scoonts.theminotaur-第71章

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　〃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　pletely　out　of　his　chair。
　〃The　FBI　Director　better　be　there　pouring　oil　on　the　water　when　I　get　to　those　hearings；　Camacho；〃　Jake　said。
　〃And　if　he　isn't？〃　Dreyfus　asked　with　exaggerated　politeness。
　〃Then　you'd　better　be　there　with　a　warrant　if　you　want　me　to　keep　quiet。　I　have　this　nasty　little　habit　of　answering　questions　by　telling　the　truth。〃
　Camacho　just　nodded　and　strolled　for　the　door；　which　Dreyfus　opened　and　held。　〃Thank　you　both；〃　he　told　the　naval　officers；　then　stepped　through。
　When　the　door　was　shut　behind　them；　Dunedin　said；　〃Too　bad　we　don't　know　any　truth　to　answer　questions　with。〃
　〃We　know　a　little。〃
　〃You've　still　got　a　lot　to　learn；　Jake。　Truth　isn't　something　you　can　extrapolate　from　a　tiny　piece。　And　believe　me；　those　two　have　given　us　the　tiniest　piece　they　could。　If　it　was　a　piece　of　the　truth　at　all；　which　is　debatable。〃
　
　On　Monday　morning　Jake　signed　his　report；　which　remended　the　TRX　prototype　as　the　plane　the　navy　should　buy；　and　hand…carried　it　to　Admiral　Dunedin's　office。　The　admiral　flipped　through　it　to　see　that　the　changes　he　wanted　were　made；　then　he　signed　the　prepared　endorsement。　From　there　Jake　carried　it　over　to　the　program　coordinator's　office。　mander　Rob　Knight　was　tapping　a　letter　on　his　word　processor　when　Jake　came　in。
　〃This　is　it；　huh？〃
　〃Yep。〃　Jake　pulled　up　a　chair。　Knight　reviewed　the　changes；　then　signed　the　routing　slip。　〃Congratulations。　Another　milestone　passed。〃
　〃Think　we'll　get　this　plane？〃
　〃Looks　good。　Looks　good。〃　Knight　grinned。　He　spent　a　large　portion　of　his　time　talking　to　congressional　staffers　on　behalf　of　the　CNO's　office。　〃They　know　we　need　it。　They　know　it's　a　good　buy。　The　only　really　iffy　thing　is　the　choice　of　prototypes。　Duquesne　knows　this　is　ing　and　he's　loading　his　guns。〃
　〃What's　he　going　to　e　at　me　with？〃
　〃I'll　know　more　by　tomorrow。　I'll　be　over　at　nine　with　a　guy　from　the　Office　of　Legislative　Affairs　to　brief　you　on　expected　questions；　suggested　answers；　how　to　keep　your　cool…all　the　good　stuff。　You'll　be　testifying　with　Admiral　Dunedin　and　he'll　go　first。　But　you're　the　guy　they'll　try　to　rip。　You　originated　the　remendation。　If　they　can　get　you　to　admit　you're　an　inpetent；　lying　idiot；　then　Dunedin；　CNO；　SECNAV；　SECDEF；　they　all　have　to　reconsider。　So　wear　your　steel　underwear。〃
　Jake's　next　stop　was　CNO's　office。　He　had　to　talk　to　the　executive　assistant…the　EA…and　wait　an　hour；　but　with　the　CNO's　blessing　on　his　document；　he　walked　it　down　to　the　Secretary　of　the　Navy's　office。　After　the　obligatory　half　hour　wait　while　the　EA　reviewed　the　document；　Ludlow　invited　him　in。
　〃How　close　is　this　to　the　draft　I　saw？〃
　〃Pretty　close；　sir。　Vice　Admiral　Dunedin　and　CNO　wanted　some　changes；　and　they're　incorporated。〃
　〃Are　you　prepared　to　defend　this　report　on　the　Hill？〃
　〃Yessir。〃
　Ludlow　quizzed　him　for　an　hour　on　the　technical　aspects　of　the　report。　Apparently　satisfied；　he　acpanied　Jake　to　the　door。　〃Just　don't　get　cute　with　the　elected　ones。　Be　open；　aboveboard；　a　good　little　sailor。〃
　
　Smoke　Judy　changed　into　his　running　clothes　and　stowed　ha　rags　behind　a　Dumpster　in　a　Georgetown　alley。　God；　he　smelled　ripe。　But　what　the　hell…they　sold　this　stink　in　a　bottle　now；　didn't　they？　He　would　probably　have　women　crawling　all　over　him。　Everyone　would　think　he　just　ran　five　miles　and　dropped　by　for　a　tall；　cool　Perrier。　Just　as　trendy　as　a　pair　of　Gucci　shoes。
　He　walked　the　four　blocks　to　the　bar　carrying　the　gym　bag　in　his　right　hand。　The　place　was　packed；　just　like　last　week。　If　anyone　noticed　his　aroma；　they　didn't　show　it。
　He　made　his　way　through　the　crowd　and　into　the　men's　room；　where　he　washed　his　face　and　neck　and　arms　as　thoroughly　as　possible。　He　even　used　a　paper　towel　on　his　armpits　without　taking　his　shirt　off。
　Whew！　He　felt　better。
　He　stepped　out　of　the　men's　room　and　stood　looking。　A　two…person　booth　opened　up　at　the　back　of　the　room；　so　he　immediately　slipped　into　it。　Holding　the　gym　bag　under　the　table；　he　extracted　the　pistol　from　the　bag　and　laid　it　on　his　lap。
　The　waitress　didn't　give　his　four…day　beard　a　second　glance。　〃Gimme　a　Bud。〃
　He　drank　the　first　one　quickly；　then　nursed　the　second。　Twenty　minutes　passed；　then　thirty。
　What　if　Albright　doesn't　show？
　Judy　got　a　sick　feeling　in　the　pit　of　his　stomach。　The　beer　felt　like　it　was　going　to　e　up。　He　stared　at　the　door；　scrutinizing　every　face。
　When　Albright　came　in；　Judy　almost　shouted。
　He　walked　the　length　of　the　room　and　sat　into　the　booth。　Only　then　did　Judy　realize　his　hands　were　empty。
　〃Jesus；〃　Albright　said。　〃You　look　bad。〃
　〃Had　a　little　trouble。〃
　〃I　guess　you　did。　I　read　about　it。　Dealing；　are　you？〃
　〃A　crock。〃
　〃Yeah。〃　Albright　ordered　a　Corona。　He　sat　looking　around。
　〃Where'd　you　spend　the　weekend？〃
　〃In　an　alley。〃
　〃Smart。〃
　〃They　haven't　caught　me　yet。〃
　〃You　wired？〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Are　you　wearing　a　wire？〃
　〃Hell　no。　Where's　the　fucking　money？〃
　〃You　got　it？〃
　〃Yeah；　right　here。　You　wanta　see　it？〃
　〃Okay。　Show　me。〃
　Judy　passed　him　the　gym　bag。　〃The　side　pocket。　Look　but　don't　take　it　out。〃　Albright　did　as　requested。
　〃So；　you　got　it？〃
　〃What's　it　look　like？〃
　〃What　it　looks　like；　my　friend；　is　a　five…and…a…quarter…inch　floppy　disk；　which　could　have　anything　under　the　sun　on　it。　It　could　even　be　empty。　You　didn't　think　I　was　just　going　to　take　it　on　faith　that　you're　an　honorable　gentleman　and　hand　you　all　that　lettuce；　did　you？〃
　〃Something　like　that。〃
　The　Corona　came。　Albright　took　his　time　squeezing　the　lime　slice　and　dropping　it　down　the　neck　of　the　bottle。　〃Your　good　health；〃　he　said；　and　took　a　sip。
　〃Where　is　it？〃
　〃Where　is　what？〃
　〃The　bread；　asshole。〃
　〃Out　in　my　car。〃
　〃You　want　the　disk；　you　go　get　it。〃
　〃I　need　to　see　what's　on　the　disk　first。　What　say　we　both　go　out　there　and　I'll　check　the　disk　on　my　laptop。　I　brought　it　along；　just　in　case。〃
　〃Uh…uh。　No　money；　no　disk。〃
　〃You　make　me　very　suspicious；　my　friend。　Your　refusal　to　e　outside　indicates　there　is　a　very　good　possibility　you　are　wearing　a　wire。　The　possibility　is　even　higher　that　the　file　I　want　is　not　on　this　disk。〃　Albright　grinned。　〃You　see　how　it　is。〃
　〃What　I　see　is　this：　I've　got　it　and　you　aren't　leaving　here　with　it　until　I　see　the　money。〃
　〃When　did　you　copy　this　disk？〃
　〃Friday　afternoon。〃
　〃When　did　the　admiral　e　by？〃
　〃About　ten　minutes　later。〃
　Albright　looked　at　the　faces　around　him；　then　turned　back　to　Judy。　〃Even　if　you　think　you　have　the　file…I　will　grant　you　your　good　faith…I　doubt　seriously　if　it　is　the　information　I　want。　Not　on　Friday　afternoon；　with　NIS　and　the　FBI　just　ten　minutes　away。　They　were　waiting　for　you。　It　was　a　trap。〃
　〃I　got　the　file；〃　Judy　insisted。
　〃No。　I　think　not。〃　Albright　started　to　slide　out　of　the　booth。　Something　hard　hit　his　leg；　and　he　stopped。
　〃Is　that　what　I　think　it　is？〃
　〃I　don't　know　what　you　think。　Use　your　hand；　gently；　and　fed。〃
　Albright　did　so。　〃I　see。〃
　〃Turn　back　around。　Face　me。〃
　Albright　obeyed。　He　took　another　sip　of　beer。　〃Now　what？〃
　〃Now　I　want　that　money。〃
　〃How　do　you　propose　to　get　it？〃
　〃You　had　better　think　of　something　I　tike　real　fucking　quick　or　you　aren't　walking　out　of　here。　I'm　going　to　blow　your　cock　off　with　the　first　one；　then　I'm　going　to　put　one　right　in　your　solar　plexus。　Who　knows；　an　ambulance　could　get　here　so　fast　you　might　live。　But　you'll　be　in　a　wheelchair　for　the　rest　of　your　life　and　you're　going　to　do　all　your　peeing　sitting　down。〃
　Albright　wasn't　fazed。　〃Do　you　have　any　suggestions？〃
　〃You　do　the　suggestions。　You　have　one　minute。〃
　〃Hmmm。〃
　〃I　got　nothing　to　lose；　Albright。　I　will　pull　this　trigger。　Believe　it！〃
　〃You'll　be　caught。〃
　〃Probably；　but　they're　going　to　try　me　for　killing　a　vice　admiral；　not　for　blowing　the　cock　off　a　mie　spy。　Who　knows；　with　you　on　my　record；　I　may　get　probation。　You　got　forty　seconds。〃
　〃Who　knows。　Indeed；　who　knows。〃　Albright　considered。
　〃Thirty　seconds。〃
　〃Quiet。　I'm　thinking。〃　He　took　a　deep　breath；　then　exhaled　slowly。　〃Look　to　your　left。　Against　the　bar。　There　is　a　man　there　wearing　a　UCLA　sweatshirt。　Look　at　his　hand。〃
　Warily；　Smoke　glanced　left；　then　back　at　Albright。　The　man　across　the　booth　was　watching　him　with　an　amused　look。　Judy　looked　again。　The　man　at　the　bar　had　a　pistol；　and　it　was　pointed　straight　at　him。
　〃I　didn't　e　alone。　You　pull　that　trigger　and　he　will　kill　you　before　you　pull　it　again。〃
　In　spite　of　himself；　Judy　looked　again。　It　sure　looked　like　a　real　pistol；　an　automatic；　held　low；　shielded　by　the　body　of　the　man　beside　him。　The　gunman　was　looking　straight　into　his　eyes。
　〃So；〃　said　Harlan　Albright。　〃Here　is　how　it　will　be。　You　will　put　your　gun　back　in　the　gym　bag。　We　will　walk　out　to　my　car…oh　yes；　I　do　have　a　car。　We　will　put　the　disk　in　the　laptop　and　check　it。　If　indeed　it　contains　the　Athena　file；　I　will　give　you　the　money。　If　not；　we'll　shake　hands；　and　you'll　go　your　way；　I　mine。〃
　〃I　oughta　just　shoot　you；　here　and　now。〃
　〃As　you　say；　I　may　live。　You　most　certainly　won't。　Your　choice。〃
　〃I'm　busted。　I　got　nothing。　They…〃　He　swallowed　hard。　Tears　were　obstructing　his　vision。　〃They　emptied　the　file。　It　was　a　setup。　Nothing　there　but　the　title　pages　of　thirty　documents；　each　document　just　one　page。　Honest。　I　got　what　you　wanted　to　buy。　I'm　desperate！　I　need　the　money。〃
　Albright　nodded。　〃I'm　sorry。〃
　〃C'mon；　mister；〃　he　pleaded。　〃I'll　do　you　a　deal。　The　title　pages　must　be　worth　something。　I　got　fifteen　bucks　to　my　name。　That's　it！　Fifteen　lousy　bucks。〃　He　was　sobbing。
　〃I　think　not。〃　Albright　looked　around。　Spectators　were　watching　Judy。　It　was　past　time　to　go。　Albright　took　out　his　wallet　and　tossed　all　the　currency　he　had　on　the　table。　〃There's　something　over　a　hundred　and　forty　there。　You　take　it。〃
　Judy　seized　the　bills。　He　scooped　them　up　with　his　left　hand；　then　fumbled　below　the　table　with　the　gun。　〃I　need　the　gym　bag。　Here〃…he　held　out　the　disk…〃You　take　it。　I　don't　want　it。〃
　〃Good　luck；〃　Albright　said；　and　then　rose　and　walked　toward　the　entrance；　leaving　Judy　holding　the　disk　and　staring　after　him。　When　Albright　was　through　the　door；　the　gunman　on　Smoke's　left　followed　him。
　Judy　lowered　his　head　to　the　table。
　〃Mister；〃　he　heard　someone　saying。　〃Mister；　you're　going　to　have　to　leave。　Please；　mister；〃　urged　the　hard；　insistent　voice；　〃you　can't　stay　here。〃
　
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　〃Senator　Duquesne　has　a　copy　of　your　service　record。〃
　〃What？　How'd　he　get　that？〃
　mander　Rob　Knight　shrugged。　〃God　only　knows；　and　he　won't　tell。　What's　in　your　service　record　that　would　do　him　any　good？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Jake　Grafton　said。
　〃He　may　not　use　any　part　of　it。　Probably　won't。　But　he　told　some　colleague's　aide；　figuring　you'd　hear　about　it　and　get　worried。〃
　〃What　a　guy。〃
　〃This　is　major…league　hardball；　Grafton。　And　he's　got　that　crackpot　Samuel　Dodgers　scheduled　to　testify　before　you　get　on　the　stand；　after　SECDEF　and　Dunedin　finish。〃
　〃He's　playing　Russian　roulette。　Dodgers　is　a　genius　with　the　personality　of　a　warthog。〃
　〃His　strategy；　apparently；