tc.patriotgames-第57章

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　　　　The　cop　stared　at　Clark　for　another　minute。　At　last　he　shrugged　and　pulled　a　card　from　his　clipboard。　〃Sir；　you　have　the　right　to　remain　silent　。　。　。　〃　He　read　the　litany　off　the　card。　〃Do　you　understand　these　rights？〃
　　　　Still　Clark　didn't　say　anything。　The　police　officer　was　getting　irritated。　He　looked　at　the　other　three　men　in　the　room。　〃Gentlemen；　will　you　testify　that　I　read　this　individual　his　rights？〃　
　　　　〃Yes；　sir；　we　certainly　will；〃　Captain　Peters　said。
　　　　〃If　I　may　make　a　suggestion；　officer；〃　Breckenridge　said。　〃You　might　want　to　check　this　boy　out　with　the　FBI。〃　
　　　　〃How　e？〃
　　　　〃He　talks　funny；〃　the　Sergeant　Major　explained。　〃He　don't　e　from　here。〃　
　　　　〃Great　　two　crazy　ones　in　one　day。〃　
　　　　〃What　do　ya　mean？〃　Breckenridge　asked。
　　　　〃Little　while　ago　a　car　got　machine…gunned　on　50；　sounds　like　some　kind　of　drug　hit。　A　trooper　got　killed　by　the　same　bunch　a　few　minutes　later。　The　bad　guys　got　away。〃　The　cop　leaned　down　to　look　Clark　in　the　face。　〃You　better　start　talkin'；　sir。　The　cops　in　this　town　are　in　a　mean　mood　tonight。　What　I'm　tellin'　you；　man；　is　that　we　don't　want　to　put　up　with　some　unnecessary　shit。　You　understand　me？〃
　　　　Clark　didn't　understand。　In　Ireland　carrying　a　concealed　weapon　was　a　serious　crime。　In　America　it　was　rather　less　so　since　so　many　citizens　owned　guns。　Had　he　said　he　was　waiting　for　someone　and　carried　a　gun　because　he　was　afraid　of　street　criminals；　he　might　have　gotten　out　on　the　street　before　identification　procedures　were　plete。　Instead；　his　intransigence　was　only　making　the　policeman　angry　and　ensuring　that　the　identification　procedures　would　be　carried　out　in　full　before　he　was　arraigned。
　　　　Captain　Peters　and　Sergeant　Major　Breckenridge　exchanged　a　meaningful　look。
　　　　〃Officer；〃　the　Captain　said；　〃I　would　most　strongly　remend　that　you　check　this　character's　ID　with　the　FBI。　We've；　uh；　we　had　a　sort　of　an　informal　warning　about　terrorist　activity　a　few　weeks　back。　This　is　still　your　jurisdiction　since　he　was　arrested　in　the　city；　but　。　。　。　〃
　　　　〃I　hear　you；　Cap'n；〃　the　cop　said。　He　thought　for　a　few　seconds　and　concluded　that　there　was　something　more　here　than　met　the　eye。　〃If　you　gentlemen　will　e　to　the　station　with　me；　we'll　find　out　who　Mr。　Doe　here　really　is。〃

　　　　Ryan　charged　through　the　entrance　of　the　Shock…Trauma　Center　and　identified　himself　to　the　reception　desk；　whose　occupant　directed　him　to　a　waiting　room　where；　she　said　firmly；　he　would　be　notified　as　soon　as　there　was　anything　to　report。　The　sudden　change　from　action　to　inaction　disoriented　Jack　enormously。　He　stood　at　the　entrance　to　the　waiting　room　for　some　minutes；　his　mind　a　total　blank　as　it　struggled　with　the　situation。　By　the　time　Robby　arrived　from　parking　his　car；　he　found　his　friend　sitting　on　the　cracked　vinyl　of　an　old　sofa；　mindlessly　reading　through　a　brochure　whose　stiff　paper　had　bee　as　soft　as　chamois　from　the　numberless　hands　of　parents；　wives；　husbands；　and　friends　of　the　patients　who　had　passed　through　this　building。
　　　　The　brochure　explained　in　bureaucratic　prose　how　the　Maryland　Institute　for　Emergency　Medical　Services　was　the　first　and　best　organization　of　its　kind；　devoted　exclusively　to　the　most　sophisticated　emergency　care　for　trauma　victims。　Ryan　knew　all　this。　Johns　Hopkins　managed　the　more　recent　pediatric　unit　and　provided　many　of　the　staff　surgeons　for　eye　injuries。　Cathy　had　spent　some　time　doing　that　during　her　residency；　an　intense　two　months　that　she'd　been　happy　to　leave　behind。　Jack　wondered　if　she　were　now　being　treated　by　a　former　colleague。　Would　he　recognize　her？　Would　it　matter？
　　　　The　Shock…Trauma　Center　　so　known　to　everyone　but　the　billing　department　　had　begun　as　the　dream　of　a　brilliant；　aggressive；　and　supremely　arrogant　heart　surgeon　who　had　bludgeoned　his　way　through　a　labyrinth　of　bureaucratic　empires　to　build　this　21st…century　emergency　room。
　　　　It　had　blossomed　into　a　dazzling；　legendary　success。　Shock…Trauma　was　the　leading　edge　of　emergency　medical　technology。　It　had　already　pioneered　many　techniques　for　critical　care；　and　in　doing　so　had　overthrown　many　historical　precepts　of　conventional　medicine　　which　had　not　endeared　its　founder　to　his　medical　brethren。　That　would　have　been　true　in　any　field；　and　Shock…Trauma's　founder　had　not　helped　the　process　with　his　brutally　outspoken　opinions。　His　greatest　　but　unacknowledged　　crime；　of　course；　was　being　right　in　nearly　all　details。　And　while　this　prophet　was　without　honor　in　the　mainstream　of　his　profession；　its　younger　members　were　easier　to　convert。　Shock…Trauma　attracted　the　best　young　surgical　talent　in　the　world；　and　only　the　finest　of　them　were　chosen。
　　　　But　will　they　be　good　enough？　Ryan　asked　himself。
　　　　He　lost　all　track　of　time；　waiting；　afraid　to　look　at　his　watch；　afraid　to　speculate　on　the　significance　of　time's　flight。　Alone；　pletely　alone　in　his　circumscribed　world；　he　reflected　that　God　had　given　him　a　wife　he　loved　and　a　child　he　treasured　more　than　his　own　life；　that　his　first　duty　as　husband　and　father　was　to　protect　them　from　an　often　hostile　world；　that　he　had　failed；　that；　because　of　this；　their　lives　were　now　in　strangers'　hands。　All　his　knowledge；　all　his　skills　were　useless　now。　It　was　worse　than　impotence；　and　some　evil　agency　in　his　mind　kept　repeating　over　and　over　the　thoughts　that　made　him　cringe　as　he　retreated　further　and　further　into　catatonic　numbness。　For　hours　he　stared　at　the　floor；　then　the　wall；　unable　even　to　pray　as　his　mind　sought　the　solace　of　emptiness。
　　　　Jackson　sat　beside　his　friend；　silent；　in　his　own　private　world。　A　naval　aviator；　he　had　seen　close　friends　vanish　from　a　trivial　mistake　or　a　mechanical　glitch　　or　seemingly　nothing　at　all。　He'd　felt　death's　cold　hand　brush　his　own　shoulder　less　than　a　year　before。　But　this　wasn't　a　danger　to　a　mature　man　who　had　freely　chosen　a　dangerous　profession。　This　was　a　young　wife　and　an　innocent　child　whose　lives　were　at　risk。　He　couldn't　joke　about　how　〃old　Dutch〃　would　luck　this　one　out。　He　knew　nothing　at　all　he　could　say；　no　encouragement　he　could　offer　other　〃than　just　sitting　there；　and　though　he　gave　no　sign　of　it；　Robby　was　sure　that　Jack　knew　his　friend　was　close　at　hand。
　　　　After　two　hours　Jackson　quietly　left　the　waiting　room　to　call　his　wife　and　check　discreetly　at　the　desk。　The　receptionist　fumbled　for　the　names；　then　identified　them　as：　a　Female；　Blond；　Age　Thirty　or　so；　Head；　and　a　Female；　Blond；　Age　Four　or　so；　Flailed　Chest。　The　pilot　was　tempted　to　throttle　the　receptionist　for　her　coldness；　but　his　discipline　was　sufficient　to　allow　him　to　turn　away　without　a　word。　Jackson　rejoined　Ryan　a　moment　later；　and　together　they　stared　at　the　wall　through　the　passage　of　time。　It　started　to　rain　outside；　a　cold　rain　that　perfectly　matched　what　they　both　felt。

　　　　Special　Agent　Shaw　was　walking　through　the　door　of　his　Chevy　Chase　home　when　the　phone　rang。　His　teen…age　daughter　answered　it　and　just　held　it　out　to　him。　This　sort　of　thing　was　not　the　least　unusual。　
　　　　〃Shaw　here。〃
　　　　〃Mr。　Shaw；　this　is　Nick　Capitano　from　the　Annapolis　office。　The　city　police　here　have　in　custody　a　man　with　a　pistol；　a　knife；　but　no　ID。　He　refuses　to　talk　at　all；　but　earlier　he　did　speak　to　a　couple　of　Marines；　and　he　had　an　accent。〃
　　　　〃That's　nice；　he　has　an　accent。　What　kind？〃　Shaw　asked　testily。
　　　　〃Maybe　Irish；〃　Capitano　replied。　〃He　was　apprehended　just　outside　Gate　Three　of　the　U。S。　Naval　Academy。　There's　a　Marine　here　who　says　that　some　teacher　named　Ryan　works　there；　and　he　got　some　sort　of　warning　from　the　Anti…Terrorism　Office。〃　
　　　　What　the　hell。　〃Have　you　ID'd　the　suspect　yet？〃　
　　　　〃No；　sir。　The　local　police　just　fingerprinted　him；　and　they　faxed　a　copy　of　the　prints　and　photo　to　the　Bureau。　The　suspect　refuses　to　say　anything。　He　just　isn't　talking　at　all；　sir。〃
　　　　〃Okay；〃　Shaw　thought　for　a　moment。　So　much　for　dinner。　〃I'll　be　back　in　my　office　in　thirty　minutes。　Have　them　send　a　copy　of　the　mug　shot　and　the　prints　there。　You　stay　put；　and　have　somebody　find　Doctor　Ryan　and　stay　with　him。〃　
　　　　〃Right。〃
　　　　Shaw　hung　up　and　dialed　his　office　at　the　Bureau。　〃Dave；　Bill。　Call　London；　and　tell　Dan　Murray　I　want　him　in　his　office　in　half　an　hour。　We　may　have　something　happening　over　here。〃　
　　　　〃'Bye；　Daddy；〃　his　daughter　said。　Shaw　hadn't　even　had　time　to　take　off　his　coat。
　　　　He　was　at　his　desk　twenty…seven　minutes　later。　First　he　called　Nick　Capitano　in　Annapolis。　
　　　　〃Anything　new？〃
　　　　〃No；　sir。　The　security　detail　at　Annapolis　can't　find　this　Ryan　guy。　His　car　is　parked　on　the　Academy　grounds；　and　they've　got　people　looking　for　him。　I've　asked　the　Anne　Arundel　County　Police　to　send　a　car　to　his　home　in　case　he　got　a　ride　　car　broke　down；　or　something　like　that。　Things　are　a　little　wild　here　at　the　moment。　Something　crazy　happened　about　the　same　time　this　John　Doe　gunman　got　picked　up。　A　car　got　hosed　down　with　a　machine　gun　just　outside　the　city。〃　
　　　　〃What　the　hell　was　that？〃
　　　　〃The　State　Police　are　handling　it。　We　haven't　been　called　in；〃　Capitano　explained。
　　　　〃Get　a　man　over　there！〃　Shaw　said　at　once。　A　secretary　came　into　the　office　and　handed　him　a　folder。　Inside　was　a　facsimile　copy　of　the　suspect's　mug　shot。　It　showed　full　face　and　profile。
　　　　〃Hold　it！〃　He　caught　the　secretary　before　the　door　was　closed。　〃I　want　this　faxed　to　London　right　now。〃　
　　　　〃Yes；　sir。〃　
　　　　Shaw　next　dialed　the　tie　line　to　the　embassy　in　London。　
　　　　〃I　just　got　to　sleep；〃　the　voice　answered　after　the　first　ring。
　　　　〃Hi；　Dan。　I　just　missed　dinner。　It's　a　tough　world。　I　have　a　photo　being　faxed　to　you　now。〃　Shaw　filled　Murray　in　on　what　had　happened。

　　　　〃Oh；　my　God。〃　Murray　gulped　down　some　coffee。　〃Where's　Ryan？〃
　　　　〃We　don't　know。　Probably　just　wandering　around　somewhere。　His　car's　still　parked　in　Annapolis　　at　the　Academy；　I　mean。　The　security　guys　are　looking　for　him。　He's　gotta　be　all　right；　Dan。　If　I　read　this　right；　the　suspect　in　Annapolis　was　probably　waiting　for　him。〃
　　　　The　photograph　of　Eamon　Clark　was　already　in　the　embassy。　The　Bureau's　munications　unit　worked　on　the　same　satellite　net　used　by　the　intelligence　services。　The　embassy　munications　officers　were　actually　employees　of　the　National　Security　Agency；　which　never　slept。　The　facsimile　had　arrived　with　a　FLASH…priority　header；　and　a　messenger　ran　it　up　to　the　Legal　Attache's　office。　But　the　door　was　locked。　Murray　had　to　set　the　phone　down　to　open　it。
　　　　〃I'm　back；〃　Murray　said。　He　opened　the　folder。　The　photo　had　suffered　somewhat　from　twice　being　broken　into　electronic　bits　and　broadcast；　but　for　all　of　that　it　was　recognizable。　〃This　one's　familiar。　I　can't　put　a　name　on　him；　but　he's　a　bad　guy。〃　
　　　　〃How　fast　can　you　ID　him？〃　
　　　　〃I　can　call　Jimmy　Owens　real　quick。　You　in　your　office？〃　
　　　　〃Yeah；〃　Shaw　answered。
　　　　〃I'll　be　back。〃　Murray　changed　buttons　on　his　phones。　He　didn't　have　Owens'　home　number　memorized　and　had　to　look　it　up。
　　　　〃Yes？〃
　　　　〃Hi；　Jimmy；　it's　Dan。〃　Murray's　voice　was　actually　chipper　now。　Have　I　got　something　for　you。
　　　　Owens　didn't　know　that　yet。　〃Do　you　know　what　time　it　is？〃　
　　　　〃Our　guys　have　somebody　in　custody　that　you　may　be　interested　in。〃　
　　　　〃Who？〃　Owens　asked。
　　　　〃I　got　a　picture　but　no　name。　He　was　arrested　in　Annapolis；　outside　the　Nav