,,t5 ,cam}on ,williams 3v9c$ hmf he %d n call 8 & ,dirk ,burton's mutual fr at ,scotl& ,y>d 2f l1v+ ,new ,york4 ,) -munic,ns z di6icult z !y _h be5 = "ds & af ! /range 3v}s,n ) ,dirk's sup}visor1 ,buck didn't want 6risk "s"o li/5+ in4 ,! la/ ?+ he want$ 0 6-promise 8 ,scotl& ,y>d 3tact's 9tegr;y4 ,buck took bo? 8 r1l & 8 phony passport & visa--a cu/om>y safety precau;n--caudia ,fri"d niriv$ at ,h1?r{ ,satur"d morn+4 ,he *eck$ 96! ,tavi/ock ,hotel & slept until midafnoon4 ,!n he set | 6f9d ! tru? ab ,dirk's d1?4 ,he />t$ 0call+ ,scotl& ,y>d & ask+ = 8 fr ,alan ,tompk9s1 a midlevel op}ative4 ,!y 7 alm ! same age1 & ,tompk9s 0 a ?91 d>k-hair$1 sliy 6! 9t}n,nal m"ot>y 3f};e at ! ,unit$ ,n,ns40 ,alan s.d$ su45ly s}i|s4 8,h{ c ,i help y1 sir8 ,:at does t h 6d ) ,scotl& ,y>d80 8,i'm hav+ tr|# locat+ my 9t}view subject1 & ,i suspect f|l play40 8,& yr subject80 8,his "n is ,burton4 ,dirk ,burton4 ,he "ws at ! ex*ange40 8,let me d "s *eck+ & call y back40 ,a few m9utes lat}1 ,buck's ph"o rang4 8,yes1 ,tompk9s f ! ,y>d4 ,i wond} if y wd 2 s k9d z 6-e 9 & see me40 ,e>ly on ,satur"d morn+ 9 ,m.t ,prospect1 ,ill9ois1 ,ray=d ,/eele phon$ ! ,new ,hope ,village ,*ur* ag4 ,? "t a man answ}$ ! ph"o4 ,ray=d 9troduc$ hmf z ! husb& (a =m} p>i%ion}4 8,i "k y1 sir10 ! man sd4 8,we've met4 ,i'm ,bruce ,b>nes1 ! visit,n pa/or40 8,oh1 yes1 hi40 8,by =m} p>i%ion}1 ,i assume y're tell+ me t ,ir5e is no l;g} ) u80 8,t's "r1 & |r son40 8,ray ,jr41 wasn't x80 8,"r40 8,y al _h an old} dau$1 >e y / meet+1 t k9d ( ?+4 ,i "k y h a s}vice on ,sun"ds & t y're (f}+ ? tape40 8,well1 y "k j ab "ey?+ !n1 ,mr4 ,/eele4 ,ne>ly e memb} & regul> att5d} ( ? *ur* is g"o4 ,i am ! only p}son on ! /aff :o rema9s4 ,i h ask$ a few wom5 6help | 9 ! (fice4 ,i h no idea h{ _m w %{ up ,sun"d1 b x wd 2 a privilege 6see y ag40 8,i'm v 9t}e/$ 9 t tape40 8,i'd 2 happy 6give y "o 9 adv.e4 ,x's :at ,i w 2 4cuss+ ,sun"d morn+40 8,i don't "k h{ 6ask ?1 ,mr4 ,b>nes40 8,bruce40 8,bruce4 ,y'll 2 t1*+ or pr1*+ or :at80 8,4cuss+4 ,i w 2 play+ ! tape = any :o h n he>d x1 & !n we w 4cuss x40 8,b y ''',i m1n1 h{ d y a3.t =! fact t y >e / "h80 8,mr4 ,/eele1 "! is only "o explan,n = t1 & ,i wd pref} 64cuss x ) y 9 p}son4 ,if ,i "k :5 y mid4 ,:5 ,buck >riv$1 ,alan =m,y %ook 8 h& & l$ hm 6a rund{n -pact1 : he drove qkly 6a d>k pub a few miles away4 8,let's n talk till we get "!10 ,alan sd1 3t9u,y *eck+ 8 mirrors4 8,i ne$ 63c5trate40 ,buck _h n"e se5 8 fr s agitat$ &1 yes1 sc>$4 ,! pair took p9ts ( d>k ale 6a boo? 9 a seclud$ corn}1 b ,alan n"e t|*$ his4 ,buck1 :o _hn't eat5 s9ce ! fli away f x z y c40 8,d>n "r y're fann+ my flame10 ,buck sd4 8,:at's go+ on80 8,well1 !y say x's suicide1 b--0 8,b y & ,i bo? "k t's nons5se4 ,:at's ! evid;e8 ,h y be5 6! sc5e80 8,i h4 ,%ot "? ! temple1 gun 9 8 h&4 ,no note40 8,any?+ miss+80 8,didn't appe> 6be1 b1 ,cam}on1 y "k :at ? is ab40 8,i don't60 8,-e1 -e1 man4 ,dirk 0 a 3spiracy !ori/1 alw sni6+ >.d ,todd-,co?ran's 9volve;t ) 9t}n,nal m"oy m51 8 role 9 ! ?ree-curr5cy 3f};e1 ev5 8 associ,n ) yr ,/onagal *ap40 8,alan1 "! >e books ab ? /uff4 ,p make a ho2y ( ascrib+ all mann} ( evil 6! ,tri-,lat}al ,-mis.n1 ! ,illum9ati1 ev5 ! ,freemasons1 = gd;s sake4 ,dirk ?"| ,todd-,co?ran & ,/onagal 7 "p ( "s?+ he call$ ! ,c|ncil ( ,t5 or ! ,c|ncil ( ,wise ,m54 ,s :at8 ,x's h>m.s40 8,b :5 y h an employee1 admitt$ly s"eal levels remov$ f ! h1d (! ex*ange1 try+ 63nect 8 boss 63spiracy !ories1 he has a pro#m40 ,buck si<$4 8,s he gets call$ on ! c>pet1 maybe he gets fir$4 ,b tell me h{ he gets d1d or pu%$ 6suicide40 8,i'm go+ 6tell y "s?+1 ,cam}on10 ,alan sd4 8,i "k he 0 murd}$40 8,well1 ,i'm pretty sure he was1 too1 2c ,i ?9k ,i'd h _h a clue if he 0 suicidal40 8,!y're try+ 6p9 x on 8 remorse ov} los+ p 9 ! grt 4appe>.e1 b x won't wa%4 ,he didn't lose anybody close z f> z ,i "k40 8,b y "k he 0 murd}$8 ,pretty /r;g = an 9ve/igator40 8,i "k 2c ,i knew hm1 n 2c ,i'm an 9ve/igator4 8,t won't hold up10 ,buck sd4 8,i c al say ,i knew hm & t he cdn't h -mitt$ suicide1 b ,i'm prejudic$40 8,cam}on1 ? is s simple x wd 2 a cli*`e if ,dirk wasn't |r fr4 ,:at did we alw kid hm ,ab80 8,lots ( ?+s4 ,:y80 8,we ki4$ hm ab 2+ s* a klutz40 8,y1h4 ,s80 8if he 0 ) u "r n{1 ": wd he 2 sitt+8 ,x su45ly dawn$ on ,buck :at ,alan 0 driv+ at4 8,he wd 2 sitt+ 6"o ( |r lefts1 & he 0 s* a klutz 2c he 0 left-h&$40 8,he 0 %ot "? ! "r temple &! s-call$ suicide w1pon 0 f.d 9 8 "r h&40 8,s :at did yr bosses say :5 y told !m he 0 left-h&$ & t ? _h 6be murd}80 8,y're ! f/ p}son ,i've told40 8,alan6 ,:at >e y say+80 8,i'm say+ ,i love my family4 ,my p>5ts >e / liv+ & ,i h an old} bro!r & si/}4 ,i h a =m} wife ,i'm / fond (4 ,i wdn't m9d snu6+ h} myf1 b ,i c}ta9ly wdn't want any"o else h>m+ h}40 8,:at >e y afraid (80 8,i'm afraid ( :o"e 0 2h ,dirk's murd}1 ( c|rse40 8,b y'd h all ( ,scotl& ,y>d 2h y1 man6 ,y call yrf a law-5=ce;t (fic} & y're go+ 6let ? slide80 8,yes1 & t's j :at y're go+ 6d60 8,i am n4 ,i wdn't 2 a# 6live ) myf40 8,d "s?+ ab ? & y won't 2 alive at all40 ,buck wav$ ! b>maid ov} & ask$ = *ips4 ,%e br"| hm a h1p+1 gr1sy mass4 ,x 0 j :at he want$4 ,! ale _h "w$ on hm &! s&wi* _h n be5 5 6c.t}act x4 ,he felt lie y try+ 6tell me4 ,:o's gott5 6y80 8,if y 2lieve me1 y won't l x40 8,i h no r1son n 6believe y & ,i alr don't l x4 ,n{ spill40 8,dirk's d1? 0 rul$ a suicide & t 0 t4 ,sc5e cle>$1 body cremat$4 ,i ask$ ab an autopsy & 0 lau<$ (f4 ,my sup}ior (fic}1 ,capta9 ,sullivan1 ask$ :at ,i ?"| an autopsy wd %{4 ,i told hm abra.ns1 scrapes1 signs (a /ru7le4 ,he ask$ if ,i ?"| x made s5se t a bloke wd wre/le ) hmf 2f %oot+ hmf4 ,i kept ! p}sonal k 6myf40 8,:y80 8,i smell$ "s?+40 8,:at if ,i put a /ory 9 an 9t}n,nal magaz9e t po9t$ | ! 4crepancies8 ,"s?+ wd h 6happ540 8,i h be5 told 6tell y 6g home & =get y "e he>d ab ? suicide40 ,buck squ9t$ 9 4belief4 8,nobody knew ,i 0 -+40 8,i ?9k t's true1 b "sbody assum$ y mid j 2c y did80 8,cam}on1 y "k me bett} ?an t40 8,i wond} if ,i "k y at all6 ,i ?"| we 7 k9dr$ _ss4 ,we 7 ju/ice fr1ks1 ,alan4 ,seek}s ( tru?4 ,i'm a j|rnali/1 y're an 9ve/igator4 ,we're skeptics4 ,:at is ? runn+ f ! tru?1 especi,y :5 x 3c}ns |r fr80 8,did y he> me8 ,i sd ,i 0 told 6call y (f1 if & :5 y %{$ up40 8,!n :y did y let me -e 6! ,y>d40 8,i'd h be5 9 tr|# if ,i _h tipp$ y (f40 8,) :om80 8,i ?"| y'd n"e ask4 ,i 0 visit$ 0:at y 9 ,am}ica call a goon40 8,a h1vy80 8,precisely40 8,he ?r1t5$ y80 8,he did4 ,he sd if ,i didn't want :at _h happ5$ 6my fr 6happ5 6me or 6my family1 ,i wd d z he sd4 ,i 0 afraid he 0 ! same guy :o _h murd}$ ,dirk40 8,& he probably was4 ,s1 :y didn't y report ! ?r1t80 8,i 0 go+ to4 ,i />t$ 0try+ 6h&le x myf4 ,i told hm he didn't h 6worry ab me4 ,! next "d ,i w5t 6! ex*ange & ask$ =a meet+ ) ,mr4 ,todd-,co?ran40 8,! big man hmf80 8,9 ! fle%4 ,i don't h an appo9t;t1 ( c|rse1 b ,i 9si/ ,scotl& ,y>d busi;s1 & he all{s me in4 ,8 v (fice is 9timidat+4 ,all mahogany & d>k gre5 drap}ies4 ,well1 ,i get "r d{n 6busi;s4 ,i tell hm1 ,8,sir1 ,i 2lieve y've _h an employee murd}$40' ,& j z calm z y l1 he says1 ,8,tell y :at1 gov}nor0'--: is a t}m cockneys use on ea* o!r1 n "s?+ p ( 8 /,n usu,y call p ( m9e4 ,anyway1 he says1 ,8,tell y :at1 gov}nor1 ! next "t "sbody visits yr flat at t5 ,o'c at niianne wdn't ev5 2lieve y--( c|rse1 %e miianne80 8,my si/}4 ,b t's n ! half ( x4 ,z if he ne$s 6drive ! po9t home1 he call$ my capta9 on 8 sp1k}ph"o4 ,he sd 6hm1 ,8,sullivan1 if "o ( yr m5 0 6-e 6my (fice & h>ass me ab any?+1 :at %d ,i d08' ,& ,sullivan1 "o ( my idols1 s.d$ l a ll baby4 ,he sd1 ,8,mr4 ,todd-,co?ran1 sir1 y d :at"e y ne$ 6d40' ,& ,todd-,co?ran sd1 ,8,:at if ,i 0 6kill hm ": he sits80' ,& ,sullivan sd1 ,8,sir1 ,i'm sure x wd 2 ju/ifia# homicide40' ,n{ get ?4 ,todd-,co?ran sd1 "r ov} ! ph"o 6,scotl& ,y>d1 ": y "k !y tape e 9com+ call1 & ,todd-,co?ran "ks x j z well1 ,8,:at if 8 "n happ5$ 6be ,alan ,tompk9s80' ,j l t1 pla9 z "d4 ,& ,sullivan sd1 ,8,i'd -e ov} "! & 4pose (! body myf40' ,well1 ,i got ! picture40 8,s y h no "o 6turn to40 8,nobody ,i c ?9k (40 8,& ,i'm suppos$ 6j turn tail & run40 ,alan no4$4 8,i h 6report back 6,todd-,co?ran t ,i've deliv}$ ! message4 ,he'll expect y on ! next plane |40 8,& if ,i'm n80 8,no gu>antees1 b ,i wdn't pu% x40 ,buck %ov$ ! plates aside & pu%$ 8 *air back4 8,alan1 y don't "k me well1 b y h 6"k ,i'm n ! type ( guy :o takes ? /uff sitt+ d{n40 8,t's :at ,i 0 afraid (4 ,i'm n ei1 b ": d ,i turn8 ,:at d ,i d8 ,y'd ?9k "s"o "s": c 2 tru/$1 b :at c any"o d8 ,if ? proves ,dirk 0 "r1 t he got too close 6"s cla&e/9e ?+ ,todd-,co?ran 0 9to1 ": does x 5d8 ,does x 9clude yr man ,/onagal8 ,& h{ ab ! o!rs on ! 9t}n,nal t1m ( f9anci}s !y meet )8 ,h y 3sid}$ t !y may {n "eybody8 ,i grew up r1d+ ! /ories ab yr ,*icago & ev5 mob/}s :o _h pd (f cops & politicians4 ,no "o cd t|* !m40 ,buck no4$4 8,no "o cd t|* !m except ! "os :o cdn't 2 b"|40 8,! ,unt|*a#s80 8,~? 7 my h}oes10 ,buck sd4 8,m9e too10 ,alan sd4 8,t's :y ,i'm an 9ve/igator4 ,b if ! ,y>d is dirty1 :o d ,i turn to80 ,buck re/$ 8 *9 9 8 h&4 8,d y ?9k y're 2+ wat*$8 ,foll{$80 8,i've be5 look+ = t4 ,s f>1 no40 8,nobody "ks ": we >e n{80 8,i tri$ 6keep an eye | =a tail4 ,9 my profe.nal op9ion1 we're "h unnotic$4 ,:at >e y go+ 6d1 ,cam}on4 8,"!'s preci|s ll ,i c d "h1 app>5tly4 ,maybe ,i'll h1d back "r away "u a di6}5t "n & make x look1 6:o"e c>es1 l ,i'm 2+ ob/9ate & /ay+ "h40 8,:at's ! use80 8,i may 2 sc>$1 ,alan1 b ,i w look = my angle4 ,& "sh{ ,i w f9d ! p}son )! cl|t 6help4 ,i don't "k yr c.try well 5 6"k :om 6tru/4 ,( c|rse ,i tru/ y1 b y've be5 9capacitat$40 8,am ,i w1k1 ,cam}on8 ,d y see t ,i h a *oice80 ,buck %ook 8 h1d4 8,i feel = y10 he sd4 8,i c't say :at ,i'd d 9 yr place40 ,! b>maid 0 mak+ "s sort ( an ann|nce;t1 ask+ p a "q at e o!r ta# or s4 ,z %e ne>$ !m1 ,buck & ,alan fell sil5t 6he>4 8,any"o driv9' a lie;l10 ,buck sd4 8,be sure no "o 0 tamp}+ ) x40 8,unlikely4 ,we're "r 9 front1 rememb}40 ,buck l1n$ | ( 8 *air & foll{$ ,alan ) 8 eyes z he /roll$ |4 ,sure 5|<1 ! c>'s 9side li.d 6! driv}'s side & r1*$ 9 6turn ! lik bill acr ! ta#4 ,buck 0 on ! ph"o 6,h1?r{ :ile ,alan c.t$ ! *ange f ! b>maid4 ,buck got a s1t on a flidon80 he sd1 /all+1z ,alan approa*$4 8,"n1 sir40 8,oh1 sorry4 ,oreskovi*4 ,george ,oreskovi*40 ,alan m|!d t he wd 2 9 ! c>4 ,buck no4$4 8,all "r1 sir10 ! woman sd4 8,y're all set )a fli$ 9 horror at ! frame melt$ tires ( :at _h be5 ,alan's ,scotl& ,y>d-issue s$an4 ,#9d{s _h be5 bl{n | all up & d{n ! /reet &a sir5 0 alr s.d+4 ,a leg & "p (a torso lay on ! sidewalk--! rema9s ( ,alan ,tompk9s4 ,z ! patrons surg$ | 6get a look at ! burn+ wreckage1 ,buck elb{$ 8 way "? !m1 pull+ 8 r1l passport & id5tific,n f 8 wallet4 ,9 ! 3fu.n he flipp$ ! docu;ts ne> :at 0 left (! c> & hop$ !y wdn't get burn$ 2y r1dabil;y4 ,:o"e want$ hm d1d cd assume hm d1d4 ,!n he slipp$ "? ! cr{d 96! n{-empty pub & spr9t$ 6! back4 ,b "! 0 no back door1 only a w9d{4 ,he rais$ x & crawl$ "?1 f9d+ hmf 9 a two-foot alleyway 2t build+s4 ,scrap+ 8 clo!s on bo? sides z he hurri$ 6a side /reet1 he ran two blocks & hail$ a cab4 8,! ,tavi/ock10 he sd4 ,a few m9utes lat}1 :5 ! ca2ie 0 )9 ?ree blocks ( 8 hotel1 ,buck saw squad c>s 9 front (! place & block+ tra6ic4 8,j run me | 6,h1?r{1 pl1se10 he sd4 ,he r1liz$ he _h left 8 laptop am;g 8 ?+s1 b he _h no *oice4 ,he _h transf}r$ ! be/ /uff electronic,y alr1 b :o knew :o wd h a3ess 6his mat}ial n{8 8,y don't ne$ any?+ at ! hotel !n80 ! ca2ie sd4 8,no4 ,i 0 j go+ 6see "s"o40 8,v gd1 sir4 ,m au?orities seem$ 6be -b+ ,h1?r{4 8,y wdn't "k ": a fell{ cd get a hat l yrs1 wd y80 ,buck ask$ ! ca2ie z he pd4 8,? old ?+8 ,i mige bill 96his h&4 8,x'll m ?an d1 sir1 & ?ank y k9dly40 ,! driv} remov$ 8 (ficial ,london ca2ie p9 & h&$ ov} ! cap4 ,buck press$ ! too-l>ge fi%}man's /yle hat d{n ov} 8 e>s & hurri$ 96! t}m9al4 ,he pd ca% = 8 tickets 9 ! "n ( ,george ,oreskovi*1 a naturaliz$ ,5gli%man f ,pol& on 8 way 6a holi"d 9 ! ,/ates1 via ,frankfurt4 ,he 0 9 ! air 2f ! au?orities knew he 0 g"o4