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〃Nonetheless； we have to try。 What about Britain； Canada； Japan… can we buy from them？〃
〃They have less than we do； sir。 And they would need that to protect their own populations。〃
For a moment； there was silence。
〃Is there any reason to believe that Beria came here with the express intent of unleashing the virus？〃 the president asked。
〃No； sir。 Ironically； that's our one ray of hope。 Beria has never been anything other than a killer for hire； a facilitator。 His politics revolve around the price paid for services rendered。〃
〃Facilitator？ Are you suggesting that he's delivering the smallpox to someone over here？〃
〃I appreciate that it's a difficult concept to entertain； Mr。 President。 After all； if a terrorist wanted to stage a biochem attack against us； it would be much safer to assemble the weapon outside the country； rather than here。〃
〃But the smallpox is already a weapon； isn't it； Nate？〃
〃Yes； sir。 Even in its raw form； it is extremely potent。 Deposit it in New York City's water supply and you create a crisis of massive proportions。 But； Mr。 President； if you take the same amount and reconfigure it so that it can be used in an aerosol dispersal system； you can crop dust； if you will； a much greater area。〃
The president grunted。 〃You're saying； why waste the potential when you can maximize it。〃
〃Exactly。〃
〃Assuming； for a moment； that Beria is a courier； how far can he get？〃
〃Hopefully we can contain him to the D。C。 area。 Beria has a couple of problems： he doesn't speak English well； and he's never been in this country； much less in this specific area。 One way or another； he will draw attention to himself。〃
〃In theory； Nate。 But he won't be signing up for tours of the White House。 He'll deliver the virus and get the hell out of Dodge。 Or try to。〃
〃Beria has to have help on this end；〃 Klein conceded。 〃But again； the geographic area is limited。 We should also remember that the people using Beria do not want the virus released until it suits them to do so。 That means they have to store it… safely。 And that requires a very good laboratory。 We're not looking in tenements or abandoned warehouses； Mr。 President。 Somewhere in the surrounding counties is a state…of…the…art lab that was created just for this purpose。〃
〃All right；〃 he said finally。 〃The hunt for Beria is under way。 We'll also start searching for this lab。 Right now； we keep a lid on what's happening。 Total media blackout。 Is that about right？〃
〃Yes； sir。 About the media： Kirov has done a yeoman's job of keeping the situation in Russia under wraps。 But if there's a leak； that's where it will spring。 I suggest that when you call President Potrenko； you ask him what steps he's taking to hold the blackout in place on his end。〃
〃Noted。 Now what about this second man you mentioned； the one Beria may or may not have met in Moscow？〃
〃He's the wild card； sir；〃 Klein said softly。 〃If we can finger him； we can use him to get to Beria。〃
As soon as he heard the double ping indicating that the aircraft was at the gate； Adam Treloar was out of his seat and moving to the forward hatch。 The rest of the first…class passengers fell in behind him； creating a buffer between him and the man who could not be allowed to catch a glimpse of him。
Treloar drummed his fingers on his carry…on； impatient for the hatch to roll up。 His instructions had been precise。 He repeated them over and over again until he knew the litany by heart。 The only question was； would he be able to carry them out without interference？。
The hatch disappeared into the bulkhead； the flight attendant stepped back； and Treloar charged past her。 He set a fast pace； moving through the jetway and into a harshly lit corridor that dead…ended at an escalator。 He walked down it and found himself at the immigration booths。 Beyond them were the baggage carousels and the customs checkpoints。
Treloar had expected and would have preferred crowds。 But Dulles was not as busy as Kennedy or Los Angeles； and no international flights had e at the same time or just a little ahead of American 1710。 He went up to an empty counter and offered his paperwork to an officer who scanned the passport and asked inane questions about where he'd been。 Treloar gave him the truth about his mother； how he had gone to Russia to visit her grave and tend to it。 The officer nodded solemnly； scribbled something on the customs form； and waved him along。
Treloar had baggage； but he wasn't about to waste time waiting for it to e down the chute。 The instructions had been very specific on that point： he was to get out of the terminal as quickly as possible。 Walking past the carousels； Treloar dared to glance over his shoulder。 At the other end； Jon Smith was at an immigration counter reserved for diplomats and aircrews。 Why would he。。。？ Of course！ Smith was Pentagon。 He would be traveling on a military ID； not on a civilian passport。
Holding his card； Treloar approached the customs agent。
〃Traveling light； sir；〃 the agent mented。
Remembering his instructions； Treloar explained that he had had his bags sent on ahead； using a bonded courier service that catered to well…heeled travelers who were not inclined to wrestle with their own suitcases。 Familiar with the arrangements； the agent waved him through。
Out of the corner of his eye； Treloar caught Smith walking up to the same agent。 He veered right； so as not to walk across Smith's line of sight。
〃No； sir；〃 the agent called out。 〃You go left。〃
Treloar turned abruptly and almost ran into the tunnel that connected to the terminal。
〃Dr。 Smith？〃
He turned to the customs agent walking up to him。 〃Yes？〃
〃There's a call for you； sir。 You can take it in there。〃
The agent opened the door to an interview room where detained travelers were questioned。 Pointing to a phone on the desk； he said； 〃Line one。〃
〃This is Smith。〃
〃Jon； it's Randi。〃
〃Randi！〃
〃Listen。 There isn't much time。 I just got a positive ID on that guy in the picture。 He's Adam Treloar。〃
Smith clenched the receiver。 〃You're sure？〃
〃Positive。 We cleaned up the video enough to get a good print； which I shipped over to the embassy。 Don't worry。 Whatever the cat is； it's still in the bag。 I made Treloar a prospective investor and asked for a standard background check。〃
〃What did you find out？〃
〃His mother was Russian； Jon。 She died a while ago。 Treloar es over frequently； to pay his respects； I guess。 Oh； and he was on the same flight as you… American 1710。〃
Smith was stunned。 〃Randi； I can't thank you enough。 But I have to run。〃'
〃What do you want me to do with the laptop and the cell phone you brought in？〃
〃Can you get your boy genius to work on it？〃
〃I figured as much。 I'll call you as soon as I have something。〃
Smith left the office； quickly walked back to the customs counter and found the agent who had alerted him to the call。
〃I need your help；〃 he said urgently； displaying his military ID。 〃There was a passenger onboard 1710。 Can you find out if he's cleared customs yet？ The name is Adam Treloar。〃
The agent turned to his terminal。 〃Got him right here。 Treloar。 Went through about two minutes ago。 Do you want…？〃
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