Everything he knows he’s told me. You’ve read the file I sent up with all the rvant facts as to Ryan’s background. As you can see, British Intelligence had a report on Ryan’s involvement with the track heist. It came from the Protestant terrorist Reid, when he was arrested for murdering two soldiers and was trying to do a deal. He speaks of Ryan and his niece being responsible and a man named Martin Keogh. He, it seems, was a total mystery..No details available.”
“A wild one, this Ryan,” the President said. “And this young woman.” He shook his head. “I sometimes despair of human beings.” He straightened. “So, where are we? What happens with these Russo people7” “In my opinion, we’ll get nowhere in that direction.
Marco Sollazo is one of the most celebrated attorneys in Manhattan. If approached on this matter he would express shock and dismay, disavow any suggestion that he even knew Ryan. The new liberality of institutions like Green Rapids, the way visitors and prisoners are allowed to wander, facilitated Sollazo’s ability to contact Ryan, but it’s also a situation in which he would be able to deny all contact. Yes, he was at Green Rapids, but only to see Salamone, and in Salamone we have only the word of a convicted felon, a bank robber who murdered a policewoman.” He shok his head. “The District Attorney wouldn’t waste five minutes on it.” “And Don Antonio Russo?” “Besides his nephew, the finest legal brains in New York are on is payroll. He’s never spent a day in a cell in his entire life.” “But do you believe Salamone?” “I’m afraid so.” “So what do you think is happening?” “I think Sollazo and his uncle took Ryan to get their hands on the bullion. They’ll do some sort of a deal, obviously, let’s say fifty-fifty. Remember, that bullion is worth one hundred and fifty million dollars now, and Ryan is a fanatic, totally dedicated to the Protestant cause.” “Such a vast sum of money devoted to arms for that cause?” The President shook his head. “Peace right out of the window. It is a prospect too bitter to contemplate. All my work and the work of Mr. John Major to go for nothing.” “Exactly, Mr. President, so it seems to me that putting Don Antonio Russo or his nephew in a cell is of secondary significance. The only important thing would be to prevent that gold or part of it from falling into Loyalist hands. Quite frankly, it would enable them to tool up for a civil war.” “No, we can’t have that. What’s your best guess as to the next step?” “They’ll take Ryan and the girl to Ireland. Then, they’ll try to locate the ship. Probably a relatively simple operation at first, a boat, a diver. Once located, some sort of salvage operation.” “I want thi§ stopped at all costs.” The President frowned and then suddenly smiled. “I think this could be a job for Dillon.” “Dillon, Mr. President?” “You remember what happenehen I met Prime Minister John Major on the Terrace at the House of Commons the other week? The bogus waiter? Sean Dillon, originally the most feared enforcer the IRA had. now troubleshooter for Brigadier Charles Ferguson, your British counterpart, Blake.” “Of course, Mr. President.” “Fine. So to start with, get me the Prime Minister on the secure line.”
IN HIS STUDY AT NUMBER TEN DOWNING Street, John Major listened. When the President had finished, he said, “I totally agree, Mr. President, we can’t allow this to happen. I’ll empower Brigadier Ferguson to intervene at once, and I’m sure Dlon will play his usual part. Leave it with me.”
He put the phone down, sat there thinking about it, then lifted the phone again and spoke to his aide.
“Brigadier Charles Ferguson. I want him here at the.
earliest moment.”
He sat back frowning. Ireland, goddanmit. It never went away, in spite of everything he’d done, even to the extent of putting his political career on the line. CHARLES FERGUSON SAT QUIETLY, A GRAVE EXpression on his face, as the Prime Minister gave him
the fats on the matter. When he was finished, he said, “I ‘want this stopped, Brigadier. There’s no way I want to see such huge funds going to either of the two sides in Ireland. We’ve had enough bloodshed.