The room took on an almost deathly stillness. No one made even the slightest attempt to speak. Pitts statement had stunned them to the soles of their feet. Emmett had a distraught expression on his face. Fawcett clasped his hands to conceal his nervousness.

Oates appeared dazed.

Brogan was the first to question Pitt. "I must assume, Mr. Pitt, you're alluding to the Russians?"

"No, sir, I am not."

"No chance you're mistaken?" asked Mercier.

"None."

"If not the Russians," asked Emmett in a cautious voice, "then who?"

"The head of the Bougainville Maritime empire, Min Koryo, and her grandson, Lee Tong."

"I happen to know Lee Tong Bougainville personally," said Emmett.

"He is a respected business executive who donates heavily to political campaigns."

"So does the Mafia and every charlatan who's out to milk the government money machine," said Pitt icily. He lain a photograph on the table. "I borrowed this from the morgue file of the Washing Post.

Do you'recognize this man, Mr. Emmett, the one coming through the door in the picture?"

Emmett picked up the photograph and examined it. "Lee Tong Bougainville," he said. "Not a good likeness, but one of the few photos I've ever seen of him. He avoids publicity like herpes.

You're making a grave error, Mr. Pitt, in accusing him of any crime."

"No error," Pitt said firmly. "This man tried to kill me. I have reason to believe he is accountable for the explosion that burned and sank the Leonin Andreyev, and the kidnapping of Congresswoman Loren Smith."

"Congresswoman Smith's kidnapping is pure conjecture on your part."

"Dinn't Congressman Moran explain what occurred onboard the ship?"

Pitt asked.

"He refuses to be questioned by us," Mercier answered. "All we know is what he told the press."

Emmett was becoming angry. He saw Pitts revelations as an indictment of FBI fumbling. He leaned across the table with fire in his eyes. "Do you honestly expect us to believe your ridiculous fairy tales?" he demanded in a cracking voice.

"I don't much care what you believe," Pitt replied, pinning the FBI director with his stare.

"Can you say how you collared the Bougainvilles?" asked Oates.

"My involvement stems from the death of a friend by Nerve Agent S.

I began a hunt for the responsible parties, I admit, purely for revenge. As my investigations gradually centered on Bougainville Maritime, other avenues of their illicit organization suddenly unfolded.

"And you can prove your accusations?"

"Of course," Pitt answered. "Computer data describing their hijacking activities, drug business and smuggling operations is in a safe at NUMA."

Brogan held up a hand. "Wait one moment. You stated the Bougainvilles were also behind the hijacking of the Eagle?"

"I did."

"And you know who was abducted?"

"I do."

"Not possible," Brogan stated flatly.