Chapter 13 13

Alice will arrive at twenty past seven.When he woke up, he was very hot, and he heard someone knocking on the door lightly.He rolled out of bed, wrapped a wet towel around his waist, walked lightly across the dirty carpet with bare feet, and opened the door.Alice stood outside the door, he looked at her, she shook her head.Li Qi glanced at the afterglow of the setting sun outside. The yellow car was parked in the parking lot. He turned around and walked back to the room, and she followed him in. I have tried everything I can.she says. She changed into a lawyer's suit, black pants and a blazer.The pants were high in the waist, almost joining the sports bra, but showing an inch of her bronzed stomach in the middle.Besides, she looks very decent, but Li Qi can't think of the importance of this inch of skin to someone in Carmen's situation.

I asked her, is it because of me?Alice said.Does she want someone else?older?male?Hispanic? what did she say? He said she didn't want anyone. It's outrageous. yes!Alice said.I told her she was in a difficult situation, in case she hadn't figured it out, but it was the same. Tell me everything she says. I have already said. The towel that Li Qi wrapped made him very uncomfortable, it was too small. Let me put my pants on first.He said. He lifted his pants off the chair and went into the bathroom.His trousers were wet and sticky. He put them on, zipped them up, and walked out.Alice had taken off her coat and put it on the back of the chair, next to his wet shirt.She sat on the bed with her elbows on her knees.

I tried everything I could.she said it again.I said, show me your hands.She said, what are you going to do?I said, I want to see how thick your blood vessels are, because they will inject the death penalty through there.I told her that she would be strapped to a gurney, described to her what drugs would be administered to her, told her that someone would watch her die from behind glass. Then? Same useless.I seem to be talking to the wall. How tight are you? She yelled a little, but she remained indifferent, and repeated what she said before, just not to.Li Qi, we better face reality. Does this comply with the regulations?

Of course!There is no law that requires a lawyer, it only says that it is necessary to provide it to you. Could this be evidence of insanity? She shook her head.doesn't count.she says.Otherwise, every murderer would refuse to hire a lawyer and plead incapacity. She is not a murderer. She doesn't seem too keen on proving it. Has anyone else heard it? Not yet, but I'm worried because logically her next step is to write her wishes down, and then I won't even be able to get in the door, nor will anyone else. So what should we do? It takes skill, that's all.For example, completely ignoring her wishes and continuing to deal with Walker secretly instead of her. If he can be prevented from suing, then whether Carmen needs us or not, she is already free.

He shrugged.That's the way to do it, but it's really weird, isn't it? certainly.Alice said.I've never heard of such a thing. A hundred miles away, the two men returned to the motel after dinner.They also had pizza, but it was served with a mug of cold beer instead of water and coffee.The woman was already waiting in the room, keeping watch, pacing up and down, which signaled the arrival of new news. how?asked the taller one. Additional work.she says. Place? pecos. Is this appropriate? She nodded.Pecos is fairly safe. Yeah?The black one asked again. Once you know how much he pays, you will think differently.

when? Depends on how the previous task was. good.said the tall one.Who is the target? some guy.the woman said.I'll tell you about it when we're done with that other thing. She goes to the door.stay in the room, ok?she says.Go get some sleep, we have a lot to do tomorrow. The room was really shabby.Alice said. Li Qi looked around.Yeah? Terrible. I've stayed in worse. She paused for a moment.Do you want to have dinner? His stomach is still full of pizza and ice cream, but the part of her skin that is exposed is very attractive, and the part behind her is the same, and there is a deep depression in the back, and the waistband of her trousers is like a small bridge, across this path sunken.

OK!He said.Where to eat? She paused again.Is it okay for my house?she says.I can't eat anywhere near here, I'm vegetarian so usually cook it myself. Vegetarians in Texas?He said.You are so far from home. I do feel that way.she says.So how?And my air conditioner is better than here. he smiled.Food cooked by women, plus stronger air conditioning?Sounds pretty good. Are you vegetarian? I eat anything. then let's go! He put on his damp shirt, and Alice picked up her coat after him.Li Qi put on his shoes, locked the door, and followed her to the car. She drove west a few miles into a residential area of ​​low average height.This residential area is built on land with many trees, with a four-lane road in the front and back, and the building complex has stucco walls painted in sandy colors, and there are many black-marked wooden columns as decorations.There were about forty rental suites in all, and they didn't look very bright, everything was tarnished by the heat.The room she rented was in the middle, sandwiched between two other rooms, like a small sandwich apartment in the city.She parked the car on a cracked concrete floor outside the door, and there were dried and withered desert weeds in the cracks.

However, the room was utterly cool. The central air conditioner was blowing cold air vigorously, and Li Qi could still feel the air pressure formed by the machine.There is a small living room in the room, the kitchen is at the back, and the stairs are on the left. They are all cheap rental furniture, a lot of books, but no TV. I'm going to take a shower.she says.You do what you want. She went upstairs, and Li Qi looked around. Most of the books were legal documents, Texas civil and criminal law, and some were constitutional reviews.A phone was placed on the side table with four speed dial buttons on it.The first button is for work, the second is for home (J), the third is for work (J), and the fourth is for parents.There was a shelf of silver-framed photographs of a married couple, probably in their fifties, against a backdrop of outdoor photographs taken casually in the city, probably in New York.The man had dark hair and a long aristocratic face; the woman looked a bit like an older version of Alice, with the same hair, only lighter and less vibrant.Undoubtedly, it was the parents who lived on Park Avenue, Mom and Dad, and they looked great.Li Qi was thinking that J should be the name of his boyfriend. He looked around, but there was no photo of him, maybe it was upstairs, next to the bed.

He sits on a chair.She came down ten minutes later, hair wet and combed, and shorts again, and a T-shirt that probably said Harvard Football Team, but it had been washed so many times that it couldn't be read.The shorts were short, the T-shirt was thin and form-fitting, and she had taken off her sports bra so she could see clearly.She was barefoot and looked very attractive. Are you on the football team?he asks. my partner.she says. He smiled at the warning.So is he still playing? You said he was a woman, Judith.I'm gay, yes, she's still playing. Is she okay? As a partner?

play soccer. Playing well, does this bother you? football? No, gay. why? Alice shrugged.For some people it will. I'm fine with this one. I am still Jewish. Li Qi smiled slightly.So, your family bought you that gun? She looks at him.did you find out certainly.He said.Good gun. She nodded.A lesbian veggie from New York, and Jewish, they thought I should take it with me. Li Qi smiled again.I'm more surprised they didn't buy you a machine gun or grenade launcher. She laughed too.I'm sure they really thought about it. It appears that you are serious about your giving back journey, you must have felt the same way I did wandering around Lebanon.

She laughed.It's actually not that bad here.Texas is a pretty nice place, generally speaking, and some people are really nice. What does Judith do? Also a lawyer, now in Mississippi. same reason? Alice nodded.five-year plan. So the profession of lawyers finally has some hope. So you really don't mind?she says.Just have a meal with new friends, then head back to the motel by yourself? I never thought there would be anything else.He is lying. The meal was quite delicious, and he wasn't very hungry, so it was considered to be delicious.Alice made some kind of homemade soft pastry, which is packed with crushed nuts, cheese and onions. It probably contains rich protein and vitamins.They drank some wine and a lot of water.Li Qi helped her clean up, and the two continued to chat until eleven o'clock. I'll drive you home.she says. But she was already in the comfort of her home barefoot, so he shook his head.I'll just walk back.He said.Walking for a few miles can help with digestion. But it was still hot outside.she says. Don't worry, it's fine. She didn't object violently.Li Qi made an appointment with her at the law firm in the morning and said goodbye.The air outside was as thick as soup, and the trip had taken him forty minutes, and his shirt was soaked again by the time he got back to the hotel. Li Qi woke up early, washed his clothes and put them on while they were still wet.By the time I got to the office, the clothes were dry, the moisture had disappeared, and the hot desert air drained all the moisture from the clothes, making them as stiff as canvas.The sky was blue and completely cloudless. Alice was already sitting behind her desk, wearing a black A-line sleeveless dress.A Mexican sat in one of the client chairs, whispering to Alice as she took notes on yellow Post-it notes.Heike.The young intern in Walker's office waited patiently behind the Mexican, a thin blue-orange FedEx package in his hand.Li Qi was standing right behind him. Alice suddenly realized that there were many people in line. She raised her head to have a look, gestured in the air for a minute in surprise, and continued to talk with customers with her head down.Finally she put the pencil down and spoke quietly in Spanish, and the guy with ascetic composure stood up and turned away.The intern moves forward and places the package on the table. Carmen.Guriel's injury report.He said.This is the original, Mr. Walker has photocopied a copy, and he wants a meeting at half-past nine. we will be there.Alice said. Alice slowly pulled the package over, and the intern followed the Mexican out.Li Qi sat down in the customer chair, and Alice glanced at him, fingers on the package, with a confused expression on her face.He shrugged, the thickness of the package was far thinner than he expected. She opened the top of the bag and pressed the edge of the package inward so that the mouth of the envelope opened like a mouth.She turned around and emptied the contents, which contained four different reports, loosely bound together and separated by green covers.Carmen's name, social security number, and medical record number are on each cover, and each cover also has a date from now to six or seven years ago.Older covers are lighter in color, as if fading with age.Li Qi pulled the chair next to Alice, and she folded the four reports in chronological order, with the oldest on top.She opened the report and placed it between the two of them to the left. The chair moved slightly, and her shoulder just touched Li Qi slightly. good.she says.The answer is revealed. The first report was the Ellie Birth Record, detailing when all the details happened.A long list of expansion and contraction records, fetal monitoring records are attached to it.At 4:13 in the morning, the dural spinal anesthesia was administered, and it was judged that it had fully exerted its effect at 4:20.At six o'clock, the staff in the waiting room changed shifts, and the waiting time lasted until lunch time, and the birthing agent had been administered.At one o'clock, an episiotomy was performed, and Ellie was born at one twenty-five.There were no complications, the placenta passed normally, the surgical wound was sutured immediately, and the baby was doing well. There was no mention of bruised faces or cracked lips, nor loose teeth. The second report recorded that two ribs were cracked, and the time was in the spring, fifteen months after the child was born.Inside was an X-ray showing the left half of her upper torso.The ribs are bright white, two of which have small gray clefts, and the left breast forms a neat black shape.The physician in charge recorded that the patient said that he fell from his horse and hit the top railing of the pasture fence hard.Generally, there is not much that can be done for rib injuries. We can only connect the bones back and tell the patient to rest more. what do you think?Alice asked. There may be something strange.Li Qi said. The third report is six months later, towards the end of summer.It said that Carmen had a severe bruise on the underside of her right foot, and the same physician recorded that Carmen said she had fallen off her horse while riding over an obstacle course, and that her calf struck a pole on the obstacle course.There are many specialized medical descriptions of contusions, as well as vertical and horizontal measurements.The injured area is oblique oval, four inches wide and five inches long.X-rays were taken, no bones were broken, the doctor prescribed painkillers, and the dose on the first day was recorded by the emergency room pharmacy. The fourth report, another two and a half years later, about nine months before Shroop went to prison.The right clavicle is broken, the personnel in the file are all new, and the emergency room seems to be completely replaced.The attending physician's name was changed, and she did not comment on Carmen's claim that she fell from the horse and fell off the platform, but she had many detailed descriptions of the scars, which she wrote very thoroughly.There's an X-ray showing the curve of Carmen's neck and her shoulders.The clavicle is broken neatly down the middle. Alice put the four reports together and put them on the table in reverse. How about it?she says. Li Qi didn't respond, just shook his head. How about it?she said it again. Maybe sometimes go to another hospital.He said. No, we also get reports.As I told you, we have sent messages to every hospital, which is a routine practice. Maybe they drove to the next state. checked.she says.Domestic violence cases will include criminals from neighboring states, which is also a routine notification criterion. Maybe she used another name. Hospitals only care about social security numbers. He nodded.That's not enough, Alice.She told me more than that, she now has ribs and a collarbone, but she said that he also broke her hand and jaw, and she had three teeth replanted. Alice said nothing.Li Qi closed his eyes, tried to think in the way he used to handle cases, and turned back to the experienced investigator, with a shrewd mind and thirteen years of solid practical training. Two possibilities.He said.One, there is a problem with the hospital system. Alice shook her head.The odds are low. He nods again.agree.So, two, she lied. Alice was silent for a long time.Perhaps an exaggeration.she says.You also know that in order to keep you, make sure you can help her. He nodded, not quite clearly.He checked his watch. It was twenty past nine, and he leaned forward to put the stack of reports back in the FedEx envelope. Let's hear what Heike thinks.He said. Two-thirds of the killing team left Pecos eerily quietly south, while the third waited in the hotel room, lost in thought.It was an adventure now, and in the twelve years they had been in the business, they had never been in one place so long.In the past, this approach was too dangerous. In and out, quick and clear, was their preferred method, but now they began to deviate from this approach, and the range was large.So this morning there was no conversation, no jokes, no frolic, no pre-mission excitement, just each nervous, preoccupied with their own affairs. But they still got the car and all the necessities ready as planned.Halfway through breakfast, I sat quietly and looked at my watch.nine thirty.The woman finally spoke.The time has come. Walker already had a client in his office, about seventy years old, overweight and looking very good, though he was working hard in the heat.The air conditioner was running desperately, and the fan sound was louder than the compressor. The documents on the desk almost flew up, but the indoor temperature was still around 90 degrees, so hot that the visitor wiped his forehead with a white handkerchief.Walker took off his suit jacket and sat upright in his chair, propping his head on his hands.There were medical reports lined up on the table, and he stared at them as if they were written in a foreign language.He raised his head, eyes glazed, and made a vague gesture to the stranger. This is Cowen.Blake.He said.Famous professor of forensic medicine, among many other titles, top defense expert.This was probably his first time in the prosecutor's office. Alice stepped forward and shook the man's hand.Nice to meet you, sir.she says.I have long admired my name. Ke Wen.Blake didn't speak, Alice introduced Li Qi, and the three adjusted their chairs slightly to form a semicircle around the table. This was the first report that came in this morning.Walker said.All the records in Texas are on this, but in fact there is only one hospital, and none of the other states, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, none of them.I made a copy of everything myself and sent the originals to you right away.Mr. Blake had only arrived half an hour ago and had already seen the copy.He wanted to see x-rays, but I couldn't make copies of those. Li Qi handed the package to Blake, he poured out the things like Alice, and then picked up the three slices, ribs, legs, and collarbone.With the light coming in from the window, he looked carefully at each one, and took a few minutes to look at each one, and then put them back neatly into their respective files. He seemed to be a precise and orderly man. Walker sat forward.So, Mr. Blake, can you give us an initial opinion? His voice sounded tense and formal, as if he were in a courthouse.Blake picked up the first report, the oldest and palest, the one about Ellie's birth. There is nothing in this one.His voice is deep and very sonorous, like a beloved grandpa in old movies, very suitable for standing on the witness stand.These are all ordinary obstetrics and gynecology records. The only interesting thing is that a rural hospital in Texas already had the top level nearly ten years ago. Nothing out of the ordinary? Not at all, it can be assumed that the pregnancy was caused by the husband, other than that there is no evidence that he did anything to her. what about others? Blake switched files, this time to an injured rib.He pulled out the X-ray film again and prepared it in his hand. Ribs are there for a reason.He said.Ribs form a rigid skeleton that protects delicate internal organs from harm, but that's not a rigid frame, because that would be stupid, and evolution is definitely not a stupid process.The rib skeleton is a complicated structure. If the skeleton is a rigid structure, it will break as long as it is hit by any major impact, but in fact it also has a sophisticated ligament suspension design at the end of each rib.So the first reaction of this skeleton is to break and twist, the purpose is to effectively disperse the impact force. He picked up the X-ray and pointed at it.That was the case here, he said, with significant pulling and tearing of the entire ligament, indicating a diffuse impact from a wide blunt instrument.The impact force was absorbed by the elasticity of the skeleton, but even so, it was enough to cause cracks in the two ribs. What kind of blunt instrument?Walker asked. Long, stiff, round, about five or six inches wide, like a fence railing or something, that's my judgment. Can't it be kicked? Blake shook his head.Obviously not.He said.If it's a kick, there's a lot of impact on a small area, roughly how big is the rim at the tip of the boot?Maybe an inch and a half long and a quarter of an inch wide?This size is basically considered a sharp weapon, not a blunt weapon.This kind of impact will be very sudden and concentrated, so that the cushioning effect cannot be exerted. Of course, you will still see rib cracks, but there will be no signs of ligament pull at all. Could it be the knee? Knees hitting ribs?The effect is similar to using a fist, which is considered a blunt weapon.Basically there will be a circular impact point, and the pulling of the ligament will be a completely different pattern. Walker's fingers drummed on the table, and he was already sweating.So is there any artificial possibility?he asked. Blake shrugged.If he's a lithe gymnast, maybe!It might be possible if he could stiffen his whole leg and jump up and kick sideways, it would be like a fence railing, but I don't think that's going to happen at all. Walker fell silent.What about the bruised calf?he asks. Blake swapped the file in his hand for a third, opened the report, looked at the contusion description again, and shook his head. Bruise shape is key.He said.The same is the damage that a long, hard round object would do, like a fence railing or something, or a water pipe, hitting the front of the calf at an oblique angle. Could he hit her with a hose? Blake shrugged again.Theoretically, I think, he said, it might be possible if you stand almost behind her, reach her at an angle, and swing down so hard that you hit her foot at an almost parallel angle.It took two hands, since no one could hold a six-inch hose with one hand, and probably had to stand on a chair while asking her to stand in front of the chair at a certain angle.But that's unlikely, is it? But still possible? No.Blake said.impossible.I say this now, and I must say it even more after I swear. Walker fell silent.What about the collarbone?he asks. Blake picked up the last report.The records were very careful, he said, clearly a good physician. So what exactly does the content say? Typical scars.Blake said.The clavicle is like a power-off switch for an electric wire. When a person falls, he will want to slow down the fall, and the hand will naturally stretch out. At this time, the weight of the whole body will be transformed into a powerful physical impact force, which will be transmitted upward from the stiff arm in the form of a shock wave. Go through the stiff shoulder joints and up.At this time, if there is no collarbone, the impact force will eventually be transmitted to the neck, which may break the neck and cause paralysis, or even spread to the skull, resulting in coma or a vegetative state.But evolution is smart, it will choose the slightest injury, break the collarbone and counteract the force.Of course it will be very inconvenient and painful, but it will not be life-threatening.It was a mechanical kill switch, and generations of cyclists, in-line skaters, and horseback riders should be thankful for its existence. Falling shouldn't be the only reason.Walker said. is the main reason, says Blake, and almost the only way.Occasionally though I've seen other situations like a bat aimed for the head and it misses and hits the collarbone, or a building beam collapses in a fire and it falls and hits the shoulder, but that's what happens on firefighters. Carmen.Gurriel is not a firefighter.Walker said.There is also no evidence that bats were present at any other time. No one spoke, and the roar of the air conditioner echoed throughout the office. good.Walker said.Let me put it this way, I need evidence that this woman has been subjected to violent physical abuse, is there any of that in there? Blake was quiet for a moment, then shook his head.No.He said.There is no such possibility within reason. Not at all?Not even a little? No, sorry. So what about beyond the reasonable range? still none. What if it is pushed in an unreasonable way? still none.She's had a normal pregnancy, no luck riding, that's all I've seen. No room for reasonable doubt?Walker said.I just need this, just a little bit. No. Walker paused.Doctor, please allow me to say this with the utmost respect, will you?From the prosecutor's point of view, your presence has been a thorn in my back more than I can remember, both for me and for my colleagues across the state.There are times when we can't figure out what the hell you're thinking of, you can come up with the weirdest explanations for almost everything, so I beg, please, is there any way to explain this differently ? Blake didn't answer. I'm very sorry.Walker said.Offended you. Actually no.Blake said.In fact, I've never offered outlandish explanations for a single thing, and if I could find a way to get an acquittal, I'd say it in court, that's for sure.But what you obviously don't understand is that if I can't find a way out, I'll just shut up.The conflicts my colleagues and I have encountered in the past are actually just the tip of the iceberg. Many cases that have no chance of winning have even been avoided from the trial process, because I would suggest that the defendant directly plead guilty and plead for a reduced sentence.And I've seen many, many cases that had no chance of winning. like this one? Blake nodded.I'm afraid so.If I had been hired directly by Ms. Allen, I would have told her that what her client said could not be trusted, and you are right, I hate to say that, I have been on the side of the accused for many years and the record Brilliant, but I cherish the reputation, and despite the risk of pissing off the prosecutors, I intend to maintain this record for as long as I live, although the days may be numbered.The damn heat is killing me. He paused for a second, looking around. Because of this, I'm leaving now.He said.I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help, Mr. Walker.Really, I'd be more than happy if it could help. He collected the report together, put it back in the FedEx package and handed it to Li Qi who was sitting closest, then got up and walked towards the door. There must be something to be found.Walker said.I don't believe I can't find it. For the first time in my life, I hope that Ke Wen.Blake can be a blockbuster, but he can't. Blake shook his head.I figured this out a long time ago, and sometimes they're just really guilty. He made a short gesture, part slap, part salute, and walked slowly out of the office.The air from the air conditioner pushed the door forward and slammed shut behind him.Alice and Li Qi didn't speak, just watched Walker sitting behind the table.Walker propped his face in his hands and closed his eyes. let's go!He said.Get out of this place and leave me alone. The air in the stairwell was hot, and it was even worse on the pavement outside.Reacher switched the package to his left hand and grabbed Alice's arm with his right, stopping her on the sidewalk. Are there any good jewelry stores in town?he asks. should have.she says.what to do I want you to pull out her personal belongings.You're still her lawyer, or at least that's what everyone thinks, and we'll get her ring appraised, so we'll know if she's ever said a single word of the truth. Are you still in doubt? I was trained in the army to check and check. good.she says.Do as you say. So the two turned their heads and walked into the alley.Alice signed a form stating that these two items were key exhibits, and lent Carmen's lizard leather belt and ring.They went looking for a jewelry store, and after walking away from the streets of cheap stores, they walked for about ten minutes in the high-priced boutique area before finally finding one.The display window does not look very noble because it is too crowded, but judging from the price tag, the boss's vision should not be bad, otherwise he can only be optimistic. How to do?Alice asked. It is said to sell inheritance.Li Qi said.Said it was left by your grandma. The guy in the shop was old and stooped, and forty years ago he might have looked very shrewd, but his reflexes were still shrewd.Li Qi saw a flash in his eyes, police?Then the boss himself denied the question.Alice doesn't look like a cop, and neither does Reach.The general people's wrong impression of Li Qi had given him a lot of advantages, and then, the boss began to evaluate how smart these two new customers were, and his thoughts were clearly revealed, at least in Li Qi's eyes.He has long been used to seeing others sneaking and calculating, and he can see that the boss finally decided to play it safe first.Alice took out the ring and told him that it was a family heirloom, and she wanted to sell it, so she wanted to ask the price. The guy put the ring under the lamp, hung a magnifying glass in front of his eyes, and looked carefully. Colour, clarity, cut, carat.He said.We mainly want to know these four things. He turned the stone from side to side, and it shone in the light.He took a hard card with round holes punched on it, starting from the smallest and gradually getting larger for comparison until he found ones of the exact same size. Two and a quarter carats.He said.The cut is beautiful and the color is good, maybe just on the borderline of perfect to yellowish, the clarity is not perfect but it's close enough.This gemstone is of good quality, very nice, how much do you want to sell it for? Depends on how much it's worth.Alice said. I can give you two dollars.said the guy. two what? Twenty thousand.said the guy. Twenty thousand dollars? The guy held up his hands, palms out, in a defensive gesture. I know I know.He said.Maybe someone told you that the price is more than that, maybe the retail price is true, but that's only available in large-scale boutiques, such as Dallas.But here's Pecos, and you're selling it, not buying it, so I've got to make some money. I will think about it.Alice said. Twenty-five thousand?said the guy. Twenty-five thousand? The guy nodded.I can only drive up to this, and I can't make me lose money!I still have to support my family. Let me think about it.Alice said. Well, don't think about it for too long.said the guy.Markets change and I'm the only jeweler in town, and jewelry of this caliber will scare everyone else away. They stopped on the pavement outside the jewelry store, Alice holding the ring in her hand as if it would be hot.She opened the purse, put the ring in the zipper compartment, and pressed the ring to the bottom with her fingertips. A guy like that drives twenty-five thousand, that must actually be more than sixty thousand.Li Qi said.Maybe more, maybe a lot more, I think he is definitely not a good store representative. Anyway, much more than thirty yuan.Alice said.Counterfeit?Cubic zircon?She plays us for fools. Li Qi nodded slightly.He knew what she meant and played you for a fool, but she was polite and didn't say it. let's go!He said. They walked west through the heat, past the courthouse, and along the tracks back to Dim Row.The walk was about a mile long, but they walked for thirty minutes, for it was too hot for them to go too fast.Li Qi didn't speak all the way, and he continued to fight in his heart as before, wondering when it was the last moment to give up. When he reached the door of the office, Li Qi grabbed Alice again. I want to try one last time.He said. Why?she asked. Because I was trained in the army.He said.After checking, checking again, and finally confirming. She sighed and said impatiently: What do you want to do? You have to drive me there. where to go There's a witness, we can go and talk to her. eyewitness?Where? In school, Echo County. that kid? He nodded.Ellie, she's smart. She is only six years old. If it's true, I bet she knows. Alice stood still for a full second, looking in the window.The office is full of people, listless from the heat and sullen from life's blows. It's not fair to them.she says.I have to move on to another case. Just this one last time. I can lend you the car, and you can go by yourself. He shook his head.I need your opinion, you're a lawyer and I wouldn't get in without you, you're eligible, I don't. I can't go, it would take all day. How long would it have taken to get the money back from the ranch owner?How many billable hours are required? We are not billed by the hour. You know what I'm talking about. She was silent for a moment.good.she says.A deal is a deal. This is the last time, I promise. What is it for?she asked. They sat in yellow Fossies and headed south out of Pecos on a clear road.Li Qi hadn't seen the scenery on this road at all, because it was late at night when he was sitting in the back of the police car and came from the opposite direction. Because I'm an investigator.He said. good.she says.Investigators specialize in investigations, I understand that, but won't they stop?I mean, neither?Even when the result is already known? Investigators don't need to know.He said.They feel, they guess. I thought they were just looking at the facts. Not really.He said.I mean, at the end of the day it comes down to the facts.But ninety-nine percent of the time, ninety-nine percent of it has to do with how you feel, how you feel about people.A good investigator is sensitive to people's feelings. I can't turn black into white. He nodded.Not really. Have you never felt wrong before? Of course, many times. But? But now I don't think I was wrong. What is the reason?she asked again. Because I know people well, Alice. Me too.she says.For example, I know Carmen.Guriel has played tricks on you. Li Qi didn't say anything, just watched her drive and the scenery ahead.There are mountains in the distance, where Carmen chased the school bus.The FedEx package was sitting on his lap, so Reacher fanned it and played a balancing game on his fingers, flipping aimlessly.He looked at the front of the package, looked at the back, looked at the orange and blue logo designs, looked at the label, and looked at the meaningless words on it: sender, receiver, urgent item, product label, Dimensions 12 inches by 10 inches, Weight 2.6, Fee, Recipient's contact information, Overnight delivery, No P.O. Box number, Items to be inspected by the shipper: This package does not contain dangerous goods.Li Qi shook his head and threw the package back into the back seat. She is penniless.He said Alice didn't reply, but just continued to drive forward, driving the car in a fast but fuel-efficient manner, and Li Qi felt that Alice was very sympathetic to him at this moment. What's wrong?He said. We should turn back.she says.What a waste of time. Why? Because what can Ellie say?I mean, I can understand your thinking, if Carmen's hand was broken at all, she'd have to be in a cast for six weeks.Ellie's a smart kid so she's bound to remember it, and it's the same thing with the jaw, if it breaks it's bound to be held in place with wire and the kid will remember it.That is, if these things really happened, it wouldn't be too long before she remembered them. But? But we already know that she never had a cast, that her jaw was never held in place with wire.We've got her medical report, remember?The thing is on this car, every medical record is included, or do you think the bone setting thing can do it yourself?You think a horseshoe could do that in a barn?So Ellie can at most confirm what we already know, and there's a good chance she doesn't remember anything at all, since she's just a kid, so making this trip would be a double waste. or go!He said.It's halfway there, she might remember something useful, and I want to see her again, she's a good kid. I'm sure she must be.Alice said.But spare yourself, okay?Because what else can you do?Adopt her?她是這整件事最無辜的受害者，你最好認清這個事實，把她忘得一乾二淨。 他們沒再說話，車子一路開到餐廳、學校和加油站的十字路口。愛麗絲跟卡門停在一樣的位置上，兩人下車，走進外面的高熱。 我還是跟妳去比較好。Li Qi said.她認識我，我們可以把她帶出來到車上講話。 他們穿過金屬網校門，走進學校操場，然後經過一道門，進入校舍建築，小學的味道撲鼻而來。一分鐘後，兩人又出來了，愛莉．古瑞爾不在那裡，而且昨天也沒出現。 我大概能夠理解。Alice said.這對她來講會是嚴重創傷。 Li Qi nodded.那我們走吧！繼續往南再開一小時就到了。 Very good.Alice said. 他們回到車上，繼續跨越乾燥空曠的六十英里路，但兩人都不發一語。其實全程不到一小時，因為愛麗絲開得比不甘願回家的卡門快很多。李奇認得路上的景色，左邊遙遠的地平線上有個老舊的油田，古瑞爾三號。 Coming.He said. 愛麗絲把車速放慢，紅漆柵欄取代了鐵絲網，大門從朦朧中逐漸浮現。愛麗絲踩下煞車，轉彎穿過大門。這輛小車在院子裡跳動得很厲害，車停在熟悉的門廊階梯前，熄掉引擎。整棟房子靜悄悄的，完全沒有人類活動的跡象，不過應該有人在家，因為所有的車都在車庫裡。白色的凱迪拉克在，卻洛奇吉普車也在，還有新的貨車、老的貨車，全部都停在陰影中。 兩人下了車，在車門後站了一下，好像車門能夠提供某種保護。外面一點風也沒有，溫度比剛才更高，至少有一百一十度，搞不好更高。李奇帶頭走上階梯，走進屋頂的陰影下，敲敲門。門幾乎馬上打開，羅斯緹．古瑞爾站在那裡，單手拿著一把點二二來福槍。她沉默了很長一段時間後瞪著他看，然後她開口了：是你。she says.我還以為是巴比。 連他也不見了？Li Qi said. 羅斯提聳聳肩。他出去了，還沒回來。 李奇回頭看了車庫一眼，車子都在。He said. 有人來載他。Rossi said.我在樓上，沒看到他們，只聽到他們的聲音。 Li Qi didn't speak. 反正，羅斯緹說，我完全沒料到還會看到你。 這位是卡門的律師。Li Qi said. 羅斯緹轉過頭看了愛麗絲一眼。她就只能找到這種律師？ 我們要找愛莉。 do what? 目擊證人。 小孩不能當目擊證人。 這點由我決定。Alice said. 羅斯緹對她微笑。愛莉不在這裡。she says. 那她在哪裡？Li Qi said.她也不在學校。 羅斯緹不說話。 古瑞爾太太，我們要知道愛莉在哪裡。Alice said. 羅斯緹再度微笑。我不知道她在哪裡，律師小姐。 Why?Alice asked. 因為社會局的人把她帶走了，這就是為什麼。 when? 今天早上，他們來接她。 妳就這樣讓他們把愛莉帶走？Li Qi said. why not?我又不要她，反正現在史路普也走了。 李奇瞪著她。可是她是妳的孫女。 羅斯緹做出輕蔑的手勢，來福槍在她手上隨之晃動。 我從來不這麼認為。she says. 他們把她帶到哪裡去了？ 大概是孤兒院吧！Rossi said.會有人領養她，如果真有人要的話。不過我想應該沒有，混種小孩大概很難安置，好一點的人家通常不會想領養豆子垃圾。 一片沉默，只有乾枯的地表在太陽下乾裂的聲音。 我詛咒妳得腫瘤。Li Qi said. 他轉過身走回車上，完全不等愛麗絲。上了車，他用力關上門，坐在車裡瞪著前方。他的臉上發熱，巨大的雙手不斷握拳、張開，隨後愛麗絲也上了車，發動引擎。 趕快載我離開這裡。He said.然後，車子在一陣煙塵後揚長而去。兩人不發一語，一路開回到佩科斯。 他們回來時已經下午三點，事務所裡是半空的，因為溫度實在太高。愛麗絲的桌上照例出現大堆便條紙，其中五張來自海克．沃克，而這五張依序整齊排列，每張都比前一張更緊急。 Are you going?Alice asked. 不要告訴他鑽戒的事。Li Qi said. 都結束了，你還看不出來嗎？ 確實如此，李奇看到沃克的臉時就知道了。他的臉已經放鬆，有種一切已成定局的表情。結束，某種寧靜。他坐在他的桌子後方，桌上擺滿文件，分成兩疊。一疊較高，一疊較矮。 What's wrong?Li Qi asked. 沃克不理他，把一張紙交給愛麗絲。 她放棄米蘭達權利的同意書。He said.仔細看，她拒絕聘請律師，而且她說這是完全出於自願，還附加說明她從一開始就拒絕妳的代表。 這樣的話，我就得懷疑她的行為能力。Alice said. Walker nodded.我同意妳的懷疑，不過現在已經沒有任何疑問了，所以讓你們來純粹只是出於禮貌，可以嗎？兩個都一樣。 然後他把較矮的那疊文件遞過來，愛麗絲接手，把文件攤開，而李奇靠向右邊和她一起看。這些是電腦列印文件，上面有一大堆數字跟日期，那是銀行交易紀錄、存款餘額跟交易明細表，還有資產跟負債。似乎有五個不同帳戶，兩個一般支票帳戶、三個貨幣市場存款帳戶，而戶名是古瑞爾非授權帳戶信託#1到#5。餘額是正數，而且還不少，有個地方寫著總資產價值將近兩百萬元。 Al.尤金辦公室把這些資料快遞過來。Walker said.請直接看最後那幾張。 愛麗絲翻動文件，最後幾張用迴紋針夾了起來，李奇從她肩後往前看。上面有很多法律文字，全部加起來湊成了一份正式信託契約內容，另外還有份公證過的契約附在上面，以較淺顯的文字敘述著，到目前為止只有一位受託管理人對於史路普．古瑞爾的所有資產有絕對控制權，而這位唯一的受託管理人就是史路普．古瑞爾的合法妻子，卡門。 她有兩百萬元存在銀行裡。Walker said.都是她的。 他講得沒錯。she says. 現在，看看契約內容最後一條。Walker said. 愛麗絲翻了翻，看到最後一條記載著信託歸還。信託資產會回復為可支配狀態，資金重回史路普掌握，時間則由史路普將來指定，除非一、他永久喪失心智能力，或二、死亡。在這兩種條件下，所有餘額都會變成卡門的資產，若為第一種情況則為既定契約，若為第二種則視為財產繼承。 這些都清楚嗎？Walker asked. 李奇沒說話，不過愛麗絲點點頭。 然後沃克把高的那疊交給她。 現在看看這個。He said. What's this?she asked. 謄本。Walker said.她的自白。 三人陷入沉默。 她自白了？Alice said. 我們把過程錄了下來。Walker said. when? this afternoon.我的助理接到財務報告後馬上去看她，我們本來想先找妳，不過找不到，然後她跟我們說反正她也不要律師，所以我們就請她簽放棄同意書，之後她就把所有事情統統講了出來。我們把她帶上這裡，請她再說一次，錄下整個過程，但實在不怎麼好看。 李奇半聽半看著文件。確實不怎麼好看，無庸置疑。一開始都是例行公事，保證出於自願，絕對不是出於強迫之類的，然後她開始自報姓名，一直講到她在洛杉磯的日子。她是個非婚生子女、當過妓女，上街遊蕩，她是這麼說的。李奇心想，這真是奇怪的西班牙語說法。然後她不再上街，開始當脫衣舞孃，所以就把稱謂改為性工作者。後來她纏住史路普，就像沃克說的。我的飯票，她這麼叫他。後來她開始不耐煩，在德州無聊到快發瘋，於是她想離開，可是她希望口袋裡有錢，越多越好。史路普被國稅局抓到剛好是天上掉下來的禮物，信託帳戶裡的錢很誘人，她本來希望在監獄裡弄死他，她朋友跟她說這是有可能的，不過後來她發現，沒有守衛的聯邦監獄根本不可能達成她的目的，所以她等待，一聽到他要出獄時，就去買了那把槍，想找人來動手。她利用身上的幾個傷疤編故事，說遭到家暴，其中她也提到李奇的名字，那是最後一個。不過他拒絕幫她，所以她只好自己動手。因為已經編了家暴的藉口，所以她打算用這藉口當作辯護理由，或者至少盡可能用來減輕刑責。不過後來她想到，她的就醫紀錄會是一片空白，於是只好自白，希望檢察官能從輕量刑。每一頁下方都有簽名。 愛麗絲的閱讀速度很慢，所以李奇看完整整一分鐘後她才看完。 很遺憾，李奇。she says. There was a silence. 你的選舉怎麼辦？Li Qi asked. Walker shrugged.依照德州法律，這是唯一死刑，謀財害命。我們的證據多到可以噎死一隻豬，而且我也沒辦法當作沒看到這份自發性自白，對吧？所以幾小時前我非常沮喪。可是後來我想到，事實上，自發性告白反而對我有利，自白認罪可以幫納稅人省掉審判開銷，這也讓我可以光明正大地求處無期徒刑。依我看，在一份有這種情節的自白書裡，她會是個很壞、很壞的女人，不管她是什麼人種都一樣。所以如果我不要求死刑，那麼相對之下，我就變得非常有雅量，甚至是慈悲為懷。白人當然會有點不爽，不過墨西哥人會很滿意，這樣懂了嗎？整個情況現在顛倒過來了。以前她是好人，我是壞人。現在相反所以我想應該沒問題了。 又沉默了另一分鐘，只有冷氣機無所不在的吼聲持續著。 我這邊有她的財產。Alice said.一條皮帶跟一個戒指。 把它們拿到儲藏室去。Walker said.待會我們要把她送走了。 where? 監獄，我們不能再讓她待在這裡。 不是，我是說儲藏室在哪裡？ 跟太平間同一棟，記得要拿收據。 李奇跟她一起走到太平間，心思已經完全飄走，感覺不到自己在走路，感覺不到熱氣，沒有塵土、沒有噪音、沒有人車、沒有街上傳來的氣味。他覺得自己飄浮在人行道上一吋高處，體內穿了件隔絕感知的衣服。愛麗絲偶爾跟他講話，不過他完全沒在聽，唯一能聽到的只有腦中一個極微小的聲音，說著：你錯了，完全錯了。這種聲音以前出現過，不過並沒有因為這樣就比較容易注意到，因為在他的調查員生涯中，他要求自己必須盡可能不要聽到這種聲音。那就彷彿他的腦中有個計分板，而他的平均成績剛才遭到了重大挫折。這讓他感覺很鬱悶，不是虛榮心作祟，而是他覺得把事情搞對是自己應該承擔的專業責任。 Li Qi?Alice said.你沒在聽，對不對？ What?He said. 我剛問你，要不要吃飯？ don't want.He said.我想坐車。 愛麗絲停下腳步。現在怎麼了？還要做第四次確認？ 不是，我的意思是說離開這裡。我想到別的地方，越遠越好，聽說現在這時候南極洲還不錯。 巴士站在回事務所的路上。 很好，我會去搭巴士，因為我已經受夠了搭便車。妳根本不知道會被什麼牛鬼蛇神載到。 太平間是棟低矮的工業庫房，座落在街道後方的鋪石院子裡，以前可能是機械工廠或輪胎倉庫。那兒有著金屬牆、鐵捲車門，建築盡頭有個人員出入口，入口前有兩層階梯，階梯兩側有鋼管扶手。太平間裡的溫度非常低，工業用空調正全力運轉，這兒感覺很像肉品冷凍庫，不過從某個角度來看，其實也的確是。大廳左邊是道雙開門，直接通往太平間裡面，門沒關，李奇可以看到屍體解剖檯。裡面還有很多不鏽鋼製品、白色磁磚、日光燈。 愛麗絲把蜥蜴皮皮帶放在接待櫃台，然後伸手到皮包裡拿戒指。她告訴接待員這些東西屬於卡門．古瑞爾案。他轉身離開，拿證物盒回來。 不是，這是私人物品。she says.不是證物，不好意思。 那傢伙給她一個為什麼不早講的臉色，轉身準備離開。 etc.Li Qi called.讓我看看那個。 那傢伙暫停一下，然後轉過身來，把盒子滑過櫃台。盒子上沒有蓋子，其實就只是個硬紙板盒，大約三英寸深。有人在前面邊緣用馬克筆寫上古瑞爾，Lorcin手槍裝在塑膠袋裡，上面有證物編號，兩個銅彈殼則裝在另一個塑膠袋裡。小小的點二二彈頭，分別裝在兩個袋子裡，彈頭是灰色的，稍微扭曲。一個袋子上標著顱內#1，另一個標著顱內#2，兩個都有對照編號和簽名。 病理師在這裡嗎？Li Qi asked. certainly.櫃台人員說。隨時都在。 I want to see him.Li Qi said.immediately. 原本以為他會反對，不過這傢伙只是指指那道雙開門。 over there.He said. 愛麗絲沒跟上來。李奇直接走進去。他本來以為裡面是空的，不過後來發現遠方角落裡有道玻璃門，門後是間辦公室，有個穿綠色手術衣的人坐在辦公桌前。他正在處理文書工作，李奇敲敲玻璃門，那人抬起頭來，嘴形說著進來，李奇便走了進去。 Is there a problem?said the guy. Sloop.古瑞爾的身上只有兩顆子彈？Li Qi said. Who are you? 我跟犯人的律師一起來的。Li Qi said.她在外面。 犯人在外面？ 不是，是律師在外面。 good.said the guy.你說子彈怎麼了？ 總共有幾顆？ two.said the guy.我花了好大工夫才拿出來的。 我可以看屍體嗎？ Why? 我擔心會有處理失當的情形。 這句話對病理師通常管用，因為一般情況下都會有審判，他們得接受傳喚出庭作證，而他們最不希望的就是在交叉質詢時遭到辯方羞辱，這樣他們的專業形象就會遭質疑，自尊也會受損，所以他們會希望在事前就解決所有問題。 good.He said.在冰櫃裡。 他的辦公室後方有另一道門，通往一條陰暗的走廊，走廊盡頭是個隔熱鐵門，就像肉品冷凍櫃一樣。 裡面很冷。He said. Li Qi nodded.總算有個會冷的地方了。 那傢伙轉動把手，兩人一起進去。燈光很亮，整個天花板都是日光燈，遠方牆上有二十七個不鏽鋼抽屜，一層九個，共三層。其中八個有人，標籤放在前面的小盒子裡，跟辦公室檔案櫃一樣。裡面的空氣很冷，李奇呼出的氣都變成煙。病理師看看標籤，拉開一個抽屜，順著懸臂流暢地滑出。 得把他的後腦蓋整個掀起來。He said.再用湯瓢幾乎挖光他的大腦才找到這兩顆子彈。 史路普面朝上，全身沒有衣物。看來渺小而塌陷，皮膚灰灰的，就像沒有燒過的陶土因為低溫而變硬。他眼睛沒有閉上，空洞地瞪視著前方，額頭上有兩個洞，大概間隔三英寸，洞口乾乾淨淨，邊緣瘀青凸起，好像工匠刻意鑽出來的一樣。 典型的點二二手槍傷痕。病理師說。子彈進去沒問題，可是進去後就沒再出來了。速度太慢，火力不足，只能在裡面亂竄，不過效果一樣。 李奇閉上眼睛，然後露出微笑，笑得十分燦爛。 certainly.He said.效果一樣。 有人在打開的門上敲了敲，聲音很輕，似乎是某種軟軟的關節敲在堅硬的鋼鐵上。李奇再次睜開眼，愛麗絲站在那裡，全身發抖。 What are you doing她對著他叫道。 第四次檢查之後還有什麼？他回叫道。 他吐出的氣凝滯在空中，好像一朵雲。 第五次檢查。she says.為什麼突然這麼說？ And after that? the sixth time.she says.What's wrong? 因為我們現在得要做很多檢查了。 Why? 因為問題可大了，愛麗絲，妳過來看。