ericlustbader.the ninja-第75节

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　'Good；'　Nicholas　said；　still　moving。　'I'd　like　to　talk　to　you　…'
　'About　what　happened　downstairs。　Yeah。　Yeah。'　His　blue　eyes　were　open　wide　as　he　watched。　Across　the　room；　Russo　had　e　in。　He　stood　quietly　next　to　Frank；　looking　on。
　'Right。　About　what　happened　downstairs。'　Nicholas　knelt；　began　to　search　under　the　desk。　He　spoke　as　he　worked。　'I　dunk　we　found　our　man。〃　Wiring　and　puter　modules。　'The　diir…teendi。　A　man　named　Richard　Yao。　He　was　transferred　here　from　a　Rubin　Bros　site　in　Brooklyn。'　Ridged　templates：　　the
　puter　grid。　More　wiring。　'Not　too　long　ago。'　As　thick　as　a　rat's　nest；　colour…coded　for　easy　repair。　'Quite　a　good　worker；　so　his　foreman　says。'
　'Yeah；　so　what？'　Tomkin's　deep…set　eyes　never　left　Nicholas's　hands。　'What's　it　to　me？'
　'He's　our　man。　He　split　just　after　I　made　the　call　to　Russo　requesting　the　list　of　oriental　male　workers　here　at　the　tower。'　One　ridge　higher　than　　the　other　and　he　backtracked　with　the　tips　of　his　fingers　just　to　make　certain。　He　gave　a　little　pull。　'Russo　didn't　speak　to　anyone　about　this　little　job　and　there　was　no　time　for　anyone　to　get　a　peek。'　Fingers　still　in　darkness　with　their　minuscule　prize。　'Just　Russo　and　me　and'　…　he　lifted　it　into　the　light　at　last；　deposited　on　the　gleaming　desk　top　in　front　of　Tomkin；　a　bright　bit　of　plastic　and　metal；　thin　as　a　wafer；　less　than　an　inch　in　diameter　…　'of　course；　the　telephone。'
　Tomkin's　face　had　gone　red　and　his　head　seemed　to　tremble　somewhat。　He　reached　out　one　forefinger；　pushed　hesitantly　at　the　thing　as　if　he　thought　it　might　bite　him。　'Goddamn　it　I'　he　cried。　'Goddamn　it！　Under　my　own　nose！'　He　pounded　the　table；　looked　up。　'Frank；　you　sonovabitch！　How'd　you　let　mat　cocksucker　in　here？　I'll　kill　you！'
　Frank　stood　rooted　to　the　spot；　bewildered。
　'It's　not　his　fault；'　Nicholas　said　quietly。　'He　couldn't　know　what　to　look　for。'
　But　Tomkin　was　beyond　calming　words。　He　moved　out　from　behind　his　desk；　the　forefinger　that　had　touched　the　electronic　bug　waving　in　the　air　at　his　bodyguard。　'Is　this　what　I　pay　you　for；　you　asshole？　That　…　dial　shit　was　in　here；　prowling　around！　Where　the　fuck　were　you？　Tell　me　that！　Where　the　fuck　were　you？'
　'I　was　here　all　the　time；　Mr　Tomkin；'　Frank　said　hastily。　'Even　when　you　were　out　to　lunch；　I　was　here。　I　never　left；　you　gotta　believe　me。　This　guy　must　have　busted　in　here　at　night；　after　you　and　me　were　gone。　I　don't　…'
　Tomkin　soared　forward；　slammed　Frank　with　the　back　of　his　hand。　'Nobody　broke　in　here；　you　schmuck　…　not　without　my　knowing　about　it　the　next　day。'　He　watched　the　bright　red　stain　on　Frank's　cheek；　he　could　almost　feel　how　hot　the　skin　was。　'No；　he　was　here　all　right；　under　our　noses。　You　were　just　too　stupid　to　have　seen　him。'
　'But　I　didn't；　even　know　who　to　look　for；'　Frank　said。
　'Shut　up　I　Just　shut　up；　will　you？'　Tomkin　turned　his　back　on　him。　'Christ；　you　sound　like　a　baby　crying。'
　Nicholas　had　been　moving　in　a　half…crouch　outwards　from　the　epicentre　of　the　desk　in　a　tight　spiral。　It　took　him　ten　minutes　of　intensive　search　but　he　found　a　second　bug　under　one　section　of　the　chocolate　couch。　No　one　said　anything　until　he　was　finished。
　'I　think；'　Nicholas　said；　dusting　off　his　hands；　'that　under　the　circumstances　we'd　better　go　downstairs。'
　'What　for？'　Tomkin　looked　puzzled。　'The　room's　secure　now；　isn't　it？'
　Nicholas　nodded。　He　was　already　moving　towards　the　door　to　the　corridor。　'Tell　you　on　the　way　down；　okay？'
　Tomkin's　heavy　voice　broke　the　whirring　silence　of　their　descent。　'I　don't　mind　telling　you　that　was　a　good　piece　of　work　you　did　up　there；　Nick。　Damned　fine。　Thanks。'　He　sighed。　'You　know　I　regularly　have　my　office　and　homes　electronically　vacuumed　every　six　months　to　weed　out　surveillance　but；　Christ；　I　haven't　even　moved　in　here　officially。'　He　ran　his　fingers　through　his　iron…grey　brush　of　hair。　'Sweet　Jesus；　when　I　think　of　what　he　might　have　overheard　over　those　lines！　I'd　like　to　rip　his　throat　out！'
　The　doors　slid　open　and　they　stepped　out　into　the　　atrium。
　'You　don't　think　the　bastard's　here　somewhere；　do　you？'　Tomkin's　head　moved　from　side　to　side。
　'No　chance；'　Nicholas　said；　guiding　the　other　man　along　the　lobby。　'He　knew　security　had　been　broken　the　minute　he　overheard　my　conversation　with　Russo。　He's　split。　For　the　time　being。'
　They　went　out　into　the　hot　sunshine　on　Park　Avenue。　Like　stepping　out　onto　the　surface　of　a　bloated；　slowly　turning　planet；　the　burning　atmosphere　so　thick　it　felt　like　gravity；　locked　in　a　pressure　chamber。
　As　they　approached　the　car；　the　thin；　bony　chauffeur　got　out；　stood　waiting　on　the　broken　sidewalk；　one　hand　grasping　the　door　handle。
　Nicholas　stopped　them　midway　along　the　plank　walkway。
　The　jarring　sound　of　the　jackhammers　filled　the　air　like　a　battery　of　dentists'　drills。　Tomkin　had　to　lean　close　in　order　to　hear　what　Nicholas　was　saying。　He　nodded　and　they　climbed　into　the　dim；　cool　interior　of　the　limo。
　They　started　up　immediately；　nosing　out　into　the　traffic　flow。　Nicholas　began　to　work。　He　went　to　the　phone　first；　unscrewing　both　ends　of　the　receiver；　drew　a　blank。　It　had　to　be　a　place　of　easy　access；　he　reasoned。　The　ninja　might　have　been　able　to　take　his　time　in　Tomkin's　office　but　certainly　not　here。　He　looked　into　the　well　where　the　receiver　was　placed；　very　little　room。　He　used　one　finger　all　around　the　sides。　And　came　up　with　it。　He　depressed　a　button　and　an　inch　of　window　slid　silently　down。　He　threw　the　bug　out。　The　window　sighed　up。
　'Clear？'　Tomkin　asked。
　He　held　up　his　hand；　inspected　all　the　obvious　places；　nothing。
　'All　right。'　He　sat　back　up　in　the　seat。　'We're　secure。'
　'Good。'　Tomkin's　face　relaxed　visibly。　'All　this　has　given　me　（he　creeps　because　it's　e　at　the　worst　time　imaginable。'　He　leaned　forward；　depressed　a　hidden　stud。　A　smoked…glass　panel　slid　upwards；　cutting　them　off　from　the　front　of　the　car。　Nicholas　saw　the　cross…hatching　of　the　wire　mesh　embedded　within　the　glass。　'I'm　in　the　middle　of　one　of　the　biggest　deals　I've　ever　made。　It　takes　in　corporations　on　three　continents。　The　amount　of　money　involved；　well；　it's　incalculable。　Christ；　what　I　need　now　is　not　to　be　disturbed；　so　I　get　this　…　asshole…　hanging　around　my　neck。'　He　chuckled；　his　mood　shifting　abruptly。　'Well；　I　shouldn't　plain；　really。　This　idea　originated　with　the　Japanese。　Only　they　were　far　too　timid；　they　refused　to　go　all　the　way　with　it　even　after　I　outlined　the　perfect　methodology。　Scared；　is　all。　So　we　had　a　falling　out　…　of　sorts。'　He　laughed。　'I　stole　the　idea。　Shit；　they　were　going　to　just　sit　on　it　for　a　while；　〃study〃　the　sampling　they　already　had。'　He　snorted。　'No　one'd　get　rich　that　way。　Then　they　wanted　back　in　after　I　had　it　running。　Can　you　imagine？　I　told　them　to　fuck　off。　They　had　lost　a　lot　of　face　by　then　…　too　much；　I　guess。　So　they've　sent　the　ninja。'
　Tomkin　settled　himself　more　fortably　against　the　plush　velvet　seat。　'Might　as　well　go　somewhere　now　that　we're　out。〃
　He　flicked　a　switch；　gave　the　chauffeur　an　address　on　the　West　Side。　'I'm　hungry。　How　about　you？'　》　'I　could　eat　something。〃
　'Okay。　Good。'　He　closed　his　eyes　for　a　moment。　'I　don't　want　anything　to　happen　to　my　girls；　understand？'
　Nicholas　said　nothing。　He　was　thinking　about　what　Croaker　had　told　him　about　this　man。　He　was　wondering　about　the　truth。
　Tomkin　turned　his　head　sharply　like　a　dog　at　the　point。　I'm　quite　certain　you　think　I　don't　give　a　shit　about　them。　I　can　imagine　the　kind　of　fantasies　Justine　has　told　you　about　me。'
　'She　really　doesn't　talk　about　you　much。　Does　that　surprise　you？'
　'Don't　be　impertinent　with　me；'　Tomkin　said　coldly。　'It　won't　get　you　very　far。'　His　voice　softened　somewhat。　'But；　to　be　quite　frank；　I　am　surprised　she　hasn't　told　you　all　about　me。'　He　waved　a　hand　as　if　in　dismissal。　'It　doesn't　matter；　really。　I　still　love　them　both。　I　know　I'm　not　the　world's　best　father　but　then　they　leave　a　lot　to　be　desired　as　daughters。　Let's　just　say　we're　all　at　fault。'
　'Perhaps　if　you　didn't　use　your　power　with　them　the　way　…'
　'Ah；　then　she　did　talk　about　me。'
　'A　bit；　yes。　Once。'
　'My　dear　boy；'　Tomkin　said；　'I　don't　mean　to　be　pompous　but　money　is　power　or；　more　accurately；　it's　the　other　way　round。　It　amounts　to　the　same　thing。　That's　my　gift；　you　see。　It's　what　I　excel　in。　Making　decisions；　building　power；　watching　the　money　pour　in。'　He　lifted　a　knowing　forefinger　to　the　side　of　his　nose；　absurdly；　it　made　him　look　like　an　avuncular　character　out　of　a　Dickens　novel。　'It's　also　what　keeps　me　alive。　I'd　be　dead　tomorrow　without　that　excitement；　I　can't　give　it　up　for　anyone；　not　even　my　girls。'
　'Would　you　even　want　to？'
　'To　be　honest；　I　don't　know。'　He　shrugged　heavily。　'But　what　possible　difference　could　that　make？　It's　a　moot　point。　I　don't　love　them　any　less　for　it；　I'm　merely　denied　certain　things。'
　'So　are　they。'
　'Life　is　tough；　huh？　I'm　glad　you　figured　that　out。'　He　turned　his　head。　'I　guess　I　was　right　about　you。　I　like　the　way　you　work。〃
　They　crossed　Fifth　Avenue　on　Fifty…seventh；　heading　west。　Heavy　traffic　brought　them　to　a　standstill　midway　along　the　block。　Behind　them　was　the　white　modernistic　sweep　of　Seven　West。　Fuel　exhaust　and　the　heat　bined　to　streak　the　air　as　it　rose　in　waves　from