cussler.blueandgold-第33章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


sident　would　be　kept　out　of　the　loop　officially；　for　purposes　of　deniability。　The　policy　would　generate　a　course　of　action　in　response　to　a　given　threat　or　threats。　That　was　the　protocol。　The　action　was　distilled　into　an　order。　The　order　was　broken　down　into　a　number　of　parts。〃
　
　〃Makes　sense。　That　way　those　who　carried　out　the　order　only　knew　their　small　part　of　it。　You　preserve　secrecy。〃
　
　'Aha；　I　guess　they　did　teach　you　something　in　the　halls　of　Eli；　even　if　it's　all　wrong。　Those　nutty　plans　like　whacking　Castro　or　Iran…contra　were　set　up　that　way；　and　they　all　fell　apart。〃
　
　〃So　why　have　a　protocol　at　all？〃
　
　〃The　prime　reason　is　so　the　guys　at　the　top　can　disallow　responsibility。　A　protocol　was　usually　reserved　for　the　most　serious　type　of　action。　In　this　case；　we're　talking　about　a　political　assassination。　It　was　not　something　taken　lightly。　Heads　of　state　are　not　supposed　to　plot　the　demise　of　other　heads　of　state　or　people　in　their　own　government。　It　makes　for　bad　precedent。　So　the　order　would　be　multilevel。　It　was　designed　not　to　leave　finger　prints。　No　one　gave　orders　that　could　be　traced　back。　A　number　of　predetermined　circumstances　had　to　e　about　for　the　mand　to　be　followed　through　to　its　end。〃
　
　〃It　sounds　like　the　fail…safe　system　they　used　with　the　nuclear　bombers。　There　were　several　steps　involved；　and　the　mission　could　be　aborted　up　until　the　very　last。〃
　
　〃Something　like　that。　Let　me　give　you　another　analogy。　A　threat　is　perceived。　One　hand　takes　out　the　gun。　The　threat　grows。　Another　hand　loads　the　bullet。　The　threat　escalates。　A
　third　hand　cocks　the　hammer。　Next；　the　trigger　is　pulled　and　the　threat　is　eliminated。　All　those　action…reaction　steps　would　be　necessary　for　the　gun　to　fire。〃
　
　Browning　nodded。　〃I　understand　what　you're　saying；　but　I　can't　figure　out　how　the　bloody　thing　got　onto　my　puter。〃
　
　〃Maybe　that's　not　as　mysterious　as　it　seems。〃　Most　of　Row　land's　days　were　spent　in　the　boring　task　of　reading　and　analyzing　newspapers；　and　he　relished　the　chance　for　intellectual　exercise。　He　leaned　back　in　the　chair　and　stared　at　the　ceiling。
　
　〃The　protocol　originally　would　have　been　recorded　on　paper；　probably　broken　down　into　parts。　It　is　never　carried　out。　Then　the　agency　goes　from　paper　to　puters。　The　protocol　bees　encoded　in　the　agency's　database。　It　sits　there　for　decades；　until　all　the　triggering　mechanisms　are　in　place　to　activate　it。　The　director　is　supposed　to　be　notified　automatically；　only　the　files　have　been　declassified　and　the　puter　doesn't　know　that　a　lowly　analyst　will　be　reading　a　file　meant　only　for　the　director。〃
　
　〃Brilliant；〃　Browning　said。　〃Now　we　have　to　figure　out　what　could　have　set　a　fifty…year…old　protocol　in　motion。　I　was　looking　at　these　same　files　yesterday。　This　was　not　there。〃
　
　〃That　means　the　protocol　was　activated　in　the　last　twenty　four　hours。　Wait…〃　The　e…mail　was　blinking。　Rowland　retrieved　the　message。
　
　〃Dear　Rowland。　Here's　your　message。　Ho…hum。　Please　send　something　more　challenging　next　time。〃
　
　The　words　on　the　screen　simply　said；　〃Sanction　under　way。〃
　
　〃It's　a　coded　reply　from　the　hit　man；〃　Rowland　said。　Browning　shook　his　head。　〃I　wonder　who　the　poor　bastard　was。〃
　
　〃I　don't　think　we　have　to　worry　about　the　past；　it's　the　future　I'm　concerned　about。〃
　
　〃Hey；　c'mon；　Jack；　it's　been　half　a　century　since　this　protocol　was　approved。　Everyone　involved　must　be　long　dead。　Hit　man　and　victim　alike。〃
　
　〃Maybe；〃　Rowland　said。　〃Maybe　not。〃　He　tapped　the　words　on　the　screen。　〃This　reply　has　just　been　sent。　It　means　the　hit　man　is　still　alive；　and　so　is　his　victim。　At　least　for　now。〃　
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　
　Rowland　reached　for　the　phone；　a　grave　expression　carved　into　the　usual　cheery　face。
　
　〃The　director　didn't　countermand　the　order；　so　it　goes　to　the　next　step。　The　killing。〃　Rowland　held　his　hand　up　to　cut　off　Browning's　question。　〃Please　put　me　through　to　the　director；〃　he　barked　into　the　phone。　〃Yes；　it's　urgent；〃　he　said；　his　voice　rising　in　a　rare　display　of　emotion。　〃Damned　urgent！〃
　
　Chapter　22
　The　blaze　had　been　extinguished　and　the　firefighters　were　mopping　up　when　Zavala　re　turned　to　Hanley's　office　building。　Zavala　bluffed　his　way　past　the　yellow　police　tape　with　officious　flashes　of　his　NUMA　identification　card。　He　waved　the　laminated　card　with　his　picture　close　to　the　arson　investigator's　nose；　then　quickly　tucked　it　back　into　his　billfold。　He　didn't　want　to　explain　why　someone　from　a　federal　ocean　science　agency　was　at　a　San　Diego　disaster　scene。
　
　The　investigator；　whose　name　was　Connors；　said　witnesses　had　told　him　about　the　hovering　helicopter　and　described　a　strange　flash　of　light　before　the　explosion；　but　he　hadn't　eliminated　the　possibility　that　the　detonation　was　internal。　Zavala　couldn't　blame　him。　It's　not　every　day　an　armed　helicopter　at　tacks　an　office　building　in　San　Diego。
　
　〃How　is　the　injured　woman？〃　Zavala　asked。
　
　〃Okay　last　I　heard；〃　Connors　said。　〃A　couple　of　guys　dragged　her　out　of　her　office　before　the　fire　got　going。〃
　
　Zavala　then　thanked　Connors　and　walked　to　the　next　block　to　catch　a　taxi。　As　he　raised　his　hand　to　hail　a　cab；　a　plain　black　Ford　sedan　pulled　up　to　the　curb。　Agent　Miguel　Gomez　was　be　hind　the　wheel。　The　FBI　man　leaned　across　the　seat　and　opened　the　door。　Zavala　got　in。
　
　Gomez　gave　Zavala　his　world…weary　look。　〃Things　sure　have　gotten　busy　since　you　and　your　partner　arrived　in　town；〃　the　agent　said。　〃A　few　hours　after　you　walk　into　my　office　the　Farmer　and　his　sleaze　ball　lawyer　go　up　in　smoke。　Why　don't　you　stick　around　a　few　more　days？　The　whole　Mexican　mafia　and　their　pals　will　self…destruct；　and　I'll　be　out　of　a　job；　which　will　suit　me　fine。〃
　
　Zavala　chuckled。　〃Thanks　again　for　watching　our　backs　in　Tijuana。〃
　
　〃In　return　for　risking　an　international　incident　by　bringing　a　sniper　team　across　the　border；　maybe　you'll　tell　me　what　in　God's　name　is　going　on。〃
　
　〃I　wish　I　knew；〃　Zavala　said　with　a　shrug。　〃What's　the　story　on　Pedralez？〃
　
　〃He　was　in　his　armored　car　going　through　Colonia　Obrera；　a　cutthroat　neighborhood　west　of　Tijuana。　He's　got　bodyguards　in　SUVs　in　front　and　behind。　The　lead　vehicle　gets　hit　first。　A　second　later　Pedralez's　car　explodes。　It　must　have　been　slammed　real　hard　because　that　thing　was　built　like　a　tank。　The　driver　of　the　third　vehicle　does　a　quick　U…turn　and　gets　the　hell　out。〃
　
　'An　antitank　missile　would　have　done　the　job。〃
　
　Gomez　affixed　Zavala　with　dark；　probing　eyes。　〃The　Mexican　police　found　the　loader　for　a　Swedish　Gustav　antitank　missile　in　an　alley。〃
　
　〃The　Swedes　are　attacking　Mexican　drug　lords？〃
　
　〃I　wish。　The　hardware　is　available　on　the　world　arms　market。　They're　probably　giving　them　away　on　the　backs　of　cereal　boxes。　You　can　fire　the　thing　from　the　shoulder。　They　tell　me　two　guys　can　get　off　six　rounds　a　minute。　What　do　you　know　about　this　thing　with　Hanley？〃
　
　〃Kurt　and　I　had　just　left　the　building　when　we　saw　a　green　helicopter　hovering　outside　Hanley's　office。　We　went　back　inside　and　heard　the　blast　while　we　were　in　the　elevator。　Some　wit　nesses　saw　a　flash　of　light。　It　could　have　been　from　a　missile　launcher。〃
　
　〃How　many　missiles　does　it　take　to　wipe　out　a　shyster？　Sounds　like　a　lawyer　joke。〃
　
　〃I　don't　see　Hanley　laughing。〃　
　
　　〃Guy　never　did　have　a　sense　of　humor。　Talk　about　overkill。　Someone　really　wanted　him　dead　real　bad　to　go　through　all　that　trouble。〃　He　paused。　〃Why　did　you　go　back　into　the　building？〃
　
　〃Kurt　thought　the　helicopter　looked　like　one　he　had　seen　after　the　explosion　in　the　Baja。〃
　
　〃So　you　already　talked　with　Hanley？〃
　
　Gomez　might　look　sleepy；　but　he　didn't　miss　a　trick；　Zavala　thought。
　
　〃We　asked　him　about　the　tortilla　plant。　He　said　a　Sacramento　business　broker　contacted　him　for　a　client　who　wanted　to　get　a　cover　operation　going　in　Mexico。　Hanley　hooked　his　client　up　with　Pedralez。〃
　
　〃What　was　the　broker's　name？〃
　
　〃Jones。　Save　your　dime。　He's　dead。〃
　
　Gomez　smirked。　〃Don't　tell　me。　His　car　blew　up。〃
　
　〃He　drove　off　a　cliff。　It　was　supposedly　an　accident。〃
　
　A　man　in　a　dark　blue　suit　came　over　and　tapped　on　the　car　window。　The　agent　nodded　and　turned　back　to　Zavala。　〃They　want　me　inside。　Let's　keep　in　touch。〃　He　switched　to　Spanish。　〃We　Mexican…American　chili　peppers　have　to　stick　together。〃
　
　〃Definitely；〃　Zavala　said；　opening　the　door　to　get　out。　〃I'll　be　heading　back　to　Washington。　Call　me　at　NUMA　headquarters　if　I　can　be　of　help。〃
　
　Zavala　had　been　truthful　with　Gomez　up　to　a　point。　He　purposely　hadn't　mentioned　Hanley's　disclosure　about　the　Mulholland　Group。　He　doubted　the　FBI　would　blast　its　way　through　the　front　door　warrant　in　hand；　but　he　hadn't　wanted　to　plicate　his　investigation。　On　his　return　to　the　hotel　he　called　Los　Angeles　directory　assistance　and　tried　the　number　he　was　given　for　the　Mulholland　Group。　The　pleasant…sounding　receptionist　who　answered　the　phone　gave　him　directions　to　the　office。　He　asked　the　hotel　concierge　to　arrange　a　rental　car；　and　before　long　he　was　driving　north　to　Los　Angeles。
　
　Later　that　morning　he　pulled　off　the　Hollywood　Freeway　into　a　typical　California　maze　of　close…built　residential　blocks　interspersed　with　mercial　plazas。　Zavala　wasn't　sure　what　he　expected；　but　after　the　explosion　in　Baja　and　the　bizarre　deaths　of　Hanley　and　Pedralez；　he　was　surprised　to　find　a　well…marked　office　in　a　professional　building　sandwiched　between　a　Staples　office　supply　store　and　a　Pizza　Hut。
　
　The　lobby　was　open　and　airy。　The　cheery　receptionist　who　greeted　him　was　the　same　one　who　had　given　him　directions　on　the　phone。　He　didn't　have　to　exert　his　Latin　charm。　She　readily　answered　questions　about　the　pany；　showered　Zavala　with　brochures；　and　said　to　call　if　he　ever　needed　hydraulic　engineering　services。　He　went　back　out　to　his　rental　car　and　sat　behind　the　wheel　staring　at　the　unassuming　facade；　wondering　what　to　do　next。　His　cell　phone　buzzed。　Austin　was　calling　from　his　office　at　NUMA　headquarters。
　
　〃Any　luck　at　your　end？〃　Kurt　said。
　
　〃I'm　sitting　outside　the　Mulholland　Group　as　we　speak；〃　Zavala　said。　He　filled　him　in　on　his　findings。　Austin　in　turn　told　Joe　about　his　visit　to　the　Garber　center；　his　conversation　with　Buzz　Martin；　and　the　revelations　from　Max。
　
　〃You've　acplished　a　hell　of　a　lot　more　than　I　have；〃　Zavala　said。
　
　'All　blind　alleys　so　far。　I'm　heading　to　upstate　New　York　this　afternoon　to　see　if　I　can　clear　up　the　mystery　of　the　flying　wing　pilot。　While　you're　in　L。A。　maybe　you　can　poke　around　on　Gogstad。〃
　
　They　agreed　to　pare　notes　back　in　Washington　the　next　day。　Zavala　hung　up　and　called　information　for　the　Los　Angeles　Times。　He　got　through　to　the　newsroom；　where　he　gave　his　name　and　asked　for　Randy　Cohen　in　the　business　section。
　
　Moments　later　a　boyish　voice　came　on　the　phone。
　
　〃Joe　Zavala；　what　a　nice　surprise！　How　are　you？〃
　
　〃I'm　fine；　thanks。　How's　the　best　investigative　reporter　west　of　the　Mississippi？〃
　
　〃Doing　what　I　can　with　the　limited　brain　cells　left　from　our　tequila　sunrise　days。　Are　you　still　keeping　NUMA　afloat？〃
　
　〃As　a　matter　of　fact　I'm　in　town　on　NUMA　business　and　wondered　if　you　could　gi