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cwilleford.newhopeforthedead-第17章

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k linen trousers; a gray silk house jacket and a white shirt with a black bow tie。 He led Hoke down the hallway; past the living room; and into Hickey's den…office。 The living room and the den were furnished with black leather and chrome armchairs and glass…topped tables。 Hickey was seated in a black leather; deeply cushioned armchair。 As Hoke came in; he got to his feet and switched off the television。 Hickey wore a purple velour running suit and a pair of white rabbit…fur slippers。 The air conditioning hissed quietly; and Hoke figured it was well below 65 degrees。
 Hickey smiled; revealing expensively capped teeth; and the smile made him almost handsome。 His black hair was worn long; in a modified Prince Valiant cut; but the youthful effect was spoiled by a baseball…size bald spot at the crown。 Hickey was tall and lean。 His nails had been buffed and polished; and there was a gold University of Miami ring on his left hand。
 〃I just got a strange call from the gate guard。〃 Hickey smiled。 〃Words to the effect that a dead policeman was on the way to see me。〃
 〃Did he tell you his name?〃
 〃Ramon Novarro。 Wasn't he the actor who was killed by a hustler a few years ago?〃
 〃He's dead; but I don't remember the circumstances。 I remember seeing some of his films; from when I was a kid; but none of the titles。 He was always running someone through with a sword。〃
 〃No matter。 Sit down; Mr。 Moseley。 Would you like a drink?〃
 〃A Tab。〃
 〃Two Tabs;〃 Hickey said to the doorway。 〃You are Mr。 Moseley; aren't you?〃
 Hoke nodded。 〃I was testing your gate guard。 You people pay for security; but you don't get very much。〃
 〃I know。 But a gate guard is a deterrent; if nothing else。 We used to pay more for armed guards; and then one night a Nicaraguan guard at the gate shot a hole in the manager's car。 The manager thought all the guards knew him; but he didn't take the turnover into account。 So when he drove through the gate without stopping; a new guard took a shot at him。 After that; we decided it would be best to have unarmed guards。〃
 Hoke sat in a leather chair that faced the sliding glass doors to a bare travertine marble patio。 There were two potted spider palms on the patio; but no chairs。 Hoke pointed toward the patio with his chin。
 Hickey smiled。 〃I never use my patio。 If I feel the need of some sun; I go over to the pool by the clubhouse。 That's why there's no furniture out there。〃
 〃No。 I was just thinking you don't have much of a view from here; with the wall only twenty feet away。〃
 〃I didn't buy this place for the view。 I bought it because I could finally afford to live in a place like this。 I tried to call you last night; twice; but I didn't get an answer。 You said on the phone that…〃
 〃I'm sorry about that。 There's only one desk man at the Eldorado; and when he's not at the desk there's no one on the switchboard。 I'm sorry you couldn't get through。 It's been inconvenient for me; too; at times。 At any rate; when I called you from Mrs。 Hickey's house; I didn't know at the time who you were。 Later on; I remembered that you were one of the drug lawyers profiled in the paper a few months back。〃
 〃An inaccurate portrait。 I handle drug cases once in a while; just like any other lawyer; but I specialize in taxes。 Lately; I've been turning down drug cases。 The dealers can afford my fees; but they think they can get off simply because they've paid a large fee。 I always tell them in advance that I can get a few delays; or get them out on bond; but if they're guilty; they're going to do a little time。 Things have changed a lot down here; you know; with the Vice President's task force on drugs。〃

 The houseboy brought in two cans of Tab; each can was wrapped neatly in a brown paper towel; with the towel secured by a rubber band。 The houseboy left; and Hoke removed the straw。 He noticed a crude blackand…white drawing on the wall above Hickey's puter table。
 〃Is that an original Matisse?〃 Hoke asked; lifting his Tab。
 〃James Thurber。 It's a woman。 That thing in her hand is either a martini glass or a dog collar; I've never been able to decide which。〃
 〃Looks more like a bracelet to me。〃
 〃Yes; it could very well be a bracelet。〃
 Hoke sipped from the Tab。 〃I suppose you phoned Mrs。 Hickey last night?〃
 〃When I couldn't get you; yes。〃
 〃You know that Jerry died from an overdose of heroin?〃
 Hickey nodded。 〃That's what she said。〃
 〃What I'd like to know is the kind of relationship you had with your son; Mr。 Hickey。 How close you were to him; for example; whether you were the stern father; or what?〃
 〃Why? What's that got to do with Jerry's death?〃
 〃I don't know。 It occurred to me last night that he might've met some of your clients; your drug dealers。 If so; he could've made a connection through them; or one of them。 He'd been on drugs for a long time。〃
 〃Jerry never met any of my clients。 He never came to my office because it was off limits to him。 To be frank; we didn't have any relationship; not of the sort you mean。 In the first place; Jerry wasn't my real son。 I suppose you know that already。〃
 〃Your wife told me。〃
 〃Ex…wife。 Did Loretta also tell you how she happened to bee my ex…wife?〃
 〃No。 But I didn't ask。〃
 〃I found out she was fucking Jerry; that's how。 He was seventeen at the time。 I don't know how long it had been going on; but as soon as I found out about it I moved out。 I didn't really care。 In fact; it was a good excuse to get a divorce。 She couldn't fight me about something like that in court; so we obtained a simple no…fault divorce。 I made some concessions I didn't have to make; but a man always。 has to do that if he doesn't want to be distracted。 I was just getting into making some big bucks; so I wasn't hurt financially。 She got the house; of course; and one of the cars。
 〃Legally; you see; I got stuck with Jerry when my first wife divorced me。 Jerry was her son; and I was asshole enough when we first got married to adopt him。 So not only did I get rid of Loretta; I got rid of Jerry at the same time when my divorce came through。 It was a good deal all the way around。〃
 〃Except; perhaps; for Jerry。〃
 〃Jerry had no plaints。 He had a place to live; and no one ever hassled him。 Loretta didn't want to keep him; but she couldn't very well get out of it。 What happened between them wasn't any love affair; or anything close to it。 She'd been drinking one day; and I suppose she got a little horny。 Jerry; who was seventeen; happened to be available。 It happened a few more times; I suppose。 You know how it is; once you get it; you can always get it again。 But it was all over by the time I found out about it; I'm pretty sure。〃
 〃How'd you find out? It's none of my business; but I'm curious。〃
 〃Mrs。 Koontz; the next…door neighbor; told me。 I didn't believe her at first; but then when I questioned Jerry he admitted it right away。 'I didn't think you'd mind; Mr。 Hickey;' he said。 And of course I didn't mind; because then I had an excuse to get out of a bad marriage。〃
 〃Your son called you 'Mr。 Hickey'?〃
 〃Most of the time; yes。 I didn't want him to call me 'Dad' because he wasn't my real son。 I don't see anything wrong with that。 After all; I supported him; so I was en
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