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e 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 pany； the chap's a half…colonel now。 He said that Geoff took it quite hard； that he was quite vociferous on the point that they were in the wrong place； doing the wrong thing； and losing people in the process。 Rather puts a different spin on things； doesn't it？〃
〃Another lieutenant with the solution to the problem。〃 Owens snorted。
〃Yes we leave and let the bloody Irish sort things out。 That's not exactly a rare sentiment in the Army； you know。〃
It wasn't exactly a rare sentiment throughout England； mander Owens knew。 〃Even so； it's not much of a basis for motive； is it？〃
〃Better than nothing at all。〃
The cop grunted agreement。 〃What else did the Colonel tell your chap？〃
〃Obviously Geoff had a rather busy tour of duty in the Belfast area。 He and his men saw a lot。 They were there when the Army was weled in by the Catholics； and they were there when the situation reversed。 It was a bad time for everyone；〃 Ashley added unnecessarily。
〃It's still not very much。 We have a former subaltern； now in the striped…pants brigade； who didn't like being in Northern Ireland； he happens to buy rare books from a chap who grew up there and now runs a pletely legitimate business in central London。 You know what any solicitor would say： pure coincidence。 We don't have one single thing that can remotely be called evidence。 The background of each man is pure enough to qualify him for sainthood。〃
〃These are the people we've been looking for；〃 Ashley insisted。
〃I know that。〃 Owens almost surprised himself when he said it for the first time。 His professionalism told him that this was a mistake； but his instincts told him otherwise。 It wasn't a new feeling for the mander of C…13； but one that always made him uneasy。 If his instincts were wrong； he was looking in the wrong place； at the wrong people。 But his instincts were almost never wrong。 〃You know the rules of the game； and by those rules； I don't even have enough to go to the missioner。 He'd boot me out of the office； and be right to do so。 We have nothing but unsupported suspicions。〃 The two men stared at each other for several seconds。
〃I never wanted to be a policeman。〃 Ashley smiled and shook his head。
〃I didn't get my wish； either。 I wanted to be an engine driver when I was six； but my father said there were enough railway people in the family。 So I became a copper。〃 Both men laughed。 There wasn't anything else to do。
〃I'll increase the surveillance on Cooley's trips abroad。 I don't think there's much more to be done on your side；〃 Ashley said finally。
〃We have to wait for them to make a mistake。 Sooner or later they all do； you know。〃
〃But soon enough？〃 That was the question。
〃Here we are；〃 Alex said。
〃How did you get these？〃 Miller asked in amazement。
〃Routine； man。 Power panies shoot aerial photographs of their territory all the time。 They help us plan the surveys we have to do。 And here〃 he reached into his briefcase 〃is a topographic map。 There's your target； boy。〃 Alex handed him a magnifying glass borrowed from his pany。 It was a color shot； taken on a bright sunny day。 You could tell the makes of the cars。 It must have been done the previous summer the grass had just been cut 。 。 。
〃How tall is the cliff？〃
〃Enough that you don't want to fall off it。 Tricky； too。 I forget what it's made of； sandstone or something crumbly； but you want to be careful with it。 See that fence here？ The man knows to keep away from the edge。 We have the same problem at our reactor plant at Calvert Cliff。 It's the same geological structure； and a lot of work went into giving the plant a solid foundation。〃
〃Only one road in；〃 Miller noted。 〃Dead end； too。 That is a problem。 We have these gullies here and here。 Notice that the power line es in cross…country； from this road over here。 It looks like there was an old farm road that connected with this one； but they let it go to seed。 That's going to be helpful。〃
〃How？ No one can use it。〃
〃I'll tell you later。 Friday； you and me are going fishing。〃
〃What？〃 Miller looked up in surprise。
〃You want to eyeball the cliff； right？ Besides； the blues are running。 I love bluefish。〃
Breckenridge had silhouette targets up； finally。 Jack's trips to the range were less frequent now； mainly in the mornings before class。 If nothing else； the incident outside the gate had told the Marine and civilian guards that their jobs were valuable。 Two Marines and one of the civilians were also firing their service pieces。 They didn't just shoot to qualify now。 They were all shooting for scores。 Jack hit the button to reel his target in。 His rounds were all clustered in the center of the target。
〃Pretty good； Doc。〃 The Sergeant Major was standing behind him。 〃If you want； we can run a petition string。 I figure you'll qualify for a medal now。〃
Ryan shook his head。 He still had to shower after his morning jog。 〃I'm not doing this for score； Gunny。〃
〃When does the little girl e home？〃
〃Next Wednesday； I hope。〃
〃That's good； sir。 Who's going to look after her？〃
〃Cathy's taking a few weeks off。〃
〃My wife asked if y'all might need any help；〃 Breckenridge said。
Jack turned in surprise。 〃Sissy mander Jackson's wife will be over most of the time。 Please thank your wife for us； Gunny； that's damned nice of her。〃
〃No big deal。 Any luck finding the bastards？〃 Ryan's day…hops to CIA were not much of a secret。
〃Not yet。〃
〃Good morning； Alex；〃 the field superintendent said。 〃You're staying in a little late。 What can I do for you？〃 Bert Griffin was always in early； but he rarely saw Dobbens before he went home at seven every morning。
〃I've been looking over the specifications on that new Westinghouse transformer。〃
〃Getting dull working nights？〃 Griffin asked with a smile。 This was a fairly easy time of year for the utility pany。 In the summer； with all the air conditioners up and running； things would be different； of course。 Spring was the time of year for new ideas。
〃I think we're ready to give it a try。〃
〃