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第14章 羊腿与谋杀3（第2页）

"A;Thegrocercockedhisheadononeside，lookingatherpleasantly。"Howaboutafterwards?Whatyougoingtogivehimforafterwards?"

"ouldyousuggest，Sam?"

Themanglandhisshop。"Howaboutanicebigsliceofcheeseowhelikesthat。"

"Perfect，"shesaid。"Helovesit。"

Aedandshehadpaid，sheputhtestsmileandsaid，"Thankyou，Sam。Goodnight。"

"Goodnight，Mrs。Malohankyou。"

Andoldherselfasshehurriedback，allshewasdoinguroherhusbaingforhissupper;aakeitastastyaspossiblebecausethepoormanwastired;aeredthehouse，shehappeofindanythingunusual，ic，orterrible，thennaturallyitwouldbeashodshe'dbeefranticwithgriefandhorror。Mindyou，shewasingtofindanythigoihevegetables，Mrs。PatrieygoihevegetablesonThursdayeveningtocooksupperforherhusband。

That'stheway，shetoldherself。Drightandhingsabsolutelynaturalandthere'llbenoneedforanyagatall。

Therefore，whehekitbythebackdoor，shewashummingalittletuoherselfandsmiling。

"Patrick!"shecalled。"Howarey?"

&heparoableahroughintothelivingroom;andwhenshesawhimlyihefloorwithhislegsdoubledupawistedbaeathhisbody，itreallywasratherashock。Alltheoldloveandlongingforhimwelledupinsideher，andsheraohim，kdownbesidehim，aocryherheartout。Itwaseasy。Noagwasnecessary。

&eslatershegotupahephohehepoli，ahemaherendanswered，she，"Quiequick!Patrick'sdead!"

"Who'sspeaking?"

"Mrs。Maloriey。"

"YoumeanPatriey'sdead?"

"Ithinkso，"shesobbed。"He'slyingonthefloorandIthinkhe'sdead。"

&quhtover，"themansaid。

Thecarcameveryquidwhehefrontdoor，twopoliwalkedihemboth-sheknownearlyallthemanatthatpredshefellrightintoachair，theojoiherone，whowasalley，khebody。

"Ishedead?"shecried。

"I'mafraidheis。e;

Briefly，shetoldherstoingouttothegroingbaonthefloor。Whileshewastalking，dtalking，Noonandiscoveredasmallpatgealedbloodonthedeadman'shead。HeshowedittoO'Malleywhogotupatondhurriedtothephone。

Sahehouse。Firstadotwodeteeofwhomsheknowbyer，apolicephotographerarrivedandtookpidamanwhoknowaboutfiherewasagreatdealandmutterihedthedetectiveskeptaskiofquestions。Buttheyalwaystreatedherkiain，thistimerightfromthebegiriein，andshewassewiired，sotiredhehadn'twaogooutforsupper。Shetoldhowshe'dputthemeati;it'stherenow，g"-andhowshe'dslippedouttothegretables，aofindhimlyingonthefloor。

"Whichgrocer?"oivesasked。

&oldhim，aurnedahiherdeteediatelywehestreet。

Ieshewasbackageofherewasmorewhispering，andthrsheheardafewofthewhisperedphrases-"。。。actedquitenormal。。。verycheerful。。。waogivehimagoodsupper。。。peas。。。cheesecake。。。impossiblethatshe。。。"

Afterawhile，thephotographeraordepartedandtwoothermeookthecorpseawayohenthefimahetwodetectivesremained，andsodidthetwopoli。Theywereexallyoher，andJaaskedifshewouldn&#osomewhereelse，tohersister'shouseperhaps，ortohisoouldtakecareofherandputherupfht。

No，shesaid。Shedidn'tfeelsheoveevenayardatthemoment。Wouldtheymindawfullyifshestayedjustwhereshewasuter?Shedidn'tfeeltoogoodatthemoment，shereallydidn't。

"Thenhadn'tshebetterliedowno;Jaasked。

No，shesaid。She'dlikethtwhereshewas，inthischair。Alittlelater，perhaps，wheer，shewouldmove。

Sotheylefthertherewhiletheywentabouttheirbusihehouse。OallyoivesaskedheraioimesJaspentlyashepassedby。Herhusbaoldher，hadbeenkilledbyablowonthebackoftheheadadmihaheavyblunti，almostlyalargepieetal。Theywerelookihemurderermayhavetakenitwithhim，butoherhandhemayhavethrownitawayorhiddenitsomewhereonthepremises。

"It'stheoldstory，"hesaid。"Gettheon，andyou'vegottheman。"

Later，oivesdsatbesideher。Didsheknow，heasked，ofanythihatcould'vebeeheon?Wouldshemindhavingalookarouhingwasmissing-averybigspanner，forexample，oraheavymetalvase。

Theydidn'thaveaalvases，shesaid。