The Hostage Part 36

Now what the h.e.l.l does she want?

"Yes, Sylvia?"

"Actually, this is Juan Silvio."

"Good morning, sir."

"Before I get into this, I presume Ms. Grunblatt did get in touch with you?"

"Yes, sir. I just got off the line with her."

"I guess she told you there's been a leak?"

"Yes, sir."

"I'm sorry. I'd really like to know who did it."

"So would I."

"Did Sylvia also tell you the Argentine government wants to honor Mr. Masterson both by having him lie in state in the cathedral, and by posthumously decorating him with the Grand Cross of the Great Liberator?"

"Yes, sir."

"I didn't think I had the right to agree to either without talking to both you and Mrs. Masterson. And I think we should talk this over before I broach the subject to her."

"Sir, I was just about to go to the hospital. I want to introduce Special Agent Schneider to Mrs. Masterson. She's the female agent I asked be sent down here. And I have Colonel Torine, who flew the C-17 down here, with me. I thought he might be able to rea.s.sure Mrs. Masterson about the travel arrangements. Which brings up something else, sir. Colonel Torine informed me the President wants to inter Mr. Masterson at Arlington, and-"

"All of which suggests that we should talk, and not on the telephone, as soon as possible."

"I'm at your disposal, sir."

"Since we both are going to the hospital, why not there? I'm sure we could find someplace there to talk."

"You tell me when and where, sir."

"The hospital in thirty, thirty-five minutes. Can you do that?"

"I'll see you there, sir."

"Thank you."

Castillo broke the connection, looked at the cellular for a moment, and then pushed an autodial b.u.t.ton.

"Si?"

"Alfredo?

"Si."

"Karl, Alfredo. I need a service."

"Whatever I can do, Karl."

"I'm on my way to the German Hospital. Someone at the American emba.s.sy not only got the crazy idea that there is some sort of White House agent down here, and that I am that agent, but he told the press."

"Herr Gossinger, you mean?"

"Probably Castillo. Anyway, I understand that the press is all over the hospital . . ."

"Then, my friend, I suggest you stay away from the hospital."

"I have to see Mrs. Masterson; and the amba.s.sador's going to meet me there."

There was just a moment's hesitation.

"You're at the Four Seasons, right?"

"Yes."

"You have an emba.s.sy car?"

"Right."

"I have a car in the bas.e.m.e.nt garage."

"The emba.s.sy car is there."

"Very well. Go to the bas.e.m.e.nt and get in your car. My man will make himself known to you. Follow him to the hospital. I will arrange for you to enter via their service bas.e.m.e.nt."

"Thank you."

"When you finish your business with Mrs. Masterson-I presume you heard about the lying in state and the decoration?"

"I'm not sure Mrs. Masterson wants to go along with that. That's one of the reasons I have to see her."

"May I ask the others?"

"I want to introduce her to the female agent I had sent from Washington, and I want to confirm her travel plans. And if you're going to be there, I want to introduce the other Secret Service agent to you."

"I'll see you here shortly, then."

"You're at the hospital?"

"I thought your security man would like to hear our security plans for the Catedral Metropolitana."

"And so would I. I'd also like a look at the place."

"I'll see you here, then, shortly."

Was that tone of voice a "yeah, sure"? Or an "I don't know about that"?

"Thank you, Alfredo."

[THREE].

The German Hospital Avenida Pueyrredon Buenos Aires, Argentina 0930 24 July 2005 The emba.s.sy BMW had been crowded. Colonel Torine had claimed the front pa.s.senger seat because of his long legs. Special Agent Schneider rode in the middle of the backseat, between Castillo and Britton.

While Special Agent Schneider's right calf did come in contact with that of Castillo, what he had been most aware of was something hard and sharp-edged pressing against his lower left rib cage. He endured the discomfort, deciding that saying, "Schneider, your Glock is stabbing me in the ribs" would not only provoke mirth from the other pa.s.sengers, but probably result in Betty sitting so far away from him that the calf-to-calf contact would be lost.

The SIDE car-two burly men in a Peugeot-had taken a fairly circuitous route from the Four Seasons, and had turned off Avenida Pueyrredon two blocks before they had reached the German Hospital. As they followed, Castillo could see that the street and sidewalk at the hospital were crowded with television vans with satellite link dishes and journalists of one kind or another festooned with microphones, and still and video cameras.

The SIDE car led them to the bas.e.m.e.nt of the hospital, past doors that opened as they approached, and closed the moment they were inside.

Gendarmeria National troops guarding the elevator pa.s.sed them through somewhat reluctantly, and only after the SIDE agents had vouched for them.

The corridor outside Mrs. Masterson's room was crowded with more uniformed and plainclothes security personnel, Argentine and American, and the walls were lined with floral displays. Two of them-the ones on each side of the door-were enormous.

"Is Mr. Santini in there?" Castillo asked one of the Americans. He didn't know his name, but he had been in the brainstorming session.

"Yes, sir."

"Would you tell him I'm here, please?"

The man went into the room and Castillo bent over the largest of the floral displays to get a look at the card.

I wonder if anyone took a look at this to make sure it won't blow up?

Of course they did. Munz wouldn't let it into the building, much less up here, without checking.

The card was impressive. It had a gold-embossed representation of the seal of the Republic of Argentina at the top, under which it had the name of the President.

The message was handwritten: "With my profound condolences for your loss and my prayers for your rapid recovery."

Just as Santini came through the door, Charley looked at the card on the other floral display. This one carried the gold seal of the foreign minister, who also offered his condolences and prayers.

Can I read anything of significance in them being outside her room, instead of inside?

"Good morning," Santini said, and then saw Colonel Torine and Jack Britton and Betty Schneider.

"This is Colonel Torine, who's flying the C-17," Castillo said. "And Special Agents Britton and Schneider."

Santini smiled at Betty Schneider.

"Did you really put all fourteen rounds in the bad guy's face?" he asked.

"Thirteen," Betty said. "One went in his ear."

"You have an admirer in Joel Isaacson," Santini said. "He told me. When this business is over, I think they're going to want you on the protection detail."

When this business is over, Tony, Special Agent Schneider is going to give all this fun up, and come live with me in a rose-covered cottage by the side of the road.

Or maybe on the ranch in Midland.

I wonder if she's ever been on a horse?

Santini shook Britton's and Torine's hands, and then, gesturing down the corridor, said, "Come on. They gave me a room to use. The amba.s.sador's waiting for you."

Castillo wondered about the security of the room, and looked with a raised eyebrow at Santini. When Charley mouthed swept? swept? Santini blinked once slowly and made a slight nod. Santini blinked once slowly and made a slight nod.

"You must be Miss Schneider," Amba.s.sador Silvio said, offering his hand with a smile.

"Yes, sir."

"I'm very glad you're here. Mrs. Masterson will probably be delighted to see a feminine face in the sea of men around her."

"Let's hope so, sir," Betty said.

"You all might as well hear this," Silvio said. "I'm torn between my sense of duty as a diplomat and my personal feelings. The Argentines are determined to go ahead with this business of having Mr. Masterson's casket lying in state in the Catedral Metropolitana and awarding him the medal-the Grand Cross of the Great Liberator. Officially, I am delighted. Personally, and not only because I knew Jack well enough to know that his reaction would be, 'A medal? For what? Getting shot?' I wish the Argentines hadn't had the idea. I also don't like the idea of exposing Mrs. Masterson and the children to any possible danger."

"Colonel Munz a.s.sures me, sir," Santini said, "that the level of protection being established at the cathedral will be as good, if not better, than that provided to the President. I almost asked him when was the last time someone took a shot at his President, then realized that with the country's economy still in dire straits, there likely have been some serious threats. The bottom line, sir, is that I really can't fault Munz's plans. And I'll be with her, and Special Agent Schneider and some other of our people."

"And the government would be-perhaps understandably-upset if I just told them, 'Thank you, but no thank you,' " Silvio said, and then looked at Castillo. "Charley?"

"Sir, isn't it her call?" Castillo asked. "If she doesn't want to go to the cathedral, we can say, truthfully, that she's just too grief-stricken. I think the Argentines would understand that."

"You mean, have the casket lie in state, but not have Mrs. Masterson partic.i.p.ate in the decoration ceremony?"

"Yes, sir."

"That's a good thought."

"Sir, I'd like to get the Mastersons out of the country as soon as possible. When are they going to let her leave here?"

"She can leave anytime," Santini answered. "They did another blood workup first thing this morning. She's clean."

"When do the Argentines want to start the show?" Castillo asked.

"They want to move the body to the cathedral this afternoon," Silvio said. "Then, they will permit the public to pay its respects from six until ten tonight, and from eight to ten in the morning. They're going to provide an honor guard, and I've asked the Marines to be ready to do the same. They've scheduled the award ceremony for ten, starting with a ma.s.s, which will be celebrated by the papal nuncio. Fortunately, Jack was a Roman Catholic."

"As opposed to being a Southern Baptist, you mean?" Santini said, and immediately added, "I didn't mean to be flippant."

"If Jack had been a Southern Baptist, or Jewish, or a Mormon," the amba.s.sador said, "that probably would would pose a problem." pose a problem."

"How's the security at her house?" Castillo asked.

"I went out there in the wee hours," Santini replied. "It looked fine to me."

"And if she leaves the hospital in, say, an hour, how long is it going to take to set up a secure motorcade?"