Blood Sport Part 20

'Theydidn't,'Ipointedoutobviously,smiling.

'Butwon'tyoupleaseexplainwhy?'Lynniesaid.Whydidyouwantmetogiveyouawaylikethat?'

'Severalreasons.OnewastomakeDavesafer.'

'Idon'tseehow,'Euniceobjected.

'BylettingOffenknowandthroughhimtheClives,thatwecouldprovetheCliveswereinEnglandandbesidetheThamesonthedayofDave'saccident.Murderbyaccidentisonlyagoodideaaslongasthere'snoapparentmotiveandthemurderershavenoapparentconnectionwiththevictim.We'veshownthemthatweknowtheirmotiveandtheirconnection,andtheymustnowbeawarethatifDavewerekilledtheywouldbethefirstsuspects.Thismakesitlesslikelytheywilltryagain.'

'Crikey,'Lynniesaid.'Goon.'

'WhenWaltandIwenttoOrpheusFarmthismorningsayingweweremakingasurveyfornewfireprecautions,Offenwasn'tworried.Hedidn'tknowmefromAdamthen,ofcourse.Itwasbeforeyoushowedhimmyphotograph.Butheshowednoanxietyatallabouttwostrangersturninguponapretextthathedidn'tevenbothertocheck.Noneoftheedginessonemighthaveexpectedifhe'djusthadonestolenhorsepinchedbackfromhim,andwasinpossessionoftwoothersstandinginhisbarn.Ididn'tlikeit.Itdidn'tfeelright.'

'Hehasn'tgotthem,'Eunicesaidwithrelief.'Iwa.s.sureitcouldn'tpossiblyberightthatCulhamOffenwouldstealhorses.Imean,he'srespected.'

WaltandIexchangedaglanceofbarelyperceptibleamus.e.m.e.nt.Toberespectedwasthebestcoverintheworldforfraud.Fraud,infact,couldrarelyexistwithout.i.t.

'So,'Isaid,'Ithought.i.twouldbehelpfulifheknewforcertainthatIwasespeciallyinterestedinMoviemakerandCentigrade,andthatIwasn'tinfireinsurance,butwasthemanhehadtothankforlosingChrysalis.WhenIwentback,afteryoutwohadleft,hestillwasn'tworried.Onthecontrary,hewasenjoyingthesituation.ItamusedhimenormouslytothinkthatIbelievedIwasfoolinghim.IaskedhimalotofquestionsaboutthesecurityprecautionssurroundingMoviemakerandCentigrade,andhewa.s.stillcompletelyuntroubled.So,'Ipaused,'it'snowquiteclearthatthetwohorsesstandinginhisbarncalledMoviemakerandCentigradeareinactualfactexactlywhathesays;MoviemakerandCentigrade.Heisn'tworriedaboutsnoopers,heisn'tworriedaboutmemakingclumsypreparationstostealthem.Hemustthereforebeconfidentthatanylegalproceedingswillprovethehorsestobetheoneshesaystheyare.He'dambushmeifItriedtostealthem,andhavemeinrealdeeptrouble,whichwouldbetohimsomesmallcompensationforlosingChrysalis.'

Waltnoddedbriefly.

Eunicesaidobstinately,'Ithinkitonlyprovesthatyou'rebarkingupthewrongd.a.m.ntree.Heisn'tworriedsimplybecauseheisn'tguiltyofanything.'

'Youlikedhim?'

'Yes,'shesaid.'Hewasb.l.o.o.d.ysweet.'

Lynnienodded.'Ithoughtsotoo.'

'Whatdidhesaywhenyoushowedhimthephotographs?'

'Hejustglancedatthematfirst,'Lynniesaid.'Andthenhetookthemovertothewindow.Andthenheaskedmewhohadtakenthem,andwhere,andwhen.SoItoldhimaboutthedayontheriverandaboutyouandDavegoingundertheweir...'

AtthesideofmyvisionEunicegavemeanI-told-you-sosmile.

'...andhesaidoneortwonicethingsaboutyou,'Lynniefinished.'SoItoldhimyoucameoverheretolookforChrysalis,andsomehoworotheryoufoundhim.'

'Heaskedwhereyoufoundhim,'Eunicenodded.'Butwedidn'tknow.IsaidyouwerenowtryingtofindAllyx,anditcertainlydidn'tworryhim.I'msureyoumustbewrong.'

Ismiledather.Shedidn'twantthehorsefound,andasa.n.a.llyshewasasreliableasthiniceonasunnyday.Ididn'tintendtotellheranythinginfuturewhichIwasn'tpreparedtohavepa.s.sedontoOffen.Likemostlawabidingcitizensshehadnotgraspedthatacriminalminddidn'tshow,thatanendearingsocialmannercouldco-existwithfraudandmurder.'Suchaniceman,'theneighbourssayinbewilderment,whenMrSmith'sgardenisfoundtobecloggedwiththrottledladies.'Alwayssopleasant.'

Eunice,propelledbyastrongsemi-consciouswishforhimnottohaveAllyx,mighttellOffenanything,simplybecauseshecouldn'tvisualizea'sweet'manbeingdeadly.Shemightalsotellhimanythingpropelledbythesameimpulsewhichhadmadeherpointagunatme.

'Let'shavedinner,'Isuggested;andEuniceandLynniewentawaytofreshenup.

Waltlookedatmethoughtfully,thenraisedhiseyebrows.

Inodded.'Iputabugontheundersideofhisdesk,twofeetfromthetelephone.IwaslatebackbecauseIwaslistening.HecalledYolaandtoldheraboutmyvisitb.u.t.therewasn'tmuchelse.Ileftthesethidden,andcamebackhere.'

'Doyoumeanit,thatthosetwohorsesreallyareMoviemakerandCentigrade?'

'Sure.Heboughtthem,remember.Openly.Atbloodstocksales.Andobviouslyhe'skeptthem.Isupposehenevercouldbecertainthatsomeex-ownerwouldturnupforavisit.Thosehorseswillhavebeentattooedinsidetheirmouthswithanident.i.tynumberwhentheyfirstbegantorace.Theyhavetobe,overhere,don'tthey?It'llbequiteeasytoestablishthatthey'retherighttwo.'

'Youdon'tthinkMrsTeller'sright...thatheneverhadShowmanandAllyxafterall?'

'I'llplayyouhiscalltoYolasometime.HehadtheforesighttowhiskthosehorsesawayfromOrpheuswhenwegotChrysalis.Hewasmoreorlesswaitingforsomethinglikeourvisitthismorning.NofliesonCulhamJames,I'mafraid.ErWalt,didyougiveEuniceandLynnieanydetailsaboutourjauntintheTetons?'

Helookeduncomfortable.'Iwasannoyedwithyou.'

'Whatexactlydidyoutellthem?'

'Notmuch.1washorrifiedatLynniehavingshownOffenthatpictureoftheClives,andwhenMrsTellersaidyou'dplanneditIsaidyoumustbemad,they'dtriedtokillyouoncealready.'

'Andyoutoldthemhow?'

Henodded,notmeetingmyeyes.

'Didyoutellthemaboutthebugsandthewirelessset?'

'No.'

'It'simportant,Walt.'

Helookedup.'Ididn'tmentionthem.'

Irelaxed.'Howaboutourmountainwalk?'

'Nodetails.'

'Place?'

'I'mprettysureImentionedtheTetons.'

Nothingtherethatwouldhurt.

'HowmuchdidyousayaboutShowmanandAllyx?'

'Itoldthemthatyou'dworkedoutthroughthestudbooksthatOffenmusthavethem.'

'Didyousaythewords"UncleBark"?'

Heshookhishead.'I'dforgottenaboutthat.'

Isighed.'Walt.MrsTellerdoesn'twantAllyxfoundanymorethanshewantedChrysalis.Let'snotentrustthestateofthenationtotheIndians.'

Heflushedalittleandcompressedhismouth.EuniceandLynniecamebackshortlyafter,and,thoughweallfourhaddinnertogetheritprovedataciturnandnotover-friendlyaffair.

Waltrodeuptomyroomforaconferenceafterthecoffee.

'Howdowefindthem?'hesaid,comingbluntlytothepointandeasinghimselfsimultaneouslyintotheonlyarmchair.

'They'vemadeusagiftofthem,inoneway,'Isaidthoughtfully.'WecansendabunchoflawyersintoqueryMoviemakerandCentigrade'sident.i.ty,andget.i.testablishedbeyonddoubtthatthetwoOffenshowedusareinfactthosetwohorses.He'llbekeenforthemtodoit:andoncehe'sdoneit,he'llbestuckwiththem.Wewillmeanwhiledoanotherlittlevanis.h.i.+ngtrickwiththeothertwoandstartourownidentificationparadeonourground.OncetheyareestablishedasAllyxandShowman,Offencannotpossiblyclaimthemback.'

'Twoobjections,'Waltsaid.'Wedon'tknowwhereAllyxandShowmanare.Andifwefindthem,whynotgetlawyersintotheactrightaway?Whygotoallthedangerandtroubleoftakingthem?'

'SameasChrysalis.'Ipointedout.'Thefirstsignofanyrealtrouble,andthey'dbeshot.It'snotillegaltokillahorseandwhiskitsmartlyofftothedogfoodpeople.Andvastlymoredifficulttoidentifyadeadone.Impossible,I'dalmostsay,forthedegreeofcertaintyweneedhere.'

'Evenifwetakethem,andestablishtheirident.i.ty,andeverythinggoessmoothly,Offenwillstillberakinginthosecolossalstudfeesofhalfamilliondollarsayear,becausewe'dneverbeabletoprovethatforthepasttenyearsShowmanhasbeensiringeveryfoalthat'sdowninthebookasMoviemaker's...'

Ismiled.'We'lldosomethingaboutthat,oncewe'vesortedouttherest.'

'Whichbringsusbacktosquareone,'Waltsaidflatly.'Wheretheh.e.l.ldowestart?'

Iperchedonthewindowsillandlookeddownsidewaysintothebrightlylitcarpark.Colouredbulbsonthefaceofthemotelraisedrainbows.h.i.+mmersonglossyhardtopsandstruckmeasadeeplymelancholycommentaryonhumanachievement.YetIwouldn'thavewantedtolivewithoutcarsorelectricity...ifI'dwantedtolive.Myroomwasonlytwofloorsup,withnoneabove.Tooneartheground.I'dknownofawomanwho'djumpedfromfiveandbungledit.Agunwasbetter...'Well?'Waltsaidinsistently.

'I'msorry...?'Isaidvaguely,turningmyheadbacktohim.'Wheredowelook?'

'Oh...yes.'

'Ontheranch?'

'Verydoubtful,don'tyouthink?Theymustknowthat'sthefirstplacewe'dthinkof.'

'There'salotoflandthere,'hesaid.'Andalotofhorsestolosethemin.'

Ishookmyhead.'They'dhavetokeeptheminapaddockclosetothehouse.AlltherestoftheranchiswellnamedRockyMountains,andtheycouldn'tturnthemlooseforfearofthembreakingaleg.We'dbettercheck,though.'Istaredun-seeinglyatthecarpet.'ButIguessthehorsesarewithMatt.OffenisatOrpheusFarm,andYolaistiedtotheranchseeingtoaboutthirtyguests,sowhere'sMatt?'

'Whereindeed,'Waltsaidgloomily.

'HeandYoladon'tspendtheirwintersontheranchbecausethevalleyisblockedbysnow.Shetoldmethattheygosouth...OnoneofthosetelephonecallsshetoldOffentheycouldn'tkeepChrysalisataplacecalledPitts,becauseitwasn'tsuitable.b.u.t.thatwaswhentheydidn'tknowwewereafterthem...whenitwasn'tanemergency.'

'SosomewheresouthoftheTetonswefindthisPitts,andMattandthehorseswillbewaitingforus?'

'Yeah.'Ismiledbriefly.'Soundstooeasy.'

'Easy!'Waltsaid.

'Theymustleaveaforwardingaddressformail,'Ipointedout.'Theyliveaconventionallaw-abidinglifewithalongstandingbusinesstogivethemobviouslegalmeansofsupport.TheremustbedozensofpeopleinJacksonwhoknowtheirwinteraddress.'

'Ourb.u.t.tressagentcouldgetthat,then.Firstthinginthemorning.'

'Fine.'

Waltleveredhimselfoutofthearmchairandhesitated.

'Comealongtomyroom,'hesaid.'I'vegotabottle.'

Iwasn'tsurethatIwantedto,buthesmiledsuddenly,wipingoutallresentments,andonedidn'tkickthatsortofolivebranchintheteeth.

'Begladto,'Isaid.

Thesmilewentdeeperandlastedalongthepa.s.sagetohisroom,whichwasalmostidenticaltomine.Thewindowlookedoutonthesamecarsfromaslightlydifferentangle,andhehadtwoarmchairsinsteadofone.TherewasabottleofOldGrandadonaroundtraywithgla.s.sesandawaterjug,andonhisbedsidetablestoodaleatherframedphotograph.Ipickeditupidlywhilehewenttofetchicefromthemachinealongthepa.s.sage.Waltwithhisfamily.Agoodlookingwoman,aplaingirlinherearlyteens,athinboyofaboutten:allfourofthemsmilingcheerfullyintothelens.HecamebackasIwasputtingthemdown.

'I'msorryaboutthepicnic,'Isaid.

'Nextweekwilldojustaswell,'hesaid.'We'vegotthewholeofthesummer,Iguess.'

Wesatinthearmchairs,drinkingslowly.Ididn'tlikebourbonmuch;b.u.t.thatwasn'tthepoint.Hetalkedcasuallyaboutthesplit-levelranch-typehousethey'dmovedintotheyearbefore,andhowhisdaughtergotalongjustfinewiththefolksnextdoor,andhowthey'dhadtroublewiththeboy'shealth,he'dhadrheumaticfever...

'Howaboutyourownfuture,withb.u.t.tressLife?'Iasked.

'I'vegottenaboutas.h.i.+ghasI'llget,'hesaidwithsurprisinghonesty.'There'sonlyonemorestepupthatIreallywant,andthat'stochiefinvestigator,claimsdivision,andthat'llcomealongnextyearwhenthepresentguyretires.'

Hepouredmoredrinks,rubbedhisthumbslowlyovertheroundfingertips,andsaidAmyandthekidswereaskinghimforapoolintheirbackyard,andthatAmy'smotherwasaproblemsinceAmy'sfatherdiedlastfall,andthathehadn'tcaughtasingleballgamelastseason,he'dbeenthatbusy...

Wesatformorethananhourwithoutmentioningthehorsesonce.HeyawnedfinallyandIuncurledmyselffromthesoftchair,puttingdownthethirdtimeemptygla.s.s.Hesaidgoodnightsleepilywitheasyfriendlinessand,forthefirsttimesinceI'dknownhim,withouttension.Backinmyownroom,undressing,Iwonderedhowlongitwouldlast.UntilImadethenextunpopularsuggestion,Isupposed.Ididn'tknowwhethertoenvyhimhisenclosingdomesticityortofeelstifledbyit.

IdidknowthatIlikedhimbothasamanandasaworkingcompanion,moodsandall.

Theb.u.t.tressLifeagentinJacksoncamethroughwiththedives'winteraddresswithintwentyminutesofWaltcallinghim:40159PittsvilleBoulevard,LasVegas,Nevada.

IrememberedYola'ssmileatthethoughtofwinter.LasVegas.e.xplainedit.Yolalikedtogamble.

'Whatnow?'Waltsaid.

'I'llgoonoutthereandtakealook.'

'Alone?'Therewasacertainamountofanxietyinhisvoice,whichIinterpretedasadesirenottobeleftinSantaBarbarawithEunice.

'Weneedyouhere,'Isaidplacatingly.'Anddon'ttellherwhereI'vegone.'

Hegavemeasharpglance.'Iwon't.'

WedroveinthehiredcarouttoOrpheusFarm,whereIshowedhimwhereI'dhiddentheradiotaperecorderbetweenthreerocks,withitsaerialstickingupthroughthebranchesofascrubbybush.Thenearestneatlyrailedpaddockwasonlyfeetaway;thehouse,aboutfourhundredyards.Wepickeduptheradioandparkedashortdistancedowntheroad.

'Supposingheseesus?'Waltsaid,watchingmewindbackthereel.

'He'llonlythinkwe'rewatchingthefarmroutine,toknowwhentopinchMoviemaker.Theradiowillpickupthebuginhisofficefromatleastaquartermile,but.i.tgetsfainterafterthat.Ithastoworkontheair-vibrationsystem.Notsuchgoodamplificationaselectricity.Doyoueverusethem?'

'Bugs?'Heshookhishead.'Notoften.Cameraswithtelescopiclensesarebetter.Catchtheclaimantswalkingaroundontheirparalysedlegs.'Satisfactionechoedinhisvoice.Likeme,aroguehuntertothebone.

Smilingtomyself,Iswitchedon.Cuttinginandout,CulhamJames'variousconversationsfilledthreequartersofanhouroftapetime,butnothinghesaidwasofanyusetous.Irewoundthereelsagainandweputtheradioinamongtherocks,Waltagreeingthathewouldcomebackaftersunsetandlistentotheday'stake.

HedrovemethentotheLosAngelesairport,whereIhoppedaplanetoLasVegas,arrivingmidafternoon.Thedesertheathitlikeagustfromanovenwhentheyopenedtheplanedoors,andfromanearbybuildingtheusuallightednumbersproclaimedtothepopulacethatintheshade,iftheycouldfindany,itwouldbe108.

Theair-conditioningattheedgeoftownmotelIbookedintowasturningitselfinsideoutunderthestrain,andtheHertzmanwhopresentlytookmymoneyadmittedthatthiswasalittleoldheatwave,surething.Hadtoexpectthem,inJuly.TheinconspicuousPontiachehiredmewasthistime,however,acooledone.Idrovearoundforawhiletogetmybearings,andthentookalookatPittsvilleBoulevard.