We met at the White House reception for the...
We met at the White House reception for
the Joint Chiefs several years ago—”
“I wasn’t there,” broke in the chairman emphatically
“Oh?” The stranger arched his brows, his voice still pleasant but obviously questioningArmbruster?” The chauffeur had closed the door and now turned courteously to the
chairman“Will you be needing—”
“No, no,” said Armbruster, again interrupting“You’re relieved—I won’t need you anymore
today
“Same time tomorrow morning, sir?”
“Yes, tomorrow—unless you’re told otherwiseI’m not a well man; check with the office The chauffeur tipped his visored cap and climbed back into the front seat
“I’m sorry to hear that,” said the stranger, holding his place as the limousine’s engine was
started and the automobile rolled awayI was never at the White House for that damned reception!”
“Perhaps I was mistaken—”
“Yes, well, nice to see chanel costume jewelry you again,” said Armbruster anxiously, impatiently, hurrying to the steps
that led up to his Georgetown house
“Then again, I’m quite sure Admiral Burton introduced us—”
“What?” The chairman spun around“What did you just say
“This is a waste of time,” continued Jason Bourne, the pleasantness gone from his voice and his
face Armbruster repeated the statement in a hoarse whisper,
snapping his head up to look at the front of his house, to the windows and the door
“You’ll be far worse unless we talk,” added Jason, following the chairman’s eyes“Shall it be up
there? In your house?”
“No!” cried Armbruster“She yaps all the time and wants to know everything about everybody,
then blabs all over town exaggerating everything
Robert Ludlum ?? THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
73
“I assume you’re talking about your wife
“All of ’em! They don’t know when to keep their traps sacs hermes shut
“It sounds like they’re starved for conversationI’ve got a car down the blockAre you up to a drive?”
“I damn well better beWe’ll stop at the drugstore down the streetThey’ve got my prescription
on fileWho the hell are you?”
“I told you,” answered Bourne
“Oh, Jesus!” whispered Albert Armbruster
The pharmacist complied rapidly, and Jason quickly drove to a neighborhood bar he had chosen
an hour before should one be necessaryIt was dark and full of shadows, the booths deep, the
banquettes high, isolating those meeting one another from curious glancesThe ambience was
important, for it was vital that he stare into the eyes of the chairman when he asked questions, his
own eyes ice-cold, demanding Delta was back, Cain had returned; Jason Bourne was
in full command, David Webb forgotten
“We have to cover ourselves,” said the Cobra quietly after their fendi b bag drinks arrived“In terms of
damage control that means we have to know how much harm each of us could do under the
Amytals
“What the hell does that mean?” asked Armbruster swallowing most of his gin and tonic while
wincing and holding his stomach
“Drugs, chemicals, truth serums
“What?”
“This isn’t your normal ball game,” said Bourne, remembering Conklin’s words“We’ve got to
cover all of the bases because there aren’t any constitutional rights in this series
“So who are you?” The chairman of the Federal Trade Commission belched and brought his
glass briefly to his lips, his hand trembling“Some kind of one-man hit team? John Doe knows
something, so he’s shot in an alley?”
“Don’t be ridiculousAnything like that would be totally counterproductiveIt would only fuel
those trying to find us, leave a trail—”
“Then what are you talking about?”
“Saving louis vuitton neo our lives, which includes our reputations and our life-styles
“You’re one cold prickHow do we do that?”
“Let’s take your case, shall we? You’re not a well man by your own admissionYou could
resign under doctor’s orders and we take care of you—Medusa takes care of you Jason’s
imagination floated, making quick sharp forays into reality and fantasy, swiftly searching for the
words that might be found in the gospel according to St“You’re known to be a wealthy man,
so a villa might be purchased in your name, or perhaps a Caribbean island, where you’d be
completely secureNo one can reach you; no one can talk to you unless you agree, which would
mean predetermined interviews, harmless and even favorable results guaranteedSuch things are
not impossible
“Pretty sterile existence in my opinion,” said Armbruster“Me and the yapper all by ourselves?
I’d kill chloe bag he