Читаем Los Alamos полностью

He didn’t answer.

She opened her eyes. “Not the story. The truth.”

“Yes.”

She nodded. “I thought so. You see what that means? To kill for someone-If I felt that way, Daniel must know. Maybe all along. All those lies. Not his bed. But he knew.”

“He never said anything.”

“He was waiting for me. To see if it would pass. Like the others. This time he was waiting for me. It was all right, you see, until it was someone-”

He raised her hand to his lips. “I can talk to him.”

“No. Me. It’s time. When it’s so clear. We always think we have time for everything,” she said, her voice drifting.

“You’re not dying.”

“No. But look how fast. When did all this happen? This afternoon? One afternoon.”

“We’ll have lots of time.”

She raised her hand to the side of his face. “We’ll go dancing,” she said.

“I thought you were dead. In the car.”

She moved her hand along his cheek, soothing him.

“Marry me,” he said softly.

She smiled. “A proposal. Don’t you think I have enough husbands?”

“Not yet.”

“Everybody always wants to marry me,” she said dreamily. “Why is that, do you think?”

“You’re a nice girl.”

She looked at him as he kissed her hand. “Am I?”

“Hm. I’ll even ask your father.”

A faint smile. “He hates the Irish.”

“I’ll bring him around.”

“You won’t.”

“I will.”

“Promise me?” she said seriously. “No lies. Not even little ones.”

He was leaning over, brushing her lips, when the nurse came in. “Telephone,” she said, looking at him with disapproval. “She’s supposed to sleep.”

“You heard her,” he said to Emma, getting up from the bed.

“Don’t worry him,” she said. “Tell him I’m all right.”

“You are all right.”

He turned to go, but she stopped him. “One thing,” she said, her eyes bright now. “That place they go? Reno? Do you think they’ll do two at once?”

He laughed at her. “Use two judges.”

On the phone at the nurse’s station he was asked to verify that the call was an emergency before he was patched through. The connection was scratchy, as if the rain were on the line with them.

“This is Michael Connolly. We met at-”

“I know who you are,” the voice said coldly.

“Look, I’m sorry, but your wife has had an accident. A car accident. She’s all right, but she’s pretty banged up.” A silence. “You still there?”

“Yes. She is all right, you said?” His inflections were still European.

“She has a serious fracture. Shock.”

Another pause. “You were with her?”

“No,” Connolly said, surprised. “Not in the car.”

“Where is she?”

“Here on the Hill. In the infirmary. There wasn’t time to get her to Santa Fe. I thought you’d better know.”

“Thank you,” Pawlowski said politely. “May I talk to her?”

“She can’t come to the phone-she’s in bed. You can see her, though. Can you leave right away?”

“Leave? Tonight? But the test-”

“Sorry,” a voice interrupted. “This is the security officer. I have to remind you this is an open line.”

“Listen,” Connolly said, annoyed, “I’m security too. The man’s wife is in the hospital.”

“Sorry, sir. Orders. Have you finished?”

“No, we haven’t finished. Pawlowski, did you hear what I said?”

“Yes. But if she’s all right…,” he said, his voice drifting in the static. “It’s difficult, you see. I can’t leave here. Not tonight. It’s not permitted,” he finished stiffly.

“Permitted? It’s Emma. She’s in the hospital. Just tell Oppie-”

“I’m going to have to interrupt this call,” the other voice said. “The use of names is-”

“No, don’t. Please,” Connolly said. “Pawlowski, you still there?”

“Thank you for telling me. I’ll be there tomorrow. Tonight it’s impossible. I’m needed here.”

“That’s it?” Connolly said.

“I’m sure you will look after her,” Pawlowski said.

This time Connolly heard the edge. “What do you want me to tell her, then?” He paused. “Shall I give her your love?”

There was a silence, then he said, his voice cold again, “Yes, Mr. Connolly, give her my love.”

He was still holding the phone, disconcerted, when Mills appeared at the door.

“Something wrong?” Mills said, noticing his expression.

Connolly shook his head. “Just a bad connection,” he said, putting down the receiver.

“She going to be all right?”

Connolly nodded.

“What about you?” Mills said, indicating his taped chest.

“I’ll live,” he said absently. “You’re up late.”

For a moment neither of them spoke, then Mills moved further into the room. “Who’s Hector Ramirez?” he said finally.

“Is that his name? I didn’t know.” He looked up at Mills. “You’ve been busy.”

“I mean, who is he to you?”

“He killed Karl.”

Mills looked at him steadily. “Want to tell me why?”

“Later,” Connolly said, turning back to the hospital room. “That can wait.”

“Not for long,”

Connolly stopped, his eyes raised in question.

“Lot of curious people over at the office,” Mills said. “The switchboard’s been lighting up. Even the boys in Washington. Seems everybody wants to talk to you all of a sudden.”

Connolly paused. “I have to see Oppenheimer first.”

“Why is that, I wonder? Or is that something else I’m not supposed to know?” Connolly said nothing.

Mills shrugged. “Anyway, you’re not going to see him tonight. Everybody’s down at the site. Hadn’t you heard? All the cats are away.”