cc.vixen03-第45节

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ore　Daggat's　chauffeur　could　react；　the　man　ran　up　to　the　limousine；　jerked　open　the　right　rear　door；　and　climbed　in。
　Daggat's　mouth　dropped　open　in　surprise。　Felicia　froze；　her　mouth　tensed。　Only　Loren　seemed　mildly　puzzled。
　〃Who　the　hell　are　you？〃　Daggat　demanded。　Over　the　stranger's　shoulder　he　saw　the　chauffeur　reach　into　the　glove　partment　for　a　gun。
　〃How　unobservant　of　you　not　to　recognize　me　from　my　pictures；〃　the　man　said；　laughing。
　Felicia　tugged　at　Daggat's　sleeve。　〃It's　him；〃　she　whispered。

　〃Him　who？〃　shouted　Daggat；　visibly　upset。
　〃Pitt。　My　name　is　Dirk　Pitt。〃
　Loren　looked　at　Pitt　intently。　She　had　not　seen　him　for　several　days　and　she　scarcely　associated　this　man　with　the　one　who　had　made　love　to　her。　His　eyes　were　ringed　from　lack　of　sleep　and　his　chin　was　stubbled　with　beard。　There　were　creases　in　his　face　she　had　never　noticed　before；　creases　of　stress　and　exhaustion。　She　reached　over　and　squeezed　his　hand。
　〃Where　did　you　e　from？〃　Loren　asked。
　〃Coincidence；〃　Pitt　replied。　〃I　was　ing　to　see　you　and　happened　to　be　passing　by　the　Capitol　steps　when　I　noticed　you　entering　this　car。　As　I　drove　alongside；　I　spotted　Congressman　Daggat　in　the　back。〃
　The　chauffeur　had　lowered　the　window　behind　him　and　was　holding　a　small　revolver　inches　from　the　back　of　Pitt's　head。　Daggat　relaxed　noticeably。　He　felt　in　control　again。
　〃Perhaps　it's　time　we　met；　Mr。　Pitt。〃　He　made　a　slight　wave　of　his　hand。　The　chauffeur　nodded　and　lowered　the　gun。
　〃My　very　thoughts；〃　said　Pitt；　smiling。　〃In　fact；　it　saves　me　a　trip　to　your　office。〃
　〃You　wanted　to　see　me？〃
　〃Yes；　I've　decided　to　order　some　reprints。〃　Pitt　produced　a　small　stack　of　photographs　and　fanned　them　in　one　hand。　〃I've　seen　better　results；　of　course。　But　then；　these　weren't　exactly　shot　under　ideal　studio　condi…tions。〃
　Loren　knotted　one　hand　against　her　mouth。　〃You　know　about　those　awful　pictures？　I　tried　to　keep　you　out　of　it。〃
　〃Let　me　see；〃　Pitt　said；　as　if　Loren　hadn't　spoken。　He　began　dropping　the　photographs　in　Daggat's　lap　one　by　one。　〃I'll　take　a　dozen　of　these；　and　five　of　those…〃
　〃I　do　not　appreciate　your　pathetic　attempt　at　humor；〃　Daggat　said；　interrupting　him。
　Pitt　gave　him　an　innocent　look。　〃I　thought　as　long　as　you　were　in　the　dirty…picture…taking　business；　you　wouldn't　mind　serving　your　clients…or　should　I　say　'models。'　Naturally；　I　expect　a　discount。〃
　〃What's　your　game；　Mr。　Pitt？〃　asked　Felicia。
　〃Game？〃　Pitt　looked　amused。　〃There　is　no　game。〃
　〃He　can　politically　ruin　your　father　and　me；〃　said　Loren。　〃As　long　as　he　holds　the　negatives　of　the　photographs；　he　can　call　the　shots。〃
　〃e　now；〃　Pitt　said；　smiling　at　her。　〃Congressman　Daggat　is　about　to　retire　from　the　blackmail　profession。　He　has　no　talent　for　it　anyway。　He　wouldn't　last　ten　minutes　against　a　tried　and　true　professional。〃
　〃Like　yourself？〃　said　Daggat　menacingly。
　〃No；　like　my　father。　I　believe　you　know　of　him。　Senator　George　Pitt。　When　I　explained　your　little　operation；　he　jokingly　asked　for　a　set　of　photos　as　a　memento。　You　see；　he's　never　seen　his　fair…haired　boy　in　action　before。〃
　〃You're　insane；〃　Felicia　hissed。
　〃You　told　your　father？〃　Daggat　murmured。　He　looked　slightly　dazed。　〃I　don't　believe　you。〃
　〃The　moment　of　truth；〃　Pitt　said；　the　smile　still　tugging　the　corners　of　his　mouth。　〃Does　the　name　Sam　Jackson　ring　a　bell　with　you？〃
　Daggat　sucked　in　his　breath。　〃He　talked。　The　bastard　talked！〃
　〃Sang　like　a　superstar。　Hates　your　guts；　by　the　way。　Sam　can't　wait　to　testify　against　you　at　the　House　Ethics　mittee　hearing。〃
　A　trace　of　fear　edged　Daggat's　voice。　〃You　wouldn't　dare　expose　those　pictures　to　an　investigation。〃
　〃What　in　hell　have　I　got　to　lose？〃　Pitt　said。　〃My　father　is　getting　ready　to　retire　next　year　anyway。　Take　my　case：　once　those　photos　are　distrib…uted；　I'll　probably　have　to　beat　half　the　secretaries　in　town　off　with　a　club。〃
　〃You　egotistical　pig；〃　Felicia　said。　〃You　don't　care　about　what　hap…pens　to　Loren。〃
　〃I　care；〃　Pitt　said　softly。　〃Being　a　woman；　she'll　suffer　embarrass…ment；　but　that　will　be　a　small　price　to　pay　so　our　friend　Daggat　here　can　spend　a　few　years　making　license　plates　in　the　slammer。　When　he　gets　paroled；　he'll　need　a　new　vocation；　since　his　party　will　want　no　part　of　him。〃
　Daggat　flushed　and　leaned　threateningly　toward　Pitt。　〃Bullshit！〃　he　raged。
　Pitt　fixed　Daggat　with　a　stare　that　would　have　frozen　a　shark。　〃Con…gress　frowns　on　scum　who　pull　gutter　tactics　to　pass　legislation。　There　was　a　time　not　too　many　years　ago　when　your　scheme　might　have　worked；　Congressman；　but　these　days　there　are　enough　honest　people　on　Capitol　Hill　who　would　boot　your　ass　from　the　city　limits　if　they　got　wind　of　this。〃
　Daggat　relaxed。　He　was　beaten　and　he　knew　it。　〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do？〃
　〃Destroy　the　negatives。〃
　〃That's　all？〃　'
　Pitt　nodded。
　Daggat's　face　took　on　a　leery　expression。　〃No　pound　of　flesh；　Mr。　Pitt？〃
　〃We　don't　all　swim　in　the　same　sewer；　Congressman。　I　think　Loren　will　agree　it's　best　for　all　concerned　to　drop　the　whole　affair。〃　Pitt　opened　the　door　and　helped　Loren　out。　〃Oh；　one　more　thing：　I　have　Sam　Jackson's　sworn　statement　of　your　dealings　with　him。　I　trust　it　will　not　be　necessary　to　blow　the　whistle　on　further　shakedowns　by　you　and　your　girl　friend。　If　I　find　you've　crossed　me；　I'll　e　down　hard　on　you；　mister。　That's　a　promise。〃
　Pitt　slammed　the　door　and　leaned　in　the　chauffeur's　window。　〃Okay；　pal；　move　it。〃
　The　two　of　them　stood　and　watched　the　limousine　until　it　disappeared　in　the　traffic。　Then　Loren　stood　on　tiptoe　and　kissed　Pitt's　prickly　cheek。
　〃What's　that　for？〃　he　asked；　grinning　with　pleasure。
　〃A　reward　for　bailing　me　out　of　a　nasty　situation。〃
　〃Pitt　to　the　rescue。　I　always　was　a　pushover　for　congresswomen　in　distress。〃　He　kissed　her　on　the　lips；　ignoring　the　curious　stares　of　passersby。　〃And　that's　your　reward　for　playing　noble。〃
　〃Playing　noble？〃
　〃You　should　have　told　me　about　the　photographs。　I　could　have　saved　you　many　a　sleepless　night。〃
　〃I　thought　I　could　handle　it；〃　she　said；　avoiding　his　eyes。　〃Women　should　be　able　to　stand　alone。〃
　He　put　his　arm　around　her　and　led　her　to　his　car。　〃There　are　times　when　even　a　dedicated　feminist　needs　a　chauvinist　to　lean　on。〃
　As　Loren　slid　into　the　passenger　seat；　Pitt　noticed　a　small　slip　of　paper　under　one　of　his　windshield　wipers。　At　first　he　thought　it　was　only　an　advertising　flyer　and　was　about　to　throw　it　away；　but　curiosity　won　out　and　he　glanced　at　it。　The　message　was　written　in　a　precise　hand。
　dear　mr。　pitt；
　I　would　be　most　grateful　if　you　would　call　this　number　（555…5971）　at
　your　earliest　convenience。
　Thank　you；　dale　jarvis
　Instinctively　Pitt　looked　up　and　down　the　crowded　sidewalk；　trying　vainly　to　make　the　mysterious　messenger。　It　was　a　hopeless　chore。　There　were　nearly　eighty　people　within　a　hundred…yard　radius；　any　one　might　have　slipped　the　paper　onto　his　car　while　he　was　confronting　Daggat。
　〃Do　you　know　a　Dale　Jarvis？〃　he　asked　Loren。
　She　thought　a　moment。　〃Can't　say　the　name　is　familiar。　Why？〃
　〃It　appears；〃　Pitt　said　pensively；　〃that　he　left　me　a　love　note。〃
　
　49
　
　The　chilly　winter　air　seeped　through　the　seams　of　the　truck　bed　and　stabbed　Lusana's　skin。　He　was　lying　on　his　stomach；　his　hands　and　legs　tightly　bound　to　his　sides。　The　metal　ribs　of　the　floor　jarred　his　head　with　every　bump　the　stiffly　sprung　truck　took　from　the　road。　Lusana's　senses　were　hardly　functioning。　The　hood　over　his　head　closed　out　all　light　and　left　him　disoriented；　and　the　loss　of　circulation　had　turned　his　body　numb。
　His　last　memory　was　of　the　smiling　face　of　the　flight　captain　in　the　first…class　hospitality　bar　at　the　airport。　The　few　lucid　thoughts　he　had　had　since　then　ended　on　the　same　image。
　〃I'm　Captain　Mutaapo；〃　the　tall；　slender　pilot　had　said。　He　was　a　balding　middle…aged　black　man；　but　his　smile　made　his　face　youthful。　He　wore　the　dark…green　uniform　of　BEZA…Mozambique　Airlines；　with　an　abundance　of　gold　braid　entwining　the　lower　sleeves。　〃A　representative　from　my　government　has　requested　me　to　ensure　a　safe　and　secure　flight　for　you；　Mr。　Lusana。〃
　〃Precautions　were　necessary　for　entering　the　United　States；〃　Lusana　had　said；　〃but　I　seriously　doubt　I　am　in　any　danger　on　a　departing　flight　surrounded　by　American　tourists。〃
　〃Nonetheless；　sir；　you　are　my　responsibility；　as　well　as　the　one　hundred　and　fifty　other　passengers。　I　must　ask　if　you　foresee　any　prob…lems　that　may　endanger　lives。〃
　〃None；　Captain；　I　assure　you。〃
　〃Good。〃　Mutaapo's　teeth　flashed。　〃Let's　drink　to　a　smooth　and　…fortable　flight。　What　will　be　your　pleasure；　sir？〃
　〃A　martini；　straight　up　with　a　twist；　thank　you。〃
　Stupidity；　Lusana　thought　as　the　truck　rumbled　over　a　railroad　cross…ing。　Too　late　it　dawned　on　him　that　mercial…airline　pilots　cannot　take　alcohol　twenty…four　hours　before　a　flight。　Too　late　he　realized　that　his　drink　had　been　drugged。　The　bogus　flight　captain's　smile　seemed　frozen　in　time　before　it　slowly　clouded　and　dissolved　into　nothingness。
　Lusana　could　not　measure　the　hours　or　the　days。　He　had　no　way　of　knowing　that　he　was　kept　in　a　constant　state　of　stupor　by　frequent　injections　of　a　mild　sedative。　Unfamiliar　faces　appeared　and　reappeared　a