tc.patriotgames-第110节

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　target　home's　windows。
　　　　The　SWAT　team　might　have　waited；　but　the　longer　they　did　that；　the　greater　was　the　risk　of　alerting　their　quarry。　They　moved　in　slowly　and　carefully；　skillfully　using　cover　and　concealment　until　they　were　within　fifty　feet　of　the　target　house。　Anxious；　sharp　eyes　scanned　the　windows　for　movement　and　saw　none。　Could　they　all　be　asleep？　The　team　leader　went　in　first；　sprinting　across　the　yard　and　stopping　under　a　window。　He　held　up　a　stick…on　microphone　and　attached　it　to　the　corner　of　the　window；　listening　to　an　earpiece　for　a　sign　of　occupancy。　The　second…in…mand　watched　the　man's　head　cock　almost　ically　to　one　side；　then　he　spoke　into　a　radio　that　all　his　team　members　could　hear：　〃The　TV's　on。　No　conversation；　I　　something　else；　can't　make　it　out。〃　He　motioned　for　his　team　to　approach；　one　at　a　time；　while　he　crouched　under　the　window；　gun　at　the　ready。　Three　minutes　later　the　team　was　ready。
　　　　〃Team　leader；〃　the　radio　crackled。　〃This　is　Lieutenant　Haber。　We　have　a　young　man　here　who　says　a　van　went　tearing　out　of　that　house　about　quarter　to　five　　that's　about　the　time　the　police　radio　call　went　out。〃
　　　　The　team　leader　waved　acknowledgment　and　treated　the　message　as　something　that　mattered　not　a　bit。　The　team　executed　a　forced　entry　maneuver。　Two　simultaneous　shotgun　blasts　blew　the　hinges　off　the　windowless　side　door　and　it　hadn't　even　hit　the　floor　before　the　team　leader　was　through　the　opening；　training　his　gun　around　the　kitchen。　Nothing。　They　proceeded　through　the　house　in　movements　that　looked　like　a　kind　of　evil　ballet。　The　entire　exercise　was　over　in　a　minute。　The　radio　message　went　out：　〃The　building　is　secure。〃
　　　　The　team　leader　emerged　on　the　front　porch；　his　shotgun　pointed　at　the　floor；　and　pulled　off　his　black　mask　before　he　waved　the　others　in。　His　hands　moved　back　and　forth　across　his　chest　in　the　universal　wave…off　signal。　The　Lieutenant　and　the　senior　FBI　agent　ran　across　the　street　as　he　wiped　the　sweat　away　from　his　eyes。
　　　　〃Well？〃
　　　　〃You're　gonna　love　it；〃　the　team　leader　said。　〃e　on。〃　
　　　　The　living　room　had　a　small…screen　color　TV　on；　sitting　on　a　table。　The　floor　was　covered　with　wrappers　from　McDonald's；　and　the　kitchen　sink　held　what　looked　like　fifty　neatly　stacked　paper　cups。　The　master　bedroom　　it　was　a　few　square　feet　larger　than　the　other　two　　was　the　armory。　Sure　enough；　there　was　an　American　M…60　machine　gun；　with　two　250…round　ammo　boxes；　along　with　a　dozen　AK…47　assault　rifles；　three　of　them　stripped　down　for　cleaning；　and　a　bolt…action　rifle　with　a　telescopic　sight。　On　the　oaken　dresser；　however；　was　a　scanner　radio。　Its　indicator　lights　skipped　on　and　off。　One　of　them　was　on　the　frequency　of　the　Howard　County　Police。　Unlike　the　FBI；　the　local　police　did　not　use　secure　　that　is；　scrambled　　radio　circuits。　The　FBI　agent　walked　out　to　his　vehicle　and　got　Bill　Shaw　on　the　radio。
　　　　〃So　they　monitored　the　police　call　and　split；〃　Shaw　said　after　a　couple　of　minutes。
　　　　〃Looks　like　it。　The　locals　have　a　description　of　the　van　out。　At　least　they　bugged　out　so　fast　that　they　had　to　leave　a　bunch　of　weapons　behind。　Maybe　they're　spooked。　Anything　new　ing　in　at　your　end？〃
　　　　〃Negative。〃　Shaw　was　in　the　FBI's　emergency　mand　center；　Room　5005　of　the　J。　Edgar　Hoover　Building。　He　knew　of　the　French　attempt　to　hit　their　training　camp。　Twice　now　they've　escaped　by　sheer　luck。　〃Okay；　I'll　get　talking　to　the　State　Police　forces。　The　forensic　people　are　on　the　way。　Stay　put　and　coordinate　with　the　locals。〃　
　　　　〃Right。　Out。〃

　　　　The　security　people　were　already　setting　up。　Discreetly；　he　saw；　their　cars　were　by　the　pool；　which　had　been　filled　up　only　a　couple　of　days　before；　and　there　was　a　van　which　evidently　contained　special　munications　gear。　Jack　counted　eight　people　in　the　open；　two　of　them　with　Uzis。　Avery　was　waiting　for　him　when　he　pulled　into　the　carport。
　　　　〃Good　news　for　a　change　　well；　good　and　bad。〃　
　　　　〃How　so？〃　Ryan　asked。
　　　　〃Somebody　phoned　the　cops　and　said　he　saw　some　people　with　guns。　They　rolled　on　it　real　quick。　The　suspects　split　　they　were　monitoring　the　police　radio　　but　we　captured　a　bunch　of　guns。　Looks　like　our　friends　had　a　safehouse　set　up。　Unfortunately　for　them　it　didn't　quite　work　out。　We　may　have　'em　on　the　run。　We　know　what　kind　of　car　they're　using；　and　the　local　cops　have　this　area　pletely　sealed　off；　and　we're　sweeping　the　whole　state。　The　Governor　has　even　authorized　the　use　of　helicopters　from　the　National　Guard　to　help　with　the　search。〃　
　　　　〃Where　were　they？〃
　　　　〃Howard　County；　a　little　munity　south　of　Columbia。　We　missed　them　by　a　whole　five　minutes；　but　we　have　them　moving　and　out　in　the　open。　Just　a　matter　of　time。〃　
　　　　〃I　hope　the　cops　are　careful；〃　Ryan　said。　
　　　　〃Yes；　sir。〃　
　　　　〃Any　problems　here？〃
　　　　〃No；　everything's　going　just　fine。　Your　guests　should　be　here　about　quarter　to　eight。　What's　for　dinner？〃　Avery　asked。
　　　　〃Well；　I　picked　up　some　fresh　white　corn　on　the　way　home　　you　passed　the　place　ing　in。　Steaks　on　the　grill；　baked　potatoes；　and　Cathy's　spinach　salad。　We'll　give　'em　some　good；　basic　American　food。〃　Jack　opened　the　hatch　on　the　Rabbit　and　pulled　out　a　bag　of　freshly　picked　corn。　
　　　　Avery　grinned。　〃You're　making　me　hungry。〃　
　　　　〃I　got　a　caterer　ing　in　at　six…thirty。　Cold　cuts　and　rolls。　I'm　not　going　to　let　you　guys　work　all　that　time　without　food；　okay？〃　Ryan　insisted。　〃You　can't　stay　alert　if　you're　hungry。〃　
　　　　〃We'll　see。　Thanks。〃　
　　　　〃My　dad　was　a　cop。〃　　　　　〃By　the　way；　I　tried　the　lights　around　the　pool；　but　they　don't　work。〃
　　　　〃I　know；　the　electricity's　been　acting　up　the　last　couple　of　days。　The　power　pany　says　they　have　a　new　transformer　up；　and　it　needs　work　　something　like　that。〃　Ryan　shrugged。　〃Evidently　it　damaged　the　breaker　on　the　pool　line；　but　so　far　nothing's　gone　bad　in　the　house。　You　weren't　planning　to　go　swimming；　were　you？〃　
　　　　〃No。　We　wanted　to　use　one　of　the　plugs　here；　but　it's　out　too。〃　
　　　　〃Sorry。　Well；　I　have　some　stuff　to　do。〃
　　　　Avery　watched　him　leave；　and　went　over　his　own　deployment　plans　one　last　time。　A　pair　of　State　Police　cars　would　be　a　few　hundred　yards　down　the　road　to　stop　and　check　anyone　ing　back　here。　The　bulk　of　his　men　would　be　covering　the　road。　Two　would　watch　each　side　of　the　clearing　　the　woods　looked　too　inhospitable　to　penetrate；　but　they'd　watch　them　anyway。　This　was　called　Team　One。　The　second　team　would　consist　of　six　men。　There　would　be　three　people　in　the　house。　Three　more；　one　of　them　a　municator　in　the　radio　van；　in　the　trees　by　the　pool。

　　　　The　speed　trap　was　well　known　to　the　locals。　Every　weekend　a　car　or　two　was　set　up　on　this　stretch　of　Interstate　70。　There　had　even　been　something　about　it　in　the　local　paper。　But　people　from　out　of　state　didn't　read　that；　of　course。　The　trooper　had　his　car　just　behind　a　small　crest；　which　allowed　cars　heading　up　to　Pennsylvania　to　fly　by；　right　past　his　radar　gun　before　they　knew　it。　The　pickings　were　so　good　that　he　never　bothered　chasing　after　anyone　who　did　under　sixty…five；　and　at　least　twice　a　night　he　nailed　people　for　doing　over　eighty。
　　　　Be　on　the　lockout　for　a　black　van；　make　and　year　unknown；　the　all…points　call　had　said　a　few　minutes　before。　The　trooper　estimated　that　there　were　at　least　five　thousand　such　vans　in　the　state　of　Maryland；　and　they'd　all　be　on　the　road　on　a　Friday　night。　Somebody　else　would　have　to　worry　about　that。　Approach　with　extreme　caution。
　　　　His　patrol　car　rocked　like　a　boat　crossing　a　wake　as　a　vehicle　zoomed　past。　The　radar　gun　readout　said　83。　Business。　The　trooper　dropped　his　car　into　gear　and　started　moving　after　it　before　he　saw　that　it　was　a　black　van。　Approach　with　extreme　caution　。　。　。　They　didn't　give　a　tag　number　。　。　。　
　　　　〃Hagerstown；　this　is　Eleven。　I　am　following　a　van；　black　in　color；　that　I　clocked　at　eighty…three。　I　am　westbound　on　I…70；　about　three　miles　east　of　exit　thirty…five。〃
　　　　〃Eleven；　get　the　tag　number　but　do　not　　repeat　do　not　　attempt　to　apprehend。　Get　the　number；　back　off；　and　stay　in　visual　contact。　We'll　get　some　backup　for　you。〃　
　　　　〃Roger。　Moving　in　now。〃　Damn。
　　　　He　floored　his　accelerator　and　watched　his　speedometer　go　to　ninety。　The　van　had　slowed　a　little；　it　seemed。　He　was　now　two　hundred　yards　back。　His　eyes　squinted。　He　could　see　the　plate　but　not　the　number。　He　closed　the　distance　more　slowly　now。　At　fifty　yards　he　could　make　out　the　plate　　it　was　a　handicap　one。　The　trooper　lifted　his　radio　microphone　to　call　in　the　tag　numbers　when　the　rear　doors　flew　open。
　　　　It　all　hit　him　in　a　moment：　This　was　how　Larry　Fontana　got　it！　He　slammed　on　his　brakes　and　tried　to　turn　the　wheel；　but　the　microphone　cable　got　caught　on　his　arm。　The　police　officer　cringed　and　slid　down　behind　the　dashboard　as　the　car　slowed；　and　then　he　saw　the　flash；　a　sun…white　tongue　of　flame　that　reached　directly　at　him。　As　soon　as　he　understood　what　that　was；　he　heard　the　impacting　rounds。　One　of　his　tires　blew；　and　his　radiator　exploded；　sending　a　shower　of　steam　and　water　into　the　air。　More　rounds　walked　up　the　hood　into　the　right　side　of　the　car；　and　the　trooper　dived　under　the　steering　wheel　while　the　car　bounced　up　and　down　on　the　flattened　tire。　Then　the　noise　stopped。　The　State　Police　officer　stuck　his　h