| 2:43a |
@@@@@They dine in elegant
restaurants and he
@@@@@They dine in elegant
restaurants and he goes over in a tube beyond the continental shelf, six miles down in the sea, his
body imploding into itself
“Awright, awright!” screamed Nicolo Dellacroce, twisting on the bed, his obese frame tangling
the sheets“Ask your fuckin’ questions, but you give me protection, capisce?”
“That depends on the truthfulness of your answers,” said Holland, returning to the bed
“I’d be very truthful, Nicky,” observed Alex, limping back to the chair“One misstatement and
you sleep with the fishes—I believe that’s the customary phrase
“I don’t need no coaching, I know where it’s atDellacroce,” said the CIA chief, taking a small tape recorder out of his pocket,
checking the charge and placing it on the high white table by the patient’s bedHe drew up a chair
and continued speaking, addressing his opening remarks to the thin silver recorder“My name is
Admiral Peter Holland, currently director of the Central Intelligence Agency, voice confirmation to
be verified if necessaryThis is an interview with an informer we’ll call John Smith, voice
distortion to follow on interagency master tape, identification in the DCI’s classified filesSmith, we’re going to cut through the bullshit to the essential questionsI’ll generalize
them as much as possible for your protection, but you’ll know exactly what I’m referring to and I
expect specific answersWhom do you work for, MrSmith?”
“Atlas Coin Vending Machines, Long Island City,” replied Dellacroce, his words slurred and
spoken gruffly
“Who owns it?”
“I dunno who owns itMost of us work from home—some fifteen, maybe twenty guys, you
know what I mean? We service the machines and send in our reports
Robert Ludlum ?? THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
291
Holland glanced over at Conklin; both men smiledWith one answer the mafioso had placed
himself within a large circle of potential informersNicolo was not new to the game“Who signs
your paychecks, MrLouis DeFazio, a very legitimate businessman, to d’best of my knowledgeHe gives us
our assignments
“Do you know where he lives?”
“Brooklyn HeightsOn the river, I think someone told me
“What was your destination when our personnel intercepted you?”
Dellacroce winced, briefly closing his swollen eyes before answer |