"Daniel da Cruz - Texas Trilogy 02 - Texas on the Rocks" - читать интересную книгу автора (Da Cruz Daniel)

Texas on the Rocks
Texas Trilogy 02
Daniel Da Cruz
v1.5 - fixed broken paragraphs & formatting by peragwinn



PART I
WATER
1. SCENARIO
11 SEPTEMBER 2004
AT TEN O'CLOCK ON SUNDAY NIGHT, SEPTEMBER 11, 2004, David D. Castle stood in the
center of the big parking lot of a darkened, abandoned warehouse in Bailey's Crossroads, Virginia,
seven miles from the nation's capital. It was bitter cold, and a sharp wind swirled about his bare
head. Around his neck was wrapped a wool scarf, and beneath his suit jacket he wore a heavy
sweater, but they did little to ward off the chill. What warmth there was came from the heat of the
curses he heaped upon the head of William S. Grayle, but it wasn't enough to still his shivering
limbs and chattering teeth.
At ten minutes past ten it began to drizzle, and Castle's curses multiplied. He briefly
considered returning to the car for his umbrella but thought better of it.
As the drizzle turned to rain, Castle turned to philosophy. At least, he comforted himself, on a
night like this he had nothing to fear from muggers. And that was no small consolation considering
that the briefcase he was carrying contained more money than many men made in their entire
lives.
He was examining his watch yet again when, at ten twenty-two, a long black limousine slid up
out of the darkness and stopped in front of the sagging gate of the warehouse. Its headlights went
dark, and a spotlight flashed on. Its beam made a leisurely circuit of the empty grounds and came
to rest on David D. Castle, who stood unflinchingly squinting into the beam until finally it winked
out.
The headlights flashed twice. David D. Castle splashed through the puddles toward the car
with smoked-glass windows parked fifty yards away. The rear door opened at his approach. A
dim floor bulb revealed a little leather jump seat facing the rear. He stepped inside and took the
seat, closing the door behind him.
As his eyes tried to penetrate the darkness, he heard the old man speak from the opposite
side of the car.
"You brought the money?"
"Right here," replied Castle, patting the briefcase.
"Pass it to my driver."
Castle felt a slight current of air as the black glass slid down behind him. He passed the
briefcase through.
"Count it," Grayle instructed his chauffeur.
Castle bristled. "I beg your pardon, sir. I am a member of Congress."
"I had forgotten. Count it twice, Brandon."
Castle sat in aggrieved silence, his occasional sniffles muffled by the riffle of bank notes and
the steady drumbeat of rain on the roof.
"Two hundred and fifty thousand, sir," said the chauffeur.
"Drive on," Grayle instructed.
The communicating window whooshed shut, and the limousine moved off into the night. The
two men sat in total darkness, the opaque windows admitting not the dimmest ray of light. It was
all of a piece with Grayle's reputation for reclusive-ness. Although he had been whispering