jamesclavell.noblehouse-第134章

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　They　listened　while　the　old　woman　went　on　and　on　and　they　let　her　talk　herself　out。　The　wall　clock　read　1：45。　They　had　been　questioning　her　for　half　an　hour。　〃That's　enough　for　now；　Wu。　We'll　repeat　it　in　three　hours　just　for　safety　but　I　think　she's　told　us　everything。〃　Wearily　Armstrong　picked　up　a　phone；　dialed。　〃Armstrong　…　you　can　take　her　back　to　her　cell　now；〃　he　said　into　the　phone。　〃Make　sure　she's　fortable　and　well　looked　after　and　have　the　doctor　reexamine　her。〃　It　was　normal　SI　procedure　to　give　prisoners　an　examination　before　and　after　each　interrogation。　The　doctor　had　said　that　Ah　Tam　had　the　heart　and　the　blood　pressure　of　a　twenty…year…old。
　In　a　moment　they　saw　the　white；　almost　hidden　door　open。　A　uniformed　SI　policewoman　beckoned　Ah　Tam　kindly。　Ah　Tam　hobbled　out。　Armstrong　dipped　the　lights；　switched　the　tape　recorder　to　rewind。　Wu　mopped　his　brow。　〃You　did　very　well；　Wu。　You　learn　quickly。〃
　〃Thank　you；　sir。〃
　The　high…pitched　whine　of　the　tape　recorder　grew。　Armstrong　watched　it　silently；　still　in　shock。　The　sound　ceased　and　the　big　man　took　the　reel　out　of　the　machine。　〃We　always　mark　the　date；　exact　time　and　exact　duration　of　the　interrogation　and　use　a　code　name　for　the　suspect。　For　safety　and　secrecy。〃　He　looked　up　a　number　in　a　book；　marked　the　tape；　then　began　to　make　out　a　form。　〃We　cross…check　with　this　form。　We　sign　it　as　interrogators　and　put　Ah　Tam's　code　down　here　…　V…11…3。　This's　top　secret　and　filed　in　the　safe。〃　His　eyes　became　very　hard。　Wu　almost　quailed。　〃I　repeat：　You'd　better　believe　that　a　closed　mouth　catches　no　flies　and　that　everything　in　SI；　everything　that　you　have　been　party　to　today　is　top　secret。〃
　〃Yes　sir。　Yes；　you　can　count　on　me；　sir。〃
　〃You'd　better　also　remember　that　SI's　a　law　unto　itself；　the　governor　and　the　minister　in　London。　Only。　Good　old　English　law　and　fair　play　and　normal　police　codes　do　not　apply　to　SB　or　SI　…　habeas　corpus；　open　trials　and　appeal。　In　an　SI　case　there's　no　trial；　no　appeal　and　it's　a　deportation　order　to　the　PRC　or　Taiwan；　whichever's　worse。　Understand？〃
　〃Yes　sir。　I　want　to　be　part　of　SI；　sir；　so　you　can　believe　me。　I'm　not　one　to　slake　my　thirst　on　poison；〃　Wu　assured　him；　sick　with　hope。
　〃Good。　For　the　next　few　days　you're　confined　to　this　HQ。〃
　Wu's　mouth　dropped　open。　〃But　sir；　my　。。。　yes　sir。〃
　Armstrong　led　the　way　out　and　locked　the　door　after　him。　He　gave　the　key　and　the　form　to　an　SI　agent　who　was　on　guard　at　the　main　desk。　〃I'll　keep　the　reel　for　the　moment。　I've　signed　the　receipt。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃You'll　take　care　of　Constable　Wu？　He's　our　guest　for　a　couple　of　days。　Start　getting　his　particulars　…　he's　been　very　very　very　helpful。　I'm　remending　him　for　SI。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　He　left　them　and　went　to　the　elevator　and　got　out　on　his　floor；　a　sick…sweet…sour　taste　of　apprehension　in　his　mouth。　SI　interrogations　were　anathema　to　him。　He　hated　them　though　they　were　fast；　efficient　and　always　obtained　results。　He　preferred　to　have　an　old…fashioned　battle　of　wits；　to　use　patience　and　not　these　new；　modern　psychological　tools。　〃It's　all　bloody　dangerous　if　you　ask　me；〃　he　muttered；　walking　along　his　corridor；　the　faint　musty　smell　of　headquarters　in　his　nostrils；　hating　Crosse　and　SI　and　everything　it　stood　for；　hating　the　knowledge　he　had　unearthed。　His　door　was　open。　〃Oh　hi；　Brian；〃　he　said；　closing　it；　his　face　grim。　Brian　Kwok　had　his　feet　up　on　the　desk　and　was　idly　reading　one　of　the　munist　Chinese　morning　papers；　the　windows　rain…streaked　behind　him。　〃What's　new？〃
　〃There's　quite　a　big　piece　on　Iran；〃　his　friend　said；　engrossed　in　what　he　was　reading。　〃It　says　'capitalist　CIA　overlords　in　conjunction　with　the　tyrant　Shah　have　put　down　a　people's　revolutionary　war　in　Azerbaijan；　thousands　have　been　killed'　and　so　on。　I　don't　believe　all　that　but　it　looks　as　though　the　CIA　and　the　Ninety…second　Airborne　have　defused　that　area　and　the　Yanks　have　done　right　for　once。〃
　〃Lot　of　bloody　good　that'll　do！〃
　Brian　Kwok　looked　up。　His　smile　faded。　〃What's　up？〃
　〃I　feel　rotten。〃　Armstrong　hesitated。　〃I　sent　for　a　couple　of　beers；　then　we'll　have　lunch。　How　about　a　curry？　All　right？〃
　〃Fine；　but　if　you're　feeling　rotten　let's　skip　lunch。〃
　〃No；　it's　not　that　sort　of　rotten。　I　。。。　I　just　hate　doing　white　interrogations　。。。　gives　me　the　creeps。〃
　Brian　Kwok　stared　at　him。　〃You　did　the　old　amah　there？　What　the　hell　for？〃
　〃It　was　Crosse's　order。　He's　a　bastard！〃
　Brian　Kwok　put　his　paper　down。　〃Yes　he　is；　and　I'm　sure　I'm　right　about　him；〃　he　said　softly。
　〃Not　now；　Brian；　over　lunch　maybe　but　not　now。　Christ；　I　need　a　drink！　Bloody　Crosse；　and　bloody　SI！　I'm　not　SI　and　yet　he　acts　like　I'm　one　of　his。〃
　〃Oh？　But　you're　ing　on　the　16/2　this　evening。　I　thought　you'd　been　seconded。〃
　〃He　didn't　mention　it。　What's　on？〃
　〃If　he　didn't　mention　it；　I'd　better　not。〃
　〃Of　course。〃　It　was　normal　SI　procedure；　for　security；　to　minimize　the　spread　of　information　so　that　even　highly　trustworthy　agents　working　on　the　same　case　might　not　be　given　all　the　facts。　〃I'm　bloody　not　going　to　be　seconded；〃　Armstrong　said　grimly；　knowing　that　if　Crosse　ordered　it　there　was　nothing　he　could　do　to　prevent　it。　〃Is　the　intercept　to　do　with　Sevrin？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　I　hope　so。〃　Brian　Kwok　studied　him　then　smiled。　〃Cheer　up；　Robert；　I've　some　good　news　for　you；〃　he　said　and　Armstrong　noticed　again　how　handsome　his　friend　was；　strong　white　teeth；　golden　skin；　firm　jaw；　dancing　eyes　with　that　devil…may…care　confidence　about　him。
　〃You're　a　good…looking　sod；〃　he　said。　〃What　good　news？　You　leaned　on　friend　One　Foot　at　the　Para　Restaurant　and　he's　given　you　the　first　four　winners　for　Saturday？〃
　〃Dreamer！　No；　it's　about　those　files　you　snatched　yesterday　at　Bucktooth　Lo's　and　passed　over　to　Anti…Corruption。　Remember？　From　Photographer　Ng？〃
　〃Oh？　Oh　yes。〃
　〃It　seems　our　fair…weather　American…Chinese　guest；　Thomas　K。　K。　Lim；　who's　'somewhere　in　Brazil；'　is　quite　a　character。　His　files　were　golden。　Very　golden　indeed！　And　in　English；　so　our　Anti…Corruption　fellows　went　through　them　like　a　dose　of　salts。　You　came　up　with　treasure！〃
　〃He's　connected　with　Tsu…yan？〃　Armstrong　asked；　his　mind　diverted　immediately。
　〃Yes。　And　a　lot　of　other　people。　Very　important　people；　ve…　〃
　〃Banastasio？〃
　Brian　Kwok　smiled　with　his　mouth。　〃Vincenzo　Banastasio　himself。　That　ties　John　Chen；　the　guns；　Tsu…yan；　Banastasio　and　Peter　Marlowe's　theory　nicely。〃
　〃Bartlett？〃
　〃Not　yet。　But　Marlowe　knows　someone　who　knows　too　much　that　we　don't　know。　I　think　we　should　investigate　him。　Will　you？〃
　〃Oh　yes。　What　else　about　the　papers？〃
　〃Thomas　K。　K。　Lim's　a　Catholic；　a　third…generation　American…Chinese　who's　a　magpie。　He　collects　all　sorts　of　inflammatory　correspondence；　letters；　notes；　memos；　etcetera。〃　Brian　Kwok　smiled　his　humorless　smile　again。　〃Our　Yankee　friends　are　worse　than　we　thought。〃
　〃For　instance？〃
　〃For　instance；　a　certain　well…known；　well…connected　New　England　family's　involved　with　certain　generals；　U。S。　and　Vietnamese；　in　building　several　very　large；　very　unnecessary　U。S。A。F。　bases　in　Vietnam　…　very　profitably　…　for　them。〃
　〃Hallelujah！　Names？〃
　〃Names；　ranks　and　serial　numbers。　If　the　principals　knew　friend　Thomas　had　it　documented；　it　would　send　a　shudder　of　horror　down　the　Hallowed　Halls　of　Fame；　the　Pentagon　and　various　expensive　smoke…filled　rooms。〃
　Armstrong　grunted。　〃He's　the　middle　man？〃
　〃Entrepreneur　he　calls　himself。　Oh　he's　on　very　good　terms　with　lots　of　notables。　American；　Italian；　Vietnamese；　Chinese；　both　sides　of　the　fence。　The　papers　document　the　whole　fraud。　Another　scheme's　to　channel　millions　of　U。S。　funds　into　another　phony　Vietnam　aid　program。　8　million　to　be　exact　…　one　is　already　paid　over　to　them。　Friend　Lim　even　discussed　how　the　one　million　h'eung　yau's　to　be　diverted　to　Switzerland。〃
　〃Could　we　make　it　stick？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　if　we　catch　Thomas　K。　K。　Lim　and　if　we　wanted　to　make　it　stick。　I　asked　Crosse　but　he　just　shrugged　and　said　it　wasn't　our　affair；　that　if　Yanks　wanted　to　cheat　their　government；　that's　up　to　them。〃　Brian　Kwok　smiled　but　his　eyes　didn't。　〃It's　powerful　info；　Robert。　If　even　part　became　mon　knowledge　it'd　create　one　helluva　stinky　stink　right　up　to　the　top。〃
　〃Is　he　going　to　pass　it　on　to　Rosemont？　Leak　it？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　I　don't　think　so。　In　one　way　he's　right。　It's　nothing　to　do　with　us。　Bloody　stupid　to　put　it　all　down！　Stupid！　They　deserve　to　get　chopped！　When　you've　a　minute　read　the　papers；　they're　juicy。〃
　〃Any　connection　between　Lim　and　those　other　villains？　Bucktooth　Lo　and　the　other　man？　Are　they　stealing　CARE　funds？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　must　be；　but　all　their　files're　in　Chinese　so　it'll　take　longer　to　pin　them。〃　Brian　Kwok　added　strangely；　〃Curious　that　Crosse　sniffed　that　one　out；　almost　as　though　he　knew　there'd　be　a　connection。〃　He　dropped　his　voice。　〃I　know　I'm　right　about　him。〃
　The　silence　gathered。　Armstrong's　mouth　felt　parched　and　tasted　bad。　He　pried　his　eyes　off　the　rain　and　looked　at　Brian　Kwok。
　〃What've　you　got？〃
　〃You　know　that　vice…consul　in　the　U　S　Consulate　…　the　homo；　the　one　who's　selling　visas？〃
　〃What　about　him？〃
　〃Last　month　Crosse　had　dinner　with　him。　In　his　flat。〃
　Armstrong　rubbed　his　face　nervously。　〃That　proves　nothing。　Listen；　tomorrow；　tomorrow　we　get　the　files。　Tomorrow　Sind…　〃
　〃Perhaps　we　won't　get　to　read　them。〃
　〃Personally　I　don't　give　a　shit。　That's　SI　business　and　I'm　CID　and　that's　wh…　〃
　A　knock　stopped　him。　The　door　opened。　A　Chinese　waiter　came　in　with　a　tray　and　two　tankards　of　cold　beer　and　beamed　toothily。　〃Afternoon；　sah；〃　he　said；　offering　one　to　Brian　Kwok。　He　gave　the　other　to　Armstrong　and　went　out。
　〃Good　luck；〃　Armstrong　said；　hating　himself。　He　drank　deeply　then　went　to　his　safe　to　lock　the　tape　away。
　Brian　Kwok　studied　him。　〃You　sure　you're　all　right；　old　chum？〃
　〃Yes；　yes　of　course。〃
　〃What　did　the　old　woman　say？〃
　〃In　the　beginning　she　told　lots　of　lies；　lots　of　them。　And　then　the　truth。　All　of　it。　I'll　tell　you　over　lunch；　Brian。　You　know　how　it　is　…　you　catch　the　lies　eventually；　if　you're　patient。　I'm　fed　up　with　lies。〃　Armstrong　finished　his　beer。　〃Christ；　I　needed　that。〃
　〃Do　you　want　mine　too？　Here。〃
　〃No；　no　thanks；　but　it's　me　for　a　whiskey　and　soda　before　curry　and　maybe　another　one。　Drink　up　and　let's　get　the　show　on　the　road。〃
　Brian　Kwok　put　his　half…empty　tankard　down。　〃That's　enough　for　me。〃　He　lit　a　cigarette。　〃How's　the　nonsmoking　going？〃
　〃Rough。〃　Armstrong　watched　him　inhale　deeply。　〃Anything　on　Voranski？　Or　his　assassins？〃
　〃They　vanished　into　thin　air。　We've　got　their　photos　so　we'll　catch　them；　unless　they're　over　the　border。〃
　〃Or　in　Taiwan。〃
　After　a　pause；　Brian　Kwok　nodded。　〃Or　Macao　or　North　Korea；　Vietnam　or　wherever。　The　minister's　hopping　mad　with　Crosse　over　Voranski；　so's　MI…6；　so's　the　CIA。　The　CIA　top　echelon　in　London　have　been　chewing　the　minister's　tail　so　he's　passing　it　on。　We'd　better　get　those　buggers　before　Rosemont　or　we'll　lose　all　face。　Rosemont's　under　fire　too　to　e　up　with　their　heads。　I　hear　he's　got　every　man　out　looking；　thinking　it's　to　do　with　Sevrin；　and　the　carrier。　He's　petrified　there's　going　to　be　an　incident　involving　the　nuclear　carrier。〃　Brian　Kwok　added；　his　voice　hardening；　〃Bloody　stupid　to　offend　the　PRC　by