<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">他也有可能在芝加哥干的。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">我知道。可是只要在芝加哥以外的地方，有很多地区都不可能在周一晚上有报纸。这是《国民闲话报》发行部提供的一份单子</font><font face="times new roman">——</font><font face="宋体">报纸在周一晚空运或公路运输到达的地区。你看，这样就只留下了密尔沃基、圣路易斯、印第安那城、辛辛那提和底特律。他们把报纸运到机场和大概九十家昼夜开的书报亭，不包括芝加哥的卖报点。我请当地办事处的人在查。也许会有一个卖报的能回忆起在周一晚上买《国民闲话报》的一个古怪的顾客。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">也许。这是个很漂亮的进展，杰克。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">很显然他的脑子根本没在这里。</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">换了一个普通的联邦调查员，克劳福德会威胁让他终身在阿留申群岛供职以示警戒。可是面对格雷厄姆，他却说：<font face="times new roman">“</font><font face="宋体">我弟弟下午打来电话，说莫莉离开了他的住所。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">是的。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">一个安全的地方，是吗？</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">格雷厄姆知道克劳福德很清楚地知道她在哪里。</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">威利的祖父母家。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">哦，见到小孙子他们会很高兴的。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font><font face="宋体">克劳福德等待着。</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">格雷厄姆还是没有回应。</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">一切都正常，我希望。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">我在工作，杰克，别操心了。她只不过是待在那里觉得恐怖。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">格雷厄姆扒拉开一堆葬礼上拍的照片，准备从下面拎出一个系着绳的包裹。</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">那是什么？</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">从拜伦</font><font face="times new roman">·</font><font face="宋体">麦特卡夫那里来的，雅各比家的律师。布赖恩</font><font face="times new roman">·</font><font face="宋体">吉利尔给我转来的。没事。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">等会儿，让我看看。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font><font face="宋体">克劳福德用他满是汗毛的手指翻着包裹，直到他看到</font><font face="times new roman">s.f.</font><font face="宋体">的签章。</font><font face="times new roman">“</font><font face="宋体">桑泊</font><font face="times new roman">·</font><font face="宋体">菲德力</font><font face="times new roman">·</font><font face="宋体">安奈沃斯，联邦调查局爆炸物品科科长证明这包裹已经用荧光镜检查过了。</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">总是检查，总在别人检查过以后还要自己查一遍。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">我从来都要自己查的，杰克。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">是切斯特给你的吗？</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">对。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">他在给你之前给你看这个章了吗？</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">他先查看了然后给的我。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">格雷厄姆剪开了绳子。<font face="times new roman">“</font><font face="宋体">这是有关雅各比家房子遗嘱检验的所有文件的副本，我让麦特卡夫寄给我的</font><font face="times new roman">——</font><font face="宋体">我们可以在利兹家的材料来了以后和它做个比较。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">我们有个律师专门做这些事。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">我需要看这些东西。我不了解雅各比一家，杰克。他们也刚到在镇上。我去伯明翰的时候已经晚了一个月，相关的信息已经分散消失得找不到了。我对利兹一家有感觉，我对雅各比一家却没有，我需要了解他们，想找他们在底特律的朋友谈话，我还需要在伯明翰再待些日子。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">我这里需要你。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">听我说，他让劳厄兹遭难完全是为了泄愤。是我们和劳厄兹把他激怒了。</font><font face="times new roman">‘</font><font face="宋体">牙仙</font><font face="times new roman">’</font><font face="宋体">与劳厄兹惟一的关联是我们造的。劳厄兹的案情里有一点可以利用的线索，警察们已经在跟踪了。劳厄兹对他只不过是个眼中钉，而利兹家和雅各比家才是他的真正的需求。我们必须找出他们两家的共同点。要是我们能抓到他的话，这是惟一的方式。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">所以你在这里用到了雅各比的资料。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font><font face="宋体">克劳福德说。</font><font face="times new roman">“</font><font face="宋体">你在找什么？什么样的线索？</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">任何该死的线索，杰克，现在手头上的，一个医疗方面的假设。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font><font face="宋体">格雷厄姆从包裹里拿出美国国税局房产税的表格。</font><font face="times new roman">“</font><font face="宋体">劳厄兹被捆在轮椅上，与医疗有关。沃拉蕊</font><font face="times new roman">·</font><font face="宋体">利兹在死前的六月份做过外科手术</font><font face="times new roman">——</font><font face="宋体">记得她的日记吗？她乳腺里有一个良性肿瘤，又与医疗有关。我在想雅各比太太是不是也做过手术。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">我不记得在验尸报告里有任何手术方面的记录。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">没有，可也许是在外表看不出来的部位。她的病史资料分散在底特律和伯明翰两个城市，也许某些东西在中间遗失了。如果她做了某个手术，应该有扣除额的申请或者保险索赔。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">一个流动的护理员，你觉得？在两个地方都工作过</font><font face="times new roman">——</font><font face="宋体">底特律（或伯明翰）和亚特兰大？</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">要是你在精神病院待过，你能很容易地学会日常的操作。你可以成为一名护理，等你出院的时候还能干这行。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font><font face="宋体">格雷厄姆说。</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">想吃晚饭吗？</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">“<font face="宋体">我等一会儿再吃，吃完饭以后我的脑子就迟钝了。</font><font face="times new roman">”</font></span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">他准备离开。在光线昏暗的门口克劳福德回头看了看格雷厄姆。他不喜欢看到的这幕情景。格雷厄姆在伏案仔细研究，在头前的灯光映照下，他脸上的凹陷更明显了。死者从照片里盯着他看。这房间里弥漫着绝望的气息。</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">对案件的侦破来说把格雷厄姆重新派到外面去会不会更好？克劳福德不忍心看他在屋子里苦熬着而什么结果也得出不来。可要是他能看出线索呢？</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';">克劳福德优秀的管理直觉里没有仁慈。直觉告诉他可以放手让格雷厄姆去干。</span><span style="mso-spacerun:'yes'; font-size:14.0000pt; font-family:'times new roman';"></span>

<font size="4"style="line-height: 31px;">