jamesclavell.noblehouse-第10节

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　〃Are　you　sure？〃
　〃No；　but　I'd　still　bet　it　was　done　before　we　left　the　States。　Though　when　and　where　and　why　and　who　I've　no　idea。　Have　you？〃
　〃Not　yet。〃　Armstrong　was　watching　him　keenly。　〃Perhaps　you'd　like　to　go　back　to　your　office；　Mr。　Bartlett。　We　could　take　your　statement　there。〃
　〃Sure。〃　Bartlett　glanced　at　his　watch。　It　was　5：43　A。M。　〃Let's　do　that　now；　then　I　can　make　a　few　calls。　We're　not　wired　into　your　system　yet。　There's　a　local　phone　there？〃　He　pointed　to　the　terminal。
　〃Yes。　Of　course　we'd　prefer　to　question　Captain　Jannelli　and　Mr。　O'Rourke　before　you　do　…　if　you　don't　mind。　Where　are　they　staying？〃
　〃At　the　Victoria　and　Albert。〃
　〃Sergeant　Lee！〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃Get　on　to　HQ。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃We'd　also　like　to　talk　to　Miss　Tcholok　first。　Again　if　you　don't　mind。〃
　Bartlett　walked　up　the　steps；　Armstrong　beside　him。　At　length　he　said；　〃All　right。　Provided　you　do　that　personally；　and　not　before　7：45。　She's　been　working　overtime　and　she's　got　a　heavy　day　today　and　I　don't　want　her　disturbed　unnecessarily。〃
　They　went　into　the　airplane。　Sven　was　waiting　by　the　galley；　dressed　now　and　very　perturbed。　Uniformed　and　plainclothes　police　were　everywhere；　searching　diligently。
　〃Sven；　how　about　that　coffee？〃　Bartlett　led　the　way　through　the　anteroom　into　his　office…study。　The　central　door；　aft；　at　the　end　of　the　corridor；　was　open。　Armstrong　could　see　part　of　the　master　suite　with　its　king…size　bed。　Inspector　Thomas　was　going　through　some　drawers。
　〃Shit！〃　Bartlett　muttered。
　〃Sorry；〃　Armstrong　said；　〃but　this　is　necessary。〃
　〃That　doesn't　mean　I　have　to　like　it；　Superintendent。　Never　did　like　strangers　peeking　into　my　private　life。〃
　〃Yes。　I　agree。〃　The　superintendent　beckoned　one　of　the　plain…clothes　officers。　〃Sung！〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃Take　this　down　will　you　please。〃
　〃Just　a　minute；　let's　save　some　time；〃　Bartlett　said。　He　turned　to　a　bank　of　electronic　gear　and　pressed　two　switches。　A　twin　cassette　tape　deck　clicked　into　operation。　He　plugged　in　a　microphone　and　set　it　on　the　desk。　〃There'll　be　two　tapes；　one　for　you；　one　for　me。　After　your　man's　typed　it　up　…　if　you　want　a　signature　I'm　here。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃
　〃Okay；　let's　begin。〃
　Armstrong　was　suddenly　uneasy。　〃Would　you　please　tell　me　what　you　know　about　the　illegal　cargo　found　in　the　main　gear　bay　of　your　aircraft；　Mr。　Bartlett。〃
　Bartlett　repeated　his　denial　of　any　knowledge。　〃I　don't　believe　any　of　my　crew　or　any　of　my　people　are　involved　in　any　way。　None　of　them　has　ever　been　involved　with　the　law　as　far　as　I　know。　And　I　would　know。〃
　〃How　long　has　Captain　Jannelli　been　with　you？〃
　〃Four　years。　O'Rourke　two。　Svensen　since　I　got　the　airplane　in　'58。〃
　〃And　Miss　Tcholok？〃
　After　a　pause　Bartlett　said；　〃Six　…　almost　seven　years。〃
　〃She's　a　senior　executive　in　your　pany？〃
　〃Yes。　Very　senior。〃
　〃That's　unusual；　isn't　it；　Mr。　Bartlett？〃
　〃Yes。　But　that　has　nothing　to　do　with　this　problem。〃
　〃You're　the　owner　of　this　aircraft？〃
　〃My　pany　is。　Par…Con　Industries　Incorporated。〃
　〃Do　you　have　any　enemies　…　anyone　who'd　want　to　embarrass　you　seriously？〃
　Bartlett　laughed。　〃Does　a　dog　have　fleas？　You　don't　get　to　head　a　half…billion…dollar　pany　by　making　friendships。〃
　〃No　enemy　in　particular？〃
　〃You　tell　me。　Running　guns　is　a　special　operation　…　this　has　to　have　been　done　by　a　professional。〃
　〃Who　knew　about　your　flight　plan　to　Hong　Kong？〃
　〃The　visit's　been　scheduled　for　a　couple　of　months。　My　board　knew。　And　my　planning　staff。〃　Bartlett　frowned。　〃It　was　no　real　secret。　No　reason　to　be。〃　Then　he　added；　〃Of　course　Struan's　knew　…　exactly。　For　at　least　two　weeks。　In　fact　we　confirmed　the　date　on　the　12th　by　telex；　exact　ETD　and　ETA。　I　wanted　it　sooner　but　Dunross　said　Monday　the　19th'd　suit　him　better；　which　is　today。　Maybe　you　should　ask　him。〃
　〃I　will；　Mr。　Bartlett。　Thank　you；　sir。　That　will　do　for　the　moment。〃
　〃I've　got　some　questions；　Superintendent；　if　you　don't　mind。　What's　the　penalty　for　smuggling　guns？〃
　〃Ten　years　without　parole。〃
　〃What's　the　value　of　this　cargo？〃
　〃Priceless；　to　the　right　buyer；　because　no　guns　…　absolutely　none　…　are　available　to　anyone。〃
　〃Who's　the　right　buyer？〃
　〃Anyone　who　wants　to　start　a　riot；　insurrection；　or　mit　mass　murder；　bank　robbery；　or　some　crime　of　whatever　magnitude。〃
　〃munists？〃
　Armstrong　smiled　and　shook　his　head。　〃They　don't　have　to　shoot　at　us　to　take　over　the　Colony；　or　smuggle　M14's　…　they've　got　guns　a…plenty　of　their　own。〃
　〃Nationalists？　Chiang　Kai…shek's　men？〃
　〃They're　more　than　well　supplied　with　all　sorts　of　armaments　by　the　U。S。　Government；　Mr。　Bartlett。　Aren't　they？　So　they　don't　need　to　smuggle　this　way　either。〃
　〃A　gang　war　maybe？〃
　〃Good　God；　Mr。　Bartlett；　our　gangs　don't　shoot　each　other。　Our　gangs　…　triads　as　we　call　them　…　our　triads　settle　their　differences　in　sensible；　civilized　Chinese　fashion；　with　knives　and　axes　and　fighting　irons　and　anonymous　calls　to　the　police。〃
　〃I'll　bet　it　was　someone　in　Struan's。　That's　where　you'll　find　the　answer　to　the　riddle。〃
　〃Perhaps。〃　Armstrong　laughed　strangely；　then　said　again；　〃Perhaps。　Now　if　you'll　excuse　me　。。。〃
　〃Of　course。〃　Bartlett　turned　off　the　recorder；　took　out　the　two　cassettes　and　handed　one　over。
　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Bartlett。〃
　〃How　long　will　this　search　go　on？〃
　〃That　depends。　Perhaps　an　hour。　We　may　wish　to　bring　in　some　experts。　We'll　try　to　make　it　as　easy　as　possible。　You'll　be　off　the　plane　before　lunch？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃If　you　want　access　please　check　with　my　office。　The　number's　88…77…33。　There'll　be　a　permanent　police　guard　here　for　the　time　being。　You'll　be　staying　at　the　Vic？〃
　〃Yes。　Am　I　free　to　go　into　town　now；　do　what　I　like？〃
　〃Yes　sir；　provided　you　don't　leave　the　Colony；　pending　our　inquiries。〃
　Bartlett　grinned。　〃I've　got　that　message　already；　loud　and　clear。〃
　Armstrong　left。　Bartlett　showered　and　dressed　and　waited　until　all　the　police　went　away　except　the　one　who　was　guarding　the　gangway。　Then　he　went　back　into　his　office　suite　and　closed　the　door。　Quite　alone　now　he　checked　his　watch。　It　was　7：37。　He　went　over　to　his　munications　center　and　clicked　on　two　micro　switches　and　pressed　the　sending　button。
　In　a　moment　there　was　a　crackle　of　static　and　Casey's　sleepy　voice。　〃Yes；　Linc？〃
　〃Geronimo；〃　he　said　clearly；　into　the　mike。　There　was　a　long　pause。　〃Got　it；〃　she　said。　The　loudspeaker　went　dead。
　
　4
　
　9：40　A。M。　：
　
　The　Rolls　came　off　the　car　ferry　that　linked　Kowloon　to　Hong　Kong　Island　and　turned　east　along　Connaught　Road；　joining　the　heavy　traffic。　The　morning　was　very　warm；　humid　and　cloudless　under　a　nice　sun。　Casey　settled　deeper　into　the　back　cushions。　She　glanced　at　her　watch；　her　excitement　growing。
　〃Plenty　time；　Missee；〃　the　sharp…eyed　chauffeur　said。　〃Noble　House　down　street；　tall　building；　ten；　fifteen　minutes　never　mind。〃
　〃Good。〃
　This　is　the　life；　she　told　herself。　One　day　I'll　have　a　Rolls　of　my　very　own　and　a　neat；　polite　quiet　Chinese　chauffeur　and　I'll　not　have　to　worry　about　the　price　of　gas。　Not　ever。　Maybe　…　at　long　last　…　this　is　where　I'm　going　to　get　my　drop　dead　money。　She　smiled　to　herself。　Linc　was　the　first　one　who　had　explained　about　drop　dead　money。　He　had　called　it　screw　you　money。　Enough　to　say　screw　you　to　anybody　or　anything。　〃Screw　you　money's　the　most　valuable　in　the　world　。。。　but　the　most　expensive；〃　he　had　said。　〃If　you　work　for　me　…　with　me　but　for　me　…　I'll　help　you　get　your　screw　you　money。　But　Casey；　I　don't　know　if　you'll　want　to　pay　the　cost。〃
　〃What's　the　cost？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　I　only　know　it　varies；　person　to　person　…　and　always　costs　you　more　than　you're　prepared　to　pay。〃
　〃Has　yours？〃
　〃Oh　yes。〃
　Well；　she　thought；　the　price　hasn't　been　too　high　yet。　I　make　52；000　a　year；　my　expense　account　is　good　and　my　job　stretches　my　brain。　But　the　government　takes　too　much　and　there's　not　enough　left　to　be　drop　dead　money。　〃Drop　dead　money　es　from　a　killing；〃　Linc　had　said。　〃Not　from　cash　flow。〃
　How　much　do　I　need？
　She　had　never　asked　herself　the　question　before。
　500；000？　At　7　percent　that'll　bring　35；000　a　year　forever　but　that's　taxable。　What　about　the　Mexican　Government　guarantee　of　11　percent；　less　1　for　them　for　their　trouble？　Still　taxable。　In　tax　free　bonds　at　4　percent　it's　20；000　but　bonds　are　dangerous　and　you　don't　gamble　your　drop　dead　money。
　〃That's　the　first　rule；　Casey；〃　Linc　had　said。　〃You　never　risk　it。　Never。〃　Then　he　had　laughed　that　lovely　laugh　of　his　which　disarmed　her　as　always。　〃You　never　risk　your　screw　you　money　except　the　once　or　twice　you　decide　to。〃
　A　million？　Two？　Three？
　Get　your　mind　on　the　meeting　and　don't　dream；　she　told　herself。　I　won't　but　my　price　is　2　million　cash　in　the　bank。　Tax　free。　That's　what　I　want。　2　million　at　51/4　percent　tax　free　will　bring　105；000　a　year。　And　that　will　give　me　and　the　family　everything　I　want　with　enough　to　spare　forever。　And　I　could　better　51/4　percent　on　my　money。
　But　how　to　get　2　million　tax　free？
　I　don't　know。　But　somehow　I　know　this's　the　place。
　The　Rolls　stopped　suddenly　as　a　mass　of　pedestrians　dodged　through　the　tightly　packed　lines　of　cars　and　double…decker　buses　and　taxis　and　trucks　and　carts　and　lorries　and　bicycles　and　handcarts　and　some　rickshaws