按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
into the ambulance。 It was only one of a long line。 The associate
M。E。； a light…haired woman with a pink plexion； glanced at Croaker； who nodded。
'Not much left after a fall like that；' Croaker said with a curious lack of emotion。
He was right。 There was not much left of Saigo's head； his face pulped。 One shoulder seemed crushed and the neck at an odd angle。
'Legs're like jelly；' Croaker said as if he relished the thought。 'Not a bone in them how over an inch in length。 That right；
Doc？'
The associate M。E。 nodded wearily。 'Take it away；' she said。 'It's been tagged。 I've got more work here。' She turned away and Nicholas could see the parade of stretchers being brought out from the bowels of the building。
Croaker's face was white and drawn as his eyes ticked over the casualties。
'Four dead； Nick。' His voice was a rasp。 〃That we know about for sure。 There are two others missing and a couple more arc down recovering from gas inhalation。 Jesus； your friend Saigo kills like other people eat。' He rubbed his fingers over his face。 'I'm glad it's all over。 Glad as hell。'
'I'm sorry it had to be this way；' Nicholas said。
'Don't say 〃I told you so〃。'
'I wasn't thinking of that at all。 I was thinking he's gone now。 I can get on with my life。 I just want to see Justine。'
'What would make him jump？'
'He was a warrior。 To the in battle was what he lived for。'
'I don't understand that kind of philosophy。'
Nicholas shrugged pragmatically。 'It doesn't matter。' He looked around。 'Did you find his katana？ I'd like to have it。'
'His what？'
〃The sword。'
'Oh； that。 No。 But I don't think they've found all of him yet either。 It's here； somewhere。 We'll find it。'
'I guess it's not very important either。'
Croaker's gaze swept over Nicholas's shoulder。 'Your boss is looking for you； I think。'
Nicholas swivelled and grinned back at his friend。 'Ex…boss； you mean。' Tomkin； his suit streaked with grey and black； stood at the open door to his limo。 Tom stood at his side； obediently holding the door。 The motor seemed to be running。 Sirens wailed in ululation for the dead and the night； where they stood at least； seemed very bright。
'Listen；' Croaker said； taking Nicholas's arm and leading him a few paces away along the avenue。 'Before you go。 I want to tell you I got that call I've been waiting for。 The other woman in Angela Didion's apartment the night she was murdered。 I know where she is。'
Nicholas looked at him； then at Tomkin waiting silently beside the limo。 'You're not going to let that go； are you？'
'I can't。 I've gotta nail him on this。 You should be able to understand。 It's a matter of honour。 If I don't do it； nobody's gonna be able to。'
'But are you sure of what you've got？'
Croaker stuck a toothpick in the corner of his mouth。 His eyes were dark pools。 His face seemed more lined tonight than it had two days ago； but perhaps it was only the harsh light。 He told Nicholas about his conversation with Matty the Mouth。 'You thought I was just shooting off my big mouth with Tom…kin； didn't you？ Matty didn't know who else was nosing around about this broad but I'll bet it's Frank who's doing it。 You seen him lately？ No？ Why don't you ask your ex…boss； then； where Frank is； okay？'
'You won't know anything until you talk to the woman； right？'
'Right。 That's why I'm taking off for Key West right away。 But as far as the department is concerned； it's just a long…overdue vacation。'
'I hope you know what you're letting yourself in for。〃
The last ambulance started up； its siren screaming。 For an instant they were bathed in the intense crimson glow from its revolving light。 Then it had turned a corner and was gone。 The night darkened as if from a swiftly advancing storm。
'That's an odd thing to say；' Croaker said； 'ing from you。'
'Nick！ Are you ing？' Tomkin's face floated across to them as if from another world。
'In a minute；' Nicholas called without looking over。 To Croaker he said； 'You going to sec Gelda before you leave？'
'Can't take the time。 I'll call her。 Anyway； the number she
gave me has a 516 area code。 She'd never make it in。' He looked down at his feet for a moment。 'I just want to tell her that everything's okay now。 And hey；' he said as Nicholas turned to leave； 'you ought to do the same。 Justine's probably worried sick。'
When Tomkin saw Nicholas ing； he ducked his head； slid into the limo。 Tom held the door until Nicholas got in； then he shut it softly and went around the front。
All the night sounds were gone in the thick； quiet interior。 The motor purred richly。 The air…conditioning was on。
There was still a lot of police activity going on outside。 Nicholas could see Croaker talking to a father young…looking patrolman。 He shook his head once in response to a question and pointed into the bowels of the tower。
'I'm grateful； Nick。' Tomkin put his arm along the top of the back seat； his thick fingers partially curled。 'I mean it。 Tomorrow you'll e up to the office for your cheque。 Plus a bonus。 You deserve it。'
Nicholas sat silently with his scabbarded katana across his knees。 He put his head back and closed his eyes。
'And we can talk；' Tomkin continued； 'about you staying on in the firm。'
'I'm not interested；' Nicholas said。 Thanks just the same。'
'Oh now； I wouldn't make a decision like that so hastily。' His voice had lightened somehow。 But it was still as deep； ringing with sincerity。 'I could use you。 Somewhere high up。 You've got remarkable talents。' Tomkin was silent for a time。 Even with his eyes closed； Nicholas could tell that he was studying him。 'How'd you like to go back to Japan？'
Nicholas opened his eyes； stared directly ahead at the plastic partition。 'I don't need you for that；' he said slowly。
'No；' Tomkin admitted。 'Decidedly not。 You could jump on a plane tonight and be there in ten hours。 But if you went with me； it would mean a minimum of； oh； say； a quarter of a million dollars；'
Nicholas turned to look at Tomkin。
'Oh； I am perfectly serious。 Just because this ninja has been killed doesn't mean my problems over there are solved。 Far from it。 I need an expert who …'
Nicholas raised a hand。 'Sorry； Tomkin。'
The other man shrugged。 'Well； you think about it； anyway。 There's plenty of time now。'
Behind them； Nicholas could see Croaker climbing into his car。
Tomkin spoke to Tom。 'Let's go over to Third。 I want to get a bite to eat before we drop Mr Linnear off。'
The limo started up； heading left on Park； around the median so that they could take the eastbound street fronting the south side of the tower。 Nicholas saw Croaker right behind them as he prepared to head back downtown to file his report before driving out to LaGuardia。
'How is Justine？' Tomkin asked。
He really is beneath contempt； Nicholas thought。 He wanted to get home so that he could call her。 'Did you have me followed to the disco？'
Tomkin tried to laugh。 'No； no。 I knew I could never get away with that。 No。 Just a father's intuition。'
If it had not been so sad； it might have been funny； Nicholas reflected。 He just does not understand。 'She's fine。' 'Good。 I'm glad。'
The light changed and they went across