danbrown.deceptionpoint-第52部分

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f。
　And　redeem　herself　she　would。
　Whatever　it　took。
　
　　
　80
　William　Pickering　gazed　out　his　office　window　at　the　distant　line　of　headlights　on　Leesburg　Highway。　He　often　thought　about　her　when　he　stood　up　here　alone　at　the　top　of　the　world。
　All　this　power。。。　and　I　couldn't　save　her。
　Pickering's　daughter；　Diana；　had　died　in　the　Red　Sea　while　stationed　aboard　a　small　navy　escort　ship；　training　to　bee　a　navigator。　Her　ship　had　been　anchored　in　safe　harbor　on　a　sunny　afternoon　when　a　handmade　dory　loaded　with　explosives　and　powered　by　two　suicide　terrorists　motored　slowly　across　the　harbor　and　exploded　on　contact　with　the　hull。　Diana　Pickering　and　thirteen　other　young　American　soldiers　had　been　killed　that　day。
　William　Pickering　had　been　devastated。　The　anguish　overwhelmed　him　for　weeks。　When　the　terrorist　attack　was　traced　to　a　known　cell　whom　the　CIA　had　been　tracking　unsuccessfully　for　years；　Pickering's　sadness　turned　into　rage。　He　had　marched　into　CIA　headquarters　and　demanded　answers。
　The　answers　he　got　were　hard　to　swallow。
　Apparently　the　CIA　had　been　prepared　to　move　on　this　cell　months　before　and　was　simply　waiting　for　the　high…res　satellite　photos　so　that　they　could　plan　a　pinpoint　attack　on　the　terrorists'　mountain　hideout　in　Afghanistan。　Those　photos　were　scheduled　to　be　taken　by　the　1。2　billion　NRO　satellite　code…named　Vortex　2；　the　same　satellite　that　had　been　blown　up　on　the　launchpad　by　its　NASA　launch　vehicle。　Because　of　the　NASA　accident；　the　CIA　strike　had　been　postponed；　and　now　Diana　Pickering　had　died。
　Pickering's　mind　told　him　that　NASA　had　not　been　directly　responsible；　but　his　heart　found　it　hard　to　forgive。　The　investigation　of　the　rocket　explosion　revealed　that　the　NASA　engineers　responsible　for　the　fuel　injections　system　had　been　forced　to　use　second…rate　materials　in　an　effort　to　stay　on　budget。
　〃For　nonmanned　flights；〃　Lawrence　Ekstrom　explained　in　a　press　conference；　〃NASA　strives　for　cost…effectiveness　above　all。　In　this　case；　the　results　were　admittedly　not　optimal。　We　will　be　looking　into　it。〃
　Not　optimal。　Diana　Pickering　was　dead。
　Furthermore；　because　the　spy　satellite　was　classified；　the　public　never　learned　that　NASA　had　disintegrated　a　1。2　billion　NRO　project；　and　along　with　it；　indirectly；　numerous　American　lives。
　〃Sir？〃　Pickering's　secretary's　voice　came　over　his　inter；　startling　him。　〃Line　one。　It's　Marjorie　Tench。〃
　Pickering　shook　himself　out　of　his　daze　and　looked　at　his　telephone。　Again？　The　blinking　light　on　line　one　seemed　to　pulse　with　an　irate　urgency。　Pickering　frowned　and　took　the　call。
　〃Pickering　here。〃
　Tench's　voice　was　seething　mad。　〃What　did　she　tell　you？〃
　〃I'm　sorry？〃
　〃Rachel　Sexton　contacted　you。　What　did　she　tell　you？　She　was　on　a　submarine；　for　God's　sake！　Explain　that！〃
　Pickering　could　tell　immediately　that　denying　the　fact　was　not　an　option；　Tench　had　been　doing　her　homework。　Pickering　was　surprised　she'd　found　out　about　the　Charlotte；　but　she'd　apparently　thrown　her　weight　around　until　she　got　some　answers。　〃Ms。　Sexton　contacted　me；　yes。〃
　〃You　arranged　a　pickup。　And　you　didn't　contact　me？〃
　〃I　arranged　transport。　That　is　correct。〃　Two　hours　remained　until　Rachel　Sexton；　Michael　Tolland；　and　Corky　Marlinson　were　scheduled　to　arrive　at　the　nearby　Bollings　Air　Force　Base。
　〃And　yet　you　chose　not　to　inform　me？〃
　〃Rachel　Sexton　has　made　some　very　disturbing　accusations。〃
　〃Regarding　the　authenticity　of　the　meteorite。。。　and　some　kind　of　attack　on　her　life？〃
　〃Among　other　things。〃
　〃Obviously；　she　is　lying。〃
　〃You　are　aware　she　is　with　two　others　who　corroborate　her　story？〃
　Tench　paused。　〃Yes。　Most　disturbing。　The　White　House　is　very　concerned　by　their　claims。〃
　〃The　White　House？　Or　you　personally？〃
　Her　tone　turned　razor　sharp。　〃As　far　as　you　are　concerned；　director；　there　is　no　difference　tonight。〃
　Pickering　was　unimpressed。　He　was　no　stranger　to　blustering　politicians　and　support　staff　trying　to　establish　footholds　over　the　intel　munity。　Few　put　up　as　strong　a　front　as　Marjorie　Tench。　〃Does　the　President　know　you're　calling　me？〃
　〃Frankly；　director；　I'm　shocked　that　you　would　even　entertain　these　lunatic　ravings。〃
　You　didn't　answer　my　question。　〃I　see　no　logical　reason　for　these　people　to　lie。　I　have　to　assume　they　are　either　telling　the　truth；　or　they　have　made　an　honest　mistake。〃
　〃Mistake？　Claims　of　attacks？　Flaws　in　the　meteorite　data　that　NASA　never　saw？　Please！　This　is　an　obvious　political　ploy。〃
　〃If　so；　the　motives　escape　me。〃
　Tench　sighed　heavily　and　lowered　her　voice。　〃Director；　there　are　forces　at　work　here　of　which　you　might　not　be　aware。　We　can　speak　about　that　at　length　later；　but　at　the　moment　I　need　to　know　where　Ms。　Sexton　and　the　others　are。　I　need　to　get　to　the　bottom　of　this　before　they　do　any　lasting　damage。　Where　are　they？〃
　〃That　is　not　information　I　am　fortable　sharing。　I　will　contact　you　after　they　arrive。〃
　〃Wrong。　I　will　be　there　to　greet　them　when　they　arrive。〃
　You　and　how　many　Secret　Service　agents？　Pickering　wondered。　〃If　I　inform　you　of　their　arrival　time　and　location；　will　we　all　have　a　chance　to　chat　like　friends；　or　do　you　intend　to　have　a　private　army　take　them　into　custody？〃
　〃These　people　pose　a　direct　threat　to　the　President。　The　White　House　has　every　right　to　detain　and　question　them。〃
　Pickering　knew　she　was　right。　Under　Title　18；　Section　3056　of　the　United　States　Code；　agents　of　the　U。S。　Secret　Service　can　carry　firearms；　use　deadly　force；　and　make　〃un…warranted〃　arrests　simply　on　suspicion　that　a　person　has　mitted　or　is　intending　to　mit　a　felony　or　any　act　of　aggression　against　the　president。　The　service　possessed　carte　blanche。　Regular　detainees　included　unsavory　loiterers　outside　the　White　House　and　school　kids　who　sent　threatening　e…mail　pranks。
　Pickering　had　no　doubt　the　service　could　justify　dragging　Rachel　Sexton　and　the　others　into　the　basement　of　the　White　House　and　keeping　them　there　indefinitely。　It　would　be　a　dangerous　play；　but　Tench　clearly　realized　the　stakes　were　huge。　The　question　was　what　would　happen　next　if　Pickering　allowed　Tench　to　take　control。　He　had　no　intention　of　finding　out。
　〃I　will　do　whatever　is　necessary；〃　Tench　declared；　〃to　protect　the　President　from　false　accusations。　The　mere　implication　of　foul　play　will　cast　a　heavy　shadow　on　the　White　House　and　NASA。　Rachel　Sexton　has　abused　the　trust　the　President　gave　her；　and　I　have　no　intention　of　seeing　the　President　pay　the　price。〃
　〃And　if　I　request　that　Ms。　Sexton　be　permitted　to　present　her　case　to　an　official　panel　of　inquiry？〃
　〃Then　you　would　be　disregarding　a　direct　presidential　order　and　giving　her　a　platform　from　which　to　make　a　goddamn　political　mess！　I　will　ask　you　one　more　time；　director。　Where　are　you　flying　them？〃
　Pickering　exhaled　a　long　breath。　Whether　or　not　he　told　Marjorie　Tench　that　the　plane　was　ing　into　Bollings　Air　Force　Base；　he　knew　she　had　the　means　to　find　out。　The　question　was　whether　or　not　she　would　do　it。　He　sensed　from　the　determination　in　her　voice　that　she　would　not　rest。　Marjorie　Tench　was　scared。
　〃Marjorie；〃　Pickering　said；　with　unmistakable　clarity　of　tone。　〃Someone　is　lying　to　me。　Of　this　I　am　certain。　Either　it　is　Rachel　Sexton　and　two　civilian　scientists…or　it　is　you。　I　believe　it　is　you。〃
　Tench　exploded。　〃How　dare…〃
　〃Your　indignity　has　no　resonance　with　me；　so　save　it。　You　would　be　wise　to　know　that　I　have　absolute　proof　NASA　and　the　White　House　broadcast　untruths　tonight。〃
　Tench　fell　suddenly　silent。
　Pickering　let　her　reel　a　moment。　〃I'm　not　looking　for　a　political　meltdown　any　more　than　you　are。　But　there　have　been　lies。　Lies　that　cannot　stand。　If　you　want　me　to　help　you；　you've　got　to　start　by　being　honest　with　me。〃
　Tench　sounded　tempted　but　wary。　〃If　you're　so　certain　there　were　lies；　why　haven't　you　stepped　forward？〃
　〃I　don't　interfere　in　political　matters。〃
　Tench　muttered　something　that　sounded　a　lot　like　〃bullshit。〃
　〃Are　you　trying　to　tell　me；　Marjorie；　that　the　President's　announcement　tonight　was　entirely　accurate？〃
　There　was　a　long　silence　on　the　line。
　Pickering　knew　he　had　her。　〃Listen；　we　both　know　this　is　a　time　bomb　waiting　to　explode。　But　it's　not　too　late。　There　are　promises　we　can　make。〃
　Tench　said　nothing　for　several　seconds。　Finally　she　sighed。　〃We　should　meet。〃
　Touchdown；　Pickering　thought。
　〃I　have　something　to　show　you；〃　Tench　said。　〃And　I　believe　it　will　shed　some　light　on　this　matter。〃
　〃I'll　e　to　your　office。〃
　〃No；〃　she　said　hurriedly。　〃It's　late。　Your　presence　here　would　raise　concerns。　I'd　prefer　to　keep　this　matter　between　us。〃
　Pickering　read　between　the　lines。　The　President　knows　nothing　about　this。　〃You're　wele　to　e　here；〃　he　said。
　Tench　sounded　distrusting。　〃Let's　meet　somewhere　discreet。〃
　Pickering　had　expected　as　much。
　〃The　FDR　Memorial　is　convenient　to　the　White　House；〃　Tench　said。　〃It　will　be　empty　at　this　time　of　night。〃
　Pickering　considered　it。　The　FDR　Memorial　sat　midway　between　the　Jefferson　and　Lincoln　memorials；　in　an　extremely　safe　part　of　town。　After　a　long　beat；　Pickering　agreed。
　〃One　hour；〃　Tench　said；　signing　off。　〃And　e　alone。〃
　　
　Immediately　upon　hanging　up；　Marjorie　Tench　phoned　NASA　administrator　Ekstrom。　Her　voice　was　tight　as　she　relayed　the　bad　news。
　〃Pickering　could　be　a　problem。〃
　
　　
　81
　Gabrielle　Ashe　was　brimming　with　new　hope　as　she　stood　at　Yolanda　Cole's　desk　in　the　ABC　production　room　and　dialed　directory　assistance。
　The　allegations　Sexton　had　just　conveyed　to　her；　if　confirmed；　had　shocking　potential。　NASA　lied　about　PODS？　Gabrielle　had　seen　the　press　conference　in　question　and　recalled　thinking　it　was　odd；　and　yet　she'd　forgotten　all　about　it；　PODS　was　not　a　critical　issue　a　few　weeks　ago。　Tonight；　however；　PODS　had　bee　the　issue。
　Now　Sexton　needed　inside　information；　and　he　needed　it　fast。　He　was　relying　on　Gabrielle's　〃informant〃　to　get　the　information。　Gabrielle　had　assured　the　senator　she　would　do　her　best。　The　problem；　of　course；　was　that　her　informant　was　Marjorie　Tench；　who　would　be　no　help　at　all。　So　Gabrielle　would　have　to　get　the　information　another　way。
　〃Directory　assistance；〃　the　voice　on　the　phone　said。
　Gabrielle　told　them　what　she　needed。　T