cc.goldenbuddha-第22部分

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　security。　Luckily；　we　have　a　local　firm　we　usemy　office　will　contact　them　and　have　some　men　out　here　within　the　hour；　if　that's　okay　with　you。〃　
　〃Does　the　fee　include　the　security　detail？〃　Ho　asked。　
　Truitt　thought　for　a　second；　but　decided　not　to　push。　
　〃The　fee　includes　three　security　guards；　but　we　will　want　the　fee　in　cash；〃　Truitt　said　seriously。　
　Ho　stood　up　and　walked　over　to　his　safe。　〃Sounds　reasonable；〃　he　said。　
　Truitt　smiledthe　offer　was　anything　but　reasonable；　but　Ho　had　no　way　to　know　that。　
　〃I'll　tell　them；〃　Truitt　said。　
　Ho　began　spinning　the　dial　to　his　safe。　
　〃We　have　an　agreement；〃　he　said　to　the　operator　on　the　Oregon；　〃but　we'll　need　the　security　people　here　as　soon　as　possible。〃　
　〃Damn；　you're　good；〃　the　operator　said。　
　〃Yes；　I　am；〃　Truitt　said　quietly；　then　disconnected。　
　Ho　returned　with　two　wrapped　stacks　of　dollars。　Each　strip　read　10；000。　Removing　fifteen　of　the　hundred…dollar　bills　from　one　of　the　stacks；　he　handed　Truitt　the　rest。　Sliding　the　stacks　of　money　into　his　leather　clutch；　he　smiled　at　Ho。　
　〃Do　you　have　a　sheet　of　paper？〃　
　〃What　for？〃　Ho　asked。　
　〃I　need　to　write　you　a　receipt；〃　Truitt　said。　
　
　HANLEY　REACHED　FOR　the　telephone　and　dialed　Cabrillo。　〃Dick　Truitt　just　got　us　three　more　men　inside　the　pound；　acting　as　security　guards。〃　
　〃Excellent；〃　Cabrillo　said；　〃and　there　was　no　problem　with　the　appraisal？〃　
　〃He　handled　it　like　the　pro　he　is；〃　Hanley　said。　〃Have　we　got　security　guard　uniforms　in　the　Magic　Shop？〃
　〃Absolutely；〃　Hanley　said。　〃I'll　just　call　Nixon　and　have　him　blast　off　a　jazzy　patch　on　the　embroidery　machine。〃　
　〃Get　on　it；〃　Cabrillo　said　quickly；　〃so　we　can　extract　Truitt。〃
　〃Truitt's　been　invited　to　the　party；〃　Hanley　said；　〃unless　you　want　Oie　to　order　him　out。〃　
　〃Have　him　wait　until　the　fake　security　team　arrives；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃That　way　he　can　verify　their　identity　to　Ho。　Then　have　him　stick　aroundI　have　another　job　for　him。〃
　〃Done；〃　Hanley　said。　
　Cabrillo　disconnected　and　Hanley　dialed　the　Magic　Shop。　〃Kevin；〃　he　said；　〃I　need　three　security　guard　uniforms　with　the　appropriate　badges。〃　
　〃Name？〃　
　Hanley　thought　for　a　moment　before　answering。　〃Make　them　Redman　Security　Services。〃
　〃As　in　Redford　and　Newman？〃
　〃You　got　it；〃　Hanley　said；　〃The　Sting。〃　
　〃It　will　take　me　twenty　minutes　or　so　to　make　the　badges；〃　Nixon　said；　〃but　send　the　three　operatives　down　right　away。　I　can　fit　the　uniforms　while　the　patches　are　forming。〃　
　〃They　will　be　there　shortly；〃　Hanley　said　in　closing。　Hanley　glanced　at　a　clipboard　in　the　control　room。　Most　of　the　Corporation　stockholders　were　already　assigned　to　functions　of　operations；　extraction　or　backup。　His　remaining　choices　were　an　assistant　chef；　Rick　Barrett；　a　propulsion　engineer　named　Sam　Pryor；　and　a　middle…aged　man　who　worked　in　the　armory；　Gunther　Reinholt。　None　had　ever　worked　on　the　operations　end。　But　beggars　can't　be　choosers　〃Get　me　Reinholt；　Pryor　and　Barrett；〃　Hanley　said　to　one　of　the　munications　operators；　〃and　have　them　meet　me　in　the　Magic　Shop。〃　
　The　operator　began　paging　the　men。　
　
　DON'T　WORRY；〃　MURPHY　said　to　Halpert；　〃it　just　smells　like　marijuana。〃　
　Murphy　was　waving　what　looked　like　an　incense　stick　near　the　members　of　the　band　when　Cabrillo　walked　into　the　conference　room…〃Smells　like　a　Grateful　Dead　concert　in　here；〃　he　said。　
　Murphy　walked　closer　and　let　the　smoke　waft　over　the　chairman。　
　〃It's　the　little　things；〃　he　said　with　a　grin；　〃that　makes　the　Corporation　successful。〃　
　〃The　real　band　was　sober；〃　Cabrillo　noted。　
　〃But　Ho　doesn't　know　that。〃　
　Cabrillo　nodded。　〃Listen　up。　Dick　Truitt　has　managed　to　get　three　more　operatives　inside。　The　men　will　be　dressed　as　security　guards。　I'll　have　the　pany　name　shortly。　Be　careful；　because　there　might　be　other　guards　Ho　already　hired。　Don't　slip　up　and　mistake　ours　for　them。〃　
　Just　then；　Cabrillo's　telephone　rang。　He　listened　then　disconnected。　
　〃Redman　Security　is　the　name　on　our　guys'　uniforms；〃　he　said　to　the　group。　
　A　moment　later　Julia　Huxley　walked　into　the　room。　
　〃Wow；〃　Kasim　said。　

　Huxley　was　dressed　in　a　pair　of　form…fitting　leather　pants　that　laced　up　the　side　and　showed　two　panels　of　leg　from　foot　to　hip。　Her　top　was　a　metal…studded　vest　that　barely　covered　her　ample　bosom。　Around　her　neck　was　a　strap　of　leather　with　a　D…shaped　hook；　and　one　of　her　arms　was　decorated　with　a　flowing　tattoo　of　barbed　wire　and　flower　vines。　Her　hair　was　teased　and　coated　with　hair　spray　in　a　wild　fashion　and　her　makeup　was　bold　and　thickly　applied。　Five…inch　pumps　and　a　dusting　of　glitter　on　her　exposed　skin　pleted　the　picture。　　〃Slutty　enough　for　you　boys？〃　she　asked。　
　〃I　didn't　know　the　Magic　Shop　had　such　costumes　in　stock；〃　Hal…pert　said。　
　Huxley　walked　over　to　Halpert　and　rubbed　herself　along　his　side。　
　As　the　lead　singer；　he；　of　course；　was　the　one　who　got　the　girl。　
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　she　asked。　〃This　is　from　my　own　collection。〃　Huxley　was　lying；　of　coursebut　then　this　entire　operation　was　a　facade。　
　〃Now；　who　would　argue；〃　Kasim　said；　〃that　America's　not　the　greatest　country　in　the　world？〃　
　
　ROSS　WAS　CHECKING　the　smoke　machines　when　Ho　walked　out　onto　the　lawn。　
　〃Miss　Iselda；〃　he　said　as　he　walked　over；　〃I　have　a　new　piece　of　artwork　I've　decided　I　want　to　display　out　here　on　the　lawn。〃　
　Ross　watched　Ho　carefully。　The　man　was　gesturing　toward　one　side　of　the　tent。　He　looked　back　at　her　expectantly。　There　was　no　hint　he　found　anything　amiss。　
　〃Is　it　a　painting？〃　Ross　asked。　
　〃No；　it's　a　statue；〃　Ho　said。　
　Two　workers　were　waiting　alongside　the　colored　lights　near　the　smoke　machine。　
　〃Take　a　break　for　a　few　moments；〃　Ross　said。　The　men　walked　into　the　shade　of　the　tent。　
　〃Describe　it　to　me；〃　Ross　asked。　
　〃Six　foot　tall　and　made　of　gold；〃　Ho　said。　
　Ross　quickly　thought。　〃Perhaps　we　could　place　the　object　there〃　she　pointed　a　few　feet　away〃at　the　end　of　the　red　carpet　leading　into　the　tent。　As　sort　of　a　sentinel。〃　
　Ho　and　Ross　walked　over　to　the　spot。　
　〃I　could　light　it　with　blue　and　red　spotlights；〃　she　said。　
　〃What　else？〃　Ho　asked。　
　Ross　racked　her　brain。　What　could　help　the　Corporation　with　the　theft？　
　〃What　do　you　think　about　some　billowing　clouds　of　smoke；〃　she　said　slowly；　〃so　the　object　seems　to　appear　and　disappear　like　a　mirage？〃　
　〃Excellent；〃　Ho　said　eagerly。　

　Ross　smiled。　Out　of　the　corner　of　her　eye　she　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　trio　of　men　from　the　Oregon；　they　were　dressed　in　security　guards'　uniforms。　Somehow　her　team　had　sent　help。　Barrett；　acting　as　the　leader　of　the　guards；　walked　over　to　where　she　and　Ho　were　standing。　
　〃Are　you　Mr。　Ho？〃　he　said。　
　〃I'm　Ho。〃　
　〃The　insurance　pany　sent　us。〃　
　Barrett　placed　a　finger　to　his　eye　and　winked　at　Ross　when　Ho　was　not　looking。　
　〃Good；〃　Ho　said；　〃I'm　glad　you　arrived　so　quickly。　This　is　Iselda；　she's　in　charge　of　planning。　We　were　just　now　figuring　out　the　best　place　to　place　the　object　you　will　be　guarding。〃　
　Barrett　nodded。　
　〃We're　thinking　there；〃　Ho　said；　pointing；　〃near　the　entrance　to　the　tent。〃　
　Barrett　scanned　the　grounds　as　if　to　determine　the　security　of　the　spot。　He　turned　back　to　Ho　and　spoke。　
　〃My　pany　mentioned　it　was　a　statue。〃　
　〃Right；〃　Ho　said；　〃a　six…foot…tall　Buddha。〃　
　Barrett　nodded　as　if　he　were　weighing　his　options。　
　〃Is　it　heavy？〃　he　asked。　
　〃It　weighs　about　six　hundred　pounds；〃　Ho　said。　〃Why　do　you　ask？〃　
　〃Well；　sir；〃　Barrett　said；　〃I　thought　you　might　want　it　to　be　more　of　a　part　of　the　festivitiesyou　know；　have　it　moved　from　place　to　place　as　the　party　proceeds。　Six　hundred　pounds　is　too　heavy　for　my　men　to　move；　however。〃　
　Ross　was　catching　on。　
　〃You　mean　to　have　the　statue　bee　one　of　the　guests；〃　she　said　　eagerly。　
　〃Something　like　that；〃　the　guard　admitted。　〃The　object　would　actually　be　safer　the　more　people　that　are　around。〃　
　〃Interesting；〃　Ho　said。　
　〃The　party's　almost　ready　to　start；〃　Ross　said；　〃but　I　could　see　if　I　could　scrounge　up　some　other　Buddha　statues　and　do　an　entire　theme　in　that　direction。〃　
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Ho　asked。　
　〃Maybe　I　could　find　some　plaster　Buddha　statues　and　have　them　placed　around　the　grounds；〃　Ross　said。　
　〃That　would　help　with　security；〃　Barrett　admitted；　〃by　confusing　the　real　and　the　fakes。〃　
　〃Do　you　think　you　can？〃　Ho　asked。　
　〃Don't　worry；　Mr。　Ho；〃　Ross　said；　〃my　pany　can　work　miracles。〃
　
　THE　BAND　WAS　assembled　in　the　conference　room　on　the　Oregon。　Hanley　and　Cabrillo　were　walking　them　through　their　last…minute　instructions。　
　〃As　you　know；　we　have　three　more　men　inside；〃　Cabrillo　said；　〃posing　as　security；　so　we　don't　need　to　worry　about　getting　it　down　to　ground　level。　It　should　already　be　there。〃　
　〃That's　a　plus；〃　Franklin　noted。　
　〃So　the　actual　removal　from　the　site　has　bee　easier；〃　Hanley　said；　〃but　we　have　the　added　problem　of　more　witnesses。〃　
　〃That　means　we　almost　certainly　need　to　drug　the　guests；〃　Kasim　noted。　
　〃It's　beginning　to　look　that　way；〃　Cabrillo　admitted。　
　〃The　playlist　features　three　sets；〃　Hanley　continued。　〃That　gives　us　two　breaks　between　sets　when　you；　as　members　of　the　band；　can　move　freely　about。　Watch　the　chairman　for　the　lead　and。be　flexiblethis　entire　caper　is　still　unfolding。〃　
　〃Do　we　have　the　plane　waiting　to　receive　the　icon　after　the　theft？〃　Halpert　asked。　
　〃Arranged；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃A　plane　is　inbound　as　we　speak。〃　
　〃When's　the　extraction　scheduled？〃　Monica　asked。　
　〃Ten　minutes　before　midnight；　tonight；〃　Hanley　said。　
　〃The　Oregon　sails　away　from　here　sometime　tomorrow；〃　Cabrillo　said；　〃no　matter　what　the　oute。　So　let's　just　do　our　jobs　and　take　our　leave。〃　
　〃A　little　richer　for　the　effort；〃　Murphy　said；　smiling。　
　〃That's　the　idea；〃　Cabrillo　agreed。
　
　THIN　TENDRILS　OF　richly　scented　incense　smoke　wafted　toward　the　ceiling　in　the　A…Ma　Temple。　
　A　scattering　of　tourists　filed　through　the　public　areas　and　left　offerings　at　the　foot　of　various　Buddhas。　They　walked　on　the　pebbled　paths；　sat　on　the　carved　wooden　benches　on　the　grounds　and　stared　at　the　sea　in　reflection。　It　was　a　place　of　tranquillity；　a　port　of　serenity　in　a　storm　of　confusion　and　haste。　
　Winston　Spenser　was　not　feeling　calm。　
　Fear　gripped　him。　The　Golden　Bu