jamesclavell.noblehouse-第92章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


n　Washington；　Vietnam　and　South　America。　He's　in　business　with　the　other　two　jokers　at　that　address。　We　got　a　tip　that　he's　mixed　up　in　a　couple　of　shady　deals　with　AID　and　that　Big　Hands　Tak　is　heavy　in　CARE。　It's　not　in　our　bailiwick　so　it's　over　to　you。〃　Rosemont　shrugged　and　stretched　again。　〃Maybe　it's　something。　The　whole　world's　on　fire　but　we　still　gotta　deal　with　crooks！　Crazy！　I'll　keep　in　touch。　Sorry　about　Fong…fong　and　your　people。〃
　He　left。
　Crosse　told　Armstrong　and　Brian　Kwok　briefly　what　he　had　been　told　about　Operation　Dry　Run。
　Brian　Kwok　said　sourly；　〃One　day　one　of　those　Yankee　mad…men're　going　to　make　a　mistake。　It's　stupid　putting　atomics　into　hair…trigger　situations。〃
　Crosse　looked　at　them　and　their　guards　came　up。　〃I　want　that　mole。　I　want　him　before　the　CIA　uncover　him。　If　they　get　him　first　。。。〃　The　thin…faced　man　was　clearly　very　angry。　〃Brian；　go　and　see　Dunross。　Tell　him　AMG　was　no　accident　and　not　to　go　out　without　our　people　nearby。　Under　any　circumstances。　Say　I　would　prefer　him　to　give　us　the　papers　early；　confidentially。　Then　he　has　nothing　to　fear。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　Brian　Kwok　knew　that　Dunross　would　do　exactly　as　he　wanted　but　he　kept　his　mouth　shut。
　〃Our　normal　riot　planning　will　cover　any　by…product　of　the　Iran　problem　and　from　Dry　Run。　However；　you'd　better　alert　CID　an…　〃　He　stopped。　Robert　Armstrong　was　frowning　at　the　piece　of　paper　Rosemont　had　given　him。　〃What　is　it；　Robert？〃
　〃Didn't　Tsu…yan　have　an　office　at　Princes　Building？〃
　〃Brian？〃
　〃We've　followed　him　there　several　times；　sir。　He　visited　a　business　acquaintance。　。。。〃　Brian　Kwok　searched　his　memory。　〃。。。　Shipping。　Name　of　Ng；　Vee　Cee　Ng；　nicknamed　Photographer　Ng。　Room　721。　We　checked　him　out　but　everything　was　above　board。　Vee　Cee　Ng　runs　Asian　and　China　Shipping　and　about　fifty　other　small　allied　businesses。　Why？〃
　〃This　address's　720。　Tsu…yan　could　tie　in　with　John　Chen；　the　guns；　Banastasio；　Bartlett　…　even　the　Werewolves；〃　Armstrong　said。
　Crosse　took　the　paper。　After　a　pause　he　said；　〃Robert；　take　a　team　and　check　720　and　721　right　now。〃
　〃It's　not　in　my　area；　sir。〃
　〃How　right　you　are！〃　Crosse　said　at　once；　heavy　with　sarcasm。　〃Yes。　I　know。　You're　CID　Kowloon；　Robert；　not　Central。　However；　I　authorize　the　raid。　Go　and　do　it。　Now。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　Armstrong　left；　red…faced。
　The　silence　gathered。
　Brian　Kwok　waited；　staring　stoically　at　the　desk　top。　Crosse　selected　a　cigarette　with　care；　lit　it；　then　leaned　back　in　his　chair。　〃Brian。　I　think　Robert's　the　mole。〃
　
　29
　
　1：38　P。M。：
　Robert　Armstrong　and　a　uniformed　police　sergeant　got　out　of　the　squad　car　and　headed　through　the　crowds　into　the　vast　maw　of　the　Princess　Arcade　with　its　jewelry　and　curio　shops；　camera　shops　and　radio　shops　stuffed　with　the　latest　electronic　miracles；　that　was　on　the　ground　floor　of　the　old…fashioned；　high…rise　office　building　in　Central。　They　eased　their　way　toward　a　bank　of　elevators；　joining　the　swarm　of　waiting　people。　Eventually　he　and　the　sergeant　squeezed　into　an　elevator。　The　air　was　heavy　and　fetid　and　nervous。　The　Chinese　passengers　watched　them　obliquely　and　unfortably。
　On　the　seventh　floor　Armstrong　and　the　sergeant　got　out。　The　corridor　was　dingy　and　narrow　with　nondescript　office　doors　on　either　side。　He　stood　for　a　moment　looking　at　the　board。　Room　720　was　billed　as　〃Ping…sing　Wah　Developments；〃　721　as　〃Asian　and　China　Shipping。〃　He　walked　ponderously　down　the　corridor；　Sergeant　Yat　alongside。
　As　they　turned　the　corner　a　middle…aged　Chinese　wearing　a　white　shirt　and　dark　trousers　was　ing　out　of　room　720。　He　saw　them；　blanched；　and　ducked　back　in。　When　Armstrong　got　to　the　door　he　expected　it　to　be　locked　but　it　wasn't　and　he　jerked　it　open　just　in　time　to　see　the　man　in　the　white　shirt　disappearing　out　of　the　back　door；　another　man　almost　jamming　him　in　equal　haste　to　flee。　The　back　door　slammed　closed。
　Armstrong　sighed。　There　were　two　rumpled　secretaries　in　the　sleazy；　untidy　office　suite　of　three　cramped　rooms；　and　they　were　gawking　at　him；　one　with　her　chopsticks　poised　in　midair　over　a　bowl　of　chicken　and　noodles。　The　noodles　slid　off　her　chopsticks　and　fell　back　into　the　soup。
　〃Afternoon；〃　Armstrong　said。
　The　two　women　gaped　at　him；　then　looked　at　the　sergeant　and　back　to　him　again。
　〃Where　are　Mr。　Lim；　Mr。　Tak　and　Mr。　Lo；　please？〃
　One　of　the　girls　shrugged　and　the　other；　unconcerned；　began　to　eat　again。　Noisily。　The　office　suite　was　untidy　and　unkempt。　There　were　two　phones；　papers　strewn　around；　plastic　cups；　dirty　plates　and　bowls　and　used　chopsticks。　A　teapot　and　tea　cups。　Full　garbage　cans。
　Armstrong　took　out　the　search　warrant　and　showed　it　to　them。
　The　girls　stared　at　him。
　Irritably　Armstrong　harshened　his　voice。　〃You　speak　English？〃
　Both　girls　jumped。　〃Yes　sir；〃　they　chorused。
　〃Good。　Give　your　names　to　the　sergeant　and　answer　his　questions。　Th…　〃　At　that　moment　the　back　door　opened　again　and　the　two　men　were　herded　back　into　the　room　by　two　hard…faced　uniformed　policemen　who　had　been　waiting　in　ambush。　〃Ah；　good。　Well　done。　Thank　you；　Corporal。　Now；　where　were　you　two　going？〃
　At　once　the　two　men　began　protesting　their　innocence　in　voluble　Cantonese。
　〃Shut　up！〃　Armstrong　snarled。　They　stopped。　〃Give　me　your　names！〃　They　stared　at　him。　In　Cantonese　he　said；　〃Give　me　your　names　and　you'd　better　not　lie　or　I　will　bee　very　fornicating　angry。〃
　〃He's　Tak　Chou…lan；〃　the　one　with　pronounced　buck　teeth　said；　pointing　at　the　other。
　〃What's　your　name？〃
　〃Er；　Lo　Tup…sop；　Lord。　But　I　haven't　done　anyt…　〃
　〃Lo　Tup…sop？　Not　Lo　Tup…lin？〃
　〃Oh　no；　Lord　Superintendent；　that's　my　brother。〃
　〃Where　is　he？〃
　The　buck…toothed　man　shrugged。　〃I　don't　know。　Please　what's　go…　〃
　〃Where　were　you　going　in　such　a　hurry；　Bucktooth　Lo？〃
　〃I'd　forgotten　an　appointment；　Lord。　Oh　it　was　very　important。　It's　urgent　and　I　will　lose　a　fortune；　sir；　if　I　don't　go　immediately。　May　I　now　please　go；　Honored　Lo…　〃
　〃No！　Here's　my　search　warrant。　We're　going　to　search　and　take　away　any　papers　th…　〃
　At　once　both　men　began　to　protest　strenuously。　Again　Armstrong　cut　them　short。　〃Do　you　want　to　be　taken　to　the　border　right　now？〃　Both　men　blanched　and　shook　their　heads。　〃Good。　Now；　where's　Thomas　K。　K。　Lim？〃　Neither　answered　so　Armstrong　stabbed　his　finger　at　the　younger　of　the　two　men。　〃You；　Mr。　Bucktooth　Lo！　Where's　Thomas　K。　K。　Lim？〃
　〃In　South　America；　Lord；〃　Lo　said　nervously。
　〃Where？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　sir；　he　just　shares　the　office。　That's　his　fornicating　desk。〃　Bucktooth　Lo　waved　a　nervous　hand　at　the　far　corner。　There　was　a　messy　desk　and　a　filing　cabinet　and　a　phone　there。　〃I've　done　nothing　wrong；　Lord。　Foreigner　Lim's　a　stranger　from　the　Golden　Mountain。　Fourth　Cousin　Tak　here　just　rents　him　space；　Lord；　Foreigner　Lim　just　es　and　goes　as　it　pleases　him　and　is　nothing　to　do　with　me。　Is　he　a　foul　criminal？　If　there's　anything　wrong　I　don't　know　anything　about　it！〃
　〃Then　what　do　you　know　about　the　thieving　of　funds　from　the　CARE　program？〃
　〃Eh？〃　Both　men　gaped　at　him。
　〃Informers　have　given　us　proof　you're　all　thieving　charity　money　that　belongs　to　starving　women　and　children！〃
　At　once　both　began　protesting　their　innocence。
　〃Enough！　The　judge　will　decide！　You　will　go　to　headquarters　and　give　statements。〃　Then　he　switched　back　into　English　once　more。　〃Sergeant；　take　them　back　to　headquarters。　Corporal；　let's　st…　〃
　〃Honored　sir；〃　Bucktooth　Lo　began　in　halting；　nervous　English；　〃if　I　may　to　talk；　in　office；　plees？〃　He　pointed　at　the　inner；　equally　untidy　and　cluttered　office。
　〃All　right。〃
　Armstrong　followed　Lo；　towering　over　him。　The　man　closed　the　door　nervously　and　began　talking　Cantonese　quickly　and　very　quietly。　〃I　don't　know　anything　about　anything　criminal；　Lord。　If　something's　amiss　it's　those　other　two　fornicators；　I'm　just　an　honest　businessman　who　wants　to　make　money　and　send　his　children　to　university　in　America　an…　〃
　〃Yes。　Of　course。　What　did　you　want　to　say　to　me　privately　before　you　go　down　to　police　headquarters？〃
　The　man　smiled　nervously　and　went　to　the　desk　and　began　to　unlock　a　drawer。　〃If　anyone's　guilty　it's　not　me；　Lord。　I　don't　know　anything　about　anything。〃　He　opened　the　drawer。　It　was　filled　with　used；　red；　100…dollar　notes。　They　were　clipped　into　thousands。　〃If　you'll　let　me　go；　Lord　。。。〃　He　grinned　up　at　him；　fingering　the　notes。
　Armstrong's　foot　lashed　out　and　the　drawer　slammed　and　caught　Lo's　fingertips　and　he　let　out　a　howl　of　pain。　He　tore　the　drawer　open　with　his　good　hand。　〃Oh　oh　oh　my　fornic…　〃
　Armstrong　shoved　his　face　close　to　the　petrified　Chinese。　〃Listen；　you　dogmeat　turd；　it's　against　the　law　to　try　to　bribe　a　policeman　and　if　you　claim　your　fingers're　police　brutality　I'll　personally　grind　your　fornicating　Secret　Sack　to　mincemeat！〃
　He　leaned　back　against　the　desk；　his　heart　pounding；　sickness　in　his　throat；　enraged　at　the　temptation　and　sight　of　all　that　money。　How　easy　it　would　be　to　take　it　and　pay　his　debts　and　have　more　than　enough　over　to　gamble　on　the　market　and　at　the　races；　and　then　to　leave　Hong　Kong　before　it　was　too　late。
　So　easy。　So　much　more　easy　to　take　than　to　resist　…　this　time　or　all　the　other　thousand　times。　There　must　be　30；　40；000　in　that　drawer　alone。　And　if　there's　one　drawer　full　there　must　be　others　and　if　I　lean　on　this　bastard　he'll　cough　up　ten　times　this　amount。
　Roughly　he　reached　out　and　grabbed　the　man's　hand。　Again　the　man　cried　out。　One　fingertip　was　mashed　and　Armstrong　thought　Lo　would　lose　a　couple　of　fingernails　and　have　plenty　of　pain　but　that　was　all。　He　was　angry　with　himself　that　he　had　lost　his　temper　but　he　was　tired　and　knew　it　was　not　just　tiredness。　〃What　do　you　know　about　Tsu…yan？〃
　〃Wat？　Me？　Nothing。　Tsu…yan　who？〃
　Armstrong　grabbed　him　and　shook　him。　〃Tsu…yan！　The　gunrunner　Tsu…yan！〃
　〃Nothing；　Lord！〃
　〃Liar！　The　Tsu…yan　who　visits　Mr。　Ng　next　door！〃
　〃Tsu…yan？　Oh　him？　Gun…runner？　I　didn't　know　he's　a　gun…runner！　I　always　thought　he　was　a　businessman。　He's　another　Northerner　like　Photographer　Ng　…　〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃Photographer　Ng；　Lord。　Vee　Cee　Ng　from　next　door。　He　and　this　Tsu…yan　never　e　in　here　or　talk　to　us。　。。。　Oh　I　need　a　doctor　。。。　oh　my　han…　〃
　〃Where's　Tsu…yan　now？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　Lord　。。。　oh　my　fornicating　hand；　oh　oh　oh。　。。。　I　swear　by　all　the　gods　I　don't　know　him。　。。。　oh　oh　oh。　。。。〃
　Irritably　Armstrong　shoved　him　in　a　chair　and　jerked　open　the　door。　The　three　policemen　and　two　secretaries　stared　at　him　silently。　〃Sergeant；　take　this　bugger　to　HQ　and　charge　him　with　trying　to　bribe　a　policeman。　Look　at　this。　。。。〃　He　beckoned　him　in　and　pointed　at　the　drawer。
　Sergeant　Yat's　eyes　widened。　〃Dew　neh　loh　moh！〃
　〃Count　it　and　get　both　men　to　sign　the　amount　as　correct　and　take　it　to　HQ　with　them　and　turn　it　in。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃Corporal；　you　start　going　through　the　files。　I'm　going　next　door。　I'll　be　back　shortly。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　Armstrong　strode　out。　He　knew　that　this　money　would　be　counted　quickly；　and　any　other　money　in　the　offices　…　if　this　drawer　was　full　others　would　be　…　then　the　amount　to　be　turned　in　would　be　quickly　negotiated　by　the　principals；　Sergeant　Yat　and　Lo　and　Tak；　and　the　rest　split　among　them。　Lo　and　Tak　would　believe　him　to　be　in　for　a　major　share　and　his　own　men　would　consider　him　ma