tc.patriotgames-第78章

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　　　　Shaw　looked　at　the　two　people　with　visitor　passes　and　invited　them　to　sit　on　the　couch　against　the　wall。　He　called　for　two　more　agents　to　join　them；　plus　someone　from　the　ballistics　laboratory。　While　things　were　being　organized；　his　secretary　got　a　cup　of　coffee　for　the　father　and　a　Dr　Pepper　for　the　son。　
　　　　〃Could　I　have　your　names；　please？〃
　　　　〃I'm　Robert　Newton　and　this　here's　my　son　Leon。〃　He　gave　his　address　and　phone　number　without　being　asked。
　　　　〃And　where　did　you　find　the　gun？〃　Shaw　asked　while　his　subordinates　were　taking　notes。
　　　　〃It's　called　Jones　Quarry。　I　can　show　you　on　a　map。〃　
　　　　〃What　were　you　doing　there？〃　
　　　　〃I　was　fishing。　I　found　it；〃　Leon　reminded　them。　
　　　　〃I　was　getting　in　some　firewood；〃　his　father　said。　
　　　　〃This　time　of　year？〃
　　　　〃Beats　doing　it　during　the　summer；　when　it's　hot；　man；〃　Mr。　Newton　pointed　out　reasonably。　〃Also　lets　the　wood　season　some。　I'm　a　construction　worker。　I　walk　iron；　and　it's　a　little　slow　right　now；　so　I　went　out　for　some　wood。　The　boy's　off　from　school　today；　so　I　brought　him　along。　While　I　cut　the　wood；　Leon　likes　to　fish。　There's　some　big　ones　in　the　quarry；〃　he　added　with　a　wink。
　　　　〃Oh；　okay。〃　Shaw　grinned。　〃Leon；　you　ever　catch　one？〃　
　　　　〃No；　but　I　got　close　last　time；〃　the　youngster　responded。　
　　　　〃Then　what？〃　Mr。　Newton　nodded　for　his　son。
　　　　〃My　hook　got　caught　on　sumthin'　heavy；　you　know；　an'　I　pulled　and　pulled　and　pulled。　It　e　loose；　and　I　tried　real　hard；　but　I　couldn't　reel　it　up。　So　I　called　my　daddy。〃
　　　　〃I　reeled　it　in；〃　Mr。　Newton　explained。　〃When　I　saw　it　was　a　gun；　I　almost　crapped　my　drawers。　The　hook　was　snagged　on　the　trigger　guard。　What　kinda　gun　is　that；　anyway？〃
　　　　〃Uzi。　It's　made　in　Israel；　mostly；〃　the　ballistics　expert　said；　looking　up　from　the　weapon。　〃It's　been　in　the　water　at　least　a　month。〃　
　　　　Shaw　and　another　agent　shared　a　look　at　that　bit　of　news。
　　　　〃I'm　afraid　I　handled　it　a　lot；〃　Newton　said。　〃Hope　I　didn't　mess　up　any　fingerprints。〃
　　　　〃Not　after　being　in　the　water；　Mr。　Newton；〃　Shaw　replied。　〃And　you　brought　it　right　here？〃
　　　　〃Yeah；　we　only　got　it；　oh〃　　he　checked　his　watch　　〃an　hour　and　a　half　ago。　Aside　from　handling　it；　we　didn't　do　anything。　It　didn't　have　no　magazine　in　it。〃　
　　　　〃You　know　guns？〃　the　ballistics　man　asked。
　　　　〃I　spent　a　year　in　Nam。　I　was　a　grunt　with　the　173rd　Airborne。　I　know　M…16s　pretty　good。〃　Newton　smiled。　〃And　I　used　to　do　a　little　hunting；　mostly　birds　and　rabbits。〃　
　　　　〃Tell　us　about　the　quarry；〃　Shaw　said。
　　　　〃It's　off　the　main　road；　back　maybe　three…quarters　of　a　mile；　I　guess。　Lots　of　trees　back　there。　That's　where　I　get　my　firewood。　I　don't　really　know　who　owns　it。　Lots　of　cars　go　back　there。　You　know；　it's　a　parking　spot　for　kids　on　Saturday　nights；　that　sorta　place。〃　
　　　　〃Have　you　ever　heard　shooting　there？〃
　　　　〃No；　except　during　hunting　season。　There's　squirrels　in　there；　lotsa　squirrels。　So　what's　with　the　gun？　Does　it　mean　anything　to　ya？〃
　　　　〃It　might。　It's　the　kind　of　gun　used　in　the　murder　of　a　police　officer；　and　〃
　　　　〃Oh；　yeah！　That　lady　and　her　kid　over　Annapolis；　right？〃　He　paused　for　a　moment。　〃Damn。〃
　　　　Shaw　looked　at　the　boy。　He　was　about　nine；　the　agent　thought；　and　the　kid　had　smart　eyes；　scanning　the　items　Shaw　had　on　his　walls；　the　memorabilia　from　his　many　cases　and　posts。　〃Mr。　Newton；　you　have　done　us　a　very　big　favor。〃
　　　　〃Oh；　yeah？〃　Leon　responded。　〃What　you　gonna　do　with　the　gun？〃
　　　　The　ballistics　expert　answered。　〃First　we'll　clean　it　and　make　sure　it's　safe。　Then　we'll　fire　it。〃　He　looked　at　Shaw。　〃You　can　forget　any　other　forensic　stuff。　The　water　in　the　quarry　must　be　chemically　active。　This　corrosion　is　pretty　fierce。〃　He　looked　at　Leon。　〃If　you　catch　any　fish　there；　son；　you　be　sure　you　don't　eat　them　unless　your　dad　says　it's　all　right。〃　
　　　　〃Okay；〃　the　boy　assured　him。　
　　　　〃Fibers。〃　Shaw　said。
　　　　〃Yeah；　maybe　that。　Don't　worry。　If　they're　there；　we'll　find　'em。　What　about　the　barrel？〃
　　　　〃Maybe；〃　the　man　replied。　〃By　the　way；　this　gun　es　from　Singapore。　That　makes　it　fairly　new。　The　Israelis　just　licensed　them　to　make　the　piece　eighteen　months　ago。　It's　the　same　outfit　that　makes　the　M…16　under　license　from　Colt's。〃　He　read　off　the　number。　It　would　be　telexed　to　the　FBI's　Legal　Attache　in　Singapore　in　a　matter　of　minutes。　〃I　want　to　get　to　work　on　this　right　now。〃　
　　　　〃Can　I　watch？〃　Leon　asked。　〃I'll　keep　out　of　the　way。〃　
　　　　〃Tell　you　what；〃　Shaw　said。　〃I　want　to　talk　to　your　dad　a　little　longer。　How　about　I　have　one　of　our　agents　take　you　through　our　museum。　You　can　see　how　we　caught　all　the　old…time　bad　guys。　If　you　wait　outside；　somebody　will　e　and　take　you　around。〃　
　　　　〃Okay！〃
　　　　〃We　can't　talk　about　this；　right？〃　Mr。　Newton　asked　after　his　son　had　left。
　　　　〃That's　correct；　sir。〃　Shaw　paused。　〃That's　important　for　two　reasons。　First；　we　don't　want　the　perpetrators　to　know　that　we've　had　a　break　in　the　case　　and　this　could　be　a　major　break；　Mr。　Newton；　you've　done　something　very　important。　The　other　reason　is　to　protect　you　and　your　family。　The　people　involved　in　this　are　very　dangerous。　Put　it　this　way：　you　know　that　they　tried　to　kill　a　pregnant　woman　and　a　four…year…old　girl。〃
　　　　That　got　the　man's　attention。　Robert　Newton；　who　had　five　children；　three　of　them　girls；　didn't　like　hearing　that。
　　　　〃Now；　have　you　ever　seen　people　around　the　quarry？〃　Shaw　asked。
　　　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　
　　　　〃Anybody。〃
　　　　〃There's　maybe　two　or　three　other　folks　who　cut　wood　back　there。　I　know　the　names　　I　mean　their　first　names；　y'know？　And　like　I　said；　kids　like　to　go　parking　back　there。〃　He　laughed。　〃Once　I　had　to　help　one　out。　I　mean；　the　road's　not　all　that　great；　and　this　one　kid　was　stuck　in　the　mud；　and　。　。　。　〃　Newton's　voice　trailed　off。　His　face　changed。　〃Once；　it　was　a　Tuesday　。　。　。　I　couldn't　work　that　day　'cause　the　crane　was　broke；　and　I　didn't　much　feel　like　sitting　around　the　house；　y'know？　So　I　went　out　to　chop　some　wood。　There　was　this　van　ing　outa　the　road。　He　was　having　real　trouble　in　the　mud。　I　had　to　wait　like　ten　minutes　'cause　he　blocked　the　whole　road；　slippin'　and　slidin'；　like。〃　
　　　　〃What　kind　of　van？〃　
　　　　〃Dark；　mostly。　The　kind　with　the　sliding　door　　musta　been　customized　some；　it　had　that　dark　stuff　on　the　windows；　y'know？〃
　　　　Bingo！　Shaw　told　himself。　〃Did　you　see　the　driver　or　anybody　inside？〃
　　　　Newton　thought　for　a　moment。　〃Yeah　。　。　。　it　was　a　black　dude。　He　was　　yeah；　I　remember；　he　was　yellin'；　like。　I　guess　he　was　pissed　at　getting　stuck　like　that。　I　mean；　I　couldn't　hear　him；　but　you　could　tell　he　was　yelling；　y'know？　He　had　a　beard；　and　a　leather　jacket　like　the　one　I　wear　to　work。〃　
　　　　〃Anything　else　about　the　van？〃
　　　　〃I　think　it　made　noise；　like　it　had　a　big　V…8。　Yeah；　it　must　have　been　a　custom　van　to　have　that。〃
　　　　Shaw　looked　at　his　men；　too　excited　to　smile　as　they　scribbled　their　notes。
　　　　〃The　papers　said　all　the　crooks　were　white；〃　Newton　said。　
　　　　〃The　papers　don't　always　get　things　right；〃　Shaw　noted。
　　　　〃You　mean　the　bastard　who　killed　that　cop　was　black？〃　Newton　didn't　like　that。　So　was　he。　〃And　he　tried　to　do　that　family；　too　。　。　。　Shit！〃
　　　　〃Mr。　Newton；　that　is　secret。　Do　you　understand　me？　You　can't　tell　anybody　about　that；　not　even　your　son　　was　he　there　then？〃　
　　　　〃Nah；　he　was　in　school。〃
　　　　〃Okay；　you　can't　tell　anyone。　That　is　to　protect　you　and　your　family。　We're　talking　about　some　very　dangerous　people　here。〃　
　　　　〃Okay；　man。〃　Newton　looked　at　the　table　for　a　moment。　〃You　mean　we　got　people　running　around　with　machine　guns；　killing　people　　here？　Not　in　Lebanon　and　like　that；　but　here？〃　
　　　　〃That's　about　the　size　of　it。〃
　　　　〃Hey；　man；　I　didn't　spend　a　year　in　the　Nam　so　we　could　have　that　shit　where　I　live。〃

　　　　Several　floors　downstairs；　two　weapons　experts　had　already　detail…stripped　the　Uzi。　A　small　vacuum　cleaner　was　applied　to　every　part　in　the　hope　there　might　be　cloth　fibers　that　matched　those　taken　from　the　van。　A　final　careful　look　was　taken　at　the　parts。　The　damage　from　water　immersion　had　done　no　good　to　the　stampings；　made　mostly　of　mild　steel。　The　stronger；　corrosion…resistant　ballistic　steel　of　the　barrel　and　bolt　were　in　somewhat　better　shape。　The　lab　chief　reassembled　the　gun　himself；　just　to　show　his　technicians　that　he　still　knew　how。　He　took　his　time；　oiling　the　pieces　with　care；　finally　working　the　action　to　make　sure　it　functioned　properly。
　　　　〃Okay；〃　he　said　to　himself。　He　left　the　weapon　on　the　table；　its　bolt　closed　on　an　empty　chamber。　Next　he　pulled　an　Uzi　magazine　from　a　cabinet　and　loaded　twenty　9…millimeter　rounds。　This　he　stuck　in　his　pocket。
　　　　It　always　struck　visitors　as　somewhat　incongruous。　The　technicians　usually　wore　white　laboratory　coats；　like　doctors；　when　they　fired　the　guns。　The　man　donned　his　ear　protectors；　stuck　the　muzzle　into　the　slot；　and　fired　a　single　round　to　make　certain　that　the　gun　really　worked。　It　did。　Then　he　held　the　trigger　down；　emptying　the　magazine　in　a　brief　span　of　seconds。　He　pulled　out　the　magazine；　checked　that　the　weapon　was　safe；　and　handed　it　to　his　assistant。
　　　　〃I'm　going　to　wash　my　hands。　Let's　get　those　bullets　checked　out。〃　The　chief　ballistics　technician　was　a　fastidious　person。
　　　　By　the　time　he　was　finished　drying　his　hands；　he　had　a　collection　of　twenty　spent　bullets。　The　metal　jacket　on　each　showed　the　characteristic　marks　made　by　the　rifling　of　the　machine　gun's　barrel。　The　marks　were　roughly　the　same　on　each　bullet；　but　slightly　different；　since　the　gun　barrel　expanded　when　it　got　hot。
　　　　He　took　a　small　box　from　the　evidence　case。　This　bullet　had　gone　pletely　through　the　body　of　a　police　officer；　he　remembered。　It　seemed　such　a　puny　thing　to　have　taken　a　life；　he　thought；　not　even　an　ounce　of　lead　and　steel；　hardly　deformed　at　all　from　its　deadly　passage。　It　was　hard　not　to　dwell　on　such　thoughts。　He　placed　it　on　one　side　of　the　parison　microscope　and　took　another　from　the　set　he'd　just　fired。　Then　he　removed　his　glasses　and　bent　down　to　the　eyepieces。　The　bullets　were　。　。　。　close。　They'd　definitely　been　fired　by　the　same　kind　of　gun　。　。　。　He　switched　samples。　Closer。　The　third　bullet　was　closer　still。　He　carefully　rotated　the　sample；　paring　it　with　the　round　that　was　kept　in　the　evidence　case；　and　it　。　。　。
　　　　〃We　got　a　match。〃　He　backed　away　from　the　'scope　and　another　technician　bent　down　to　check。
　　　　〃Yeah；　that's　a　match。　One　hundred　percent；〃　the　man　agreed。　The　boss　ordered　his　men　to　check　other　rounds　and　walked　to　the　phone。

　　　　〃Shaw。〃
　　　　〃It's　the　same　gun。　One…hundred…percent　sure。　I　have　a　match　on　the　round　that　killed　the　trooper。　They're　checking　the　ones　from　the　Porsche　now。〃　
　　　　〃Good　work；　Paul！〃　
　　　　〃You　bet。　I'll　be　back　to　you　in　a　little　while。〃　
　　　　Shaw　replaced　the　phone　and　looked　at　his　people。　〃Gentlemen；　we　just　had　a　break　in　the　Ryan　case。〃

Chapter　22　Procedures

　　　　Robert　Newton　took　the　agents　to　the　quarry　that　night。　By　dawn　the　next　day　a　full　team　of　forensic　experts　was　sifting　through　every　speck　of　dirt　at　the　site。　A　pair　of　divers　went　into　the　murky　water；　and　ten　agents　were　posted　in　the　woods　to　watch　for　pany。　Another　team　located　and　interviewed　Newton's　fellow　woodcutters。　More　spoke　with　the　residents　of　the　farms　near　the　road　leading　back　into　the　woods。