cc.goldenbuddha-第39节

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ve　Spenser　in　the　SUV　to　the　ramp；　then　park。〃　Adams　nodded　in　agreement。　
　〃Once　you've　stopped；　climb　out　and　erect　the　portable　awning　over　the　rear　of　the　truck；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃Then　you　can　open　the　crate　displaying　the　Buddha。〃　
　〃What　if　the　buyer　wants　us　to　bring　the　Buddha　aboard？〃　Spenser　asked。　
　〃Tell　him　no；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃He　needs　to　do　his　inspection　on　the　ground　and　take　ownership　on　Macau　soil。〃　
　Spenser　nodded；　but　he　didn't　look　convinced。　
　〃Max；〃　Cabrillo　continued；　〃you　are　going　to　leave　in　a　few　minutes　and　make　your　way　around　to　the　front　terminal；　where　a　cab　will　bring　you　back　to　the　737。〃
　〃Got　it；〃　Hanley　said。　
　Cabrillo　paused　and　stared　at　the　team。　〃This　should　go　nice　and　easy；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃Hanley　will　verify　the　authenticity；　the　payment　will　be　made；　and　then　the　billionaire　can　haul　the　Buddha　aboard。　Any　questions？〃　
　No　one　spoke。　
　〃All　right　then；〃　Cabrillo　said。　〃Good　luck；　Max。〃　Hanley　nodded　and　walked　toward　a　rear　door　to　the　hangar。　〃George；〃　Cabrillo　said；　〃you　and　Spenser　can　climb　in　the　SUV。　We'll　want　to　give　Hanley　a　few　minutes　to　make　contact　and　some　small　talk；　then　we　need　to　make　the　approach。〃　
　Adams　nodded　and　motioned　to　Spenser　to　climb　in　the　passenger　seat　of　the　Chevrolet。　
　
　THE　SOFTWARE　BILLIONAIRE　was　drinking　tea　with　coconut　milk　and　smoking　a　thin　cheroot。　The　intrigue　of　the　event　had　caught　up　to　him　and；　a　few　minutes　before；　he　had　retired　to　the　rear　partment　of　the　737　to　change　into　all　black　clothing。　His　success　in　the　software　industry；　a　condition　of　luck　and　timing　more　than　skill　and　ability；　had　over　the　years　allowed　his　ego　to　swell　into　dangerous　proportions。　He　was　beginning　to　believe　his　own　hype。　At　this　instant；　with　the　drugs　and　sex　wearing　off　and　the　nicotine　and　caffeine　increasing；　he　was　beginning　to　think　he　was　a　secret　agent。　The　heist；　followed　by　the　payoff；　and　then　absconding　with　the　goods。　He　was　already　thinking　about　the　fun　he　would　have　relaying　the　story　to　his　friends。　
　
　HANLEY　WALKED　OVER　to　the　Macau　taxi　and　climbed　into　the　backseat。　The　taxi　rolled　around　the　edge　of　the　mam　terminal；　then　back　down　toward　the　737。　Once　it　was　close　to　the　ramp；　Hanley　I　ordered　the　driver　to　slow；　then　sound　the　horn。　
　The　billionaire　heard　the　sound　and　glanced　out　a　window　of　the　jet。　Seeing　Talbot　in　the　rear　of　the　taxi；　he　walked　forward　toward　the　open　cabin　door；　then　stood　at　the　top　of　the　ramp。　Hanley　climbed　；'　from　the　rear　of　the　taxi。　The　billionaire　motioned　for　him　to　climb　the　ramp。　　
　Hanley　started　up　the　steps。　　
　At　that　exact　instant；　Juan　Cabrillo　picked　up　a　portable　radio　and　pushed　Talk。　
　〃Flyswatter；〃　he　said；　〃how　you　holding　up？〃　
　Larry　King　was　perched　inside　the　scooped　intake　of　the　hangar's　air…conditioning　system。　The　rain　was　occasionally　blowing　inside　the　shaft；　but　at　least　he　had　something　over　his　head。　〃I　stopped　by　the　Oregon　after　the　party；〃　King　said；　〃and　picked　up　a　thermos　of　tomato　soup；　a　waterproof　cover　for　the　nightscope　and　some　depleted　uranium　rounds。　I'm　in　tall　cotton。〃　
　Cabrillo　was　always　appreciative　of　King's　professionalism。　The　Corporation　could　parachute　him　into　a　barren　wasteland　with　a　few　packaged　meals　and　his　rifle；　and　within　hours　he　would　have　found　a　nest　and　lined　up　his　shots。　Then　he　would　patiently　wait　until　his　special　services　were　needed　or　not；　without　plaint。　Since　Cabrillo　had　access　to　the　operatives'　personal　records；　he　knew　that　King　was　also　the　owner　of　a　piano　bar　in　Sedona；　Arizona。　It　had　been　odd　the　single　time　Cabrillo　had　traveled　through　the　area　and　caught　King　at　work　not　only　had　the　sniper　been　dressed　in　a　black　tuxedo　instead　of　camouflaged　sniper　clothes；　but　he'd　sung　mainly　love　songs　and　ballads　in　a　sweet　melodious　voice。　
　〃How's　the　reception；　Larry？〃　Cabrillo　asked。　
　〃The　parabolic　is　distorted　some　by　the　droplets　on　the　glass；〃　King　admitted。　〃But　I　can　make　out　some　of　what's　being　said。〃
　〃You　know　to　call　if　something　big　happens。〃　
　〃Yes；　sir；〃　King　said；　staring　through　the　nightscope　and　touching　the　earpiece　to　the　microphone。　〃Hanley　just　made　his　greetings。〃　
　Monica　Crabtree　was　on　the　far　end　of　the　hangar；　staring　out　a　crack　in　the　door。　〃Mr。　Hanley　just　walked　inside；〃　she　said　across　the　space　of　the　hangar。　
　〃e　on　in　out　of　the　rain；　Michael；〃　King　heard　the　billionaire　say。　
　Hanley　passed　Gunderson　in　the　aisle　as　he　followed　the　billionaire。　He　touched　the　middle　finger　of　his　left　hand　to　his　eyebrow；　as　if　to　wipe　away　a　droplet。　Gunderson　brushed　his　chin　in　reply。　
　〃Have　a　seat；〃　the　billionaire　said　as　they　reached　a　conference　table　in　a　partment　in　the　front　section　of　the　737。　
　Hanley　slid　into　a　seat　and　stared　at　the　man。　
　〃I　couldn't　tell　you　what　was　happening　over　the　telephone；〃　the　billionaire　said。　〃But　the　Buddha　that　you　bid　on　for　me　has　e　up　for　sale　once　again。〃　
　〃That's　quick；〃　Hanley　said。　
　The　billionaire　nodded　but　offered　nothing　more。　〃Your　voice　sounds　rough。　Can　I　offer　you　something？〃　
　〃The　rain　and　the　air　on　the　mercial　flights　I've　been　taking；〃　Hanley　said。　〃I　think　I'm　ing　down　with　something。〃　
　The　billionaire　pushed　a　button　and　Gunderson　appeared。　
　〃Could　you　bring　Mr。　Talbot　some　tea　with　lemon　and　honey？〃　
　〃And　for　you；　sir？〃　
　〃I'll　have　a　snifter　of　warmed　Ouzo；　please。〃　
　〃Right　away；　sir；〃　Gunderson　said。　
　On　the　roof　of　the　hangar；　King　heard　the　exchange。　〃They　are　ordering　drinks；　sir。〃　
　〃Open　the　door；　Monica；〃　Cabrillo　ordered。　
　Crabtree　hit　a　button　and　raised　the　hangar　door　far　enough　for　the　SUV　to　exit。　
　〃Time　to　go；　men；〃　Cabrillo　shouted　to　Adams　and　Spenser。　
　
　Adams　placed　the　Chevrolet　in　gear　and　drove　slowly　to　the　door。　Then　he　exited　the　hangar　into　the　pouring　rain。　
　Gunderson　returned　with　the　drinks　to　find　the　billionaire　staring　silently　at　Hanley。　〃The　pilot　asked　me　to　tell　you　that　a　truck　is　approaching；〃　said　Gunderson。　
　The　billionaire　turned　from　Hanley　and　stared　out　the　window。　A　I　white　Chevrolet　SUV　pulled　near　the　ramp；　and　a　man　he　didn't　recognize　climbed　from　the　driver's　seat　and　walked　to　the　rear。　Once　there；　he　removed　a　folded；　portable；　aluminum…legged　awning　from　the　rear　and　erected　it。　Then　the　billionaire　watched　as　Spenser　climbed　from　the　passenger　seat。　
　〃e　on；〃　the　billionaire　said　to　Hanley。　〃Our　prize　has　arrived。〃　
　At　the　same　time　Hanley　and　the　billionaire　were　walking　toward　the　ramp；　Adams　pulled　the　crate　containing　the　Buddha　forward　and　opened　the　top。　Then　he　walked　back　to　the　driver's　seat　and　climbed　inside　out　of　the　rain。　
　The　billionaire　appeared　at　the　top　of　the　stairs　and　Spenser；　under　the　awning；　motioned　for　him　to　descend。　The　two　men　walked　down　the　ramp。　
　〃Let's　do　this　out　of　the　rain；〃　the　billionaire　said　when　he　reached　the　tarmac。　〃Inside　my　plane。〃　
　Spenser　shook　his　head　in　the　negative。　〃I　don't　know　you；　and　you　don't　know　me；〃　he　said；　〃so　until　I　receive　payment　and　you　take　delivery；　the　Golden　Buddha　remains　on　the　ground。〃　
　The　billionaire　turned　to　Hanley。　〃Is　this　the　dealer　that　made　the　winning　bid？〃　
　〃Yes；〃　Hanley　said。　
　〃You're　Mike　Talbot；〃　Spenser　said。　
　〃Michael；〃　Hanley　corrected。　
　〃Did　you　bring　cash　like　we　agreed？〃　Spenser　asked。　
　〃Bearer　bonds；〃　the　billionaire　answered。　〃If　everything　checks　out。〃　
　Hanley　stood　quietly；　with　the　gusts　of　wind　blowing　sprinkles　of　rain　onto　his　mask。　
　〃Check　it　out；〃　the　billionaire　said　to　Hanley。　
　Hanley　walked　over　and　examined　the　Buddha　in　detail；　then　reached　down　and　shaved　a　small　sample　of　gold　from　the　foot。　〃Did　you　bring　the　other　sample？〃　he　asked　the　billionaire；　who　reached　into　his　pocket　and　removed　an　envelope。　
　Hanley　removed　an　eyepiece　from　his　pocket　and　pretended　to　study　the　sample　for　a　few　minutes。　〃They　match；〃　he　said　at　last。　
　〃I'll　retrieve　the　payment；〃　the　billionaire　said。　
　At　exactly　the　same　time；　Chuck　Gunderson　was　placing　the　last　strip　of　duct　tape　over　the　mouth　of　the　copilot。　Binding　the　men's　wrists　with　plastic　ties；　he　laid　the　pilot　and　copilot　together　on　the　floor　of　the　cockpit。　
　〃Target's　heading　up　the　stairs；〃　King　radioed　Cabrillo。　
　〃Make　the　call；〃　Cabrillo　said　to　Nixon。　
　Inside　the　737；　Gunderson　turned　to　the　brunette　flight　attendant。　〃Do　me　a　favor；〃　he　said；　〃close　that　cabin　door。〃　
　As　the　billionaire　climbed　the　stairs　in　the　rain；　he　could　not　hear　the　footsteps　as　Adams；　Spenser　and　Hanley　sprinted　through　the　puddles　to　the　rear　of　the　hangar。　His　mind　was　on　the　Golden　Buddha　and　retrieving　the　briefcase　that　held　the　key　to　owning　the　icon。　He　was　halfway　up　the　ramp　when　the　door　to　his　jet　started　to　close。　Just　as　he　reached　the　top　step；　the　hatch　was　locked　in　place。　Banging　on　the　door；　the　billionaire　began　screaming　at　the　top　of　his　lungs。　
　
　ACROSS　TOWN；　LING　Po　was　just　about　to　enter　the　manhole　when　his　cell　phone　rang。　
　〃Things　have　gotten　too　hot　for　us；〃　an　unknown　voice　said　to　Po。　〃You　win；　Detective。　There　is　a　white　Chevrolet　Tahoe　on　the　runway　at　Macau　airport。　It　has　the　Buddha　that　was　stolen　from　the　party。　Goodbye。〃　
　The　telepho