cc.floodtide-第66部分

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ilders'　half　models　and　four　seascape　paintings　by　Richard　DeRosset；　a　contemporary　American　artist；　of　nineteenth…century　steamships。　There　was　a　feeling　of　fort　about　the　apartment；　not　the　formal　and　grandiose　atmosphere　produced　by　an　interior　decorator。
　
　Julia　soon　came　to　realize　that　Pitt's　home　made　no　allowances　for　a　woman's　touch。　It　was　the　sanctuary　of　an　intensely　private　man　who　adored　and　admired　women　but　who　could　never　be　fully　controlled　by　them。　He　was　the　kind　of　man　women　were　drawn　to；　had　wild　adventures　and　amorous　affairs　with；　but　never　married。
　
　She　smelled　coffee　ing　from　the　kitchen　but　saw　no　sign　of　Pitt。　She　sat　up　and　set　her　bare　feet　on　a　wood…plank　floor。　Her　dress　and　underwear　were　neatly　hung　in　an　open　closet；　dried　and　pressed。　She　padded　across　the　plank　floor　into　the　bathroom　and　smiled　at　herself　in　the　mirror　when　she　found　a　tray　with　an　unopened　new　toothbrush；　women's　moisturizers；　bath　gels；　body　oils；　makeup　accessories　and　an　assortment　of　feminine　hairbrushes。　Julia　could　not　help　but　wonder　how　many　women　had　stood　and　looked　into　the　same　mirror　before　her。　She　showered　inside　of　what　looked　like　an　upended　copper　tank；　toweled　and　dried　her　hair　with　a　blow…dryer。　After　she　dressed；　Julia　stepped　into　the　empty　kitchen；　helped　herself　to　a　cup　of　coffee　and　moved　out　onto　the　balcony。
　
　Pitt　was　down　on　the　main　floor　in　coveralls　replacing　the　shattered　windshield　on　the　Duesenberg。　Before　she　greeted　him；　Julia's　gaze　swept　over　the　immaculate　machinery　on　the　spacious　floor　below。
　
　She　did　not　recognize　the　makes　of　the　classic　cars　parked　in　even　rows；　nor　did　she　recognize　the　Ford　Trimotor　aircraft　and　the　Messerschmitt　262　jet　plane　sitting　side　by　side　at　one　end　of　the　hangar。　There　was　a　large；　old…fashioned　Pullman　car　sitting　on　a　short　section　of　track；　while　behind　it　a　small　bathtub　with　an　outboard　motor　stood　perched　on　a　small　platform　beside　a　strange…looking　craft　that　resembled　the　upper　half　of　a　sailboat　that　had　been　tied　to　the　buoyancy　tubes　of　a　rubber　boat。　A　mast　rose　from　the　middle　with　what　seemed　like　palm　fronds　woven　into　a　sail。　〃Good　morning；〃　she　called　down。
　
　He　looked　up　and　gave　her　a　killer　smile。　〃Nice　to　see　you；　lazybones。〃
　〃I　could　have　stayed　in　bed　all　day。〃　〃No　chance　of　that；〃　he　said。　〃Admiral　Sandecker　called　while　you　were　in　dreamland。　He　and　your　boss　want　our　bodies　at　a　conference　in　one　hour。〃
　〃Your　place　or　mine？〃　Julia　asked　in　a　humorous　tone。　〃Yours；　the　INS　headquarters　office。〃　〃How　did　you　ever　clean　and　press　my　silk　dress？〃　〃I　soaked　it　in　cold　water　after　you　fell　asleep　last　night　and　hung　it　to　dry。　This　morning　I　lightly　ironed　it　through　a　cotton　towel。　As　far　as　I　can　tell；　it　looks　good　as　new。〃
　〃You're　quite　a　guy；　Dirk　Pitt；〃　she　said。　〃I've　never　known　a　man　so　thoughtful；　or　innovative。　Do　you　perform　the　same　services　for　all　the　girls　who　sleep　over？〃
　〃Only　exotic　ladies　of　Chinese　descent；〃　he　answered。　〃May　I　fix　breakfast？〃
　〃Sounds　good。　You'll　find　whatever　you　need　in　the　fridge　and　on　the　upper　cupboards　to　your　right。　I　already　made　coffee。〃
　She　hesitated　as　Pitt　began　removing　the　fragmented　mirror　on　the　side…mounted　spare　tire。　〃I'm　sorry　about　your　car；〃　she　said　sincerely。
　
　Pitt　merely　shrugged。　〃The　damage　is　nothing　I　can't　fix。〃　〃Truly；　she's　a　lovely　car。〃
　〃Fortunately；　the　bullets　failed　to　strike　any　vital　parts。〃　〃Speaking　of　Qin　Shang's　thugs　。。。〃
　〃Not　to　worry。　There　are　enough　hired　guards　patrolling　outside　to　stage　a　coup　on　a　third…world　country。〃
　〃I'm　embarrassed。〃
　Pitt　looked　up　at　Julia　leaning　on　the　balcony　railing　and　saw　that　her　face　was　genuinely　red　with　chagrin。　〃Why？〃
　〃My　superiors　at　INS　and　fellow　agents　must　know　I　spent　the　night　and　are　probably　making　snide　remarks　behind　my　back。〃
　
　Pitt　looked　up　at　Julia　on　the　balcony　and　grinned。　〃I'll　tell　anybody　who　asks　that　while　you　slept；　I　spent　the　night　working　on　a　rear　end。〃
　〃That's　not　funny；〃　she　said　reprovingly。
　〃Sorry；　I　meant　to　say　differential。〃
　〃That's　better；〃　Julia　said；　turning　flippantly　with　a　toss　of　her　ebony　hair　and　strutting　into　the　kitchen；　having　enjoyed　Pitt's　teasing　of　her。
　
　Acpanied　by　two　bodyguards　in　an　armored　sedan；　Pitt　and　Julia　were　driven　to　her　sorority　sister's　apartment　so　she　could　change　into　attire　more　fitting　for　a　government　agent。　Then　they　were　taken　to　the　stark…looking　Chester　Arthur　Building　on　Northwest　I　Street；　which　housed　the　headquarters　of　the　Immigration　and　Naturalization　Service。　They　entered　the　beige　seven…story　stone　structure　with　its　blackened　windows　from　the　underground　parking　area　and　were　escorted　up　an　elevator　to　the　Investigations　Division　where　they　were　met　by　Peter　Harper's　secretary；　who　showed　them　into　a　conference　room。
　
　Six　men　were　already　present　in　the　room：　Admiral　San…decker；　Chief　missioner　Duncan　Monroe　and　Peter　Harper　of　the　INS；　Wilbur　Hill；　a　director　with　the　Central　Intelligence　Agency；　Charles　Davis；　special　assistant　to　the　director　of　the　Federal　Bureau　of　Investigation；　and　Al　Giordino。　They　all　rose　to　their　feet　as　Pitt　and　Julia　entered　the　room。　All；　that　is；　except　Giordino；　who　simply　nodded　silently　and　gave　Julia　an　infectious　smile。　Introductions　were　quickly　made　before　everyone　settled　in　chairs　around　a　long　oak　table。
　
　〃Well；〃　said　Monroe　to　Pitt；　〃I　understand　you　and　Ms。　Lee　had　an　interesting　evening。〃　The　tone　of　his　voice　strongly　suggested　a　double　meaning。
　〃Harrowing　would　be　closer　to　the　truth；〃　Julia　answered　quickly；　prim　and　proper　in　a　white　blouse　and　blue　business　suit　with　the　skirt　cut　just　above　her　shapely　knees。
　Pitt　stared　evenly　at　Harper。　〃Things　might　have　gone　smoother　if　our　hired　bodyguards　hadn't　tried　to　send　us　to　the　morgue。〃
　〃I　deeply　regret　the　incident；〃　said　Harper　seriously。　〃But　circumstances　went　beyond　our　control。〃
　Pitt　noticed　that　Harper　looked　far　from　sheepish。　〃I'd　be　interested　in　knowing　the　circumstances；〃　he　came　back　coldly。
　〃The　four　men　Peter　hired　to　protect　you　and　Ms。　Lee　were　murdered；〃　revealed　Davis　of　the　FBI。　A　tall　man　who　sat　half　a　head　above　the　other　men　around　the　table；　he　had　the　eyes　of　a　Saint　Bernard　that　had　just　e　across　a　garbage　can　behind　a　barbecue…steak　restaurant。
　〃Oh　God；〃　murmured　Julia。　〃All　four？〃
　〃Because　then〃　concentration　was　focused　on　observing　Mr。　Perlmutter's　residence　they　left　themselves　vulnerable　for　an　assault。〃
　〃I　regret　their　deaths；〃　said　Pitt。　〃But　it　doesn't　sound　like　they　operated　as　true　professionals。〃
　Monroe　cleared　his　throat。　〃A　full　investigation　is　under　way；　of　course。　Initial　analysis　suggests　that　they　were　approached　and　murdered　by　Qin　Shang's　men；　who　posed　as　city　police　officers　checking　on　reports　of　suspicious　behavior　in　the　neighborhood。〃
　〃You　have　witnesses？〃
　Davis　nodded。　〃A　neighbor　across　the　street　from　Mr。　Perlmutter　reported　seeing　a　patrol　car　and　four　uniformed　officers　entering　the　vans　and　driving　them　away。〃
　〃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　w