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ACROSS town, Ling Po was just about to enter the

“Things have gotten too hot for us,” an unknown voice said to Po “You win, Detective There is a white Chevrolet Tahoe on the runway at Macau airport It has the Buddha that was stolen from the party Good-bye”

The telephone went dead in Po’s ear For a mo Rhee

“I just had a call from the thieves,” Po said rapidly “They claim the Buddha is in a white Chevrolet truck on the runway at Macau airport”

HANLEY, Spenser, and Adaar to where a li Monica Crabtree was behind the wheel Once the trio of men was safely in the rear coear and raced toward the gate

“Okay, Kevin,” Cabrillo said

Using a remotely operated device he had installed a few hours earlier, Nixon began to back the ramp away from the 737 As soon as the ramp lurched backward, the billionaire knew he had been had—he swiveled around at the top of the ralanced down The truck was there, but no one was visible

Larry King watched the 737 through the nightscope Less than a minute later, he watched as Gunderson slid into the pilot seat, thenflashed a red laser on his rifle sight at the pilot’sof the 737, and, at the signal, Gunderson fired the engines on the jet The ra faster and faster, and Nixon steered it to the side Once it was safely clear of the jet, he let his joystick go neutral and the ra the controller into a box, he did a final visual sweep of the hangar with Cabrillo He and Crabtree had packed everything else into the trunk of the limousine in the half hour before Spenser had made his approach All that rehtail it off airport property

Once the ranaled again with the laser and Gunderson began to advance the throttles

Cabrillo and Nixon alking quickly for the rear door when King radioed

“Chuck’s started his taxi,” King said

The rah for the billionaire to leap off He ran down the tar737 A few seconds of that and he knew the situation was hopeless, so he raced toward the Chevrolet Once he reached the vehicle, he was surprised to find the Buddha still aboard Pushing over the alu, he slammed the rear door closed, then climbed into the driver’s seat Another break, the keys were still in the ignition His 100 million in bonds were lost—but the Buddha orth twice that Now his plan was to escape with the Golden Buddha and worry later about who had stolen his jet He started the truck and placed it in gear

On board the 737, the brunette flight attendant was guarding the cockpit door No one had told her to do this, she had just thought it prudent One of the bimbos walked forward and started for the cockpit door

“Get back,” the brunette said

“I need to talk to the pilot,” the blonde said