| Bourne leaned over the desk within inches of the dead body, the
acrid smell of the exploded shell and burnt flesh still pungent, and studied the memo padIt was
blank, but Jason carefully tore off the top pages, folded them, and put them into his trousers pocket
He stepped back still botheredWhat was it? He looked around the room, and as his eyes roamed
over the furniture Master Sergeant Flannagan appeared in the doorway
?What are you doing?? Flannagan asked suspiciously?We?re waiting for you
?Your friend may find it too difficult to stay in here, but I don?tI can?t afford to, there?s too
much to learn
?I thought you said we shouldn?t touch anything
Robert Ludlum ?? THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
101
?Looking isn?t touching, SergeantUnless you remove something, then no one knows it?s been
touched because it isn?t here Bourne suddenly walked over to an ornate female silver cartier watch brass-topped coffee table,
the sort so common in the bazaars of India and the Middle EastIt was between two armchairs in
front of the study?s small fireplace; off center was a fluted glass ashtray partially filled with the
remains of half-smoked cigarettesJason reached down and picked it up; he held it in his hand and
turned to Flannagan?For instance, Sergeant, this ashtrayI?ve touched it, my fingerprints are on it,
but no one will know that because I?m taking it away
?What for??
?Because I smelled something?I mean I really smelled it, with my nose, nothing to do with
instincts
?What the hell are you talking about??
?Cigarette smoke, that?s what I?m talking aboutIt hangs around a lot longer than you might
thinkAsk someone who?s given them up more times than he can remember
?So what??
?So let?s have a talk with the general?s wifeLet?s all have a talkCome gucci backpacks for cheap on, Flannagan, we?ll
play show and tell
?That weapon in your pocket makes you pretty fuckin? brave, doesn?t it??
?Move, Sergeant!?
Rachel Swayne swung her head to her left, throwing back her long, dark streaked hair over her
shoulder as she stiffened her posture in the chair?That?s offensive in the extreme,? she
pronounced with wide accusatory eyes, staring at Bourne
?It certainly is,? agreed Jason, nodding?It also happens to be trueThere are five cigarette butts
in this ashtray and each has lipstick on it Bourne sat down across from her, putting the ashtray on
the small table next to the chair?You were there when he did it, when he put his gun into his
mouth and pulled the triggerPerhaps you didn?t think he?d go through with it; maybe you thought
it was just another one of his hysterical threats?whatever, you didn?t raise a word to stop him
Why should you tiffany |
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