JК
Bag of Bones :: Кинг Стивен
Страница: 140 из 425Had that steady low mmmmm been even more noticeable on Saturday night? “I guess maybe there could be a tape,” I said reluctantly.
“Uh-huh. And if Devore’s lawyer gets it to the ad litem, how do you think you’ll sound?”
“Careful,” I said. “Maybe like a man with something to hide.”
“Or a man spinning yarns. And you’re good at that, aren’t you?
After all, it’s what you do for a living. At the custody hearing, Devore’s lawyer is apt to mention that. If he then produces one of the people who passed you shortly after Mattie arrived on the scene… a person who testifies that the young lady seemed upset and flustered… how do you think you’ll sound then?”
“Like a liar,” I said, and then:
“Ah, fuck.”
“Fear not, Mike. Be of good cheer.”
“What should I do?”
“Spike their guns before they can fire them. Tell Durgin exactly what happened. Get it in the depo. Emphasize the fact that the little girl thought she was walking safely. Make sure you get in that ’crossmock’
thing. I love that.”
“Then if they have a tape they’ll play it and I’ll look like a story-changing schmuck.”
“I don’t think so. You weren’t a sworn witness when you talked to Devore, were you? There you were, sitting out on your deck and minding your own business, watching the fireworks show. Out of the blue this grouchy old asshole calls you.
Starts ranting. Didn’t even give him your number, did you?”
“No.”
“Your unlisted number.”
“No.”
“And while he said he was Maxwell Devore, he could have been anyone, right?”
“Right.”
“He could have been the Shah of Iran.”
“No, the Shah’s dead.”
“The Shah’s out, then. But he could have been a nosy neighbor… or a prankster.”
“Yes.”
“And you said what you said with all those possibilities in mind. But now that you’re part of an official court proceeding, you’re telling the whole truth and nothing but.”
“You bet.” That good my-lawyer feeling had deserted me for a bit, but it was back full-force now. “You can’t do better than the truth, Mike,” he said solemnly. “Except maybe in a few cases, and this isn’t one. Are we clear on that?”
“Yes.”
“All right, we’re done. I want to hear from either you or Mattie Devore around elevenish tomorrow. It ought to be her.”
“I’ll try.
“Uh-huh. And if Devore’s lawyer gets it to the ad litem, how do you think you’ll sound?”
“Careful,” I said. “Maybe like a man with something to hide.”
“Or a man spinning yarns. And you’re good at that, aren’t you?
After all, it’s what you do for a living. At the custody hearing, Devore’s lawyer is apt to mention that. If he then produces one of the people who passed you shortly after Mattie arrived on the scene… a person who testifies that the young lady seemed upset and flustered… how do you think you’ll sound then?”
“Like a liar,” I said, and then:
“Ah, fuck.”
“Fear not, Mike. Be of good cheer.”
“What should I do?”
“Spike their guns before they can fire them. Tell Durgin exactly what happened. Get it in the depo. Emphasize the fact that the little girl thought she was walking safely. Make sure you get in that ’crossmock’
thing. I love that.”
“Then if they have a tape they’ll play it and I’ll look like a story-changing schmuck.”
“I don’t think so. You weren’t a sworn witness when you talked to Devore, were you? There you were, sitting out on your deck and minding your own business, watching the fireworks show. Out of the blue this grouchy old asshole calls you.
Starts ranting. Didn’t even give him your number, did you?”
“No.”
“Your unlisted number.”
“No.”
“And while he said he was Maxwell Devore, he could have been anyone, right?”
“Right.”
“He could have been the Shah of Iran.”
“No, the Shah’s dead.”
“The Shah’s out, then. But he could have been a nosy neighbor… or a prankster.”
“Yes.”
“And you said what you said with all those possibilities in mind. But now that you’re part of an official court proceeding, you’re telling the whole truth and nothing but.”
“You bet.” That good my-lawyer feeling had deserted me for a bit, but it was back full-force now. “You can’t do better than the truth, Mike,” he said solemnly. “Except maybe in a few cases, and this isn’t one. Are we clear on that?”
“Yes.”
“All right, we’re done. I want to hear from either you or Mattie Devore around elevenish tomorrow. It ought to be her.”
“I’ll try.