p&c.brimstone-第42节

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　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　leaving　McLean；〃　the　voice　on　the　radio　said。　〃Heading　left　onto　Broadway。〃　
　D'Agosta　tore　up　McLean　Highway；　using　the　siren　to　punch　his　way　through　two　red　lights。　To　their　right　lay　the　Passaic　River；　brown　and　sullen　in　the　autumn　light。　As　he　turned　onto　Broadway；　shabby…looking　and　decrepit；　he　killed　the　siren　and　snapped　off　the　flasher。　They　were　close　now：　very　close。　
　〃Sergeant；〃　Pendergast　said　abruptly；　〃head　into　this　strip　mall　on　our　right；　please。　We　need　to　make　a　quick　stop。〃　
　D'Agosta　glanced　at　him　in　surprise。　〃We　don't　have　time。〃　
　〃Trust　me；　we　do。〃　
　D'Agosta　shrugged。　The　operation　was　nominally　FBI　and　Pendergast　was　in　charge：　Hayward　had　made　sure　of　that。　The　lead　car　was　FBI　and　he　himself　was　Southampton　P。D。；　which　would　offend　nobody。　Interstate　police　rivalries　would　be　kept　at　a　minimum。　At　the　appropriate　moment…when　it　was　too　late　for　a　bunch　of　unbriefed　town　cops　to　screw　things　up…Pendergast　would　call　in　the　locals。　
　The　mall　was　a　collection　of　dingy；　glass…fronted　stores　set　back　from　a　parking　lot　heaved　and　cracked　by　time。　It　was　half　abandoned；　and　D'Agosta　wondered　just　what　the　hell　Pendergast　was　up　to。　Here　he'd　made　good　time；　and　now　the　agent　was　squandering　it。　
　〃There；〃　Pendergast　said。　〃At　the　far　end。〃　
　D'Agosta　sped　up　to　the　last　storefront。　A　yellow　Dumpster　stood　out　front；　pitted　and　scarred　with　age。　Even　before　the　car　had　stopped；　Pendergast　was　out；　running　into　the　store。　D'Agosta　swore；　punched　the　steering　wheel。　They　were　going　to　lose　five　minutes　at　least。　He　was　used　to　Pendergast's　inexplicable　behavior；　but　this　was　too　much。　
　〃Target　heading　into　East　Side　Park；〃　came　the　cool　voice　from　the　lead　car。　〃There's　some　kind　of　event　going　on。　Looks　like　model　rockets　or　something。〃　
　D'Agosta　heard　shouting　and　saw　Pendergast　trotting　out　of　the　shop；　a　bundle　of　clothes　slung　over　one　arm　and　a　couple　of　pairs　of　shoes　clutched　in　the　other。　Moments　later　a　fat　woman　came　bursting　out。　
　〃Help！〃　she　bellowed。　〃Police！　I　hope　you're　proud　of　yourself；　robbing　the　Salvation　Army。　Shithead！〃　
　〃Obliged；　ma'am；〃　Pendergast　said；　crumpling　a　hundred…dollar　bill　and　tossing　it　over　his　shoulder　as　he　jumped　into　the　backseat。　D'Agosta　laid　on　the　gas；　leaving　a　streak　of　rubber　and　a　cloud　of　smoke。　
　〃I　daresay　that　was　no　more　than　a　two…minute　detour；〃　Pendergast　said　from　the　rear　of　the　car。　Looking　into　the　mirror；　D'Agosta　saw　he　was　peeling　off　his　jacket　and　tie。　
　〃Two　minutes　is　a　long　time　in　this　business。〃　
　〃I'll　have　to　send　the　Salvation　Army　people　a　little　something　to　make　up　for　my　lack　of　manners。〃　
　〃They're　heading　into　East　Side　Park。〃　
　〃Very　good。　Drive　around　the　park；　if　you　please；　and　enter　from　the　south。　I　need　a　few　more　moments。〃　
　D'Agosta　drove　past　the　park…a　wall　of　greenery　to　his　left；　rising　above　a　concrete　retaining　wall…and　made　a　left　onto　Derrom　Avenue。　Despite　their　proximity　to　seedy；　sorry…looking　Broadway；　the　houses　here　were　remarkably　large　and　well　tended；　relics　of　the　days　when　Paterson　had　been　a　model　city　of　industry。　
　Pendergast　intoned　from　the　back：　
　　　
　　　〃Eternally　asleep；　his　dreams　walk　about　the　city　where　he　persists　incognito。〃　
　　　
　D'Agosta　glanced　again　in　the　rearview　mirror；　almost　jamming　on　the　brakes　in　surprise　when　he　saw　a　stranger　staring　back　at　him。　But；　of　course；　it　was　no　stranger：　it　was　Pendergast；　transformed　by　some　almost　miraculous　process　of　disguise。　
　〃Have　you　ever　read　Paterson　by　William　Carlos　Williams？〃　the　vagrant　in　the　backseat　asked。　
　〃Never　heard　of　it。〃　
　〃Pity〃
　　〃Immortal　he　neither　moves　nor　rouses　and　is　seldom　seen；　though　he　breathes　and　the　subtleties　of　his　machinations　drawing　their　substance　from　the　noise　of　the　pouring　river　animate　a　thousand　automatons。〃　
　　　
　D'Agosta　shook　his　head　and　muttered　to　himself。　He　drove　a　few　blocks；　made　another　left；　and　entered　the　park　beside　a　statue　of　Christopher　Columbus。　
　East　Side　Park　was　an　overgrown　hillock　of　grass　and　the　occasional　shade　tree；　closely　hemmed　in　on　all