ericlustbader.the ninja-第61章

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p　they　bore　to　one　another。
　'Nicholas？'
　Nicholas　turned　and　walked　back　to　the　side　of　the　desk。　Tomkin　stood　up；　came　round。　He　wore　a　fox…coloured　silk　suit；　deep　yellow…and…white…striped　shirt　with　solid　yellow　collar　and　cuffs　and　a　brown　silk　tie。　He　extended　a　hand。　It　was　thick；　the　back　dark　with　curling　hair。　He　wore　a　ring　of　white　gold　or　platinum　on　his　right　ring　finger；　his　left　hand　bore　no　jewellery　at　all。
　'Glad　to　see　you；'　he　said。　His　blue　eyes　seemed　to　have　a　touch　of　grey　to　them　today。　'I　was　wondering　when　you'd　show　up。　What　did　you　find　out？〃
　'I　beg　your　pardon？'
　'Information；　Nicholas。'　He　formed　the　words　slowly　as　if　trying　to　capture　the　attention　of　a　retarded　child。　'You　went　out　to　West　Bay　Bridge　because　you　thought　the　ninja　might　be　there。　At　least；　that's　what　you　told　me　over　the　phone。〃
　'He　wasn't　there。'
　'Is　Justine　all　right？'
　'Perfectly。'
　'I　don't　like　your　tone　of　voice。'
　'You're　not　paying　me　to　like　my　tone　of　voice；　merely　to　protect　you。〃
　'I　have　been　wondering　how　you　were　doing　that　from　Long　Island。　Remote　control；　I　suppose。'
　Nicholas　laughed　shortly。　His　eyes　were　steely。　'Let's　cut　the　crap；　Tomkin。　You　don't　have　to　like　me；　just　be　cooperative。　Otherwise；　I　can't　do　my　job。〃
　'But　I　do　like　you；　Nicholas。　Whatever　gave　you　the　idea　that　I　didn't？'　Affable　now；　he　guided　Nicholas　down　into　the　living　area。　They　sat　on　the　couch。　It　was　chocolate　brown　and　luxuriously　fortable。
　'Surely　you're　not　surprised　to　find　that　I'm　…　curious；　shall　we　say　…　about　your　methodology。　After　all；　Frank　here　never　leaves　my　side。　He　gives　me　a　great　deal　of　fort。'
　'Frank　is　useless；'　Nicholas　said；　'when　it　es　to　the　ninja。　He'll　get　through　Frank　as　if　he's　not　there。'
　Tomkin　smiled　thinly。　'He　may　get　through　Frank　but　if　he　does；　he'll　do　so　with　a　couple　of　。45　bullets　in　him。'
　Nicholas　shrugged。　'If　you　choose　to　take　this　matter　lightly　…'
　'I　assure　you；　I　am　not　taking　this　lightly。　At　all。　Else　I　would　not　have　hired　you；　understand？　Now'　…　he　slapped　his　thick　thigh　…　'tell　me　what　you're　up　to。'
　'I'm　expecting　Abe　Russo　any　minute。'
　'What　the　hell　we　need　him　up　here　for？　He's　got　his　hands　full　keeping　to　our　deadline。'
　'The　ninja's　hall…mark　is　infiltration；'　Nicholas　said　quietly。　'He　won't　try　to　kill　you　by　。。。　remote　control；　as　you　say。'　He　grinned。　'He's　got　to　e　right　up　to　you　…　do　it　himself　from　arm's　length。　When　Abe　gets　here；　we'll　find　out　if　he's　in　the　tower　building。'
　'Here？　But　how？'
　〃The　most　likely　probability　is　as　a　worker。　He'd　be　anonymous；　have　the　run　of　the　place。　It's　only　logical。'
　At　that　moment　there　was　a　knock　on　the　door　and　Frank
　let　Abe　Russo　in。　He　carried　a　sheaf　of　puter　printout　paper　in　one　hand。　His　clothing　was　rumpled　and　he　wiped　a　stray　lock　of　sandy　hair　from　his　forehead。
　'Here　it　is；'　he　said；　dropping　the　paper　on　the　coffee　table　in　front　of　them。　'I've　circled　all　the　oriental　males。　There's　thirty…one　of　'em；'　he　continued　as　they　both　began　to　look　over　the　list。
　'What　are　you　looking　for？'　Tomkin　said。　'You　know　his　name？'
　Nicholas　shook　his　head。　'Even　if　I　did；　he'd　never　use　it　here。〃　It　was　a　long　shot　to　expect　to　find　the　name　Hideoshi　on　this　list　but　it　would　have　been　foolish　to　have　ignored　the　obvious。　'This　it？'　he　said　to　Russo。
　The　other　nodded。　'Yeah。　Every　one。　Twenty…five　are　on　the　day　shift；　the　rest　are　on　at　night。'
　'All　twenty…five　here　today？'　Nicholas　asked。　'None　called　in　sick？'
　'None　sick。　They're　all　here　as　far　as　I　can　tell。'
　'And　no　one　knows　about　this？'
　'Not　a　one；'　Russo　said。　'I　worked　on　it　alone。'
　'Okay；'　Nicholas　said。　'Let's　go。'　He　stood　up。
　'What's　happening？'　Tomkin　said。
　Nicholas　rolled　up　the　paper　into　a　tube。　I'm　　going　to　see　all　of　these　men　face　to　face。　Every　one's　a　candidate　for　our　ninja。'
　Russo　took　him　through　the　labyrinth　of　the　building　and；　one　by　one；　the　men　on　the　list　were　interviewed　and　crossed　off　the　list。
　The　thirteenth　name　was　Richard　Yao。　Russo　didn't　know　precisely　where　he　was　working　at　this　time　of　day；　so　they　sought　out　his　unit　foreman。　They　found　him　supervising　the　welding　going　on　in　one　section　of　the　bottom　of　the　atrium　lobby。　He　was　a　heavy…set　man　with　almost　no　hair　and　close…set　eyes。
　'You　just　missed　him；　Abe。'　He　took　a　thick　cigar　stub　out　of　his　mouth；　used　it　to　point　over　his　shoulder。　'He　split。'
　'What　for？'　Russo　asked。
　'Said　he　was　sick。'　He　put　the　cold　stub　back　into　his　mouth。　'Didn't　look　too　good　neither。'
　'How　long　ago　did　this　happen；'　Nicholas　said。
　'Oh；　I'd　say　fifteen　…　maybe　twenty　minutes　ago。　Like　I　said；　you　just　missed　him。'　He　looked　at　Russd。　'Anything　wrong？　He's　a　good　worker。'
　Russo's　eyes　flickered　briefly　in　Nicholas's　direction　before　he　shook　his　head　negatively。　〃Thanks；　Mike。　You　need　another　man　down　here？'
　'I　could　use　one。'
　'Okay。　I'll　see　to　it　then。'
　On　the　way　back　up　to　the　top　of　the　tower；　he　said；　'What　do　you　think；　Mr　Linnear？'
　'I　think；'　Nicholas　said；　'that　we　have　our　man。'
　'Well；　hey；　give　me　this　for　a　sec　…'　He　took　the　sheaf　of　paper　from　Nicholas's　grasp；　leafed　through　　the　accordion　sheets。　'Here！'　His　forefinger　stabbed　at　the　sheet。　'Here's　his　address；　547　…　hey；　wait　a　minute　I　That　address　is　too　far　west。　It's　a　phony！'
　'I'm　not　surprised。'
　The　doors　opened　and　Nicholas　sprinted　down　the　corridor；　leaving　the　other　behind；　staring　at　him。　He　pushed　past　Frank。　Tomkin　was　on　the　phone；　behind　his　desk。　He　put　a　palm　over　the　moudipiece。　'Well；'　he　said；　'what　gives？　Did　you　find…'
　But　Nicholas　was　already　at　the　verge　of　the　desk；　his　fingertips　moving　quickly　but　surely　around　the　rim　of　die。　top。
　'What　the　hell　…'
　'Hang　up；'　Nicholas　said。　He　was　circling　the　desk；　probing。　His　fingertips　never　left　the　surface　of　the　oiled　wood。
　Tomkin　stared　down　at　Nicholas's　hands　as　if　they　were　disembodied　entities。　He　lifted　the　receiver　to　his　ear；　mumbled　a　few　words　and　hung　up。
　'Good；'　Nicholas　said；　still　moving。　'I'd　like　to　talk　to　you　…'
　'About　what　happened　downstairs。　Yeah。　Yeah。'　His　blue　eyes　were　open　wide　as　he　watched。　Across　the　room；　Russo　had　e　in。　He　stood　quietly　next　to　Frank；　looking　on。
　'Right。　About　what　happened　downstairs。'　Nicholas　knelt；　began　to　search　under　the　desk。　He　spoke　as　he　worked。　'I　dunk　we　found　our　man。〃　Wiring　and　puter　modules。　'The　diir…teendi。　A　man　named　Richard　Yao。　He　was　transferred　here　from　a　Rubin　Bros　site　in　Brooklyn。'　Ridged　templates：　　the
　puter　grid。　More　wiring。　'Not　too　long　ago。'　As　thick　as　a　rat's　nest；　colour…coded　for　easy　repair。　'Quite　a　good　worker；　so　his　foreman　says。'
　'Yeah；　so　what？'　Tomkin's　deep…set　eyes　never　left　Nicholas's　hands。　'What's　it　to　me？'
　'He's　our　man。　He　split　just　after　I　made　the　call　to　Russo　requesting　the　list　of　oriental　male　workers　here　at　the　tower。'　One　ridge　higher　than　　the　other　and　he　backtracked　with　the　tips　of　his　fingers　just　to　make　certain。　He　gave　a　little　pull。　'Russo　didn't　speak　to　anyone　about　this　little　job　and　there　was　no　time　for　anyone　to　get　a　peek。'　Fingers　still　in　darkness　with　their　minuscule　prize。　'Just　Russo　and　me　and'　…　he　lifted　it　into　the　light　at　last；　deposited　on　the　gleaming　desk　top　in　front　of　Tomkin；　a　bright　bit　of　plastic　and　metal；　thin　as　a　wafer；　less　than　an　inch　in　diameter　…　'of　course；　the　telephone。'
　Tomkin's　face　had　gone　red　and　his　head　seemed　to　tremble　somewhat。　He　reached　out　one　forefinger；　pushed　hesitantly　at　the　thing　as　if　he　thought　it　might　bite　him。　'Goddamn　it　I'　he　cried。　'Goddamn　it！　Under　my　own　nose！'　He　pounded　the　table；　looked　up。　'Frank；　you　sonovabitch！　How'd　you　let　mat　cocksucker　in　here？　I'll　kill　you！'
　Frank　stood　rooted　to　the　spot；　bewildered。
　'It's　not　his　fault；'　Nicholas　said　quietly。　'He　couldn't　know　what　to　look　for。'
　But　Tomkin　was　beyond　calming　words。　He　moved　out　from　behind　his　desk；　the　forefinger　that　had　touched　the　electronic　bug　waving　in　the　air　at　his　bodyguard。　'Is　this　what　I　pay　you　for；　you　asshole？　That　…　dial　shit　was　in　here；　prowling　around！　Where　the　fuck　were　you？　Tell　me　that！　Where　the　fuck　were　you？'
　'I　was　here　all　the　time；　Mr　Tomkin；'　Frank　said　hastily。　'Even　when　you　were　out　to　lunch；　I　was　here。　I　never　left；　you　gotta　believe　me。　This　guy　must　have　busted　in　here　at　night；　after　you　and　me　were　gone。　I　don't　…'
　Tomkin　soared　forward；　slammed　Frank　with　the　back　of　his　hand。　'Nobody　broke　in　here；　you　schmuck　…　not　without　my　knowing　about　it　the　next　day。'　He　watched　the　bright　red　stain　on　Frank's　cheek；　he　could　almost　feel　how　hot　the　skin　was。　'No；　he　was　here　all　right；　under　our　noses。　You　were　just　too　stupid　to　have　seen　him。'
　'But　I　didn't；　even　know　who　to　look　for；'　Frank　said。
　'Shut　up　I　Just　shut　up；　will　you？'　Tomkin　turned　his　back　on　him。　'Christ；　you　sound　like　a　baby　crying。'
　Nicholas　had　been　moving　in　a　half…crouch　outwards　from　the　epicentre　of　the　desk　in　a　tight　spiral。　It　took　him　ten　minutes　of　intensive　search　but　he　found　a　second　bug　under　one　section　of　the　chocolate　couch。　No　one　said　anything　until　he　was　finished。
　'I　think；'　Nicholas　said；　dusting　off　his　hands；　'that　under　the　circumstances　we'd　better　go　downstairs。'
　'What　for？'　Tomkin　looked　puzzled。　'The　room's　secure　now；　isn't　it？'
　Nicholas　nodded。　He　was　already　moving　towards　the　door　to　the　corridor。　'Tell　you　on　the　way　down；　okay？'
　Tomkin's　heavy　voice　broke　the　whirring　silence　of　their　descent。　'I　don't　mind　telling　you　that　was　a　good　piece　of　work　you　did　up　there；　Nick。　Damned　fine。　Thanks。'　He　sighed。　'You　know　I　regularly　have　my　office　and　homes　electronically　vacuumed　every　six　months　to　weed　out　surveillance　but；　Christ；　I　haven't　even　moved　in　here　officially。'　He　ran　his　fingers　through　his　iron…grey　brush　of　hair。　'Sweet　Jesus；　when　I　think　of　what　he　might　have　overheard　over　those　lines！　I'd　like　to　rip　his　throat　out！'
　The　doors　slid　open　and　they　stepped　out　into　the　　atrium。
　'You　don't　think　the　bastard's　here　somewhere；　do　you？'　Tomkin's　head　moved　from　side　to　side。
　'No　chance；'　Nicholas　said；　guiding　the　other　man　along　the　lobby。　'He　knew　security　had　been　broken　the　minute　he　overheard　my　conversation　with　Russo。　He's　split。　For　the　time　being。'
　They　went　out　into　the　hot　sunshine　on　Park　Avenue。　Like　stepping　out　onto　the　surface　of　a　bloated；　slowly　turning　planet；　the　burning　atmosphere　so　thick　it　felt　like　gravity；　locked　in　a　pressure　chamber。
　As　they　approached　the　car；　the　thin；　bony　chauffeur　got　out；　stood　waiting　on　the　broken　sidewalk；　one　hand　grasping　the　door　handle。
　Nicholas　stopped　them　midway　along　the　plank　walkway。
　The　jarring　sound　of　the　jackhammers　filled　the　air　like　a　battery　of　dentists'　drills。　Tomkin　had　to　lean　close　in　order　to　hear　what　Nicholas　was　saying。　He　nodded　and　they　climbed　into　the　dim；　cool　interior　of　the　limo。
　They　started　up　immediately；　nosing　out　into　the　traffic　flow。　Nicholas　began　to　work。　He　went　to　the　phone　first；　unscrewing　both　ends　of　the　receiver；　drew　a　blank。　It　had　to　be　a　place　of　easy　access；　he　reasoned。　The　ninja　might　have　been　able　to　take　his　time　in　Tomkin's　office