tc.patriotgames-第84章

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d　set　it　down　in　his　lap　while　the　ferry　pulled　into　the　English　Channel；　placid　with　the　summer　sun　overhead。　His　bland　face　stared　out　at　the　water　with　a　gaze　as　calm　as　a　man　in　contemplation　of　his　garden　while　he　fantasized　images　of　blood　and　death。

　　　　Owens　was　as　furious　as　anyone　had　ever　seen　him。　The　surveillance　of　Cooley　had　been　so　easy；　so　routine　　but　that　was　no　excuse；　he　told　his　men。　That　harmless…looking　little　poof；　as　Ashley　had　called　him；　had　slipped　away　from　his　shadowers　as　adroitly　as　someone　trained　at　Moscow　Center　itself。　There　were　men　at　every　international　airport　in　Britain　clutching　pictures　of　Cooley；　and　if　he　used　his　credit　card　to　purchase　any　kind　of　ticket；　the　puters　would　notify　Scotland　Yard　at　once；　but　Owens　had　a　sickening　feeling　that　the　man　was　already　out　of　the　country。　The　mander　of　C…13　dismissed　his　people。
　　　　Ashley　was　in　the　room；　too；　and　his　people　had　been　caught　equally　off　guard。　He　and　Owens　shared　a　look　of　anger　mixed　with　despair。
　　　　A　detective　had　left　the　tape　of　a　phone　call　to　Geoffrey　Watkins　made　less　than　an　hour　after　Cooley　disappeared。　Ashley　played　it。　It　lasted　all　of　twenty　seconds。　And　it　wasn't　Cooley's　voice。　If　it　had　been；　they　would　have　arrested　Watkins　then　and　there。　For　all　their　effort；　they　still　did　not　have　a　single　usable　piece　of　evidence　on　Geoffrey　Watkins。
　　　　〃There　is　a　Mr。　Titus　in　the　building。　The　voice　even　gave　the　correct　number。　By　all　rights　it　could　have　been　a　simple　wrong　number。〃　
　　　　〃But　it　wasn't；　of　course。〃
　　　　〃That　is　how　it's　done；　you　know。　You　have　pre…set　messages　that　are　constructed　to　sound　entirely　harmless。　Whoever　trained　these　chaps　knew　what　they　were　about。　What　about　the　shop？〃　
　　　　〃The　girl　Beatrix　knows　absolutely　nothing。　We　have　people　searching　the　shop　at　this　moment；　but　so　far　they've　found　nothing　but　old　bloody　books。　Same　story　at　his　flat。〃　Owens　stood　and　spoke　in　a　voice　full　of　perverse　wonder。　〃An　electrician　。　。　。　Months　of　work；　gone　because　he　yanks　the　wrong　wire。〃
　　　　〃He'll　turn　up。　He　could　not　have　had　a　great　deal　of　cash。　He　must　use　his　credit　card。〃
　　　　〃He's　out　of　the　country　already。　Don't　say　he　isn't。　If　he's　clever　enough　for　what　we　know　he's　done　〃
　　　　〃Yes。〃　Ashley　nodded　reluctant　agreement。　〃One　doesn't　always　win；　James。〃
　　　　〃It　is　so　nice　to　hear　that！〃　Owens　snapped　out　his　reply。　〃These　bastards　have　outguessed　us　every　step　of　the　way。　The　missioner　is　going　to　ask　me　how　it　is　that　we　couldn't　get　our　thumbs　out　in　time；　and　there　is　no　answer　to　that　question。〃
　　　　〃So　what's　the　next　step；　then？〃
　　　　〃At　least　we　know　what　he　looks　like。　We　。　。　。　we　share　what　we　know　with　the　Americans；　all　of　it。　I　have　a　meeting　scheduled　with　Murray　this　evening。　He's　hinted　that　they　have　something　operating　that　he's　not　able　to　talk　about；　doubtless　some　sort　of　CIA　op。〃　
　　　　〃Agreed。　Is　it　here　or　there？〃　
　　　　〃There。〃　Owens　paused。　〃I　am　getting　sick　of　this　place。〃　
　　　　〃mander；　you　should　measure　your　successes　against　your　failures；〃　Ashley　said。　〃You're　the　best　man　we've　had　in　this　office　in　some　years。〃
　　　　Owens　only　grunted　at　that　remark。　He　knew　it　was　true。　Under　his　leadership；　C…13　had　scored　major　coups　against　the　Provisionals。　But　in　this　job；　as　in　so　many　others；　the　question　one's　superiors　always　asked　was；　What　have　you　acplished　today？　Yesterday　was　ancient　history。

　　　　〃Watkins'　suspected　contact　has　flown；〃　he　announced　three　hours　later。
　　　　〃What　happened？〃　Murray　closed　his　eyes　halfway　through　the　explanation　and　shook　his　head　sadly。　〃We　had　the　same　sort　of　thing　happen　to　us；〃　he　said　after　Owens　finished。　〃A　renegade　CIA　officer。　We　were　watching　his　place；　and　let　things　settle　into　a　fortable　routine；　and　then　　zip！　He　snookered　the　surveillance　team。　He　turned　up　in　Moscow　a　week　later。　It　happens；　Jimmy。〃　
　　　　〃Not　to　me；〃　Owens　almost　snarled。　〃Not　until　now；　that　is。〃　
　　　　〃What's　he　look　like？〃　Owens　handed　a　collection　of　photographs　across　the　desk。　Murray　flipped　through　them。　〃Mousy　little　bastard；　isn't　he？　Almost　bald。〃　The　FBI　man　considered　this　for　a　moment；　then　lifted　his　phone　and　punched　in　four　numbers。　〃Fred？　Dan。　You　want　to　e　down　to　my　office　for　a　minute？〃
　　　　The　man　arrived　a　minute　later。　Murray　didn't　identify　him　as　a　member　of　the　CIA　and　Owens　didn't　ask。　He　didn't　have　to。　He'd　given　over　two　copies　of　each　photo。
　　　　Fred　　one　of　the　men　from　〃down　the　hall〃　　took　his　photos　and　looked　at　them。　〃Who's　he　supposed　to　be？〃　
　　　　Owens　explained　briefly；　ending；　〃He's　probably　out　of　the　country　by　now。〃
　　　　〃Well；　if　he　turns　up　in　any　of　our　nets；　we'll　let　you　know；〃　Fred　promised；　and　left。
　　　　〃Do　you　know　what　they're　up　to？〃　Owens　asked　Murray。
　　　　〃No。　I　know　something　is　happening。　The　Bureau　and　the　Agency　have　a　joint　task　force　set　up；　but　it's　partmented；　and　I　don't　need　to　know　all　of　it　yet。〃　
　　　　〃Did　your　chaps　have　a　part　in　the　raid　on　Action…Directe？〃
　　　　〃I　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about；〃　Murray　said　piously。　How　the　hell　did　you　hear　about　that；　Jimmy？
　　　　〃I　thought　as　much；〃　Owens　replied。　Bloody　security！　〃Dan；　we　are　concerned　here　with　the　personal　safety　of　〃　
　　　　Murray　held　his　hands　up　like　a　man　at　bay。　〃I　know；　I　know。　And　you're　right；　too。　We　ought　to　cut　your　people　in　on　this。　I'll　call　the　Director　myself。〃　
　　　　The　phone　rang。　It　was　for　Owens。
　　　　〃Yes？〃　The　mander　of　C…13　listened　for　a　minute　before　hanging　up。　〃Thank　you。〃　A　sigh。　〃Dan；　he's　definitely　on　the　continent。　He　used　a　credit　card　to　purchase　a　railway　ticket。　Dunkerque　to　Paris；　three　hours　ago。〃　
　　　　〃Have　the　French　pick　him　up？〃
　　　　〃Too　late。　The　train　arrived　twenty　minutes　ago。　He's　pletely　gone　now。　Besides；　we　have　nothing　to　arrest　him　for；　do　we？〃　
　　　　〃And　Watkins　has　been　warned　off。〃
　　　　〃Unless　that　was　a　genuinely　wrong　number；　which　I　rather　doubt；　but　try　to　prove　that　in　a　court　of　law！〃　
　　　　〃Yeah。〃　Judges　didn't　understand　any　instinct　but　their　own。
　　　　〃And　don't　tell　me　that　you　can't　win　them　all！　That's　what　they　pay　me　to　do。〃　Owens　looked　down　at　the　rug；　then　back　up。　〃Please　excuse　me　for　that。〃
　　　　〃Aah！〃　Murray　waved　it　off。　〃You've　had　bad　days　before。　So　have　I。　It's　part　of　the　business　we're　in。　What　we　both　need　at　a　time　like　this　is　a　beer。　e　on　downstairs；　and　I'll　treat　you　to　a　burger。〃　
　　　　〃When　will　you　call　your　Director？〃
　　　　〃It's　lunchtime　over　there。　He　always　has　a　meeting　going　over　lunch。　We'll　let　it　wait　a　few　hours。〃

　　　　Ryan　had　lunch　with　Cantor　that　day　in　the　CIA　cafeteria。　It　could　have　been　the　eating　place　in　any　other　government　building。　The　food　was　just　as　unexciting。　Ryan　decided　to　try　the　lasagna；　but　Marty　stuck　with　fruit　salad　and　cake。　It　seemed　an　odd　diet　until　Jack　watched　him　take　a　tablet　before　eating。　He　washed　it　down　with　milk。　
　　　　〃Ulcers；　Marty？〃　
　　　　〃What　makes　you　say　that？〃
　　　　〃I'm　married　to　a　doc；　remember？　You　just　took　a　Tagamet。　That's　for　ulcers。〃
　　　　〃This　place　gets　to　you　after　a　while；〃　Cantor　explained。　〃My　stomach　started　acting　up　last　year　and　didn't　get　any　better。　Everyone　in　my　family　es　down　with　it　sooner　or　later。　Bad　genes；　I　guess。　The　medication　helps　some；　but　the　doctor　says　that　I　need　a　less　stressful　environment。〃　A　snort。　
　　　　〃You　do　work　long　hours；〃　Ryan　observed。
　　　　〃Anyway；　my　wife　got　offered　a　teaching　position　at　the　University　of　Texas　　she's　a　mathematician。　And　to　sweeten　the　deal　they　offered　me　a　place　in　the　Political　Science　Department。　The　pay's　better　than　it　is　here；　too。　I've　been　here　twelve　years；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃Long　time。〃
　　　　〃So　what　do　you　feel　bad　about？　Teaching's　great。　I　love　it；　and　you'll　be　good　at　it。　You'll　even　have　a　good　football　team　to　watch。〃
　　　　〃Yeah；　well；　she's　already　down　there；　and　I　leave　in　a　few　weeks。　I'm　going　to　miss　this　place。〃
　　　　〃You'll　get　over　it。　Imagine　being　able　to　walk　into　a　building　without　getting　permission　from　a　puter。　Hey；　I　walked　away　from　my　first　job。〃
　　　　〃But　this　one's　important。〃　Cantor　drank　his　milk　and　looked　across　the　table。　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃
　　　　〃Ask　me　after　the　baby　is　born。〃　Ryan　didn't　want　to　dwell　on　this　question。
　　　　〃The　Agency　needs　people　like　you；　Jack。　You've　got　a　feel　for　things。　You　don't　think　and　act　like　a　bureaucrat。　You　say　what　you　think。　Not　everyone　in　this　building　does　that；　and　that's　why　the　Admiral　likes　you。〃　
　　　　〃Hell；　I　haven't　talked　to　him　since　〃　
　　　　〃He　knows　what　you're　doing。〃　Cantor　smiled。　
　　　　〃Oh。〃　Ryan　understood。　〃So　that's　it。〃
　　　　〃That's　right。　The　old　man　really　wants　you；　Jack。　You　still　don't　know　how　important　that　photo　you　tripped　over　was；　do　you？〃
　　　　〃All　I　did　was　show　it　to　you；　Marty；〃　Ryan　protested。　〃You're　the　one　who　really　made　the　connection。〃　
　　　　〃You　did　exactly　the　right　thing；　exactly　what　an　analyst　is　supposed　to　do。　There　was　more　brains　in　that　than　you　know。　You　have　a　gift　for　this　sort　of　work。　If　you　can't　see　it；　I　can。〃　Cantor　examined　the　lasagna　and　winced。　How　could　anybody　eat　that　greasy　poison？　〃Two　years　from　now　you'll　be　ready　for　my　job。〃
　　　　〃One　bridge　at　a　time；　Marty。〃　They　let　it　go　at　that。　
　　　　An　hour　later　Ryan　was　back　in　his　office。　Cantor　came　in。　
　　　　〃Another　pep　talk？〃　Jack　smiled。　Full…court　press　time　。　。　。
　　　　〃We　have　a　picture　of　a　suspected　ULA　member　and　it's　only　a　week　old。　We　got　it　in　from　London　a　couple　of　hours　ago。〃　
　　　　〃Dennis　Cooley。〃　Ryan　examined　it　and　laughed。　〃He　looks　like　a　real　wimp。　What's　the　story？〃
　　　　Cantor　explained。　〃Bad　luck　for　the　Brits；　but　maybe　good　luck　for　us。　Look　at　the　picture　again　and　tell　me　something　important。〃
　　　　〃You　mean　。　。　。　he's　lost　most　of　his　hair。　Oh！　We　can　ID　the　guy　if　he　turns　up　at　one　of　the　camps。　None　of　the　other　people　are　bald。〃
　　　　〃You　got　it。　And　the　boss　just　cleared　you　for　something。　There's　an　op　laid　on　for　Camp　…18。〃　
　　　　〃What　kind？〃　
　　　　〃The　kind　you　watched　before。　Is　that　still　bothering　you？〃　
　　　　〃No；　not　really。〃　What　bothers　me　is　that　it　doesn't　bother　me；　Ryan　thought。　Maybe　it　should　。　。　。　〃Not　with　these　guys；　I　don't。　When？〃　
　　　　〃I　can't　tell　you；　but　soon。〃
　　　　〃So　why　did　you　let　me　know　　nice　one；　Marty。　Not　very　subtle；　though。　Does　the　Admiral　want　me　to　stay　that　bad？〃　
　　　　〃Draw　your　own　conclusions。〃　　　　　An　hour　after　that　the　photo　expert　was　back。　Another　satellite　had　passed　over　the　camp　at　2208　local　time。　The　infrared　image　showed　eight　people　standing　at　line　on　the　firing　range。　Bright　tongues　of　flame　marked　two　of　the　shapes。　They　were　firing　their　weapons　at　night；　and　there　were　now　at　least　eight　of　them　there。

　　　　〃What　happened？〃　O'Donnell　asked。　He'd　met　Cooley　at　the　airport。　A　cutout　had　gotten　word　out　that　Cooley　was　on　the　run；　but　the　reason　for　it　had　had　to　wait　until　now。　
　　　　〃There　was　a　bug　in　my　shop。〃　
　　　　〃You're　sure？〃　O'Donnell　asked。
　　　　Cooley　handed　it　over。　The　wire　had　been　in　his　pocket　for　thirty　hours。　O'Donnell　pulled　the　Toyota　Land　Cruiser　over　to　examine　it。
　　　　〃Marconi　make　these　for　intelligence　use。　Quite　sensitive。　How　long　might　it　have　been　there？〃
　　　　Cooley　could　not　remember　having　anyone　go　into　his　back　room　unsupervised。　〃I'v