cc.floodtide-第75章

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　〃After　shooting　the　bodyguards　with　silenced　weapons；〃　Harper　added。
　Pitt　looked　at　Harper。　〃Can　you　identify　the　men　who　attacked　me　at　the　hangar？〃
　Harper　glanced　at　Davis；　who　turned　up　his　palms　in　a　dismayed　gesture。　〃It　seems　their　bodies　disappeared　on　the　way　to　the　morgue。〃
　〃How　is　that　possible？〃　demanded　Sandecker　explosively。
　〃Don't　tell　me；〃　Giordino　said　sarcastically；　〃an　investigation　is　under　way。〃
　〃That　goes　without　saying；〃　replied　Davis。　〃All　we　know　is　that　they　went　missing　after　being　unloaded　from　the　ambulances　at　the　morgue。　We　were　lucky；　however；　in　obtaining　a　make　on　one　of　your　assassins　when　a　paramedic　pulled　off　a　glove　so　he　could　try　for　a　pulse。　The　corpse's　hand　lay　flat　on　your　polished　hangar　floor　and　left　a　set　of　three　fingerprints。　The　Russians　identified　the　killer　for　us　as　a　Pavel　Gavrovich；　a　former　high…level　Defense　Ministry　agent　and　assassin。　For　a　marine　engineer　with　NUMA　to　take　out　a　professional　hit　man；　Mr。　Pitt；　a　man　who　had　killed　at　least　twenty…two　people　that　we　know　of；　is　a　polished　achievement。〃
　〃Professional　or　not；〃　said　Pitt　quietly；　〃Gavrovich　made　the　mistake　of　underestimating　his　prey。〃
　〃I　find　it　incredible　that　Qin　Shang　can　make　fools　of　the　entire　United　States　government　with　such　ease；〃　said　San…decker　acidly。
　Pitt　sat　back　and　stared　down　as　if　seeing　something　beneath　the　surface　of　the　conference　table。　〃He　couldn't。　Not　unless　he　had　inside　help　from　the　Justice　Department　and　other　agencies　of　the　federal　government。〃
　
　Wilbur　Hill　of　the　CIA　spoke　for　the　first　time。　He　was　a　blond　man　with　a　mustache；　the　pale　blue　eyes　set　widely　apart；　as　if　he　could　observe　movements　off　to　his　sides。　〃I'll　likely　get　into　trouble　for　saying　this；　but　we　have　strong　suspicions　that　Qin　Shang's　influence　reaches　into　the　White　House。〃
　
　〃As　we　speak；〃　said　Davis；　〃a　congressional　mittee　and　Justice　Department　prosecutors　are　looking　into　tens　of　millions　of　dollars　in　fraudulent　contributions　by　the　People's　Republic　of　China　that　were　funneled　into　the　President's　future　election　campaign　through　Qin　Shang。〃
　
　〃When　we　met　with　the　President；〃　said　Sandecker；　〃he　spoke　as　if　the　Chinese　were　the　greatest　scourge　on　the　country　since　the　Civil　War。　Now　you　tell　me　his　fingers　are　in　Qin　Shang's　wallet。〃
　
　〃There　is　simply　no　underestimating　the　morals　of　a　politician；〃　Giordino　said　with　a　sardonic　twist　of　his　lips。
　〃Be　that　as　it　may；〃　Monroe　said　gravely；　〃political　ethics　are　not　the　job　of　INS。　Our　primary　concern　at　the　moment　is　with　the　huge　numbers　of　illegal　Chinese　aliens　that　are　being　smuggled　into　the　country　by　Qin　Shang　Maritime　Limited　before　being　killed　or　enslaved　by　criminal　syndicates。〃
　
　〃missioner　Monroe　is　quite　correct；〃　said　Harper。　〃The　duty　of　INS　is　to　plug　the　flow；　not　prosecute　murders。〃
　〃I　can't　speak　for　Mr。　Hill　and　the　CIA；〃　said　Davis；　〃but　the　Bureau　has　been　heavily　involved　with　investigating　Qin　Shang's　domestic　crimes　against　the　American　people　for　three　years。〃
　〃Our　inquiries；　on　the　other　hand；　are　focused　more　on　his　overseas　operations；〃　offered　CIA's　Hill。
　〃An　uphill　battle　on　any　front；〃　said　Pitt　thoughtfully。　〃If　Shang　has　forces　within　our　own　government　working　against　your　efforts；　it　will　make　all　your　jobs　that　much　tougher。〃
　〃Nobody　here　thinks　it　will　be　a　piece　of　cake；〃　said　Mon…roe　formally。
　
　Julia　jumped　in。　〃Aren't　we　overlooking　the　fact　that　besides　being　an　international　body　smuggler；　Qin　Shang　is　a　mass　murderer。　I　experienced　his　ruthlessness　firsthand。　There　is　no　counting　the　untold　numbers　of　innocent　people　and　children　who　lie　dead　because　of　his　greed。　The　atrocities　his　henchmen　have　mitted　under　his　direction　are　hideous　and　monstrous。　He　deals　in　crimes　against　humanity。　We　must　put　an　end　to　the　slaughter；　and　quickly。〃
　
　For　a　long　moment　no　one　said　a　word。　Every　man　at　the　table　knew　of　the　horrors　Julia　had　witnessed　and　suffered。　Finally；　Monroe　broke　the　silence。
　
　〃We　all　understand　your　feelings；　Ms。　Lee；　but　all　of　us　are　working　under　laws　and　regulations　that　must　be　followed。　I　promise　you　that　every　possible　effort　is　being　made　to　stop　Qin　Shang。　As　long　as　I　am　at　the　helm　of　the　INS；　we　won't　rest　until　his　operation　is　destroyed　and　he　is　arrested　and　convicted。〃
　〃I　can　safely　say　that　goes　for　Mr。　Hill　and　myself　as　well；〃　added　Davis。
　〃Not　good　enough；〃　said　Pitt　quietly；　turning　every　head。
　〃You　doubt　our　resolve？〃　asked　Monroe　indignantly。
　〃No；　but　I　totally　disagree　with　your　methods。〃
　〃Government　policy　dictates　our　actions；〃　Davis　said。　〃All　of　us　must　work　under　guidelines　set　by　the　American　justice　system。〃
　Pitt's　face　went　dark　as　a　midnight　sky。　〃I　saw　for　myself　a　sea　of　dead　on　the　bottom　of　Orion　Lake。　I　saw　the　poor　wretched　souls　locked　up　in　cells。　Four　men　died　protecting　Julia　and　me…〃
　〃I　know　what　you're　driving　at；　Mr。　Pitt；〃　said　Davis。　〃But　we　have　no　evidence　directly　linking　Qin　Shang　to　those　crimes。　Certainly　not　enough　to　call　for　an　indictment。〃
　〃The　man　is　shrewd；〃　said　Harper。　〃He's　shielded　himself　from　direct　involvement。　Without　solid　proof　that　he　is　in　some　way　responsible；　we　can't　nail　him。〃
　〃If　he's　laughed　in　your　face　every　step　of　the　way；〃　said　Pitt；　〃what　makes　you　think　he's　going　to　suddenly　play　dumb　and　fall　into　your　waiting　arms？〃
　〃No　man　can　defy　the　far…reaching　investigative　powers　of　our　government　indefinitely；〃　said　Hill　earnestly。　〃I　promise　you　that　he　will　be　tried；　convicted　and　sentenced　quite　soon。〃
　〃The　man　is　a　foreign　national；〃　said　Sandecker。　〃You　arrest　him　anywhere　in　the　United　States　and　the　Chinese　government　will　raise　every　kind　of　hell　with　the　White　House　and　State　Department。　Boycotts；　sanctions　on　trade　goods；　you　name　it。　No　way　are　they　going　to　let　you　take　their　fair…haired　boy　out　of　circulation。〃
　〃The　way　I　see　it；　Mr。　Hill；〃　said　Giordino；　〃you　whistle　up　one　of　your　CIA　hit　squads　and　eliminate　Shang　neatly　and　cleanly。　Problem　solved。〃
　〃Despite　what　many　think；　the　CIA　does　not　do　assassinations；〃　said　Hill　testily。
　〃Madness；〃　muttered　Pitt。　〃Suppose　Shang's　hit　men　were　successful　last　night　and　killed　Julia　and　me。　You'd　still　be　sitting　here　claiming　you　didn't　have　enough　cold　evidence　to　indict　the　man　who　ordered　our　murders。〃
　〃Unfortunately；　that's　the　way　it　is；〃　said　Monroe。
　〃Qin　Shang　isn't　about　to　stop　there；〃　Julia　said　in　frustration。　〃He　fully　intends　to　kill　Dirk。　He　said　as　much　at　his　party　last　night。〃
　〃And　I　informed　him　that　it's　only　fair　that　we　play　by　the　same　rules；〃　said　Pitt。　〃He　now　thinks　I've　hired　a　team　of　assassins　to　take　him　out　too。〃
　〃You　threatened　Qin　Shang　to　his　face？〃　Harper　asked　incredulously。　〃How　could　you　dare？〃
　〃It　was　easy；〃　Pitt　answered　casually。　〃Despite　his　wealth　and　power；　he　still　puts　his　pants　on　one　leg　at　a　time　the　same　as　me。　I　thought　it　might　be　nice　if　he　looks　over　his　shoulder　like　the　rest　of　his　intended　victims。〃
　〃You're　joking；　of　course；〃　said　Monroe；　scorn　in　his　tone。　〃You　don't　really　conspire　to　murder　Shang。〃
　Pitt　answered　in　a　smooth　voice。　〃Oh；　but　I　do。　As　they　say　in　the　old　western　movies；　it's　either　him　or　me；　and　next　time　I　intend　to　shoot　first。〃
　Monroe　looked　worried。　He　looked　across　the　table　at　Hill　and　Davis。　Then　he　focused　on　Sandecker。　〃Admiral；　I　called　this　meeting　in　the　hope　of　enlisting　Mr。　Pitt　in　cooperating　with　our　operation。　But　it　seems　he　has　bee　a　loose　cannon。　Since　he　is　under　your　authority；　I　strongly　suggest　you　give　him　a　leave　of　absence。　Peter　here　will　arrange　for　his　protection　in　a　safe　house　on　the　coast　of　Maine。〃
　〃What　about　Julia？〃　demanded　Pitt。　〃How　do　you　intend　to　keep　her　safe　from　further　harm？〃
　〃Ms。　Lee　is　an　agent　with　INS；〃　said　Harper　in　an　official　tone。　〃She　will　continue　to　work　the　case。　A　team　of　our　agents　will　stand　guard　over　her　movements。　I　guarantee　that　she　will　be　safe。〃
　Pitt　stared　across　the　table　at　Sandecker。　〃How　do　you　call　it；　Admiral？〃
　Sandecker　pulled　his　red　Vandyke　to　a　point。　Only　Pitt　and　Giordino　recognized　the　wolfish　glint　in　his　eyes。　〃It　would　appear　we　have　little