tc.patriotgames-第64章

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　　　　〃Thank　you；　ma'am。　We'll　call　you　tonight。　A　car　will　pick　you　up　tomorrow　morning　so　you　can　look　at　some　pictures　for　us；〃　the　FBI　agent　said。
　　　　〃Pick　me　up？〃　The　clerk　was　surprised。
　　　　〃You　bet。〃　Manpower　was　not　a　factor　on　this　case。　The　agent　who　picked　her　up　would　pick　her　brain　again　on　the　drive　into　D。C。　The　two　investigators　left。　The　Major　drove　his　unmarked　State　Police　car。
　　　　Capitano　checked　his　notes。　This　wasn't　bad　for　a　first　interview。　He；　the　Major；　and　fifteen　others　had　spent　the　day　interviewing　people　in　stores　and　shops　up　and　down　five　miles　of　Ritchie　Highway。　Four　people　thought　they　remembered　the　van；　but　this　was　the　first　person　who　had　seen　one　of　its　occupants　closely　enough　for　a　description。　It　wasn't　much；　but　it　was　a　start。　They　already　had　the　shooter　ID'd。　Cathy　Ryan　had　recognized　Sean　Miller's　face　　thought　she　did；　the　agent　corrected　himself。　If　it　had　been　Miller；　he　had　a　beard　now；　on　the　brown　side　of　black　and　neatly　trimmed。　An　artist　would　try　to　re…create　that。
　　　　Twenty　more　agents　and　detectives　had　spent　their　day　at　the　three　local　airports；　showing　photos　to　every　ticket　agent　and　gate　clerk。　They'd　e　up　blank；　but　they　hadn't　had　a　description　of　Miller　then。　Tomorrow　they　would　try　again。　A　puter　check　was　being　made　of　international　flights　that　connected　to　flights　to　Ireland；　and　domestic　flights　that　connected　to　international　ones。　Capitano　was　happy　that　he　didn't　have　to　run　all　of　those　down。　It　would　take　weeks；　and　the　chance　of　getting　an　ID　from　an　airport　worker　diminished　measurably　every　hour。
　　　　The　van　had　been　identified　for　more　than　a　day；　off　the　FBI's　puter。　It　had　been　stolen　a　month　before　in　New　York　City；　repainted　　professionally；　by　the　look　of　it　　and　given　new　tags。　Several　sets　of　them；　since　the　handicap　tags　found　on　it　yesterday　had　been　stolen　less　than　two　days　before　from　a　nursing　home's　van　in　Hagerstown；　Maryland；　a　hundred　miles　away。　Everything　about　the　crime　said　it　was　a　professional　job　from　start　to　finish。　Switching　cars　at　the　shopping　center　had　been　a　brilliant　finale　to　a　perfectly　planned　and　executed　operation。　Capitano　and　the　Major　were　able　to　restrain　their　admiration；　but　they　had　to　make　an　objective　assessment　of　the　people　they　were　after。　These　weren't　mon　thugs。　They　were　professionals　in　every　perverted　sense　of　the　word。
　　　　〃You　suppose　they　got　the　van　themselves？〃　Capitano　asked　the　Major。
　　　　The　State　Police　investigator　grunted。　〃There's　some　outfit　in　Pennsylvania　that　steals　them　from　all　over　the　Northeast；　paints　them；　reworks　the　interior；　and　sells　'em。　You　guys　are　looking　for　them；　remember？〃
　　　　〃I've　heard　a　few　things　about　the　investigation；　but　that's　not　my　territory。　It's　being　looked　at。　Personally；　I　think　they　did　it　themselves。　Why　risk　a　connection　with　somebody　else？〃　
　　　　〃Yeah；〃　the　Major　agreed　reluctantly。　The　van　had　already　been　checked　out　by　state　and　federal　forensic　experts。　Not　a　single　fingerprint　had　been　found。　The　vehicle　had　been　thoroughly　cleaned；　down　to　the　knobs　on　the　window　handles。　The　technicians　found　nothing　that　could　lead　them　to　the　criminals。　Now　the　dirt　and　fabric　fibers　vacuumed　from　the　van's　carpet　were　being　analyzed　in　Washington；　but　this　was　the　sort　of　clue　that　worked　reliably　only　on　TV。　If　the　people　had　been　smart　enough　to　clean　out　the　van；　they　were　almost　certainly　smart　enough　to　burn　the　clothing　they'd　worn。　Everything　was　being　checked　out　anyway；　because　even　the　smartest　people　did　make　mistakes。
　　　　〃You　heard　anything　on　the　ballistics　yet？〃　the　Major　asked；　turning　the　car　onto　Rowe　Boulevard。
　　　　〃Oughta　be　waiting　for　us。〃　They'd　found　almost　twenty　nine…millimeter　cartridge　cases　to　go　along　with　the　two　usable　bullets　recovered　from　the　Porsche；　and　the　one　that　had　gone　through　Trooper　Fontana's　chest　and　lodged　in　the　back　seat　of　his　wrecked　car。　These　had　gone　directly　to　the　FBI　laboratory　in　Washington　for　analysis。　The　evidence　would　tell　them　that　the　weapon　was　a　submachine　gun；　which　they　already　knew；　but　might　give　them　a　type；　which　they　didn't　yet　know。　The　cartridge　cases　were　Belgian…made；　from　the　Fabrique　Nationale　at　Liege。　They　might　be　able　to　identify　the　lot　number；　but　FN　made　so　many　millions　of　such　rounds　per　year；　which　were　shipped　and　reshipped　all　over　the　world；　that　the　lead　was　a　slim　one。　Very　often　such　shipments　simply　disappeared；　mainly　from　sloppy　　or　creative　　bookkeeping。
　　　　〃How　many　black　groups　are　known　to　have　contact　with　these　ULA　characters？〃
　　　　〃None；〃　Capitano　replied。　〃That's　something　we　are　going　to　have　to　establish。〃　
　　　　〃Great。〃

　　　　Ryan　arrived　home　to　find　an　unmarked　car　and　a　liveried　State　Police　cruiser　in　his　driveway。　Jack's　own　FBI　interview　wasn't　a　long　one。　It　hadn't　taken　long　to　confirm　the　fact　that　he　quite　simply　knew　nothing　about　the　attempt　on　his　family　or　himself。　
　　　　〃Any　idea　where　they　are？〃　he　asked　finally。
　　　　〃We're　checking　airports；〃　the　agent　answered。　〃If　these　guys　are　as　smart　as　they　look；　they're　long　gone。〃
　　　　〃They're　smart；　all　right；〃　Ryan　noted　sourly。　〃What　about　the　one　you　caught？〃
　　　　〃He's　doing　one　hell　of　a　good　imitation　of　a　clam。　He　has　a　lawyer　now；　of　course；　and　the　lawyer　is　telling　him　to　keep　his　mouth　shut。　You　can　depend　on　lawyers　for　that。〃　
　　　　〃Where'd　the　lawyer　e　from？〃
　　　　〃Public　defender's　office。　It's　a　rule；　remember。　You　hold　a　suspect　for　any　length　of　time；　he　has　to　have　a　lawyer。　I　don't　think　it　matters。　He　probably　isn't　talking　to　the　lawyer　either。　We　have　him　on　a　state　weapons　violation　and　federal　immigration　laws。　He　goes　back　to　the　U。K。　as　soon　as　the　paperwork　gets　done。　Maybe　two　weeks　or　so；　depending　on　if　the　attorney　contests　things。〃　The　agent　closed　his　notebook。　〃You　never　know；　maybe　he'll　start　talking；　but　don't　count　on　it。　The　word　we　get　from　the　Brits　is　that　he's　not　real　bright　anyway。　He's　the　Irish　version　of　a　street　hood；　very　good　with　weapons　but　a　little　slow　upstairs。〃
　　　　〃So　if　he's　dumb；　how　e　〃
　　　　〃How　e　he's　good　at　what　he　does？　How　smart　do　you　have　to　be　to　kill　somebody？　Clark's　a　sociopathic　personality。　He　has　very　little　in　the　way　of　feelings。　Some　people　are　like　that。　They　don't　relate　to　the　people　around　them　as　being　real　people。　They　see　them　as　objects；　and　since　they're　only　objects；　whatever　happens　to　them　is　not　important。　Once　I　met　a　hit　man　who　killed　four　people　　just　the　ones　we　know　about　　and　didn't　bat　an　eye；　far　as　I　could　tell；　but　he　cried　like　a　baby　when　we　told　him　his　cat　died。　People　like　that　don't　even　understand　why　they　get　sent　to　prison；　they　really　don't　understand；〃　he　concluded。　〃Those　are　the　scary　ones。〃
　　　　〃No；〃　Ryan　said。　〃The　scary　ones　are　the　ones　with　brains；　the　ones　who　believe　in　it。〃　
　　　　〃I　haven't　met　one　of　those　yet；〃　he　admitted。
　　　　〃I　have。〃　Jack　walked　him　to　the　door　and　watched　him　pull　away。　The　house　was　an　empty；　quiet　place　without　Sally　running　around；　without　the　TV　on；　without　Cathy　talking　about　her　friends　at　Hopkins。　For　several　minutes　Jack　wandered　around　aimlessly；　as　though　expecting　to　find　someone。　He　didn't　want　to　sit　down；　because　that　would　somehow　be　an　admission　that　he　was　all　alone。　He　walked　into　the　kitchen　and　started　to　fix　a　drink；　but　before　he　was　finished；　he　dumped　it　all　down　the　sink。　He　didn't　want　to　get　drunk。　It　was　better　to　keep　his　mind　unimpaired。　Finally　he　lifted　the　phone　and　dialed。　
　　　　〃Yes；〃　a　voice　answered。　
　　　　〃Admiral；　Jack　Ryan。〃
　　　　〃I　understand　that　your　girl's　going　to　be　all　right；〃　James　Greer　said。　〃I'm　glad　to　hear　that；　son。〃　
　　　　〃Thank　you；　sir。　Is　the　Agency　involved　in　this？〃　
　　　　〃This　is　an　unsecure　line；　Jack；〃　the　Admiral　replied。　
　　　　〃I　want　in；〃　Ryan　said。　
　　　　〃Be　here　tomorrow　morning。〃
　　　　Ryan　hung　up　and　went　looking　for　his　briefcase。　He　opened　it　and　took　out　the　Browning　automatic　pistol。　After　setting　it　on　the　kitchen　table；　he　got　out　his　shotgun　and　cleaning　kit。　He　spent　the　next　hour　cleaning　and　oiling　first　the　pistol；　then　the　shotgun。　When　he　was　satisfied；　he　loaded　both。

　　　　He　left　for　Langley　at　five　the　next　morning。　Ryan　had　managed　to　get　four　more　hours　of　sleep　before　rising　and　going　through　the　usual　morning　ritual　of　coffee　and　breakfast。　His　early　departure　allowed　him　to　miss　the　worst　of　the　traffic；　though　the　George　Washington　Parkway　was　never　really　free　of　the　government　workers　heading　to　and　from　the　agencies　that　were　always　more　or　less　awake。　After　getting　into　the　CIA　building；　he　reflected　that　he　had　never　called　here　and　found　Admiral　Greer　absent。　Well；　he　told　himself；　that's　one　thing　in　this　world　that　I　can　depend　on。　A　security　officer　escorted　him　to　the　seventh　floor。　
　　　　〃Good　morning；　sir；〃　Jack　said　on　entering　the　room。　
　　　　〃You　look　better　than　I　expected；〃　the　DDI　observed。
　　　　〃It's　an　illusion　mostly；　but　I　can't　solve　my　problem　by　hiding　in　a　corner；　can　I？　Can　we　talk　about　what's　going　on？〃　
　　　　〃Your　Irish　friends　have　gotten　a　lot　of　attention。　The　President　himself　wants　action　on　this。　We've　never　had　international　terrorists　play　games　in　our　country　　at　least；　not　things　that　ever　made　the　press；〃　Greer　said　cryptically。　〃It　is　now　a　high…priority　case。　It's　getting　a　lot　of　resources。〃　
　　　　〃I　want　to　be　one　of　them；〃　Ryan　said　simply。　
　　　　〃If　you　think　that　you　can　be　part　of　an　operation　〃　
　　　　〃I　know　better　than　that；　Admiral。〃
　　　　Greer　smiled　at　the　younger　man。　〃That's　good　to　see；　son。　I　thought　you　were　smart。　So　what　do　you　want　to　do　for　us？〃　
　　　　〃We　both　know　that　the　bad　guys　are　part　of　the　network。　The　data　you　let　me　look　at　was　pretty　limited。　Obviously　you're　going　to　be　trying　to　collate　data　on　all　the　groups；　searching　for　leads　on　the　ULA。　Maybe　I　can　help。〃　
　　　　〃What　about　your　teaching？〃
　　　　〃I　can　be　here　when　I'm　not　teaching。　There　isn't　much　to　hold　me　at　home　at　the　moment；　sir。〃
　　　　〃It　isn't　good　practice　to　use　people　who　are　personally　involved　in　the　investigation；〃　Greer　pointed　out。
　　　　〃This　isn't　the　FBI；　sir。　I'm　not　going　out　into　the　field。　You　just　told　me　that。　I　know　you　want　me　back　here　on　a　permanent　basis；　Admiral。　If　you　really　want　me；　let　me　start　off　doing　something　that's　important　to　both　of　us。〃　Jack　paused；　searching　for　another　point。　〃If　I'm　good　enough；　let's　find　out　now。〃　
　　　　〃Some　people　aren't　going　to　like　it。〃
　　　　〃There's　things　happening　to　me　that　I　don't　like　very　much；　sir；　and　I　have　to　live　with　it。　If　I　can't　fight　back　somehow；　I　might　as　well　stay　at　home。　You're　the　only　chance　I　have　to　do　something　to　protect　my　family；　sir。〃
　　　　Greer　turned　to　refill　his　coffee　cup　from　the　drip　machine　behind　his　desk。　He'd　liked　Jack　almost　from　the　first　moment　he'd　met　him。　This　was　a　young　man　accustomed　to　having　his　way；　though　he　was　not　arrogant　about　it。　That　was　a　point　in　his　favor：　Ryan　knew　what　he　wanted；　but　wasn't　overly　pushy。　He　wasn't　a　person　driven　by　ambition；　another　point　in　his　favor。　Finally；　he　had　a　lot　of　raw　talent　to　be　shaped　and　trained　and　directed。　Greer　was　always　looking　for　talent。　The　Admiral　turned　back。
　　　　〃Okay；　you're　on　the　team。　Marty's　coordinating　the　informat