cb.coldheart canyon-第62部分

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brotherhood　a　small　fortune　to　possess　the　secret；　and　then　another　sum　to　have　the　icons　created　in　sufficient　numbers　that　every　door　and　window　be　guarded。　It　had　been　worth　the　investment：　the　Iron　Word　did　its　job。　Katya　felt　like　her　mother；　who'd　always　boasted　that　she　kept　a　'clean　house'。　Of　course　Mother　Lupescu's　definition　of　moral　cleanliness　had　been　purely　her　own。
　 You　could　fuck　her　twelve…year…old　daughter　for　a　small　coin；　but　you　could　not　say　Christ　when　you　were　shooting　your　load　between　her　tiny　titties　without　being　thrown　out　of　the　house。
　 And　in　her　turn　that　twelve…year…old　had　grown　up　with　her　own　particular　rules　of　domestic　cleanliness。　In　short：　the　dead　did　not　cross　the　threshold。
　 You　had　to　draw　the　line　somewhere；　or　all　hell　would　break　loose。　On　that　Mama　Lupescu　and　her　daughter　would　have　agreed。
　
　 She　got　herself　a　cup　of　milk　from　the　refrigerator　to　calm　her　stomach；　which　always　troubled　her　when；　as　now；　she　was　unsettled　for　some　reason　or　another。　Then　she　went　through　the　house；　taking　her　time　passing　from　one　room　to　another；　and　as　she　came　to　the　front　door　she　heard　the　sound　of　a　car　ing　up　the　street。　She　stepped　outside；　and　walked　along　the　front　path　until　she　reached　the　pool　of　light　from　the　car's　headlights。
　 〃Is　that　you；　Jerry？〃
　 A　car　door　opened。
　 〃Yes；　it's　me；〃　he　said。　〃Was　I　expected？〃
　 〃You　were。〃
　 〃Well；　thank　God　for　that。〃
　 She　went　to　the　little　gate；　and　stepped　out　onto　the　narrow　sidewalk　Jerry　had　got　out　of　the　car。　He　had　a　barely…suppressed　look　of　shock　on　his　face；　seeing　her　step　beyond　the　bounds　of　her　little　dominion　for　the　first　time。
　 〃Are　we　actually　going　somewhere？〃　he　asked　her。
　 〃I　certainly　hope　so；〃　she　said；　playing　it　off　lightly。　She　could　not　pletely　conceal　her　unease；　however。　It　was　there　in　her　eyes。　But　there　was　also　something　else　in　her　glance；　besides　the　unease：　something　far　more　remarkable。　A　kind　of　sweetness；　even　innocence。　She　looked　like　a　girl　out　on　her　first　Prom　Night；　tip…toeing　to　the　edge　of　womanhood。
　 Amazing；　Jerry　thought。　Knowing　all　that　he　knew　about　Katya…all　that　she'd　done　and　caused　to　have　done…to　be　able　to　find　that　look　in　her　memory　banks；　and　put　it　up　there　on　her　face；　so　that　it　looked　as　real　as　it　did；　that　was　a　performance。
　 〃Where　will　I　be　taking　you　tonight；　ma'am？〃　Jerry　asked　her。
　 〃I'm　not　exactly　sure。　You　see　we're　going　to　be　looking　for　somebody。〃
　 〃Are　we　indeed？　And　may　I　take　a　guess　at　who？〃
　 Katya　smiled。　〃Too　easy；〃　she　said。
　 〃We'll　find　him　for　you。　Don't　you　worry。〃
　 〃You　were　the　one　who　got　him　to　e　up　here　in　the　first　place；　Jerry。　So　you're　the　match…maker。　And　thank　you。　From　both　of　us；　thank　you。　It's　been　quite　a　remarkable　time　for　me；　Jerry。　I　never　thought　I'd　ever　fall　in　love　again。　And　with　an　actor。〃　She　laughed。　〃You'd　think　I'd　have　learned　by　now。〃
　 〃I　hope　it's　a　happy　mistake。〃
　 〃Oh　it　is；　Jerry。　It's　perfect。　He's　perfect。〃
　 〃Is　he？〃
　 〃For　me。　Yes。　Perfect　for　me。〃
　 〃So　will　you　be　joining　him　somewhere？〃
　 〃Yes。〃
　 〃But　you're　not　exactly　sure　where？〃
　 〃That's　right。〃
　 〃Well；　I'm　going　to　hazard　a　guess　and　say　he's　at　Maxine's；　because　I　know　she's　having　a　big　bash　tonight。　Do　you　want　me　to　call　her；　and　ask　her　if　he's　there？　Maybe　tell　her　I'm　bringing　a　special　guest？〃
　 〃No；　I　think　it's　best　we　just　do　this　quietly；　don't　you？〃
　 〃However　you　prefer。　Tonight's　your　night。〃
　 〃I　don't　want　any　big　hoopla；〃　Katya　said。　〃I　just　want　to　find　him。〃
　 For　a　moment　the　illusion　disappeared　pletely；　and　reality　showed　itself：　the　desperate　hunger　of　a　woman　who　needed　to　find　the　love　of　her　life。　Not　tomorrow；　or　the　day　after；　but　tonight。　She　had　no　time　to　waste；　this　woman；　no　time　for　error　or　procrastination。
　 〃Shall　we　go？〃　she　said。
　 〃Ready　when　you　are。〃
　 She　went　to　the　car　and　started　to　fumble　with　the　doorhandle。
　 〃Please；〃　Jerry　said。　〃Allow　me。〃　He　came　round　to　the　passenger　side　and　opened　the　door。
　 〃Thank　you；　Jerry。　How　nice。　Old…fashioned　manners；〃　she　said。　She　got　in　into　the　car　in　one　elegant　movement。　Jerry　closed　the　door　and　went　to　the　driver's　side。　She　was　trembling；　he　saw；　just　the　slightest　tremor。
　 〃It's　going　to　be　all　right；〃　he　reassured　her　when　he　was　settled　in　beside　her。
　 〃Is　it？〃　she　said；　with　a　smile　too　tentative　to　survive　more　than　a　breath。　〃
　 〃Yes。　It's　going　to　be　fine。〃
　 〃He's　the　one；　Jerry。　Todd　is　the　one。　If　he　were　to　turn　me　down…〃
　 〃He's　not　going　to　do　that；　now　is　he？〃　Jerry　said。　〃He'd　be　a　fool　to　say　no　to　you。　And　whatever　else　Todd　is；　he's　no　fool。〃
　 〃So　find　him　for　me。　Will　you？〃
　 〃Yes；　ma'am。〃
　 〃Then　I　can　start　to　live　again。〃
　
　
　SIX
　 It　had　taken　Todd　a　few　minutes　to　get　used　to　sitting　behind　the　wheel　of　the　old　Lincoln　sedan　which　Marco　had　chosen；　many　years　before；　as　the　vehicle　in　which　he　preferred　to　anonymously　chauffeur　Todd　around。　Sitting　in　the　seat　adjusted　for　Marco's　huge　frame　made　him　realize…for　the　first　time　in　the　chaotic　sequence　of　dramas　that　had　unraveled　since　Marco's　sudden　death…how　much　he　would　miss　the　man。
　 Marco　had　been　a　stabilizing　influence　in　a　world　that　was　showing　signs　of　being　more　unstable　by　the　hour。　But　more　than　that：　he'd　been　Todd's　friend。　He'd　had　a　good　nose　for　bullshit；　and　he'd　never　been　afraid　of　speaking　his　mind；　especially　when　it　came　to　protecting　his　boss。
　 There　would　e　a　time；　Todd　had　promised　himself；　when　he　would　sit　down　and　think　of　something　to　do　that　would　honour　Caputo's　name。　He'd　been　no　intellectual；　so　the　founding　of　a　library；　or　the　funding　of　the　Caputo　Prize　for　Scholastic　Achievement；　wouldn't　really　be　pertinent：　it　would　need　some　serious　thought　to　create　a　project　that　reflected　and　honored　the　plexity　of　the　man。
　 〃You're　thinking　about　Marco　Caputo。〃　Tammy　said　as　she　watched　Todd　adjust　to　the　spatial　arrangements　of　the　driver's　seat。
　 〃The　way　you　said　that；　it　didn't　sound　as　though　you　liked　him　very　much。〃
　 〃He　was　rude　to　me　on　a　couple　of　occasions；〃　Tammy　said；　making　light　of　it　now。　〃It　was　no　big　deal。〃
　 〃The　fact　is　he　was　more　of　a　brother　to　me　than　my　own　brother；〃　he　replied。　〃And　I'm　only　now　realizing　how　much　I　took　him　for　granted。　Christ。　First　I　lose　my　dog；　then　my　best　buddy…〃
　 〃Dempsey？〃
　 〃Yeah。　He　died　of　cancer　in　February。〃
　 〃I'm　sorry。〃
　 Todd　turned　on　the　ignition。　His　thoughts　were　still　with　Marco。　〃You　know　what　I　think？〃　he　said。
　 〃What？〃
　 〃I　think　that　the　night　he　got　killed　he　wasn't　just　drunk。　He　was　panicked　and　drunk。〃
　 〃You　mean　he'd　seen　something？〃
　 〃Yes；　that's　exactly　what　I　mean。　He'd　seen　something　up　at　the　house　and　was　running　away。〃　He　drew　a　loud　breath　through　his　nose。　〃Okay。　Enough　of　the　detective　work。　We　can　do　some　more　of　that　when　all　this　is　over。　Right　now；　we're　heading　for　Malibu。〃
　
　 On　the　way　down　to　the　ocean；　Todd　provided　Tammy　with　a　little　portrait　of　where　they　were　going。　She　knew　about　the　Colony；　of　course…the　guarded　munity　of　superstars　who　lived　in　houses　filled　with　Picassos　and　Miros　and　Monets；　with　the　ever…unpredictable　Pacific　a　few　yards　from　their　back　door；　and…just　a　jump　across　the　Pacific　Coast　Highway…the　Malibu　Hills；　which　had　been　the　scene　of　countless　wildfires　in　the　hot　season；　and　mud…slides　in　the　wet。　What　she　didn't　know　was　just　how　exclusive　it　was；　even　for　those　who　were　powerful　enough　to　write　their　own　rules　in　any　other　circumstances。
　 〃I　was　planning　to　buy　this　house　next　door　to　Maxine's　place；　way　back；〃　Todd　told　her；　〃but　my　lawyer…who　was　this　wily　old　fart　called　Lester　Mayfield　said：　'You're　going　to　want　to　rip　out　that　concrete　deck　and　take　off　the　old　shingle　roof；　aren't　you？'　And　I　said：　'You　betcha。'　And　he　said：　'Well；　dream　on　buster；　'cause　they　won't　let　you。　You'll　spend　the　next　ten　years　fighting　with　the　Colony　mittee　to　change　the　color　of　your　toilet　seat。〃
　 〃So　I　didn't　buy　the　place。　They've　lightened　up　on　the　rules　a　lot　since　then。　I　guess　somebody　must　have　pointed　out　that　they　were　preserving　some　pieces　of　utter　shit。〃
　 〃Who　ended　up　buying　the　house　next　door　to　Maxine？〃
　 〃Oh。。。he　was　a　producer；　had　a　deal　with　Paramount。　Made　some　very　successful　movies　for　them。　Then　the　IRS　taps　him　on　the　shoulder　and　asks　why　he　hasn't　paid　his　taxes　for　six　years。　He　ended　up　going　to　jail；　and　the　house　stood　empty。〃
　 〃Nobody　else　bought　it？〃
　 〃No。　He　wanted　to　be　back　making　movies　when　he　got　out　of　the　slammer。　Which　is　what　he　did。　Went　straight　back　into　the　business。　Made　six　more　huge　movies。　And　he　still　snorts　coke　from　between　the　tits　of　loose　women。　Bob　Graydon's　his　name。〃
　 〃Isn't　he　the　one　who　had　an　artificial　septum　put　in　his　nose　because　he'd　had　the　real　thing　eaten　away　by　cocaine？〃
　 〃That's　Bob。　Where'd　you　hear　that？〃
　 〃Oh；　the　National　Enquirer　probably。　I　buy　them　all　in　case　there's　something　about　you。　Not　that　I　believe　everything　I　read…〃　she　added　hurriedly。
　 〃Just　the　juicy　bits。〃
　 〃Well　after　a　time　you　get　a　feeling　about　what's　true　and　what's　not　true。〃
　 〃Care　to　give　me　an　example？〃
　 〃No。〃
　 〃Go　on。〃
　 〃That's　not　fair。　I'm　screwed　whatever　I　say。　No！　Wait！　Here's　one！　About　two　years　ago　they　said　you　were　going　into　a　private　hospital　in　Montreal　to　have　your　ding…a…ling　enlarged。〃
　 〃My　ding…a…ling！〃
　 〃You　know　what　I　mean。〃
　 〃Do　you　say　ding…a…ling　to　Arnie？　It　is　Arnie；　isn't　it？〃
　 〃Yes　it's　Arnie　and　no　I　don't　say　ding…a…ling。〃
　 〃Tell　me　about　him。〃
　 〃There　isn't　much　to　tell。〃
　 〃Why'd　you　marry　him？　Tell　me　that。〃
　 〃Well　it　wasn't　because　of　the　size　of　his　dick。〃
　 〃Dick！　That's　what　you　call　it：　dick。〃
　 〃I　guess　I　do；〃　Tammy　said；　amused；　a　little　embarrassed　to　have　let　this　slip。　〃Anyway；　back　to　the　story　in　The　Enquirer。　They　said　you　were　in　Montreal　getting　your　thingie…your　dick…made　bigger。　Except　I　knew　that　wasn't　true。〃
　 〃How　e？〃
　 〃It　just　didn't　make　any　sense。　Not　after　the　articles　I'd　read　about　you。〃
　 〃Go　on；〃　Todd　said；　fascinated。
　 〃Well。。。you　know　I　read　everything　that's　ever　been　written　about　you？　Everything　in　English。　And　then　if　there's　a　really　important　interview　in；　say；　Paris　Match　or　Stern；　I　get　it　translated。〃
　 〃Jesus。　Really？　What　for？〃
　 〃So　I　can　keep　up　with　your　opinions。　And。。。sometimes　in　the　foreign　magazines　they　write　the　kind　of　things　you　wouldn't　read　in　an　American　magazine。　One　of　them　did　a　piece　about　your　love…life。　About　all　the　ladies　you'd　dated；　and　the　things　they'd　said　about　you…〃
　 〃My　acting？〃
　 〃No。　Your。。。other　performances。〃
　 〃You're　kidding。〃
　 〃No。　I　thought　you　knew　about　these　things。　I　thought　you　probably　signed　off　on　them。〃
　 〃If　I　read　every　article　in　every　magazine…〃
　 〃You'd　never　make　another　movie。〃
　 〃Exactly。　So；　go　back　to　the　article。　The　ladies；　talking　about　me。　What　does　that　have　to　do　with　the　story　in　The　Enquirer！〃
　 〃Oh　just　that　here　were　all　these　women　talking　about　you　in　bed…and　a　few　of　them　were　not　exactly　happy　with　the　way　you　treated　them…but　none　of　them　said；　even　vaguely　intimated　that。。。〃
　 〃I　had　a　small　dick。〃