Operation Hell Gate - Marc Cerasini [69]
On the monitor, the map of America appeared in blue outline. Then a crimson grid appeared superimposed over the image. Six geographical markers blinked, all positioned in or near major metropolitan areas — two around New York City.
"The exact longitude and latitude pinpoint six locations," Doris continued. "JFK and LaGuardia airports in New York City, Logan Airport in Boston, Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., O'Hare in Chicago, LAX here in Southern California."
Ryan Chappelle placed the palms of his hands on the table, leaned closer to the screen. For a long moment he studied the grid in silence.
"That's it," Ryan said at last. "As I see it, there's no other conclusion possible. The aircraft recognition software in the memory stick, the Long Tooth shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, the time code, now this. They all add up to one thing — the terrorists are planning to shoot down commercial aircraft all over the United States at the same time, in a nationwide act of coordinated terrorism."
* * *
9:41:21 A.M. EDT
CTU Headquarters, Los Angeles
Captain Jessica Schneider stared across the interrogation table at Saito. The Japanese man was slumped in his chair, his arrogant confidence gone, replaced by exhaustion and anxiety.
"Listen, miss. I'm telling you the truth."
Jessica sighed and shook her head. "I think I liked your Rat Pack persona better."
"It was just part of the act." Saito pushed his slick hair back with his left hand. The gesture displayed the stump of his missing finger.
The steel door opened. Tony Almeida walked in, slapped a file folder on the desk, slumped down in the chair next to Jessica Schneider. They both fixed their gazes on Saito. Tony spoke.
"I had a conversation with the Japanese Ambassador. He confirmed everything. He's telling the truth."
Saito grinned, slapped the table with the palm of his hand. "See, I told you."
Jessica's jaw dropped. "You're a cop?"
"Agent Ito Nakajima, Special Assault Team, Tokyo Prefecture." The Japanese man offered a respectful bow.
"What are you doing in Los Angeles, Special Agent Nakajima?"
"As Saito, I infiltrated the Machi-yokko crime clan two years ago, when they began to diversify."
"What do you mean by diversify?" Tony asked.
"For decades the Machi-yokko clan was strictly bakuto— illegal gambling, numbers, some loan sharking. But a couple of years ago the Kumicho of the Machi-yokko clan..."
Jessica blinked. "Wait a minute, who or what is a Kumicho?"
"A leader. A clan elder. Think The Godfather, missy," the Japanese man replied with something of his old bravado. "Anyway, last year this Kumicho made a deal with a Taiwanese businessman named Wen Chou Lee."
Tony nodded. "The triad leader who owns the Green Dragon Computers franchise."
"Yes." Agent Nakajima nodded. "Only this deal wasn't for bootleg computer parts or hot microchips stolen off a Malaysian cargo ship. This deal was the same one the Kumicho made with Shoko Asahara."
"The Aum Supreme Truth Cult leader? He's the man responsible for the sarin gas attack in the Tokyo subway system. Why isn't your Kumicho behind bars?"
"The Machi-yokko clan's contributions and behind-the-scenes activities are very important to a certain political party. That gives the Kumicho and his men a measure of protection."
"What did your Kumicho do for the Aum cult?"
"Helped them build their secret death lab, Satian Six, at the base of Mount Fuji. It was there that the cult's scientist, Hideo Murai, produced the poison gas. The Aum also fried their political enemies and dissident members of the cult in industrial-sized microwave ovens, dispatched terrorists to murder an innocent lawyer and his family, and ultimately masterminded the worst terrorist incident in my nation's history."
A moment of silence followed the man's outburst. Finally Tony Almeida asked, "So what's really going on at Green Dragon?"