p&c.brimstone-第33章

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　She　glanced　up。　〃What　brings　you　to　brasstown　so　late？〃　
　D'Agosta　cleared　his　throat。　This　was　going　to　be　difficult。　Pendergast…after　dropping　off　the　face　of　the　earth　for　more　than　an　hour…had　just　shown　up　in　his　hotel　room　thirty　minutes　before。　Although　he'd　revealed　precious　few　details　of　what　happened；　he　had　seemed　almostanimated　；　if　such　a　thing　was　possible。　And　then　he'd　promptly　sent　D'Agosta　off　on　an　assignment…thisassignment…because　he'd　known　he　had　no　chance　at　succeeding　himself。　
　〃It's　Bullard　again；〃　he　said。　
　Hayward　sighed。　〃Move　those　papers　and　take　a　seat。〃　
　D'Agosta　shifted　a　pile　off　one　of　the　chairs　and　sat　down。　Hayward　had　unbuttoned　her　collar；　taken　off　her　hat；　and　let　her　hair　down。　It　was　surprisingly　long；　falling　in　big　glossy　waves　below　her　shoulders。　Despite　the　cluttered　office；　she　looked　cool　somehow；　fresh。　She　eyed　him　with　a　mixture　of　amusement　and…what　else？　Affection？　But　no：　that　was　his　late…night　imagination　at　work。　
　D'Agosta　took　out　the　folder　and　laid　it　on　the　desk。　〃Pendergast　got　this；　I　don't　know　how。〃　
　Hayward　picked　it　up；　glanced　at　it；　dropped　it　like　it　was　a　piece　of　hot　iron。　〃Jesus；　Vinnie。　This　is　classified！〃　
　〃No　shit　it's　classified。〃　
　〃No　way　am　I　going　to　read　that。　I　never　even　saw　it。　Put　it　away。〃　
　〃Let　me　just　summarize　what's　in　there…〃　
　〃God；　no。〃　
　D'Agosta　sat；　wondering　just　how　he　was　going　to　do　this。　Might　as　well　get　it　over　with。　
　〃Pendergast　wants　you　to　put　a　tap　on　Bullard's　phones。〃　
　Hayward　stared　at　him　for　at　least　ten　seconds。　〃Why　doesn't　he　get　it　through　the　FBI？〃　
　〃He　can't。〃　
　〃Can't　Pendergast　ever　doany　thing　by　the　book？〃　
　〃Bullard's　too　powerful。　The　FBI's　a　political　creature；　and　not　even　Pendergast　can　change　that。　But　you　could　get　the　U。S。　Attorney's　Office　to　issue　a　Title　3；　no　problem。〃　
　〃I　can't　use　aclassified　file　to　get　Title　3　wiretap　authority！〃　She　was　up　from　the　desk；　eyes　flashing。　
　〃No。　But　you　could　use　the　murder　investigation　as　a　hook。〃　
　〃Vincent；　are　younuts　？　There's　no　evidence　against　Bullard。　No　witness　to　put　him　at　the　scene　of　the　crime。　No　motive；　nothing　to　connect　him　with　either　the　murders　or　the　victims。〃　
　〃The　phone　calls。〃　
　〃Phone　calls！〃　She　paced　behind　the　desk。　〃A　lot　of　people　make　phone　calls。〃　
　〃His　puter　was　stuffed　with　encrypted　files。　Hard　encryption；　virtually　unbreakable。〃　
　〃I　encrypt　e…mails　to　my　mother。　Vincent；　that　isnot　evidence。　This　is　just　the　kind　of　thing　that　hits　theTimes　front　page；　makes　us　look　like　we're　blowing　off　people's　constitutional　rights。　Besides；　you　know　what　a　pain　in　the　ass　it　is　to　get　a　wiretap　authority。　You've　got　to　prove　it's　your　last　resort。〃　
　〃You　should　read　the　file。　It　seems　Bullard's　been　transferring　military　technology　to　the　Chinese。〃　
　〃I　told　you　not　to　tell　me　what's　in　the　file。〃　
　〃He's　got　a　pany　in　Italy　that's　helping　the　Chinese　develop　a　missile　that　can　penetrate　the　U。S。's　planned　missile　shield。〃　
　〃That's　as　far　out　of　my　jurisdiction　as　a　pickpocket　in　Outer　Mongolia。〃　
　〃Bullard　has　big…time　friends　in　Washington。　He　gives　money　to　everyone's　campaign。　So　neither　the　FBI　nor　the　CIA　wants　to　touch　it。〃　
　She　was　pacing　the　room；　flushed；　her　jet　hair　swaying　across　her　shoulders。　
　〃Look；　Laura；　we're　both　Americans。　Bullard's　a　bad　guy。　He's　selling　our　country　down　the　river；　and　no　one's　doing　a　damn　thing　about　it。　All　you　need　to　do　is　e　up　with　a　good　story　for　the　judge。　Okay；　so　maybe　it's　not　strictly　by　the　book。〃　
　〃There's　a　reason　for　the　book；　Vincent。〃　
　〃Yeah；　but　there　also　es　a　time　when　you　have　to　do　what'sright　。〃　
　〃What's　right　is　to　follow　the　rules。〃　
　〃Not　with　something　like　this。　New　York　City　is　still　terrorist　target　numero　uno。　God　knows　who　Bullard　might　sell　his　services　to。　Once　this　technology　gets　on　the　black　market；　we　have　no　idea　where　it'll　end　up。〃　
　Hayward　sighed。　〃Look。　I'm　a　detective　captain　in　New　York　City　Homicide。　The　United　States　has　hundreds　of　thousands　of　talented　people…spooks；　scientists；　diplomats…employed　to　handle　people　like　Bullard。〃　
　〃Yeah。　But　right　now；　you're　on　the　spot。　The　file　hints　that　something　big　is　going　down。　Listen；　Laura；　nothing　could　be　simpler　than　this　wiretap。　Bullard's　in　the　middle　of　the　Atlantic　Ocean。　We've　got　his　satellite　phone　number；　we've　got　a　pen　register　of　the　numbers　he's　calling。　It's　all　in　the　file。〃　
　〃You　can't　tap　a　sat　phone。〃　
　〃I　know。　We'd　get　the　taps　on　the　land…based　numbers　of　his　cronies；　monitor　the　conversations　from　their　end。〃　
　〃That　won't　help　us　if　he　calls　a　nonrecorded　number。〃　
　〃It's　better　than　nothing。〃　
　Hayward　took　a　few　more　turns　around　the　room；　then　stopped　in　front　of　him。　〃This　is　not　our　problem。　The　answer's　no。〃　
　D'Agosta　tried　to　smile；　found　he　couldn't。　That　was　it；　then。　You　didn't　bee　the　youngest　female　detective　captain　in　New　York　City　history　by　breaking　the　rules；　being　a　maverick。　He　should　have　known　the　answer　even　before　he　asked　the　question。　
　He　glanced　up　to　find　Hayward　looking　at　him　intently。　〃I　don't　like　the　expression　on　your　face；　Vincent。〃　
　He　shrugged。　〃I　gotta　go。〃　
　〃I　know　what　you're　thinking。〃　
　〃Then　I　don't　need　to　tell　you。〃　
　Her　face　was　coloring　with　anger。　〃You　think　I'm　a　careerist；　don't　you？〃　
　〃You　said　it；　not　me。〃　
　She　stepped　around　the　desk　toward　him。　〃You're　a　son　of　a　bitch；　you　know　that？　I　had　to　take　a　lot　of　shit　as　a　T。A。　cop；　a　lot　of　harassment　from　guys　who　thought　I　was　working　too　hard。　I'm　not　going　to　take　that　shit　anymore。　When　a　man's　ambitious；　it's　called　drive。　When　a　woman's　ambitious；　it's　careerism　and　she's　a　bitch。〃　
　Now　D'Agosta　felt　himself　flaring　as　well。　Women　were　always　broadening　an　argument　into　some　kind　of　male…female　thing。　〃That's　just　a　smoke　screen。　Look；　you　can　either　do　the　right　thing；　or　you　can　do　the　safe　thing。　And　you're　obviously　on　the　side　of　safe。　Fine。　I　won't　stand　in　your　way　of　being　missioner　Hayward。〃　D'Agosta　rose；　picked　up　the　bundle　of　papers　he　had　put　on　the　floor；　put　them　back　on　the　chair。　Then　he　retrieved　the　classified　folder　from　the　desktop。　When　he　turned；　he　found　she　was　blocking　the　door。　
　He　stood　calmly；　waiting　for　her　to　step　aside。　She　didn't　move。　
　He　remained　standing。　
　〃I'm　leaving　now。〃　He　took　a　step　forward　but　she　still　didn't　move。　She　was　so　close　to　him　he　could　feel　her　warmth；　smell　the　fragrance　of　shampoo　in　her　hair。　
　〃That　was　a　shitty　thing　to　say。〃　Her　face　remained　flushed。　
　He　tried　to　go　around　her；　but　she　shifted　and　he　almost　ran　up　against　her。　
　〃Listen；〃　she　said。　〃I　love　this　country　as　much　as　anyone。　I　also　know　I've　done　a　lot　of　good　work　in　this　department；　solved　a　lot　of　cases；　put　a　lot　of　bad　people　behind　bars。　I'm　effectivebecause　I　play　by　the　rules。　So　don't　lay　that　bullshit　on　me。〃　
　D'Agosta　said　nothing。　He　stood　where　he　was；　mere　inches　from　her；　breathing　hard；　breathing　in　her　anger；　her　perfume；　the　smell　of　her。　He　was　conscious　of　her　blue　eyes；　her　ivory　skin。　He　took　a　step　toward　her　and　their　bodies　touched。　It　was　like　a　sudden　electrical　contact。　They　stood　that　way　a　moment；　both　breathing　hard；　their　anger　morphing　into　something　else。　He　leaned　forward　and　their　lips　met　and　he　could　feel　her　breasts　pressing　against　him　as　they　slowly　kissed。　
　Her　hand　touched　the　back　of　his　neck　and　she　moved　closer　still；　bringing　their　bodies　into　full　contact；　and　then　almost　without　knowing　what　he　was　doing　he　reached　around　with　both　arms；　molded　his　hands　to　her　form；　and　pulled　her　in　hard　against　him。　He　could　barely　stand　the　rush　of　arousal　that　had　engulfed　him　and　he　fought　for　breath　as　his　lips　slid　lightly　to　her　chin；　kissing　her；　then　down　her　neck；　then　over　her　shoulder。　She　shifted　in　his　grasp；　sighing；　he　could　feel　her　hot　breath　move　across　his　cheek　as　she　took　his　earlobe　between　her　teeth；　first　gently；　then　more　sharply。　She　pulled　him　back　toward　her　desk；　leaned　back；　and　he　followed　her　down；　keeping　her　hips　locked　against　his。　Now　his　hands　fumbled　with　the　buttons　of　her　shirt；　then　the　catch　of　her　bra；　and　as　he　saw　her　breasts　swing　free　he　felt　himself　grow　even　harder。　Her　hands　dropped　from　his　shoulders；　tracing　lines　down　his　torso；　his　stomach；　then　to　the　waistband　of　his　pants；　unbuckling　his　belt　and　loosening　his　zipper　and　slowly　easing　him　free。　Now　the　hand　began　to　stroke　him；　slowly；　and　he　gasped　involuntarily　as　he　reached　for　the　hem　of　her　skirt；　slid　his　hand　beneath　it；　and　teased　her　panties　free。　She　staggered　a　little　as　he　entered　her；　thrusting　her　hips　forward　while　arching　her　back；　bringing　him　deep　inside　her。　For　a　moment　they　remained　like　that；　eyes　locked。　Hayward's　lips　parted；　then　her　head　sank　backward；　exposing　her　neck；　and　she　let　out　a　groan　of　desire。　He　wrapped　his　arms　around　her　thighs　and　began　sliding　into　her；　again　and　again　and　again；　gently；　deliberately；　the　papers　spilling　to　the　floor　。　。　。　
　。　。　。　And　then；　in　a　sudden　flood　of　pleasure；　it　was　over。　She　held　him；　her　dark　hair　wild；　breathing　hard；　her　limbs　around　his；　contracting　and　relaxing　in　slowing　spasms。　They　embraced　each　other　for　what　seemed　a　very　long　time。　And　yet　it　was　all　too　soon　when　she　kissed　him　and　gently　pulled　away。　Only　then　did　D'Agosta　realize　he　still　didn't　understand　what　had　just　happened。　He　covered　his　confusion　by　turning　from　her；　putting　his　clothes　into　some　semblance　of　order。　As　he　did　so；　he　realized　he　couldn't　even　remember　what　had　led　to　their　sudden　embrace。　They　had　just　e　together　like　magnets。　Nothing　like　this　had　ever　happened　to　him　before。　He　wasn't　sure　if　he　should　feel　elated；　embarrassed；　or　nervous。　
　Behind　him；　he　could　hear　her　slow　laugh。　〃Not　bad；〃　she　said；　her　voice　a　little　husky。　〃For　a　broken…down；　washed…up　loser；　I　mean。　Next　time；　though；　we　should　probably　shut　the　door。〃　She　smiled　at　him　from　under　a　wild　mop　of　black　hair；　a　mottled　flush　fading　below　her　neck；　her　breasts　rising　and　falling　heavily　as　she　smoothed　down　her　skirt。　〃You　know　what　I　like　about　you；　Vincent？〃　
　〃No。〃　
　〃You　really　care…about　your　work；　about　the　case；　and　most　of　all；　about　justice。　Youcare。　〃　
　D'Agosta　still　felt　out　there；　almost　dizzy　with　what　had　happened。　He　ran　his　hand　over　his　hair；　adjusted　his　pants。　He　wasn't　sure　what　she　meant。　
　〃I　guess　you　earned　that　Title　3。　With　a　little　thought；　I　should　be　able　to　make　something　up。〃　
　He　paused。　〃That　wasn't　why…〃　
　She　sat　up；　laid　a　finger　on　his　lips。　〃Yourintegrity　just　earned　you　the　Title　3。　Not　the…the　other　thing。〃　Then　she　smiled　again。　〃I'll　tell　you　what。　We　kind　of　got　things　backwards　here。　Do　what　you　have　to　do。　Then　you　can　take　me　out　for　a　nice；　long；　romantic；　candlelight　dinner。〃　
　　　
　34　
　
　The　wire　room　of　the　lower　Manhattan　Federal　Building　was　anondescript　space　on　the　tower's　fourteenth　floor。　To　D'Agosta；　it　looked　just　like　a　typical　office：　fluorescent　ceiling；　neutral　carpeting；　countless　identical　cubicles　forming　a　human　ant　farm。　Depressing　as　shit。　
　He　looked　around　guardedly；　half　hoping；　half　afraid　he'd　find　Laura　Hayward　waiting　for　him。　But　ther