cc.floodtide-第67节

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ere　funneled　into　the　President's　future　election　campaign　through　Qin　Shang。〃
　
　〃When　we　met　with　the　President；〃　said　Sandecker；　〃he　spoke　as　if　the　Chinese　were　the　greatest　scourge　on　the　country　since　the　Civil　War。　Now　you　tell　me　his　fingers　are　in　Qin　Shang's　wallet。〃
　
　〃There　is　simply　no　underestimating　the　morals　of　a　politician；〃　Giordino　said　with　a　sardonic　twist　of　his　lips。
　〃Be　that　as　it　may；〃　Monroe　said　gravely；　〃political　ethics　are　not　the　job　of　INS。　Our　primary　concern　at　the　moment　is　with　the　huge　numbers　of　illegal　Chinese　aliens　that　are　being　smuggled　into　the　country　by　Qin　Shang　Maritime　Limited　before　being　killed　or　enslaved　by　criminal　syndicates。〃
　
　〃missioner　Monroe　is　quite　correct；〃　said　Harper。　〃The　duty　of　INS　is　to　plug　the　flow；　not　prosecute　murders。〃
　〃I　can't　speak　for　Mr。　Hill　and　the　CIA；〃　said　Davis；　〃but　the　Bureau　has　been　heavily　involved　with　investigating　Qin　Shang's　domestic　crimes　against　the　American　people　for　three　years。〃
　〃Our　inquiries；　on　the　other　hand；　are　focused　more　on　his　overseas　operations；〃　offered　CIA's　Hill。
　〃An　uphill　battle　on　any　front；〃　said　Pitt　thoughtfully。　〃If　Shang　has　forces　within　our　own　government　working　against　your　efforts；　it　will　make　all　your　jobs　that　much　tougher。〃
　〃Nobody　here　thinks　it　will　be　a　piece　of　cake；〃　said　Mon…roe　formally。
　
　Julia　jumped　in。　〃Aren't　we　overlooking　the　fact　that　besides　being　an　international　body　smuggler；　Qin　Shang　is　a　mass　murderer。　I　experienced　his　ruthlessness　firsthand。　There　is　no　counting　the　untold　numbers　of　innocent　people　and　children　who　lie　dead　because　of　his　greed。　The　atrocities　his　henchmen　have　mitted　under　his　direction　are　hideous　and　monstrous。　He　deals　in　crimes　against　humanity。　We　must　put　an　end　to　the　slaughter；　and　quickly。〃
　
　For　a　long　moment　no　one　said　a　word。　Every　man　at　the　table　knew　of　the　horrors　Julia　had　witnessed　and　suffered。　Finally；　Monroe　broke　the　silence。
　
　〃We　all　understand　your　feelings；　Ms。　Lee；　but　all　of　us　are　working　under　laws　and　regulations　that　must　be　followed。　I　promise　you　that　every　possible　effort　is　being　made　to　stop　Qin　Shang。　As　long　as　I　am　at　the　helm　of　the　INS；　we　won't　rest　until　his　operation　is　destroyed　and　he　is　arrested　and　convicted。〃
　〃I　can　safely　say　that　goes　for　Mr。　Hill　and　myself　as　well；〃　added　Davis。
　〃Not　good　enough；〃　said　Pitt　quietly；　turning　every　head。
　〃You　doubt　our　resolve？〃　asked　Monroe　indignantly。
　〃No；　but　I　totally　disagree　with　your　methods。〃
　〃Government　policy　dictates　our　actions；〃　Davis　said。　〃All　of　us　must　work　under　guidelines　set　by　the　American　justice　system。〃
　Pitt's　face　went　dark　as　a　midnight　sky。　〃I　saw　for　myself　a　sea　of　dead　on　the　bottom　of　Orion　Lake。　I　saw　the　poor　wretched　souls　locked　up　in　cells。　Four　men　died　protecting　Julia　and　me…〃
　〃I　know　what　you're　driving　at；　Mr。　Pitt；〃　said　Davis。　〃But　we　have　no　evidence　directly　linking　Qin　Shang　to　those　crimes。　Certainly　not　enough　to　call　for　an　indictment。〃
　〃The　man　is　shrewd；〃　said　Harper。　〃He's　shielded　himself　from　direct　involvement。　Without　solid　proof　that　he　is　in　some　way　responsible；　we　can't　nail　him。〃
　〃If　he's　laughed　in　your　face　every　step　of　the　way；〃　said　Pitt；　〃what　makes　you　think　he's　going　to　suddenly　play　dumb　and　fall　into　your　waiting　arms？〃
　〃No　man　can　defy　the　far…reaching　investigative　powers　of　our　government　indefinitely；〃　said　Hill　earnestly。　〃I　promise　you　that　he　will　be　tried；　convicted　and　sentenced　quite　soon。〃
　〃The　man　is　a　foreign　national；〃　said　Sandecker。　〃You　arrest　him　anywhere　in　the　United　States　and　the　Chinese　government　will　raise　every　kind　of　hell　with　the　White　House　and　State　Department。　Boycotts；　sanctions　on　trade　goods；　you　name　it。　No　way　are　they　going　to　let　you　take　their　fair…haired　boy　out　of　circulation。〃
　〃The　way　I　see　it；　Mr。　Hill；〃　said　Giordino；　〃you　whistle　up　one　of　your　CIA　hit　squads　and　eliminate　Shang　neatly　and　cleanly。　Problem　solved。〃
　〃Despite　what　many　think；　the　CIA　does　not　do　assassinations；〃　said　Hill　testily。
　〃Madness；〃　muttered　Pitt。　〃Suppose　Shang's　hit　men　were　successful　last　night　and　killed　Julia　and　me。　You'd　still　be　sitting　here　claiming　you　didn't　have　enough　cold　evidence　to　indict　the　man　who　ordered　our　murders。〃
　〃Unfortunately；　that's　the　way　it　is；〃　said　Monroe。
　〃Qin　Shang　isn't　about　to　stop　there；〃　Julia　said　in　frustration。　〃He　fully　intends　to　kill　Dirk。　He　said　as　much　at　his　party　last　night。〃
　〃And　I　informed　him　that　it's　only　fair　that　we　play　by　the　same　rules；〃　said　Pitt。　〃He　now　thinks　I've　hired　a　team　of　assassins　to　take　him　out　too。〃
　〃You　threatened　Qin　Shang　to　his　face？〃　Harper　asked　incredulously。　〃How　could　you　dare？〃
　〃It　was　easy；〃　Pitt　answered　casually。　〃Despite　his　wealth　and　power；　he　still　puts　his　pants　on　one　leg　at　a　time　the　same　as　me。　I　thought　it　might　be　nice　if　he　looks　over　his　shoulder　like　the　rest　of　his　intended　victims。〃
　〃You're　joking；　of　course；〃　said　Monroe；　scorn　in　his　tone。　〃You　don't　really　conspire　to　murder　Shang。〃
　Pitt　answered　in　a　smooth　voice。　〃Oh；　but　I　do。　As　they　say　in　the　old　western　movies；　it's　either　him　or　me；　and　next　time　I　intend　to　shoot　first。〃
　Monroe　looked　worried。　He　looked　across　the　table　at　Hill　and　Davis。　Then　he　focused　on　Sandecker。　〃Admiral；　I　called　this　meeting　in　the　hope　of　enlisting　Mr。　Pitt　in　cooperating　with　our　operation。　But　it　seems　he　has　bee　a　loose　cannon。　Since　he　is　under　your　authority；　I　strongly　suggest　you　give　him　a　leave　of　absence。　Peter　here　will　arrange　for　his　protection　in　a　safe　house　on　the　coast　of　Maine。〃
　〃What　about　Julia？〃　demanded　Pitt。　〃How　do　you　intend　to　keep　her　safe　from　further　harm？〃
　〃Ms。　Lee　is　an　agent　with　INS；〃　said　Harper　in　an　official　tone。　〃She　will　continue　to　work　the　case。　A　team　of　our　agents　will　stand　guard　over　her　movements。　I　guarantee　that　she　will　be　safe。〃
　Pitt　stared　across　the　table　at　Sandecker。　〃How　do　you　call　it；　Admiral？〃
　Sandecker　pulled　his　red　Vandyke　to　a　point。　Only　Pitt　and　Giordino　recognized　the　wolfish　glint　in　his　eyes。　〃It　would　appear　we　have　little　choice　in　the　matter。　A　safe　house　might　be　the　best　place　for　you　to　lay　low　until　Qin　Shang　and　his　criminal　activities　are　terminated。〃
　Pitt　said　soberly；　〃Well；　I　guess　I　have　little　say　in　the　matter。　A　safe　house　it　is。〃
　Sandecker　wasn't　fooled　for　an　instant　by　Pitt's　easy　acceptance。　He　knew　his　special　projects　director　did　not　have　the　slightest　intention　of　leaving　the　room　like　a　lamb。　〃Then　it's　settled。〃　Suddenly　he　laughed　sharply。
　〃May　I　ask　what　you　find　so　funny；　Admiral？〃　asked　Monroe　irritably。
　〃Sorry；　Mr。　Monroe。　But　I'm　relieved　to　assume　that　the　INS；　the　FBI　and　CIA　have　no　further　use　for　NUMA。〃
　〃That　is　correct。　After　your　people　bungled　their　underwater　investigations　of　Qin　Shang　Maritime's　facilities　in　Hong　Kong　and　Sungari；　I　see　it　as　a　wasted　effort　to　involve　your　agency　any　further。〃
　Monroe's　cutting　words　produced　no　fury；　no　outrage；　nor　did　they　incite　wrath。　Pitt　and　Giordino　sat　there　and　took　it　in　stride；　expressing　no　emotions。　Sandecker　barely　managed　to　reply　to　the　missioner's　insulting　remarks。　He　settled　for　clenching　his　fists　out　of　sight　under　the　table。
　Pitt　rose　to　his　feet；　followed　by　Giordino。　〃I　know　when　I'm　not　wanted。〃　He　grinned　at　Sandecker。　〃I'll　wait　in　the　car。〃　He　paused　to　grasp　lightly　one　of　Julia's　hands；　raise　it　to　his　lips　and　kiss　it。　〃Have　you　ever　lain　on　the　beach　at　Maza…tlan　and　watched　the　sunset　over　the　Sea　of　Cortez？〃　he　whispered　in　her　ear。
　She　looked　self…consciously　up　and　down　at　the　faces　around　the　table；　her　face　reddening。　〃I've　never　even　been　to　Mexico。〃
　〃You　will；〃　he　promised；　〃you　will。〃　Then　he　released　her　hand　and　leisurely　strolled　from　the　conference　room；　trailed　by　Giordino　and　Sandecker。
　Unlike　most　directors　of　U。S。　governmental　agencies；　who　demanded　to　be　carried　around　Washington　by　limousine；　Admiral　Sandecker　preferred　to　drive　himself。　After　leaving　the　INS　headquarters　building；　he　steered　the　turquoise　Jeep；　which　was　one　of　the　NUMA　fleet　of　transportation　vehicles；　along　the　east　side　of　the　Potomac　River　on　the　Maryland　shore。　After　dropping　several　miles　below　the　city；　he　turned　off　the　road　and　stopped　the　Jeep　in　a　parking　lot　next　to　a　small　boat　dock。　Locking　the　car；　Sandecker　led　the　way　across　the　floating　wooden　dock　to　a　sixty…year…old　double…ender　whaleboat　that　had　once　served　as　Admiral　Bull　Halsey's　shore　boat　during　the　war　in　the　Pacific。　After　finding　it　in　shabby　condition；　he　had　lovingly　restored　it　to　its　original　state。　While　he　turned　the　handle　that　kicked　the　four…cylinder　Buda　diesel　engine　to　life；　Pitt　and　Giordino　cast　off　the　mooring　lines。　Then　they　climbed　aboard　as　the　little　boat　chugged　out　into　the　river。
　〃I　thought　we'd　hold　a　little　private　talk　before　we　returned　to　the　NUMA　building；〃　Sandecker　said　above　the　exhaust　as　he　held　the　long　tiller　in　the　stern　under　one　arm。　〃As　ridiculous　as　it　sounds；　I'm　leery　of　conversing　in　my　own　office。〃
　〃It　does　tend　to　make　one　gun…shy；　knowing　Qin　Shang　can　and　has　bought　off　half　the　city；〃　said　Pitt。
　〃The