scoonts.theminotaur-第84节

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im！〃
　
　As　mander　Smoke　Judy　drove　across　the　George　Mason　Memorial　Bridge　into　Washington；　he　stripped　off　his　white　uniform　shirt　with　the　black　shoulder　boards　and　threw　it　onto　the　floor　of　the　backseat。　He　was　still　wearing　a　white　T…shirt；　but　that　would　attract　less　attention　than　the　uniform。　His　cover　was　gone；　lost　somewhere　back　in　the　stairwell。
　He　needed　a　change　of　clothes；　he　needed　to　get　rid　of　this　car　and　he　needed　a　place　to　hide。
　He　took　the　Fourteenth　Street　exit　on　the　east　side　of　the　bridge　and　went　north；　rolling　slowly　with　the　traffic　between　tour　buses　and　out…of…state　cars　laden　with　tourists。　A　motel？　No…they　would　be　checking　motels　and　hotels　and　bus　stations　and。。。
　He　crossed　Constitution　Avenue　and　continued　north　into　the　business　district。
　Three　blocks　north　of　New　York　Avenue　he　was　stopped　in　traffic　inching　through　a　single…lane　construction　choke　point　when　he　saw　a　drunk　stagger　into　an　alley；　a　derelict；　or　in　the　language　of　the　social　reformers；　a　〃homeless　person。〃
　It　took　five　minutes　to　go　halfway　around　the　block　and　enter　the　alley　from　the　other　end。　There　was　just　room　to　get　the　car　by　a　delivery　truck。　The　drunk　was　collapsed　beside　a　metal　Dumpster；　his　wine　bottle　beside　him。　His　head　lay　on　a　blanket　roll。　Beside　him　sat　a　green　trash　bag。　After　checking　to　make　sure　there　was　no　one　in　sight。　Smoke　stopped　the　car　and　stepped　out。
　The　drunk　was　semiconscious。　Smoke　examined　the　trash　bag。　It　contained　an　old　coat；　some　filthy　shirts。
　〃Sorry；　buddy。　This　is　the　end　of　the　line。〃　Judy　throttled　him　with　both　hands。　The　bum；　who　looked　to　be　in　his　sixties；　with　a　two…week　growth　of　beard；　kicked　some　and　struggled　ineffectually。　In　less　than　a　minute　he　was　gone。
　Judy　stripped　the　shirt　from　the　dead　man　and　put　it　on　over　his　T…shirt。　The　trousers　were　next。　Sheltered　between　the　Duropster　and　the　delivery　truck；　Smoke　took　off　his　white　trousers　and　white　shoes　and　socks　and　pulled　the　derelict's　grime…encrusted　trousers　on。　Perhaps　this　garment　had　once　been　gray；　but　now　it　was　just　dark；　blotchy。　And　a　little　big。　All　the　better。　He　even　took　the　dead　man's　shoes。　They　were　too　small；　but　he　put　them　on　anyway。
　Judy　loaded　the　trash　bag　and　blanket　roll　in　the　car。　He　helped　himself　to　the　wine　bottle　too；　wedging　it　between　the　stuff　on　the　backseat　so　it　wouldn't　fall　over　and　spill。
　He　rolled　out　of　the　alley　and；　with　the　help　of　a　courteous　tourist；　managed　to　get　back　into　traffic。　He　discarded　all　his　white　uniform　items　in　a　Dumpster　near　RFK　Memorial　Stadium；　then　parked　the　car　in　the　lot　at　D。C。　General　Hospital
　With　his　blanket　roll　over　one　shoulder　and　the　trash　bag…　which　now　contained　his　gym　bag…dangling　across　the　other；　he　shuffled　across　the　parking　lot　toward　the　Burke　Street　Metro　stop。　He　didn't　get　far。　His　feet　were　killing　him。　The　shoes　were　impossibly　small。　He　sat　on　a　curb　with　a　little　hedge　behind　it　and　put　on　his　running　shoes　from　his　gym　bag。　The　car　keys　he　buried　in　the　soft　dirt。　He　stuffed　the　drunk's　shoes　under　the　hedge；　sprinkled　some　wine　on　himself　and　smeared　it　on　his　face　and　left　the　bottle　beside　the　shoes　after　wiping　it　of　prints。　There　was　an　old　cap　in　the　trash　bag；　which　he　donned。
　He　sat　there　on　the　curb；　considering。　A　car　drove　into　the　lot。　A　woman　and　her　two　teenage　youngsters。　She　glanced　at　him；　then　ignored　him。　The　teenagers　scowled。
　This　just　might　work；　Judy　told　himself。　He　shouldered　his　load　and　set　off　again　for　the　Metro　stop。
　
　Harlan　Albright　was　in　the　car　dealer's　snack　area；　feeding　quarters　into　the　coffee　machine；　when　FBI　agents　arrived　at　4：30　to　arrest　him。　He　extracted　the　paper　cup　from　the　little　door　in　the　front　of　the　machine　and　sipped　it　experimentally　as　he　glanced　idly　through　the　picture　windows　at　the　service　desk。　Three　men　in　business　suits；　one　of　them　black；　short　haircuts；　their　coats　hanging　open。　One　of　them　had　a　word　with　Joe　Talley；　the　other　service　rep；　while　the　other　two　scanned　the　area。
　As　he　looked　at　them；　Albright　knew。　They　weren't　here　about　a　car。　When　Talley　pointed　in　this　direction；　Albright　moved。
　On　the　back　wall　of　the　snack　area　was　a　door　marked　〃Employees　Only。〃　It　was　locked。　Albright　used　his　key　and　went　through　into　the　parts　storeroom。　The　door　automatically　locked　behind　him。
　He　walked　between　the　shelves　and　passed　the　man　at　the　counter　with　a　greeting。　Out　in　the　corridor　he　walked　ten　feet；　then　turned　left　and　went　through　an　unmarked　door　into　the　service　bay。
　Halfway　down　the　bay；　one　of　the　mechanics　was　lowering　a　car　on　the　hoist；　〃You　about　finished　with　that　LTD；　Jimmy？〃
　〃All　done；　Mr。　Albright。　Was　gonna　take　it　out　of　here。〃
　〃I'll　do　that。　The　owner　is　out　at　the　service　desk　now。　She's　impatient；　as　usual。〃
　〃Starter　wire　was　loose；〃　the　mechanic　said。　〃That　was　the　whole　problem。　Keys　are　in　it　But　what　about　the　paperwork？〃
　〃Go　ahead　and　walk　it　over　to　the　office。〃
　〃Sure。〃　As　Albright　started　the　car；　the　mechanic　raised　the　garage　door　and　kicked　the　lifting　blocks　out　of　the　way　of　the　tires。
　Albright　backed　out　carefully　and　drove　down　the　alley　toward　the　area　where　customers'　cars　were　parked。
　Yep；　another　guy　in　a　business　suit　hustling　this　way；　and　another　going　around　the　building　toward　the　front　entrance。　Albright　turned　left　and　drove　by　the　agent　walking　toward　the　main　showroom。　That　agent　looked　at　him　with　surprise。　As　Albright　paused　at　the　street；　he　glanced　in　the　rearview　mirror。　The　agent　was　talking　on　a　hand…held　radio　and　looking　this　way。
　Albright　fed　gas　and　slipped　the　car　into　traffic。
　They　would　be　right　behind　him。　He　jammed　the　accelerator　down　and　shot　across　the　next　intersection　just　as　the　light　turned　red。
　He　went　straight　for　three　more　blocks；　then　turned　right　for　a　block；　then　right　again。
　He　entered　the　dealership　lot　from　the　back　and　coasted　the　car　toward　the　service　parking　area；　watching　carefully　for　agents。　His　trip　around　town　had　taken　five　minutes。　Yes；　they　all　seemed　to　be　gone。
　He　parked　the　car　and　walked　back　inside。
　Joe　Talley　saw　him　ing。　〃Hey；　Harlan；　some　guys　were　here　looking　for　you。〃
　〃'S'at　right？〃
　〃Yeah。　Didn't　say；　but　they　were　cops。　Had　those　little　radios　and　charged　outta　here　like　their　tails　were　on　fire。　Just　a　couple　minutes　ago。　Say；　what've　you　done　anyway？　Robbed　a　bank？〃
　〃Nah。〃　Albright　quickly　sorted　through　the　rack　of　keys　of　cars　that　were　awaiting　service。　〃Forgot　to　put　a　quarter　in　the　meter。〃　This　one；　a　new　Taurus。　In　for　its　first　oil　change。
　〃Sons　of　bitches　came　after　me　two　years　ago；〃　Talley　said。　〃My　ex　swore　out　a　warrant。〃
　〃I　sent　her　the　fucking　check　last　week；〃　Albright　growled。　He　walked　back　toward　the　parking　area。　〃They　e　back；　you　tell　'em　I　went　out　to　feed　the　meter；〃　he　called。　〃See　you　after　a　while。〃
　〃Yeah；　sure；　Harlan。〃　Talley　laughed。
　〃Do　my　time　card　too；　will'ya；　Joe？〃
　〃You're　covered。〃　Talley　went　back　to　annotating　a　service　form。
　Albright　never　returned　to　the　dealership；　of　course。　Less　than　two　hours　later　he　abandoned　the　Taurus　in　a　parking　garage　in　downtown　Washington　and　walked　four　blocks　to　a　KGB　safe　house。
　
　〃Just　like　that；　cool　as　ice；　he　went　back　and　traded　cars？〃
　〃Yessir。〃　Dreyfus　tried　to　keep　his　eyes　on　Camacho's　face。　It　was　difficult。
　〃Two　guys　in　two　hours　go　through　our　fingers！　What　is　this；　Keystone　Kops？〃　Camacho　sighed　heavily。　〃Well；　what　are　we　doing　to　round　up　these　public　enemies？〃
　〃Warrants　for　them　both。　Murder　One　for　Judy　and　Accessory　Before　the　Fact　for　Albright。　Stakeouts。　Briefings　for　the　D。C。；　federal；　airport　and　suburban　police…every　pistol…packer　within　fifty　miles　of　the　Washington　Monument。　Photos　on　the　eleven　o'clock　news　and　in　tomorrow's　papers。　The　cover　story　is　drug。〃
　〃We　really　needed　Albright；　Lloyd。〃
　〃I　know；　sir。〃　Dreyfus　was　stunned。　Luis　Camacho　had　never　before　called　him　by　his　first　name　in　the　five　years　they　had　known　each　other。
　Camacho　sat　rubbing　his　forehead　with　the　first　two　fingers　of　his　left　hand。
　〃Drugs　in　the　Pentagon　is　going　to　get　a　lot　of　press；〃　Dreyfus　volunteered。　〃Already　Ted　Koppel　wants　the　Director　for　Nightline。　Some　nitwit　on　the　Hill　is　promising　a　congressional　investigation。　Everybody　on　the　west　side　of　the　Potomac　is　probably　going　to　have　to　pee　in　a　bottle　on　Monday　morning。〃
　If　Camacho　heard；　he　gave　no　sign。　After　a　moment　he　said　softly；　〃We'll　never　get　him　unless　he　es　to　us。〃
　
　27
　
　A　Saturday　in　August　is　a　terrible　time　to　be　in　Washington。　The　heat　and　humidity　make　any　trip　outdoors　an　endurance　trek。　The　summer　haze　diffuses　the　sunlight；　but　doesn't　soften　it。　Perspiration　oozes　from　every　square　inch　of　hide　and　clothes　bee　sodden　rags。
　By　eleven　o'clock　Saturday　morning。　Smoke　Judy　felt　as　if　he　had　lived　on　the　street　for　six　months。　He　had　managed　only　two　hours'　sleep　the　night　before；　most　of　it　in　fifteen…minute　spurts。　The　alley　he　now　called　home　housed　three　other　derelicts；　all　of　whom　were　atose　drunk　by　9　P。M。　They　had　no　trouble　at　all　sleeping。
　At　7　A。M。；　or　thereabouts…Judy　had　stowed　his　watch　in　his　gym　bag…his　panions　stirre