Part 21 (1/2)

Thehighnumbersrantwomilesoutofthetown,expensivelookinghomesalongametalledroadwiththedesertcrowdinginattheirrear.Thedives'housewasflankedbyothersonbothsides:notnearenoughtotouch,b.u.t.toonearfortheinvisiblestablingofstallions.TheplaceonPittswasn'tsuitable,asYolahadsaid.

Itwaslowandwhite,withaflatroofandaframeofpalmsandorangetrees.Blindsandinsectscreensblankedoutthewindows,andthegra.s.soneachsideofthedrivewasapaledrybiscuitcolour,notgreenwateredlikeitsneighbours.Istoppedthecarintheroadwayoppositeandlookeditover.Notaleafmovedunderthebleachingsun.Tenminutestickedaway.Nothinghappenedinthestreet.Insidethecar,withtheenginestopped,thetemperatureroselikeChristmasprices.Istartedupagain,suckedinthefirstcoldblastfromtheair-conditioner,andslidonalongthewayIwasheading.

Amilepastthedives'housethemetalsurfaceended,andtheroadranoutacrossthedesertasadustystreakofgravel.Iturnedthecarandwentback,thinking.Thecomparativedead-endednessofPittsvilleBoulevardexplainedthealmosttotallackoftrafficpastthedives',andalsomeantthatIcouldn'tdrivepastthereveryoftenwithoutbecomingconspicuoustotheneighbours.Keepingacheckonanapparentlyemptyhouse,however,wasn'tgoingtogetmemuchfurther.

Aboutfivehousesalongonthetownsideofthedives'therewasanotherwithwater-starvedbrownishgra.s.s.TakingachancethattheseinhabitantstoowereawayfromhomeIrolledthePontiacpurposefullyintothepalm-edgeddrivewayandstoppedoutsidethefrontdoor.ReadywithsomeofWalt'sinsurancepatter,Ileantonthebellandgaveitafulltwentyseconds.Noonecame.Everythingwashot,quiet,andstill.

Strolling,Iwalkeddownthedriveandontotheroad.Lookingbackonecouldn'tseethecarforbushes.Satisfied,Imadethetripalongtothedives',tryingtolookasifwalkingwereanormaloccupationinaNevadaheatwave:andbythetimeIgotthereitwasquiteclearwhyitwasn't.Thesweatburntdryonmyskinbeforeithadachancetoformintobeads.

Reconnoitringthedives'placetookanhour.Thehousewa.s.shutuptight,obviouslyempty.Thewindowscreenswereallsecurelyfastened,andallthegla.s.swascoveredontheinsidewithblinds,sothatonecouldn'tseein.Thedoorswerefastenedwithsafe-depositlocks.TheCliveshadmadecasualbreaking-inbyvagrantsnearlyimpossible.

WithcautionIeasedroundtheacreoflandbehindthehouse.Palmsandbushesscreenedatrefoil-shapedpoolfrombeingoverlookedtooopenlybytheneighbours,butfromseveralplacesitwaspossibletoseethepoolsoftheflankinghousessomesixtyyardsaway.Besideoneofthem,remindingmeofEunice,awomanintwosc.r.a.psofyellowclothlaymotionlessonalongchair,invitingheatstrokeandaddingtoadepthofsuntanwhichwouldhavegotherrecla.s.sifiedinSouthAfrica.ImovedevenmorequietlyafterI'dseenher,butshedidn'tstir.

TherearboundaryoftheClives'landwasmarkedbylargestonespaintedwhite,withdesertscrubonthefarsideandlowgrowingcitrusbushesonthenear.Fromtheirwindows,brotherandsisterhadawideviewofhillsandwilderness;twomilesdowntheroadneonlightswenttwentyroundswiththemiddaysunandthecrashoffruitmachinesout-decibelledthetraffic.IwonderedidlyhowmuchofUncleBark'sillicitproceedsfoundtheirwayintoMattandYola'spocket,andhowmuchfromtherevanishedintothegreedyslotmouthsinVegas.Thestudfeeswentaroundandaroundandonlyb.u.t.tressLifewerethelosers.

OnthewaybacktothemotelIstoppedateverysupermarketIcameto,andboughttwothree-poundbagsofflourfromeach.

FromahardwarestoreIacquiredashortladder,whiteoveralls,whitepeakedcottoncap,brushes,andahalfgalloncanofbrightyellowinstantdryingpaint.

CHAPTERFOURTEEN.

WaltlistenedtowhatIhadtosayinasilencewhichhummeddownthetelephonewiresmoreeloquentlythanhysterics.

'You'recrazy,'hesaidatlast,soundingasifheseriouslymeant.i.t.

'Canyouthinkofanythingelse?'

Afteralongpausehesaidgrudgingly,'Nothingquicker.'

'Right,then.I'llfixeverythingthisendandgiveyouacallinthemorning.Andlet'shopeitworks.'

'Whatifitdoesn't?'

'Havetotrysomethingelse.'

Waltgruntedgloomilyandhungup.

Ispentanhourattheairport,andthenwentbacktothemotel.Theeveningoozedaway.Iplayedsomeroulettewithoutenthusiasmandlostbackingblackagainstasequenceoffourteenreds;andIateagoodsteaklisteningtoagirlsingerwhosevoicewa.s.secondarytoherfrontage.AfterthatIlayonmybedforawhileandsmoked,andkeptthebluesfromcrowdingintooclosebythinkingexclusivelyofthejobinhand.

AttwoIdressedinadarkgreencottons.h.i.+rtandblackjeans,wentdownstairs,steppedintothecar,anddrovealongPittsvilleBoulevardto40159.Thetownitselfwaswideawakeandrocking:thehousesalongPittsweredarkandsilent.WithdimmedlightsIrolledquietlyintothedives'drivewayandstackedthebagsofflourclosetothefrontdoor.Then,holdingthecardoorbutnotshuttingit,IeasedthePontiacbackalongtheroadandparkeditinthedrivewayofthesameemptyhousethatIhadusedintheafternoon.Again,notwantinganyneighbourstorememberhearingacardoorslam,Ileft.i.tajar,andwalkedbacktothedives'.

Thenightwaswarmandgentlewithadeepnavyblueskyandstarslikefluorescentpolka-dots.TwomilesawaytheblazinglightsofVegasraisedabell-shapedorangeglow,butamongthepalmsandorangetreestheshadowswerethickandblackandcomfortablyconcealing.

Thedives'wasonlythelatestof.a.greatmanyhousesIhadbrokeninto.Myshortcutstotruthwerescandalousbyallpublicandprivatestandards,andKeeblerarelyaskedhowIgotmyinformation:andasIwouldhavehadthePress,thepoliceandpublicopinionallbalefullyagainstmeifI'deverbeencaught,Agagoneggswouldhavebeenclumsyincomparison.Law-abidingcitizensneverknewI'dbeentheirguest.Forthedives',however,Ihadalternativeplans.

Wearingsurgeons'rubbergloves,andwithmyshoesstuckthroughmybelttotheleftoftheLuger,Iworkedonthelockonthebackdoor,andafternottoobadatime,consideringitscomplexity,thetwosetsoftumblersfellsweetlyover,andthehousewasmine.

Inside,theairwa.s.staleandstill,anddustsheetsdrapedthefurniture,lookinglikepalebouldersinthedimlightofmytorch.Thereardooropenedintoas.p.a.cioushallwhichledstraightthroughtothefront.Iwalkedacross,unboltedandunfastenedthefrontdoor,broughtinthebagsofflour,andleftthedoorajar,liketheoneI'dcomeinby:thevalueofalwaysbeingpreparedforinstantflighthadbeendrummedintomebyanex-burglarwhohadonceneglectedit.

Iwentintothebedrooms.LargeseparatesinglebeddedroomsagainforYolaandMatt,andaguestbedroom,withabathroomtoeach.Ipulledallthecoversoffthefurnitureandflungontotheflooreverythingtheyhadleftinthechestsandclosets.OvertheresultingmessineachroomIshooksixpoundsofself-raisingflour.

InthekitchenIemptiedontothefloorapacketofsoapflakes,apacketofrice,somecerealandfourpoundsofbrownsugar,whichwerealllyinghandyinthepantry.Iunlockedthepantrywindowandunfasteneditsouterscreen,leavingbothopen:andasanafterthoughttumbledsomecannedfruitoffth.e.s.h.elfbeneathit,toshowthattheintruderhadcomeinthatway.

Inthes.p.a.ciousliving-roomIagainremovedallthecovers,puteveryornamentandsmalllooseobjectinaheaponthefloor,andflungflouroverthemandaroundthewholeplace.Asmallercosierroom,facingtheroad,containedadeskfullofpapers,twolargebookshelves,andawell-filledsewingbox.Togetherthejumbledcontentsmadeasplendidankle-deepmessonthefloor.Poundsofflourfellovereverythinglikesnow.ItwaswhileIwastearingopenthelastbag,readyforafinalscatterroundthehall,thatIheardthedistantpolicesiren.Frozen,Idoubtedforasecondthat.i.twasforme:thenconsideredthateitheratoowatchfulneighbourhadseenmytorchinc.h.i.n.ksthroughtheblinds,orelsethatthedives'complicatedlocksweren'ttheironlyprotection,andthattheyhadadirectburglaralarmlinetothepolice.

WithoutwastingmuchtimeIshutthefrontdoorandheardthelockengage.Emptiedthelastbagofflouroveraplasticflowerarrangementonatableinthehall.Flittedthroughthereardoorandclickeditshutbehindme.Thrustthetorchintomypocket.

Thesirenwailedandstoppedatthefrontofthehouse.Doorsslammed,menshouted,bootsran.Someonewithamegaphoneurgedmetocomeoutwithmyhandsonmyhead.Theedgesofthehousewereoutlinedbyaspotlights.h.i.+ningonitsfront.WithbaresecondstosparebeforethefirstuniformappearedinsilhouettearoundthecornerIreachedthenearestofthebushesflankingthetrefoilpoolanddivedbehindit.Beingquietenoughwasnoproblem,asthelawweremakinganintimidatingclatterallaroundthehouse,butstayinginvisiblewasmoredifficult.Theybroughtanotherspotlightroundtotherearandshoneitfullonthehouse.Theshutteredwindowsstaredblindlyandunhelpfullyback,reflectingtheglarealmostasfarasmycover.Lightsappearedinneighbouringhouses,andheadsstucklikeblackk.n.o.bsoutofthewindows.IeasedgentlyawaypastafewmorebushesandthoughtIwa.s.stillagreatdealtooclosetoaspellinthezoo.

Ashoutfromthesideofthehouseindicatedthattheyhadfoundtheopenpantrywindow.Fourtroopersaltogether,Ijudged.Allarmedtotheteeth.Igrimacedinthedarknessandmovedanotherfewyardswithlesscaution.Iwasn'tgoingtogivethemanyforefingerexerciseifIcouldhelpit,b.u.t.thetimewasrunningout.

Theywerebraveenough.Oneormoreclimbedinthroughthewindowandswitchedonthelights.Imorerapidlycrossedthelaststretchofgarden,steppedoverthewhitepaintedstones,andheadedstraightoutintothedesert.

FivestepsconvincedmeIneededtoputmyshoeson.Tenstepshadmecertainthattheonlyvegetationwasp.r.i.c.klypear,andclose-ranked,atthat.IshouldimagineIimpaledmyselfoneveryoneintheneighbourhood.

Backatthedives'theyhadtemporarilystoppedoohingandahingoverthemess,andweresearchingthegrounds.Lightsmovedroundthenextdoorhousesaswell.Iftheywentfivealongandfoundthecar,thingswouldgetveryawkwardindeed.

IhadmeanttobesafelybackinmymotellongbeforeIcalledthepoliceearlyinthemorningtosaythatIwasacivicmindedneighbourwhohadjustseenaprowlercomingoutofthedives'...

Whentheyshowedsignsofs.h.i.+ningthelightouttowardswhereIwa.s.stumblingalongIlaydownflatonthegroundandlistenedtothethudofmyheart.Thespotlightbeamflickeredpalelyoverthelowscrubbybushesandoutlinedtheflatspikyplatesofthep.r.i.c.klypears,butinthes.h.i.+ftingunevenshadowsthattheythrew,IreckonedImustbejustanotherclump.Therewasagooddealofshouteddiscussionaboutwhetheritwasnecessarytotakealook-seeinthedesert,b.u.t.tomyreliefnoonecamefurtheroutthantheboundarystones.Gradually,frustrated,thedazzle,andcommotionretreatedanddiedaway.

Thelightsinsidethedives'housewentout.Thepolicecardroveoff.Theneighbourswentbacktobed.Igottomyfeetandbrushedoffthesurplusofdrysandyearth.Whatwiththatandflourdusteventheblindestcopwouldhavelittledifficultyinb.u.t.toningmeontothecrime.

WithmorecarethanontheoutwardtripIheadedbacktowardsthehouses,butatanangleIhopedwouldbringmenearthecar.ThesoonerIbeat.i.tfromthatlittleneckofthewoods,thebetter...Istoppeddead.

Howmightonecatchaprowler?Justpretendtogoaway,andwaitsomewheredowntheroad,andwhenhethoughteverythingwa.s.safe,he'dcomecarelesslyalongandfallintoyourwaitinghandslikearipeplum.

IdecidednottodrivebacktowardsLasVegasfromthatquietcul-de-sac.Justincase.

Atthefifthhousealong,everythingwasquiet.Icat-footedthroughthegrounds,aroundthehouse,andtookadistantlookatthecar.Stillthere.Notrooperbesideit.Istoodintheshadowsforlongerthanwasprobablynecessary,thentookadeepbreathandriskedit.Icompletedthestepstothecarandpeeredinthroughthewindow.Empty.Madeaquickcautioustouroftherowofspikylowgrowingpalms.h.i.+dingitfromtheroad.

Nothing.Noirateshouts.Allquiet.Carundiscovered.Sighingwithrelief,thevisionofthemaliciousdivesdancingatmytrialfadingalittle,Ipulledwidethealreadyopendoorandfoldedlikeanunderstuffedragdollintothedrivingseat.ForfiveminutesIdidnothingmoreenergeticthantobreathefreely,andenjoyit.

ThereremainedhowevertheproblemoftelephoningtoWalt:andIcheweditoverthoughtfullywhileabsentmindedlypullingp.r.i.c.klypearneedlesoutofmylegs.

Iwasafairhandatwiretapping,whenIhadthekit:but.i.twasinPutney.Nodoubttherewouldbeatelephoneintheemptyhousealongside.ButIwasn'tsurethatIwantedtoriskthishousetoobeingdirectlyconnectedtothepolice,ifthatwaswhathadhappenedatthedives'.Ontheotherhand,Ihadbeeninthedives'housetwentyminutesbeforethepoliceshowedup.Yettheymightbequicker,onasecondcall.

AfterhalfanhourIpulledontherubbergloves,climbedoutofthecarandpickedthefrontdoorlock.Itturnedallright,butunfortunatelytheprudenthouseholdershadalsousedbolts.Alwaysatossupwhichdoorofthehousepeoplebolted.Iwalkedroundtotherear,andletmyselfin.Therewasatelephoneonatableinthehall.Iwalkedovertoit,thenturned,retracedmysteps,leftthedoorajar,wentroundtothecar,startedup,anddrovequietlyawayinthedeadenddirection,notstoppinguntilIwasoffthemetalledroadontothegravel,androundacoupleofbends.Iswitchedoffthelightsandsmokedacigarette.

Anotherhalfhourpa.s.sed.Nolightswentonalongbythehouses;nopolicesirens,nodisturbancesatall.Idrovegentlyback,parkedinthesamespotasbefore,wentroundintothehouse,andcalledupWalt.Hewasn'tamusedatbeingwokenatfivea.m.'Aslightchangeoftiming,'Isaidapologetically.Thepolicehavealreadyseenthemess.'

Hedrewinasharpbreath.'Theydidn'tcatchyou!'

'No.'Nopointintellinghimhowcloseithadbeen:hehadn'tapprovedofmygoinginatall.

'Isupposeyouwantmetocomenow,then?'hesaid,withresignation.