scoonts.theminotaur-第65章

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。　It　was　in　hundreds；　twenty　of　them。　〃Gonna　play　poker　tonight？〃
　〃I　like　to　pay　in　cash。〃
　〃Why　the　credit　cards　then？〃
　〃You　never　know。〃
　Judy　passed　the　wallet　back。　〃You　want　to　talk　to　me；　then　you　walk　out　there　and　cancel　our　dinner　orders　and　pay　the　tab。　Leave　a　tip。　We'll　go　to　a　place　I　pick。　You　drive；　but　I　don't　want　you　to　say　one　word　in　the　car。　Not　a　word。　Got　it？〃
　〃Okay。〃
　In　the　car　Judy　pointed　in　the　direction　he　wanted　Albright　to　go。　Meanwhile　he　watched　the　other　cars。　They　weren't　being　followed。　He　had　Albright　make　a　series　of　random　turns；　then　take　the　road　leading　east。　Fifteen　miles　later　they　came　to　a　big　roadhouse　at　a　crossroads。　Judy　gestured　and　Albright　drove　into　the　tot　and　killed　the　engine。
　They　went　to　a　booth　in　the　back　and　Judy　seated　himself　so　that　he　could　watch　the　door。
　〃You　were　saying？〃
　〃Kilderkin。〃
　〃What　about　it？〃
　〃Kilderkin　is　the　access　word　for　a　file　in　the　puter　at　the　Pentagon。　It's　a　file　held　in　the　office　where　you　work。　The　Athena　file。　I　can　supply　you　with　the　code　words　to　get　to　it。　I　want　you　to　copy　the　Athena　file　onto　a　floppy　disk　and　give　it　to　me。〃
　〃All　of　it？　All　the　documents？〃
　〃Yes。　It　might　take　more　than　one　disk。〃
　〃Might。　What　do　I　get　out　of　it？〃
　〃A　hundred　grand。〃
　mander　Smoke　Judy　stared　at　him　a　while；　then　looked　around　the　room　thoughtfully。　In　a　moment　the　waiter　came　over。　They　asked　for　beers　and　menus。
　〃What　do　you　know　about　that　file？〃　Judy　asked。
　〃I'm　not　going　to　tell　you。　Let's　just　say　I　want　it。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃All　you　need　to　know　is　I　want　it　a　hundred　thousand　dollars'　worth。〃
　〃You　don't　want　it　bad　enough。〃
　〃How　badly　do　I　have　to　want　it？〃
　〃If　you　ever　decide　you　want　it　for　a　quarter　million　reasons；　you　e　talk　to　me。　Half　up　front　and　half　on　delivery。　Cash。　Used　twenties。〃
　〃No。　That's　not…　No！〃
　Judy　picked　up　his　menu。　〃I　think　I'll　have　the　bacon　cheeseburger。　What　about　you？〃
　〃Maybe　a　plain　hamburger。〃
　Judy　nodded　and　waited　patiently　for　the　waiter。
　When　they　had　finished　their　greaseburgers　and　were　drinking　a　cup　of　coffee；　Albright　said；　〃If　I　pay　you　fifty　tonight；　fifty　on　Monday；　when　could　you　have　the　disks？〃
　〃When　will　you　have　the　rest　of　the　money？〃
　〃A　week　from　Monday。〃
　〃Then　that's　when　you　get　the　disks。〃
　
　At　seven　o'clock　Luis　Camacho　called　his　in…laws。　Sally　answered。
　〃Hey。　You　made　it。〃
　〃Oh；　Luis。　It's　going　to　be　a　nice　visit。　The　folks　are　a　little　baffled；　but　they're　delighted　to　have　us。〃
　〃Great。　It'll　go　okay。〃
　〃What　did　you　do　this　afternoon？　What　did　you　have　for　dinner？〃
　They　discussed　the　condition　of　the　larder　for　three　or　four　minutes；　then　Camacho　wished　her　good　night。
　An　hour　and　a　half　later　the　phone　rang。　〃He's　headed　home；〃　Dreyfus　reported。
　〃Who　was　with　him？〃
　〃Don't　know。　We　got　an　infrared　photo　as　they　crossed　the　Chesapeake　Bay　Bridge。　The　photographer　isn't　very　optimistic。　They　came　on　into　the　metro　area　and　stopped　at　a　storage　place　in　Bladensburg　for　a　bit。　Then　the　subject　dropped　the　passenger　at　a　Metro　station　and　he　was　gone　by　the　time　we　could　get　a　man　into　the　station。　Subject　is　heading　your　way　now。　He'll　be　there　in　about　five　minutes。〃
　〃Get　someone　over　to　Smoke　Judy's　place。　See　if　they　can　spot　him　ing　home。　And　get　a　list　of　the　license　numbers　of　the　cars　parked　around　that　bar　where　the　subject　picked　up　his　passenger。　Run　them　through　the　puter。〃
　〃Okay；　boss。　Anything　else？〃
　〃When　will　the　photo　be　ready？〃
　〃Tomorrow。〃
　〃Okay。〃
　〃And　I　put　a　stakeout　on　the　storage　lot。　Thought　we　might　get　a　warrant　tomorrow　and　search　it。〃
　〃The　subject　will　be　making　some　phone　calls　tonight　or　tomorrow。　Be　ready。〃
　〃You　really　think　he's　going　to　move？〃
　〃He's　got　to。　He's　got　to　go　for　checkmate　or　concede。〃
　〃Keep　your　gun　handy。〃
　
　On　Sunday　morning　Luis　Camacho　was　painting　the　yard　furniture　when　Harlan　Albright　hailed　him　across　the　back　fence。　He　came　through　the　gate　and　settled　himself　on　one　of　the　chairs　waiting　for　its　spring　coat。
　〃I　have　another　brush　in　the　garage　if　you　want　to　help。〃
　Albright　grinned　and　sipped　his　coffee。　〃Who　said　Tom　Sawyer　is　dead？　Sorry。　I　gotta　go　run　some　errands　this　morning。〃　He　looked　at　the　house。　〃Where's　Sally？〃
　〃Went　to　visit　her　mother。〃　Camacho　was　working　on　a　table　leg　and　didn't　look　up。
　〃Oh。〃
　〃Women；〃　Luis　muttered。
　〃Yeah。　Gonna　stay　a　week　or　two？〃
　〃Dunno。〃
　〃Like　that；　huh？〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　〃And　the　boy？〃
　〃He　went　too。　It's　been　years　since　he　spent　time　with　his　grandparents。　He　didn't　want　to　go；　of　course。〃
　Albright　watched　Camacho　work　on　the　table。　The　paint　ran　down　the　brush　onto　his　fingers；　which　he　wiped　on　the　grass。　〃May　rain　this　afternoon；　you　know；〃　Albright　said。
　〃Just　my　luck。〃
　〃What　would　you　say　to　packing　it　in　and　going　home？〃
　Camacho　put　the　paintbrush　in　the　can　and　stood　up。　He　looked　carefully　at　Albright；　trying　to　read　his　expression。
　〃You　mean　Russia？〃
　〃Yeah。　You　been　here　what？　Twenty…eight　or　…nine　years？〃
　〃Thirty…one。〃
　〃Yeah。　Are　you　ready　to　go　home？〃
　〃I　can't　even　speak　the　language　anymore。　When　I　hear　it　I　have　to　concentrate　real　hard　to　get　the　drift；　and　then　I　can't　think　of　the　proper　response。　I　been　dreaming　in　English　for　over　twenty…five　years。　Want　some　more　coffee？〃
　〃Okay。〃
　Luis　took　his　cup　and　went　inside。　He　returned　in　a　moment　with　Albright's　coffee　and　a　cup　for　himself。　They　both　sampled　the　brew；　then　sat　in　silence。　Birds　were　squawking　vigorously　in　the　tree　behind　them。　Camacho　took　a　deep　breath　and　exhaled　slowly。　How　could　he　leave？　He　liked　this　place　and　these　people。
　Albright　broke　the　silence。　〃You　really　think　Caplinger　is　the　Minotaur？〃
　Luis　considered。　〃He　could　be；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃It　fits。　He　has　the　necessary　access；　he　was　on　the　official　guest　list　of　that　party　three　years　ago　when　the　first　letter　was　stuck　in　the　ambassador's　coat。　He's　an　egomaniac；　likes　the　power　trip。　It's　possible。〃
　〃But　why？〃
　Camacho　shrugged。　〃List　all　the　possibilities　and　look　at　them。　Pick　the　one　you　like。〃
　〃I've　done　that。　And　you　know　what？　I　got　the　sneaking　suspicion　that　the　real　reason　wasn't　on　my　list。〃
　〃Why　does　a　happily　married　man　start　buying　tricks　on　a　street　corner？　Why　does　a　man　in　his　fifties　steal　a　few　hundred　from　the　petty…cash　drawer？〃
　〃That　was　the　shortest　reason　on　the　list。　Nut　case。　But　I　don't　think　so。〃
　〃Happens　all　the　time。〃　Camacho　drained　his　cup；　set　it　out　of　the　way　and　got　back　to　the　painting。
　〃Royce　Alien　Caplinger；〃　Albright　said；　pronouncing　the　name　slowly。　〃Sixty…three　years　old。　Estimated　net　worth；　132　million。　Son　of　a　druggist。　Grew　up　in　St。　Paul。　Married　twice。　Second　wife　died　of　a　heart　attack　six　years　ago。　Hasn't　remarried；　though　he's　screwing　his　secretary　who's　worked　for　him　for　fifteen　years。　He's　been　doing　that　about　once　a　month　for　ten　years。　She's　forty…two；　never　married；　modestly　attractive；　had　a　hysterectomy　eight　years　ago。　Caplinger　collects　American　Indian　art；　pays　too　much；　sometimes　gets　good　stuff；　sometimes　bad。　Buys　what　he　likes　and　to　hell　with　the　experts。　Has　a　copy　of　every　book　ever　written　about　MacArthur　and　the　best　MacArthur　memorabilia　collection　in　existence。　Time　said　he　has　every　piece　of　old　junk　Mrs。　MacArthur　ever　threw　out。　What　else？　Oh　yeah。　He　has　two　grown　children；　two　dogs；　and　drives　a　fifteen…year…old　Jaguar。　Owns　an　estate　in　Virginia　near　Middleburg。　Gives　his　entire　government　salary　to　charity。〃
　〃Was　involved　in　a　panty　raid　when　he　was　in　college　and　was　suspended　for　a　semester；〃　Camacho　said　without　taking　his　eyes　from　his　work。
　〃That　too。　The　rattling　bones　from　his　youth。〃　Albright　tossed　the　dregs　of　his　coffee　into　the　grass　and　laid　the　cup　on　his　lap。　〃So；　Dr。　Freud；　has　Caplinger　gone　over　the　edge？　Is　he　copulating　with　Mother　Russia？〃
　Albright　rose　and；　dangling　the　cup　from　a　finger；　ambled　through　the　gate。　Thirty　minutes　later　Camacho　heard　his　car　start　out　front　and　drive　away。
　
　Albright　drove　to　a　Wat…Mart　store　near　Laurel。　After　browsing　for　ten　minutes；　he　used　the　pay　phone　in　the　entryway。　No　one　answered　at　the　number　he　tried。　He　waited　exactly　one　minute　and　tried　again。　The　third　time　someone　picked　up　the　phone。
　Albright　talked　for　almost　a　minute。　The　other　party　never　spoke。　Then　Albright　hung　up　and　went　back　into　the　store；　where　he　wandered　the　aisles　and　handled　merchandise　for　another　half　hour。
　When　he　left　the　store　he　drove　aimlessly　for　an　hour。　At　Burtonsville　he　stopped　for　gas　and　bought　a　can　of　soda　pop；　a　Dr　Pepper。　He　drank　the　contents　as　he　drove　north　on　Route　29　and　used　a　rag　in　the　car　to　carefully　wipe　the　fingerprints　from　the　can。
　Approaching　the　outskirts　of　Columbia；　he　took　the　off…ramp　for　Route　32；　made　an　illegal　left　turn　at　the　top　and　a　sweeping　right　down　onto　Route　29　headed　south　as　he　scanned　the　mirrors。　No　one　followed。　No　choppers　or　light　planes　in　sight。　At　Route　216　he　turned　right　from　the　through　lane　at　the　very　last　instant；　just　as　the　stoplight　turned　green。
　He　was　on　two…lane　blacktop　now；　a　local　county　road。　He　watched　the　mirror。　A　car　turned　from　29　onto　this　road；　but　it　had　been　traveling　north。　He　didn't　recognize　it　Local　traffic　passed　him　going　the　other　way。　Pulton　was　a　tiny　village…just　a　few　farms；　a　church　and　a　small　post　office　with　a　few　nearby　shops…1。1　miles　west　of　Route　29。　Albright　angled　left　onto　Lime　Kiln　Road。　This　asphalt　ribbon　was　more　narrow　and　twisty　as　it　followed　the　natural　descent　of　a　creek。　He　was　in　an　area　of　beautiful　homes　set　in　huge　meadows　well　back　from　the　road。　Trees　lined　the　fences　and　horses　grazed　on　the　lush　grass。　The　car　that　had　followed　him　from　Route　29　turned　left　at　Reservoir　Road　and　went　up　a　little　bill　into　a　sprawling　subdivision。
　A　half　mile　past　Reservoir　Road　Albright　slowed　the　car。　There　it　was；　right　beside　the　road…a　stone…drinking　fountain　fed　by　a　pipe　from　a　spring。　He　eased　to　a　stop　and　slammed　the　gear　shift　lever　into　park。　From　the　floor　of　the　backseat　he　selected　a　7…Up　can；　grasping　it　with　a　rag。　He　slid　across　the　seat；　opened　the　passenger　door　and　set　the　can　at　the　base　of　the　fountain　so　it　was　visible　from　the　road。　Back　into　the　car；　door　shut；　and　rolling　again。　Twenty　seconds。
　He　glanced　left；　up　a　long　sloping　meadow　at　a　huge　house　set　on　top　of　the　hill　in　a　grove　of　trees。　No　one　in　sight。
　Three　hundred　yards　farther　on　he　came　to　a　T　intersection。　This　was　Brown　Bridge　Road；　another　strip　of　two…lane　asphalt　with　a　double　yellow　line　down　the　center　and　no　benns。　He　sat　at　the　intersection　and　looked　both　ways。　No　traffic。　Nothing　in　the　rearview　mirror。
　He　turned　right。　The　road　wound　up　a　wooded　draw　and　came　out　into　rolling；　open　country。　A　mile　from　Lime　Kirn　Road　he　came　to　another　stop　sign　at　a　T　intersection。　This　was　Route　216　again。　To　the　right；　east；　was　Fulton；　1。1　miles　to　the　west　was　Highland　Junction。　He　knew；　because　he　had　spent　many　a　Sunday　driving　these　suburban　county　roads；　learning　their　twists　and　turns；　looking　for　likely　drop　sites。　Directly　across　the　road　was　a　Methodist　church。　Three　or　four　cars　in　t