Chapter 4 Chapter 3 The Mysterious Woman

As long as I was born, I was forced to use this pseudonym, so that I would not have to go through the pain that Mathilde had endured, so that people would not close the door when they heard my name, or shut the door when they discovered my identity. I rushed out the door.Can't you understand how much the honor of family means to a man? Andrew had a bad night.In the dream, he was suspended above his own grave, looking at the tangle of highways, Valerie came to his grave, and then he woke up in a cold sweat, which was extremely painful. What bothered him the most was that he clearly remembered all the episodes of the nightmare, but every time he saw Valerie open the car door and walk towards his tombstone, he couldn't help but wake up.

Why in the dream, he couldn't remember what Valerie was going to do next, but after waking up, her actions appeared in his mind over and over again? His back aches from the couch's springs, and he has to admit that maybe it's time to move back to his apartment. He lent Susie the room in the hope that her temporary stay would make him forget the memories he had there, and he also hoped that she would bring her own smell into it so that all traces of the past could be erased.He couldn't articulate exactly what was bothering him in the apartment, but it was probably these vague feelings.

Through a wall, he heard Simon snoring.Andrew stood up lightly, and took out a bottle of filone that he had hidden before from a vase.The noise of the refrigerator door was so loud that even the dead could be woken up, so he gave up on adding Coke and took a few sips directly from the bottle.The bitterness of the wine was more pronounced, but the alcohol did make him feel better. He sat by the window and began to think.Something confused him. His notebook was on Simon's desk.He opened the bedroom door a crack and waited for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. Simon seemed to be talking in his sleep.Andrew tiptoed in, and it wasn't until the bedside that he heard what Simon said: "Kathy Steinbeck, I still love you."

Andrew had to bite his lip tightly to keep himself from laughing out loud. He fumbled to find the notebook, picked it up gently, and tiptoed out of Simon's bedroom. Back in the living room, he carefully read the notes he had made before, and finally found out what he had missed.What flight was the plane that Susie had told him about?Is it possible to find the list of people on board? Andrew knew that it was difficult for him to fall asleep again, so he simply put on his clothes, left a note for Simon on the dining table, and walked out of the apartment. The north wind howled in the whole city, and under the invasion of cold, white air came out from the mouth of the well.Andrew turned up his collar and walked through the streets of New York in the cold night.He hailed a taxi near Hudson Avenue and went to the newspaper office.

The morning paper, which was to be issued the next morning, had already been printed, and the editorial room was empty.Andrew showed his ID to the night watchman and came to the upper floor.He went straight to his desk, and suddenly saw Freddie Olson's press card lying on the ground next to the swivel chair, presumably falling out of his pocket.Andrew picked it up, stuffed it directly into the paper shredder, and pressed the start button, watching it disappear little by little amidst the roar of the machine.Then he sat down in front of the computer. He quickly found the two crashed planes, and was amazed by the similarities between the two accidents.Susie had told him that she had chosen to climb in January for an anniversary.Andrew wrote down the name of "Kangchenjunga" and its destination that never arrived in the notepad.He then sent an email to the airline, hoping to get the crew and passenger list.

It is 5:00 a.m. New York time and 15:30 local time in New Delhi.Not long after, he received a reply from the airline, hoping that he could attach a scanned copy of the press card and explain the purpose of the investigation. Andrew did so immediately, and then waited for the result in front of the screen, but the other party kept asking for a long time. No reply, presumably to seek permission from superiors.Andrew looked at his watch, hesitated for a moment, and picked up the phone receiver. On the other end of the phone, Dolores Salazar's voice sounded less surprised than Andrew imagined.

"How's Ferofa?" "You called me at 5:30 a.m. to ask if my cat was okay? What do you want me to do?" Dorothy said, yawning. "Of course it's what you do best." "You started working again?" "Maybe, it depends on what you can find for me." "Tell me what exactly you're looking for." "The flight manifest." "I have connections with the Federal Aviation Administration. Can try it. Flight number, date?" "Air India Flight 101, from New Delhi to London on January 24, 1966. The plane was supposed to stop in Geneva, but it crashed in France before that. I wonder if there is anyone with the surname Baker on board."

"Do you want me to look up the name of the chef of the Titanic for you?" "Does that mean you agree?" Dorothy has hung up the phone.Andrew locked the computer and walked to the cafe downstairs. Three hours later, Dorothy Salazar called Andrew and asked him to come to the office. "You found it?" "Steelman, when have I let you down?" She said while handing him a document. "How did you find it so quickly?" "The report of the Accident Investigation Office is public. The passenger list you requested was published in a French newspaper on March 8, 1968. You can check it on any computer. As long as you want, you can check it yourself. arrive."

"I don't know how to thank you, Dorothy." Andrew said as he began to read the list. "Don't bother, I've already scanned it, and there is no one named Baker." "Then I really don't know what to do next." Andrew sighed. "If you want, you can tell me what you are looking for, maybe I can save you a lot of effort." "I'm looking for someone's true identity." "May I know why?" Andrew did not answer, but continued to look at the list. "Looks like I shouldn't be asking..." Dorothy said, staring at her computer screen, "You're wasting your time, this list has eighty-eight pages, and there aren't any highlights on it. I'm Read it once on the subway and again after arriving at the newspaper. Nothing worth noting. If you are also a conspiracy theorist about this accident, I also checked the relevant information for you, but this issue is too sensitive .”

"What conspiracy theory?" "Among the passengers was the head of India's nuclear program, so some said hostile forces fired missiles from the hills and shot down the plane, and others said it was a curse because sixteen years ago another airline's plane was on the same plane. There was an accident somewhere." "Yes, I saw it too. It may be a coincidence, but it's very strange." "Maybe it's just a matter of probability, like one person can win the lottery twice. Regarding Air India flight 101, this accident is not accidental. The weather conditions were too bad and there were problems with the equipment on board. It's not uncommon for a plane like this to go down in a snowstorm."

"Are there any other passengers of note on the plane?" "Please tell me first what is worth noting?" "I do not know either." "There were no Americans among the passengers, there were Indians, Britons, a diplomat, and of course ordinary people like us who never made it to the end of the journey. Well, Steelman, tell me what the hell this Baker is. Who is it, you know, your other colleagues have more important things to ask me for help. For example, your friend Olsen, he has something to ask me for." "Dolores, are you saying this to make me angry?" "Maybe." "Susie Baker." "Is she also a passenger?" "No, but someone from her family should be on board." "Is this Susie Baker pretty?" "I don't know, maybe." "How is it possible, it must be a beautiful lady. You help her so selflessly without letting her know. If she looks like me, how can you wake your colleague out of bed early in the morning?" "Of course, and Dorothy, you are really charming." "I know I don't look very good, and I don't care. After all, I have other advantages. For example, at work, I am one of the best intelligence collectors in the United States. You woke me up this morning. To bring me a croissant for breakfast? Girls like me are not your type." "Now, Dorothy, don't say such silly things again, you are a charming girl." "Yeah, like spaghetti bolognese. Steelman, do you know why I like you? Because you won't lie, and I think that's good. Now, you can go, I have work to do .By the way, one last thing, how can you thank me when you asked me just now?" "Yes, anything." "Come back to the party on Perry Street, you need to do this, and so does your liver." "Are you still going there?" "Yes, every week. I haven't had a drink in three months." "I'm afraid you didn't wish me a speedy recovery before the bed when I was hospitalized." "How is that possible. I'm glad you're finally recovered, Steelman, and you're finally able to work with me, although you didn't seem to have done much since you got out of the hospital. I can't wait to start a new investigation with you. See you on Perry Street on Saturday?" Andrew picked up the materials and left Dolores Salazar's office without a word. An hour later, the waiter in the cafe downstairs placed a basket of pastries on Dorothy's desk.Although there was no card in the basket, Dorothy knew who it was from. Near noon, Andrew's cell phone received a text message. "I didn't see you in the library yesterday or this morning. Are you still in New York? If so, meet me at Frankie's at half past twelve. I've got your key." Out of a desire not to obey completely, Andrew only replied with one sentence: "See you at 'Mary Cooking Fish' at 1 o'clock." Andrew hung his coat on the coat rack in the dining room.Susie was waiting for him at the bar when the waiter ushered them to the table.Andrew naturally put the passenger list he found on it. "Sorry for keeping you waiting so long." "I just arrived too, do you come here often?" "This is my canteen." "It seems that you are very loyal to habit, which is very strange for a reporter." "When I'm not traveling, I like stability." "Maybe, but it's funny because there are two Steelmen, a New York City rat and a King of Investigation." "It's an interesting metaphor. You want to meet me this time just to discuss eating habits with me?" "I want to see you mainly to have a chat with you, and of course to thank you for your help and to return the key to you. But we don't have to eat, it looks like your complexion is not very good." "I barely slept all night." "It seems that we should hurry up and return the apartment to you." "My bed isn't comfortable enough to cure insomnia, is it?" "I don't know because I've been sleeping on the floor." "Are you afraid of mites in your bed?" "I started sleeping on the floor when I was a kid. I had a bed-phobia and it nearly broke my mother, but the psychiatrist was so expensive that she turned a blind eye in the end. One eye." "Why do you hate beds so much?" "I like to sleep on the ground next to the window, it makes me feel more secure." "Miss Baker, you are such a strange person. What about your guide? He also sleeps on the ground with you?" Susie glanced at Andrew, but said nothing. "If Shamir is here, everything will be different. I won't be afraid." Susie lowered her eyes. "Then what's so terrible about sleeping in bed to you? Although I have sleep problems myself, especially those nightmares." "What about you? What scares you enough to carry a gun?" "Because someone once beat me like livestock. I lost a kidney, and my marriage, all to the same person." "Then is this person still at large?" "As you can see, I'm not dead. Yes, the person who hurt me is still at large and probably won't be extradited to the US for the rest of her life. Mainly because of the lack of evidence, no one can prove she ever did anything to me except me What. Even if it does go to trial, any lawyer can overturn what I said, thinking it is a false accusation." "Why would she do that?" "I exposed her father's crimes and sent him to prison for the rest of his life. And I also damaged her family's honor." "Then I can understand that the honor of the family is sacred. Although Ortiz is indeed guilty, for a daughter, the father is also sacred." "As if I didn't tell you her last name." "A stranger gave me the keys to his apartment, you don't think I won't google it? I read your article and know what happened to you, yes, what happened to you Sends chills down the spine." "It seems that you are still a cautious person. Since you already know, why do you ask me these questions?" "To get first-hand information. That's what journalists usually do, don't they?" "Since we don't intend to hide anything from each other anymore," Andrew pushed the material in front of Susie, "Which passenger is it that made you climb to a height of 4677 meters in January so that you can see him for the last time?" Susie opened the folder and began to browse the passenger list without showing the slightest surprise. "I lent my apartment to a stranger, and you don't expect me to not do any research?" "It's a beautiful counterattack." Susie replied with a smile, and handed the document back to Andrew. "You haven't answered my question," Andrew insisted, "Which passenger is it?" "It's him." Susie pointed out the name of the Indian diplomat. "Then if that's the case, it was your boyfriend who suggested this mountaineering?" "Haven't you thought of that before?" "You said you were going there to commemorate a certain date." "Yeah, but it's hard for Shamir to tell you this, isn't it?" "I'm sorry." Andrew sighed. "Are you apologizing to Shamir, or are you feeling sorry for your dull instincts?" "It's all, please believe my sincerity. Then whether he has had time to see this person for the last time, before he..." "Before he cut the rope? Yes, let it be. When we walked into that accursed mountain, it was all set." "What about you, did you accompany him out of affection?" "Mr. Steelman, I am very grateful to you. Here is your key. Let's not talk about it anymore." "Miss Baker, have you changed your name?" Hearing Andrew's question, Susie showed no comment on her face. "Then let's put it another way," Andrew continued, "If I ask you where you went to junior high school, where you went to college, or just where you got your driver's license, can't you give me an answer?" "Emerson College in Boston, and then at Fort Kent at the University of Maine. Satisfied your curiosity?" "What professional?" "Are you a policeman or a reporter?" Susie's voice was mixed with displeasure, "My major is criminology. But I'm afraid it's not what you think, I'm not those senior criminal experts, or those who A researcher with a test tube in a laboratory. Criminology is a very special discipline.” "Then why did you choose this major?" “Because I was interested in crime very early on, I also wanted to know how our legal system and correctional system works, and I also wanted to understand what the connection between the judiciary, police and government agencies is. Our country’s The judicial system is a huge monster, and it's not easy to figure out what each agency is doing." "Did you wake up one morning and say to yourself 'ah, I need to figure out the relationship between the CIA, the NSA and the FBI'?" "Yes, that's about it." "Did you learn cryptography in college?" Andrew handed Susie a page, which was what Susie left on the library desk. Susie picked up the paper and put it in her bag. "Why can't I look up these things online?" "Then why are you searching for my past on the Internet?" "Because you don't look good." "I'm sorry, what did you just say?" "Because you've been lying to me all along." "Now that I've answered your question, shouldn't I be lying to you?" "Have you used the knowledge of criminology after your studies?" "God, you're endless." "Don't bother God." "I only use some for personal reasons." "For something special." "It's about family, and it's about my family." "Okay, I won't ask any more questions. I'm really nosy. Dorothy is right. I should take care of myself first." "Very interesting name, seeing those pictures on the fireplace, I didn't think her name was Dorothy." "You guessed wrong, it's not her name." Andrew replied with a smile. "Anyway, you can go home, I turned the picture around, and now the people in the picture are not staring at you anymore. I also bought you a new set of sheets privately, and made your bed one time." "Thank you, but you didn't have to bother." As Susie spoke, an image appeared in Andrew's mind: Susie was picking bedding for him in a certain store.For some reason, this picture moved him very much. "Are you going to the library tomorrow?" "Perhaps," Susie replied. "Okay, then maybe see you tomorrow." Andrew stood up. After walking out of the restaurant, Andrew's mobile phone received a new email. Andrew opened the attachment and waited for the picture to load. He saw Susie lying on the hospital bed, and someone was trying to lift her into the ambulance.Zooming in on this part of the picture, he recognized the man who had come out of Ali's grocery store that day. Andrew thought that perhaps Susie, like him, had a certain rebellious attitude towards other people's words, so he couldn't help laughing.He was pretty sure Susie would be going to the library tomorrow. Andrew stopped a taxi, called Dorothy on the way, and came to the newspaper office. Dorothy was waiting for him in the office, and she had begun studying the photographs Andrew had given her. "Steelman, are you going to tell me whose pictures these are? Or am I going to be a fool like I am now?" "Can you tell something from the picture?" "You can see the license plate number and the name of the ambulance company." "Have you contacted this company?" "You have known me for so many years, how can you ask such a stupid question?" Andrew guessed from Dorothy's attitude that she should have discovered something, but she deliberately didn't say anything, so as to make herself anxious. "It was a Norwegian company that requested this ambulance company to send a car. The boss has confirmed this with me. He still remembers these two customers. It's not every day that they send American patients to Geneva Airport. He He also told me that the lady was extremely beautiful. It seems that a man here needs glasses. After all, your eyesight is too different from everyone else. At that time, there was a man who was always with your Cinderella The person next to him seems to be called Arnold, at least that's what the woman calls him. But she never said what his last name was." Andrew leaned down, the photos on the computer were clearer than those on the phone, and he could clearly identify the man's facial features.Not only did this man's appearance make him feel familiar, but his name also reminded Andrew of something.Suddenly, Andrew thought of his neighbor in the cemetery. "Why is your complexion so bad, it's like seeing a ghost." "You're right, this is Arnold Knopf." "You know him?" "I can't tell you where I've seen him, but there's a good chance he's in my nightmares every night." "Ah, it seems that he is the alcoholic who often drinks with you at night." "It's not like that, Dorothy, stop talking!" "You still didn't come to the Alcoholic Anonymous party on Perry Street." "Anonymous? We met there every week before, why anonymous?" "Don't make excuses, and the other colleagues in the newspaper don't know this. Use your brains, you may have seen him somewhere." "Dolores, you did a great job this time. How did you get the owner of the ambulance company to talk?" "I never asked how you write a news report. I pretended to be a poor insurance company clerk and told him that I had lost a document before. If I can't make it up before the boss finds out, About to lose this job. I sobbed twice on the phone and said I hadn't slept in two days. You know, the French are very sensitive... Ah, you probably don't know." Andrew took Dorothy's hand and left a kiss on it. "It seems that you still don't know me well enough." He picked up the printed photo of Dorothy and prepared to leave. "Old man, it looks like your head is still a mess." Dorothy looked at Andrew with a half-smile. "Then what else should I do?" "You really think that's the end of my investigation?" "You found something else?" "Do you think, then, that they threw your Susie Baker into the trash when they got to Geneva?" "Of course not, but I know what happened next, she returned to the United States to continue her treatment." "Then which company's flight did she take, and which city did she return to? My big reporter, do you know all of this?" Andrew pulled out the chair opposite Dorothy and sat down. "It's a private jet, Geneva to Boston." "She told me she couldn't even afford a new mattress, and now it looks like she should be financially well off." Andrew sighed. "What did you do to her mattress?" "I didn't do anything, Dorothy!" "Well, it's none of my business anyway. But she probably didn't pay much for the flight, because the plane is owned by the National Security Agency. I just don't know why she can transfer the plane of the government department. I don't think so. I don't know, it seems that this matter is beyond my ability. I also contacted all the hospitals in Boston and surrounding cities, but found nothing. Now it's your turn, Mr. Reporter. By the way, it is best to help I turned on the light, and the switch was right at the entrance." Hearing what Dorothy said, Andrew was full of doubts.He came to the office and started planning when he would move back to his apartment tomorrow.As for tonight, he planned to spend it at the newspaper office. Washington Square, 8 p.m. Arnold Knopf strolled in the square, scanning the people around him out of the corner of his eye.In a corner of the lawn, a homeless man is sleeping wrapped in an old blanket; under the shadow of a tree, a trumpet player is playing etude; by the fountain, a student couple is kissing passionately; a painter is sitting on a canvas In front of him, he uses the colors in his hands to present the world in his eyes; there is also a man with his hands up to the sky, as if he is praying to God. Susie sat on the bench and waited for him, staring blankly ahead. "Don't you want me to stop bothering you?" Knopf sat down beside her. "Do you believe in curses, Arnold?" "Given the things I've seen in my career, I don't even believe in God." "I believe both of those things. Everything around me is cursed. My family, and everyone close to me." "If you choose to take risks, you have to bear the consequences. What interests me is that you seem to be really worried now. Look at your eyes. Don't tell me you are worried about that reporter?" "I need him, I need his determination and his work ethic, but I don't want to put him at risk." "I understand that you want to investigate alone, but you also hope that he can lead the way for you. If it was thirty years ago, I would be more than happy to let you work for me, but not now." Knopf said with a smile. "Arnold, it is because of your bad heart that you are aging so fast." "I'm seventy-seven years old, but I'm pretty sure that if we race to get to that rail first, I'll win." "I'll definitely trip you up first." Knopf and Susie stopped talking.Knopf sighed and looked at the edge of the square. "How can you change your mind? Poor Susie, you are so innocent." "I was no longer innocent when I was eleven years old, the day the grocer called the police. I went to buy pastries in his shop, but he called the police saying that I had stolen two chocolates. The police took me to the police station. Department." "I remember very clearly that I went to the police station to pick you up." "Arnold, you are too late. I told everything to the policeman who interrogated me. The boss used to sexually harass middle school girls, he forced me to touch his genitals, and he made it up when I threatened to report to the police The burglary. But the cop slapped me. He thought I was one of those bad girls who lied to get away with it. When I got home, my grandfather slapped me again. That one was Fegton My boss is impeccable in everyone's eyes, he even goes to church every week for mass. I'm just a misbehaving teenage girl in the middle of a rebellious period. I'll never forget when I left the police station with my cheeks red and swollen. That meaningful smile on his face." "Why didn't you tell me this?" "Will you believe me?" Knopf didn't answer. "That night, I locked myself in the room and didn't want to talk to anyone. I didn't even understand why I existed in this world. Mathilde didn't come back until two days later, and I hadn't left the room yet. I just heard her and my grandfather yelling something. They had quarreled a lot before, but it was never that terrible. At night, Mathilde came to my bedside. To comfort me, she talked to me about the world The other injustice, that was the first time she told me what happened to my grandmother. That night, I swore to avenge my grandmother. I will keep my promise." "Your grandmother died in 1966 and you never even met her." "It should be said that she was assassinated in 1966!" "She betrayed her own country. It was a special period. Although the Cold War was not a war in the conventional sense, it was also a real fight." "She is innocent." "No, Susie, actually you don't know anything." "Matilde never doubted that." "Your mother was an alcoholic." "It's the people who framed my grandmother who made my mother like this." "Your mother was very young at the time, and she had a long life ahead of her." "What kind of life? Mathilde lost everything, even the honor of the family. She couldn't continue her studies, nor could she enter the workplace. Mathilde was only nineteen years old when they took her grandmother away." "We didn't really understand the situation at the time." "Grandmother was killed, wasn't she, Arnold?" Knopf took out a mint and handed one to Susie. "Well, even if you insist that she is innocent now, what's the use of that?" He mumbled with a candy in his mouth. "I will clear her wrong, make my name no longer shamed for it, and make the country give us back everything that was taken from us." "You don't like the name Baker?" "As long as I was born, I was forced to use this pseudonym, so that I would not have to go through the pain that Mathilde had endured, so that people would not close the door when they heard my name, or that they would not close the door after discovering my identity. Shut me out the door. Can't you understand how much the honor of family means to a man?" "Why do you want to see me this time?" "Be my accomplice." "My answer is impossible, I will not participate in your plan, I promised your grandfather..." "Keep me safe, you've said it a hundred times." "I won't break my promise, but if I do help you with these things, I'm afraid I will break the contract." "Since I'm not going to give up, I'll be in more danger if you don't help me." "Don't think that you can control me, and I won't force you to do anything. In this game, you have no hope of winning at all." "What did she do to be executed?" "It's funny how you keep repeating some things and never mentioning others. She was trying to sell state secrets. Of course she was in custody before the deal went through. She tried to escape but it didn't work .All I can say is that what she did was really serious. There is no other way to protect the national interest and those involved than to execute her." "Arnold, do you know what you said? It's like a spy novel." "Facts are more serious than fiction." "It's impossible. Lilian is an extremely smart and well-educated woman. She is forward-thinking but very humanistic. It is impossible for her to do anything harmful to others, and it is even more impossible for her to betray her own country." "How did you know?" "Matilde didn't only confide in me when she was drunk. Sometimes, if it was just the two of us, she would talk about her mother. I never met my grandmother, and she never had a chance to hold me in her arms." But I know everything about her. The perfume she wears, the style she wears, the books she likes to read, even her talking habits, and her love of laughing in front of people, I know all of these.” "Yes, she was a woman ahead of her time, and I admit, she had character." "She should appreciate you very much." "It's a little inappropriate to say that your grandmother didn't really like the people around her husband, or his power, neither their attentions nor their flattery. She just admired me In fact, I just couldn't help but hold back in front of her, because she really made a deep impression on me." "She's beautiful, isn't she?" "You really do resemble her, not just in looks, and that's why I'm so concerned." "Matilde said that you are one of the few people Lilian will trust." "She doesn't trust anyone, Susie, why can't you call your mother 'mother' like everyone else?" "Because Mathilde is a different mother. She likes me calling her that. Who exposed Lillian?" "She did it herself. Your grandfather could do nothing but watch his wife being taken away." "For him, nothing is more important than power. He should protect Lilian. That is his wife, the mother of his daughter, and he has a way." "I forbid you to say that about your grandfather, Susie," Knopf was visibly angry, "Lilian is too much, no one can save her. If she was caught after the incident, then she Should be sent straight to the electric chair! And your grandfather was the first victim of her crime, he lost his career, wealth and honor! His party wanted to nominate him for Vice President!" "But the president didn't run again in the end either. Career, wealth and honor, how you put those three in that order is pathetic! You people who work for government agencies are brainwashed! You're full of those A senseless war, all you think about every day is how to add another medal to your uniform!" "Susie, you are such a fool! Do you know how many unknown martyrs gave their lives to protect this free world? It is these warriors in the shadows who defend our country." "Then how many warriors in the shadows caused my grandmother's death? How many defenders of the country killed Lilian? She was just a defenseless woman!" "Enough is enough, I don't want to listen anymore," Knopf stood up, "If your grandfather heard what you said, he would choose to return to the grave." "What about you? You're not defending those who killed his wife!" Arnold Knopf gradually walked away.Susie ran a few steps and caught up with him. "Help me, let me clear up the grievances of the family, this is the only thing I ask you to do." Knopf turned to Susie and stared at her for a long time. “看来是应该让你明白个人的力量有多么微不足道，也许让你被现实打击一下，反而是最好的选择。”他低声说道。 “你刚才在念叨什么？” “没什么，我只是把心里的想法说了出来。”克诺夫朝拉瓜迪亚广场的方向走去。 一辆汽车停在他的身边，克诺夫坐进车里，消失在夜幕之中。 晚上10点，安德鲁准备离开西蒙的公寓。 “你今晚真的要回去住？” “西蒙，你已经是第五次问这个问题了。” “我只是想确认一下。” “我走之后就不会有人在地板上乱放东西了，我知道你其实很开心，”安德鲁边说边合上了行李箱，“明天我再来拿剩下的东西。” “你知道的，如果你改变了主意，还可以再回来住。” “我不会改主意的。” “好吧，我陪你回去。” “不用，你还是待在这儿吧。我保证到家之后会给你电话。” “如果半个小时后没有电话，我就去你家找你。” “一切都会顺利的，我向你保证。” “我当然知道不会有什么事情，你很快就会躺在新床单上了。” "yes." “你可是保证过要请送床单的人吃饭的！” “要是说到这件事，你就从来没想过再跟凯茜·斯坦贝克联系吗？” “你怎么突然说起这个？” “没什么，但是你最好考虑一下。” 西蒙看着他的好朋友，一脸的不解。而安德鲁则提起箱子，走出了西蒙的公寓。 回到公寓楼下，安德鲁习惯性地抬起头看了看公寓的窗户。窗帘拉着，他深吸了一口气，才走进公寓的大门。 楼梯间里黑漆漆的，没有一点儿光线。安德鲁把行李箱放在地上，开始在口袋里翻找钥匙。 突然，门里有个男人冲了出来，还在他的胸脯上猛击了一拳。安德鲁向后倒去，头部撞到了楼梯的栏杆。他还没来得及反应，这个袭击者就抓住了他的衣领，把他丢在了地上，接着就向楼梯冲去。安德鲁冲向他，抓住了他的肩膀，但是那个男人立即转过身来又在他的脸上补了一拳。安德鲁甚至以为自己的眼睛都要被打得陷下去了，他强忍着疼痛，想要抓住这个抢匪。但是接下来的两拳让他放弃了这个想法。他痛得弯下腰去，被迫结束了这场争斗。 那个男人顺着楼梯跑了下去，安德鲁只听到了公寓楼门关闭的声音。 安德鲁过了好一会儿才能勉强直起身来，他捡起了箱子，打开了公寓的门。 “欢迎回家。”他喃喃地说。 公寓被翻得乱七八糟，书桌的抽屉全被拉了出来，所有的文件都散落在地上。 安德鲁走进厨房，从冰箱里拿了一袋冰块敷在眼睛上。然后他就去了浴室，想看看抢匪究竟把他的家翻成了什么样子。 安德鲁正在收拾房间，突然门铃响了起来。他抓起外套，从里面摸出了那把手枪，插在背后的腰带里，然后才把门打开了一条缝。 “你到底在干什么，我给你打了十几通电话。”西蒙问道。 他突然看到了安德鲁的脸。 “你和别人打架了？” “应该说是被人打了。” 安德鲁拉开了门，让西蒙进到屋里来。 “你看清楚那人的样子了吗？” “他的身高和我差不多，应该是褐色头发。这事发生得太快了，楼梯间里又一片漆黑。” “有东西被偷吗？” “我这里好像没什么可偷的。” “你有没有问楼里其他的住户，看看他们的公寓是否也遭遇了入室抢劫？” “我没想到要这么做。” "Did you call the police?" "not yet." “我去看看是不是还有其他公寓被盗，很快就回来。” 西蒙出去以后，安德鲁就把手枪放回了原位，然后捡起了掉在壁炉底下的相框。 “你应该什么都看到了吧？这个人到底来这儿干什么？”安德鲁看着瓦莱丽的笑脸，低低地问道。 西蒙回来了。 “走，去我家住。”他拿过了安德鲁手中的照片。 “不，我已经收拾好了，就要睡下了。” “需要我留下吗？” “不用了，我可以的。”安德鲁又拿回那个相框，把它放回原位，又把西蒙送到门口。 “我保证明天会给你打电话。” “我在楼梯上找到了这个，”西蒙递给他一个已经揉皱的信封，“可能是从那个人的口袋里掉出来的，我一直很小心，只抓了边角的地方，好不弄乱上面的指纹。” 安德鲁看了看西蒙，做出了一个无语的表情。他一把将这个信封抓了过来，发现里面有一张照片，拍的是他那天晚上在楼下把钥匙递给苏茜的情景，拍照的时候应该没有开闪光灯。 “这是什么？”西蒙问道。 “广告传单罢了。”安德鲁边说边把信封放到了口袋里。 西蒙离开之后，安德鲁仔细研究了这张照片。取景的位置应该是佩里街和4号西大街的路口处。照片的背面有几处记号笔的痕迹。安德鲁把照片拿到灯光下，试图猜测标记者的意图，但是什么也没有想出来。 他突然感到一种对酒精的强烈需求，于是打开了厨房的柜子。看来清洁人员的工作很是认真，里面除了餐具什么都没有。最近的酒类商店也要走到克里斯多夫街，但是现在已经过了午夜，店家的卷帘门恐怕都已经降下来了。 但是没有酒精，安德鲁真的无法入睡。他机械地拉开冰箱，却意外发现了一瓶伏特加，上面还有一张便笺： “希望你搬回来的第一晚可以睡得好。谢谢你的帮助。苏茜” 虽然安德鲁不是很爱喝伏特加，但毕竟聊胜于无。他倒了满满一杯，然后就躺在了客厅的沙发上。 第二天早上，安德鲁一早来到了图书馆，他坐在门前的台阶上，一手咖啡一手报纸，还时不时抬头看看四周。 等他看到苏茜·贝克走上台阶时，他立刻走上前去，抓住了苏茜的手臂，而苏茜明显是吓了一跳。 “抱歉，我本不想吓到你的。” “出什么事了？”苏茜看着他脸上的伤痕，问道。 “应该是我来问你这个问题。” 苏茜皱起了眉头，安德鲁则把她拉到了街上。 “阅览室里不能说话，但是我们的确有些事情要谈一谈。我得先吃点儿东西，那边有个热狗摊。”安德鲁指着不远处的路口。 "Now?" “是啊，现在，早上的热狗又不会比中午的更难吃。” “这只是个习惯问题。” 安德鲁买了一个芥末味的热狗，并询问苏茜是否也要一个，她拒绝了，只是要了一杯咖啡。 “我们去中央公园里走一走吧，你觉得怎么样？”安德鲁建议道。 “我还有事情要做，但是可以等一下再说。” 安德鲁和苏茜走上了第五大道。冬天的寒风扑面而来，苏茜竖起了衣领。 “看来这个天气不是很适合散步。”走到公园旁边的时候，她突然开口。 “我很想请你共进早餐，但是现在我已经没有胃口了。不过虽然我搬来纽约已经有些年头了，却从来没有坐过那种马车，”安德鲁指着前方的几匹马说道，“走，这样我们就有庇护所了。” “庇护所？是为了避雨？我不认为今天会下雨。” “准确地说是为了避人耳目。”安德鲁边说边向59号街走去。 马车夫先把苏茜扶上了马车，等安德鲁也坐好之后，他就在两人的腿上盖上了一条厚厚的毯子，然后才开始赶车。 马鞭轻轻扬起，车子也开始向前移动。 “拿热狗当早餐，又把坐马车当成饭后散步，真是没有比这更好的生活习惯了。”苏茜调侃道。 “贝克小姐，你相信巧合吗？” “我不相信。” “我也不相信。虽然曼哈顿的犯罪率确实很高，但我们两个人也不应该会在一周之内都成为入室盗窃的受害者。” “你也遭遇了入室盗窃？” “你总不会认为我的脸是自己撞伤的吧？” “我以为你和别人发生了争执。” “有时候，我的确喜欢在晚上喝一杯，但我不是喜欢挑衅的人。” "That was not what I meant." “我想听听你对这种巧合有什么评论。”安德鲁边说边把信封递给了苏茜。 苏茜看了看里面的照片。 “这是谁寄给你的？” “窃贼把它掉在了楼梯上。” “我不知道该跟你说些什么。”苏茜低声说。 “那麻烦你努力想一想。” 但是苏茜却选择了保持沉默。 “那好，看来我该帮你想一想，两个人的思路总会宽一些。首先，在图书馆，你碰巧坐在了我的对面。阅览室里有四百张桌子，却只有我中了大奖。然后，有人通知你，你的公寓发生了入室盗窃，而我当时刚好坐在你的旁边。你回了家，没有报警，给出的理由是你没有稳定的住处。最后，你刚从我的公寓搬走，我的家里就凑巧被抢劫了。对了，还有一个巧合，就是两次盗窃的手法非常相近，都是公寓被翻了个底朝天，可是什么东西都没被偷走。这一切是不是都很凑巧？还要我补充些什么吗？” “那刚开始的时候，你也是凑巧跟我说话的吗？你也是凑巧跟踪我，一直到我的公寓楼楼下？还有，你调查我的过去，请我吃午饭，还把公寓借给我，这些也都是巧合？” “不，当然不是，这都是我自己的责任。”安德鲁尴尬地说。 “那你刚才所说的那些话究竟是想影射什么？” “我只是想说，面对现在的情况，我感到非常困惑。” “我之前可没有问过你这样做的理由。让马车停下来，马的味道让我难受。我要走了，不要再来找我。” “我倒很喜欢马的味道。以前我很害怕马，现在就不会了。我之前付钱让车夫绕着中央公园走上整整一圈，如果你什么都不说的话，我们就走第二圈，反正我有的是时间。” “就现在这种速度，我完全可以直接跳下去，你知道的。” “你的脾气还真是很硬。” “这是我们家的传统。” “好吧，那我们就重新开始这次糟糕的谈话。” “那这种糟糕的局面应该怪谁？” “我的右眼根本无法睁开，你总不会希望我主动道歉吧。” “又不是我打了你。” “对，不是你打了我，可是看看这张照片，你能说这件事和你没有一点儿关系吗？” 苏茜把照片递还给安德鲁，她突然笑了一下。 “你现在比之前更有魅力了。” “我昨天根本没怎么睡觉，也没来得及处理伤口。” “很疼吗？”苏茜轻轻地把手放在了安德鲁的眉骨处。 “你一碰就会疼。”安德鲁推开了她的手。 “贝克小姐，你这次又会编造一个什么样的故事？是谁抢劫了我们？” “我为在你身上发生的一切向你道歉，但是这其实和你并没有什么关系。明天我会向图书馆要求调换位置。和我保持距离，这样你就会很安全。现在，告诉车夫说我要下车。” “那天在你之前从杂货铺出来的男人是谁？” "I do not know what you're talking about." “我在说'他'。”安德鲁从口袋里掏出了法方医院监控视频的截图。 苏茜仔细地看了看这些照片，她脸上的神情黯淡下来。 “斯迪曼先生，你到底是为谁工作？” “我是《纽约时报》的雇员，贝克小姐，虽然我现在还在休病假。” “好，那你还是专心于你的新闻报道吧。”苏茜说完，就要求车夫把车停了下来。 她跳到地上，向远方走去。车夫回头看着安德鲁，等待着他的进一步指令。 “拜托，”安德鲁对他说，“关心我一下，问问我到底陷入了怎样的窘境。我需要听到这样的话。” “对不起，先生，您刚才说什么？”马车夫显然没有明白客人的话。 “我再给你二十美元，你可以让你的马再折回去吗？” “你要是给我三十美元，我就能追上刚才那位小姐。” “二十五！” "make a deal!" 马立刻跑了起来，快到苏茜身边的时候，车夫尽量放慢了速度，让车停在了苏茜身边。 “快上来。”安德鲁喊道。 “不要烦我，斯迪曼，我会给别人带来厄运。” “我不怕，因为从生下来那天起，厄运就一直伴随着我。我跟你说过了，快上车来，不然你就要被这场突如其来的大雨淋湿了。” “我已经淋湿了。” “那就再给你一个理由，到毯子下面来暖和一下，不然你会着凉的。” 苏茜笑了起来，她爬上了车子，在安德鲁身边坐了下来。 “你在勃朗峰遇险之后，有一架很特殊的飞机把你送回了美国。这种机票可不是能够随便买到的，对吗？” "you are right." “阿诺德·克诺夫是谁？” “他是我们家的世交。我不知道自己的父亲是谁，对我来说，克诺夫就像我的教父一样。” “贝克小姐，你到底是谁？” “参议员沃克的外孙女。” “听到这个名字，我应该想起什么吗？” “他曾经是总统的高级顾问之一？” "yes." “那现在发生的事情和你的外祖父有什么关系？” “很奇怪，你身为记者，竟然不知道这些事情？你平时不看报纸吗？” “总统当选时，我还在我父亲的体内，根本不可能看报纸。” “我的家庭曾经卷进过一场全国性的丑闻里。我的外祖父被迫放弃了他的事业。” “桃色绯闻，或者挪用公款，还是二者都有？” “他的妻子被控叛国罪，后来又在试图越狱时被杀死了。” “的确不是一般的事情。但这又和你有什么关系，你当时还没有出生。” “我的外祖母是无辜的，我发誓要找到证据，洗清她的冤屈。” “不错的想法，可是四十七年过去了，真相还是会威胁到某些人吗？” “看来是这样的。” “什么类型的叛国罪？” “她被指控向苏联人出售美国的核机密。当时正是越战时期，她是某位政府要员的妻子，在家里应该听到了很多机密。” “你的外祖母是共产主义者吗？” “我不认为她是。她是坚定的反战人士，也非常关注社会上的不平等现象。她应当对她的丈夫也有一定的影响力，但这一切并不能构成她的罪行。” “要看如何判断了，”安德鲁回答道，“你认为她是因为对丈夫的影响力才被陷害的？” “玛蒂尔德一直是这样认为的。” “玛蒂尔德？” “他们的女儿，我的母亲。” “先不要管你母亲的猜测，还有其他什么具体的证据吗？” “几份莉莉安留下来的资料，还有她出逃前写的字条。她是手写的，可是我一直看不明白。” “在我看来，这些都不算是有力的证据。” “斯迪曼先生，我要向你承认，我在一件事上对你撒了谎。” “只是一件事？” “我去攀登勃朗峰并不是为了什么纪念日，沙米尔也不是。玛蒂尔德是个酒鬼，我之前就告诉过你。我都记不清自己曾经多少次夜闯酒吧，在吧台旁边找到烂醉如泥的玛蒂尔德，她甚至有时候就睡在停车场的汽车里。每一次她感到自己不胜酒力时，就会叫我去接她。这个时候，她就会谈起她的母亲，虽然她的话只是断断续续，我经常不明白她在说些什么。有天晚上，她醉酒之后突然想去波士顿港洗海水浴，可当时是1月，具体地说是1月24日，她在海水里冻僵，幸好旁边有船经过，警察把她救了上来。” “她到底是醉了还是根本就想自杀？” “两个都有。” “那为什么要选择那一天？” “是啊，为什么是那一天？我问过她同样的问题，她说在40年前的那一天，最后一个希望也破灭了。” “最后一个希望？” “是的，唯一能证明莉莉安无罪的证据就在那架飞机上，可是它却于1966年1月24日在勃朗峰坠毁了。在我母亲尝试过自杀之后，我就开始调查了。” “你就在四十七年后去攀登勃朗峰，试图在飞机的残骸里找到这个证据？这真是个惊人的计划。” “我花了很多年的时间研究这起坠机事故，搜集了很多不为人知的材料。我甚至还分析过每个月的冰川活动都有什么规律，设想过飞机是如何碎裂的。” “那架飞机可是直接撞上了山峰，你还指望它能留下什么？” “'干城章嘉号'在山体上留下了一条800米长的划痕，所以它不是直接撞上去的。看到山峰之后，飞行员应该会把飞机往上拉，所以是机尾先碰到了山峰。但是这四十多年以来，没有人发现飞机的驾驶舱，没有人！撞击的过程中，驾驶舱和客舱应该会分离开来，所以我就认定它一定是滑到了土尔纳峰下的某个缝隙里。几年的时间里，我看遍了各个事故报告、失事原因分析，还有照片，我甚至可以确定在哪里可以找到飞机剩余的部分。我没想到的是，我们竟然从那里掉了下去。” “也就是说，”安德鲁十分惊讶，“你找到了'干城章嘉号'的驾驶舱？” “是的，我找到了，还有一等客舱，机体几乎没有损坏。不幸的是，我找到的证据并没有之前想得那么有力。” “到底是什么样的证据？” “是你的那份名单上的那个印度外交官行李里的一封信。” “你懂印地语？” “信是用英语写的。” “难道那些抢匪找的就是这封信？信有没有丢？” “我把它放在你的公寓里了。” "What did you say?" “我想把它放在安全的地方。就藏在你的冰箱后面，是你给了我灵感。我不知道自己会被跟踪，更没想到你也会被监视。” “贝克小姐，我不是私家侦探，而是一名记者。我现在的状态也不是很好，所以我还是先管好自己的事情，你自己的家务事还是要靠你自己处理。” 马车走出了中央公园，停在59号街上。安德鲁把苏茜扶了下来，拦了一辆出租车。 “那封信，”苏茜向安德鲁挥手告别，“我会拿回来的。” “我明天把它带到图书馆。” “那就明天见。”苏茜关上了出租车的门。 安德鲁站在人行道上，反复思索着苏茜的话，却没有得出什么有价值的结论。他看着载着苏茜的出租车渐渐驶远，然后拨通了多乐丽丝的电话。