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！
Matthew seemed pleased。 〃So you're on the way home…hey； how'd you make out in the big blow？〃
Neria said； 〃I won't know till I get there。〃
〃We do residential。〃
〃Do you really。〃
〃Wood or masonry； it don't matter。 Also roofs。 We got a helluva tar man。〃 Matthew pointed。 〃That bald guy doin' his bidness in the bushes…he worked on that new Wal…Mart in Chat'nooga。 My wife's cousin Chip。〃
Neria Torres said； 〃From what I understand； you won't have a bit of trouble finding jobs when you get to Dade County。〃
〃Hey； what about your place？〃
〃I don't know。 I haven't seen it yet。〃
〃So it could be totaled；〃 Matthew said； hopefully。
Slowly Neria opened the door of the van。 Only when it stubbed his shoulder blades did Matthew move out of the way。
Neria got behind the wheel and revved the engine。 〃Tell you what。 When I get home and see how the roof looks； then I'll give you a call。 Where you staying？〃
The other workers laughed again。 〃Sterno Hilton；〃 said Matthew。 〃See； we're campin' out。〃 He said they couldn't afford a motel； no way。
Neria fumbled in the console until she found a gnawed stub of pencil and one of the professor's match…books； which reeked of weed。 She wrote down a bogus telephone number and gave it to Matthew。 〃OK； then； you call me。〃
He didn't even glance at the number。 〃I got a better idea。 Since none of us ever been to Miami before 。。。〃
Oh no！ she thought。 Please no。
〃。。。 we'll just follow you down。 That way； we're sure not to get lost。 And if your place needs work； we can git on it rightaways。〃
Matthew's plan was well received by his crew。 Neria said； uselessly： 〃I don't think that's a good idea。〃
〃We got references。〃
She was eyeing the pickup truck； wondering if there was a chance in hell that the professor's van could outrun it。
〃We kicked some ass over Charleston；〃 Matthew was saying； 〃after Hurricane Hugo。〃
Neria said； 〃It's getting pretty late。〃
〃We'll be right behind you。〃
And they were； all the way down the Turnpike。
The truck's solitary headlight； stuck on high beam； illuminated the interior of the VW van like a TV studio。 Neria stiffened in the harsh brightness； knowing that seven pairs of inbred male eyes were fixed on the back of her head。 She drove ludicrously slow； hoping the rednecks would grow impatient and decide to pass。 They didn't。
All she could do was make the best of it。 Even if the Neanderthals didn't know a thing about construction； they might be helpful in tracking a thieving husband。
Max Lamb cracked the door to poke his head out。 He'd never met an FBI man before。 This one didn't look like Efrem Zimbalist Jr。 He wore a green Polo shirt； tan Dockers and cordovan Bass Weejuns。 He also toted a bag from Ace Hardware。
When it came to name brands； Max was nothing if not observant。 He believed it was part of his job； knowing who in America was buying what。
The agent said； 〃Is Augustine home？〃
〃No； he isn't。〃
〃Who are you？〃
〃Could I see some ID？〃 Max asked。
The agent showed him a badge in a billfold。 Max told him to e in。 They sat in the living room。 Max asked what was in the bag； and the agent said it was drill bits。 〃Storm sucked the cabinets right out of my kitchen；〃 he explained。
〃Black and Decker？〃
〃Makita。〃
〃That's a first…rate tool；〃 said Max。
The agent was exceedingly patient。 〃You're a friend of Augustine's？〃
〃Sort of。 My name is Max Lamb。〃
〃Really？ I'm glad to see you're all right。〃
Max's eyebrows hopped。
〃From the kidnapping；〃 the agent said。 〃You're the one who was kidnapped； right？〃
〃Yes！〃 Max's spirits skied； realizing that Bonnie had been so concerned that she'd called the FBI。 It was proof of her devotion。
The agent said； 〃She played the tape for me； the message you left on the answering machine。〃
〃Then you heard his voice…the guy who snatched me。〃 Max got a Michelob from the refrigerator。 The FBI man accepted a Sprite。
〃Where's your wife？〃 he asked。
〃I don't know。〃
Excitedly Max Lamb related the whole story； from his kidnapping on Calusa Drive to the midnight rescue in Stiltsville； up to Bonnie's disappearance with Augustine and the deranged one…eyed governor。 The FBI man listened with what seemed to be genuine interest； but took no notes。 Max wondered if they were specially trained to remember everything they heard。
〃These are dangerous men；〃 he told the agent； portentously。
〃Was your wife taken against her will？〃
〃No； sir。 That's why they're so dangerous。〃
〃You say he put a collar on your neck。〃
〃A shock collar；〃 Max said gravely； 〃the kind used to train hunting dogs。〃
The FBI man asked if the kidnapper had done the same thing to Bonnie。 Max said he didn't think so。 〃She's very trusting and impressionable。 They took advantage of that。〃
〃What's Augustine's role in all this？〃
〃I believe；〃 said Max； 〃the kidnapper has brainwashed him； too。〃 He got another beer and tore into a bag of pretzels。
The agent said； 〃Prosecution won't be easy。 It's your word against his。〃
〃But you believe me； don't you？〃
〃Mister Lamb； it doesn't matter what I believe。 Put yourself in the jury box。 This is a very weird story you'll be asking them to swallow。。。。〃
Max shot to his feet。 His cheeks were stuffed with pretzel fragments。 〃Jeshush Chritht； mahh wife's misshing！〃
〃I understand。 I'd be upset； too。〃 The FBI man was maddeningly agreeable and polite。 〃And I'm not trying to tell you what to do。 But you need to know what you're up against。〃
Max sat down； glowering。
The agent explained that the Bureau seldom got involved unless； a ransom demand was issued。 〃There was none in your case。 There's been none for your wife。〃
〃Well； I think her life's in danger；〃 Max said； 〃and I think you people are in deep trouble if something happens to her。〃
〃Believe me； Mister Lamb； I understand your frustration。〃
No you don't； Max fumed silently； or you wouldn't talk to me like I was ten years old。
The agent said； 〃Have you spoken to the police？〃
Max told him about the black state trooper who was acquainted with the kidnapper。 〃He said I was entitled to press charges。 He said he'd take me down to the station。〃
The FBI man nodded。 〃That's the best way to go； if you've got your mind made up。〃
Max told the agent there was something he definitely ought to see。 He led him to Augustine's guest room and showed him the wall of skulls。 〃Tell me honestly；〃 he said to the FBI man； 〃wouldn't you be worried？ He juggles those damn things。〃
〃Augustine？ Yeah。〃
〃You know？〃
〃He won't hurt your wife； Mister Lamb。〃
〃Gee； I feel so much better。〃
The agent seemed impervious to sarcasm。 〃You'll hear from Mrs。 Lamb sooner or later。 That's my guess。 If you don't； call me。 Or call me even if you do。〃 He handed his card to Max； who affected hard…bitten skepticism as he studied it。 Then he walked toward the kitchen； the agent following。
〃I was wondering；〃 the F