cc.floodtide-第86节

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wdly。　Wong's　sallow　skin　stretched　tautly　and　contrasted　with　his　panion's　suntanned　face　and　neck。　As　he　stared　at　her；　he　seemed　to　revel　in　a　perverse　satisfaction。
　〃Excellently　done；〃　he　informed　May　Ching。　〃You　obtained　an　incredible　supply　of　information　that　will　be　most　useful。　Discovering　that　Miss　Lee　is　working　hi　cooperation　with　the　Coast　Guard；　who　has　our　facility　under　surveillance　from　across　the　bayou；　has　given　us　the　necessary　time　to　remove　all　immigrants　and　any　evidence　of　their　presence　before　local　authorities　and　immigration　agents　can　marshal　their　forces　to　conduct　a　raid。〃
　
　〃Fifteen　more　minutes　and　all　they'll　find　are　abandoned　ruins；〃　said　the　other　man。　His　eyes　were　black　and　vapid；　like　those　of　a　raccoon。　A　scavenger's　eyes；　bright　without　warmth。　His　hair　was　long；　black　and　tied　in　a　ponytail　that　came　halfway　down　his　back。　His　face　portrayed　someone　who　lived　high；　a　party　animal；　a　Las　Vegas　gambler；　a　womanizer。　The　skin　was　taut　from　more　than　one　face…lift。　Nothing　done　by　a　surgeon　hid　the　fact　that　he　would　never　see　fifty　again。　He　was　dressed　fashionably　for　a　Hollywood　lifestyle。
　He　stepped　over　to　Julia；　reached　out；　took　a　handful　of　hair　and　cruelly　pulled　her　head　back　until　she　was　staring　up　at　the　ceiling。　〃My　name　is　Jack　Loo；〃　he　said　icily。　〃You　belong　to　me。〃
　〃I　belong　to　no　one；〃　Julia　gasped　through　lips　taut　from　the　sudden　pain。
　〃Not　so；〃　said　Wong。　〃Qin　Shang's　orders　were　to　kill　you　on　sight。　But　Mr。　Loo　made　an　offer　I　cannot　refuse。　For　a　tidy　sum；　I　sold　you　to　him。〃
　〃You　sick　beast；〃　Julia　flashed　at　him；　fear　beginning　to　spread　in　her　eyes。
　〃Do　not　entirely　blame　me；〃　Wong　said　as　if　wounded。　〃Your　future　is　now　in　the　hands　of　the　Dragon　Triad；　Qin　Shang　Maritime's　partners　in　crime；　you　might　say。　We　export　and　the　Dragon　Triad　imports。　We　smuggle　and　sell；　they　buy；　be　it　drugs；　aliens　or　weapons。　In　return；　Mr。　Loo；　who　is　their　chief　executive　officer；　and　his　partners　provide　Qin　Shang　with　stolen　luxury　automobiles；　yachts；　consumer　goods；　high　technology；　and　counterfeit　currency；　credit　cards　and　government　documents　for　shipment　to　China。〃
　〃A　most　profitable　arrangement　for　both　sides；〃　said　Loo；　twisting　Julia's　hair　viciously　until　she　screamed。　Then　he　slapped　her　hard　across　the　buttocks　and　began　removing　the　chains。　〃You　and　I　are　going　for　a　nice；　long　ride　in　my　limo。　By　the　time　we　reach　New　Orleans；　we'll　be　on　very　close　terms。〃
　〃You　will　pay；〃　Julia　murmured　as　she　was　released　from　the　door；　her　wrists　and　ankles　free　of　the　manacles。　Unable　to　stand；　she　sagged　into　Loo's　arms。　〃I　am　an　agent　of　the　United　States　government。　Kill　me　and　they'll　never　rest　until　you're　brought　to　justice。〃
　Wong　laughed　off　her　threat。　〃You　have　no　one　but　yourself　to　blame　for　your　plight。　Qin　Shang　sent　a　force　of　no　less　than　twenty　men　to　track　you　and　Mr。　Pitt　down　for　the　purpose　of　killing　you　both。　They　lost　your　trail　and　certainly　never　expected　you　to　walk　through　our　front　door。〃
　〃I　was　stupid。〃
　
　Wong　shrugged　in　agreement。　〃Granted；　impulsive　behavior　is　not　what　makes　a　good　government　agent…〃　Wong　was　suddenly　interrupted　by　the　sound　of　gunfire　from　somewhere　within　the　building。　He　stared　at　Loo；　who　removed　a　portable　phone　from　a　pocket　of　his　expensive　sport　coat　and　spoke　into　the　receiver。
　
　〃Where　is　the　gunfire　ing　from？〃　demanded　Loo。　〃Are　we　being　raided？〃
　〃No；　Mr。　Loo；〃　his　chief　of　security　answered　from　the　monitoring…systems　room。　〃There　is　no　raid。　All　grounds　and　wharf　are　clear。　The　gunfire　is　ing　from　a　room　above　the　train…loading　dock。　We　do　not　yet　know　who　is　behind　the　attack　nor　his　purpose。〃
　〃Are　there　casualties？〃
　〃No；〃　answered　the　security　chief。　〃Whoever　is　shooting　is　not　aiming　at　our　guards。〃
　〃Keep　me　informed！〃　Loo　snapped。　He　nodded　at　Wong。　〃It　is　time　to　go。〃　He　had　barely　spoken　the　words　when　the　shooting　stopped。　〃What　has　happened？〃　he　inquired；　snatching　up　the　radio　again。
　The　security　chief's　voice　came　back。　〃We　must　have　hit　him。　I　am　sending　a　team　upstairs　to　examine　the　body。〃
　〃I　wonder　who　it　can　be；〃　Wong　muttered　thoughtfully。
　〃We'll　know　shortly；〃　Loo　muttered。　He　threw　Julia　over　his　shoulder　as　lightly　as　if　she　was　a　large　pillow。　He　shook　hands　with　Wong。　〃Good　doing　business　with　you；　Mr。　Wong。　I　suggest　you　find　a　new　staging　depot。　This　one　is　no　longer　safe。〃
　Wong　smiled　without　the　slightest　expression　of　agitation。　〃Three　days　from　now　Qin　Shang　Maritime's　new　operation　will　be　firmly　established　and　the　Americans　will　have　bigger　problems　on　their　minds。〃
　With　Wong　in　the　lead；　they　left　the　office　together　and　hurried　down　a　circular　staircase　that　opened　onto　a　wide　corridor　leading　past　empty　storage　and　equipment　rooms　last　used　when　the　sugar　mill　was　in　operation。　They　were　halfway　down　the　corridor　when　Loo's　beeper　went　off　on　his　radio。　〃Yes；　what　is　it？〃　he　said　irritably。
　〃Our　security　agents　stationed　throughout　St。　Mary　Parish　report　a　small　fleet　of　Coast　Guard　boats　entering　Bayou　Teche；　and　a　pair　of　helicopters　with　government　markings　just　now　passing　over　Morgan　City；　headed　in　this　direction。〃
　〃How　long　before　they　arrive？〃　asked　Loo。
　〃The　helicopters；〃　said　his　security　chief；　〃fifteen；　maybe　eighteen　minutes。　Add　half　an　hour　for　the　boats。〃
　〃All　right；　close　down　all　systems　and　follow　the　plan　for　evacuation　and　dispersal　of　all　personnel。〃
　〃Shutting　down　now。〃
　〃We　should　be　in　our　limos　and　on　the　road　in　less　than　three　minutes；〃　said　Loo；　shifting　Julia　to　his　other　shoulder。
　〃More　than　enough　time　to　put　a　safe　distance　between　us　and　the　mill；〃　Wong　acknowledged。
　
　When　they　reached　a　doorway　leading　to　stairs　that　dropped　to　the　basement　shipping　terminal；　they　heard　the　shouting　of　voices　but　no　sounds　from　the　lootive。　Then　the　voices　died　and　it　became　clear　that　something　was　very；　very　wrong。　They　burst　through　a　doorway　onto　a　landing　high　above　the　loading　dock。　Wong；　ahead　of　the　rest；　stopped　and　froze　in　shock。
　
　The　freight　cars　had　been　loaded　with　the　immigrants　and　their　doors　shut　and　locked。　But　the　engine　sat　idle；　with　blue　smoke　curling　up　through　bullet　holes　on　the　panels　covering　the　diesel　engines　and　electric　generating　partment。　The　engineers　stood　looking　at　the　damage；　their　expressions　reflecting　helplessness　and　bafflement。　The　security　guards　who　worked　for　the　Triad　had　already　climbed　into　a　truck　that　quickly　drove　off　toward　the　main　highway　the　instant　it　was　loaded。
　
　Suddenly　Loo　realized　why　the　unknown　assailant　did　not　shoot　at　the　guards。　Fear　and　confusion　swept　over　him　as　he　understood　that　the　train　was　not　going　anywhere。　Three　hundred　immigrants　and　a　cargo　of　illegal　goods　worth　nearly　thirty　million　dollars　was　going　to　be　captured　and　confiscated　by　United　States　government　agents。　He　turned　to　Wong。　〃I'm　sorry；　my　friend；　but　because　the　transfer　of　goods　was　not　able　to　take　place；　I　must　hold　Qin　Shang　responsible。〃　〃What　are　you　saying？〃　demanded　Wong。　〃Simple；〃　explained　Loo。　〃I'm　saying　the　Dragon　Triad　is　not　paying　for　this　shipment。〃
　
　〃Qin　Shang　Maritime　delivered　as　agreed；〃　Wong　said　thickly。　If　Loo　and　the　Dragon　Triad　reneged　on　their　deal　with　his　boss；　Wong　knew　that　he　would　be　held　responsible。　Failure　of　this　magnitude　meant　death　when　one　was　in　the　employ　of　Qin　Shang。　〃The　goods　and　property　were　turned　over　and　placed　in　your　hands。　You　will　be　held　accountable。〃
　〃Without　us；　Qin　Shang　cannot　do　business　in　the　United　States；〃　Loo　said　smugly。　〃The　way　I　see　it；　he　is　powerless　to　do　anything　but　accept　the　loss。〃
　〃He　is　far　more　powerful　than　you　think；〃　said　Wong。　〃You　are　making　a　grave　mistake。〃
　〃You　tell　Qin　Shang　that　Jack　Loo　is　not　afraid　of　him。　Valuable　friends　are　not　to　be　cast　off　like　old　clothes。　He　is　too　wise　not　to　accept　a　minor　defeat　that　he　can　recoup　in　a　week。〃
　Wong　gazed　ferretlike　at　Loo。
　〃Then　our　little　deal　is　off　concerning　Miss　Lee。　She　reverts　back　to　me。〃
　Loo　considered　that　for　a　moment；　then　he　laughed。　〃Didn't　you　say　Qin　Shang　wants　her　dead？〃　〃Yes；　that　is　true；〃　Wong　said；　nodding。　Loo　lifted　Julia　above　his　head　with　both　hands。　〃The　drop　from　here　onto　the　steel　rails　of　the　track　bed　is　thirty　feet。　Suppose　I　fulfill　Qin　Shang's　wish　to　kill　Miss　Lee　and　make　reparation　for　our　financial　differences。〃
　
　Wong　glanced　down　at　the　steel　rails　lying　directly　below　and　between　the　rear　of　the　last　freight　car　and　the　concrete　stop　barrier。　〃Yes；　you　make　an　excellent　point。　I　think　Qin　Shang　might　be　appeased　for　his　loss。　But　please　make　it　now。　We　can　no　longer　afford　to　waste　time。　We　must　leave　quickly。〃
　
　Loo　extended　his　arms　and　tensed。　Julia　screamed。　Wong　and　May　Ching　were　waiting　in　sadistic　anticipation。　None　of　them　noticed　a　tall；　curly…haired　man　in　an　ill…fitting　security　uniform　who　had　stepped　silently　down　the　stairs　behind　them。　〃Forgive　me　for　interrupting；〃　said　Pitt；　jamming　the　muzzle　of　his　Colt　against　the　base　of　Loo's　skull；　〃but　if　anyone　so　much　as　scratches　their　nose；　I'll　blow　their　gray　matter　into　the　next　parish。〃
　They　all　turned　instinctively　toward　the　strange　voice；