raymondchandler.thehighwindow-第15章

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　 The　carroty　man's　left　foot　didn't　wait　to　be　stamped　on。　The　lean　body　moved　back　quickly　and　the　thrown　bunch　of　keys　hit　the　floor　behind；　and　clanked　against　the　door　of　Apartment　204。　The　carroty　man's　right　hand　made　a　sweeping　movement　and　came　up　with　a　woven　leather　blackjack。
　 Hench　said：　〃Yah！〃　and　took　two　big　handfuls　of　air　in　his　two　hairy　hands；　closed　the　hands　into　fists　and　swung　hard　at　nothing。
　 The　carroty　man　hit　him　on　the　top　of　his　head　and　the　girl　screamed　again　and　threw　a　glass　of　liquor　in　her　boy　friend's　face。　Whether　because　it　was　safe　to　do　it　now　or　because　she　made　an　honest　mistake；　I　couldn't　tell。
　 Hench　turned　blindly　with　his　face　dripping；　stumbled　and　ran　across　the　floor　in　a　lurch　that　threatened　to　land　him　on　his　nose　at　every　step。　The　bed　was　down　and　tumbled。　Hench　made　the　bed　on　one　knee　and　plunged　a　hand　under　the　pillow。
　 I　said：　〃Look　outgun。〃
　 〃I　can　fade　that　too；〃　the　carroty　man　said　between　his　teeth　and　slid　his　right　hand；　empty　now；　under　his　open　vest。
　 Hench　was　down　on　both　knees。　He　came　up　on　one　and　turned　and　there　was　a　short　black　gun　in　his　right　hand　and　he　was　staring　down　at　it；　not　holding　it　by　the　grip　at　all；　holding　it　flat　on　his　palm。
　 〃Drop　it！〃　the　carroty　man's　voice　said　tightly　and　he　went　on　into　the　room。
　 The　blond　promptly　jumped　on　his　back　and　wound　her　long　green　arms　around　his　neck；　yelling　lustily。　The　carroty　man　staggered　and　swore　and　waved　his　gun　around。
　 〃Get　him；　Del！〃　the　blond　screamed。　〃Get　him　good！〃　Hench；　one　hand　on　the　bed　and　one　foot　on　the　floor；　both　knees　doubled；　right　hand　holding　the　black　gun　flat　on　his　palm；　eyes　staring　down　at　it；　pushed　himself　slowly　to　his　feet　and　growled　deep　in　his　throat：
　 〃This　ain't　my　gun。〃
　 I　relieved　the　carroty　man　of　the　gun　that　was　not　doing　him　any　good　and　stepped　around　him；　leaving　him　to　shake　the　blond　off　his　back　as　best　he　could。　A　door　banged　down　the　hallway　and　steps　came　along　toward　us。
　 I　said：　〃Drop　it；　Hench。〃
　 He　looked　up　at　me；　puzzled　dark　eyes　suddenly　sober。　〃It　ain't　my　gun；〃　he　said　and　held　it　out　flat。　〃Mine's　a　Colt　。32belly　gun。〃
　 I　took　the　gun　off　his　hand。　He　made　no　effort　to　stop　me。　He　sat　down　on　the　bed；　rubbed　the　top　of　his　head　slowly；　and　screwed　his　face　up　in　difficult　thought。　〃Where　the　hell〃　his　voice　trailed　off　and　he　shook　his　head　and　winced。
　 I　sniffed　the　gun。　It　had　been　fired。　I　sprang　the　magazine　out　and　counted　the　bullets　through　the　small　holes　in　the　side。　There　were　six。　With　one　in　the　magazine；　that　made　seven。　The　gun　was　a　Colt　。32；　automatic；　eight　shot。　It　had　been　fired。　If　it　had　not　been　reloaded；　one　shot　had　been　fired　from　it。
　 The　carroty　man　had　the　blond　off　his　back　now。　He　had　thrown　her　into　a　chair　and　was　wiping　a　scratch　on　his　cheek。　His　green　eyes　were　baleful。
　 〃Better　get　some　law；〃　I　said。　〃A　shot　has　been　fired　from　this　gun　and　it's　about　time　you　found　out　there's　a　dead　man　in　the　apartment　across　the　hail。〃
　 Hench　looked　up　at　me　stupidly　and　said　in　a　quiet；　reasonable　voice：　〃Brother；　that　simply　ain't　my　gun。〃
　 The　blond　sobbed　in　a　rather　theatrical　manner　and　showed　me　an　open　mouth　twisted　with　misery　and　ham　acting。　The　carroty　man　went　softly　out　of　the　door。
　
　
　10
　
　 〃Shot　in　the　throat　with　a　medium　caliber　gun　and　a　softnosed　bullet；〃　Detective…Lieutenant　Jesse　Breeze　said。　〃A　gun　like　this　and　bullets　like　is　in　here。〃　He　danced　the　gun　on　his　hand；　the　gun　Hench　had　said　was　not　his　gun。　〃Bullet　ranged　upwards　and　probably　hit　the　back　of　the　skull。　Still　inside　his　head。　The　man's　dead　about　two　hours。　Hands　and　face　cold；　but　body　still　warm。　No　rigor。　Was　sapped　with　something　hard　before　being　shot。　Likely　with　a　gun　butt。　All　that　mean　anything　to　you　boys　and　girls？〃
　 The　newspaper　he　was　sitting　on　rustled。　He　took　his　hat　off　and　mopped　his　face　and　the　top　of　his　almost　bald　head。　A　fringe　of　light　colored　hair　around　the　crown　was　damp　and　dark　with　sweat。　He　put　his　hat　back　on；　a　flat…crowned　panama；　burned　dark　by　the　sun。　Not　this　year's　hat；　and　probably　not　last　year's。
　 He　was　a　big　man；　rather　paunchy；　wearing　brown　and　white　shoes　and　sloppy　socks　and　white　trousers　with　thin　black　stripes；　an　open　neck　shirt　showing　some　ginger…colored　hair　at　the　top　of　his　chest；　and　a　rough　sky…blue　sports　coat　not　wider　at　the　shoulders　than　a　two…car　garage。　He　would　be　about　fifty　years　old　and　the　only　thing　about　him　that　very　much　suggested　cop　was　the　calm；　unwinking　unwavering　stare　of　his　prominent　pale　blue　eyes；　a　stare　that　had　no　thought　of　being　rude；　but　that　anybody　but　a　cop　would　feel　to　be　rude。　Below　his　eyes　across　the　top　of　his　cheeks　and　the　bridge　of　his　nose　there　was　a　wide　path　of　freckles；　like　a　mine　field　on　a　war　map。
　 We　were　sitting　in　Hench's　apartment　and　the　door　was　shut。　Hench　had　his　shirt　on　and　he　was　absently　tying　a　tie　with　thick　blunt　fingers　that　trembled。　The　girl　was　lying　on　the　bed。　She　had　a　green　wrap…around　thing　twisted　about　her　head；　a　purse　by　her　side　and　a　short　squirrel　coat　across　her　feet。　Her　mouth　was　a　little　open　and　her　face　was　drained　and　shocked。
　 Hench　said　thickly：　〃If　the　idea　is　the　guy　was　shot　with　the　gun　under　the　pillow；　okay。　Seems　like　he　might　have　been。　It　ain't　my　gun　and　nothing　you　boys　can　think　up　is　going　to　make　me　say　it's　my　gun。〃
　 〃Assuming　that　to　be　so；〃　Breeze　said；　〃how　e？　Somebody　swiped　your　gun　and　left　this　one。　When；　how；　what　kind　of　gun　was　yours？〃
　 〃We　went　out　about　three…thirty　or　so　to　get　something　to　eat　at　the　hashhouse　around　the　corner；〃　Hench　said。　〃You　can　check　that。　We　must　have　left　the　door　unlocked。　We　were　kind　of　hitting　the　bottle　a　little。　I　guess　we　were　pretty　noisy。　We　had　the　ball　game　going　on　the　radio。　I　guess　we　shut　it　off　when　we　went　out。　I'm　not　sure。　You　remember？〃　He　looked　at　the　girl　lying　white…faced　and　silent　on　the　bed。　〃You　remember；　sweet？〃
　 The　girl　didn't　look　at　him　or　answer　him。
　 〃She's　pooped；〃　Hench　said。　〃I　had　a　gun；　a　Colt　。32；　same　caliber　as　that；　but　a　belly　gun。　A　revolver；　not　an　automatic。　There's　a　piece　broken　off　the　rubber　grip。　A　Jew　named　Morris　gave　it　to　me　three　four　years　ago。　We　worked　together　in　a　bar。　I　don't　have　no　permit；　but　I　don't　carry　the　gun　neither。〃
　 Breeze　said：　〃Hitting　the　hooch　like　you　birds　been　and　having　a　gun　under　the　pillow　sooner　or　later　somebody　was　going　to　get　shot。　You　ought　to　know　that。〃
　 〃Hell；　we　didn't　even　know　the　guy；〃　Hench　said。　His　tie　was　tied　now；　very　badly。　He　was　cold　sober　and　very　shaky。　He　stood　up　and　picked　a　coat　off　the　end　of　the　bed　and　put　it　on　and　sat　down　again。　I　watched　his　fingers　tremble　lighting　a　cigarette。　〃We　don't　know　his　name。　We　don't　know　anything　about　him。　I　see　him　maybe　two　three　times　in　the　hall；　but　he　don't　even　speak　to　me。　It's　the　same　guy；　I　guess。　I　ain't　even　sure　of　that。〃
　 〃It's　the　fellow　that　lived　there；〃　Breeze　said。　〃Let　me　see　now；　this　ball　game　is　a　studio　re…broadcast；　huh？〃
　 〃Goes　on　at　three；〃　Hench　said。　〃Three　to　say　four…thirty；　or　sometimes　later。　We　went　out　about　the　last　half　the　third。　We　was　gone　about　an　inning　and　a　half；　maybe　two。　Twenty　minutes　to　half　an　hour。　Not　more。〃
　 〃I　guess　he　was　shot　just　before　you　went　out；〃　Breeze　said。　〃The　radio　would　kill　the　noise　of　the　gun　near　enough。　You　must　of　left　your　door　unlocked。　Or　even　open。〃
　 〃Could　be；〃　Hench　said　wearily。　〃You　remember；　honey？〃　Again　the　girl　on　the　bed　refused　to　answer　him　or　even　look　at　him。
　 Breeze　said：　〃You　left　your　door　open　or　unlocked。　The　killer　heard　you　go　out。　He　got　into　your　apartment；　wanting　to　ditch　his　gun；　saw　the　bed　down；　walked　across　and　slipped　his　gun　under　the　pillow；　and　then　imagine　his　surprise。　He　found　another　gun　there　waiting　for　him。　So　he　took　it　along。　Now　if　he　meant　to　ditch　his　gun；　why　not　do　it　where　he　did　his　killing？　Why　take　the　risk　of　going　into　another　apartment　to　do　it？　Why　the　fancy　pants？〃
　 I　was　sitting　in　the　corner　of　the　davenport　by　the　window。　I　put　in　my　nickel's　worth；　saying：　〃Suppose　he　had　locked　himself　out　of　Phillips'　apartment　befo