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〃Jack； how do you think you got over there in the first place？ Who do you think got you that Center for Strategic and International Studies fellowship？ The people there liked your work； too。 Between what I said and what they said； Marty thought you were worth a look last summer； and you worked out better than anyone expected。 There are some people around town who respect my opinion。〃
〃Oh。〃 Ryan had to smile。 He'd allowed himself to forget the first thing about the Society of Jesus： they know everyone； from whom they can learn nearly everything。 The President of the university belonged to both the Cosmos and University clubs； with which came access to the most important ears and mouths in Washington。 That's how it would start。 Occasionally a man would need advice on something； and being unable to consult the people he worked with； he might try to discuss it with a clergyman。 No one was better qualified for this than a Jesuit； meticulously educated； well versed in the ways of the world； but not spoiled by it most of the time。 Like any clergyman； each was a good listener。 So effective was the Society at gathering information that the State Department's code…breakers had once been tasked to break the Jesuits' own cipher systems； the assignment had started a small revolt in the 〃Black Chamber〃 。 。 。 until they'd realized what sort of information was finding its way to them。
When Saint Ignatius Loyola had founded the order； the ex…soldier set it on a path to do only two things： to send out missionaries and to build schools。 Both had been done extraordinarily well。 The influence passed on by the schooling would never be lost on the men who'd graduated。 It wasn't Machiavellian； not really。 The colleges and universities plied its students with philosophy and ethics and theology all required courses to mute their baser tendencies and sharpen their wits。 For centuries the Jesuits had built 〃men for others；〃 and wielded a kind of invisible temporal power； mainly for the good。 Father Riley's intellectual credentials were widely known； and his opinions would be sought； just as from any distinguished academic； added to which was his moral authority as a graduate theologian。
〃We're good security risks。 Jack；〃 Riley said benignly。 〃Can you imagine one of us being a munist agent？ So； are you interested in the job？〃
〃I don't know。〃 Ryan looked at his reflection in a window。 〃It would mean more time away from the family。 We're expecting another one this summer； you know。〃
〃Congratulations； that's good news。 I know you're a family man； Jack。 The job would mean some sacrifices； but you're a good man for it。〃
〃Think so？〃 I haven't exactly set the world on fire yet。
〃I'd rather see people like you over there than some others I know。 Jack； you're plenty smart enough。 You know how to make decisions； but more importantly； you're a pretty good fellow。 I know you're ambitious； but you've got ethics； values。 I'm one of those people who thinks that still matters for something in the world； regardless of how nasty things get。〃
〃They get pretty nasty。 Father；〃 Ryan said after a moment。
〃How close are you to finding them？〃
〃Not very close at 〃 Jack stopped himself too late。 〃You did that one pretty well。〃
〃I didn't mean it that way；〃 Father Tim said very sincerely。 〃It would be a better world if they were off the street。 There must be something wrong with the way they think。 It's hard to understand how anyone could deliberately hurt a child。〃
〃Father； you really don't have to understand them。 You just have to know where to find them。〃
〃That's work for the police； and the courts； and a jury。 That's why we have laws。 Jack；〃 Riley said gently。
Ryan turned to the window again。 He examined his own image and wondered what it was that he saw。 〃Father； you're a good man； but you've never had kids of your own。 I can forgive somebody who es after me； maybe； but not anyone who tries to hurt my little girl。 If I find him hell； I won't。 But I sure would like to；〃 Jack told the image of himself。 Yes； it agreed。
〃It's not a good thing； hate。 It might do things to you that you'll regret； things that can change you from the person you are。〃
Ryan turned back； thinking about the person he'd just looked at。 〃Maybe it already has。〃
Chapter 20 Data
It was a singularly boring tape。 Owens was used to reading police reports； transcripts of interrogations； and； worst of all； intelligence documents； but the tape was even more boring than that。 The microphone which the Security Service had hidden in Cooley's shop was sound…activated and sensitive enough to pick up any noise。 The fact that Cooley hummed a lot made Owens regret this feature。 The detective whose job it was to listen to the unedited tape had included several minutes of the awful； atonal noise to let his mander know what he had to suffer through。 The bell finally rang。
Owens heard the clatter； made metallic by the recording system； of the door opening and closing； then the sound of Cooley's swivel chair scraping across the floor。 It must have had a bad wheel； Owens noted。
〃Good morning； sir！〃 It was Cooley's voice。
〃And to you；〃 said the second。 〃Well； have you finished the Marlowe？〃
〃Yes； I have。〃
〃So what's the price？〃
Cooley didn't say it aloud； but Ashley had told Owens that the shop owner never spoke a price。 He handed it to his customers on a file card。 That； Owens thought； was one way to keep from haggling。
〃That is quite steep； you know；〃 Watkins' voice observed。
〃I could get more； but you are one of our better clients；〃 Cooley replied。
The sigh was audible on the tape。 〃Very well； it is worth it。〃
The transaction was made at once。 They could hear the rasping sound of new banknotes being counted。
〃I may soon have something new from a collection in Kerry；〃 Cooley said next。
〃Oh？〃 There was interest in the reply。
〃Yes； a signed first edition of Great Expectations。 I saw it on my last trip over。 Might you be interested in that？〃
〃Signed； eh？〃
〃Yes； sir； 'Boz' himself。 I realize that the Victorian period is rather more recent than most of your acquisitions； but the author's signature 。 。 。 〃
〃Indeed。 I would like to see it； of course。〃
〃That can be arranged。〃
〃At this point；〃 Owens told Ashley； 〃Watkins leaned over； and our man in the jewelry shop lost sight of him。〃
〃So he could have passed a message。〃
〃Possibly。〃 Owens switched off the tape machine。 The rest of the conversation had no significance。
〃The last time he was in Ireland； Cooley didn't go to County Kerry。 He was in Cork the whole time。 He visited three dealers in rare books； spent the night in a hotel； and had a few pints at a local pub；〃 Ashley reported。
〃A pub？〃
〃Yes； he drinks in Ireland； but not in London。〃
〃Did he meet anyone there？〃
〃Impossible to tell。 Our man wasn't close enough。 His orders were to be discreet； and he did well not to be spotted。〃 Ashley was quiet for a moment as he tried to pin down something on the tape。 〃It sounded to me as though he paid cash for the book。〃
〃He did； and it is out of pattern。 Like most of us he uses checks and credit cards for the majority of his transactions； but not for this。 His bank records show no checks to this shop； though he does occasionally make large cash withdrawals。 They may or may not match with his purchases there。〃
〃How very odd；〃 Ashley thought aloud。 〃Everyone well； someone must know that he goes there。〃
〃Checks have dates on them；〃 Owens suggested。
〃Perhaps。〃 Ashley wasn't convinced； but he'd done enough investigations of this kind to know that you never got all the answers。 Some details were always left hanging。 〃I took another look at Geoff's service record last night。 Do you know that when he was in Ireland； he had four men killed in his platoon？〃
〃What？ That makes him a fine candidate for our investigation！〃 Owens didn't think this was good news。
〃That's what I thought；〃 Ashley agreed。 〃I had one of our chaps in Germany his former regiment's assigned to the BAOR at the moment interview one of Watkins's mates。 Had a platoon in the same