tc.patriotgames-第87章

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tes　will　be　tight。　Just　like　what　we　give　the　President。　Even　some　of　the　same　people　are　involved。〃
　　　　That's　supposed　to　make　me　feel　happy？　Owens　asked　himself　silently；　remembering　how　close　several　American　Presidents　had　e　to　death　at　the　hands　of　madmen；　not　to　mention　John　F。　Kennedy。　It　could　be；　of　course；　that　the　ULA　was　back　wherever　it　lived；　but　all　his　instincts　told　him　otherwise。　Murray　was　a　close　friend；　and　he　also　knew　and　respected　the　Secret　Service　agents　who'd　formed　the　security　detail。　But　the　security　of　Their　Highnesses　was　properly　the　responsibility　of　the　Yard；　and　he　didn't　like　the　fact　that　it　was　now　largely　in　others'　hands。　Owens　had　been　professionally　offended　the　last　time　the　American　President　had　been　in　the　U。K。；　when　the　Secret　Service　had　made　a　big　show　of　shoving　the　locals　as　far　aside　as　they　dared。　Now　he　understood　them　a　little　better。

　　　　〃How　much　is　the　rent？〃　Dobbens　asked。
　　　　〃Four…fifty　a　month；〃　the　agent　answered。　〃That's　furnished。〃
　　　　〃Uh…huh。〃　The　furnishings　weren't　exactly　impressive；　Alex　saw。　They　didn't　have　to　be。　
　　　　〃When　can　my　cousin　move　in？〃　
　　　　〃It's　not　for　you？〃
　　　　〃No；　it's　my　cousin。　He's　in　the　same　business　I　am；〃　Alex　explained。　〃He's　new　to　the　area。　I'll　be　responsible　for　the　rent；　of　course。　A　three…month　deposit；　you　said？〃　
　　　　〃Okay。〃　The　agent　had　specified　two　months'　rent　up…front。　
　　　　〃Cash　all　right？〃　Dobbens　asked。
　　　　〃Sure。　Let's　go　back　to　the　office　and　get　the　paperwork　done。〃
　　　　〃I'm　running　a　little　late。　I'm　afraid。　Don't　you　have　the　contract　with　you？〃
　　　　The　agent　nodded。　〃Yeah；　I　can　do　it　right　here。〃　He　walked　out　to　his　car　and　came　back　with　a　clipboard　and　a　boilerplate　rental　contract。　He　didn't　know　that　he　was　condemning　himself　to　death；　that　no　one　else　from　his　office　had　seen　this　man's　face。
　　　　〃My　mail　goes　to　a　box　　I　get　it　on　the　way　into　work。〃　That　took　care　of　the　address。
　　　　〃What　sort　of　work；　did　you　say？〃
　　　　〃I　work　at　the　Applied　Physics　Laboratory；　electrical　engineer。　I'm　afraid　I　can't　be　more　specific　than　that。　We　do　a　lot　of　government　work；　you　understand。〃　Alex　felt　vaguely　sorry　for　the　man。　He　was　pleasant　enough；　and　hadn't　given　him　a　runaround　like　many　real　estate　people　did。　It　was　too　bad。　That's　life。
　　　　〃You　always　deal　in　cash？〃
　　　　〃That's　one　way　to　make　sure　you　can　afford　it；〃　Alex　chuckled。
　　　　〃Could　you　sign　here；　please？〃
　　　　〃Sure　thing。〃　Alex　did　so　with　his　own　pen；　left…handed　as　he'd　practiced。　〃And　that's　thirteen…fifty。〃　He　counted　off　the　bills。
　　　　〃That　was　easy；〃　the　agent　said　as　he　handed　over　the　keys　and　a　receipt。
　　　　〃It　sure　was。　Thank　you；　sir。〃　Alex　shook　his　hand。　〃He'll　probably　be　moving　in　next　week；　certainly　by　the　week　after　that。〃
　　　　The　two　men　walked　out　to　their　cars。　Alex　wrote　down　the　agent's　tag　number：　he　drove　his　own　car；　not　one　belonging　to　the　brokerage。　Alex　noted　his　description　anyway；　just　to　be　sure　that　his　people　didn't　kill　the　wrong　man。　He　was　glad　he　hadn't　drawn　a　woman　agent。　Alex　knew　that　he'd　have　to　overe　that　prejudice　sooner　or　later；　but　for　the　moment　it　was　an　issue　he　was　just　as　happy　to　avoid。　He　followed　the　agent　for　a　few　blocks；　then　turned　off　and　doubled　back　to　the　house。
　　　　It　wasn't　exactly　perfect；　but　close　enough。　Three　small　bedrooms。　The　eat…in　kitchen　was　all　right；　though；　as　was　the　living　room。　Most　important；　it　had　a　garage；　and　sat　on　nearly　an　acre　of　ground。　The　lot　was　bordered　by　hedges；　and　sat　in　a　semirural　working…class　neighborhood　where　the　houses　were　separated　by　about　fifty　feet。　It　would　do　just　fine　as　a　safehouse。
　　　　Finished；　he　drove　to　Washington　National　Airport；　where　he　caught　a　flight　to　Miami。　There　was　a　three…hour　layover　until　he　took　another　airplane　to　Mexico　City。　Miller　was　waiting　for　him　in　the　proper　hotel。
　　　　〃Hello；　Sean。〃　
　　　　〃Hello；　Alex。　Drink？〃　
　　　　〃What　do　you　have？〃
　　　　〃Well；　I　brought　a　bottle　of　decent　whiskey；　or　you　can　have　some　of　the　local　stuff。　The　beer　isn't　bad；　but　I　personally　stop　short　of　drinking　something　with　a　worm　in　the　bottle。〃　
　　　　Alex　selected　a　beer。　He　didn't　bother　with　a　glass。　
　　　　〃So？〃
　　　　Dobbens　drained　the　beer　in　one　long　pull。　It　was　good　to　be　able　to　relax　　really　relax。　Play…acting　all　the　time　at　home　could　be　a　strain。　〃I　got　the　safehouse　all　set　up。　Did　that　this　morning。　It'll　do　fine　for　what　we　want。　What　about　your　people？〃　
　　　　〃They're　on　the　way。　They'll　arrive　as　planned。〃　
　　　　Alex　nodded　approval　as　he　got　a　second　beer。　〃Okay；　let's　see　how　the　operation's　going　to　run。〃
　　　　〃In　a　very　real　sense；　Alex；　you　inspired　this。〃　Miller　opened　his　briefcase　and　extracted　the　maps　and　charts。　They　went　on　the　coffee　table。　Alex　didn't　smile。　Miller　was　trying　to　stroke　him；　and　Dobbens　didn't　like　being　stroked。　He　listened　for　twenty　minutes。
　　　　〃Not　bad；　that's　pretty　fair；　but　you're　going　to　have　to　change　a　few　things。〃
　　　　〃What？〃　Miller　asked。　He　was　already　angered　by　Dobbens'　tone。
　　　　〃Look；　man；　there's　going　to　be　at　least　fifteen　security　guys　right　here。〃　Alex　tapped　the　map。　〃And　you're　going　to　have　to　do　them　right　quick；　y'know？　We're　not　talking　street　cops　here。　These　guys　are　trained　and　well　armed。　They're　not　exactly　dumb；　either。　If　you　want　this　to　work；　man；　you　have　to　land　the　first　punch　harder。　Your　timing　is　off　some；　too。　No；　we　have　to　tighten　this　up　some；　Sean。〃
　　　　〃But　they'll　be　in　the　wrong　place！〃　Miller　objected　as　dispassionately　as　he　could　manage。
　　　　〃And　you　want　them　to　be　running　around　loose？　No　way；　boy！　You'd　better　think　about　taking　them　out　in　the　first　ten　seconds。　Hey；　think　of　them　as　soldiers。　This　ain't　no　snatch…and…run　job。　We're　talking　bat　here。〃　
　　　　〃But　if　the　security　is　going　to　be　as　tight　as　you　say　〃　
　　　　〃I　can　handle　that；　man。　Don't　you　pay　attention　to　what　I'm　doing？　I　can　put　your　shooters　in　exactly　the　right　spot　at　exactly　the　right　time。〃
　　　　〃And　how　the　hell　will　you　do　that！〃　Miller　was　unable　to　calm　himself　anymore。　There　was　just　something　about　Alex　that　set　him　off。
　　　　〃It's　easy；　man。〃　Dobbens　smiled。　He　enjoyed　showing　this　hotshot　how　things　were　done。　〃All　you　gotta　do　。　。　。　〃　
　　　　〃And　you　really　think　you　can　get　past　them　just　like　that！〃　Miller　snapped　after　he　finished。
　　　　〃Easy。　I　can　write　my　own　work　orders；　remember？〃　
　　　　Miller　struggled　with　himself　again；　and　this　time　he　won。　He　told　himself　to　view　Alex's　idea　dispassionately。　He　hated　admitting　to　himself　that　the　plan　made　sense。　This　amateur　black　was　telling　him　how　to　run　an　op；　and　the　fact　that　he　was　right　just　made　it　worse。
　　　　〃Hey；　man；　it's　not　just　better；　it's　easier　to　do。〃　Alex　backed　off　somewhat。　Even　arrogant　whities　needed　their　pride。　This　boy　was　used　to　having　his　own　way。　He　was　smart　enough；　Dobbens　admitted　to　himself；　but　too　inflexible。　Once　he　got　himself　set　on　an　idea；　he　didn't　want　to　change　a　thing。　He　never　would　have　made　a　good　engineer；　Alex　knew。　〃Remember　the　last　op　we　ran　for　you？　Trust　me；　man。　I　was　right　then；　wasn't　I？〃　
　　　　For　all　his　technical　expertise；　Alex　did　not　have　tremendous　skills　for　handling　people。　This　last　remark　almost　set　Miller　off　again；　but　the　Irishman　took　a　deep　breath　as　he　continued　to　stare　at　the　map。　Now　I　know　why　the　Yanks　love　their　niggers　so　much。　
　　　　〃Let　me　think　about　it。〃
　　　　〃Sure。　Tell　you　what。　I'm　going　to　get　some　sleep。　You　can　pray　over　the　map　all　you　want。〃　
　　　　〃Who　else　besides　the　security　and　the　targets？〃　
　　　　Alex　stretched。　〃Maybe　they're　going　to　cater　it。　Hell　　I　don't　know。　I　imagine　they'll　have　their　maid。　I　mean；　you　don't　have　that　kind　of　pany　without　one　servant；　right？　She　doesn't　get　hurt　either；　man。　She's　a　sister；　handsome　woman。　And　remember　what　I　said　about　the　lady　and　the　kid。　If　it's　necessary；　I　can　live　with　it；　but　if　you　pop　'em　for　fun；　Sean；　you'll　answer　to　me。　Let's　try　to　keep　this　one　professional。　You　have　three　legitimate　political　targets。　That's　enough。　The　rest　are　bargaining　chips；　we　can　use　'em　to　show　good　will。　That　might　not　be　important　to　you；　boy；　but　it's　fucking　well　important　to　me。　You　dig？〃　
　　　　〃Very　well；　Alex。〃　Sean　decided　then　and　there　that　Alex　would　not　see　the　end　of　this　operation。　It　shouldn't　be　too　hard　to　arrange。　With　his　absurd　sentimentality；　he　was　unfit　to　be　a　revolutionary。　You'll　die　a　brave　death。　At　least　we　can　make　a　martyr　of　you。
　　　　Two　hours　later　Miller　admitted　to　himself　that　this　was　unfortunate。　The　man　did　have　a　flair　for　operations。

　　　　The　security　people　were　late　enough　that　Ryan　pulled　into　the　driveway　right　behind　them。　There　were　three　of　them；　led　by　Chuck　Avery　of　the　Secret　Service。
　　　　〃Sorry；　we　got　held　up；〃　Avery　said　as　he　shook　hands。　〃This　is　Bert　Longley　and　Mike　Keaton；　two　of　our　British　colleagues。〃　
　　　　〃Hello；　Mr。　Longley；〃　Cathy　called　from　the　door。
　　　　His　eyes　went　wide　as　he　saw　her　condition。　〃My　goodness；　perhaps　we　should　bring　a　physician　in　with　us！　I'd　no　idea　you　were　so　far　along。〃
　　　　〃Well；　this　one　will　be　part　English。〃　Jack　explained。　〃e　on　in。〃
　　　　〃Mr。　Longley　arranged　our　escort　when　you　were　in　the　hospital；〃　Cathy　told　her　husband。　〃Nice　to　see　you　again。〃　
　　　　〃How　are　you　feeling？〃　Longley　asked。　
　　　　〃A　little　tired；　but　okay；〃　Cathy　allowed。
　　　　〃Have　you　cleared　the　problem　about　Robby？〃　Jack　asked。
　　　　〃Yes；　we　have。　Please　excuse　Mr。　Bennett。　I'm　afraid　he　took　his　instructions　a　bit　too　literally。　We　have　no　problems　with　a　naval　officer。　In　fact；　His　Highness　is　looking　forward　to　meeting　him。　So；　may　we　look　around？〃
　　　　〃If　it's　all　right　with　you；　I　want　to　see　that　cliff　of　yours；〃　Avery　said。
　　　　〃Follow　me；　gentlemen。〃　Jack　led　the　three　through　the　sliding…glass　doors　onto　the　deck　that　faced　Chesapeake　Bay。　
　　　　〃Magnificent！〃　Longley　observed。
　　　　〃The　only　thing　we　did　wrong　is　that　the　living　and　dining　room　aren't　separated；　but　that's　how　the　design　was　drawn；　and　we　couldn't　figure　a　graceful　way　to　change　it。　But　all　those　windows　do　give　us　a　nice　view；　don't　they？〃
　　　　〃Indeed；　also　one　that　gives　our　chaps　good　visibility；〃　Keaton　observed；　surveying　the　area。
　　　　Not　to　mention　decent　fields　of　fire；　Ryan　thought。　
　　　　〃How　many　people　will　you　be　bringing？〃　Jack　asked。
　　　　〃I'm　afraid　that's　not　something　we　can　discuss；〃　Longley　replied。
　　　　〃More　than　twenty？〃　Jack　persisted。　〃I　plan　to　have　coffee　and　sandwiches　for　your　troops。　Don't　worry；　I　haven't　even　told　Robby。〃
　　　　〃Enough　for　twenty　will　be　more　than　ample；〃　Avery　said　after　a　moment。　〃Just　coffee　will　be　fine。〃　They'd　be　drinking　a　lot　of　coffee；　the　Secret　Service　man　thought。
　　　　〃Okay；　let's　see　the　cliff。〃　Jack　went　down　the　steps　from　the　deck　to　the　grass。　〃You　want　to　be　very　careful　here；　gentlemen。〃　
　　　　〃How　unstable　is　it？〃　Avery　asked。
　　　　〃Sally　has　been　past　where　the　fence　is　twice。　Both　times　she　got　smacked　for　it。　The　problem's　erosion。　The　cliff's　made　out　of　something　real　soft　　sandstone；　I　think。　I've　been　trying　to　stabilize　it。　The　state　conservation　people　talked　me　into　planting　this　damned　kudzu；　and　　stop　right　there！〃　
　　　　Keaton　had　stepped　over　the　low　fence。
　　　　〃Two　years　ago　I　watched　a　twenty…squa