scoonts.theminotaur-第70章

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ened　it；　jumped　in　the　car　to　drive　over　and　arrest　him。　From　mander　in　the　U。S。　Navy　to　hunted　fugitive　killer　all　in　one　fifteen…minute　period…that　had　to　be　a　new　record　for　the　fastest　fall　in　the　history　of　the　navy。
　As　he　thought　about　it；　Smoke　Judy　did　not　agonize　over　the　split…second　decisions　he　had　made　or　torture　himself　with　whatifs。　He　had　spent　his　adult　life　in　a　discipline　posed　of　split…second　decisions；　and　he　had　long　ago　learned　to　live　with　them。　You　made　the　best　choice　you　could　on　the　information　you　had　and　never　wasted　time　later　regretting　the　choice。　He　didn't　now。
　Still；　as　he　looked　back；　he　couldn't　really　pinpoint　any　specific　decision　that　he　could　say　had　been　the　perfect　choice　to　make　when　he　made　it。　So　here　he　was；　lying　in　an　alley　ten　blocks　northeast　of　the　White　House。　Hell　must　be　like　this。　dirty　and　hot；　all　the　sinners　baking　slowly；　desperate　for　a　beer。　God；　a　cold　beer　would　taste　so　good！
　The　money。　After　that　phone　call　from　Homer　T。　Wiggins；　he　had　felt　it　unsafe　to　leave　the　money　in　his　apartment　when　he　wasn't　there；　so　he　had　put　it　in　a　duffel　bag　in　the　trunk　of　his　car。　His　passport　was　in　the　bag　too。　The　car　was　undoubtedly　in　the　police　impound　lot　by　this　time　and　the　money　and　passport　were　in　the　evidence　safe。　He　had　been　tempted　yesterday　to　try　to　get　it；　but　that　temptation　he　had　easily　resisted。　Smoke　Judy；　fighter　pilot；　knew　all　about　what　happened　to　guys　who　went　back　to　a　heavily　defended　target　for　one　more　run。
　Man；　the　bumper　sticker　is　right…shit　happens。　And　it　happens　fast。　The　real　crazy　thing　is　it　all　happened　to　him。　The　great　sewer　in　the　sky　dumped　it　all　on　him。　Fuck！　He　said　it　aloud；　〃Fuck。〃
　〃Fuck！〃　He　shouted　it；　liking　the　sound　of　his　voice　booming　the　obscenity　at　the　alley　walls。　The　word　seemed　to　gain　weight　and　substance　as　it　echoed　toward　the　street。　He　filled　his　lungs　with　air　and　roared；　〃Fuck　fuck　fuck　fuck　fuck！〃
　〃Hey；　you　down　there。〃　He　looked　up。　Some　guy　was　leaning　out　a　window。　〃You　stop　that　damn　shouting　or　I'll　call　a　cop　to　run　you　out　of　there。　You　hear？〃
　〃Yeah。　Sorry。〃
　〃Goddamn　fucking　drunk　psychos；〃　the　man　said　as　he　closed　the　window；　probably　to　keep　in　the　cool；　conditioned　air。
　Okay；　Judy　told　himself；　going　through　the　whole　thing　one　more　time。　He　was　in　the　smelly　stuff　to　his　eyes。　Okay。　How　was　he　going　to　get　the　hell　out　of　this　mess？
　Well；　this　alley　was　as　good　a　place　as　any　to　spend　the　weekend。
　If　he　tried　to　check　into　a　motel　or　hotel；　or　tried　to　buy　clothes　or　steal　a　car；　he　might　be　recognized。　The　cops　wouldn't　be　looking　for　him　in　an　alley；　at　least　not　for　a　few　days。　No　doubt　they　were　watching　the　airports；　train　station　and　bus　depot。　And　looking　for　that　car　he　drove　away　from　Crystal　City。
　So　sitting　here　in　this　shithole　for　a　few　days　looked　like　a　pretty　good　idea。　Of　course；　selling　the　E…PROM　data　to　Homer　T。　Wiggins　had　looked　good　too；　as　did　killing　Harold　Strong；　copying　the　Athena　file。。。
　Ah　me。
　Well；　he　still　had　a　card。　One　chance。　150；000。　Boy；　did　he　ever　need　that　money　now。　Monday　evening；　Harlan　Albright；　that　meat　market　in　Georgetown。　One　way　or　the　other；　Albright　was　parting　with　the　cash；　he　told　himself　grimly。　There　were　still　five　live　cartridges　left　in　the　pistol。
　
　Jake　Grafton　sent　his　family　to　the　beach　Friday　evening。　Saturday　he　was　back　at　the　office…finishing　his　report　on　the　testing　of　the　prototypes。　He　had　already　circulated　a　draft　to　his　superiors　and　now　he　was　incorporating　their　ments。
　The　senior　secretary　had　volunteered　to　work　on　Saturday；　and　she　was　making　the　changes　on　the　puter　when　the　telephone　rang。　〃Jake；　this　is　Admiral　Dunedin。　I　have　a　couple　FBI　agents　here　with　me。　Could　you　e　up　to　my　office？〃
　〃Yessir。　Be　right　there。〃
　The　agents　turned　out　to　be　Camacho　and　Dreyfus。　They　shook　his　band　politely。　Jake　sat　in　a　chair　against　the　wall；　facing　the　side　of　the　admiral's　desk。
　〃Captain；〃　the　admiral　said　to　get　the　ball　rolling；　〃these　gentlemen　said　you　had　some　concerns　that　you　wished　to　discuss。〃
　Jake　snorted　and　rearranged　his　fanny　on　the　chair。　〃I　suspect　my　concerns　are　minor　and　worlds　away　from　the　FBI's；　but　they're　real　enough。　I've　read　the　morning　papers。　Apparently　the　ATA　program　is　some　kind　of　cover　for　drug　dealers　who　are　supplying　all　the　addicts　in　the　Pentagon；　and　one　of　them　went　bug…fuck　crazy　yesterday　and　beat　an　admiral　to　death。〃
　〃Now；　Captain…〃　Camacho　began…
　〃Let　me　finish。　Presumably　this　boondoggle　operation　is　run　by　some　airhead　who　is　unable　to　recognize　the　nefarious　character　of　his　subordinates；　who　have　been　engaged　in　subverting　the　national　defense　establishment　from　within。　Moral　rot　and　all　that。　And　who　is　the　airhead　who　mands　this　collection　of　criminals　in　uniform？　Why；　it's　the　navy's　very　own　Jake　Grafton；　who　next　week　is　going　to　be　testifying　before　various　mittees　of　Congress　about　the　necessity　to　fund　a　new　all…weather；　carrier…based；　stealth　attack　plane。　No　doubt　this　Captain　Bligh　will　be　questioned　closely　by　concerned　congressmen　about　his　inability　to　see　beyond　the　end　of　his　nose。　So　my　question　is　this…just　what　the　hell　do　you　gentlemen　suggest　I　tell　the　congressmen？〃
　The　agents　looked　at　each　other；　then　the　admiral。
　〃We　need　this　airplane；〃　said　the　admiral。　〃Any　suggestions？〃
　〃This　would　be　a　great　place　for　the　truth；〃　Jake　observed。
　It　was　Camacho　who　spoke。　〃The　truth　is　this　is　a　national　security　matter。　Any　additional　ment　will　jeopardize　an　ongoing　investigation。〃
　〃You　expect　me　to　go　over　to　the　Hill　and　say　that？〃　Jake　asked　incredulously。　〃See　this　uniform？　I'm　a　naval　officer；　not　a　spook。　How　about　the　directors　of　the　FBI　and　CIA　go　over　there　and　make　a　little　statement　behind　closed　doors；　ahead　of　time？〃　Camacho　considered　it。
　〃They　can　swear　on　Bibles　or　cross　their　hearts；　or　whatever　it　is　you　spooks　do　on　those　rare　occasions　when　you're　really　going　to　e　clean。〃
　〃I　suppose　we　could　ask　the　Director；〃　Camacho　said　with　a　glance　at　Dreyfus。
　〃While　you're　mulling　that；　how　about　explaining　to　me　and　the　admiral　just　what　is　going　on？　I'd　like　to　know　enough　to　avoid　stepping　on　my　crank；　and　I　don't　think　that's　asking　too　much。〃
　〃This　matter　should　be　resolved　in　the　next　few　weeks；〃　Camacho　murmured。
　Grafton　just　stared。　The　admiral　looked　equally　frosty。
　〃Judy　was　selling　information　to　defense　contractors。　He…〃
　〃We　know　that；〃　the　admiral　said　testily。　〃Tell　us　something　we　don't　know。〃
　〃He　was　recruited　by　a　Soviet　agent　to　copy　the　Athena　file。　Apparently　he　agreed　to　do　so。　He　attempted　it　Friday　afternoon；　NSA　called　us　and　Henry；　Henry　beat　us　here。〃　He　shrugged。
　〃How　did　Admiral　Henry　learn　that　there　might　be　an　attempt　to　copy　the　Athena　file？〃　Dunedin　wanted　to　know。
　〃I　told　him；〃　Camacho　said。
　〃Oh。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃I　can't　go　into　that。　Obviously；　I　had　authority　to　tell　him。〃
　〃Did　Henry　know　that？〃
　〃Know　what？〃
　〃Know　that　you　had　authority　to　tell　him。〃
　〃I　don't　know　what　he　knew。　Or　thought　or　suspected。　Perhaps。〃
　Dunedin's　eyebrow　was　up。　He　looked　skeptical。
　〃What　do　you　want　to　hear；　Admiral？　That　Henry　thought　he　was　getting　unauthorized　information　from　a　confidential　source？　Okay；　that's　what　he　thought。　Henry　was　Mr。　Naval　Aviation。　Honest；　loyal；　brilliant；　he　had　an　immense　ego。　Perhaps　that's　why　he　was　Assistant　Chief　of　Naval　Operations　for　Air。　He　had　the　habit　of　sticking　his　nose　in　where　it　didn't　belong；　of　wanting　to　know　more　than　the　law　allowed。　For　example；　we　found　this　notebook　in　his　desk　drawer　yesterday　afternoon。〃　Camacho　took　a　small　spiral　notebook　from　an　inside　coat　pocket　and　tossed　it　on　the　desk。
　Dunedin　examined　it　for　a　moment；　turning　the　pages　slowly。　He　glanced　up　at　Camacho　several　times；　but　each　time　his　eyes　quickly　returned　to　the　pages　before　him。　Without　ment；　he　slowly　closed　the　book　and　passed　it　across　the　table　to　Captain　Grafton。
　〃A；　B；　C。。。　who　are　these　people？〃
　〃The　letters　stand　for　people　that　Henry　wanted　information　about。　Some　of　the　information　was　supplied　by　psychotherapists；　some　by　police　agencies；　some　by　people　in　government　in　sensitive　positions　who　talked　out　of　school。　One　of　those　letters　apparently　stands　for　Callie　Grafton。　I　believe　she　was　seeing　a　psychologist；　wasn't　she；　Captain？〃
　Jake　Grafton　began　ripping　pages　from　the　notebook。　A　handful　at　a　time；　he　deposited　them　in　the　classified　burn　bag　by　Dunedin's　desk。
　As　he　watched；　Camacho　continued。　〃Henry　was　very　worried　about　the　Minotaur。　He　feared　the　unknown。　So　he　did　what　he　could　to　protect　his　trust。　It's　hard　to　condemn　him。〃
　〃These　little　pieces　of　the　cloth　that　you　let　us　see；　they're　tantalizing。〃　The　admiral　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　made　a　tent　of　his　fingers。
　That　ment　drew　no　response　from　the　agents。　Dreyfus　examined　his　fingernails　as　Camacho　watched　Grafton　plete　his　job　of　destruction。
　〃Why　did　this　Soviet　agent　approach　Judy？〃　the　admiral　asked。　〃Why　did　he　single　him　out？〃
　〃I　told　him　about　the　mander's　troubles；〃　Camacho　replied。
　〃You　told　him？〃　The　admiral's　eyes　widened。　〃Good　God！　Who　are　you　working　for；　anyway？〃
　〃I'm　on　your　side；　Admiral。〃
　〃Hallelujah！　I　hate　to　think　of　the　mess　we'd　be　in　if　you　weren't。〃
　〃Why　my　wife？〃　Jake　asked。
　〃You'd　been　given　guardianship　of　the　holy　grail；　Athena。　You；　a　captain。　Smoke　Judy　worked　for　you。　Admiral　Henry　knew　Judy　was　a　bad　apple；　and　he　knew　I　knew。〃
　〃It's　a　wonder　he　slept　nights。〃　Dunedin　muttered。
　〃Are　you　saying　he　didn't　trust　me？〃　Jake　said　doggedly。
　〃Tyler　Henry　didn't　trust　anyone。　He　didn't　just　cut　the　cards；　he　insisted　on　shuffling　every　time。　But　I　don't　think　it　was　you　he　was　really　worried　about。　It　was　me。　He　didn't　want　you　corrupted　by　me。〃
　〃Say　again？〃
　〃He　thought　I　might　recruit　you；　so　he　was　looking　for　clues　in　the　only　place　he　could。〃　Camacho　stood。　Dreyfus　got　to　his　feet　a　second　later。　〃Gentlemen；　that's　the　crop。　That's　all　you　get。〃
　〃Not　so　fast；　Camacho；〃　the　admiral　said；　pointing　toward　the　chairs。　〃You　can　hike　when　I　finish　this　interview。　I　have　a　few　more　questions　to　ask；　and　so　you　sit　right　there　and　I'll　do　the　asking。〃
　Camacho　obeyed。　Dreyfus　remained　erect。　〃You　can　wait　outside；〃　the　admiral　said。
　〃He　can　stay；〃　Camacho　said。　Dreyfus　sat。
　〃Who　approved　this　operation？〃
　〃My　superiors。〃
　〃Who　are？〃
　〃The　Assistant　Director　and　the　Director。　And　the　mittee。〃
　〃What　I　want　to　know　is　this：　who　gave　you　the　green　light　to　screw　around　with　the　U。S。　Navy？　As　if　we　didn't　have　enough　troubles。〃
　〃My　superiors。〃
　〃I　want　names；　mister！　I　want　to　know　the　names　of　the　idiots　who　authorized　a　covert　operation　that　resulted　in　the　death　of　a　vice　admiral　and　jeopardized　congressional　approval　of　the　A…12。　I　want　some　ass！　The　CNO　is　going　to　want　blood。　George　Ludlow；　Royce　Caplinger；　if　they　don't　know　about　this…〃
　〃Ask　them。　Any　more　questions？〃
　〃Ludlow？　Caplinger？　They　knew？〃
　〃The　people　who　have　to　know；　know。　You　said　those　names；　I　didn't。　Now　if　you　will　excuse　me；　I've　said　all　I　can　say　and　I　have　work　to　do。〃　Dreyfus　reached　the　door　before　Camacho　got　pletel