"Meaning they didn't trust the other cops?" Captain Timmons asked.
"Meaning they trusted the Gendarmeria more," Munz said.
"You're slick, Colonel," Big Frank said. "Take that as a compliment."
"Thank you."
"What was it you said you did for Colonel Castillo?"
"Whatever he asks me to do, Captain."
"Slick, Colonel," Big Frank said, smiling.
"Well, these bastards were waiting for Junior when he went to the airport, which means somebody told them he was going to the airport," Captain O'Day said.
"Or they set up their roadblock in the reasonable belief that some American agent was probably going to be on the Buenos Aires flight," Munz said. "It may have had nothing to do with Agent Timmons going to see Comandante Duffy."
"And your gut feeling?" Big Frank asked softly.
"That Agent Timmons was specifically targeted."
Big Frank nodded in agreement. Special Agent Timmons's mother inhaled audibly.
"Well, these bastards don't seem to mind whacking people," Wyskowski said. "They didn't have to kill Junior's driver, for Christ's sake."
This is going to drag on for a long time, Castillo thought, and probably turn into a disaster.
"They were sending a goddamn message, Stan-" one of the others, whose name Castillo had forgotten, began but was interrupted by His Honor the Mayor, who apparently was thinking the same thing Castillo was.
"Well, I think we've learned everything that's known," the mayor said. "My question is what happens next, Colonel Castillo? You're going right down there?"
"There are some things we have to do here first," Castillo said. "Ambassador Montvale, the DNI-"
"The what?" Sergeant Mullroney asked.
"The director of National Intelligence," Castillo replied. "He's going to have all the experts in this area-from the various intelligence agencies-waiting for us when we get back to Washington."
"Well, that should be helpful," the mayor said. "And with help in mind, Colonel, I thought Sergeant Mullroney, with his experience in Narcotics, might be useful to you, and I asked the commissioner to put him on temporary duty with you."
Oh, Jesus!
What's he going to be useful doing is keeping the family aware of how we're stumbling around in the dark!
His Honor apparently saw something in Castillo's face.
"I thought of that immediately after I last spoke with the President," the mayor said. "Do you have the authority to take him with you, or would it be better for you if I suggested this to the President?"
Talk about slick! No wonder he's the mayor for life.
"Welcome aboard, Sergeant Mullroney," Castillo said. "Glad to have you."
"I sort of thought that you'd have the authority," the mayor said. "The President told me that he places his absolute trust in you. So I told Charley to pack a bag-and his passport-before coming over here. So you're going right back to Washington?"
"No, sir. We've got to make a couple of stops first."
The mayor stood up, obviously to leave.
"Really?" he asked.
The translation of that is "And where are you going to waste time instead of getting to work on this immediately, as I expect you to?"
Oh, what the hell. When in doubt, tell the truth.
"Las Vegas, Mr. Mayor. The airplane needs some maintenance, and we're having radios installed that will permit us to communicate-securely-with the White House no matter where we are."
The mayor examined him carefully, then smiled.
"Just like Air Force One, huh?"
"Almost, Mr. Mayor."
"When my plane is in for work, it takes them forever and a day," the mayor said. "I suppose for you things go a little quicker, don't they?"
The translation of that is "And how long is that going to take?"
"They expect us, sir. They'll work through the night to get us out as quickly as they can."
The mayor nodded, then went through the room, shaking all the men's hands and kissing the women on the cheek. Then he walked out of the living room with Captain O'Day following closely.
Mrs. Timmons kissed Lorimer, then grabbed Castillo by both arms.
"I'll pray for you, Colonel, to get my son back soon. Before…before anything happens to him."
"Thank you. We'll do our best."
Then everybody shook hands with everybody else.
The mayor was standing on the sidewalk-surprising Castillo-when he and the others came down the stairs.
Castillo then thought he understood why when a black Lincoln limousine turned the corner.
"Oh, there it is," the mayor said, and turned to Castillo. "If there's anything you need, Colonel, give me a call. Sometimes-I'm not without influence-I can be helpful."
"Thank you very much, sir."
Captain O'Day opened the door of the limousine.
"You'll have to use the jump seats," the mayor said. "And someone will have to ride up front, but there'll be room for all of you." He nodded at the others. "It's been a real pleasure to meet all of you."
Then the mayor of Chicago got in the front seat of one of the black Crown Victoria Police Interceptors, and Captain O'Day drove him away.
[FOUR]
Pilots' Lounge
Atlantic Aviation Services Operations
Midway International Airport
Chicago, Illinois 1635 2 September 2005 Castillo motioned to Munz to come with him. They walked out of earshot of the others.
"I've just had more proof that I'm stupid, Alfredo," Castillo said.
Munz looked curiously at him but didn't reply.
"Would you really rather be with your family at the Double-Bar-C, or with us standing around a hangar in Las Vegas?"
"Wherever I would be most useful, Karl," Munz said in German.
"That's not what I asked."
"With my family."
"And not in Vegas?"
Munz nodded.
"That's what I thought. And I should have thought of it right away. That's what I meant by proof of stupidity."
"You have nothing else on your mind, of course," Munz said.
"So what we'll do is just drop you at the ranch and worry about getting together later. I wish you had one of our cellulars."
Munz reached into his jacket pocket and held up a cellular telephone.
"Miller gave me this," he said, "and this." He held up a thin sheaf of one-hundred-dollar bills held together with a Riggs National Bank band. "He said he's working on the credit cards."
"Make sure you get receipts for everything you spend," Castillo said. "Agnes flips her lid if you don't." He reached for the cellular. "Let me put your number in mine."
After he had done that, he started to push an autodial button on his cellular. He stopped and looked at Munz.
"And now for proof that I am an unprincipled sonofabitch, watch as I lie to my grandmother."
He pushed the autodial button.
"This is Carlos, Juanita," he said in Spanish a moment later. "Is Dona Alicia available?"
He turned to Munz. "She is, damn it."
"Abuela," he said a moment later. "You remember that story you told me about George Washington and the cherry tree?
"Well, neither can I.
"We're in Chicago. Alfredo Munz is with us.
"Yesterday.
"We're going to drop him off at the Double-Bar-C. And I can't do anything more than just that. I really can't. That's the George Washington So Help Me God Boy Scout's Honor Truth. I have to be somewhere else as soon as I can get there.
"I was afraid you'd ask. Las Vegas. But it's business. Believe me.
"Of course I'll have time to give you a kiss. We should be there in a little over two hours.
"I love you, Abuela," he said, and turned to Munz.
"Great lady," Castillo said. "She believed me. Didn't give me any static at all."
"So my wife says," Munz said. "I'm looking forward to meeting her."
Castillo pushed another autodial button, then the LOUDSPEAKER key.