'll　have　to　learn　to　do　without　you。'
　'It　won't　be　any　good　without　me。'
　'What　do　you　mean？'
　'The　man　wants　me。　That's　how　he　…　ejaculates。　I　said　that　right；　didn't　I？'
　'My　God　…　who　is　this　man？'
　'I　don't　know。　A　Japanese。　A　very　strange　man。　Eyes　like　dead　stones　…　you　know；　like　he　was　from　another　world。'
　But　Croaker　was　already　turning；　his　face　flushed　with　the　adrenalin　building　in　his　body。　'Talk　to　me；　Philip；'　he　said　slowly　and　carefully；　masking　his　excitement。　'Tell　me　about　the　Japanese　with　eyes　like　dead　stones。'
　Croaker　was　waiting　for　them　at　the　tower's　Park　Avenue　side。　His　big　figure　was　leaning　negligently　against　the　side　of　his　unmarked　sedan。　The　detachable　red　light　revolved　atop　the　car；　piercing　the　long　twilight's　sapphire　haze　like　a　lighthouse　beacon's　unerring　warning。
　Nicholas　emerged　from　the　limo　as　soon　as　it　pulled　over　to　the　kerb　just　to　the　uptown　side　of　Croaker。　As　he　went　quickly　towards　the　detective；　he　was　acutely　aware　of　Tomkin's　presence　blooming　behind　him　as　Tom；　the　thin　chauffeur；　held　the　heavy　door　open。
　He　was　aware；　too；　of　the　city　around　him；　everything　shrouded　in　blue。　The　sun　was　just　a　memory　but　its　heat　refused　to　leave　the　asphalt　under　his　shoe　soles。　The　atmosphere　was　thick　with　exhaust　fumes。　The　strings　of　dull　yellow　cabs　along　both　sides　of　the　avenue　seemed　like　streaming　caravans　entering　and　leaving　the　bowels　of　the　gilt…edged　Helmsley　Building。
　'How's　your　boss？'　Croaker's　voice　was　flat　and　hard　and　unyielding；　he　stared　past　Nicholas's　right　shoulder。
　Nicholas；　feeling　the　live…wire　buildup　of　tension；　said；　'Leave　it　alone；　Lew。　Forget　about　…'
　'Too　late　for　that；　buddy。'
　He　felt　the　presence　directly　behind　him　even　before　he　heard
　Tomkin's　voice　say；　'Still　patrolling　the　streets；　I　see；　Lieutenant。　Keeping　New　York　safe　for　us　citizens？'　The　note　of　sarcasm　was　unmistakable。
　'This　city's　still　dangerous　for　some；〃　Croaker　said　pointedly。
　'What　the　hell's　that　supposed　to　mean？'
　'Figure　it　out　for　yourself；　Tomkin。'
　'I　don't　like　veiled　threats；　Lieutenant。　Not　from　anyone。　Perhaps　I　should　have　another　　talk　with　the　missioner　and　…'
　'I　knew　it　was　you；　you　dirty　…'
　'…we'll　see　how　long　you　remain　a　lieutenant　…'
　'…reassigned　now　to　this　case　Nicholas　was　hired　for；　so　I　guess　we'll　be　seeing　a　lot　of　each　other。'
　'What？'
　There　was　a　malicious　grin　on　his　face　now；　his　skin　alternately　lighter　and　darker　yellow；　with　the　wash　of　passing　headlights　from　the　traffic　flow。
　Brake　lights　turned　Tomkin's　face　reddish。　'My　God；　I　won't　be　saddled　with　you　again！'
　'Nothing　you　can　do　about　it　now；　I'm　afraid。　The　transfer　came〃　down　directly　from　the　missioner　himself。　Even　you　won't　get　him　to　change　that　order。　He'd　look　far　too　foolish；　scurrying　to　rescind　a　reassignment。'
　'Christ；　haven't　I　had　enough　of　you　already？　You've　hounded　me　about　…'
　'I'm　only　here　to　protect　you；'　Croaker　pointed　out；　'and　to　nail　the　ninja　before　he　gets　you。'
　Tomkin's；　eyes　narrowed。　The　peculiar　monochromatic　light　had　washed　out　all　colour　from　his　eyes；　they　looked　oddly　pale。　'Wouldn't　you　just　love　to　sit　back　and　let　him　do　your　dirty　work？　Sure；　sure。　You　could　say；　〃Well；　I'm　sorry；　Captain；　but　I　did　my　best。　I　got　beaten；　is　all。　Can't　blame　me　for　that。〃'
　'Listen；　you　bastard'　…　Croaker　lunged　forward；　trying　to　get　around　Nicholas's　body　…　'I　do　my　job　better　than　anyone　else　in　this　creepy　city　and　if　that　means　making　sure　you　don't　buy　it；　I'll　do　it。　When　I　nail　you；　buddy；　it's　gonna　be　for　the　same　reasons　…'
　'What　reasons？'　Tomkin　snarled。　'You　got　nothing　…'
　'No；　but　I　will　have；'　Croaker　shouted。　'And　when　I　do；　I'll
　be　ing　for　you　with　a　warrant　that'll　stand　up　to　any　of　your　high…priced　attorneys　I'
　'You've　got　nothing；〃　Tomkin　sneered；　'and　you'll　get　nothing。　I　was　nowhere　near　Angela　Didion　the　night　she　was　murdered。　There's　nothing　linking　me　to　…'
　They　were　pushing　and　shoving　now。　Nicholas　heard　swift　reports　on　the　asphalt　as　sharp　as　rifle　shots　as　Tom　headed　their　way。　He　shouldered　the　two　roughly　apart；　said；　'Knock　it　off；　both　of　you。'
　Then　Tom　had　hold　of　his　boss　and　was　pulling　at　him。　Tomkin　allowed　himself　to　be　drawn　away　from　the　confrontation　but　lifted　a　finger；　swung　it　in　the　air　in　Croaker's　direction。　〃I'm　warning　you；'　he　cried；　'this　is　harassment。　I　don't　want　you　near　me　I'　And　then；　lowering　his　voice；　he　said　to　Nicholas；　'He's　after　me。　I　don't　know　why。　It's　a　vendetta。　I've　done　nothing；　Nick。　What's　he　doing　to　me？'　He　turned　away　abruptly；　walked　silently　back　to　the　limo　with　Tom　at　his　side　casting　a　worried　glance　or　two　over　his　shoulder。　The　revolving　red　lights　played　on　their　backs　intermittently。
　'Well；　that　was　pretty　stupid；'　Nicholas　said；　turning　round。
　'Oh；　who　gives　a　fuck？　What　are　you；　my　nanny？　Jesus！'　Croaker　disappeared　into　the　car。
　Nicholas　went　slowly　around　to　the　passenger's　side。　He　took　his　time　climbing　in。　Croaker　stared　fixedly　out　through　the　windshield。
　'Sorry；'　he　said；　after　a　time。　And　then；　〃That　bastard　really　boils　my　blood。'
　'The　antagonism　isn't　going　to　make　anything　easier。'
　Croaker　turned　his　head；　looked　at　Nicholas　for　the　first　time　since　he　had　got　in　the　car。　'You　know；　I　worry　about　you；　Nick；　I　really　do。〃　Their　reflections　in　the　windshield　like　a　neon　sign；　blinking　on　arid　off　in　the　backwash　of　traffic　headlights；　a　product　advertisement。　'You're　a　man　who　never　loses　control。　Don't　you　ever　get　angry？　Or　sad？'
　Nicholas　thought　about　Justine。　He　wanted　to　see　her　now；　to　talk　to　her　more　than　anything。
　'Because　I　feel　sorry　for　you　if　you　don't。'
　'No　cause　to　worry；'　he　said　softly。　I'm　as　human　as　the　next　person。　All　too　human。'
　'Hey；　you　know　I'd　swear　you're　making　that　sound　like　a　liability。　We're　all　born　into　it；　buddy。'
　'But　me；'　he　said。　'I　grew　up　thinking　there　was　no　room　to　make　a　mistake；　that　it　was　some　kind　of　failure　if　I　did。'
　'But　you　made　them　…'
　'Oh；　yeah。'　Nicholas　laughed　softly；　without　humour。　'I　made　plenty　of　them；　especially　when　it　came　to　women。　I　trusted　when　I　shouldn't　have；　now　I　guess　I'm　afraid　to　try　it　again。'
　'Justine？'
　'Yeah。　We　had　a　heavy　row。　It's　mostly　my　fault；　I　see　now。'
　'You　know　what　I　think；　buddy？〃　Croaker　said；　starting　the　engine。
　'What？'
　'I　think　the　problem's　not　with　you　and　Justine　but　in　the　past。　What's　so　wrong　in　trusting　someone？　Like　I　said；　we　all　do　it。　Sometimes　it　pays　off　and　sometimes。。。〃　He　shrugged。　'But　what　the　hell；　right？　It's　worse　never　to　trust　anyone。'　He　put　the　car　in　gear　and　they　edged　past　Tomkin's　limo；　pulling　over　to　the　left　to　make　the　U…turn　downtown。
　'The　flood　was　ing；　Nicholas　knew。　His　face　was　awash　in　yellow　and　red；　blue　in　the　shadows　between　light　sweeps。　The　tsunami；　his　personal　tidal　wave；　was　roaring　blackly　just　behind　him；　looming　over　the　world。　The　past　will　never　die；　he　thought。　Pain　surged　inside　him；　threatening　to　engulf　him。　All　the　bitter　days；　hanging　like　frost　on　the　ledges　of　his　soul；　were　returning　again　despite　his　careful　partmentalizing；　the　agony　returning　like　a　dull　river　of　lead；　climbing　through　him　once　more。　He　lacked　the　strength　to　push　the　memories　away　any　more。
　e　1　he　thought　savagely。　Here　I　am；　let　it　happen。
　B