They were Ivy League conformity itself-falsely arrogant, aesthetically
precious. Archer Beeson was a young man in an academic hurry; his wife, the
perfect faculty ingenue, carelessly sexy, always in awe.
“They”re with LSD and the methedrines. Acid and speed.”
“Good Lordl They fooled the hell out of me. How do you know?”
“Ies too complicated to go into, also restricted. To oversimplify: they,
he, used to purchase heavily from a distributor in Bridgeport. The contact
was terminated and he didn1 show up on any other lists. But he!s not off.
We think he made the Carlyle conneotion. No proof, though … Here’s
another.”
It was the coach of varsity soccer, a lock who worked in physical
education. His items were marijuana and amphetamines; his previous source,
Hartford. He was considered a pusher on campus, not a user. Although the
Hartford source was no longer employed, the man’s varied and dumn-ded bank
accounts continued to grow. Assumption: Nimrod.
And another. This one frightening to Matlock. The assistant dean of
admissions. An alumnus of Carlyle who returned to the campus after a brief
career as a salesman. He was a flamboyant, open-handed man; a proselytizer
for the cause of Carlyle. A popular enthusiast in these days of cynicism.
He, too, was considered a distributor, not a user. He covered himself well
through second- and third-level pushers.
42 Robert Ludlum
“We think he came back here through the Nimrod organization. Good
positioning on Nimrod’s part.”
“Goddamn scarey. That son of a bitch makes parents think he’s a combination
of astronaut and chaplain.”
“Good positioning, as I said. Remember? I told you and Kressel: the Nimrod
people have interests that go beyond drugs.”
“But you don’t know what they are.”
‘We’d better find out- Here~s the breakdown of
the kids.”
The names of the students seemed endless to Matlock. There were 563 out of
a total enrollment of i2oo plus. The government man admitted that many were
included not because of confirmation of individual use, but due to their
campus affiliations. Clubs and fraternities were known to Pool resources
for the purchase of narcotics.
“We haven7t the time to ascertain the validity of every name. Were looking
for relationships; any, no matter how remote. You’ve got to have all kinds
of avenues; we caet restrict them…. And there~s one aspect to this list;
I don7t know whether you see it or not.”
“I certainly do. At least, I think I do. Twenty or thirty names here ring
loud bells in several high Places. Some very influential parents. Industry,
government. Here.” Matlock pointed. “The presidenes cabinet, if I’m not
mistaken. And I’m not.*
“You see.” Loring smiled.
“Has any of this had any effect?”
“We doet know. Could have, could be. The Nimrod tentacles are spreading out
fast. That’s why the alarms are sounding; louder than your bells. Speaking
TBE MATLOCK PAPER 43
unofficially, there could be repercussions no one’s dreamed of. . . .
Defense overruns, union contracts, forced installations. You name it. It
could be related.*
‘Jesus Christ,” said Matlock softly.
“Exactly.”
The two men heard the front door of SeaIfont7s mansion open and shut. As if
by reflex, Loring calmly took the papers from Matlock’s band and quickly
replaced them in his briefcase. He closed the case and then did an
unexpected thing. He silently, almost unobtrusively, whipped back his
jacket and curled his fingers around the handle of a revolver in a small
holster strapped to his chest. The action startled Matlock. He stared at
the hidden hand.
The library door opened and Adrian Sealfont walked in. Loring casually
removed his hand from inside his coat Sealfont spoke kindly.
“I do try. I honestly do. I understand the words and the pictures and take
no offense whatsoever at the braided hair. What confuses me is the
hostility. Anyone past thirty is the natural enemy of these fellows.”
“That was Strauss, wasn’t it?” asked Matlock.
‘Yes. Someone inquired about the New Wave influence. He replied that the
New Wave was ancient history. Prehistoric, was his word…. I won’t inter-
rupt you gentlemen. I would, however, like to know Kressers status, Mr.
Loring. Obviously, James has accepted.-
“So has Mr. Kressel, sir. He’ll act as liaison between
US,
q see.” Sealfont looked at Matlock. There was a sense of relief in his
eyes. “James, I can tell you now. I’m extremely grateful you’ve decided to
help.”
“I don1 think theres an alternative.”
44 Robert Ludlum
‘There iset. What!s frightening is the possibility of such total
involvement. Mr. Loring, I’ll want to be advised the n-dnute you have
anything concrete. At that point I shall do whatever you wish, follow any
mstructions. All I ask is that you supply me with proof and youll have my
complete, my official cooperation.”
“I understand, sir. Yoeve been very helpful. More than we had a right to
expect. We appreciate it.”
‘As James said, there is no alternative. But I must impose limits; my first
obligation is to this institution. The campuses these days might appear
dormant; I think thafs a surface evaluation…. You have work to do and I
have some reading to finish. Good night, Mr. Loring. James.”
Matlock and the government man nodded their goodnights as Adrian Sealfont
closed the library door.
By one o!clock, Matlock could absorb no more. The main elements-names,
sources, conjectures-were locked in; he would never forget them. Not that
he could recite everything by rote; that wasn’t expected. But the sight of
any particular individual on the lists would trigger a memory response. He
knew Loring was right about that. It was why the agent insisted that he say
the names out loud, repeating them several times each. It would be enough.
What he needed now was a nights sleep, if sleep would come. Let everything
fall into some kind of perspective. Then in the morning he could begin to
make initial decisions, determine which individuals should be approached,
selecting those least likely to come in contact with one another. And this
meant familiarizing himself with immediate friends, faculty or student body
status-dozens of isolated fragments
THE MATLOCK PAPER 45
of information beyond the data supplied by Loring. Kressers files-the ones
he disclaimed having-would help.
Once in conversations he’d have to make his way carefully-thrusting,
parrying, watching for signs, looks, betrayals.
Somewhere, with someone, it would happen.
“I’d like to go back to something,” said Loring. “Background material.-
“We’ve covered an awful lot. Maybe I should digest what I’ve got”
~I7his won’t take a minute. It’s important.” The agent reached into his
briefcase and withdrew the filthy, scissored paper. “Here, this is yours.”
‘rhanks for I-don’t-know-what” Matlock took the once-shining silver paper
and looked at the strange script
“I told you it was written in Oltremontan-Corsican and, except for two
words, that’s correct At the bottom, on a single line, you’ll see the
phrase Venerare Omerta. That’s not Corsican, Ws Sicilian. Or a Sicilian
contraction, to be precise.”
“I’ve seen it before.”
“I’m sure you have. Ies been given wide distribution in newspapers, movies,
fiction. But that doesdt lessen its impact on those concerned by it It’s
very real.”
“What does it mean?”
“Roughly translated: Respect the law of Omerta. Omerta is an oath of
allegiance and silence. To betray either is asking to be killed.”
“Mafia?”
“Ies involved. You might say it’s the party of the second part. Bear in
mind that this little announce-
46 Robert Ludlum
ment was issued jointly by two factions trying to reach an accommodation.
‘Omerta’ goes across the board; it’s understood by both.”
I’ll bear it in mind, but I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with it.”
“Just know about ie
OO.K.”
‘One last item. Everything weve covered here tonight is related to
narcotics. But if our information is correct, the Nimrod people are
involved in other fields. Sharldng, prostitution, gambling … perhaps, and
it’s only perhaps, municipal controls, state legislatures, even the federal
government… Experience tens us that narcotics is the weakest action, the
highest rate of collapse among these activities, and that!s why w6’ve
centered on it. In other words, concentrate on the drug situation but be
aware that other avenues
‘Ies no secret~”
‘Maybe not to you. Let’s call it a night~”
“Shouldet you give me a number where I can reach you?”
“Negative. Use Kressel. Well check with him several times a day. Once you
start asking questions, you may be put under a microscope. Doet call
Washington. And-doWt lose our Corsican invitation. Ifs your ultimate clout.
just find another one.”
I’ll try.-
Matlock watched as Loring closed his briefcase, looped the thin black chain
around his wrist, and snapped the built-in lock.
“Looks very cloak-and-daggerish, doeset it?” LorInglaughed.
“I’m impressed.”
“Doet be. The custom began with diplomatic cou- THE MATLOCK PAPM 47
riers who’d take their pouches to hell with them, but today ies simply a
protection against purse-snatching. … So help me, thaes what they think of
us.”
“I don1 believe a word you say. Thaes one of those cases that make smoke