p&c.brimstone-第34章

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　He　looked　around　guardedly；　half　hoping；　half　afraid　he'd　find　Laura　Hayward　waiting　for　him。　But　there　was　only　one　of　her　detectives；　Mandrell：　the　same　guy　who　had　called　at　lunchtime　with　news　they'd　obtained　a　Title　3　order　from　the　U。S。　Attorney's　Office。　The　FBI；　with　its　superior　equipment；　would　execute　the　Title　3；　in　a　joint　operation　with　the　NYPD。　ing　through　the　NYPD　had　made　it　somehow　politically　acceptable。　
　〃Sergeant；〃　Mandrell　said；　shaking　his　hand。　〃Everything's　set　up。　Is　Agent；　ah；　Pendergast…〃　
　〃Here；〃　said　Pendergast；　striding　into　the　room。　His　beautifully　cut　black　suit；　pressed　to　perfection；　shimmered　under　the　artificial　light。　D'Agosta　wondered　just　how　many　identical　black　suits　the　guy　owned。　Probably　had　rooms　at　the　Dakota　and　the　Riverside　Drive　mansion　devoted　to　them。　
　〃Agent　Pendergast；〃　D'Agosta　said；　〃this　is　Detective　Sergeant　Mandrell　of　the　Twenty…first　Precinct。〃　
　〃Delighted。〃　Pendergast　briefly　shook　the　proffered　hand。　〃Forgive　me　for　not　arriving　earlier。　I　fear　I　took　a　wrong　turn。　This　building　is　most　confusing。〃　
　The　Federal　Building？　Most　confusing？Pendergast　was　a　fed　himself；　he　had　to　have　an　office　in　here　somewhere。　Didn't　he？　It　occurred　to　D'Agosta　that　he'd　never　once　seen；　or　been　asked　to　visit；　Pendergast's　office。　
　〃It's　this　way；〃　Mandrell　said；　leading　the　way　through　a　maze　of　cubicles。　
　〃Excellent；〃　Pendergast　murmured　to　D'Agosta　as　they　fell　into　step　behind　the　detective。　〃I'll　have　to　thank　Captain　Hayward　personally。　She　really　came　through　for　us。〃　
　She　came　through；　all　right；D'Agosta　thought　with　a　private　smile。　The　whole　of　the　night　before…Pendergast　spirited　away　by　the　mysterious　caller；　his　own　totally　unexpected　encounter　with　Laura　Hayward…seemed　dreamlike；　unreal。　He　had　fought　the　temptation　to　call　her　all　morning。　He　hoped　she'd　still　want　that　long；　candlelight　dinner。　He　wondered　if　this　would　plicate　their　working　relationship；　decided　it　would；　realized　he　didn't　much　care。　
　〃Here　we　are；〃　Mandrell　said；　stepping　into　one　of　the　cubicles。　It　looked　just　like　all　the　others：　a　desk　with　an　overhanging　credenza；　a　puter　workstation　with　attached　speakers；　a　few　chairs。　A　young　woman　with　short　blonde　hair　sat　at　the　workstation；　typing。　
　〃This　is　Agent　Sanborne；〃　Mandrell　said。　〃She's　monitoring　the　phone　of　Jimmy　Chait；　Bullard's　right…hand　boy　here　in　the　States。　We　have　agents　in　adjoining　cubicles　logging　the　phones　of　another　half　dozen　of　Bullard's　associates。　Agent　Sanborne；　this　is　Sergeant　D'Agosta　of　the　Southampton　P。D。　and　Special　Agent　Pendergast。〃　
　Sanborne　nodded　at　them　in　turn；　her　eyes　widening　at　the　name　of　Pendergast。　
　〃Anything？〃　Mandrell　asked　her。　
　〃Nothing　important；〃　she　replied。　〃There　was　some　traffic　a　few　minutes　ago　between　Chait　and　another　associate。　Seems　they're　expecting　a　call　from　Bullard　any　time　now。〃　
　Mandrell　nodded；　turned　back　to　D'Agosta。　〃When　was　your　last　tap；　Sergeant？〃　
　〃It's　been　a　while。〃　
　〃Then　let　me　get　you　up　to　speed。　Everything's　done　by　puter　these　days；　one　workstation　per　phone　number　being　monitored。　The　phone　line　goes　right　through　this　interface；　and　the　conversation's　recorded　digitally。　No　more　tapes。　Agent　Sanborne；　who'll　be　transcribing　the　line　sheets；　can　work　the　transport　controls　either　by　keyboard　or　foot　pedal。〃　
　D'Agosta　shook　his　head。　It　was　a　far　cry　from　the　low…tech　setups　he'd　worked　as　a　new　jack　cop　in　the　mid…eighties。　
　〃You　mentioned　Chinese？〃　Mandrell　said。　〃Are　we　going　to　need　a　translator？〃　
　〃Unlikely；〃　Pendergast　replied。　
　〃Well；　we've　got　a　man　standing　by；　just　in　case。〃　
　The　cubicle　fell　silent　as　Mandrell　and　Sanborne　hovered　over　the　screen。　
　〃Vincent；〃　Pendergast　murmured；　taking　him　aside。　〃I've　been　wanting　to　tell　you。　We've　made　a　very　important　discovery。〃　
　〃What's　that？〃　
　〃Beckmann。〃　
　D'Agosta　looked　at　him　sharply。〃Beckmann？〃　
　〃His　present　whereabouts。〃　
　〃No　shit。　When　did　you　find　out？〃　
　〃Late　last　night。　After　I　called　you　to　request　this　wiretap。〃　
　〃Why　didn't　you　tell　me　before？〃　
　〃I　tried　calling　you　as　soon　as　I　heard。　There　was　no　answer　at　your　hotel。　And　your　cell　phone　appeared　to　have　been　turned　off。〃　
　〃Oh。　Yes；　it　was。　Sorry　about　that。〃　D'Agosta　turned　away；　feeling　a　flush　begin　to　spread　over　his　face。　
　He　was　spared　further　questioning　by　a　sudden　beeping　from　the　workstation。　
　〃Call's　ing　in；〃　said　Agent　Sanborne。　
　A　small　window　appeared　on　her　screen；　filled　with　lines　of　data。　〃Chait's　getting　an　ining；〃　she　said；　pointing　at　the　window。　〃See？〃　
　〃Who's　it　from？〃　D'Agosta　asked。　
　〃The　number's　ing　up　now。　I'll　put　it　on　vox。〃　
　〃Jimmy？〃　came　a　high…pitched　voice　over　the　puter　speaker。　〃Jimmy；　you　there？〃　
　Sanborne　began　typing　quickly；　transcribing　the　call　verbatim。　〃It's　his　home　number；〃　she　said。　〃Probably　his　wife。〃　
　〃Yeah；〃　answered　a　deep　voice　with　a　thick　New　Jersey　accent。　〃What　you　want？〃　
　〃When　you　ing　home？〃　
　〃Something's　e　up。〃　There　was　a　faint　roar　in　the　background；　like　the　rush　of　wind。　
　〃No；　Jimmy…not　again　today。　We've　got　the　Fingermans　ing　by　this　afternoon；　remember？　About　the　winter　rental　in　Kissimmee？〃　
　〃Fuck　that。　You　don't　need　me　for　that　shit。〃　
　〃Go　ahead；　take　that　tone　with　me。　You're　right；　Idon't　need　you　for　thatshit　。　What　Ineed　is　for　you　to　stop　by　DePasquale's　and　pick　up　a　few　trays　of　sausage　and　peppers。　I　don't　have　a　thing　to　serve。〃　
　〃Then　get　your　ass　in　the　kitchen　and　cook　something。〃　
　〃Look；　you…〃　
　〃I'll　be　home　when　I　get　home。　Now　get　the　fuck　off；　I'm　expecting　a　call。〃　And　the　line　went　dead。　
　There　was　a　brief　silence　broken　only　by　the　click　of　keys　as　Agent　Sanborne　pleted　the　transcription。　
　〃Delightful　couple；〃　said　D'Agosta。　He　motioned　Pendergast　aside。　〃How'd　you　find　Beckmann；　anyway？〃　
　〃With　the　help　of　an　acquaintance　of　mine…an　invalid；　actually…who　happens　to　be　extremely　good　at　tracking　down　troublesome　nuggets　of　information。〃　
　〃'Extremely　good'　sounds　like　an　understatement。　Nobody's　been　able　to　locate　this　guy。　So　where's　this　Beckmann　at？〃　
　But　they　were　again　interrupted　by　another　beep　from　the　puter。　〃We've　got　another　one；〃　said　Sanborne。　
　〃Ining　or　outgoing？〃　asked　Mandrell。　
　〃Ining。　But　the　number　must　be　blocked；　I'm　not　getting　any　data　on　it。〃　
　There　was　a　brief　squeal　over　the　speaker。　〃Yeah？〃　said　Chait。　
　〃Chait；〃　a　voice　responded。　
　D'Agosta　immediately　recognized　the　gruff　tone：　it　sent　a　thrill　of　hatred　coursing　through　him。　
　Chait　recognized　it；　too。　〃Yes；　Mr。　Bullard；　sir；〃　he　said；　his　tone　abruptly　growing　servile。　
　〃Bullard　will　be　using　a　satellite　phone；〃　D'Agosta　said。　〃That's　why　you　can't　get　a　fix。〃　
　〃Doesn't　matter。〃　Mandrell　pointed　to　a　string　of　numbers　on　the　screen。　〃See　that？　It's　the　cell　site　of　Chait's　phone。　It's　the　cellular　node　his　phone　signal's　ing　from；　lets　us　determine　his　present　location。〃　He　reached　into　the　credenza；　pulled　out　a　thick　manual；　began　leafing　through　it。　
　〃Everything　set？〃　Bullard　asked。　
　〃Yes；　sir。　The　men　have　all　been　briefed。〃　
　〃Remember　what　I　said。　I　don't　want　any　apologizing。　Just　do　as　I　say。　Walk　it　through；　by　the　numbers。〃　
　〃You　got　it；　Mr。　Bullard。〃　
　Mandrell　looked　up　from　the　cell　site　manual。　〃Chait's　in　Hoboken；　New　Jersey。〃　
　〃Everything's　go；〃　Bullard　said。　〃The　Chinese　will　be　there　on　time。〃　
　〃Location？〃　Chait　asked。　
　〃The　primary；　as　discussed。　The　park。〃　
　Mandrell　grasped　D'Agosta　by　the　arm。　〃Chait　just　changed　cell　sites；〃　he　said。　
　〃What's　that　mean？〃　
　〃He's　moving。〃　Mandrell　thumbed　through　the　manual；　looking　up　the　new　site。　〃Now　he's　in　the　middle　of　Union　City。〃　
　〃Mass　transit　wouldn't　move　that　quickly；〃　said　Pendergast。　〃He　must　be　in　a　car。〃　
　Bullard　was　speaking　again。　〃Remember。　They'll　be　expecting　a　progress　report　in　exchange　for　the　payment。　You　know　what　to　give　them；　right？〃　
　〃Right。〃　
　Pendergast　pulled　out　his　own　phone；　dialing　quickly。　〃Chait's　on　his　way　to　a　meeting。　We've　got　to　get　a　unit　dispatched；　triangulate　on　his　location。〃　
　〃I'll　be　expecting　a　report　immediately　after　the　meeting；〃　said　Bullard。　
　〃I'll　be　back　to　you　within　ninety　minutes。〃　
　〃And　Chait？　No　fuckups；　you　hear？〃　
　〃No；　sir。〃　
　There　was　a　click；　a　hiss　of　static；　and　the　puter　beeped　once　again　to　signal　the　connection　had　been　broken。　
　〃Cell　site's　changed　again；〃　Mandrell　said；　looking　at　the　screen。　
　D'Agosta　turned　to　Pendergast。　〃Within　ninety　minutes；　he　said？　What　the　hell　does　that　mean？〃　
　Pendergast　closed　his　phone；　slipped　it　back　into　his　pocket。　〃It　means　their　meeting　will　take　place　before　then。　e　on；　Vincent…we　haven't　a　moment　to　lose。〃　
　　　
　35　
　
　D'Agosta　blew　past　the　exit　helixes　of　the　George　WashingtonBridge　and　merged　onto　the　express　lanes；　driving　like　hell。　As　the　New　Jersey　Turnpike　divided　and　the　traffic　began　to　thin　a　little；　he　seated　the　emergency　bubble　onto　the　dash；　turned　on　its　flasher；　and　began　cranking　the　siren。　Veering　west　onto　I…80；　he　stomped　hard　on　the　pedal。　The　big　engine　of　the　pool　sedan　responded　and　they　were　soon　rocketing　along　at　a　hundred　miles　an　hour。　
　〃Refreshing；〃　murmured　Pendergast。　
　The　secure　car…to…car　frequency　crackled　into　life。　〃This　is　602。　We've　got　a　visual　on　the　target。　It's　a　TV　van　with　a　satellite　dish；　call　letters　WPMP；　Hackensack；　moving　west　on　80　near　exit　65。〃　
　D'Agosta　pushed　his　speed　to　one　twenty。　
　Pendergast　unhooked　the　mike。　〃We're　just　a　few　miles　behind　you。　Hang　back　in　another　lane　and　keep　out　of　sight。　Over。〃　
　Everything　had　e　together　with　remarkable　speed。　Pendergast　had　initiated　a　federal　tail　on　Chait's　cell　signal；　requisitioned　a　government　vehicle；　and　put　D'Agosta　behind　its　wheel。　The　West　Side　Highway　had　been　mercifully　free　of　traffic；　and　it　had　taken　them　only　ten　minutes　to　clear　Manhattan。　
　〃Where　do　you　think　we're　headed？〃　D'Agosta　asked。　
　〃Bullard　mentioned　a　park。　For　now；　that's　all　we　know。〃　
　Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　D'Agosta　noticed　that；　despite　the　speed；　Pendergast　had　unbuckled　his　seat　belt　and　was　crouching　forward。　Now　the　agent　was　scratching　his　nails　on　the　floor　mat；　rubbing　his　palms　rapidly　against　it。　D'Agosta　had　seen　the　man　do　strange　things　before；　but　this　beat　all。　He　wondered　if　he　should　ask；　decided　against　it。　
　〃Target　leaving　freeway　at　exit　60；〃　the　radio　squawked。　〃Following。〃　
　D'Agosta　slowed。　Another　minute；　and　he　peeled　off　at　the　same　exit。　
　〃Target　proceeding　north　on　McLean。〃　
　〃They're　heading　into　Paterson；〃　D'Agosta　said。　He'd　never　actually　set　foot　in　the　city；　though　he'd　passed　it　on　the　freeway　countless　times：　a　red…brick　working　town　whose　best　days　were　probably　about　a　hundred　years　gone。　It　seemed　like　a　strange　destination。　
　〃Paterson；〃　Pendergast　repeated　speculatively；　wiping　his　dirty　hands　on　his　face　and　neck。　〃Birthplace　of　the　American　Industrial　Revolution。〃　
　〃Birthplace？　Looks　more　like　death's　door　to　me。〃　
　〃It's　a　city　with　a　vigorous　history；　Vincent。　Some　of　the　historical　neighborhoods　are　still　quite　beautiful。　However；　I'm　banking　on　the　fact　that　those　are　not　where　we're　headed。〃　
　〃Target　l