cc.themediterraneancaper2-第29部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃Because　I　think　you　might　help　us。〃
　Pitt　sat　silent；　scratching　the　irritating　chest　bandage。　Might　as　well　nibble　at　the　bait　he　thought。
　〃How？〃
　For　the　first　time　a　flicker　of　devilishness　showed　in　Zac's　eyes；　then　disappeared　as　quickly　as　it　had　e。
　〃I　understand　you're　quite　friendly　with　von　Till's　niece。〃
　〃I've　laid　her　if　that's　what　you　mean。〃
　〃How　long　have　you　known　her？〃
　〃We　met　for　the　first　time　on　the　beach　yesterday。〃
　The　surprise　on　Zac's　face　slowly　turned　to　a　sly　grin。　〃You're　either　a　very　fast　'worker　or　a　very　adept　liar。〃
　〃Suit　yourself　；〃　Pitt　said　offhandedly。　He　stood　up；　stretching　to　loosen　his　sore　muscles。　〃I　know　what　you're　thinking；　and　you　can　forget　it。〃
　〃It　would　be　interesting　to　learn　just　what　you　see　in　my　thoughts。〃
　〃The　oldest　tactic　in　the　world；〃　Pitt　smiled　knowingly。　〃Your　intention　would　have　me　continue　my　intimate　friendship　with　Teri　in　the　hope　that　von　Till　would　accept　me　as　one　of　the　family。　This　arrangement　would　in　turn　give　me　the　run　of　the　villa　and　a　chance　to　observe　the　old　kraut's　actions　at　first　hand。〃
　Zac　met　his　eyes　evenly。　〃You　have　excellent　perception；　my　dear　Pitt。　What　do　you　say；　are　you　game？〃
　〃No　chancel〃
　〃May　I　ask　why？〃
　〃I　met　von　Till　over　dinner　last　night；　and　we　didn't　part　the　best　of　friends。　In　fact；　he　even　sicced　his　dog　on　me。〃
　Pitt　knew　Zac　would　not　appreciate　the　humor。
　But　what　the　hell；　he　thought；　why　go　through　the　whole　maddening　story　again。　He　began　to　wish　longingly　for　a　drink。
　〃From　sex　with　the　niece　to　dinner　with　the　uncle；　and　all　in　the　same　day。〃　Zac　shook　his　head　incredulously。　〃You　are　indeed　a　fast　worker。〃
　Pitt　merely　shrugged。
　〃It's　a　pity；〃　Zac　continued。　〃You　could　have　been　a　great　help　to　us　on　the　inside。〃　Ho　puffed　on　his　pipe　until　the　embers　in　the　bowl　glowed　a　vivid　orange…red。
　〃We've　had　the　villa　under　constant　surveillance　from　a　distance；　but　could　detect　nothing　out　of　the　ordinary。
　Two　hundred　yards；　that　was　as　near　as　we　could　get　without　arousing　von　Till's　suspicions。　We　thought　our　little　masquerade　as　tourist　guides　had　finally　paid　off　when　you　and　his　niece　were　apprehended　by　Colonel　Zeno。〃
　〃Colonel　Zeno？〃
　Zac　nodded；　then　paused　deliberately　for　effect。
　〃Yes。　He　and　Captain　Darius　are　members　of　the　Greek　Gendarmerie。　Technically；　Zeno　outranks　me　a　few　steps；　you　might　say。〃
　〃A　rank　of　Colonel　in　the　police？　Pitt　asked。
　〃Isn't　that　a　bit　unusual〃
　〃Not　if　you　understood　their　law　enforcement　system。　You　see；　with　the　exception　of　Athens　and　a　few　other　larger　cities　which　have　their　own　metropolitan　bureaus；　the　Greek　rural　and　suburban　areas　are　policed　by　the　Gendarmerie；　a　branch　of　the　national　army；　and　a　very　elite　and　efficient　outfit。〃
　In　spite　of　his　hatred　for　Zeno　and　Darius；　Pitt　was　impressed。
　〃That　explains　their　presence；　but　what　about　you；　Inspector？　A　narcotics　agent　after　illegal　drugs　in　Greece　is　the　same　as　an　FBI　agent　after　a　spy　in　Spain；　it's　just　not　done。〃
　〃In　an　ordinary　case；　you're　quite　correct〃　Zac's　face　turned　grim　and　his　voice　hard。　〃But　von　Till　is　not　an　ordinary　case。　When　we　get　him　behind　bars　and　put　an　end　to　his　filthy　smuggling　operation　we　will　automatically　cut　international　crime　by　twenty　percent　And　that；　I　assure　you；　is　no　small　margin。〃　An　inner　anger　had　taken　control　of　Zac　and　he　stopped　for　a　moment；　taking　several　deep　breaths　until　it　subsided。　〃In　the　past；　each　country　worked　separately；　using　INTERPOL　channels　to　relay　vital　information　across　national　borders。　For　instance；　if　I　learned　through　the　Narcotics　Bureau's　undercover　sources　that　an　illegal　shipment　of　drugs　was　bound　for　England；　I　would　simply　send　my　information　to　INTERPOL　London；　who　in　turn　would　alert　Scotland　Yard。　Time　willing；　they'd　set　a　trap　and　apprehend　the　smugglers。〃
　〃Sounds　like　a　neat　and　workable　arrangement。〃
　〃Unfortunately　it　has　yet　to　work　with　von　Till；〃　Zac　said　quietly。　〃No　matter　how　many　warnings；　how　many　traps；　he　always　manages　to　evade　the　nets　and　e　up　like　the　proverbial　sweet　smelling　rose；　fresh　out　of　the　excretion　barrel。　But　this　time　it's　going　to　be　different。〃　He　pounded　the　desk　for　effect　〃Our　governments　have　allowed　us　to　form　an　international　investigation　team　that　can　cross　any　border；　use　any　police　facilities；　and　have　at　their　mand；　men　and　equipment　of　the　military。〃　Zac　sighed　heavily；　then　went　on　apologetically。
　〃I'm　sorry；　Pitt；　I　didn't　mean　to　be　long　winded。　But　I　hope　I've　answered　your　question　as　to　why　I'm　on　Thasos。〃
　Pitt　studied　Zac　carefully。　The　Inspector　looked　like　a　man　who　was　not　used　to　failure。　Every　movement；　every　gesture　was　thoughtfully　planned　in　advance；　even　his　words　carried　an　air　of　confident　forethought。
　Yet；　Pitt　could　not　help　detecting　a　glimmer　of　fear　behind　Zac's　eyes；　a　fear　of　losing　the　game　to　von　Till。　Pitt　began　to　wish　more　than　ever　for　a　drink。
　〃Where　are　the　other　members　of　your　team？〃　Pitt　asked。　〃So　far　I've　only　seen　three　of　you。〃
　〃At　this　moment　a　British　inspector　is　on　board　a　Royal　Navy　destroyer；　trailing　Queen　Artemisia；　while　a　representative　from　the　Turkish　Police　Bureau　is　observing　her　from　the　air　in　an　antiquated；　unmarked　DC…3。〃　Zac　spoke　woodenly；　as　if　quoting　from　a　legal　document。　〃Two　detectives　of　the　French　Surete　Nationale　are　also　on　hand；　posing　as　Marseille　dockworkers；　awaiting　the　Queen's　arrival　for　refueling。〃
　A　feeling　of　detached　unreality　began　to　creep
　on　Pitt。　Zac's　words　were　being　dull　and　unmeaning；　Indifferently；　almost；　with　a　kind　of　hazy　academic　interest；　he　wondered　how　much　longer　he　could　stay　awake。　Ho　had　had　only　a　few　hours　sleep　in　the　last　two　days　and　it　was　catching　up。　Pitt　rubbed　his　eyes　and　shook　his　head　vigorously；　then　forced　his　mind　back　to　alertness。
　〃Zac；　old　buddy；〃　It　was　the　first　time　Pitt　had　called　him　by　name。　〃I　wonder　if　you　would　do　me　a　personal　favor。〃
　〃If　I　can；〃　Zac　grinned　hesitantly；　〃old　buddy。〃
　〃I　want　Teri　released　in　my　custody。〃
　〃Released　in　your　custody？〃　Zac　arched　his　eyebrows　in　acpaniment　to　wide　innocent　eyes。　Steve　McQueen　couldn't　have　done　it　any　better。　〃What　lecherous　scheme　do　you　have　up　your　sleeve？〃
　〃No　lechery；〃　Pitt　said　seriously。　〃You　have　no　choice　but　to　release　her。　Once　free；　it　will　take　Teri　all　of　twenty　minutes　to　storm　back　to　the　villa…hell　hath　no　fury　like　the　wrath　of　a　woman　humiliated　demanding　that　Uncle　Bruno　do　something　about　her　shameful　captivity。　The　old　boy　will　put　his　shrewd
　mind　into　gear　and；　within　the　hour；　your　little　underground　spy　network　will　be　blown　from　Thasos　back　to　the　States。〃
　〃You　underestimate　us；〃　Zac　said　urbanely。　〃I'm　well　aware　of　the　consequences。　Plans　have　been　made　for　just　such　an　emergency。　We　can　be　out　of　these　quarters　and　working　under　a　different　cover　by　morning；〃
　〃Too　late；〃　Pitt　countered　sharply。　〃The　damage　is　done。　Von　Till　will　be　wise　to　your　presence。　He's　sure　to　double　every　precaution。〃
　〃You　have　a　very　convincing　argument。〃
　〃You're　damn　right　I　have。〃
　〃And　if　I　turned　her　over　to　you？〃　Zac　asked　speculatively。
　〃As　soon　as　Teri　is　missed；　if　she　hasn't　been　already；　von　Till　will　turn　Thasos　upside　down　in　an　exhaustive　search。　The　safest　place　to　hide　her　now　is　on　board　the　First　Attempt。　He　won't　think　to　look　for　her　there；　at　least　not　until　he's　sure　she　isn't　on　the　island。〃
　Zac　stared　a　long　moment　at　Pitt；　examining　every　inch　of　the　man　as　if　he　were　seeing　him　for　the　first　time；　wondering　why　someone　with　an　excellent　position　and　influential　family　would　take　such　difficult　and　dangerous　risks；　never　knowing　when　a　miscalculation　might　spell　the　end　of　his　career　or　even　his　death。　Zac　idly　tapped　his　pipe　against　an　ashtray；　knocking　the　loose　ashes　from　the　round　briar　bowl。
　〃It　will　be　as　you　say；〃　Zac　murmured。　〃Providing；　of　course；　the　young　lady　will　cause　no　trouble。〃
　〃I　don't　think　so；〃　Pitt　grinned。　〃She　has　other　things　on　her　mind　besides　international　drug　smuggling。　I'd　say　that　sneaking　off　to　the　boat　with　me　holds　more　interest　than　another　dull　evening　with　Uncle　Bruno。　Besides；　show　me　a　woman　who　doesn't　crave　a　little　taste　of　adventure；　now　and　then；　and　I'll　show　you　a…〃
　He　broke　off　as　the　door　opened　and　Giordino　walked　in；　followed　by　Zeno。　Giordino　had　a　wide　grin　stretched　across　his　cherub　face　and　he　clutched　a　bottle　of　Metaxa　Five　Star　brandy　in　one　hand。
　〃Look　what　Zeno　found；〃　Giordino　flicked　off　the　bottle　lid　and　sniffed　the　contents；　screwing　up　his　face　into　a　mock　look　of　ecstasy。　〃I've　decided　they're　not　such　bad　guys　after　all。〃
　Pitt　laughed　and　turned　to　Zeno。　〃You'll　have　to　excuse　Giordino。　He　always　es　unglued　at　the　mere　sight　of　booze。〃
　〃if　so；〃　Zeno　grinned　beneath　his　moustache；　〃We　have　much　in　mon。〃　He　stepped　around　Giordino　and　set　a　tray　with　four　glasses　on　the　desk。
　〃How's　Darius？〃　Pitt　asked。
　〃He　is　on　his　feet；〃　Zeno　replied。　〃But　he　will　be　limping　for　a　few　days。〃
　〃Tell　him　I'm　sorry；〃　Pitt　said　sincerely。　〃I　regret…〃
　〃No　regrets　are　necessary；〃　Zeno　interrupted。　〃In　our　line　of　work　these　things　happen。〃　He　passed　a　glass　to　Pitt；　notic