mc.risingsun-第47章

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't　fly　anymore。　It's　too　easily　doctored。　The　courts　know　it。　If　all　you　have　is　a　picture　of　this　guy　doing　the　crime；　it　won't　wash。〃
　〃We'll　see。〃
　〃Peter；〃　she　said。　〃You　are　going　to　lose　everything。　Your　job；　your　career；　your　child；　everything。　Wake　up。　Don't　do　it。〃
　She　started　back　toward　her　car。　I　walked　with　her。　We　didn't　say　anything。　I　waited　for　her　to　ask　how　Michelle　was；　but　she　never　did。　It　wasn't　surprising。　She　had　other　things　to　think　about。　Finally　we　arrived　at　her　car；　and　she　went　around　to　the　driver's　side　to　get　in。
　〃Lauren。〃
　She　looked　at　me　over　the　top　of　the　car。
　〃Let's　keep　it　clean　for　the　next　twenty…four　hours；　okay？　No　well…placed　calls　to　anybody。〃
　〃Don't　worry；〃　she　said。　〃I　never　heard　any　of　this。　Frankly；　I　wish　I　never　heard　of　you。〃
　And　she　got　in　the　car　and　drove　off。　As　I　watched　her　go；　I　felt　my　shoulders　drop；　and　a　tension　leave　me。　It　was　more　than　the　fact　that　I'd　done　what　I　set　out　to　do　…　I　had　talked　her　out　of　it；　at　least　for　a　while。　It　was　more　than　that。　There　was　something　else；　finally　gone。
　
　？
　Connor　and　I　went　up　the　rear　stairs　of　my　apartment　building；　avoiding　the　press。　I　told　him　what　had　happened。　He　shrugged。
　〃This　was　a　surprise　to　you？　How　the　liaisons　are　chosen？〃
　〃Yeah。　I　guess　I　never　paid　attention。〃
　He　nodded。　〃That's　how　it　happens。　The　Japanese　are　very　skilled　at　providing　what　they　call　incentives。　Originally；　the　department　had　qualms　about　letting　outsiders　say　anything　about　which　officers　would　be　chosen。　But　the　Japanese　said　they　simply　wanted　to　be　consulted。　Their　remendations　wouldn't　be　binding。　And　they　pointed　out　that　it　made　sense　for　them　to　have　some　input　in　the　choice　of　liaisons。〃
　〃Uh…huh　。　。　。〃
　〃And　just　to　show　they　were　even…handed；　they　proposed　a　contribution　to　the　officers'　relief　fund；　to　benefit　the　whole　department。〃
　〃How　much　was　that？〃
　〃I　think　half　a　million。　And　the　chief　was　asked　to　e　to　Tokyo　and　consult　on　criminal　record…keeping　systems。　Three…week　trip。　One…week　stopover　in　Hawaii。　All　first　class。　And　lots　of　publicity；　which　the　chief　loves。〃
　We　got　to　the　second…floor　landing。　Went　up　to　the　third。
　〃So；〃　Connor　said；　〃by　the　time　it's　all　finished；　it's　rather　difficult　for　the　department　to　ignore　the　remendations　of　the　Asian　munity。　Too　much　is　at　stake。〃
　〃I　feel　like　quitting；〃　I　said。
　〃That's　always　an　option；〃　he　said。　〃Anyway；　you　got　your　wife　to　back　off？〃
　〃My　ex…wife。　She　got　the　point　right　away。　She's　a　finely　tuned　political　animal；　Lauren　is。　But　I　had　to　tell　her　who　the　murderer　was。〃
　He　shrugged。　〃There's　not　much　she　can　do　in　the　next　couple　of　hours。〃
　I　said；　〃But　what　about　these　pictures？　She　says　they　won't　stand　up　in　court。　And　Sanders　said　the　same　thing：　the　day　of　photographic　evidence　is　over。　Do　we　have　any　other　evidence？〃
　〃I've　been　working　on　that；〃　Connor　said。　〃I　think　we're　all　right。〃
　〃How？〃
　Connor　shrugged。
　We　came　to　the　back　entrance　to　my　apartment。　I　unlocked　the　door；　and　we　went　into　the　kitchen。　It　was　empty。　I　went　down　the　corridor　to　the　front　hall。　My　apartment　was　quiet。　The　doors　to　the　living　room　were　closed。　But　there　was　the　distinct　smell　of　cigarette　smoke。
　Elaine；　my　housekeeper；　was　standing　in　the　front　hall；　looking　out　the　window　at　the　reporters　on　the　street　below。　She　turned　when　she　heard　us。　She　looked　frightened。
　I　said；　〃Is　Michelle　all　right？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Where　is　she？〃
　〃Playing　in　the　living　room。〃
　〃I　want　to　see　her。〃
　Elaine　said；　〃Lieutenant；　there's　something　I　have　to　tell　you　first。〃
　〃Never　mind；〃　Connor　said。　〃We　already　know。〃
　He　threw　open　the　door　to　the　living　room。　And　I　had　the　biggest　shock　of　my　life。
　
　？
　John　Morton　sat　in　the　makeup　chair　at　the　television　studio；　a　Kleenex　tucked　around　his　collar；　while　the　girl　powdered　his　forehead。　Standing　at　his　side；　his　aide　Woodson　said；　〃This　is　how　they　remend　you　handle　it。〃　He　handed　a　fax　to　Morton。
　〃The　basic　through…line；〃　Woodson　said；　〃is　that　foreign　investment　invigorates　America。　America　is　made　stronger　by　the　influx　of　foreign　money。　America　has　much　to　learn　from　Japan。〃
　〃And　we　aren't　learning　it；〃　Morton　said　gloomily。
　〃Well；　the　argument　can　be　made；〃　Woodson　said。　〃It's　a　viable　position　and　as　you　can　see；　the　way　Marjorie　shaped　it；　it　doesn't　read　as　a　change　of　position　so　much　as　a　refinement　of　your　previous　view。　You　can　skate　on　this　one；　John。　I　don't　think　it　is　going　to　be　an　issue。〃
　〃Is　the　question　even　going　to　e　up？〃
　〃I　think　so。　I've　told　the　reporters　you　are　prepared　to　discuss　a　modification　of　your　position　on　MicroCon。　How　you　now　favor　the　sale。〃
　〃Who'll　ask　it？〃
　〃Probably　Frank　Pierce　of　the　Times。〃
　Morton　nodded。　〃He's　okay。〃
　〃Yeah。　Business　orientation。　Should　be　fine。　You　can　talk　about　free　markets；　fair　trade。　Lack　of　national　security　issues　on　this　sale。　All　that。〃
　The　makeup　girl　finished；　and　Morton　stood　up　from　the　chair。
　〃Senator；　I'm　sorry　to　bother　you；　but　could　I　have　your　autograph？〃
　〃Sure；〃　he　said。
　〃It's　for　my　son。〃
　〃Sure；〃　he　said。
　Woodson　said；　〃John；　we　have　a　rough　assembly　of　the　mercial　if　you　want　to　see　it。　It's　very　rough；　but　you　might　like　to　give　ments。　I've　set　it　up　for　you　in　the　next　room。〃
　〃How　much　time　have　I　got？〃
　〃Nine　minutes　to　airtime。〃
　〃Fine。〃
　He　started　out　the　door　and　saw　us。　〃Good　evening；　gentlemen；〃　he　said。　〃You　need　me　for　anything？〃
　〃Just　a　short　conversation；　Senator；〃　Connor　said。
　〃I've　got　to　look　at　a　tape；〃　Morton　said。　〃Then　we　can　talk。　But　I've　only　got　a　couple　of　minutes　。　。　。〃
　〃That's　all　right；〃　Connor　said。
　We　followed　him　into　another　room；　which　overlooked　the　studio　below。　Down　there；　on　a　beige…colored　set　that　said　NEWSMAKERS；　three　reporters　were　shuffling　through　their　notes　and　being　fitted　with　microphones。　Morton　sat　in　front　of　a　television　set；　and　Woodson　plugged　in　a　cassette。
　We　saw　the　mercial　that　was　shot　earlier　in　the　day。　It　had　a　timecode　running　at　the　bottom　of　the　frame；　and　it　opened　with　Senator　Morton；　looking　determined；　walking　over　the　golf　course。
　The　basic　message　was　that　America　had　lost　its　economic　petitiveness；　and　that　we　had　to　get　it　back。
　〃It's　time　for　all　of　us　to　pull　together；〃　Morton　said；　on　the　monitor。　〃Everyone　from　our　politicians　in　Washington；　to　our　leaders　of　business　and　labor；　to　our　teachers　and　children；　to　all　of　us　in　our　homes。　We　need　to　pay　our　bills　as　we　go；　and　cut　the　government　deficit。　We　need　to　increase　savings。　To　improve　our　roads　and　education。　We　need　a　government　policy　of　energy　conservation　…　for　our　environment；　for　our　children's　lungs；　and　for　our　global　petitiveness。〃
　The　camera　moved　close　to　the　senator's　face；　for　his　closing　remarks。
　〃There　are　some　who　say　that　we　are　entering　a　new　era　of　global　business；〃　he　said。　〃They　say　it　no　longer　matters　where　panies　are　located；　or　where　things　are　made。　That　ideas　of　national　economies　are　old…fashioned　and　out　of　date。　To　those　people；　I　say　…　Japan　doesn't　think　so。　Germany　doesn't　think　so。　The　most　successful　countries　in　the　world　today　maintain　strong　national　policies　for　energy　conservation；　for　the　control　of　imports；　for　promotion　of　exports。　They　nourish　their　industries；　protecting　them　against　unfair　petition　from　abroad。　Business　and　government　work　together　to　look　after　their　own　people　and　their　jobs。　And　those　countries　are　doing　better　than　America；　because　those　economic　policies　reflect　the　real　world。　Their　policies　work。　Ours　don't。　We　do　not　live　in　an　ideal　world；　and　until　we　do；　America　had　better　face　the　truth。　We　had　better　build　our　own　brand　of　hard…nosed　economic　nationalism。　We　had　better　take　care　of　Americans。　Because　nobody　else　will。
　〃I　want　to　make　it　clear：　the　industrial　giants　of　Japan　and　Germany　are　not　the　cause　of　our　problems。　Those　countries　are　challenging　America　with　new　realities　…　and　it　is　up　to　us　to　face　those　realities；　and　meet　their　economic　challenge　head　on。　If　we　do　so；　our　great　country　will　enter　an　era　of　unparalleled　prosperity。　But　if　we　continue　as　we　are；　mouthing　the　ancient　platitudes　of　a　free　market　economy；　disaster　awaits　us。　The　choice　is　ours。　Join　me　in　choosing　to　meet　the　new　realities　…　and　to　make　a　better　economic　future　for　the　American　people。〃
　The　screen　went　blank。
　Morton　sat　back。　〃When　does　this　run？〃
　〃It'll　start　in　nine　weeks。　Test　run　in　Chicago　and　the　Twin　Cities；　associated　focus　groups；　any　modifications；　then　the　national　break　in　July。〃
　〃Long　after　MicroCon　。　。　。〃
　〃Oh；　yes。〃
　〃Okay；　good。　Go　with　it。〃
　Woodson　took　the　tape；　and　left　the　room。　Morton　turned　to　us。　〃Well？　What　can　I　do　for　you？〃
　Connor　waited　until　the　door　had　closed。　Then　he　said；　〃Senator；　you　can　tell　us　about　Cheryl　Austin。〃
　
　*　*　*
　
　There　was　a　pause。　Morton　looked　at　each　of　us。　A　blank　expression　came　over　his　face。　〃Cheryl　Austin？〃
　〃Yes；　Senator。〃
　〃I'm　not　sure　that　I　know　who…　〃
　〃Yes；　Senator；〃　Connor　said。　And　he　handed　Morton　a　watch。　It　was　a　woman's　gold　Rolex。
　
　〃Where　did　you　get　this？〃　Morton　said。　His　voice　was　low　now；　icy。
　A　woman　knocked　on　the　door。　〃Six　minutes；　Senator。〃　She　closed　the　door。
　〃Where　did　you　get　this？〃　he　repeated。
　〃Don't　you　know？〃　Connor　said。　〃You　haven't　even　looked　at　the　back。　At　the　inscription。〃
　〃Where　did　yet　get　this？〃
　〃Senator；　we'd　like　you　to　talk　to　us　about　her。〃　He　took　a　glassine　bag　from　his　pocket；　and　set　it　on　the　table　next　to　Morton。　It　contained　a　pair　of　women's　black　panties。
　〃I　have　nothing　to　say　to　you　gentlemen；〃　Morton　said。　〃Nothing　at　all。〃
　Connor　took　a　videotape　from　his　pocket；　and　set　it　next　to　the　senator。　〃This　is　a　tape　from　one　of　five　different　cameras　which　recorded　the　incident　on　the　forty…sixth　floor。　The　tape　has　been　altered；　but　it　was　still　possible　to　extract　an　image　that　shows　who　the　person　with　Cheryl　Austin　was。〃
　〃I　have　nothing　to　say；〃　Morton　said。　〃Tapes　can　be　edited　and　changed　and　then　changed　again。　It　doesn't　mean　anything。　This　is　all　lies　and　baseless　allegation。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；　Senator；〃　Connor　said。
　Morton　stood　up　and　began　to　pace。　〃I　want　to　impress　upon　you　gentlemen　the　severity　of　the　charges　that　you　are　considering。　Tapes　can　be　altered。　These　particular　tapes　have　been　in　the　custody　of　a　Japanese　corporation　which；　it　could　be　argued；　has　a　wish　to　exert　influence　over　me。　Whatever　they　may　or　may　not　show；　I　assure　you　they　will　not　stand　up　to　scrutiny。　The　public　will　clearly　see　this　as　an　attempt　to　blacken　the　name　of　one　of　the　few　Americans　willing　to　speak　up　against　the　Japanese　threat。　And　as　far　as　I　am　concerned；　you　two　are　pawns　in　the　hands　of　foreign　powers。　You　don't　understand　the　consequences　of　your　actions。　You　are　making　damaging　allegations　without　proof。　You　have　no　witnesses　to　anything　that　may　allegedly　have　happened。　In　fact；　I　would　even　say…　〃
　〃Senator。〃　Connor's　voice　was　soft　but　insistent。　〃Before　you　go　any　farther；　and　say　anything　you　may　regret；　would　you　look　down　at　the　studio？　There's　somebody　there　you　need　to　see。〃
　〃What　is　the　meaning　of　this？〃
　〃Just