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He nodded in approval Only three hours after he'd briefed Pitt, the search for the Eagle was on He ju the sonar sensor to the recorder cable, then entered the wheelhouse He found Pitt scrutinizing a large satellite photograph through a lass

Is that the best you can do?" Sandecker asked

Pitt looked up and grinned humorously "You mean the boat?"

"I do"

"Not up to your spit and polish naval standards, but she'll serve nicely"

"None of our research vessels were available?"

"They were, but I chose this old tub for two reasons One, she's a daood little workboat; and two, if soovernment boat with a party of VIPs on board and deep-sixed her, they'll expect afor it This e'll be in and out before they're wise"

Sandecker had told hi to the naval yard had been stolen from the pier at Mount Vernon and presumed sunk

Little else "Who said anything about VIPs being onboard?"

"Army and Navy helicopters are as thick as locusts overhead, and you can walk across the river on the Coast Guard ships crowding the water There's more to this search project than you've let on, Admiral A hell of a lot more"

Sandecker didn't reply He could only ad four juhtened Pitts suspicions sidestepping the issue, he asked, "You see so this far below Mount Vernon?"

"Enough to save us four days and twenty-five ured the boat would be spotted by one of our space cameras, but which one? Military spy satellites don't orbit over Washington, and space weather pictures won't enhance to pinpoint small detail"

"Where did you get that one?" Sandecker asked, raph

"Froical survey satellites flew 590 miles overhead and shot an infrared portrait of Chesapeake Bay and the adjoining rivers Ti of the boat's disappearance If you look through the glass at the blowup of this section of the Potomac, the only boat that can be seen down river fro a mile below this dock"

Sandecker peered at the tiny white dot on the photograph The enhanceear on the decks and the figures of two people He stared into Pitts eyes