Concealment
Itwasacombinationofthings.June20wasahotday,andadullone.AphotographerfortheBaltimoreSunhadanewcamera,aNikontoreplacehisvenerableHoneywellPentax,andwhilehemournedforhisoldone,thenewcamera,likeanewlove,hadallsortsofnewfeaturestoexploreandenjoy.Oneofthemwasawholecollectionoftelephotolensesthatthedistributorhadthrownin.TheNikonwasanewmodel,andthecompanyhadwanteditacceptedwithinthenews-photocommunityquickly,andsotwentyphotographersatvariouspapersaroundthecountryhadgottenfreesets.BobPreishadgottenhisbecauseofaPulitzerPrizeearnedthreeyearsbefore.HewassittinginhiscaronDruidLakeDrivenow,listeningtohispoliceradio,hopingforsomethinginterestingtohappen,butnothingwas.Andsohewasplayingwithhisnewcamera,practicinghislens-switchingskills.TheNikonwasbeautifullymachined,andasaninfantrymanwilllearntostripandcleanhisrifleintotaldarkness,Preiswaschangingfromonelenstoanotherbyfeel,forcinghimselftoscantheareajustasameansofkeepinghiseyesoffaprocedurethathadtobecomeasnaturalandautomaticaszippinghispants.
Itwasthecrowsthatcaughthisattention.Locatedoff-centerintheirregularlyshapedlakewasafountain.Noexampleofarchitecturalprowess,itwasaplainconcretecylinderstickingsixoreightfeetupfromthewater‘ssurface,andinitwereafewjetsthatshotwatermoreorlessstraightup,thoughtodayshiftingwindswerescatteringthewaterhaphazardlyinalldirections.Crowswerecirclingthewater,tryingoccasionallytogetin,butdefeatedbytheswirlingsheetsofclearwhitespray,whichappearedtofrightenthem.Whatwerethecrowsinterestedin?Hishandssearchedthecameracaseforthe200mmlens,whichheattachedtothecamerabody,bringingituptohiseyessmoothly.
‘SweetJesus!‘Preisinstantlyshottenrapidframes.Onlythendidhegetonhiscarradio,tellinghisbaseofficetonotifythepoliceatonce.Heswitchedlensesagain,thistimeselectinga300mm,hislongest.Afterfinishingoneroll,hethreadedanother,thisone100-speedcolor.HesteadiedthecameraonthewindowsillofthetiredoldChevyandfiredoffanotherroll.Onecrow,hesaw,gotthroughthewater,settlingon-
‘Oh,God,no‘Becauseitwas,afterall,ahumanbodythere,ayoungwoman,whiteasalabaster,andinthethrough-the-lensoptics,hecouldseethecrowrightthere,itsclawedfeetstruttingaroundthebody,itspitilessblackeyessurveyingwhattothebirdwasnothingmorethanalargeanddiversemeal.Preissathiscameradownandshiftedhiscarintogear.Heviolatedtwoseparatetrafficlawsgettingasclosetothefountainashecould,andinwhatwasforhimararecaseofhumanityovercomingprofessionalism,slammedhishanddownonthehorn,hopingtostartlethebirdaway.Thebirdlookedup,butsawthatwhateverthenoisecamefrom,therewasnoimmediatethreathere,anditwentbacktoselectingthefirstmorselforitsiron-hardbeak.ItwasthenthatPreismadearandombuteffectiveguess.Heblinkedhislightsonandoff,andtothebirdthatwasunusualenoughthatitthoughtbetterofthingsandflewaway.Itmighthavebeenanowl,afterall,andthemealwasn‘tgoinganywhere.Thebirdwouldjustwaitforthethreattogoawaybeforereturningtoeat.
‘Whatgives?‘acopasked,pullingalongside.
‘There‘sabodyonthefountain.Look.‘Hehandedthecameraover.
‘God,‘thepolicemanbreathed,handingitbackafteralongquietmoment.HemadetheradiocallwhilePreisshotanotherroll.Policecarsarrived,ratherlikethecrows,oneatatime,untileightwereparkedwithinsightofthefountain.Afiretruckarrivedintenminutes,alongwithsomeonefromthedepartmentofRecreationandParks,traileringaboatbehindhispickup.Thiswasquicklyputintothewater.Thencametheforensicspeoplewithalabtruck,anditwastimetogoouttothefountain.Preisaskedtogoalong-hewasabetterphotographerthantheonethecopsused-butwasrebutted,andsohecontinuedtorecordtheeventfromthelake‘sedge.Therewouldn‘tbeanotherPulitzerinthis.Therecouldhavebeen,hethought.Butthepriceofthatwouldhaveinvolvedimmortalizingtheinstinctiveactofacarrionbird,defilingthebodyofagirlinthemidstofamajorcity.Andthatwasn‘tworththenightmares.Hehadenoughofthosealready.
Acrowdhadalreadygathered.Thepoliceofficerscongregatedinsmallknots,tradingquietcommentsandbarbedattemptsatgrimhumor.ATVnewstruckarrivedfromitsstudioonTelevisionHilljustnorthofthepark,whichheldthecityzoo.ItwasaplaceBobPreisoftentookhisyoungchildren,andtheyespeciallylikedthelion,notsooriginallynamedLeo,andthepolarbears,andalltheotherpredatorsthatweresafelyconfinedbehindsteelbarsandstonewalls.Unlikesomepeople,hethought,watchingthemliftthebodyandplaceitinarubberbag.Atleasthertormentwasover.Preischangedrollsonemoretimetorecordtheprocessofloadingthebodyintothecoroner‘sstationwagon.ASunreporterwasherenow.He‘daskthequestionswhilePreisdeterminedhowgoodhisnewcamerareallywasbackathisdarkroomonCalvertStreet.
‘John,theyfoundher,‘Rosensaid.
‘Dead?‘Kellycouldn‘tlookup.ThetoneofSam‘svoicehadalreadytoldhimtherealnews.Itwasn‘tasurprise,buttheendofhopenevercomeseasilytoanyone.
Samnodded.‘Yeah.‘
‘How?‘
‘Idon‘tknowyet.Thepolicecalledmeafewminutesago,andIcameoverasquickasIcould.‘
‘Thanks,pal.‘Ifahumanvoicecouldsounddead,Samtoldhimself,Kelly‘sdid.
‘I‘msorry,John.I-youknowhowIfeltabouther.‘
‘Yes,sir,Ido.It‘snotyourfault,Sam.‘
‘You‘renoteating.‘Rosengesturedtothefoodtray.
‘I‘mnotrealhungry.‘
‘Ifyouwanttorecover,youhavetogetyourstrengthback.‘
‘Why?‘Kellyasked,staringatthefloor.
RosencameoverandgraspedKelly‘srighthand.Therewasn‘tmuchtosay.Thesurgeondidn‘thavethestomachtolookatKelly‘sface.He‘dpiecedenoughtogethertoknowthathisfriendwasblaminghimself,andhedidn‘tknowenoughtotalktohimaboutit,atleastnotyet.DeathwasacompanionforSamRosen,MD,FACS.Neurosurgeonsdealtwithmajorinjuriestothatmostdelicatepartofthehumananatomy,andtheinjuriestowhichtheymostoftenrespondedwerefrequentlybeyondanyone‘spowertorepair.Buttheunexpecteddeathofapersononeknowscanbetoomuchforanyone.
‘IsthereanythingIcando?‘heaskedafteraminuteortwo.
‘Notrightnow,Sam.Thanks.‘
‘Maybeapriest?‘
‘No,notnow.‘
‘Itwasn‘tyourfault,John.‘
‘Whose,then?Shetrustedme,Sam.Iblewit.‘
‘Thepolicewanttotalktoyousomemore.Itoldthemtomorrowmorning.‘
He‘dbeenthroughhissecondinterviewinthemorning.Kellyhadalreadytoldthemmuchofwhatheknew.Herfullname,herhometown,howthey‘dmet.Yes,theyhadbeenintimate.Yes,shehadbeenaprostitute,arunaway.Yes,herbodyhadshownsignsofabuse.Butnoteverything.Somehowhe‘dbeenunabletovolunteerinformationbecausetohavedonesowouldhaveentailedadmittingtoothermenthedimensionsofhisfailure.Andsohehadavoidedsomeoftheirinquiries,claimingpain,whichwasquitereal,butnotrealenough.Healreadysensedthatthepolicedidn‘tlikehim,butthatwasokay.Hedidn‘tmuchlikehimselfatthemoment.‘
‘Okay.‘
‘Ican-Ishoulddosomethingswithyourmedications.I‘vetriedtogoeasy,Idon‘tlikeoverdoingthethings,butthey‘llhelpyourelax,John.‘
‘Dopemeupmore?‘Kelly‘sheadlifted,andtheexpressionwasnotsomethingthatRoseneverwantedtoseeagain.‘Youthinkthat‘sreallygoingtomakeadifference,Sam?‘
Rosenlookedaway,unabletomeethiseyesnowthatitwaspossibletodoso.‘You‘rereadyforaregularbed.I‘llhaveyoumovedintooneinafewminutes.‘
‘Okay.‘
Thesurgeonwantedtosaymore,butcouldn‘tfindtherightwords.Heleftwithoutanyothers.
IttookSandyO‘Tooleandtwoorderliestomovehim,ascarefullyastheycould,ontoastandardhospitalbed.Shecrankeduptheheadportiontorelievethepressureonhisinjuredshoulder.
‘Iheard,‘shetoldhim.Itbotheredherthathisgriefwasn‘tright.Hewasatoughman,butnotafool.Perhapshewasoneofthosemenwhodidhisweepingalone,butshewassurehehadn‘tdoneityet.Andthatwasnecessary,sheknew.Tearsreleasedpoisonsfrominside,poisonswhichifnotreleasedcouldbeasdeadlyastherealkind.Thenursesatbesidehisbed.‘I‘mawidow,‘shetoldhim.
‘Vietnam?‘
‘Yes,TimwasacaptainintheFirstCavalry.‘
‘I‘msorry,‘Kellysaidwithoutturninghishead.‘Theysavedmybuttonce.‘
‘It‘shard.Iknow.‘
‘LastNovemberIlostTish,andnow-‘
‘Sarahtoldme.MrKelly-‘
‘John,‘hesaidsoftly.Hecouldn‘tfinditinhimselftobegrufftoher.
‘Thankyou,John.MynameisSandy.Badluckdoesnotmakeabadperson,‘shetoldhiminavoicethatmeantwhatitsaid,thoughitdidn‘tquitesoundthatway.
‘Itwasn‘tluck.ShetoldmeitwasadangerousplaceandItookherthereanywaybecauseIwantedtoseeformyself.‘
‘Youalmostgotyourselfkilledtryingtoprotecther.‘
‘Ididn‘tprotecther,Sandy.Ikilledher.‘Kelly‘seyeswerewideopennow,lookingattheceiling.‘IwascarelessandstupidandIkilledher.‘
‘Otherpeoplekilledher,andotherpeopletriedtokillyou.You‘reavictim.‘
‘Notavictim.Justafool.‘
We‘llsavethatforlater,NurseO‘Tooletoldherself.‘Whatsortofgirlwasshe,John?‘
‘Unlucky.‘Kellymadeanefforttolookatherface,butthatjustmadeitworse.HegavethenurseabriefsynopsisofthelifeofPamelaStarrMadden,deceased.
‘Soafterallthemenwhohurtherorusedher,yougavehersomethingthatnobodyelsedid.‘O‘Toolepaused,waitingforareplyandgettingnone.‘Yougaveherlove,didn‘tyou?‘
‘Yes.‘Kelly‘sbodyshudderedforamoment.‘Yes,Ididloveher.‘
‘Letitout,‘thenursetoldhim.‘Youhaveto.‘
Firstheclosedhiseyes.Thenheshookhishead.‘Ican‘t.‘
Thiswouldbeadifficultpatient,shetoldherself.Thecultofmanhoodwasamysterytoher.She‘dseenitinherhusband,whohadservedatourinVietnamasalieutenant,thenrotatedbackagainasacompanycommander.Hehadn‘trelishedit,hadn‘tlookedforwardtoit,buthehadn‘tshrunkfromitItwaspartofthejob,he‘dtoldherontheirweddingnight,twomonthsbeforehe‘dleft.Astupid,wastefuljobthathadcostherahusbandand,shefeared,herlife.Whoreallycaredwhathappenedinaplacesofaraway?AndyetithadbeenimportanttoTim.Whateverthatforcehadbeen,itslegacytoherwasemptiness,andithadnomorerealmeaningthanthegrimpainshesawonthefaceofherpatient.O‘Toolewouldhaveknownmoreaboutthatpainifshe‘dbeenabletotakeherthoughtonestepfurther.
***
‘Thatwasreallystupid.‘
‘That‘sonewayoflookingatit,‘Tuckeragreed.‘ButIcan‘thavemygirlsleavingwithoutpermission,canI?‘
‘Youeverhearofburyingthem?‘
‘Anybodycandothat.‘Themansmiledinthedarkness,watchingthemovie.Theywereinthebackrowofadowntowntheater,a1930sfilmpalacethatwasgraduallyfallingtoruin,andhadstartedrunningturnsat9a.m.justtokeepupwiththepaintingbill.Itwasstillagoodplaceforacovertmeetingwithaconfidentialinformant,whichwashowthismeetingwouldgoontheofficer‘stimesheet.
‘Sloppynotkillingtheguy,too.‘
‘Willhebeaproblem?‘Tuckerasked.
‘No.Hedidn‘tseeanything,didhe?‘
‘Youtellme,man.‘
‘Ican‘tgetthatclosetothecase,remember?‘Themanpausedforahandfulofpopcornandmunchedawayhisirritation.‘He‘sknowntothedepartment.Ex-Navyguy,skindiver,livesoverontheEasternShoresomewhere,sortofarichbeachbumfromwhatIgather.Thefirstinterviewdidn‘tdevelopanythingatall.RyanandDouglasaregoingtobeworkingthecasenow,butitdoesn‘tlookliketheyhavemuchofanythingtoworkwith.‘m.XiaoShuo530.Com
‘That‘saboutwhatshesaidwhenwe&"talked&"toher.Hepickedherup,anditlooksliketheyhadamightygoodtimetogether,buthersupplyofpillsranout,shesaid,andshehadhimbringherintowntoscoresome‘ludes.So,noharmdone?‘
‘Probablynot,butlet‘strytocontrollooseends,okay?‘
‘Youwantmetogethiminthehospital?‘Tuckeraskedlightly.‘Icanprobablyarrangethat.‘
‘No!Youdamnedfool,thisisgoingonthebooksasarobbery.Ifanythingelsehappens,itjustgetsbigger.Wedon‘twantthat.Leavehimbе.Неdoesn‘tknowanything.‘
‘Sohe‘snotaproblem?‘Tuckerwantedtobeclearonthat.
‘No.Buttrytorememberthatyoucan‘topenamurderinvestigationwithoutabody.‘
‘Ihavetokeepmypeopleinline.‘
‘FromwhatIhearyoudidtoher-‘
‘Justkeepingtheminline,‘Tuckerreemphasized.‘Makinganexample,like.Youdothatrightandyoudon‘thaveanymoreproblemsforawhile.You‘renotapartofthat.Whydoesitbotheryou?‘
Anotherhandfulofpopcornhelpedhimbendtothelogicofthemoment.‘Whatdoyouhaveforme?‘
Tuckersmiledinthedarkness.‘MrPiaggiisstartingtolikedoingbusinesswithme.‘
Agruntinthedarkness.‘Iwouldn‘ttrusthim.‘
‘Itdoesgetcomplicated,doesn‘tit?‘Tuckerpaused.‘ButIneedhisconnections.We‘reabouttohitthebigtime.‘
‘Howlong?‘
‘Soon,‘Tuckersaidjudiciously.‘Nextstep,Ithink,westartfeedingstuffnorth.Tonyisuptheretalkingtosomepeopletoday,matteroffact.‘
‘Whataboutnow?Icouldusesomethingjuicy.‘
‘Threeguyswithatonofgrassgoodenough?‘Tuckerasked.
‘Dotheyknowaboutyou?‘
‘No,butIknowaboutthem.‘Thatwasthepoint,afterall-hisorganizationwastight.Onlyahandfulofpeopleknewwhohewas,andthosepeopleknewwhatwouldhappeniftheygotalittleloose.Youjusthadtohavethestonestoenforcediscipline.
‘Takeiteasyonhim,‘Rosensaidoutsidetheprivateroom.‘He‘srecoveringfromamajorinjuryandhe‘sstillonseveralmedications.He‘sreallynotcapableoftalkingtoyouwithafulldeck.‘
‘Ihavemyjob,too,doctor.‘Itwasanewofficeronthecasenow,adetectivesergeantnamedTomDouglas.Hewasaboutforty,andlookedeverybitastiredasKelly,Rosenthought,andeverybitasangry.
‘Iunderstandthat.Buthe‘sbeenbadlyhurt,plustheshockofwhathappenedtohisgirlfriend.‘
‘Thequickerwegettheinformationweneed,thebetterourchancesaretofindthebastards.Yourdutyistotheliving,sir.Mineistothedead.‘
‘Ifyouwantmymedicalopinion,he‘snotreallycapableofhelpingyourightnow.He‘sbeenthroughtoomuch.He‘sclinicallydepressed,andthathasimplicationsforhisphysicalrecovery.‘
‘Areyoutellingmethatyouwanttositin?‘Douglasasked.JustwhatIneed-anamateurSherlocktowatchoverus.Butthatwasabattlehecouldn‘twinandwouldn‘tbothertofight.
‘I‘llfeelbetterifIcankeepaneyeonthings.Goeasyonhim,‘Samrepeated,openingthedoor.
‘MrKelly,we‘resorry,‘thedetectivesaidafterintroducinghimself.Douglasopenedhisnotebook.Thecasehadbeenbooteduptheladdertohisofficebecauseofitshighprofile.Thefirst-pagecolorphotoontheEveningSunhadcomeasclosetothepornographicasanythingthemediacouldpublish,andthemayorhadpersonallycalledforactiononthisone.Becauseofthat,Douglashadtakenthecase,wonderinghowlongthemayor‘sinterestwouldlast.Notvery,thedetectivethought.Theonlythingthatoccupiedapolitician‘smindformorethanaweekwasgettingandholdingvotes.ThiscasehadmorespinonitthanoneofMikeCuellar‘sscrewballs,butitwashiscase,andwhatwasalwaystheworstpartwasabouttotakeplace.‘TwonightsagoyouwereinthecompanyofayoungladynamedPamelaMadden?‘
‘Yes.‘Kelly‘seyeswereclosedwhenNurseO‘Toolecameinwithhismorningantibioticdose.Shewassurprisedtoseethetwoothermenthereandstoppedinthedoorway,notknowingifsheshouldinterruptornot.
‘MrKelly,yesterdayafternoonwediscoveredthebodyofayoungwomanwhofitsthephysicaldescriptionofMissMadden.‘Douglasreachedintohiscoatpocket.
‘No!‘Rosensaid,gettingoutofhischair.
‘Isthisshe?‘Douglasasked,holdingthephotobeforeKelly‘sface,hopingthathispropergrammarwouldsomehowlessentheimpact.
‘Goddamnit!‘Thesurgeonturnedthecoparoundandpushedhimagainstthewall.Intheprocessthephotodroppedonthepatient‘schest.
Kelly‘seyeswentwideinhorror.Hisbodysprangupwards,fightingtherestraints.Thenhecollapsed,hisskinpastywhite.Allintheroomturnedawaybutforthenurse,whoseeyeswerelockedonherpatient.
‘Look,doc,I-‘Douglastriedtosay.
‘Getthehelloutofmyhospital!‘Rosenfairlyscreamed.‘Youcankillsomebodywiththatkindofshock!Whydidn‘tyoutellme-‘
‘Hehastoidentify-‘
‘Icouldhavedonethat!‘
O‘Tooleheardthenoiseasthetwogrownmenscuffledlikechildreninaplayground,butJohnKellywasherconcern,theantibioticmedicationstillinherhand.ShetriedtoremovethephotographfromKelly‘sview,butherowneyeswerefirstdrawntotheimageandthenrepulsedbyitasKelly‘shandseizedtheprintandhelditascanttwelveinchesfromhisownwide-openeyes.Itwashisexpressionnowthatoccupiedherconsciousness.Sandyrecoiledbrieflyatwhatshesawthere,butthenKelly‘sfacecomposeditselfandhespoke.
‘It‘sokay,Sam.Hehashisjobtodo,too.‘Kellylookeddownatthephotoonelasttime.Thenheclosedhiseyesandhelditupforthenursetotake.
AndthingssettleddownforeveryoneexceptNurseO‘Toole.ShewatchedKellyswallowtheoversizedpillandlefttheroomforthecalmofthecorridor.
SandraO‘Toolewalkedbacktothenurses‘station,rememberingwhatshealonehadseen.Kelly‘sfaceturningsopalethatherfirstreactiontoitwasthathemustbeinshock,thenthetumultbehindherasshereachedforherpatient-butthenwhat?Itwasn‘tlikethefirsttimeatall.Kelly‘sfacehadtransformeditself.Onlyaninstant,likeopeningadoorintosomeotherplace,andshe‘dseensomethingshehadneverimagined.Somethingveryoldandferalandugly.Theeyesnotwide,butfocusedonsomethingshecouldnotsee.Thepallorofhisfacenotthatofshock,butofrage.Hishandsballedbrieflyintofistsofquiveringstone.Andthenhisfacehadchangedagain.Therehadbeencomprehensiontoreplacetheblind,killingrage,andwhatshe‘dseennextwasthemostdangeroussightshehadeverbeheld,thoughsheknewnotwhy.Thenthedoorclosed.Kelly‘seyesshut,andwhenheopenedthem,hisfacewasunnaturallyserene.Thecompletesequencehadnottakenfourseconds,sherealized,allofitwhileRosenandDouglashadbeenscufflingagainstthewall.He‘dpassedfromhorrortoragetounderstanding-thentoconcealment,butwhathadcomeinbetweencomprehensionanddisguisewasthemostfrighteningthingofall.
Whathadsheseeninthefaceofthisman?Ittookheramomenttoanswerthequestion.Deathwaswhatshe‘dseen.Controlled.Planned.Disciplined.
ButitwasstillDeath,livinginthemindofaman.
‘Idon‘tlikedoingthissortofthing,MrKelly,‘Douglassaidbackintheroomasheadjustedhiscoat.Thedetectiveandthesurgeontradedalookofmutualembarrassment.
‘John,areyouallright?‘Rosenlookedhimoverandtookhispulsequickly,surprisedtofinditnearlynormal.
‘Yeah.‘Kellynodded.Helookedatthedetective.&"That‘sher.That‘sPam.‘
‘I‘msorry.Ireallyam,‘Douglassaidwithgenuinesincerity,‘butthere‘snoeasywaytodothis.Thereneveris.Whateverhappened,it‘sovernow,andnowit‘sourjobtotryandidentifythepeoplewhodidit.Weneedyourhelptodothat.‘
‘Okay,‘Kellysaidneutrally.‘Where‘sFrank?Howcomehe‘snothere?‘
‘Неcan‘thaveahandinthis,‘SergeantDouglasanswered,withalooktothesurgeon.‘Heknowsyou.Personalinvolvementinacriminalcaseisn‘tterriblyprofessional.‘Itwasn‘tentirelytrue-infact,washardlytrueatall-butitservedthepurpose.‘Didyouseethepeoplewho-‘
Kellyshookhishead,lookingdownatthebed,andhespokejustaboveawhisper.‘No.Iwaslookingthewrongway.Shesaidsomething,butIdidn‘tgetaround.Pamsawthem,Iturnedright,thenstartedturningleft.Inevermadeit.‘
‘Whatwereyoudoingatthetime?‘
‘Observing.Look,youtalkedtoLieutenantAllen,right?‘
‘That‘scorrect.‘Douglasnodded.
‘Pamwitnessedamurder.IwasbringingherintotalktoFrankaboutit.‘
‘Goon.‘
‘Shewaslinkedupwithpeoplewhodealdrugs.Shesawthemkillsomebody,agirl.Itoldhershehadtodosomethingaboutit.Iwascuriousaboutwhatitwaslike,‘Kellysaidinaflatmonotone,stillbathinginhisguiltwhilehismindreplayedtheimage.
‘Names?‘
‘NonethatIremember,‘Kellyanswered.
‘Comeon,‘Douglassaid,leaningforward.‘Shemusthavetoldyousomething!‘
‘Ididn‘taskmuch.Ifiguredthatwasyourjob-Frank‘sjob,Imean.WeweresupposedtomeetwithFrankthatnight.AllIknowisit‘sabunchofpeoplewhodealdrugsandwhousewomenforsomething.‘
‘That‘sallyouknow?‘
Kellylookedhimstraightintheeyes.‘Yes.Notveryhelpful,isit?‘
Douglaswaitedafewsecondsbeforegoingon.Whatmighthavebeenanimportantbreakinanimportantcasewasnotgoingtohappen,andsoitwashisturntolieagain,beginningwithsometruthtomakeiteasier.‘There‘sapairofrobbersworkingthewestsideoftown.Twoblackmales,mediumsize,andthat‘sallwehaveforadescription.TheirМОisasawed-offshotgun.Theyspecializeintakingdownpeoplecominginforadrugbuy,andtheyparticularlylikethegentrycustomers.Probablymostoftheirrobberiesdon‘tevengetreported.Wehavethemlinkedtotwokillings.Thismightbenumberthree.‘
‘That‘sall?‘Rosenasked.
‘Robberyandmurderaremajorcrimes,doctor.‘
‘Butthat‘sjustanaccident!‘
‘That‘sonewayoflookingatit,‘Douglasagreed,turningbacktohiswitness.‘MrKelly,youmusthaveseensomething.Whatthehellwereyoudoingaroundthere?WasMissMaddentryingtobuysomething-‘
‘No!‘
‘Look,it‘sover.She‘sdead.Youcantellme.Ihavetoknow.‘
‘LikeIsaid,shewaslinkedupwiththisbunch,andI-dumbasitsounds,Idon‘tknowshitaboutdrugs.‘I‘llbefindingout,though.
Aloneinhisbed,alonewithhismind,Kelly‘seyescalmlysurveyedtheceiling,scanningthewhitesurfacelikeamoviescreen.
First,thepolicearewrong,Kellytoldhimself.Hedidn‘tknowhowheknew,buthedid,andthatwasenough.Itwasn‘trobbers,itwasthem,thepeoplePamwereafraidof.
WhathadhappenedfitwhatPamhadtoldhim.Itwassomethingtheyhaddonebefore.Hehadallowedhimselftobespotted-twice.Hisguiltwasstillquitereal,butthatwashistorynowandhecouldn‘tchangeit.Whateverhehaddonewrong,itwasdone.WhoeverhaddonethistoPam,theywerestilloutthere,andifthey‘ddonethistwicealready,theywoulddoitagain.Butthatwasnotreallywhatoccupiedhismindbehindtheblankstaringmask.
Okay,hethought.Okay.They‘venevermetanyonelikemebefore.
Ineedtogetbackintoshape,ChiefBosun‘sMateJohnTerrenceKellytoldhimself.
Theinjuriesweresevere,buthe‘dsurvivethem.Hekneweverystepoftheprocess.Recoverywouldbepainful,buthe‘ddowhattheytoldhim,he‘dpushtheenvelopealittlebit,enoughtomakethemproudoftheirpatient.Thenthereallyhardpartwouldstart.Therunning,theswimming,theweights.Thentheweaponstraining.Thenthementalpreparation-butthatwasalreadyunderway,herealized
Оh,по.Notintheirwildestnightmareshavetheyevermetanyonelikeme.
ThenametheyhadgivenhiminVietnamboiledupfromthepast.
Snake.
Kellypushedthecallbuttonpinnedtohispillow.NurseO‘Tooleappearedwithintwominutes.
‘I‘mhungry,‘hetoldher.
‘IhopeIneverhavetodothatagain,‘Douglastoldhislieutenant,notforthefirsttime.
‘Howdiditgo?‘
‘Well,thatprofessormightmakeaformalcomplaint.IthinkIcannedhimdownenough,butyouneverknowwithpeoplelikethat.‘
‘DoesKellyknowanything?‘
‘Nothingwecanuse,‘Douglasreplied.‘He‘sstilltoomessedupfrombeingshotandalltobecoherent,buthedidn‘tseeanyfaces,didn‘t-hell,ifhehadseenanything,hewouldprobablyhavedonesomething.Ievenshowedhimthepicture,tryingtoshakehimalittle.Ithoughtthepoorbastardwouldhaveaheartattack.Thedoctorwentcrazy.I‘mnotrealproudofthat,Em.Nobodyshouldhavetoseesomethinglikethat.‘
‘Includingus,Tom,includingus.‘LieutenantEmmetRyanlookedupfromalargecollectionofphotos,halftakenatthescene,halfatthecoroner‘soffice.Whathesawtheresickenedhimdespiteallhisyearsofpolicework,especiallybecausethiswasn‘tacrimeofmadnessorpassion.No,thiseventhadbeendoneforapurposebycoldlyrationalmen.‘ItalkedtoFrank.ThisKellyguyisagoodscout,helpedhimcleartheGoodingcase.He‘snotlinkedupwithanything.Thedoctorsallsaythathe‘sclean,notauser.‘
‘Anythingonthegirl?‘Douglasdidn‘tneedtosaythatthiscouldhavebeenthebreakthey‘dneeded.IfonlyKellyhadcalledtheminsteadofAllen,whodidn‘tknowabouttheirinvestigation.Buthehadn‘t,andtheirbestpotentialsourceofinformationwasdead.‘Theprintscameback.PamelaMadden.ShewaspickedupinChicago,Atlanta,andNewOrleansforprostitution.Nevercametotrial,neverdidanytime.Thejudgesjustkeptlettinghergo.Victimlesscrime,right?‘
Thesergeantsuppressedacurseatthemanyidiotsonthebench.‘Sure,Em,novictimsatall.Sowe‘renotanyclosertothesepeoplethanweweresixmonthsago,arewe?Weneedmoremanpower,‘Douglassaid,statingtheobvious.
‘Tochasedownthemurderofastreethooker?‘theLieutenantasked.‘Themayordidn‘tlikethepicture,butthey‘vealreadytoldhimwhatshewas,andafteraweek,thingsgobacktonormal.Youthinkwe‘llbreaksomethinglooseinaweek,Tom?‘
‘Youcouldlethimknow-‘
‘No.‘Ryanshookhishead.‘He‘dtalk.Everknowapoliticianwhodidn‘t?They‘vegotsomebodyinsidethisbuilding,Tom.Youwantmoremanpower?Tellme,wheredowegetit,thekindwecantrust?‘
‘Iknow,Em.‘Douglasconcededthepoint.‘Butwe‘renotgettinganywhere.‘
‘MaybeNarcoticswillshakesomethingloose.‘
‘Sure.‘Douglassnorted.
‘CanKellyhelpus?‘
‘No.Damnedfoolwasjustlookingthewrongway.‘
‘Thendotheusualfollow-up,justtomakesureeverythinglooksokayandleaveitatthat.Forensicsisn‘tinyet.Maybethey‘llturnsomething.‘
‘Yes,sir,‘Douglasreplied.Assooftenhappenedinpolicework,youplayedforbreaks,formistakestheothersidemade.Thesepeopledidn‘tmakemany,butsoonerorlatertheyalldid,bothofficerstoldthemselves.Itwasjustthattheyneverseemedtocomesoonenough.
LieutenantRyanlookedbackdownatthephotos.‘Theysurehadtheirfunwithher.Justliketheotherone.‘
‘Goodtoseeyou‘reeating.‘
Kellylookedupfromamostlyemptyplate.‘Thecopwasright,Sam.It‘sover.Ihavetogetbetter,havetofocusonsomething,right?‘
‘Whatareyougoingtodo?‘
‘Idon‘tknow.Hell,IcouldalwaysgobackintheNavyorsomething.‘
‘Youhavetodealwithyourgrief,John,‘Samsaid,sittingdownnexttothebed.
‘Iknowhow.I‘vehadtodothatbefore,remember?‘Helookedup.‘Oh-whatdidyoutellthepoliceaboutme?‘
‘Howwemet,thatsortofthing.Why?‘
‘WhatIdidoverthere.It‘ssecret,Sam.‘Kellymanagedtolookembarrassed.‘TheunitIbelongedto,itdoesn‘tofficiallyexist.Thethingswedid,well,theyneverreallyhappened,ifyouknowwhatI.mean.‘
‘Theydidn‘task.Besides,youneverreallytoldme,‘thesurgeonsaid,puzzled-evenmoresobythereliefonhispatient‘sface.
‘IgotrecommendedtothembyapalintheNavy,mainlytohelptraintheirdivers.WhattheyknowiswhatI‘mallowedtotell.It‘snotwhatIreallydid,exactly,butitsoundsgood.‘
‘Okay.‘
‘Ihaven‘tthankedyoufortakingsuchgoodcareofme.‘
Rosenstoodandwalkedtothedoor,buthestoppeddeadthreefeelshortofitandturned.
‘Youthinkyoucanfoolme?‘
‘Iguessnot,Sam,‘Kellyansweredguardedly.
‘John,Ihavespentmywholedamnedlifeusingthesehandstofixpeople.Youhavetostayaloof,youcan‘tgettooinvolved,becauseifyoudoyoucanloseit,losetheedge,losetheconcentration.I‘veneverhurtanyoneinmylife.Youunderstandme?‘
‘Yes,sir,Ido.‘
‘Whatareyougoingtodo?‘
‘Youdon‘twanttoknow,Sam.‘
‘Iwanttohelp.Ireallydo,‘Rosensaid,genuinewonderinhisvoice.‘Ilikedher,too,John.‘
‘Iknowthat.‘
‘SowhatcanIdo?‘thesurgeonasked.HewasafraidthatKellymightaskforsomethinghewasunfittedtodo;moreafraidstillthathemightagree.
‘Getmebetter.‘</div> 有的人死了，但没有完全死……
无尽的昏迷过后，时宇猛地从床上起身。想要看最新章节内容，请下载爱阅小说app，无广告免费阅读最新章节内容。网站已经不更新最新章节内容，已经爱阅小说APP更新最新章节内容。
他大口的呼吸起新鲜的空气，胸口一颤一颤。
迷茫、不解，各种情绪涌上心头。
这是哪？
随后，时宇下意识观察四周，然后更茫然了。
一个单人宿舍？
就算他成功得到救援，现在也应该在病房才对。
还有自己的身体……怎么会一点伤也没有。
带着疑惑，时宇的视线快速从房间扫过，最终目光停留在了床头的一面镜子上。
镜子照出他现在的模样，大约十七八岁的年龄，外貌很帅。
可问题是，这不是他！下载爱阅小说app，阅读最新章节内容无广告免费
之前的自己，是一位二十多岁气宇不凡的帅气青年，工作有段时间了。
而现在，这相貌怎么看都只是高中生的年纪……
这个变化，让时宇发愣很久。
千万别告诉他，手术很成功……
身体、面貌都变了，这根本不是手术不手术的问题了，而是仙术。
他竟完全变成了另外一个人！
难道……是自己穿越了？
除了床头那摆放位置明显风水不好的镜子，时宇还在旁边发现了三本书。
时宇拿起一看，书名瞬间让他沉默。
《新手饲养员必备育兽手册》
《宠兽产后的护理》
《异种族兽耳娘评鉴指南》
时宇：？？？
前两本书的名字还算正常，最后一本你是怎么回事？
“咳。”
时宇目光一肃，伸出手来，不过很快手臂一僵。
就在他想翻开第三本书，看看这究竟是个什么东西时，他的大脑猛地一阵刺痛，大量的记忆如潮水般涌现。
冰原市。
宠兽饲养基地。
实习宠兽饲养员。网站即将关闭，下载爱阅app为您提供大神璇玑的璇玑之心刃·冷血悍将
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