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"Granted," Pitt allowed "But suppose they cut off seven hundred miles?"

"How?" inquired Giordino, his voice a co wheels and driving it cross-country?"

"No joke," Pitt said seriously "By towing it through the recently opened Florida Cross State Canal from Jacksonville on the Atlantic to Crystal River on the Gulf of Mexico, shortcutting the entire southern half of the state"

The revelation sparked Giordino He peered at the chart again, studying the scale Then, using his thuhly measured the reduced distance between Charleston and New Orleans When he finally turned and looked at Pitt, he wore a sheepish smile

"It works" Then the smile quickly faded "So what does it prove?"

"The Bougainvilles uarded dock facility and teroes It probably sits on the banks of the river soulf"

"The Mississippi Delta?" Giordino showed his puzzlement

"How'd you pull that little number out of the hat?"

"Take a look," Pitt said, pointing to the list of ships on the blackboard and then reading them off "The Pilottown, Belle Chasse, Buras, Venice, Boothville, Chalistry but at one tiainville Maritime"

"I fail to make the connection"

"Take another look at the chart Every one of those ships is na the river delta"

"A symbolic cipher?"

"The only nate their area of covert operations"

Giordino peered closer "By God, it fits like a girl in tight shorts"

Pitt rapped the chart with his knuckles "I'll bet ainst your Bronco that's where we'll find Loren"