cc.floodtide-第22节
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ator was torn from his body。
Four seconds later； there was a splintering crash as the catamaran smashed through the hull of the yacht； followed by an explosion that filled the night sky with flame and flying debris。 The black catamaran that had acted as an execution chamber disintegrated。 All that remained of it was a flaming oil slick。 Almost immediately； fire was shooting through every port and varnished door of the yacht。 Pitt was stunned at how quickly she became a flaming torch。 He backstroked around the yacht's stern toward the floating hut at the end of the dock； watching as the luxurious skylounge and dining salon collapsed into the fire。 Slowly； very slowly； the yacht settled into the cold waters of the lake amid a huge cloud of hissing steam； until nothing remained of her except the upper half of a radar antenna。
The reaction time for the security guards； as Pitt had previously estimated； was slow。 He had reached the floating hut before they came racing from the retreat on their dirt bikes toward the dock； which had also ignited and was now going up in flames。 For the second time in an hour he surfaced inside the hut。 Feet could be heard pounding through the passageway。 He slammed the door； but finding no lock； wedged his trusty dive knife between the outer edge and the frame； effectively jamming it closed。
An old hand at riding watercraft； he jumped astride the nearest one and pressed the starter button。 He squeezed the thumb throttle； and the motor immediately whirred into life。 The thrasters dug in the water and threw the craft and Pitt forward。 Together； they struck the flimsy door； shattering it into splinters before racing across the lake。 Cold； wet； exhausted and bleeding from the bullet wound in his hip； Pitt felt like a man who had just won the lottery； the sweepstakes and broke the bank at Monte Carlo。 But only for the time it took to reach the dock beside his cabin。
Then reality set in； and he knew the worst was yet to e。
LO HAN STARED DUMBSTRUCK AT THE MONITORS INSIDE THE mobile security vehicle revealing the black catamaran suddenly making a wide swing around the lake and homing in on the yacht； ramming the beautiful vessel square amidships。 The resulting explosion rocked the security vehicle； temporarily knocking out the surveillance systems。 Lo Han ran outside and down to the shoreline to witness the disaster firsthand。
There will be a heavy price to pay； he thought； staring at the yacht as it sank under the lake in a cloud of steam。 Qin Shang was not a man who easily forgave。 He would not be pleased when he learned that one of his four yachts had been destroyed。 Already Lo Han was mentally creating ways to blame that stupid Chu Deng。
After he had demanded that Chu Deng investigate the mysterious light； there had been no coherent munication from the black boat and its crew of enforcers。 He had to believe that they were drunk and had passed out in a stupor。 What other explanation could there be？ What reason for purposely mitting suicide？ The last thing to cross his mind was the specter of an outside source who was responsible for this disaster。
Two of his guards came running up to him。 Lo Han recognized them as the men from his water patrol。
〃Lo Han；〃 one of the men panted； out of breath after running nearly four hundred yards out and back through the passageway to the floating log hut。
He stared at them angrily。 〃Wang Hui； Li San； why aren't you men on the water with your craft？〃
〃We couldn't reach them；〃 explained Wang Hui。 〃The door was locked。 Before we could force it open the hut was on fire； and we had to escape back into the tunnel or be burned alive。〃
〃The door was locked！〃 Lo Han bellowed。 〃Impossible。 I personally instructed that no lock be installed。〃
〃I swear to you； Lo Han；〃 said Li San； 〃the door was barred from the inside。〃
〃Perhaps it became blocked from the explosion；〃 offered Wang Hui。
〃Nonsense…〃 Lo Han broke off as a voice came over his portable radio。 〃Yes； what is it？〃 he snapped。
The quiet； petent voice of his second in mand； Kung Chong； came through the earpiece。 〃The two men who were late in relieving the cell…block security guards 。。。〃
〃Yes； what about them？〃
〃They have been found bound and beaten on the vacant second level of the building。〃
〃Bound and beaten；〃 blurted Lo Han。 〃There is no mistake？〃
〃It looks like the work of a professional；〃 stated Kung
Chong flatly。
〃Are you saying our security has been infiltrated？〃
〃It would seem so。〃
〃Launch an immediate search of the grounds；〃 demanded Lo Han。
〃I have already given the order。〃
Lo Han slipped the radio into his pocket and gazed at the dock that was still blazing from end to end。 There has to be a connection between the men who were assaulted in the prison building and the insane collision of the yacht by the catamaran； he thought。 Still ignorant of Pitt's rescue of the doomed immigrants； Han could not bring himself to believe that American law…enforcement agents had sent an undercover team to destroy Qin Shang's operation。 He eliminated that thought as unrealistic； considering the situation。 That would make them responsible for the murders of Chu Deng and his crew of enforcers； an act not generally conceived by FBI or INS agents。 No； if American investigators had the slightest clue of the covert activities taking place on Orion Lake； a tactical assault team would already be swarming over the grounds。 It was painfully obvious to Lo Han that this was no professionally planned intrusion by an army of trained agents。 It was an operation conducted by one； surely no more than two； men。
But whom were they working for？ Who was paying them？ Certainly not a peting smuggling operation or one of the established criminal syndicates。 They wouldn't be so stupid as to start a territory fight； not while Qin Shang had the backing of the People's Republic of China。
Han's gaze traveled from the burning pier and the sunken ships to the cabin across the lake。 He stood there transfixed and recalled the arrogant fisherman who flaunted his catch the day before。 He may not be what he seemed。 Probably no fisherman or a simple businessman on vacation； Lo Han deduced； and yet he did not act like an agent of the Immigration Service or the FBI。 Whatever his motive； the fisherman was Lo Han's only suspect within a hundred miles。
Content that he had eliminated the worst…case scenario； Lo Han began to breathe a little easier。 He took his radio and called a name。 The voice of Kung Chong answered。
〃Are there suspicious sightings of vehicles？〃 Lo Han asked。
〃The roads and skies are empty；〃 Kung Chong assured him。
〃Any unusual activity across the lake？〃
〃Our cameras reveal some movement among the trees behind the cabin but no signs of the occupant inside。〃
〃I want a raid on that cabin。 I must know who we're dealing with。〃
〃A raid will take time to organize；〃 said Kung Chong。
〃Buy time by sending in a man to sabotage his automobile so he can't escape。〃
〃Should something go wrong； won't we be risking a confrontation with the local law authorities？〃
〃The last of my worries。 If my instincts are correct； the man is dangerous and a threat to our employer who pays us and pays us well。〃
〃Do you wish to terminate him？〃
〃I believe that to be the safest alternative；〃 Lo Han said； nodding to himself。 〃Be warned。 There must be no mistakes。 It is not wise to incur the wrath of Qin Shang。〃
〃Mr。 Pitt？〃 Julia Lee's whisper was barely audible in the darkness。
〃Yes。〃 Pitt had parked the watercraft in a small inlet that opened onto the lake beside the cabin； approaching through the woods until he found Julia and her brood。 He sat down heavily on a fallen tree and began pulling off his dry suit。 〃Is everyone all right？〃
〃They're alive；〃 she answered in a soft voice with just a trace of huskiness。 〃But they're not all right。 They're soaked to the skin and freezing。 Everyone needs dry clothes and medical attention。〃
Pitt gently touched the bullet wound in his hip。 〃I'll second that。〃
〃Why can't they go inside your cabin where they can be warm and find something to eat？〃
He shook his head。 〃Not a good idea。 I haven't been to town for almost two days and my cupboard is bare。 Better we herd them into the boathouse。 I'll bring them whatever food I have left and every blanket I can find。〃
〃You're not making sense；〃 she said flatly。 〃They'd be more fortable in the cabin than some smelly old boathouse。〃
A stubborn woman； this one； Pitt thought； and self…sufficient too。 〃Did I forget to mention the surveillance cameras and listening bugs that grow like mushrooms in nearly every room？ I think it best if your friends across the lake observe no one but me。 If they suddenly see the ghosts of the people they believe they drowned watching television and drinking my tequila； they'll e charging in here with every gun blazing before our side's posse arrives。 No sense in getting them all riled up before their time。〃
〃They've been monitoring you from across the lake？〃 she asked； puzzled。
〃Someone over there thinks I have beady eyes and can't be trusted。〃
She looked at his face； trying to distinguish
