cc.vixen03-第37节

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　〃According　to　Admiral　Bass；　Vixen　03　did　not　depart　Buckley　Field　carrying　twenty…eight　warheads　filled　with　the　Quick　Death　agent。〃
　Steiger　sensed　an　icy　dread　in　Pitt's　tone。　〃But　his　inventory　。　。　。　the　count　came　to　twenty…eight。〃
　〃He　should　have　tallied　thirty…six；〃　Pitt　said　ominously。　〃Eight　warheads　are　missing。〃
　
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　No　Return　Ticket
　
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　Washington；　D。C。…　December　1988
　
　The　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency　building；　a　tubular　struc…ture　sheeted　in　green　reflective　glass；　rose　thirty　stories　above　an　East　Washington　hill。
　On　the　top　floor　Admiral　James　Sandecker　sat　behind　an　immense　desk　made　from　a　refinished　hatch　cover　salvaged　from　a　Confederate　blockade　runner　in　Albemarle　Sound。　His　private　line　buzzed。
　〃Sandecker。〃
　〃Pitt　here；　sir。〃
　Sandecker　pushed　a　switch　on　a　small　console　that　activated　a　holo…graphic　TV　camera。　Pitt's　lifelike　image　materialized　in　three…dimensional　depth　and　color　in　the　middle　of　the　office。
　〃Raise　the　camera　from　your　end；〃　said　Sandecker。　〃You've　chopped　off　your　head。〃
　Through　the　miracle　of　satellite　holography　Pitt's　face　seemed　to　grow　from　his　shoulders；　and　his　projected　self；　including　voice　and　gestures；　became　identical　to　the　original。　The　major　difference；　which　never　ceased　to　amuse　Sandecker；　was　that　he　could　pass　a　hand　through　the　image　because　it　was　totally　lacking　in　matter。
　〃That　better？〃　asked　Pitt。
　〃At　least　you're　whole　now。〃　Sandecker　wasted　no　more　words。　〃What's　the　latest　on　Walter　Bass？〃
　Pitt　looked　tired　as　he　sat　on　a　folding　chair　beneath　a　large　pine　tree；　his　ebony　hair　tossed　by　a　stiff　breeze。
　〃The　heart　specialist　at　the　Fitzsimons　Army　Hospital　in　Denver　reports　his　condition　as　stable。　If　he　survives　the　next　forty…eight　hours；　his　chances　for　recovery　look　good。　As　soon　as　he's　strong　enough　for　the　trip；　they're　going　to　transfer　him　to　Bethesda　Naval　Hospital。〃
　〃What　about　the　warheads？〃
　〃We　trucked　them　to　a　rail　siding　in　Leadville；〃　Pitt　answered　slowly。　〃Colonel　Steiger　volunteered　to　arrange　shipment　to　Pier　Six　in　San　Francisco。〃
　〃Tell　Steiger　we're　grateful　for　his　cooperation。　I've　ordered　our　Pacific　Coast　research　ship　to　be　standing　by。　Instructions　were　given　to　the　skipper　to　dump　the　warheads　off　the　continental　shelf　in　ten　thousand　feet　of　water。〃　Sandecker　hesitated　at　posing　the　next　ques…tion。　〃Did　you　locate　the　missing　eight？〃
　Pitt's　negative　expression　answered　him　even　before　the　image　spoke。
　〃No　luck；　Admiral。　A　thorough　search　of　the　lake　bed　failed　to　turn　up　a　trace。〃
　Sandecker　read　the　frustration　on　Pitt's　face。　〃I　fear　the　time　has　e　to　inform　the　Pentagon。〃
　〃Do　you　honestly　think　that　a　wise　course？〃
　〃What　other　options　do　we　have？〃　Sandecker　came　back。　〃We　don't　have　the　means　at　our　disposal　for　a　large…scale　investigation。〃
　〃All　we　need　is　a　lead；〃　Pitt　said；　pressing　on。　〃Odds　favor　the　warheads'　being　stored　somewhere；　gathering　dust。　It's　even　possible　the　thieves　don't　know　what　they　really　have　on　their　hands。〃
　〃I'll　accept　that；〃　Sandecker　said。　〃But　who　would　want　them　in　the　first　place？　Christ；　they　weigh　nearly　a　ton　each；　and　they're　easily　recognizable　in　exterior　appearance　as　obsolete　naval　shells。〃
　〃The　answer　will　also　lead　us　to　the　murderer　of　Loren　Smith's　father。〃
　〃No　corpus　delicti；　no　crime；〃　Sandecker　said。
　〃I　know　what　I　saw；〃　Pitt　said　evenly。
　〃It　won't　alter　present　circumstances。　The　dilemma　staring　us　all　in　the　face　is　how　to　get　a　tag　on　those　lost　warheads　and　do　it　before　someone　gets　it　in　his　head　to　play　demolition　expert。〃
　Suddenly　the　exhaustion　seemed　to　drop　from　Pitt。　〃Something　you　just　said　jogged　a　thought。　Give　me　five　days　to　flush　out　the　warheads。　If　I　turn　up　nothing；　then　it's　your　ball　game。〃
　Sandecker　smiled　tightly　at　Pitt's　sudden　show　of　intensity。　〃This　happens　to　be　my　ball　game；　any　way　you　look　at　it；〃　he　said　sharply。　〃As　the　senior　government　official　involved　in　this　mess；　it　became　my　unwanted　responsibility　the　day　you　hijacked　a　NUMA　aircraft　and　underwater　camera　system。〃
　Pitt　stared　back　across　the　room　but　remained　discreetly　silent。
　Sandecker　left　Pitt　stewing　for　a　moment　while　he　rubbed　his　eyes。　Then　he　said；　〃All　right；　against　my　better　judgment　I'll　take　the　gam…ble。〃
　〃You'll　go　along；　then？〃
　Sandecker　caved　in。　〃You've　got　five　days；　Pitt。　But　heaven　help　us　if　you　e　up　empty…handed。〃
　He　hit　the　switch　to　the　holograph　and　Pitt's　image　faded　and　disap…peared。
　
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　It　was　just　before　sunset　when　Maxine　Raferty　turned　from　her　clothesline　and　spied　Pitt　walking　up　the　road。　She　continued　her　chore；　pinning　up　the　last　of　her　husband's　shirts　before　waving　a　greeting。
　〃Mr。　Pitt；　how　nice　to　see　you。〃
　〃Mrs。　Raferty。〃
　〃Loren　with　you　up　to　the　cabin？〃
　〃No；　she　had　to　remain　in　Washington。〃　Pitt　looked　around　the　yard。　〃Is　Lee　at　home？〃
　〃In　the　house；　fixing　the　kitchen　sink。〃　A　brisk　breeze　was　sweeping　down　the　mountains　from　the　west　and　Maxine　thought　it　odd　that　Pitt　was　carrying　his　Windbreaker　over　his　right　hand　and　arm。　〃Just　go　on　in。〃
　Lee　Raferty　was　sitting　at　the　kitchen　table；　filing　burrs　from　a　length　of　plumbing　pipe。　He　looked　up　as　Pitt　entered。
　〃Mr。　Pitt。　Hey；　sit　down；　you're　just　in　time。　I　was　about　to　open　a　bottle　of　my　private　stock　of　grape　squeezin's。〃
　Pitt　pulled　up　a　chair。　〃You　make　wine　as　well　as　beer？〃
　〃Gotta　be　self…sufficient　up　here　in　the　high　country；〃　Lee　said；　grinning；　and　pointing　a　cigar　stub　at　the　pipe。　〃Take　this。　Cost　me　a　fortune　to　get　a　plumber　up　here　from　Leadville。　Cheaper　to　do　it　myself。　Leaky　gasket。　Any　kid　could　fix　it。〃
　Raferty　laid　the　rusty　pipe　on　an　old　newspaper；　rose　from　the　table；　and　produced　two　glasses　and　a　ceramic　jug　from　under　a　cupboard。
　〃I　wanted　to　talk　with　you；〃　Pitt　said。
　〃Sure　thing。〃　Lee　poured　the　glasses　to　their　brims。　〃Hey；　what　do　you　think　about　all　that　motion　up　at　the　lake？　I　hear　tell　they　found　an　old　airplane。　Could　it　be　the　one　you　was　askin'　about？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Pitt　answered；　sipping　from　the　wineglass；　which　he　held　in　his　left　hand。　He　was　mildly　surprised　to　find　the　wine　quite　smooth。　〃That's　part　of　the　reason　I'm　here。　I　was　hoping　you　might　enlighten　me　as　to　why　you　murdered　Charlie　Smith。〃
　The　only　reaction　was　the　slight　lift　of　one　gray　eyebrow。　〃Me　。。。　murder　old　Charlie？　What　on　earth　are　you　talking　about？〃
　〃A　falling…out　of　partners　who　thought　they'd　discovered　a　pot　of　gold　deep　in　a　mountain　lake。〃
　He　stared　at　Pitt　and　tilted　his　head　questioningly。　〃You're　talking　like　a　crazy　man。〃
　〃The　last　thing　you　expected　was　a　stranger　appearing　on　your　doorstep　asking　questions　about　a　lost　airplane。　You'd　already　made　a　mistake　by　not　disposing　of　the　oxygen　tank　and　nose　gear。　I　pay　homage　to　you　and　your　wife's　theatrical　talents。　I　swallowed　your　country…bumpkin　act　with　all　the　gullibility　of　a　tourist。　After　I　left；　you　covered　my　every　move；　and　when　you　saw　me　dive　in　the　lake；　you　were　dead　certain　I　had　discovered　the　aircraft　and　Charlie　Smith's　bones。　At　that　point　you　made　an　irreversible　blunder：　you　panicked　and　removed　Charlie；　in　all　probability　burying　his　bones　deep　in　the　mountains。　If　you'd　left　him　strapped　to　that　sunken　cargo　floor；　the　sheriff　would　have　been　hard　pressed　to　tie　you　to　a　three…year…old　murder。〃
　〃You'll　pay　hell　proving　anything；〃　Lee　said；　calmly　relighting　his　cigar　stub；　〃without　a　body。〃
　〃Not　in　a　court　of　law；〃　Pitt　said　casually。　〃Innocent　until　proven　guilty；　but　the　story　is　a　worn　classic。　Kill　thy　neighbor　for　profit；　there's　your　title。　Suppose　we　begin　at　chapter　one　with　an　eccentric　inventor　named　Charlie　Smith　who　was　testing　his　latest　brainstorm；　an　automat…ic　fishing…pole　caster。　On　one　cast　the　sinkers　took　the　hook　deep　and　it　snagged　on　an　object。　Charlie；　an　experienced　angler；　thought　he　had　hooked　a　submerged　log　and　expertly　worked　the　line　until　the　tension　gave　and　it　pulled　free。　But　he　felt　a　drag；　something　was　surfacing　with　the　hook。　And　then　he　saw　it：　an　aircraft　oxygen　tank。　Its　mounts　had　torn　loose；　eroded　over　the　years　of　submersion；　and　Charlie's　tugs　were　all　the　tank　needed　to　break　away　and　rise　to　the　lake's　surface。
　〃The　practical　course　would　have　been　to　call　the　sheriff。　Unluckily　for　Charlie；　he　was　the　curious　sort。　He　had　to　prove　to　himself　there　was　a　plane　down　there；　so　he　scrounged　a　rope　and　grappling　iron　and　began　dragging　the　lake　bottom。　On　one　pass　he　must　have　caught　and　yanked　up　the　shattered　nose　gear；　which　must　have　broken　out　of　its　housing。　Suspicions　confirmed；　Charlie　then　became　greedy　and　sniffed　the　sweet　smell　of　treasure。　So　instead　of　playing　Honest　John　Citizen　and　report…ing　his　discovery；　he　headed　straight　for　Lee　Raferty。〃
　〃Why　would　Charlie　e　to　me？〃
　〃A　retired　Navy　man；　a　deep…water　diver；　you　were　made　to　order。　I　venture　to　guess　the　diving　equipment　and　air　pressor　you　and　Charlie　scrounged　are　sitting　in　your　garage　right　now。　A　hundred…and…forty…foot　dive　must　have　been　child's　play　for　a　man　of　your　experience；　wearing　hard…hat　gear。　The　strange　cargo　in　the　aircraft　stirred　the　juices　of　your　imagination。　What　did　yo