cussler.blueandgold-第26章

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ested　in　making　mud　pies。　He　and　Zavala　had　decided　to　use　the　direct　approach　that　had　worked　so　well　in　drawing　a　strong　reaction　from　Pedralez。
　
　Zavala　smiled　and　said；　〃We've　been　hearing　about　a　tortilla　plant　in　Baja　California；　outside　Ensenada；　that　might　be　for　sale　real　cheap。〃
　
　Hanley's　watery　eyes　narrowed　under　the　prominent　brow　ridge。　〃Where'd　you　hear　that？〃　he　growled。
　
　〃Around。〃　The　corners　of　Zavala's　lips　turned　up　in　a　mysterious　smile。
　
　〃Sorry；　gentlemen；　I'm　not　familiar　with　any　Baja　tortilla　plant。〃
　
　Zavala　turned　to　Austin。　〃He　says　he's　not　familiar　with　that　one。〃
　
　Austin　shrugged。　〃We're　surprised　at　your　answer。　Enrico　Pedralez　says　you're　very　familiar　with　the　property。　He　gave　us　your　name　and　said　you　arranged　the　deal　for　him。〃　Hanley's　defenses　went　on　full　alert　at　the　mention　of　the　Mexican　mob　boss。　He　was　uncertain　how　accountable　he　had　to　be　to　these　two　strangers。　He　fast…forwarded　through　the　categories　of　likely　threats：　police；　IRS；　state　bureaucrats。　These　men　didn't　fit　into　any　pigeonhole。　He　decided　to　take　the　offensive。
　
　〃May　I　see　some　identification　from　you　gentlemen？〃
　
　〃That　won't　be　necessary；〃　Austin　said。
　
　〃In　that　case；　if　you're　not　out　of　my　office　in　two　seconds；　I'll　throw　you　out　myself。〃
　
　Austin　made　no　move　to　rise。　〃You　could　try；〃　he　said　with　an　icy　coldness；　〃but　I　wouldn't　remend　it。　I　wouldn't　bother　calling　in　your　Mexican　pals；　either。〃
　
　Seeing　that　intimidation　wasn't　going　to　work；　the　lawyer　reached　for　the　phone。　〃I'm　calling　the　police。〃
　
　〃Why　don't　you　call　the　bar　association　while　you're　at　it？〃　Austin　said。　〃I'm　sure　they'd　like　to　hear　how　one　of　their　members　set　up　a　deal　with　a　notorious　Mexican　mafioso。　That　framed　license　on　your　wall　won't　be　worth　the　paper　it's　printed　on。〃
　
　The　hand　retreated；　and　Hanley　stared　across　the　desk。　〃Who　are　you　gentlemen？〃　He　practically　spat　out　the　last　word。
　
　〃A　couple　of　people　who　want　to　know　more　about　that　plant　in　the　Baja；〃　Austin　said。
　
　Hanley　was　having　a　hard　time　trying　to　figure　out　this　pair。　With　their　athletic　builds　and　sun…burnished　faces　they　looked　like　a　couple　of　beach　bums；　but　he　detected　a　hard　edge　under　their　genial　image。
　
　〃Even　if　you　had　credible　authority　I　couldn't　help　you；〃　he　said。　〃All　discussions　on　that　matter　are　covered　by　lawyer…client　privilege。〃
　
　〃That's　true；〃　Austin　said　agreeably。　〃It　is　also　true　that　you　could　go　to　jail　for　making　a　dirty　deal　with　a　known　criminal。〃
　
　Hanley's　mouth　widened　in　an　insincere　smile。　〃Okay；　you　win；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　tell　you　what　I　can。　But　let's　promise。　Tell　me　why　you　are　interested　in　this　property。　It　would　be　the　fair　thing　to　do。〃　
　
　　〃True；〃　Austin　said；　〃but　this　is　an　unfair　world。〃　His　coral　green　eyes　bored　into　Hanley's　face。　〃I'll　put　your　mind　at　ease。　Your　slimy　dealings　are　not　our　concern。　Once　you　tell　us　who　hired　you　for　the　Baja　job；　chances　are　you'll　never　see　us　again。〃
　
　Hanley　nodded　and　plucked　a　cigar　from　a　humidor　without　offering　his　guests　one。　He　lit　up　and　puffed　smoke　in　their　direction。　〃I　was　contacted　about　two　years　ago　by　a　broker　from　Sacramento。　He　had　heard　about　my；　ah；　connections；　south　of　the　border　and　thought　I　would　be　the　perfect　go…between　for　a　highly　lucrative　deal　with　no　risk　and　little　work。〃
　
　〃An　offer　you　couldn't　refuse。〃
　
　〃Of　course。　But　I　was　cautious。　Everyone　in　California　has　a　get…rich　scheme。　He　knew　about　my　ties　to　Enrico。　So　I　had　to　make　sure　this　guy　wasn't　working　in　an　official　capacity。　I　had　a　private　detective　check　him　out。　He　was　legit。〃
　
　Austin　smiled　faintly　at　the　irony　of　a　crooked　lawyer　worrying　about　honesty。　〃What　did　he　hire　you　to　do？〃
　
　〃The　people　he　represented　wanted　to　find　land　in　the　Baja。　It　had　to　be　remote　and　on　the　coast。　Then　he　wanted　me　to　handle　the　paperwork　and　red　tape　involved　in　starting　a　business　in　Mexico。〃
　
　〃Baja　Tortillas。〃
　
　〃Yes。　He　wanted　a　Mexican　to　hold　the　actual　ownership　for　the　plant。　He　said　it　would　be　easier　that　way。　It　would　be　a　turnkey　operation。　He　supplied　the　plant　specifications　and　brought　in　a　construction　crew。　His　clients　would　require　access　to　the　plant　after　it　was　built；　but　they　would　not　interfere　in　the　operation。　They　said　Enrico　could　keep　half　the　profits；　and　the　plant　would　be　his　free　and　clear　after　five　years。〃
　
　〃Did　you　ever　wonder　why　anyone　would　be　so　generous　with　what　must　have　been　a　considerable　investment？〃
　
　〃I　am　paid　substantially　because　I　don't　ask　questions　like　that。〃
　
　〃Seems　your　friends　wanted　a　cover　operation；〃　Zavala　said。
　
　〃That　certainly　crossed　my　mind。　The　Japanese　ran　into　all　sorts　of　flak　when　they　tried　to　build　a　salt…producing　plant　
　along　the　coast。　A　bunch　of　whale　huggers　made　a　big　stink　with　the　Mexican　government。　I　assumed　the　man's　clients　saw　what　had　happened　with　the　Japanese　and　didn't　want　to　go　through　the　same　headaches。〃　〃Who　was　this　broker？〃
　
　〃His　name　was　Jones。　Oh　yes；　that's　his　real　name；〃　Hanley　added　when　he　saw　the　skeptical　glances。　〃He's　a　matchmaker　who　specializes　in　buying　and　selling　businesses。〃
　
　〃Who　was　he　representing？〃
　
　〃He　never　told　me。〃
　
　Austin　leaned　forward　onto　Hanley's　desk。　〃Don't　jerk　us　around；　Mr。　Hanley。　You're　a　careful　man。　You　would　have　had　your　private　detective　poke　into　this　guy。〃
　
　Hanley　shrugged。　〃Why　deny　it？　The　clients　tried　to　hide　their　identity　behind　a　web　of　corporate　paper。〃
　
　〃You　said　tried。　Who　are　they？〃
　
　〃I　only　got　as　far　as　an　outfit　called　the　Mulholland　Group。　It's　a　closed　corporation　with　ties　to　panies　involved　in　large…scale　hydraulic　projects。〃
　
　〃What　else？〃
　
　〃That's　all　I　know。〃　Hanley　checked　his　Cartier　wrist　watch。　〃If　you'll　excuse　me；　I　have　an　appointment　with　a　real　client。〃
　
　〃We　want　the　broker's　address　and　phone　number。〃
　
　〃It　won't　do　you　any　good。　He　died　a　few　weeks　ago。　His　car　went　off　a　mountain　road。〃
　
　Austin　had　been　gazing　through　the　floor…to…ceiling　window　behind　Hanley　at　a　helicopter　going　back　and　forth　across　the　harbor。　It　was　moving　closer　with　each　pass。　At　the　mention　of　unusual　death；　he　brought　his　full　attention　back　to　Hanley。
　
　〃We'd　like　whatever　information　you　have　on　him　anyway。　And　your　whole　file　as　well。〃
　
　Hanley　frowned。　He　thought　he　was　through　with　this　annoying　pair。　〃I　can't　give　you　the　original。　I'll　have　it　copied。　It　might　take　a　couple　of　hours。〃
　
　〃That　would　be　fine。　We'11　be　back　for　it　in　two　hours。〃　
　
　　Hanley's　frown　deepened。　Then　he　smiled　again；　rose　from　his　desk；　and　showed　them　to　the　door。
　
　Back　in　the　elevator；　Austin　said；　〃We'll　call　Hiram　Yaeger。　Hanley's　bound　to　censor　the　stuff　he　gives　us；　so　we　might　want　to　conduct　our　own　investigation　into　this　Mulholland　Group。〃　Hiram　Yaeger　was　NUMA's　puter　whiz。　The　tenth…floor　puter　plex　he　called　Max　was　plugged　into　a　vast　data　base　of　oceanic　knowledge　from　every　source　in　the　world。　Max　routinely　hacked　into　outside　databases。
　
　They　stepped　out　of　the　building　lobby　into　the　Southern　California　sun。　As　Zavala　walked　to　the　curb　to　hail　a　cab　there　was　a　loud　whup…whup　sound　from　directly　overhead。　A　green　helicopter　hovered　over　the　street；　about　a　hundred　feet　from　the　glass　face　of　the　building。　Like　the　other　pedestrians　they　stared　at　the　aircraft　with　curiosity。　Then　recognition　flashed　in　Austin's　mind。
　
　He　grabbed　Zavala's　arm。　〃We've　got　to　go　back。〃
　
　Zavala　glanced　at　the　helicopter　and　bolted　for　the　revolving　door　behind　Austin。
　
　They　dashed　into　an　open　elevator　and　punched　the　button　for　the　lawyer's　floor。　Halfway　up　there　was　a　dull　thud；　and　the　elevator's　sides　rattled　in　the　shaft。　Austin　hit　the　stop　button　for　the　floor　below　Hanley's　office。　They　ran　past　startled　office　workers　and　raced　up　the　stairway　to　the　next　level。
　
　Acrid　black　smoke　filled　the　stairwell。　Austin　felt　the　door　to　the　law…office　floor。　Unable　to　detect　heat　that　would　indicate　a　fierce　blaze　on　the　other　side；　he　opened　the　door　a　crack。　More　smoke　poured　out。　They　opened　the　door　wide　enough　to　pass　through；　got　down　on　their　hands　and　knees；　and　crawled　through　the　choking　fumes　into　the　receptionist's　area。　The　sprinkler　system　had　been　set　off；　and　they　were　drenched　under　a　cooling　spray。　The　receptionist　lay　on　the　rug　next　to　her　desk。
　
　〃What　about　Hanley？〃　Joe　shouted。　Smoke　was　billowing　from　the　office　door。
　
　〃Don't　bother。　He's　gone。〃
　
　They　dragged　the　receptionist　to　the　stairwell　and　got　her　
　limp　body　down　to　the　floor　below。　She　came　around　after　a　few　minutes　of　mouth…to…mouth　resuscitation。　Soon　firemen　pounded　onto　the　floor；　and　they　turned　her　over　to　an　EMT。　They　walked　down　rather　than　take　an　elevator　where　they　would　be　stuck　if　the　power　went　off。　More　firemen　poured　into　the　lobby。　The　police　had　arrived　and　were　evacuating　the　building。　They　joined　the　crowd　milling　around　outside；　but　seeing　there　was　nothing　they　could　do；　they　walked　a　couple　of　blocks　and　hailed　a　cab。
　
　The　driver；　a　Senegalese　from　the　looks　of　his　ID　card；　glanced　at　their　soot…covered　faces。　〃You　in　there？　Man；　I　just　heard　over　the　radio。　Some　kind　of　explosion。〃
　
　Zavala　looked　out　the　back　window　at　the　confusion　outside　the　building　where　police　were　stopping　traffic　and　setting　up　a　fire　line。
　
　Zavala　wiped　the　soot　from　his　cheek。　〃How　did　you　know　that　was　going　to　happen？〃
　
　〃I　didn't。　But　I　noticed　the　helicopter　going　back　and　forth　across　the　harbor　when　we　were　talking　to　Hanley。〃
　
　〃I　saw　it；　too；　but　didn't　pay　much　attention。　I　figured　it　was　a　traffic　chopper。〃
　
　〃I　had　the　same　reaction　at　first。　Then　we　saw　it　up　close；　and　something　clicked。　The　same　chopper　or　one　very　much　like　it　did　a　fly…by　after　the　explosion　at　the　tortilla　plant。〃
　
　〃I　remember。　Dark　green。　It　buzzed　the　cove；　then　flew　off。〃　Zavala　pondered　the　implication。　〃Whoever　owned　that　chopper　wanted　Hanley　dead　in　a　bad　way。〃
　
　〃Hanley　ran　with　a　pretty　rough　crowd。〃
　
　〃You　think　it　was　Enrico？〃
　
　〃It's　possible。　He　knew　we　would　talk　to　Hanley。　I　was　surprised　he　didn't　call　Hanley　to　warn　him　we　were　ing。〃
　
　〃I've　been　thinking　about　Mr。　Jones；　the　guy　who　brokered　the　deal；〃　Zavala　said　thoughtfully。　〃Maybe　his　mouth　was　shut　for　him　as　well。〃
　
　〃It　would　fit　in　with　the　Enrico　theory　until　something　better　es　along；〃　Austin　said。　
　
　　Something　better　did　e　along　back　at　the　hotel。　While　Austin　went　in　to　clean　up　and　change；　Zavala　flipped　to　the　TV　news。　The　camera　showed　shots　of　smoke　belching　from　the　office　and　fire　trucks　outside。　The　fire　department　spokesman　said　a　number　of　people　were　treated　for　smoke　inhalation；　but　there　was　apparently　only　one　death。　The　name　would　be　released　pending　notice　of　next　of　kin。　Cause　of　the　explosion　was　un　known。　The　report　ended；　and　Zavala　was　about　to　turn　the　TV　off　when　a　familiar　face　appeared　on　the　screen。
　
　〃Kurt；　you've　got　to　see　this；〃　he　called。
　
　Austin　emerged　in　time　to　hear　the　blow…dried　announcer　give　his　report。
　
　〃This