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！
re casual； what a moderately fortable man might wear in this humid heat and heavy atmosphere； dark and anonymous； loose and baggy。 They proclaimed money； but not too much； and his stride told people that he was not one to be trifled with。 A man of understated substance having a discreet night on the wild side。
He walked into Chats Sauvages at eight…seventeen。 His initial impression of the bar was smoke and noise。 A small but enthusiastic rock band played at the far end。 There was a dance floor； perhaps twenty…five feet square； where people his age and younger moved with the music； and there was Pierre Lamarck； sitting at a table in the corner with a few acquaintances； or so they seemed from their demeanor。 Kelly walked to the men‘s room； both an immediate necessity and an opportunity to look the place over。 There was another extrance on the side； but no closer to Lamarck‘s table than the one through which both he and Kelly had entered。 The nearest path to the white Caddy led past Kelly‘s place at the bar； and that told him where his perch had to be。 Kelly ordered a beer and turned conveniently to watch the band。
At nine…ten two young women came to Lamarck。 One sat on his lap while the other nibbled at his ear。 The other two men at the table watched with neutral interest while both women handed over something to him。 Kelly couldn‘t tell what it was because he was looking towards the band； careful not to stare too often in Lamarck‘s direction。 The pimp solved that problem immediately： it turned out； unsurprisingly； to be cash； and the man somewhat ostentatiously wrapped the bills around a roll removed from his pocket。 Flash money； Kelly had troubled himself to learn； an important part of a pimp‘s public image。 The first two women left； and Lamarck was soon joined by another； in what became an intermittent stream that didn‘t stop。 His table mates enjoyed the same sort of traffic； Kelly saw； sipping their drinks； paying cash； joshing with and occasionally fondling the waitress who served them； then tipping her heavily by way of apology。 Kelly moved from time to time。 He removed his jacket； rolling up his sleeves； to present a different image to the bar‘s patrons； and limiting himself to two beers； which he nursed as carefully as he could。 Tedious as it was； he disregarded the unpleasant nature of the evening； instead noticing things。 Who went where。 Who came and left。 Who stayed。 Who lingered in one place。 Kelly soon started recognizing patterns and identifying individuals to whom he assigned names of his own creation。 Most of all he observed everything there was to see about Lamarck。 He never took off his suit jacket； kept his back to the wall。 He talked amiably with his two panions； but their familiarity was not that of friends。 Their joking was too affected。 There was too much emphasis on their interactive gestures； not the casual fort that you saw among people whose pany was shared for some purpose other than money。 Even pimps got lonely； Kelly thought； and though they sought out their own kind； theirs was not friendship but mere association。 The philosophical observations he put aside。 If Lamarck never took off his coat； he had to be carrying a weapon。
Just after midnight； Kelly put his coat back on and made yet another trip to the men‘s room。 In the toilet stall he took the automatic he‘d hidden inside his slacks and moved it to the waistband。 Two beers in four hours； he thought。 His liver ought to have eliminated the alcohol from his system； and even if it hadn‘t； two beers should not have had much effect on one as bulky as he。 It was an important statement which； he hoped； wasn‘t a lie。
His timing was good。 Washing his hands for the fifth time； Kelly saw the door open in the mirror。 Only the back of the man‘s head； but under the dark hair was a white suit； and so Kelly waited； taking his time until he heard the urinal flush。 A sanitary sort of fellow； the man turned； and their eyes met in the mirror。
‘Excuse me；‘ Pierre Lamarck said。 Kelly stepped away from the sink； still drying his hands with a paper towel。
‘I like the ladies；‘ he said quietly。
‘Hmph？‘ Lamarck had no less than six drinks in him； and his liver had not been up to the task； which didn‘t prevent his self…admiration in the dirty mirror。
‘The ones that e up to you。‘ Kelly lowered his voice。 ‘They； uh； work for you； like？‘
‘You might say that； my man。‘ Lamarck took out a black plastic b to readjust his coiffeur。 ‘Why do you ask？‘
‘I might need a few；‘ Kelly said with embarrassment。
‘A few？ You sure you can handle that； my man？‘ Lamarck asked with a sly grin。
‘Some friends in town with me。 One‘s having a birthday； and …‘
‘A party；‘ the pimp observed pleasantly。
‘That‘s right。‘ Kelly tried to be shy； but mainly came off as being awkward。 The error worked in his favor。
‘Well； why didn‘t you say so？ How many ladies do you require； sir？‘
"；Three； maybe four。 Talk about it outside？ I could use some air。‘
‘Sure thing。 Just let me wash my hands； okay？‘
‘I‘ll be outside the front door。‘
The street was quiet。 Busy city though New Orleans might be； it was still the middle of the week； and the sidewalks； while not empty； weren‘t crowded either。 Kelly waited； looking away from the bar‘s entrance until he felt a friendly hand on his back。
‘It‘s nothing to be embarrassed about。 We all like to have a little fun； especially when we‘re away from home； right？‘
‘I‘ll pay top dollar；‘ Kelly promised with an uneasy smile。
Lamarck grinned； like the man of the world he was； to put this chicken farmer at ease。 ‘With my ladies； you have to。 Anything else you might need？‘
Kelly coughed and took a few steps； willing Lamarck to follow； which he did。 ‘Maybe some； well； something to help us party； like？‘
‘I can handle that； too；‘ Lamarck said as they approached an alley。
‘I think I met you before； couple years back。 I remember the girl； really； her name was 。。。 Pam？ Yeah； Pam。 Thin； tawny hair。‘
‘Oh； yeah； she was fun。 She‘s not with me anymore；‘ Lamarck said lightly。 ‘But I have lots more。 I cater to the men who like ‘em young and fresh。‘
‘I‘m sure you do；‘ Kelly said； reaching behind h