rludlum-shelby.thecassandracompact-第30章

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hem；　he　thought　they　resembled　miniature　missiles；　lined　up　ready　to　fire。　Except　that　by　the　time　the　protocols　were　altered；　they　would　be　vastly　more　potent　than　any　nuclear　weapon　in　the　American　arsenal。
　Although　Bauer　had　been　handling　viruses　for　more　than　forty　years；　he　never　forgot　what　he　was　dealing　with。　He　made　sure　that　his　hands　were　absolutely　steady　and　that　there　was　no　moisture　on　the　counter　or　anywhere　near　his　feet　before　he　slowly　lowered　it　into　a　special　cradle　in　the　chest。　Closing　the　lid；　he　entered　an　alphanumeric　bination　into　the　security　lock　pad　and　set　the　temperature。
　Looking　up；　he　said；　〃Gentlemen；　the　clock　is　running。〃
　The　row　houses　of　Volta　Place　shared　a　mon　characteristic：　each　had　a　small　garage　behind　the　backyard　that　opened　up　on　an　alley。　Reed　and　Richardson　carried　the　chest　into　the　garage　and　stowed　it　in　the　cargo　partment　of　a　Volvo　station　wagon。　Bauer　stayed　behind　a　moment　to　make　sure　that　nothing　that　could　link　the　three　men　to　this　location　had　been　left　behind。　He　was　not　concerned　about　fingerprints　or　fibers　or　any　other　forensic　minutiae；　in　a　few　minutes；　a　special　NSA　cleaning　crew　would　arrive　to　wash　and　vacuum　the　interior。　The　NSA　maintained　several　such　safe　houses　in　the　Washington　area。　For　the　cleaners；　this　was　just　another　stop　in　a　busy　schedule。
　As　Bauer　walked　to　the　garage；　he　heard　the　wail　of　sirens　ing　from　the　direction　of　Wisconsin　Avenue。
　〃It　would　appear　that　Adam　Treloar　is　about　to　play　his　final　role；〃　he　murmured　as　the　three　got　into　the　station　wagon。
　〃Too　bad　he　isn't　around　to　read　the　reviews；〃　Reed　said；　and　edged　the　car　into　the　alley。
　
　CHAPTER　SEVENTEEN
　　
　Peter　Howell　stood　on　the　top　tier　of　the　wide　steps　leading　into　the　Galleria　Regionale　on　the　Via　Alloro。　Sicily's　most　prestigious　gallery　boasted　paintings　by　Antonello　da　Messina　as　well　as　the　magnificent　fifteenth…century　fresco　Triumph　of　Death　by　Laurana；　which　particularly　appealed　to　Howell。
　Staying　well　away　from　the　tourists　hiking　up　and　down　the　steps；　alert　for　anyone　who　might　be　taking　an　undue　interest　in　him；　Howell　pulled　out　his　secure　phone　and　dialed　the　number　Jon　Smith　had　given　him。
　〃Jon？　Peter　here。　We　need　to　talk。〃
　Forty…five　hundred　miles　away；　Smith　pulled　over　onto　the　soft　shoulder　of　Route　77。
　〃Go　ahead；　Peter。〃
　Continuing　to　scan　the　foot　traffic　around　the　gallery；　Howell　described　his　meeting　with　the　smuggler；　Franco　Grimaldi；　the　subsequent　attempt　on　his　life；　and　his　encounter　with　Master　Sergeant　Travis　Nichols　and　his　partner；　Patrick　Drake。
　〃Are　you　sure　they　were　U。S。　military？〃　Smith　asked。
　〃Absolutely；〃　Howell　replied。　〃I　set　up　watch　at　the　post　office；　Jon。　An　officer　came　to　the　box；　just　like　Nichols　said　he　would。　But　there　was　no　chance　to　take　him…　and　no　way　I　can　get　on　your　base　outside　Palermo。〃　Howell　paused。　〃What　are　your　soldier　boys　up　to；　Jon？〃
　〃Believe　me；　I'd　love　to　know。〃
　The　sudden　appearance　of　American　military　personnel…　soldiers　as　assassins…　added　a　new　dimension　to　an　already　plex　equation；　one　that　demanded　to　be　addressed　immediately。
　〃If　Nichols　and　his　partner　were　sanctioned　killers；　someone　had　to　be　paying　them；〃　Smith　concluded。
　〃My　thoughts　exactly；〃　Howell　replied。
　〃Any　ideas　as　to　how　to　ferret　out　the　money　man？〃
　〃Actually；　yes；〃　Howell　replied；　then　proceeded　to　explain。
　
　Ten　minutes　later；　Smith　pulled　back　on　Route　77。　Reaching　the　entrance　to　Camp　David；　he　was　given　a　military　escort　to　Rosebud；　the　guest　cabin　closest　to　Aspen。　He　found　Klein　sitting　in　front　of　a　fieldstone　fireplace；　talking　on　the　phone。
　Klein　waved　Smith　to　sit；　finished　his　monosyllabic　conversation；　and　turned　to　Smith。
　〃That　was　Kirov。　His　people　are　questioning　everyone　in　the　Bioaparat　plex；　trying　to　walk　back　the　cat　to　Yardeni's　contacts。　So　far；　no　luck。　Yardeni　seems　to　have　been　one　closemouthed　SOB。　He　didn't　go　around　spending　money　he　shouldn't　have　had；　or　bragging　about　how　soon　he'd　be　living　the　high　life　in　the　West。　No　one　remembers　seeing　him　with　any　foreigners。　Kirov's　checking　his　phone　calls　and　mail；　but　I'm　not　holding　my　breath。〃
　〃So　whoever　reached　out　to　Yardeni　did　so　very　carefully；〃　Smith　observed。　〃They　made　sure　he　was　the　right　man　for　the　job…　no　family；　corrupt；　someone　who　could　keep　his　mouth　shut。〃
　〃That's　my　guess。〃
　〃What　else　does　Kirov　have？〃
　〃Nothing。　And　he　knows　it。〃　Klein　snorted。　〃He　tried　hard　not　to　sound　too　relieved　that　it's　now　our　problem。　Can't　blame　him；　though。〃
　〃It's　still　Russian　smallpox　that's　at　the　root　of　all　this；　sir。　If　word　gets　out…〃
　〃It　won't。〃　Klein　checked　his　watch。　〃The　president　is　expecting　my　call　in　fifteen　minutes。　What　do　you　have？〃
　Smith　spoke　quickly　and　succinctly；　describing　everything　that　had　happened　in　Russia　as　well　as　his　confrontation　with　Treloar　at　Dulles。　Klein's　eyebrows　shot　up　in　surprise　when　Smith　detailed　how　U。S。　soldiers　were　now　involved。　Then　he　presented　his　suggestions　for　the　next　course　of　action。
　Klein　took　a　moment　to　consider。　〃I　like　most　of　it；〃　he　said　finally。　〃But　a　couple　of　points　might　be　a　hard　sell。〃
　〃I　don't　see　where　we　have　options；　sir。〃
　Klein's　reply　was　interrupted　by　a　call　his　secretary　put　through。　Smith　noticed　a　gleam　in　his　eyes　as　he　listened。
　Placing　a　hand　over　the　mouthpiece；　he　whispered；　〃The　BOLO　nailed　Treloar！〃
　Even　as　Smith　leaned　forward　in　his　chair；　Klein's　expression　slackened。
　〃You're　sure？〃　he　demanded。　After　a　pause：　〃No　witnesses？　No　one　saw　anything？〃
　Klein　listened　some　more；　then　said；　〃I　want　the　detectives'　reports　and　the　crime…scene　photos　faxed　to　my　desk　immediately。　And　yes；　cancel　the　BOLO。〃
　The　receiver　rattled　in　its　cradle。
　〃Treloar；〃　Klein　said；　grinding　his　back　teeth。　〃D。C。　cops　found　him　in　Volta　Place；　near　Wisconsin；　stabbed　to　death。〃
　Smith　closed　his　eyes；　picturing　the　frightened　bald　man　with　the　funny　eyes。
　〃They're　positive？〃
　〃A　passport　and　other　ID　were　found　on　the　body。　It's　him。　Someone　got　very　close　and　stuck　what　the　cops　think　was　a　stiletto　into　his　heart。　They're　saying　it　was　a　mugging。〃
　〃A　mugging。。。　Did　they　find　anything　around　the　body；　a　carry…on？〃
　〃Nothing。〃
　〃Had　he　been　robbed？〃
　〃Money　and　credit　cards　were　gone。〃
　〃But　not　the　wallet　or　the　passport。　Those　would　be　left　behind　to　help　with　the　ID。〃　Smith　shook　his　head。　〃Beria。　Whoever　was　using　Treloar　knew　he　was　the　link。　A　weak　link。　They　used　Beria　to　get　rid　of　him。〃
　〃　'They'　being。。。？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　sir。　But　the　handoff's　been　made。　'They'　have　the　smallpox。　Treloar　was　expendable。〃
　〃Beria。。。〃
　〃That's　why　Beria　went　to　St。　Petersburg；　why　he　was　on　that　Finnair　flight。　He　wasn't　running。　He　came　over　to　eliminate　the　weak　link。〃
　〃Anyone　could　have　done　that。〃
　〃The　execution？　Yes。　But　wouldn't　it　be　better　to　use　a　man　who　is…　or　was…　unknown　to　us？　We　have　a　description；　but　no　fingerprints；　no　real　understanding　of　movement　or　methodology。　Beria　is　perfect　because　he's　as　anonymous　as　an　assassin　can　be。〃
　〃So　there　was　an　exchange　at　Sheremetevo。〃
　Smith　nodded。　〃Treloar　had　the　smallpox　all　along。〃　He　paused。　〃And　I　was　sitting　thirty　feet　away　from　him。〃
　Never　taking　his　eyes　off　Smith；　Klein　picked　up　the　phone。　〃Let's　not　keep　the　president　waiting。〃
　
　
　Smith　was　surprised　to　see　the　chief　executive　in　casual　attire　and　informal　surroundings。　After　Klein　had　made　the　introduction；　Castilla　said；　〃Your　reputation　precedes　you；　Colonel　Smith。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　President。〃
　〃So；　what　are　the　latest　developments？〃
　Klein　launched　into　the　murder　of　Adam　Treloar　and　how　it　factored　into　the　overall　situation。
　〃Treloar；〃　the　president　said。　〃Is　there　any　way　you　can　use　him　to　trace　the　rest　of　the　conspirators？〃
　〃Believe　me；　sir；　we're　going　to　put　his　life　under　a　microscope；〃　Klein　replied。　〃But　I'm　not　holding　out　much　hope。　The　people　we're　dealing　with　have　been　very　careful　in　choosing　their　allies。　The　one　in　Russia…　Yardeni…　yielded　no　clues　as　to　who　his　paymasters　might　be。　The　same　may　be　true　with　Treloar。〃
　〃Let's　get　back　to　those　'people'　you're　talking　about。　Do　you　believe　that　they　might　be　foreign　nationals？　Someone　like　Osama　Bin　Laden？〃
　〃I　don't　see　Bin　Laden's　fingerprints　on　this；　Mr。　President。〃　Klein　glanced　at　Smith。　〃The　fact　that　the　conspirators'　reach　is　so　great…　from　Russia　all　the　way　to　NASA　in　Houston…　indicates　a　certain　level　of　sophistication。　Someone　who's　very　familiar　with　how　we　and　the　Russians　operate；　where　we　keep　our　jewels；　and　how　we　guard　them。〃
　〃Are　you　suggesting　that　someone　in　this　country　could　have　orchestrated　the　theft　in　Russia？〃
　〃The　smallpox　is　in　this　country；　Mr。　President。　The　man　who　stole　it；　the　man　who　carried　it　are　both　dead　at　the　hands　of　an　assassin　who；　until　recently；　was　a　relative　unknown　in　the　West。　There　is　no　Arab　connection　here。　Add　to　that；　the　material　we're　dealing　with　is　not　only　lethal；　but　requires　a　sophisticated　facility　to　turn　it　into　a　bioweapon。　Finally　there's　the　involvement　of　U。S。　military　personnel；　at　least　on　the　periphery。〃
　〃Military　personnel？〃　the　president　asked。
　Klein　turned　to　Smith；　who　gave　the　chief　executive　a　précis　of　the　events　that　took　place　in　Palermo。
　〃I'm　going　to　start　digging　into　the　backgrounds　of　these　two　soldiers；　Mr。　President；〃　Klein　said；　then　paused。　〃So　the　answer　to　your　question　is　yes…　it's　very　likely　that　someone　here　is　running　the　show。〃
　The　president　took　a　moment　to　digest　this。
　〃Monstrous；〃　he　whispered。　〃Unbelievably　monstrous。　Mr。　Klein；　if　we　knew　why　they　want　the　smallpox；　wouldn't　that　tell　us　what　they　intend　to　do；　maybe　even　who　they　are？〃
　Klein's　tone　betrayed　his　frustration。　〃It　would；　Mr。　President。　But　the　'why'　is　just　another　puzzle。〃
　〃Let　me　get　this　straight。　There's　a　potential　plague　source　that　may　be　somewhere　in　the　D。C。　area。　You　also　have　a　killer　loose…〃
　〃Mr。　President；〃　Smith　interrupted；　〃the　killer　may　actually　be　our　best　bet。〃
　〃Would　you　care　to　elaborate；　Mr。　Smith？〃
　〃The　conspirators　have　eliminated　the　two　men　whom　we　might　have　gotten　to。　They　brought　over　their　own　assassin　for　precisely　that　reason。　I　think　they're　holding　him　in　reserve　in　case　there's　more　wet　work　to　be　done。〃
　〃Your　point　being？〃
　〃Beria　is　our　last　link　to　the　conspirators；　Mr。　President。　If　we　find　him　and　manage　to　take　him　alive；　he　might　give　up　enough　to　point　us　in　the　right　direction。〃；
　〃Does　an　all…out　hunt　for　this　killer　run　the　risk　of　too　much　publicity？　Maybe　it'll　frighten　him　off。〃
　〃It　would　have；　sir；〃　Klein　broke　in。　〃Except　for　one　thing：　Beria　murdered　a　man　in　cold　blood　on　a　Washington　street。　He's　no　longer　a　terrorist　but　a　mon　murderer。　If　we　link　him　to　the　killing；　every　law…enforcement　agency　in　five　states　will　be　after　him。〃
　〃Again：　wouldn't　this　only　drive　him　deeper　underground？〃
　〃Not　really；　sir。　Beria　and　the　men　who　control　him　would　think　they　know　exactly　the　kind　of　forces　that　are　being　marshaled　against　them。　They　would　circumvent　them。　And　they　would　feel　safe　because　they'd　think　they　knew　exactly　what　law　enforcement's　next　step　would　be。