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chnicians found nothing that could lead them to the criminals。 Now the dirt and fabric fibers vacuumed from the van's carpet were being analyzed in Washington； but this was the sort of clue that worked reliably only on TV。 If the people had been smart enough to clean out the van； they were almost certainly smart enough to burn the clothing they'd worn。 Everything was being checked out anyway； because even the smartest people did make mistakes。
〃You heard anything on the ballistics yet？〃 the Major asked； turning the car onto Rowe Boulevard。
〃Oughta be waiting for us。〃 They'd found almost twenty nine…millimeter cartridge cases to go along with the two usable bullets recovered from the Porsche； and the one that had gone through Trooper Fontana's chest and lodged in the back seat of his wrecked car。 These had gone directly to the FBI laboratory in Washington for analysis。 The evidence would tell them that the weapon was a submachine gun； which they already knew； but might give them a type； which they didn't yet know。 The cartridge cases were Belgian…made； from the Fabrique Nationale at Liege。 They might be able to identify the lot number； but FN made so many millions of such rounds per year； which were shipped and reshipped all over the world； that the lead was a slim one。 Very often such shipments simply disappeared； mainly from sloppy or creative bookkeeping。
〃How many black groups are known to have contact with these ULA characters？〃
〃None；〃 Capitano replied。 〃That's something we are going to have to establish。〃
〃Great。〃
Ryan arrived home to find an unmarked car and a liveried State Police cruiser in his driveway。 Jack's own FBI interview wasn't a long one。 It hadn't taken long to confirm the fact that he quite simply knew nothing about the attempt on his family or himself。
〃Any idea where they are？〃 he asked finally。
〃We're checking airports；〃 the agent answered。 〃If these guys are as smart as they look； they're long gone。〃
〃They're smart； all right；〃 Ryan noted sourly。 〃What about the one you caught？〃
〃He's doing one hell of a good imitation of a clam。 He has a lawyer now； of course； and the lawyer is telling him to keep his mouth shut。 You can depend on lawyers for that。〃
〃Where'd the lawyer e from？〃
〃Public defender's office。 It's a rule； remember。 You hold a suspect for any length of time； he has to have a lawyer。 I don't think it matters。 He probably isn't talking to the lawyer either。 We have him on a state weapons violation and federal immigration laws。 He goes back to the U。K。 as soon as the paperwork gets done。 Maybe two weeks or so； depending on if the attorney contests things。〃 The agent closed his notebook。 〃You never know； maybe he'll start talking； but don't count on it。 The word we get from the Brits is that he's not real bright anyway。 He's the Irish version of a street hood； very good with weapons but a little slow upstairs。〃
〃So if he's dumb； how e 〃
〃How e he's good at what he does？ How smart do you have to be to kill somebody？ Clark's a sociopathic personality。 He has very little in the way of feelings。 Some people are like that。 They don't relate to the people around them as being real people。 They see them as objects； and since they're only objects； whatever happens to them is not important。 Once I met a hit man who killed four people just the ones we know about and didn't bat an eye； far as I could tell； but he cried like a baby when we told him his cat died。 People like that don't even understand why they get sent to prison； they really don't understand；〃 he concluded。 〃Those are the scary ones。〃
〃No；〃 Ryan said。 〃The scary ones are the ones with brains； the ones who believe in it。〃
〃I haven't met one of those yet；〃 he admitted。
〃I have。〃 Jack walked him to the door and watched him pull away。 The house was an empty； quiet place without Sally running around； without the TV on； without Cathy talking about her friends at Hopkins。 For several minutes Jack wandered around aimlessly； as though expecting to find someone。 He didn't want to sit down； because that would somehow be an admission that he was all alone。 He walked into the kitchen and started to fix a drink； but before he was finished； he dumped it all down the sink。 He didn't want to get drunk。 It was better to keep his mind unimpaired。 Finally he lifted the phone and dialed。
〃Yes；〃 a voice answered。
〃Admiral； Jack Ryan。〃
〃I understand that your girl's going to be all right；〃 James Greer said。 〃I'm glad to hear that； son。〃
〃Thank you； sir。 Is the Agency involved in this？〃
〃This is an unsecure line； Jack；〃 the Admiral replied。
〃I want in；〃 Ryan said。
〃Be here tomorrow morning。〃
Ryan hung up and went looking for his briefcase。 He opened it and took out the Browning automatic pistol。 After setting it on the kitchen table； he got out his shotgun and cleaning kit。 He spent the next hour cleaning and oiling first the pistol； then the shotgun。 When he was satisfied； he loaded both。
He left for Langley at five the next morning。 Ryan had managed to get four more hours of sleep before rising and going through the usual morning ritual of coffee and breakfast。 His early departure allowed him to miss the worst of the traffic； though the George Washington Parkway was never really free of the government workers heading to and from the agencies that were always more or less awake。 After getting into the CIA building； he reflected that he had never called here and found Admiral Greer absent。 Well； he told himself； that's one thing in this world that I can depend on。 A security officer escorted him to the seventh floor。
〃Good morning； sir；〃 Jack said on entering the room。
〃You look better than I expected；〃 the DDI observed。
〃It's an illusion mostly； but I can't solve my problem by hiding in a corner； can I？ Can we talk about what's going on？〃
〃Your Irish friends have gotten a lot of attention。 The President himself wants action on this。 We've never had international terrorists play games in our country at least； not things that ever made the press；〃 Greer said cryptically。 〃It is now a high…priority case。 It's getting a lot of resources。〃
〃I want to be one of them；〃 Ryan said simply。
〃If you think that you can be part of an operation 〃
〃I know better than that； Admiral。〃
Greer smiled at the younger man。 〃That's good to see； son。 I thought you were smart。 So what do you want to do for us？〃
〃We both know that the bad guys are part of the network。 The data you let me look at was pretty limited。 Obviously you're going to be trying to collate data on all the groups； searching for leads on the ULA。 Maybe I can help。〃
〃What about your teaching？〃
〃I can be here when I'm not teaching。 There isn't much to hold me at home at the moment； sir。〃
〃It isn't good practice to use people who are personally involved in the investigation；〃 Greer pointed out。
〃This isn't the FBI； sir。 I'm not going out into the field。 You just told me that。 I know you want me back here on a permanent basis； Admiral。 If you really want me； let me start off doing something that's important to both of us。〃 Jack paused； searching for another point。 〃If I'm good enough； let's find out now。〃
〃Some people aren't going to like it。〃
〃There's things happening to me that I don't like very much； sir； and I have to live with it。 If I can't fight back somehow； I might as well stay at home。 You're the only chance I have to do something to protect my family； sir。〃
Greer turned to refill his coffee cup from the drip machine behind his desk。 He'd liked Jack almost from the first moment he'd met him。 This was a young man accustomed to having his way； though he was not arrogant about it。 That was a point in his favor： Ryan knew what he wanted； but wasn't overly pushy。 He wasn't a person driven by ambition； another point in his favor。 Finally； he had a lot of raw talent to be shaped and trained and directed。 Greer was always looking for talent。 The Admiral turned back。
〃Okay； you're on the team。 Marty's coordinating the information。 You'll work directly with him。 I hope you don't talk in your sle