tc.patriotgames-第43章

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　　　　〃No；　but　I　can　fix　that　pretty　easy；〃　Ryan　said。
　　　　〃It's　a　good　idea。　I　don't　know　the　layout　of　your　place；　but　if　you　can　buy　yourself　a　few　seconds；　and　you　got　that　shotgun；　Lieutenant；　you　can　make　'em　wish　they　never　came　calling　　at　least　you　can　hold　them　off　till　the　police　e。　Like　I　said；　the　name　of　the　game's　just　staying　alive。　Now；　what　about　your　family？〃
　　　　〃My　wife's　a　doc；　and　she's　pregnant。　My　little　girl　　well；　you　saw　her　on　TV；　I　guess。〃　
　　　　〃Does　your　wife　know　how　to　shoot？〃　
　　　　〃I　don't　think　she's　ever　touched　a　gun　in　her　life。〃　
　　　　〃I　teach　a　class　in　firearms　safety　for　women　　part　of　the　work　I　do　with　the　local　police。〃
　　　　Ryan　wondered　how　Cathy　would　react　to　all　this。　He　put　that　one　off。　〃What　sort　of　handgun　you　think　I　oughta　get？〃　
　　　　〃If　you　e　by　tomorrow；　I'll　try　you　out　on　a　couple　of　'em。　Mainly　you　want　something　you're　fortable　with。　Don't　go　out　and　get　a　。44　Magnum；　okay？　I　like　automatics；　myself。　The　springs　eat　up　a　lot　of　the　recoil；　so　they're　easier　to　get　fortable　with。　You　want　to　buy　something　that's　fun　to　shoot；　not　something　that　beats　up　on　your　hand　and　wrist。　Me；　I　like　the　。45　Colt；　but　I　been　shooting　that　little　baby　for　twenty…some　years。〃　Breckenridge　grabbed　Ryan's　right　hand　and　flexed　it　around　roughly。　〃I　think　I'll　start　you　off　on　a　9…millimeter　Browning。　Your　hand　looks　big　enough　to　hold　it　right　　the　Browning's　got　a　thirteen…shot　clip；　you　need　a　fair…sized　hand　to　control　it　proper。　Got　a　nice　safety；　too。　If　you　have　a　kid　in　the　house；　Lieutenant；　you'd　better　think　about　safety；　okay？〃
　　　　〃No　problem；〃　Ryan　said。　〃I　can　keep　it　where　she　can't　reach　it　　we　got　a　big　closet；　and　I　can　keep　them　there；　seven　feet　off　the　floor。　Can　I　practice　with　a　big…bore　handgun　in　here？〃　
　　　　The　Sergeant　Major　laughed。　〃That　backstop　we　got　used　to　be　the　armor　plate　on　a　heavy　cruiser。　Mainly　we　use　。22's　in　here；　but　my　guards　practice　with　。45's　all　the　time。　Sounds　to　me　like　you　know　shotgunnin'　pretty　good。　Once　you　have　that　skill　with　pistol　too；　you'll　be　able　to　do　it　with　any　gun　you　pick　up。　Trust　me；　sir；　this　is　what　I　do　for　a　living。〃　
　　　　〃When　do　you　want　me　here？〃　
　　　　〃Say　about　four；　every　afternoon？〃　
　　　　Ryan　nodded。　〃Okay。〃
　　　　〃About　your　wife　　look；　just　bring　her　over　some　Saturday　maybe。　I'll　sit　her　down　and　talk　to　her　about　guns。　Lots　of　women；　they're　just　afraid　of　the　noise　　and　there's　all　that　crap　on　TV。　If　nothing　else；　we'll　get　her　used　to　shotgunning。　You　say　she's　a　doc；　so　she's　gotta　be　pretty　smart。　Hell；　maybe　she'll　like　it。　You'd　be　surprised　how　many　of　the　gals　I　teach　really　get　into　it。〃
　　　　Ryan　shook　his　head。　Cathy　had　never　once　touched　his　shotgun；　and　whenever　he　cleaned　it；　kept　Sally　out　of　the　room。　Jack　hadn't　thought　much　about　it；　and　hadn't　minded　having　Sally　out　of　the　way。　Little　kids　and　firearms　were　not　a　happy　mixture。　At　home　he　usually　had　the　Remington　disassembled　and　the　ammunition　locked　away　in　the　basement。　How　would　Cathy　react　to　having　a　loaded　gun　in　the　house？
　　　　What　if　you　start　carrying　a　gun　around？　How　will　she　react　to　that？　What　if　the　bad　guys　are　interested　in　going　after　them；　too　。　。　。？
　　　　〃I　know　what　you're　thinkin'；　Lieutenant；〃　Breckenridge　said。　〃Hey；　the　mander　said　the　FBI　didn't　think　any　of　this　crap　was　gonna　happen；　right？〃　
　　　　〃Yeah。〃　
　　　　〃So　what　you're　doin'　is　buyin'　insurance；　okay？〃　
　　　　〃He　said　that；　too；〃　Ryan　replied。
　　　　〃Look　　we　get　intel　reports　here；　sir。　Yeah；　that's　right。　Ever　since　those　bike　bums　broke　in；　we　get　stuff　from　the　cops　and　the　FBI；　and　from　some　other　places　　even　the　Coast　Guard。　Some　of　their　guys　e　here　for　firearms　training；　'cause　of　the　drug　stuff　they　got　'em　doing　now。　I'll　keep　an　ear　out；　too；〃　Breckenridge　assured　him。
　　　　Information　　it's　all　a　battle　for　information。　You　have　to　know　what's　happening　if　you're　going　to　do　anything　about　it。　Jack　turned　back　to　look　at　Jackson　while　he　made　a　decision　that　he'd　been　trying　to　avoid　ever　since　he　got　back　from　England。　He　still　had　the　number　in　his　office。
　　　　〃And　if　they　tell　you　those　bike　bums　are　ing　back？〃　Ryan　asked　with　a　smile。
　　　　〃They'll　wish　they　didn't；〃　the　Sergeant　Major　said　seriously。　〃This　is　a　U。S。　Navy　reservation；　guarded　by　the　United　States　Marine　Corps。〃
　　　　And　that's　the　name　of　that　tune；　Ryan　thought。　〃Well；　thanks；　Gunny。　I'll　get　out　of　your　way。〃
　　　　Breckenridge　saw　them　to　the　door。　〃Sixteen　hundred　tomorrow；　Lieutenant。　How　about　you；　mander　Jackson？〃　
　　　　〃I'll　stick　to　missiles　and　cannons；　Gunny。　Safer　that　way。　G'night。〃　
　　　　〃Good　night；　sir。〃
　　　　Robby　walked　Jack　back　to　his　office。　They　had　to　pass　on　the　daily　drinks。　Jackson　had　to　do　some　shopping　on　the　way　home。　After　his　friend　left。　Jack　stared　at　his　telephone　for　several　minutes。　Somehow　he'd　managed　to　avoid　doing　this　for　several　weeks　despite　his　wish　to　track　down　information　on　the　ULA。　But　it　wasn't　just　curiosity　anymore。　Ryan　flipped　open　his　telephone　book　and　turned　to　the　〃G〃　page。　He　was　able　to　call　the　D。C。　area　direct；　though　his　finger　hesitated　before　it　jabbed　down　on　each　button。
　　　　〃This　is　Mrs。　Cummings；〃　a　voice　answered　after　the　first　ring。　Jack　took　a　deep　breath。
　　　　〃Hello；　Nancy；　this　is　Doctor　Ryan。　Is　the　boss　in？〃　
　　　　〃Let　me　check。　Can　you　hold　for　a　second？〃　
　　　　〃Yes。〃
　　　　They　didn't　have　one　of　the　new　musical　hold　buttons　there；　Ryan　noted。　There　was　just　the　muted　chirp　of　electronic　noise　for　him　to　listen　to。　Am　I　doing　the　right　thing？　he　wondered。　He　admitted　to　himself　that　he　didn't　know。　
　　　　〃Jack？〃　a　familiar　voice　said。　
　　　　〃Hello；　Admiral。〃　
　　　　〃How's　the　family？〃　
　　　　〃Fine；　thank　you；　sir。〃　
　　　　〃They　came　through　all　the　excitement　all　right？〃　
　　　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　　　〃And　I　understand　that　your　wife's　expecting　another　baby。　Congratulations。〃
　　　　And　how　did　you　know　that；　Admiral？　Ryan　did　not　ask。　He　didn't　have　to。　The　DDI　was　supposed　to　know　everything；　and　there　were　at　least　a　million　ways　he　might　have　found　out。　
　　　　〃Thank　you；　sir。〃　
　　　　〃So；　what　can　I　do　for　you？〃
　　　　〃Admiral；　I　。　。　。〃　Jack　hesitated。　〃I　want　to　look　into　this　ULA　bunch。〃
　　　　〃Yeah；　I　thought　you　might。　I　have　here　on　my　desk　a　report　from　the　FBI's　terrorism　unit　about　them；　and　we've　been　coordinating　lately　with　the　SIS。　I'd　like　to　see　you　back　here。　Jack。　Maybe　even　on　a　more　permanent　basis。　Have　you　thought　our　offer　over　any　more　since　we　last　spoke？〃　Greer　inquired　innocently。
　　　　〃Yes；　sir；　I　have；　but　。　。　。　well；　I　am　mitted　to　the　end　of　the　school　year。〃　Jack　temporized。　He　didn't　want　to　have　to　face　that　particular　question。　If　forced；　he'd　just　say　no；　and　that　would　kill　his　chance　to　get　into　Langley。
　　　　〃I　understand。　Take　your　time。　When　do　you　want　to　e　over？〃
　　　　Why　are　you　making　it　so　easy？　〃Could　I　e　over　tomorrow　morning？　My　first　class　isn't　until　two　in　the　afternoon。〃　
　　　　〃No　problem。　Be　at　the　main　gate　at　eight　in　the　morning。　They'll　be　waiting　for　you。　See　ya。〃　
　　　　〃Goodbye；　sir。〃　Jack　hung　up。
　　　　Well；　that　was　easy。　Too　easy；　Jack　thought。　What's　he　up　to？　Ryan　dismissed　the　thought。　He　wanted　to　look　at　what　CIA　had。　They　might　have　stuff　the　FBI　didn't；　at　the　least　he'd　get　a　look　at　more　data　than　he　had　now；　and　Jack　wanted　to　do　that。
　　　　Nevertheless　the　drive　home　was　a　troubled　one。　Jack　watched　his　rearview　mirror　after　remembering　that　he'd　left　the　Academy　the　same　way　he　always　did。　The　hell　of　it　was；　he　did　see　familiar　cars。　That　was　a　problem　with　making　your　mute　about　the　same　time　every　day。　There　were　at　least　twenty　cars　that　he　had　learned　to　recognize。　There　was　someone's　secretary　driving　her　Camaro　Z…28。　She　had　to　be　a　secretary。　She　was　dressed　too　well　to　be　anything　else。　Then　there　was　the　young　lawyer　in　his　BMW　　the　car　made　him　a　lawyer；　Ryan　thought；　wondering　how　he　had　ever　assigned　tags　to　his　fellow　muters。　What　if　a　new　one　shows　up？　he　wondered。　Will　you　be　able　to　tell　which　one　is　a　terrorist？　Fat　chance；　he　knew。　Miller；　for　all　the　danger　that　lay　on　his　face；　would　look　ordinary　enough　with　a　jacket　and　tie；　just　another　state　employee　fighting　his　way　up　Route　2　into　Annapolis　。　。　。　
　　　　〃Paranoid；　all　this　is　paranoid；〃　Ryan　murmured　to　himself。　Pretty　soon　he'd　check　the　rear　seat　in　his　car　before　he　got　in；　to　see　if　someone　might　be　lurking　back　there　like　on　TV；　with　a　pistol　or　garrote！　He　wondered　if　the　whole　thing　might　be　a　stupid；　paranoid　waste　of　time。　What　if　Dan　Murray　just　had　a　bug　up　his　ass　or　was　simply　being　cautious？　The　Bureau　probably　taught　its　men　to　be　cautious　on　these　things；　he　was　sure。　Do　I　scare　Cathy　over　this？　What　if　that's　all　there　is　to　it？　
　　　　What　if　it's　not？
　　　　That's　why　I'm　going　to　go　to　Langley　tomorrow；　Ryan　answered　himself。

　　　　They　sent　Sally　to　bed　at　8：30；　dressed　in　her　bunny…rabbit　sleeper；　the　flannel　pajamas　with　feet　that　keep　kids　warm　through　the　night。　She　was　getting　a　little　old　for　that；　Jack　thought；　but　his　wife　insisted　on　them；　since　their　daughter　had　a　habit　of　kicking　the　blankets　en　the　floor　in　the　middle　of　the　night。　
　　　　〃How　was　work　today？〃　his　wife　asked。
　　　　〃The　mids　gave　me　a　medal；〃　he　said；　and　explained　on　for　a　few　minutes。　Finally　he　pulled　the　Order　of　the　Purple　Target　out　of　his　briefcase。　Cathy　found　it　amusing。　The　smiling　stopped　when　he　related　the　visit　from　Mr。　Shaw　of　the　FBI。　Jack　ran　through　the　information；　careful　to　include　everything　the　agent　had　said。
　　　　〃So；　he　doesn't　really　think　it'll　be　a　problem？〃　she　asked　hopefully。
　　　　〃We　can't　ignore　it。〃
　　　　Cathy　turned　away　for　a　moment。　She　didn't　know　what　to　make　of　this　new　information。　Of　course；　her　husband　thought。　Neither　do　I。
　　　　〃So　what　are　you　going　to　do？〃　she　asked　finally。
　　　　〃For　one　thing　I'm　going　to　call　an　alarm　pany　and　have　the　house　wired。　Next；　I've　already　put　my　shotgun　back　together；　and　it's　loaded　〃
　　　　〃No；　Jack；　not　in　this　house；　not　with　Sally　around；〃　Cathy　said　at　once。
　　　　〃It's　on　the　top　shelf　in　my　closet。　It's　loaded；　but　it　doesn't　have　a　round　chambered。　She　can't　possibly　get　to　it；　not　even　with　a　stool　to　stand　on。　It　stays　loaded；　Cathy。　I'm　also　going　to　start　practicing　some　with　it；　and　maybe　get　a　pistol；　too。　And〃　　he　hesitated　　〃I　want　you　to　start　shooting；　too。〃　
　　　　〃No！　I'm　a　doctor；　Jack。　I　don't　use　guns。〃
　　　　〃They　don't　bite；〃　Jack　said　patiently。　〃I　just　want　you　to　meet　a　guy　I　know　who　teaches　women　to　shoot。　Just　meet　the　guy。〃
　　　　〃No。〃　Cathy　was　adamant。　Jack　took　a　deep　breath。　It　would　take　an　hour　to　persuade　her；　that　was　the　usual　time　required　for　her　mon　sense　to　overe　her　prejudices。　The　problem　was；　he　didn't　want　to　spend　an　hour　on　the　subject　right　now。
　　　　〃So　you're　going　to　call　the　alarm　pany　tomorrow　morning？〃　she　asked。
　　　　〃I　have　to　go　somewhere。〃　
　　　　〃Where？　You　don't　have　any　classes　until　after　lunch。〃　
　　　　Ryan　took　a　deep　breath。　〃I'm　going　over　to　Langley。〃　
　　　　〃What's　at　Langley？〃　
　　　　〃The　CIA；〃　Jack　answered　simply。　
　　　　〃What？〃
　　　　〃Remember　last　summer？　I　got　that　consulting　money　from　Mitre　Corporation？〃　
　　　　〃Yeah。〃　
　　　　〃All　the　work　was　at　CIA　headquarters。〃　
　　　　〃But　　you　said　over　in　England　that　you　nev