tc.patriotgames-第77部分

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　　　　〃How's　the　FBI　doing？〃　he　asked。
　　　　〃Nothing　new。　The　black　guy　　well；　he　might　as　well　not　exist　so　far　as　anyone　can　tell。　They　have　a　crummy　picture　that's　several　years　old；　an　alias　with　no　real　name　or　prints　to　check；　and　about　ten　lines　of　description　that　mainly　says　he's　smart　enough　to　keep　his　mouth　shut。　The　Bureau's　checking　through　people　who　used　to　be　in　the　radical　groups　　funny　how　they　have　mostly　settled　down　　without　any　success　so　far。〃　
　　　　〃How　about　the　bunch　who　flew　over　there　two　years　back？〃　Not　so　long　ago　members　of　several　radical　American　groups　had　flown　to　Libya　to　meet　with　〃progressive　elements〃　of　the　third…world　munity。　The　echoes　of　that　event　still　reverberated　through　the　antiterrorism　munity。
　　　　〃You've　noticed　that　we　don't　have　any　pictures　from　Benghazi；　right？　Our　agent　got　picked　up　　one　of　those　horrible　accidents。　It　cost　us　the　photos　and　it　cost　him　his　neck。　Fortunately　they　never　found　out　he　was　working　for　us。　We　know　some　of　the　names　of　the　people　who　were　there；　but　not　all。〃　
　　　　〃Passport　records？〃
　　　　Cantor　leaned　against　the　doorframe。　〃Let's　say　Mr。　X　flew　to　Europe；　an　American　on　vacation　　we're　talking　tens　of　thousands　of　people　per　month。　He　makes　contact　with　someone　on　the　other　side；　and　they　get　him　the　rest　of　the　way　without　going　through　the　usual　immigration…control　procedures。　It's　easy　　hell；　the　Agency　does　it　all　the　time。　If　we　had　a　name　we　could　see　if　he　was　out　of　the　country　at　the　right　time。　That　would　be　a　start　　but　we　don't　have　a　name　to　check。〃　
　　　　〃We　don't　have　anything！〃　Ryan　snapped。
　　　　〃Sure　we　do。　We　have　all　that〃　　he　waved　at　the　documents　on　Ryan's　desk　　〃and　lots　more　where　that　came　from。　Somewhere　in　there　is　the　answer。〃　
　　　　〃You　really　believe　that？〃
　　　　〃Every　time　we　crack　one　of　these　things；　we　find　that　all　the　information　was　under　our　nose　for　months。　The　oversight　mittees　in　Congress　always　hammer　us　on　that。　Sitting　in　that　pile　right　now。　Jack；　is　a　crucial　lead。　That's　almost　a　statistical　certainty。　But　you　probably　have　two　or　three　hundred　such　reports　sitting　there；　and　only　one　matters。〃
　　　　〃I　didn't　expect　miracles；　but　I　did　expect　to　make　some　progress；〃　Jack　said　quietly；　the　magnitude　of　the　problem　finally　sinking　in。
　　　　〃You　did。　You　saw　something　that　no　one　else　did。　You　may　have　found　Francoise　Theroux。　And　now　if　a　French　agent　sees　something　that　might　be　useful　to　us；　maybe　they'll　pass　it　along。　You　didn't　know　this；　but　the　intel　business　is　like　the　old　barter　economy。　We　give　them；　and　then　they　give　us；　or　we'll　never　give　to　them　again。　If　this　pans　out；　they'll　owe　us　big…time。　They　really　want　that　gal。　She　popped　a　close　friend　of　their　President；　and　he　took　it　personally。
　　　　〃Anyway；　you　get　a　well…done　from　the　Admiral　and　the　DGSE。　The　boss　says　you　should　take　it　a　little　easier；　by　the　way。〃　
　　　　〃I'll　take　it　easy　when　I　find　the　bastards；〃　Ryan　replied。
　　　　〃Sometimes　you　have　to　back　off。　You　look　like　hell。　You're　tired。　Fatigue　makes　for　errors。　We　don't　like　errors。　No　more　late　hours；　Jack；　that　es　from　Greer；　too。　You're　out　of　here　by　six。〃　Cantor　left；　denying　Jack　a　chance　to　object。
　　　　Ryan　turned　back　toward　his　desk；　but　stared　at　the　wall　for　several　minutes。　Cantor　was　right。　He　was　working　so　late　that　half　the　time　he　couldn't　drive　up　to　Baltimore　to　see　how　his　daughter　was　doing。　Jack　rationalized　that　his　wife　was　with　her　every　day；　frequently　spending　the　night　at　Hopkins　to　be　close　to　their　daughter。　Cathy　has　her　job　and　I　have　mine。
　　　　So；　he　told　the　wall；　at　least　I　managed　to　gel　something　right。　He　remembered　that　it　had　been　an　accident；　that　Marty　had　made　the　real　connection；　but　it　was　also　true　that　he'd　done　what　an　analyst　was　supposed　to　do；　find　something　odd　and　bring　it　to　someone's　attention。　He　could　feel　good　about　that。　He'd　found　a　terrorist　maybe；　but　certainly　not　the　right　one。
　　　　It's　a　start。　His　conscience　wondered　what　the　French　would　do　if　they　found　that　pretty　girl；　and　how　he'd　feel　about　it　if　he　found　out。　It　would　be　better；　he　decided；　if　terrorists　were　ugly；　but　pretty　or　not；　their　victims　were　just　as　dead。　He　promised　himself　that　he　wouldn't　go　out　of　his　way　to　find　out　if　anyone　got　her。　Jack　went　back　into　the　pile；　looking　for　that　one　piece　of　hard　information。　The　people　he　was　looking　for　were　somewhere　in　the　pile。　He　had　to　find　them。

　　　　〃Hello；　Alex；〃　Miller　said　as　he　entered　the　car。
　　　　〃How　was　the　trip？〃　He　still　had　his　beard；　Dobbens　saw。　Well；　nobody　had　gotten　much　of　a　look　at　him。　This　time　he'd　flown　to　Mexico；　driven　across　the　border；　then　taken　a　domestic　flight　into　D。C。；　where　Alex　had　met　him。　
　　　　〃Your　border　security　over　here's　a　bloody　joke。〃　
　　　　〃Would　it　make　you　happy　if　they　changed　it？〃　Alex　inquired。　〃Let's　talk　business。〃　The　abruptness　of　his　tone　surprised　Miller。
　　　　Aren't　you　a　proud　one；　with　one　whole　operation　under　your　belt；　Miller　thought。　〃We　have　another　job　for　you。〃　
　　　　〃You　haven't　paid　me　for　the　last　one　yet；　boy。〃　
　　　　Miller　handed　over　a　passbook。　〃Numbered　account；　Bahamian　bank。　I　believe　you'll　find　the　amount　correct。〃　
　　　　Alex　pocketed　the　book。　〃That's　more　like　it。　Okay；　we　have　another　job。　I　hope　you　don't　expect　to　go　with　it　as　fast　as　before。〃　
　　　　〃We　have　several　months　to　plan　it；〃　Miller　replied。　
　　　　〃I'm　listening。〃　Alex　sat　through　ten　minutes　of　information。
　　　　〃Are　you　out　of　your　fucking　mind？〃　Dobbens　asked　when　he　was　finished。
　　　　〃How　hard　would　it　be　to　gather　the　information　we　need？〃　
　　　　〃That's　not　the　problem；　Sean。　The　problem　is　getting　your　people　in　and　out。　No　way　I　could　handle　that。〃
　　　　〃That　is　my　concern。〃
　　　　〃Bullshit！　If　my　people　are　involved；　it's　my　concern；　too。　If　that　Clark　turkey　broke　to　the　cops；　it　would　have　burned　a　safe…house　　and　me！〃　
　　　　〃But　he　didn't　break；　did　he？　That's　why　we　chose　him。〃　
　　　　〃Look；　what　you　do　with　your　people；　I　don't　give　a　rat's　ass。　What　happens　to　my　people；　I　do。　That　last　little　game　we　played　for　you　was　bush　league；　Sean。〃
　　　　Miller　figured　out　what　〃bush　league〃　meant　from　context。　〃The　operation　was　politically　sound；　and　you　know　it。　Perhaps　you've　forgotten　that　the　objective　is　always　political。　Politically；　the　operation　was　a　plete　success。〃
　　　　〃I　don't　need　you　to　tell　me　that！〃　Alex　snapped　back　in　his　best　intimidating　tone。　Miller　was　a　proud　little　twerp；　but　Alex　figured　he　could　pinch　his　head　off　with　one　good　squeeze。　〃You　lost　a　troop　because　you　were　playing　this　personal；　not　professional　　and　I　know　what　you're　thinking。　It　was　our　first　big　play；　right？　Well；　son；　I　think　we　proved　that　we　got　our　shit　together；　didn't　we？　And　I　warned　you　up　front　that　your　man　was　too　exposed。　If　you'd　listened　to　me；　you　wouldn't　have　a　man　on　the　inside。　I　know　your　background　is　pretty　impressive；　but　this　is　my　turf；　and　I　know　it。〃
　　　　Miller　knew　that　he　had　to　accept　that。　He　kept　his　face　impassive。　〃Alex；　if　we　were　in　any　way　displeased；　we　would　not　have　e　back　to　you。　Yes；　you　do　have　your　shit　together；〃　you　bloody　nigger；　he　didn't　say。　〃Now；　can　you　get　us　the　information　we　need？〃　
　　　　〃Sure；　for　the　right　price。　You　want　us　in　the　op？〃　
　　　　〃We　don't　know　yet；〃　Miller　replied　honestly。　Of　course　the　only　issue　here　is　money。　Bloody　Americans。
　　　　〃If　you　want　us　in；　I'm　part　of　the　planning。　Number　one；　I　want　to　know　how　you　get　in　and　out。　I　might　have　to　go　with　you。　If　you　shitcan　my　advice　this　time；　I　walk　and　I　take　my　people　with　me。〃
　　　　〃It's　a　little　early　to　be　certain；　but　what　we　hope　to　arrange　is　really　quite　simple　。　。　。　〃
　　　　〃You　think　you　can　set　that　up？〃　For　the　first　time　since　he'd　arrived；　Sean　had　Alex　nodding　approval。　〃Slick。　I'll　give　you　that。　It's　slick。　Now　let's　talk　price。〃
　　　　Sean　wrote　a　figure　on　a　piece　of　paper　and　handed　it　to　Alex。　〃Fair　enough？〃　People　interested　in　money　were　easy　to　impress。　
　　　　〃I　sure　would　like　an　account　at　your　bank；　brother。〃　
　　　　〃If　this　operation　es　off；　you　will。〃
　　　　〃You　mean　that？〃
　　　　Miller　nodded　emphatically。　〃Direct　access。　Training　facilities；　help　with　travel　documents；　the　lot。　Your　skill　in　helping　us　last　time　attracted　attention。　Our　friends　like　the　idea　of　an　active　revolutionary　cell　in　America。〃　If　they　really　want　to　do　business　with　you；　it's　their　problem。　〃Now；　how　quickly　can　you　get　the　information？〃　
　　　　〃End　of　the　week　good　enough？〃　
　　　　〃Can　you　do　it　that　fast　without　attracting　attention？〃　
　　　　〃Let　me　worry　about　that；〃　Alex　replied　with　a　smile。

　　　　〃Anything　new　on　your　end？〃　Owens　asked。
　　　　〃Not　much；〃　Murray　admitted。　〃We　have　plenty　of　forensic　evidence；　but　only　one　witness　who　got　a　clear　look　at　one　face；　and　she　can't　give　us　a　real　ID。〃　
　　　　〃The　local　help？〃
　　　　〃That's　who　we　almost　ID'd。　Nothing　yet。　Maybe　they've　learned　from　the　ULA。　No　manifesto；　no　announcement　claiming　credit　for　the　job。　The　people　we　have　inside　some　other　radical　groups　　that　is；　those　that　still　exist　　have　drawn　a　big　blank。　We're　still　working　on　it；　and　we　have　a　lot　of　money　out　on　the　street；　but　so　far　we　haven't　got　anything　to　show　for　it。〃　Murray　paused。　〃That'll　change。　Bill　Shaw　is　a　genius；　one　of　the　real　brains　we　have　in　the　Bureau。　They　switched　him　over　from　counterintelligence　to　terrorism　a　few　years　back；　and　he's　done　really　impressive　work。　What's　new　on　your　end？〃　
　　　　〃I　can't　go　into　specifics　yet；〃　Owens　said。　〃But　we　might　have　a　small　break。　We're　trying　to　decide　now　if　it's　real　or　not。　That's　the　good　news。　The　bad　is　that　His　Royal　Highness　is　traveling　to　America　this　ing　summer。　A　number　of　people　were　informed　of　his　itinerary；　including　six　on　our　list　of　possible　suspects。〃　
　　　　〃How　the　hell　did　you　let　that　happen；　Jimmy？〃　
　　　　〃No　one　asked　me；　Dan；〃　Owens　replied　sourly。　〃In　several　cases；　if　the　people　hadn't　been　informed　it　would　have　told　them　that　something　odd　was　happening　　you　can't　simply　stop　trusting　people；　can　you？　For　the　rest；　it　was　just　another　balls…up。　Some　secretary　put　out　the　plans　on　the　normal　list　without　consulting　the　security　officers。〃　This　wasn't　a　new　story　for　either　man。　There　was　always　someone　who　didn