danbrown.deceptionpoint-第2部分

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　〃I　hope　that's　not　why　you　asked　me　to　breakfast。〃
　The　senator's　veneer　of　calm　broke　ever　so　slightly。　〃Rachel；　can't　you　see　that　your　working　for　him　reflects　badly　on　me。　And　on　my　campaign。〃
　Rachel　sighed。　She　and　her　father　had　been　through　this。　〃Dad；　I　don't　work　for　the　President。　I　haven't　even　met　the　President。　I　work　in　Fairfax；　for　God's　sake！〃
　〃Politics　is　perception；　Rachel。　It　appears　you　work　for　the　President。〃
　Rachel　exhaled；　trying　to　keep　her　cool。　〃I　worked　too　hard　to　get　this　job；　Dad。　I'm　not　quitting。〃
　The　senator's　eyes　narrowed。　〃You　know；　sometimes　your　selfish　attitude　really…〃
　〃Senator　Sexton？〃　A　reporter　materialized　beside　the　table。
　Sexton's　demeanor　thawed　instantly。　Rachel　groaned　and　took　a　croissant　from　the　basket　on　the　table。
　〃Ralph　Sneeden；〃　the　reporter　said。　〃Washington　Post。　May　I　ask　you　a　few　questions？〃
　The　senator　smiled；　dabbing　his　mouth　with　a　napkin。　〃My　pleasure；　Ralph。　Just　make　it　quick。　I　don't　want　my　coffee　getting　cold。〃
　The　reporter　laughed　on　cue。　〃Of　course；　sir。〃　He　pulled　out　a　minirecorder　and　turned　it　on。　〃Senator；　your　television　ads　call　for　legislation　ensuring　equal　salaries　for　women　in　the　workplace。。。　as　well　as　for　tax　cuts　for　new　families。　Can　you　ment　on　your　rationale？〃
　〃Sure。　I'm　simply　a　huge　fan　of　strong　women　and　strong　families。〃
　Rachel　practically　choked　on　her　croissant。
　〃And　on　the　subject　of　families；〃　the　reporter　followed　up；　〃you　talk　a　lot　about　education。　You've　proposed　some　highly　controversial　budget　cuts　in　an　effort　to　allocate　more　funds　to　our　nation's　schools。〃
　〃I　believe　the　children　are　our　future。〃
　Rachel　could　not　believe　her　father　had　sunk　to　quoting　pop　songs。
　〃Finally；　sir；〃　the　reporter　said；　〃you've　taken　an　enormous　jump　in　the　polls　these　past　few　weeks。　The　President　has　got　to　be　worried。　Any　thoughts　on　your　recent　success？〃
　〃I　think　it　has　to　do　with　trust。　Americans　are　starting　to　see　that　the　President　cannot　be　trusted　to　make　the　tough　decisions　facing　this　nation。　Runaway　government　spending　is　putting　this　country　deeper　in　debt　every　day；　and　Americans　are　starting　to　realize　that　it's　time　to　stop　spending　and　start　mending。〃
　Like　a　stay　of　execution　from　her　father's　rhetoric；　the　pager　in　Rachel's　handbag　went　off。　Normally　the　harsh　electronic　beeping　was　an　unwele　interruption；　but　at　the　moment；　it　sounded　almost　melodious。
　The　senator　glared　indignantly　at　having　been　interrupted。
　Rachel　fished　the　pager　from　her　handbag　and　pressed　a　preset　sequence　of　five　buttons；　confirming　that　she　was　indeed　the　person　holding　the　pager。　The　beeping　stopped；　and　the　LCD　began　blinking。　In　fifteen　seconds　she　would　receive　a　secure　text　message。
　Sneeden　grinned　at　the　senator。　〃Your　daughter　is　obviously　a　busy　woman。　It's　refreshing　to　see　you　two　still　find　time　in　your　schedules　to　dine　together。〃
　〃As　I　said；　family　es　first。〃
　Sneeden　nodded；　and　then　his　gaze　hardened。　〃Might　I　ask；　sir；　how　you　and　your　daughter　manage　your　conflicts　of　interest？〃
　〃Conflicts？〃　Senator　Sexton　cocked　his　head　with　an　innocent　look　of　confusion。　〃What　conflicts　do　you　mean？〃
　Rachel　glanced　up；　grimacing　at　her　father's　act。　She　knew　exactly　where　this　was　headed。　Damn　reporters；　she　thought。　Half　of　them　were　on　political　payrolls。　The　reporter's　question　was　what　journalists　called　a　grapefruit…a　question　that　was　supposed　to　look　like　a　tough　inquiry　but　was　in　fact　a　scripted　favor　to　the　senator…a　slow　lob　pitch　that　her　father　could　line　up　and　smash　out　of　the　park；　clearing　the　air　about　a　few　things。
　〃Well；　sir。。。　〃　The　reporter　coughed；　feigning　uneasiness　over　the　question。　〃The　conflict　is　that　your　daughter　works　for　your　opponent。〃
　Senator　Sexton　exploded　in　laughter；　defusing　the　question　instantly。　〃Ralph；　first　of　all；　the　President　and　I　are　not　opponents。　We　are　simply　two　patriots　who　have　different　ideas　about　how　to　run　the　country　we　love。〃
　The　reporter　beamed。　He　had　his　sound　bite。　〃And　second？〃
　〃Second；　my　daughter　is　not　employed　by　the　President；　she　is　employed　by　the　intelligence　munity。　She　piles　intel　reports　and　sends　them　to　the　White　House。　It's　a　fairly　low…level　position。〃　He　paused　and　looked　at　Rachel。　〃In　fact；　dear；　I'm　not　sure　you've　even　met　the　President；　have　you？〃
　Rachel　stared；　her　eyes　smoldering。
　The　beeper　chirped；　drawing　Rachel's　gaze　to　the　ining　message　on　the　LCD　screen。
　…RPRT　DIRNRO　STAT…
　She　deciphered　the　shorthand　instantly　and　frowned。　The　message　was　unexpected；　and　most　certainly　bad　news。　At　least　she　had　her　exit　cue。
　〃Gentlemen；〃　she　said。　〃It　breaks　my　heart；　but　I　have　to　go。　I'm　late　for　work。〃
　〃Ms。　Sexton；〃　the　reporter　said　quickly；　〃before　you　go；　I　was　wondering　if　you　could　ment　on　the　rumors　that　you　called　this　breakfast　meeting　to　discuss　the　possibility　of　leaving　your　current　post　to　work　for　your　father's　campaign？〃
　Rachel　felt　like　someone　had　thrown　hot　coffee　in　her　face。　The　question　took　her　totally　off　guard。　She　looked　at　her　father　and　sensed　in　his　smirk　that　the　question　had　been　prepped。　She　wanted　to　climb　across　the　table　and　stab　him　with　a　fork。
　The　reporter　shoved　the　recorder　into　her　face。　〃Miss　Sexton？〃
　Rachel　locked　eyes　with　the　reporter。　〃Ralph；　or　whoever　the　hell　you　are；　get　this　straight：　I　have　no　intention　of　abandoning　my　job　to　work　for　Senator　Sexton；　and　if　you　print　anything　to　the　contrary；　you'll　need　a　shoehorn　to　get　that　recorder　out　of　your　ass。〃
　The　reporter's　eyes　widened。　He　clicked　off　his　recorder；　hiding　a　grin。　〃Thank　you　both。〃　He　disappeared。
　Rachel　immediately　regretted　the　outburst。　She　had　inherited　her　father's　temper；　and　she　hated　him　for　it。　Smooth；　Rachel。　Very　smooth。
　Her　father　glared　disapprovingly。　〃You'd　do　well　to　learn　some　poise。〃
　Rachel　began　collecting　her　things。　〃This　meeting　is　over。〃
　The　senator　was　apparently　done　with　her　anyway。　He　pulled　out　his　cellphone　to　make　a　call。　〃'Bye；　sweetie。　Stop　by　the　office　one　of　these　days　and　say　hello。　And　get　married；　for　God's　sake。　You're　thirty…three　years　old。〃
　〃Thirty…four；〃　she　snapped。　〃Your　secretary　sent　a　card。〃
　He　clucked　ruefully。　〃Thirty…four。　Almost　an　old　maid。　You　know　by　the　time　I　was　thirty…four；　I'd　already…〃
　〃Married　Mom　and　screwed　the　neighbor？〃　The　words　came　out　louder　than　Rachel　had　intended；　her　voice　hanging　naked　in　an　ill…timed　lull。　Diners　nearby　glanced　over。
　Senator　Sexton's　eyes　flash…froze；　two　ice…crystals　boring　into　her。　〃You　watch　yourself；　young　lady。〃
　Rachel　headed　for　the　door。　No；　you　watch　yourself；　senator。
　
　　
　2
　The　three　men　sat　in　silence　inside　their　ThermaTech　storm　tent。　Outside；　an　icy　wind　buffeted　the　shelter；　threatening　to　tear　it　from　its　moorings。　None　of　the　men　took　notice；　each　had　seen　situations　far　more　threatening　than　this　one。
　Their　tent　was　stark　white；　pitched　in　a　shallow　depression；　out　of　sight。　Their　munication　devices；　transport；　and　weapons　were　all　state…of…the…art。　The　group　leader　was　code…named　Delta…One。　He　was　muscular　and　lithe　with　eyes　as　desolate　as　the　topography　on　which　he　was　stationed。
　The　military　chronograph　on　Delta…One's　wrist　emitted　a　sharp　beep。　The　sound　coincided　in　perfect　unison　with　beeps　emitted　from　the　chronographs　worn　by　the　other　two　men。
　Another　thirty　minutes　had　passed。
　It　was　time。　Again。
　Reflexively；　Delta…One　left　his　two　partners　and　stepped　outside　into　the　darkness　and　pounding　wind。　He　scanned　the　moonlit　horizon　with　infrared　binoculars。　As　always；　he　focused　on　the　structure。　It　was　a　thousand　meters　away…an　enormous　and　unlikely　edifice　rising　from　the　barren　terrain。　He　and　his　team　had　been　watching　it　for　ten　days　now；　since　its　construction。　Delta…One　had　no　doubt　that　the　information　inside　would　change　the　world。　Lives　already　had　been　lost　to　protect　it。
　At　the　moment；　everything　looked　quiet　outside　the　structure。
　The　true　test；　however；　was　what　was　happening　inside。
　Delta…One　reentered　the　tent　and　addressed　his　two　fellow　soldiers。　〃Time　for　a　flyby。〃
　Both　men　nodded。　The　taller　of　them；　Delta…Two；　opened　a　laptop　puter　and　turned　it　on。　Positioning　himself　in　front　of　the　screen；　Delta…Two　placed　his　hand　on　a　mechanical　joystick　and　gave　it　a　short　jerk。　A　thousand　meters　away；　hidden　deep　within　the　building；　a　surveillance　robot　the　size　of　a　mosquito　received　his　transmission　and　sprang　to　life。
　
　　
　3
　Rachel　Sexton　was　still　steaming　as　she　drove　her　white　Integra　up　Leesburg　Highway。　The　bare　maples　of　the　Falls　Church　foothills　rose　stark　against　a　crisp　March　sky；　but　the　peaceful　setting　did　little　to　calm　her　anger。　Her　father's　recent　surge　in　the　polls　should　have　endowed　him　with　a　modicum　of　confident　grace；　and　yet　it　seemed　only　to　fuel　his　self…importance。
　The　man's　deceit　was　doubly　painful　because　he　was　the　only　immediate　family　Rachel　had　left。　Rachel's　mother　had　died　three　years　ago；　a　devastating　loss　whose　emotional　scars　still　raked　at　Rachel's　heart。　Rachel's　only　solace　was　knowing　that　the　death；　with　ironic　passion；　had　liberated　her　mother　from　a　deep　despair　over　a　miserable　marriage　to　the　senator。
　Rachel's　pager　beeped　again；　pulling　her　thoughts　back　to　the　road　in　front　of　her。　The　ining　message　was　the　same。
　…RPRT　DIRNRO　STAT…
　Report　to　the　director　of　NRO　stat。　She　sighed。　I'm　ing；　for　God's　sake！
　With　rising　uncertainty；　Rachel　drove　to　her　usual　exit；　turned　onto　the　private　access　road；　and　rolled　to　a　stop　at　the　heavily　armed　sentry　booth。　This　was　14225　Leesburg　Highway；　one　of　the　most　secretive　addresses　in　the　country。
　While　the　guard　scanned　her　car　for　bugs；　Rachel　gazed　out　at　the　mammoth　structure　in　the　distance。　The　one…million…square…foot　plex　sat　majestically　on　sixty…eight　forested　acres　just　outside　D。C。　in　Fairfax；　Virginia。　The　building's　facade　was　a　bastion　of　one…way　glass　that　reflected　the　army　of　satellite　dishes；　antennas；　and　rayodomes　on　the　surrounding　grounds；　doubling　their　already　awe…inspiring　numbers。
　Two　minutes　later；　Rachel　had　parked　and　crossed　the　manicured　grounds　to　the　main　entrance；　where　a　carved　granite　sign　announced
　NA