jamesclavell.noblehouse-第112节

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　〃Out　of　the　question。〃
　〃You　have　the　Official　Secrets　Act。〃
　〃Out　of　the　question。〃
　〃I'm　going　to　remend　it。　By　the　way；　Ed　Langan's　FBI　boys　tied　Banastasio　in　with　Bartlett。　He's　a　big　shareholder　in　Par…Con。　They　say　he　supplied　the　dough　for　the　last　merger　that　put　Par…Con　into　the　big　time。〃
　〃Anything　on　the　Moscow　visas　for　Bartlett　and　Tcholok？〃
　〃Best　we　can　find　is　that　they　went　as　tourists。　Maybe　they　did；　maybe　it　was　a　cover。〃
　〃Anything　on　the　guns？〃　This　morning　Armstrong　had　told　Crosse　of　Peter　Marlowe's　theory　and　he　had　ordered　an　immediate　watch　on　Four　Finger　Wu　and　offered　a　great　reward　for　information。
　〃The　FBI're　sure　they　were　put　aboard　in　L。A。　It'd　be　easy　…　Par…Con's　hangar's　got　no　security。　They　also　checked　on　the　serial　numbers　you　gave　us。　They　were　all　out　of　a　batch　that　had　gotten　'mislaid'　en　route　from　the　factory　to　Camp　Pendleton　…　that's　the　Marine　depot　in　southern　California。　Could　be　we've　stumbled　onto　a　big　arms…smuggling　racket。　Over　seven　hundred　M14's　have　gotten　mislaid　in　the　last　six　months。　Talking　about　that　。。。〃　He　stopped　at　the　discreet　knock。　He　saw　Crosse　touch　the　switch。　The　door　opened　and　Brian　Kwok　and　Armstrong　came　back　in。　Crosse　motioned　them　to　sit。　〃Talking　about　that；　you　remember　the　CARE　case？〃
　〃The　suspected　corruption　here　in　Hong　Kong？〃
　〃That's　the　one。　We　might　have　a　lead　for　you。〃
　〃Good。　Robert；　you　were　handling　that　at　one　time；　weren't　you？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　Robert　Armstrong　sighed。　Three　months　ago　one　of　the　vice…consuls　at　the　U。S。　Consulate　had　asked　the　CID　to　investigate　the　handling　of　the　charity　to　see　whether　some　light…fingered　administrators　were　involved　in　a　little　take…away　for　personal　profit。　The　digging　and　interviewing　was　still　proceeding。　〃What've　you　got；　Stanley？〃
　Rosemont　searched　in　his　pockets　then　pulled　out　a　typed　note。　It　contained　three　names　and　an　address：　Thomas　K。　K。　Lim　（Foreigner　Lim）；　Mr。　Tak　Chou…lan　（Big　Hands　Tak）；　Mr。　Lo　Tup…lin　（Bucktooth　Lo）；　Room　720；　Princes　Building；　Central。　〃Thomas　K。　K。　Lim　is　American；　well　heeled　and　well　connected　in　Washington；　Vietnam　and　South　America。　He's　in　business　with　the　other　two　jokers　at　that　address。　We　got　a　tip　that　he's　mixed　up　in　a　couple　of　shady　deals　with　AID　and　that　Big　Hands　Tak　is　heavy　in　CARE。　It's　not　in　our　bailiwick　so　it's　over　to　you。〃　Rosemont　shrugged　and　stretched　again。　〃Maybe　it's　something。　The　whole　world's　on　fire　but　we　still　gotta　deal　with　crooks！　Crazy！　I'll　keep　in　touch。　Sorry　about　Fong…fong　and　your　people。〃
　He　left。
　Crosse　told　Armstrong　and　Brian　Kwok　briefly　what　he　had　been　told　about　Operation　Dry　Run。
　Brian　Kwok　said　sourly；　〃One　day　one　of　those　Yankee　mad…men're　going　to　make　a　mistake。　It's　stupid　putting　atomics　into　hair…trigger　situations。〃
　Crosse　looked　at　them　and　their　guards　came　up。　〃I　want　that　mole。　I　want　him　before　the　CIA　uncover　him。　If　they　get　him　first　。。。〃　The　thin…faced　man　was　clearly　very　angry。　〃Brian；　go　and　see　Dunross。　Tell　him　AMG　was　no　accident　and　not　to　go　out　without　our　people　nearby。　Under　any　circumstances。　Say　I　would　prefer　him　to　give　us　the　papers　early；　confidentially。　Then　he　has　nothing　to　fear。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　Brian　Kwok　knew　that　Dunross　would　do　exactly　as　he　wanted　but　he　kept　his　mouth　shut。
　〃Our　normal　riot　planning　will　cover　any　by…product　of　the　Iran　problem　and　from　Dry　Run。　However；　you'd　better　alert　CID　an…　〃　He　stopped。　Robert　Armstrong　was　frowning　at　the　piece　of　paper　Rosemont　had　given　him。　〃What　is　it；　Robert？〃
　〃Didn't　Tsu…yan　have　an　office　at　Princes　Building？〃
　〃Brian？〃
　〃We've　followed　him　there　several　times；　sir。　He　visited　a　business　acquaintance。　。。。〃　Brian　Kwok　searched　his　memory。　〃。。。　Shipping。　Name　of　Ng；　Vee　Cee　Ng；　nicknamed　Photographer　Ng。　Room　721。　We　checked　him　out　but　everything　was　above　board。　Vee　Cee　Ng　runs　Asian　and　China　Shipping　and　about　fifty　other　small　allied　businesses。　Why？〃
　〃This　address's　720。　Tsu…yan　could　tie　in　with　John　Chen；　the　guns；　Banastasio；　Bartlett　…　even　the　Werewolves；〃　Armstrong　said。
　Crosse　took　the　paper。　After　a　pause　he　said；　〃Robert；　take　a　team　and　check　720　and　721　right　now。〃
　〃It's　not　in　my　area；　sir。〃
　〃How　right　you　are！〃　Crosse　said　at　once；　heavy　with　sarcasm。　〃Yes。　I　know。　You're　CID　Kowloon；　Robert；　not　Central。　However；　I　authorize　the　raid。　Go　and　do　it。　Now。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　Armstrong　left；　red…faced。
　The　silence　gathered。
　Brian　Kwok　waited；　staring　stoically　at　the　desk　top。　Crosse　selected　a　cigarette　with　care；　lit　it；　then　leaned　back　in　his　chair。　〃Brian。　I　think　Robert's　the　mole。〃
　
　29
　
　1：38　P。M。：
　Robert　Armstrong　and　a　uniformed　police　sergeant　got　out　of　the　squad　car　and　headed　through　the　crowds　into　the　vast　maw　of　the　Princess　Arcade　with　its　jewelry　and　curio　shops；　camera　shops　and　radio　shops　stuffed　with　the　latest　electronic　miracles；　that　was　on　the　ground　floor　of　the　old…fashioned；　high…rise　office　building　in　Central。　They　eased　their　way　toward　a　bank　of　elevators；　joining　the　swarm　of　waiting　people。　Eventually　he　and　the　sergeant　squeezed　into　an　elevator。　The　air　was　heavy　and　fetid　and　nervous。　The　Chinese　passengers　watched　them　obliquely　and　unfortably。
　On　the　seventh　floor　Armstrong　and　the　sergeant　got　out。　The　corridor　was　dingy　and　narrow　with　nondescript　office　doors　on　either　side。　He　stood　for　a　moment　looking　at　the　board。　Room　720　was　billed　as　〃Ping…sing　Wah　Developments；〃　721　as　〃Asian　and　China　Shipping。〃　He　walked　ponderously　down　the　corridor；　Sergeant　Yat　alongside。
　As　they　turned　the　corner　a　middle…aged　Chinese　wearing　a　white　shirt　and　dark　trousers　was　ing　out　of　room　720。　He　saw　them；　blanched；　and　ducked　back　in。　When　Armstrong　got　to　the　door　he　expected　it　to　be　locked　but　it　wasn't　and　he　jerked　it　open　just　in　time　to　see　the　man　in　the　white　shirt　disappearing　out　of　the　back　door；　another　man　almost　jamming　him　in　equal　haste　to　flee。　The　back　door　slammed　closed。
　Armstrong　sighed。　There　were　two　rumpled　secretaries　in　the　sleazy；　untidy　office　suite　of　three　cramped　rooms；　and　they　were　gawking　at　him；　one　with　her　chopsticks　poised　in　midair　over　a　bowl　of　chicken　and　noodles。　The　noodles　slid　off　her　chopsticks　and　fell　back　into　the　soup。
　〃Afternoon；〃　Armstrong　said。
　The　two　women　gaped　at　him；　then　looked　at　the　sergeant　and　back　to　him　again。
　〃Where　are　Mr。　Lim；　Mr。　Tak　and　Mr。　Lo；　please？〃
　One　of　the　girls　shrugged　and　the　other；　unconcerned；　began　to　eat　again。　Noisily。　The　office　suite　was　untidy　and　unkempt。　There　were　two　phones；　papers　strewn　around；　plastic　cups；　dirty　plates　and　bowls　and　used　chopsticks。　A　teapot　and　tea　cups。　Full　garbage　cans。
　Armstrong　took　out　the　search　warrant　and　showed　it　to　them。
　The　girls　stared　at　him。
　Irritably　Armstrong　harshened　his　voice。　〃You　speak　English？〃
　Both　girls　jumped。　〃Yes　sir；〃　they　chorused。
　〃Good。　Give　your　names　to　the　sergeant　and　answer　his　questions。　Th…　〃　At　that　moment　the　back　door　opened　again　and　the　two　men　were　herded　back　into　the　room　by　two　hard…faced　uniformed　policemen　who　had　been　waiting　in　ambush。　〃Ah；　good。　Well　done。　Thank　you；　Corporal。　Now；　where　were　you　two　going？〃
　At　once　the　two　men　began　protesting　their　innocence　in　voluble　Cantonese。
　〃Shut　up！〃　Armstrong　snarled。　They　stopped。　〃Give　me　your　names！〃　They　stared　at　him。　In　Cantonese　he　said；　〃Give　me　your　names　and　you'd　better　not　lie　or　I　will　bee　very　fornicating　angry。〃
　〃He's　Tak　Chou…lan；〃　the　one　with　pronounced　buck　teeth　said；　pointing　at　the　other。
　〃What's　your　name？〃
　〃Er；　Lo　Tup…sop；　Lord。　But　I　haven't　done　anyt…　〃
　〃Lo　Tup…sop？　Not　Lo　Tup…lin？〃
　〃Oh　no；　Lord　Superintendent；　that's　my　brother。〃
　〃Where　is　he？〃
　The　buck…toothed　man　shrugged。　〃I　don't　know。　Please　what's　go…　〃
　〃Where　were　you　going　in　such　a　hurry；　Bucktooth　Lo？〃
　〃I'd　forgotten　an　appointment；　Lord。　Oh　it　was　very　important。　It's　urgent　and　I　will　lose　a　fortune；　sir；　if　I　don't　go　immediately。　May　I　now　please　go；　Honored　Lo…　〃
　〃No！　Here's　my　search　warrant。　We're　going　to　search　and　take　away　any　papers　th…　〃
　At　once　both　men　began　to　protest　strenuously。　Again　Armstrong　cut　them　short。　〃Do　you　want　to　be　taken　to　the　border　right　now？〃　Both　men　blanched　and　shook　their　heads。　〃Good。　Now；　where's　Thomas　K。　K。　Lim？〃　Neither　answered　so　Armstrong　stabbed　his　finger　at　the　younger　of　the　two　men。　〃You；　Mr。　Bucktooth　Lo！　Where's　Thomas　K。　K。　Lim？〃
　〃In　South　America；　Lord；〃　Lo　said　nervously。
　〃Where？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　sir；　he　just　shares　the　office。　That's　his　fornicating　desk。〃　Bucktooth　Lo　waved　a　nervous　hand　at　the　far　corner。　There　was　a　messy　desk　and　a　filing　cabinet　and　a　phone　there。　〃I've　done　nothing　wrong；　Lord。　Foreigner　Lim's　a　stranger　from　the　Golden　Mountain。　Fourth　Cousin　Tak　here　just　rents　him　space；　Lord；　Foreigner　Lim　just　es　and　goes　as　it　pleases　him　and　is　nothing　to　do　with　me。　Is　he　a　foul　criminal？　If　there's　anything　wrong　I　don't　know　anything　about　it！〃
　〃Then　what　do　you　know　about　the　thieving　of　funds　from　the　CARE　program？〃
　〃Eh？〃　Both　men　gaped　at　him。
　〃Informers　have　given　us　proof　you're　all　thieving　charity　money　that　belongs　to　starving　wom