tc.patriotgames-第36节

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　might　also　keep　in　mind　that　our　chaps　have　their　own　skins　to　protect。　The　reason　timing　is　so　important　is　that　what　we　have　planned　can　only　work　once。　That　is　why　we　must　be　patient。　We　must　wait　for　exactly　the　right　moment。〃
　　　　What　right　moment？　What　plan？　McKenney　wanted　to　know。　Only　weeks　before；　O'Donnell　had　announced　that　〃the　moment〃　was　at　hand；　only　to　call　things　off　with　a　last…second　telephone　call　from　London。　Sean　Miller　knew；　as　did　one　or　two　others；　but　McKenney　didn't　even　know　who　those　privileged　fellows　were。　If　there　was　anything　the　mander　believed　in；　it　was　security。　The　intelligence　officer　acknowledged　its　importance；　but　his　youth　chafed　at　the　frustration　of　knowing　the　importance　of　what　was　happening　without　knowing　what　it　was。　
　　　　〃Difficult；　isn't　it；　Mike？〃
　　　　〃Yes；　sir；　it　is；〃　McKenney　admitted　with　a　smile。
　　　　〃Just　keep　in　mind　where　impatience　has　gotten　us；〃　the　leader　said。

Chapter　8　Information

　　　　〃I　guess　that　about　covers　it；　Jimmy。　Thanks　from　the　Bureau　for　tracking　that　guy　down。〃
　　　　〃I　really　don't　think　he's　the　sort　of　tourist　we　need；　Dan；〃　Owens　replied。　A　Floridian　who'd　embezzled　three　million　dollars　from　an　Orlando　bank　had　made　the　mistake　of　stopping　off　in　Britain　on　his　way　to　another　European　country；　one　with　slightly　different　banking　laws。　〃I　think　the　next　time　we'll　let　him　do　some　shopping　on　Bond　Street　before　we　arrest　him；　though。　You　can　call　that　a　fee　　a　fee　for　apprehending　him。〃　
　　　　〃Ha！〃　The　FBI　representative　closed　the　last　folder。　It　was　six　o'clock　local　time。　Dan　Murray　leaned　back　in　his　chair。　Behind　him；　the　brick　Georgian　buildings　across　the　street　paled　in　the　dusk。　Men　were　discreetly　patrolling　the　roofs　there；　as　with　all　the　buildings　on　Grosvenor　Square。　The　American　Embassy　was　not　so　much　heavily　guarded　as　minorly　fortified；　so　many　terrorist　threat　warnings　had　e　and　gone　over　the　past　six　years。　Uniformed　police　officers　stood　in　front　of　the　building；　where　North　Audley　Street　was　closed　off　to　traffic。　The　sidewalk　was　decorated　with　concrete　〃flowerpots〃　that　a　tank　could　surmount　only　with　difficulty；　and　the　rest　of　the　building　had　a　sloped　concrete　glacis　to　fend　off　car　bombs。　Inside；　behind　bullet…resistant　glass；　a　Marine　corporal　stood　guard　beside　a　wall　safe　containing　a　。357　Magnum　Smith　&　Wesson　revolver。　A　hell　of　a　thing；　Murray　thought。　A　hell　of　a　thing。　The　wonderful　world　of　the　international　terrorist。　Murray　hated　working　in　a　building　that　seemed　part　of　the　Maginot　Line；　hated　wondering　if　there　might　be　some　Iranian；　or　Palestinian；　or　Libyan；　or　whatever　madman　of　a　terrorist；　with　an　RPG…7　rocket　launcher　in　a　building　across　the　street　from　his　office。　It　wasn't　fear　for　his　life。　Murray　had　put　his　life　at　risk　more　than　once。　He　hated　the　injustice；　the　insult　to　his　profession；　that　there　were　people　who　would　kill　their　fellow　men　as　a　part　of　some　form　of　political　expression。　But　they're　not　madmen　at　all；　are　they？　The　behavioral　specialists　say　that　they're　not。　They're　romantics　　believers；　people　willing　to　mit　themselves　to　an　ideal；　and　to　mit　any　crime　to　further　it。　Romantics！
　　　　〃Jimmy；　remember　the　good　old　days　when　we　hunted　bank　bandits　who　were　just　in　the　business　for　a　fast　buck？〃　
　　　　〃I've　never　done　any　of　those。　I　was　mainly　concerned　with　ordinary　thievery　until　they　sent　me　to　handling　murders。　But　terrorism　does　make　one　nostalgic　for　the　day　of　the　mon　thug。　I　can　even　remember　when　they　were　fairly　civilized。〃　Owens　refilled　his　glass　with　port。　A　growing　problem　for　the　Metropolitan　Police　was　that　the　criminal　use　of　firearms　was　no　longer　so　rare　as　it　had　once　been；　this　new　tool　made　more　popular　by　the　evening　news　reports　on　terrorism　within　the　U。K。　And　while　the　streets　and　parks　of　London　were　far　safer　than　their　American　counterparts；　they　were　not　as　safe　as　they'd　only　recently　been。　The　times　were　changing　in　London；　too；　and　Owens　didn't　like　it　at　all。
　　　　The　phone　rang。　Murray's　secretary　had　just　left　for　the　night；　and　the　agent　lifted　it。
　　　　〃Murray。　Hi；　Bob。　Yeah；　he's　right　here。　Bob　Highland　for　you；　Jimmy。〃　He　handed　the　phone　over。
　　　　〃mander　Owens　here。〃　The　officer　sipped　at　his　port；　then　set　the　glass　down　abruptly　and　waved　for　a　pen　and　pad。　〃Where　exactly？　And　you've　already　　good；　excellent。　I'm　ing　straightaway。〃　
　　　　〃What　gives？〃　Murray　asked　quickly。
　　　　〃We've　just　had　a　tip　on　a　certain　Dwyer。　Bomb　factory　in　a　flat　on　Tooley　Street。〃　
　　　　〃Isn't　that　right　across　from　the　river　from　the　Tower？〃　
　　　　〃Too　bloody　right。　I'm　off。〃　Owens　rose　and　grabbed　for　his　coat。
　　　　〃You　mind　if　I　tag　along？〃　
　　　　〃Dan；　you　must　remember　〃
　　　　〃To　keep　out　of　the　way。〃　Murray　was　already　on　his　feet。　One　hand　unconsciously　checked　his　left　hip；　where　his　service　revolver　would　be；　had　the　agent　not　been　in　a　foreign　country。　Owens　had　never　carried　a　gun。　Murray　wondered　how　you　could　be　a　cop　and　not　be　armed　with　something。　Together　they　left　Murray's　office　and　trotted　up　the　corridor；　turning　left　for　the　elevators。　Two　minutes　later　they　were　in　the　Embassy's　basement　parking　garage。　The　two　officers　from　Owens'　chase　car　were　already　in　their　vehicle；　and　the　mander's　driver　followed　them　out。
　　　　Owens　was　on　the　radio　the　instant　the　car　hit　the　street；　with　Murray　in　the　back　seat。
　　　　〃You　have　people　rolling？〃　Murray　asked。
　　　　〃Yes。　Bob　will　have　a　team　there　in　a　few　minutes。　Dwyer；　by　God！　The　description　fits　perfectly。〃　As　much　as　he　tried　to　hide　it；　Owens　was　as　excited　as　a　kid　on　Christmas　morning。　
　　　　〃Who　tipped　you？〃
　　　　〃Anonymous。　A　male　voice；　claimed　to　have　seen　wiring；　and　something　that　was　wrapped　up　in　small　blocks；　when　he　looked　in　the　window。〃
　　　　〃I　love　it！　Peeping　Tom　cues　the　cops　　probably　afraid　his　wife'll　find　out　what　he's　been　up　to。　Well；　you　take　what　you　get。〃　Murray　grinned。　He'd　had　cases　break　on　slimmer　stuff　than　this。
　　　　The　evening　traffic　was　curb…to…curb；　and　the　police　siren　could　not　change　that。　It　took　fully　twenty　frustrating　minutes　to　travel　the　five　miles　to　Tooley　Street；　with　Owens　listening　to　the　radio；　his　fist　beating　softly　on　the　front　door's　armrest　while　his　men　arrived　at　the　suspect　house。　Finally　the　car　darted　across　the　Tower　Bridge　and　turned　right。　The　driver　parked　it　on　the　sidewalk　alongside　two　other　police　cars。
　　　　It　was　a　three…story　building　of　drab；　dirty　brick；　in　a　working　class　neighborhood。　Next　door　was　a　small　pub　with　its　daily　menu　scrawled　on　a　blackboard。　Several　patrons　were　standing　at　the　door；　pints　in　their　fists　as　they　watched　the　police；　and　more　stood　across　the　street。　Owens　ran　to　the　door。　A　plainclothes　detective　was　waiting　for　him。
　　　　〃All　secure；　sir。　We　have　the　suspect　in　custody。　Top　floor；　in　the　rear。〃
　　　　The　mander　trotted　up　the　stairs　with　Murray　on　his　heels。　Another　detective　met　him　on　the　top…floor　landing。　Owens　proceeded　the　last　thirty　feet　with　a　cruel；　satisfied　smile　on　his　face。　
　　　　〃It's　all　over；　sir；〃　Highland　said。　〃Here's　the　suspect。〃　
　　　　Maureen　Dwyer　was　stark　naked；　spread…eagled　on　the　floor。　Around　her　was　a　puddle　of　water；　and　a　trail　of　wet　footprints　ing　from　the　adjacent　bathroom。
　　　　〃She　was　taking　a　bath；〃　Highland　explained。　〃And　she'd　left　her　pistol　on　the　kitchen　table。　No　trouble　at　all。〃　
　　　　〃Do　you　have　a　female　detective　on　the　way？〃　
　　　　〃Yes；　sir。　I'm　surprised　she's　not　here　already。〃　
　　　　〃Traffic　is　bloody　awful；〃　Owens　noted。　
　　　　〃Any　evidence　of　a　panion？〃　
　　　　〃No；　sir。　None　at　all；〃　Highland　answered。　〃Only　this。〃　
　　　　The　bottom　drawer　of　the　only　bureau　in　the　shabby　apartment　was　lying　on　the　floor。　It　contained　several　blocks　of　what　looked　like　plastic　explosive；　some　blasting　caps；　and　what　were　probably　electronic　timers。　Already　a　detective　was　doing　a　written　inventory　while　another　was　busily　photographing　the　entire　room　with　a　Nikon　camera　and　strobe。　A　third　was　breaking　open　an　evidence　kit。　Everything　in　the　room　would　be　tagged；　dropped　in　a　clear　plastic　bag；　and　stored　for　use　in　yet　another　terrorist　trial　in　the　Old　Bailey。　There　were　smiles　of　satisfaction　everywhere　　except　for　Maureen　Dwyer's　face；　which　was　pressed　to　the　floor。　Two　detectives　stood　over　the　girl；　their　service　revolvers　holstered　as　they　watched　the　naked；　wet　figure　without　a　trace　of　sympathy。
　　　　Murray　stood　in　the　doorway　to　keep　out　of　everyone's　way　while　his　eyes　took　in　the　way　Owens'　detectives　handled　the　scene。　There　wasn't　much　to　criticize。　The　suspect　was　neutralized；　the　area　secured；　and　now　evidence　was　being　collected；　everything　was　going　by　the　book。　He　noted　that　the　suspect　was　kept　stationary。　A　woman　officer　would　perform　a　cavity　search　to　ensure　that　she　wasn't　〃holding〃　something　that　might　be　dangerous。　This　was　a　little　hard　on　Miss　Dwyer's　modesty；　but　Murray　didn't　think　a　judge　would　object。　Maureen　Dwyer　was　a　known　bomber；　with　at　least　three　years'　work　behind　her。　Nine　months　before；　she'd　been　seen　leaving　the　site　of　a　nasty　one　in　Belfast　that　minutes　later　had　killed　four　people　and　maimed　another　three。　No；　there　wouldn't　be　all　that　much　sympathy　for　Miss　Dwyer。　After　another　several　m