tc.patriotgames-第62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！


g　the　message　across。
　　　　〃You're　sure　that　Paddy　is　part　of　this？〃　his　uncle　asked。
　　　　〃He's　never　lifted　a　gun　that　we　know　of。　He's　their　mouthpiece；　he　es　over　here　and　raises　money　so　that　they　can　do　things　like　this　at　home。　Oh；　he　never　gets　his　hands　bloody。　He's　too　smart　for　that。　But　this　is　what　the　money　goes　for。　We　are　absolutely　sure　of　that。　And　now　they're　playing　their　games　over　here。〃　Agent　Donoho　knew　that　the　money　raising　was　secondary　to　the　psychological　reasons　for　ing　over；　but　now　wasn't　the　time　to　clutter　the　issue　with　details。　He　watched　his　uncle　stare　at　the　photos　of　the　little　girl。　His　face　showed　the　confusion　that　always　acpanies　a　pletely　new　thought。
　　　　〃You're　sure？　Really　sure？〃
　　　　〃Uncle　John；　we　have　over　thirty　agents　on　the　case　now；　plus　the　local　police。　You　bet　we're　sure。　We'll　get　'em；　too。　The　Director's　put　the　word　out　on　this　case。　We　want　'em。　Whatever　it　takes；　we'll　get　these　bastards；〃　Edward　Michael　Donoho；　Jr。；　said　with　cold　determination。
　　　　John　Donoho　looked　at　his　nephew；　and　for　the　first　time　he　saw　a　man。　Eddie's　FBI　post　was　a　source　of　family　pride；　but　John　finally　knew　why　this　was　so。　He　wasn't　a　kid　anymore。　He　was　a　man　with　a　job　about　which　he　was　deadly　serious。　More　than　the　photographs；　it　was　this　that　decided　things。　John　had　to　believe　what　he'd　been　told。
　　　　The　owner　of　the　Patriots　Club　stood　up　straight　and　walked　down　the　bar　to　the　folding　gate。　He　lifted　it　and　made　for　the　back　room；　with　his　nephew　trailing　behind。
　　　　〃But　our　boys　are　fighting　back；〃　O'Neil　was　telling　the　fifteen　men　in　the　room。　〃Every　day　they　fight　back　to　　joining　us；　Johnny？〃　
　　　　〃Out；〃　Donoho　said　quietly。
　　　　〃What　　I　don't　understand；　John；〃　O'Neil　said；　genuinely　puzzled。
　　　　〃You　must　think　I'm　pretty　stupid。　I　guess　maybe　I　was。　Leave。〃　The　voice　was　more　forceful　now；　and　the　feigned　accent　was　gone。　〃Get　out　of　my　club　and　don't　ever　e　back。〃　
　　　　〃But；　Johnny　　what　are　you　talking　about？〃
　　　　Donoho　grabbed　the　man　by　his　collar　and　lifted　him　off　his　chair。　O'Neil's　voice　continued　to　protest　as　he　was　propelled　all　the　way　out　the　front　door。　Eddie　Donoho　waved　to　his　uncle　as　he　followed　his　charge　out　onto　the　street。
　　　　〃What　was　that　all　about？〃　one　of　the　men　from　the　back　room　asked。　Another　of　them；　a　reporter　for　the　Boston　Globe；　started　making　notes　as　the　bar　owner　stumbled　through　what　he　had　finally　learned。
　　　　To　this　point　no　police　agency　had　implicated　any　terrorist　group　by　name；　and　in　fact　neither　had　Special　Agent　Donoho　done　so。　His　instructions　from　Washington　on　that　score　had　been　carefully　given　and　carefully　followed。　But　in　the　translation　through　Uncle　John　and　a　reporter；　the　facts　got　slightly　garbled　　as　surprised　no　one　　and　within　hours　the　story　was　on　the　AP　wire　that　the　attack　on　Jack　Ryan　and　his　family　had　been　made　by　the　Provisional　Wing　of　the　Irish　Republican　Army。
　　　　Sean　Miller's　mission　in　America　had　been　fully　acplished　by　an　agency　of　the　United　States　government。

　　　　Miller　and　his　party　were　already　back　home。　As　many　people　in　this　line　of　work　had　done　before。　Sean　reflected　on　the　value　of　rapid　international　air　travel。　In　this　case　it　had　been　off　to　Mexico　from　Washington's　Duties　International；　from　there　to　the　Netherlands　Antilles；　to　Schiphol　International　Airport　on　a　KLM　flight；　and　then　to　Ireland。　All　one　needed　were　correct　travel　documents　and　a　little　money。　The　travel　documents　in　question　were　already　destroyed；　and　the　money　untraceable　cash。　He　sat　across　from　Kevin　O'Donnell's　desk；　drinking　water　to　pensate　for　the　dehydration　normal　to　flying。
　　　　〃What　about　Eamon？〃　One　rule　of　ULA　operations　was　that　no　overseas　telephone　calls　ever　came　to　his　house。
　　　　〃Alex's　man　says　he　was　picked　up。〃　Miller　shrugged。　〃It　was　a　risk　I　felt　worth　taking。　I　selected　Ned　for　it　because　he　knows　very　little　about　us。〃　He　knew　that　O'Donnell　had　to　agree　with　that。　Clark　was　one　of　the　new　men　brought　into　the　Organization；　and　more　of　an　accident　than　a　recruit。　He'd　e　south　because　one　of　his　friends　from　the　H…blocks　had　e。　O'Donnell　had　thought　him　of　possible　use；　since　they　had　no　experienced　work…alone　assassins。　But　Clark　was　stupid。　His　motivations　came　from　emotion　rather　than　ideology。　He　was；　in　fact；　a　typical　PIRA　thug；　little　different　from　those　in　the　UVF　for　that　matter；　useful　in　the　same　sense　that　a　trained　dog　was　useful；　Kevin　told　himself。　He　knew　but　a　few　names　and　faces　within　the　Organization。　Most　damning　of　all；　he　had　failed。　Clark's　one　redeeming　characteristic　was　his　doglike　loyalty。　He　hadn't　broken　in　Long　Kesh　prison　and　he　probably　wouldn't　break　now。　He　lacked　the　imagination。
　　　　〃Very　well；〃　Kevin　O'Donnell　said　after　a　moment's　reflection。　Clark　would　be　remembered　as　a　martyr；　gaining　greater　respect　in　failure　than　he　had　managed　to　earn　in　success。　〃The　rest？〃
　　　　〃Perfect。　I　saw　the　wife　and　child　die；　and　Alex's　people　got　us　away　cleanly。〃　Miller　smiled　and　poured　some　whiskey　to　follow　his　liter　of　ice　water。
　　　　〃They're　not　dead；　Sean；〃　O'Donnell　said。
　　　　〃What？〃　Miller　had　been　on　an　airplane　less　than　three　hours　after　the　shooting；　and　hadn't　seen　or　heard　a　snippet　of　news　since。　He　listened　to　his　boss's　explanation　in　incredulous　silence。
　　　　〃But　it　doesn't　matter；〃　O'Donnell　concluded。　He　explained　that；　too。　The　AP　story　that　had　originated　in　the　Boston　Globe　had　been　picked　up　by　the　Irish　Times　of　Dublin。　〃It　was　a　good　plan　after　all；　Sean。　Despite　everything　that　went　wrong；　the　mission　is　acplished。〃
　　　　Sean　didn't　allow　himself　to　react。　Two　operations　in　a　row　had　gone　wrong　for　him。　Before　the　fiasco　in　London；　he'd　never　failed　at　all。　He'd　written　that　off　to　random　chance；　pure　luck；　nothing　more。　He　didn't　even　think　of　that　in　this　case。　Two　in　a　row；　that　wasn't　luck。　He　knew　that　Kevin　would　not　tolerate　a　third　failure。　The　young　operations　officer　took　a　deep　breath　and　told　himself　to　be　objective。　He'd　allowed　himself　to　think　of　Ryan　as　a　personal　target；　not　a　political　one。　That　had　been　his　first　mistake。　Though　Kevin　hadn't　said　it；　losing　Ned　had　been　a　serious　mistake。　Miller　reviewed　his　plan；　rethinking　every　aspect　of　the　operation。　Just　going　after　the　wife　and　child　would　have　been　simple　thuggery；　and　he'd　never　approved　of　that；　it　was　not　professional。　Just　going　after　Ryan　himself；　however；　would　not　have　carried　the　same　political　impact；　which　was　the　whole　point　of　the　operation。　The　rest　of　the　family　was　　had　been　necessary。　So　his　objectives　had　been　sound　enough；　but　。　。　。
　　　　〃I　should　have　taken　more　time　on　this　one；〃　he　said　finally。　〃I　tried　to　be　too　dramatic。　Perhaps　we　should　have　waited。〃　
　　　　〃Yes；〃　his　boss　agreed；　pleased　that　Sean　saw　his　errors。

　　　　〃Any　help　we　can　give　you；〃　Owens　said；　〃is　yours。　You　know　that；　Dan。〃
　　　　〃Yeah；　well；　this　has　attracted　some　high…level　interest。〃　Murray　held　a　cable　from　Director　Emil　Jacobs　himself。　〃Well；　it　was　only　a　matter　of　time。　It　had　to　happen　sooner　or　later。〃　And　if　we　don't　bag　these　sons　of　bitches；　he　thought；　it'll　happen　again。　The　ULA　just　proved　that　terrorists　could　operate　in　the　U。S。　The　emotional　shock　of　the　event　had　e　as　a　surprise　to　Murray。　As　a　professional　in　the　field；　he　knew　that　it　was　mere　luck　that　it　hadn't　happened　already。　The　inept　domestic　terrorist　groups　had　set　off　some　bombs　and　murdered　a　few　people；　but　the　Bureau　had　experienced　considerable　success　running　them　to　ground。　None　of　them　had　ever　gotten　much　in　the　way　of　foreign　support。　But　that　had　changed；　too。　The　helicopter　pilot　had　identified　one　of　the　escaping　terrorists　as　black；　and　there　weren't　many　of　them　in　Ireland。
　　　　It　was　a　new　ball　game；　and　for　all　his　experience　in　the　FBI；　Murray　was　worried　about　how　well　the　Bureau　would　be　able　to　handle　it。　Director　Jacobs　was　right　on　one　thing：　this　was　a　top…priority　mission。　Bill　Shaw　would　run　the　case　personally；　and　Murray　knew　him　to　be　one　of　the　best　intellects　in　the　business。　The　thirty　agents　initially　assigned　to　the　case　would　treble　in　the　next　few　days；　then　treble　again。　The　only　way　to　keep　this　from　happening　again　was　to　demonstrate　that　America　was　too　dangerous　a　place　for　terrorists。　In　his　heart；　Murray　knew　that　this　was　impossible。　No　place　was　too　dangerous；　certainly　no　democracy。
　　　　But　the　Bureau　did　have　formidable　resources；　and　it　wouldn't　be　the　only　agency　involved。

Chapter　17　Recriminations　and　Decisions

　　　　Ryan　awoke　to　find　Robby　waving　a　cup　of　coffee　under　his　nose。　Jack　had　managed　to　sleep　without　dreams　this　time；　and　the　oblivion　of　undisturbed　slumber　had　worked　wonders　on　him。
　　　　〃Sissy　was　over　the　hospital　earlier。　She　says　Cathy　looks　all　right；　considering。　It's　all　set　up　so　you　can　get　in　to　see　Sally。　She'll　be　asleep；　but　you　can　see　her。〃　
　　　　〃Where　is　she？〃　
　　　　〃Sissy？　She's　out　runnin'　some　errands。〃　
　　　　〃I　need　a　shave。〃
　　　　〃Me；　too。　She's　getting　what　we　need。　First　I'm　gonna　get　some　food　in　ya'；〃　Robby　said。
　　　　〃I　owe　you；　man；〃　Jack　said　as　he　stood。
　　　　〃Give　it　a　rest；　Jack。　That's　what　the　Lord　put　us　here　for；　like　my　pappy　says。　Now；　eat！〃　Robby　manded。
　　　　Jack　realized　that　he'd　not　eaten　anything　for　a　long　time；　and　once　his　stomach　reminded　itself　of　this；　it　cried　out　for　nourishment。　Within　five　minutes　he'd　disposed　of　two　eggs；　bacon；　hash…browns；　four　slices　of　toast；　and　two　cups　of　coffee。
　　　　〃Shame　they　don't　have　grits　here；〃　Robby　observed。　A　knock　came　to　the　door。　The　pilot　answered　it。　Sissy　breezed　in　with　a　shopping　bag　in　one　hand　and　Jack's　briefcase　in　the　other。
　　　　〃You　better　freshen　up；　Jack；〃　she　said。　〃Cathy　looks　better　than　you　do。〃
　　　　〃Nothing　unusual　about　that；〃　Jack　replied　　cheerfully；　he　realized　with　surprise。　Sissy　had　bailed　him　into　it。
　　　　〃Robby？〃　
　　　　〃Yeah？〃　
　　　　〃What　the　hell　are　grits？〃　
　　　　〃You　don't　want　to　know；〃　Cecilia　Jackson　answered。
　　　　〃I'll　take　your　word　for　it。〃　Jack　walked　into　the　bathroom　and　started　the　shower。　By　the　time　he　got　out；　Robby　had　shaved；　leaving　the　razor　and　cream　on　the　sink。　Jack　scraped　his　beard　away　and　patched　the　bloody　spots　with　toilet　paper。　A　new　toothbrush　was　sitting　there　too；　and　Ryan　emerged　from　the　room　looking　and　feeling　like　a　human　being。　
　　　　〃Thanks；　guys；〃　he　said。
　　　　〃I'll　take　you　home　tonight；〃　Robby　said。　〃I　have　to　teach　class　tomorrow。　You　don't。　I　fixed　it　with　the　department。〃　
　　　　〃Okay。〃
　　　　Sissy　left　for　home。　Jack　and　Robby　walked　over　to　the　hospital。　Visiting　hours　were　under　way　and　they　were　able　to　walk　right　up　to　Cathy's　room。
　　　　〃Well；　if　it　isn't　our　hero！〃　Joe　Muller　was　Cathy's　father。　He　was　a　short；　swarthy　man　　Cathy's　hair　and　plexion　came　from　her　mother；　now　dead。　A　senior　VP　with　Merrill　Lynch；　he　was　a　product　of　the　Ivy　League；　and　had　started　in　the　brokerage　business　much　as　Ryan　had；　though　his　brief　stint　in　the　military　had　been　two　years　of　drafted　service　in　the　Army　that　he'd　long　since　put　behind　him。　He'd　once　had　big　plans　for　Jack　and　had　never　forgiven　him　for　leaving　the　business。　Muller　was　a　passionate　man　who　was　also　well　aware　of　his　importance　in　the　financial　munity。　He　and　Jack　hadn't　excha