cc.goldenbuddha-第46部分

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g　a　bright　yellow　rain　suit　that　should　have　made　him　stand　out；　but　in　the　dark　of　night　and　the　pouring　rain；　he　and　the　Scarab　were　virtually　invisible。　He　listened　for　a　sound　in　his　earpiece　but　heard　only　static。　
　Scanning　the　shoreline　with　a　pair　of　night…vision　binoculars；　he　began　to　fear　the　worst。　
　
　WHAT　DO　YOU　mean？〃　Po　shouted　in　anger。　
　The　head　of　the　Macau　Public　Works　Department　was　far　from　happy　himself。　He'd　been　awakened　from　a　sound　sleep　and　ordered　to　make　his　way　to　his　office　to　locate　the　blueprints　of　the　storm　sewer　system。　Once　there；　he　had　been　unable　to　find　the　documents。　
　〃I　mean　that　they　are　gone；〃　the　man　told　Po。　〃Deleted　from　the　puters；　and　the　hard　copies　removed　from　the　office。〃
　〃Are　you　certain？〃　Po　asked。　
　〃I　have　had　the　entire　night　shift　searching；〃　the　man　said。　〃Nothing　is　left。〃　
　〃So　we　have　no　way　to　know　for　certain　where　the　water　exits　into　the　bay？〃　Po　asked。　
　〃We　don't　have　a　map　of　it；〃　the　man　agreed；　〃but　there　is　one　way　to　tell。〃　
　〃Well；〃　Po　said；　〃how？〃　
　〃Pour　some　dye　into　a　drain；〃　the　man　said。　〃Then　see　where　it　goes。〃　
　Po　turned　to　one　of　the　patrolmen　nearby。　〃Find　a　hardware　store；〃　he　said　quickly；　〃and　buy　me　a　dozen　gallons　of　paint。〃　
　Then　he　stared　down　the　manhole。　There　was　no　use　entering　the　maze；　the　rats　would　be　flushed　from　the　hole　by　the　water；　and；　when　they　were；　Po　would　be　waiting。　He　smiled　at　the　thought；　but　failed　to　notice　a　man　standing　some　ten　feet　distant　in　the　entryway　of　an　all…night　cafe。　The　man　touched　his　ear　to　adjust　his　earpiece；　then　walked　inside　the　restaurant。　
　THE　BILLIONAIRE　SLID　the　Chevrolet　into　park。　There　was　really　no　other　choice。　To　his　front；　three　police　cars　were　blocking　the　road。　The　officers　were　standing　behind　their　vehicles　with　pistols　drawn。　To　the　rear　were　more　cars　and　an　armored　personnel　carrier　that　was　being　used　as　a　temporary　mand　post。　Inside　the　APC；　Sung　Rhee　peered　through　a　gun　port　at　the　stopped　truck。　Reaching　for　a　microphone；　he　spoke　over　the　P。A。　system。　
　〃You　are　surrounded；〃　he　said。　〃Step　slowly　from　the　vehicle　with　your　hands　above　your　head。〃　
　Then　he　turned　to　one　of　the　officers　driving　the　APC。　〃Light　him　with　the　spotlight。〃　
　The　man　flicked　a　switch　and　a　four…millioncandlelight…powered　spotlight　turned　night　into　day。　Rhee　watched　as　the　driver's　door　slowly　opened。　Then　a　man　dressed　entirely　in　black　stepped　onto　the　wet　pavement　and　took　a　few　steps　away　from　the　truck。　〃Stop；〃　Rhee　ordered。　The　man　stopped　dead　in　his　tracks。　
　〃Keep　your　hands　in　the　air；〃　Rhee　ordered。　〃If　you　are　the　only　occupant　of　the　vehicle；　wave　your　left　arm　slowly。〃　The　man's　left　arm　moved　back　and　forth。　〃Take　six　steps　into　the　direction　of　the　light。〃　The　man　plied。　
　〃Now　lay　down　knees…first；　then　belly…down；　on　the　road。〃　
　The　man　eased　himself　down　untiJ　his　entire　body　was　prone　on　the　wet　road。　
　〃Two　officers　forward；〃　Rhee　said；　〃and　restrain　the　suspect。〃　
　A　pair　of　officers　approached　from　behind　the　police　cars　to　the　front　and　slowly　made　their　way　over　to　the　man。　With　one　covering；　the　other　man　bent　down　and　handcuffed　the　suspect's　hands　behind　his　back。　Then　he　yanked　him　to　his　feet。　
　〃I'm　an　American；〃　the　billionaire　said；　〃and　I　demand　to　see　the　ambassador。〃　
　Rhee　waited　as　the　rear　door　of　the　APC　was　lowered；　then　he　stepped　out　into　the　rain　and　walked　over　to　the　Chevrolet。　After　first　flashing　a　light　inside　to　verify　the　other　seats　were　empty；　he　scanned　the　rear　storage　area　and　caught　sight　of　the　Buddha。　Flipping　open　the　rear　gate；　he　glanced　at　the　six…foot…tall　chunk　of　gold。　Then　he　reached　for　his　cell　phone。　
　
　THE　LIMOUSINE　CARRYING　Hanley　was　just　pulling　up　in　front　of　the　Oregon。　〃Wipe　it　carefully　and　get　rid　of　it；〃　he　said　to　Crabtree。　〃You　e　with　me。〃　
　Spenser　followed　Hanley　as　he　bounded　up　the　gangplank。　Once　on　the　deck　of　the　ship；　he　motioned　for　Spenser　to　follow　him　inside　and　started　in　the　direction　of　the　control　room。　Opening　the　door；　he　nodded　at　Eric　Stone。　
　〃Call　for　a　guard　for　Spenser　here。〃　
　Stone　spoke　over　a　microphone。　
　〃Where's　the　chairman？〃　Hanley　said　next。　
　Stone　pointed　to　a　screen　that　showed　a　flashing　light　almost　at　the　end　of　the　airport　island　and　a　second　separate　light　a　few　yards　distant。　〃There；〃　Stone　said；　pointing。　〃The　other　is　Barrett　doing　extraction。〃　
　Hanley　watched　as　the　first　light　slowed；　then　stopped。　
　〃Signal　Barrett　that　they　have　arrived。〃　
　Spenser　was　staring　at　the　operation　in　amazement。　He　was　just　about　to　ask　Hanley　a　question　when　the　door　to　the　control　room　opened　and　Sam　Pryor　walked　in。　〃Take　this　man　to　the　brig；〃　Hanley　ordered；　〃and　secure　him。〃　
　〃Level？〃　Pryor　asked。　
　〃Minimum；〃　Hanley　said；　〃but　you　stay　with　himhe's　not　to　use　any　munications　devices　or　talk　to　anyone。　You　can　feed　him　and　you　may　allow　him　to　sleep　or　use　the　entertainment　system　for　television　or　movies；　but　no　puter。〃　
　〃Yes；　sir；〃　Pryor　said。　
　Hanley　turned　to　Spenser。　〃You　fulfilled　your　end　of　the　bargain；〃　he　said。　〃Don't　try　anything　stupid　now　and　we'll　do　exactly　what　we　promised。〃　
　Pryor　started　to　lead　Spenser　away　by　his　arm。　〃When　will　I　be　free　to　go？〃　the　art　dealer　asked。　
　〃We'll　let　you　know；〃　Hanley　said；　〃but　it　will　be　soon。〃　
　Pryor　led　Spenser　into　the　hall。　Just　before　the　door　closed；　he　looked　back　to　see　Hanley　begin　to　peel　the　latex　mask　from　his　face。　
　
　BARRETT　HEARD　A　beep　in　his　earpiece　and　stared　at　the　shoreline　with　his　binoculars。　A　quick　flash　of　headlights　appeared　like　twin　explosions　in　the　green　screen　of　his　night…lit　viewer；　then　the　white　dots　faded　to　black。　
　Barrett　flashed　the　docking　lights　on　the　Scarab；　then　steered　closer　to　shore。　
　Tom　Reyes　finished　wiping　his　fingerprints　off　the　steering　wheel　and　controls；　then　twisted　the　key　to　off。　Turning　around　in　the　seat；　he　stared　at　Cabrillo　and　Nixon。　
　〃We're　clean　and　green；　boss；〃　Reyes　said　as　he　slid　the　keys　into　his　pocket。　
　〃Let's　go　get　wet；〃　Cabrillo　said　as　he　opened　the　rear　door　of　the　cab。　
　Nixon　climbed　from　the　cab；　clutching　the　last　box　of　props　and　tools；　and　followed　Reyes　and　Cabrillo　to　the　water。　Staring　to　the　east；　he　could　just　make　out　the　sky　beginning　to　lighten。　To　the　west；　the　wind　was　diminishing。　In　a　few　hours　it　would　be　morning　and　the　storm　would　have　passed　over　Macau；　but　for　now　the　sheets　of　rain　continued　to　rake　the　islands。　
　Barrett　angled　as　close　to　shore　as　he　dared；　then　tilted　the　drive　up　to　avoid　rocks。　Cabrillo　waded　into　the　water　and　grabbed　the　bow　and　held　it　in　place。　Reyes　climbed　into　the　Scarab；　then　took　the　box　Nixon　held　in　his　arms。　Placing　it　on　the　deck；　he　reached　over　again　and　helped　Nixon　over　the　gunwale。　Once　Nixon　was　on　the　deck；　Cabrillo　gave　the　Scarab　a　push　backward　and　reached　for　Reyes's　hand。　As　the　boat　drifted　backward　he　climbed　over　the　side　and　Barrett　lowered　the　drive　and　slid　the　control　into　reverse。　
　Slowly；　he　backed　away　from　the　southernmost　edge　of　the　airport　island。　
　Once　free　from　obstructions；　Barrett　slid　the　control　forward　and　steered　toward　the　Oregon。　
　
　〃WHAT　DO　YOU　mean？〃　Hanley　asked。
　〃The　lead　detective　sent　for　buckets　of　paint；〃　Michael　I　Halpert　said　quietly。　〃They　are　planning　to　pour　them　down　the　storm　'　sewer　to　trace　the　flow　of　the　water。〃　
　〃I　understand；〃　Hanley　said。　〃Good　job。　You　can　return　to　the　Oregon　now。〃　
　Stone　was　studying　the　returns　on　the　radar　scope　and　he　turned　to　Hanley。　〃Barrett　is　headed　back　across　the　water。　He　should　reach　us　in　a　few　minutes。〃　
　Hanley　was　watching　the　storm　scope。　
　〃Make　sure　there　are　a　couple　of　deckhands　standing　by；〃　Hanley　ordered。　〃We　need　the　Scarab　back　in　the　hangar　and　out　of　sight。〃　
　〃Yes；　sir；〃　Stone　said　as　he　reached　for　the　microphone。　
　
　SUNG　RHEE　WALKED　over　to　the　suspect；　who　had　been　moved　under　the　overhang　just　outside　the　departure　terminal　at　the　airport。　In　the　bright　lights　spilling　from　inside　the　terminal；　the　man　looked　vaguely　familiar。　
　〃One　of　your　partners　turned　on　you；〃　Rhee　said；　〃and　phoned　in　your　location。〃　
　The　man　stared　at　Rhee　wi