The Creed of Violence - Boston Teran [13]
Burr exhaled a rail-thin line of smoke.
"The morphine. It is morphine, that-"
"Turned me into a dissolute." Burr fingered his cigarette out the window. "I have had a taste for the unsavory . . . ever since childhood. Perhaps that's what makes me such an effective and successful attorney."
"What you are proposing would demand crossing the border, would it not?"
"Yes."
"We have no authority there."
"That doesn't mean you couldn't, or shouldn't, send an operative with him, for the gathering of evidence, the ascertainment of fact, against individuals or groups that have the potential to negatively affect domestic security. This operative could have authority over my client. We would agree to that."
"How does one have authority over someone with his biography?"
"There's a way."
"You said a few minutes ago you would never allow your client-"
"To rely on the future goodwill of the government. I emphasized the word-future."
When John Lourdes heard justice Knox say "earned immunity" he wanted to vomit with rage. He stood in the light of that great dome trying to grasp the implications of the meeting with Burr.
"Now," said justice Knox, "there will be an operative with him when he goes into Mexico. That operative will have complete authority, or at least tactical control. I'm considering you for this assignment."
"Sir?"
"You don't have the most field experience, but you're the only one who's truly bilingual. I'm going to be honest. I have reservations."
He kept hearing himself say, "Sir?"
"It's about character."
"Character ... my character?"
He could feel the anger coming through in his voice.
"Not a lack of character. It's ... I noted your reaction to Howell when we were interrogating the girl. I heard the anger in your voice just a minute ago when I told you what is going to happen. I do not question your dedication. But I need to be assured the operative I send can remain dispassionate and view this as ... a practical application of strategy. Just as I have to remain dispassionate in my judgments."
Dispassion had been an essential condition to John Lourdes's successes. And rulership of the self demanded extreme concentration and commitment, so in certain respects justice Knox was correct. He had failed.
"Once in Mexico, sir, I would have no legal authority over him."
"No."
"How do we control him?"
"He knows if he fails to live up to his responsibility by trying to desert, abandon or escape, your orders are to kill him. He knows if he should pose a threat to you, your orders are to kill him. He knows if anything happens to you, even if it's no fault of his, it will be the same as if he failed his responsibility. He must get you back here alive."
"Why should he follow through with any of this, if an opportunity arises?"
"Because we have something he wants."
"And that is?"
"The ability to erase his past ... earned immunity."
There was a selfish purity to that he could understand and believe of his father,) ust as he could feel it in himself.
"You mean he has his own `practical application of strategy."'
Justice Knox's forehead furrowed deeply.
"Correct ... now, what about my concerns with regard to you?"
"Sir, I will go wherever the practical application of strategy demands I go."
A DUFFEL AND weapons lay ready on the bed. John Lourdes sat at the desk in his room. When he'd finished his last will and testament he folded the paper neatly and edged it with a thumb, then inserted it into an envelope along with his bank book. He sealed the envelope and wrote on it: To be opened in 4e eve/4 of my disappearance or dea4.
The truck was parked in an empty lot behind Burr's house. Justice Knox was to bring Rawbone there clandestinely. John Lourdes arrived early as he wanted to meet with Burr alone.
Burr sat at his desk. It was littered with open law books and longforgotten cups of coffee. The needle, as well, lay on a silk handkerchief. He wore the same ruffled shirt as the night before, and the air was spiked with marijuana smoke when Lourdes was ushered in by the silent female servant.
Burr's face took