cc.goldenbuddha-第44部分
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friends。
HANLEY WALKED OVER to the Macau taxi and climbed into the backseat。 The taxi rolled around the edge of the mam terminal; then back down toward the 737。 Once it was close to the ramp; Hanley I ordered the driver to slow; then sound the horn。
The billionaire heard the sound and glanced out a window of the jet。 Seeing Talbot in the rear of the taxi; he walked forward toward the open cabin door; then stood at the top of the ramp。 Hanley climbed ;' from the rear of the taxi。 The billionaire motioned for him to climb the ramp。
Hanley started up the steps。
At that exact instant; Juan Cabrillo picked up a portable radio and pushed Talk。
〃Flyswatter;〃 he said; 〃how you holding up?〃
Larry King was perched inside the scooped intake of the hangar's air…conditioning system。 The rain was occasionally blowing inside the shaft; but at least he had something over his head。 〃I stopped by the Oregon after the party;〃 King said; 〃and picked up a thermos of tomato soup; a waterproof cover for the nightscope and some depleted uranium rounds。 I'm in tall cotton。〃
Cabrillo was always appreciative of King's professionalism。 The Corporation could parachute him into a barren wasteland with a few packaged meals and his rifle; and within hours he would have found a nest and lined up his shots。 Then he would patiently wait until his special services were needed or not; without plaint。 Since Cabrillo had access to the operatives' personal records; he knew that King was also the owner of a piano bar in Sedona; Arizona。 It had been odd the single time Cabrillo had traveled through the area and caught King at work not only had the sniper been dressed in a black tuxedo instead of camouflaged sniper clothes; but he'd sung mainly love songs and ballads in a sweet melodious voice。
〃How's the reception; Larry?〃 Cabrillo asked。
〃The parabolic is distorted some by the droplets on the glass;〃 King admitted。 〃But I can make out some of what's being said。〃
〃You know to call if something big happens。〃
〃Yes; sir;〃 King said; staring through the nightscope and touching the earpiece to the microphone。 〃Hanley just made his greetings。〃
Monica Crabtree was on the far end of the hangar; staring out a crack in the door。 〃Mr。 Hanley just walked inside;〃 she said across the space of the hangar。
〃e on in out of the rain; Michael;〃 King heard the billionaire say。
Hanley passed Gunderson in the aisle as he followed the billionaire。 He touched the middle finger of his left hand to his eyebrow; as if to wipe away a droplet。 Gunderson brushed his chin in reply。
〃Have a seat;〃 the billionaire said as they reached a conference table in a partment in the front section of the 737。
Hanley slid into a seat and stared at the man。
〃I couldn't tell you what was happening over the telephone;〃 the billionaire said。 〃But the Buddha that you bid on for me has e up for sale once again。〃
〃That's quick;〃 Hanley said。
The billionaire nodded but offered nothing more。 〃Your voice sounds rough。 Can I offer you something?〃
〃The rain and the air on the mercial flights I've been taking;〃 Hanley said。 〃I think I'm ing down with something。〃
The billionaire pushed a button and Gunderson appeared。
〃Could you bring Mr。 Talbot some tea with lemon and honey?〃
〃And for you; sir?〃
〃I'll have a snifter of warmed Ouzo; please。〃
〃Right away; sir;〃 Gunderson said。
On the roof of the hangar; King heard the exchange。 〃They are ordering drinks; sir。〃
〃Open the door; Monica;〃 Cabrillo ordered。
Crabtree hit a button and raised the hangar door far enough for the SUV to exit。
〃Time to go; men;〃 Cabrillo shouted to Adams and Spenser。
Adams placed the Chevrolet in gear and drove slowly to the door。 Then he exited the hangar into the pouring rain。
Gunderson returned with the drinks to find the billionaire staring silently at Hanley。 〃The pilot asked me to tell you that a truck is approaching;〃 said Gunderson。
The billionaire turned from Hanley and stared out the window。 A I white Chevrolet SUV pulled near the ramp; and a man he didn't recognize climbed from the driver's seat and walked to the rear。 Once there; he removed a folded; portable; aluminum…legged awning from the rear and erected it。 Then the billionaire watched as Spenser climbed from the passenger seat。
〃e on;〃 the billionaire said to Hanley。 〃Our prize has arrived。〃
At the same time Hanley and the billionaire were walking toward the ramp; Adams pulled the crate containing the Buddha forward and opened the top。 Then he walked back to the driver's seat and climbed inside out of the rain。
The billionaire appeared at the top of the stairs and Spenser; under the awning; motioned for him to descend。 The two men walked down the ramp。
〃Let's do this out of the rain;〃 the billionaire said when he reached the tarmac。 〃Inside my plane。〃
Spenser shook his head in the negative。 〃I don't know you; and you don't know me;〃 he said; 〃so until I receive payment and you take delivery; the Golden Buddha remains on the ground。〃
The billionaire turned to Hanley。 〃Is this the dealer that made the winning bid?〃
〃Yes;〃 Hanley said。
〃You're Mike Talbot;〃 Spenser said。
〃Michael;〃 Hanley corrected。
〃Did you bring cash like we agreed?〃 Spenser asked。
〃Bearer bonds;〃 the billionaire answered。 〃If everything checks out。〃
Hanley stood quietly; with the gusts of wind blowing sprinkles of rain onto his mask。
〃Check it out;〃 the billionaire said to Hanley。
Hanley walked over and examined the Buddha in detail; then reached down and shaved a small sample of gold from the foot。 〃Did you bring the other sample?〃 he asked the billionaire; who reached into his pocket and removed an envelope。
Hanley removed an eyepiece from his pocket and pretended to study the sample for a few minutes。 〃They match;〃 he said at last。
〃I'll retrieve the payment;〃 the billionaire said。
At exactly the same time; Chuck Gunderson was placing the last strip of duct tape over the mouth of the copilot。 Binding the men's wrists with plastic ties; he laid the pilot and copilot together on the floor of the cockpit。
〃Target's heading up the stairs;〃 King radioed Cabrillo。
〃Make the call;〃 Cabrillo said to Nixon。
Inside the 737; Gunderson turned to the brunette flight attendant。 〃Do me a favor;〃 he said; 〃close that cabin door。〃
As the billionaire climbed the stairs in the rain; he could not hear the footsteps as Adams; Spenser and Hanley sprinted through the puddles to the rear of the hangar。 His mind was on the Golden Buddha and retrieving the briefcase that held the key to owning the icon。 He was halfway up the ramp when the door to his jet started to close。 Just as he reached the top step; the hatch was locked in place。 Banging on the door; the billionaire began screaming at the top of his lungs。
ACROSS TOWN; LING Po was just about to enter the manhole when his cell phone rang。
〃Things have gotten too hot for us;〃 an unknown voice said to Po。 〃You win; Detective。 There is a white Chevrolet Tahoe on the runway at Macau airport。 It has the Buddha that was stolen from the party。 Goodbye。〃
The telephone went dead in Po's ear。 For a moment; he stared at it in amazementthen he quickly dialed Sung Rhee。
〃I just had a call from the thieves;〃 Po said rapidly。 〃They claim the Buddha is in a white Chevrolet truck on the runway at Macau airport。〃
HANLEY; SPENSER; AND Adams ran to the rear of the hangar to where a limousine was sitting with the engine running。 Monica Crabtree was behind the wheel。 Once the trio of men was safely in the rear partment; she placed the limousine in gear and raced toward the gate。
〃Okay; Kevin;〃 Cabrillo said。
Using a remotely operated device he had installed a few hours earlier; Nixon began to back the ramp away from the 737。 As soon as the ramp lurched backward; the billionaire knew he had been hadhe swiveled around at the top of the ramp and glanced down。 The truck was there; but no one was visible。
Larry King watched the 737 through the nightscope。 Less than a minute later; he watched as Gunderson slid into the pilot seat; then motioned he was ready。 King fl