"Si, senor. I graduated in 2001, and went right into the DEA." I graduated in 2001, and went right into the DEA."

"You don't have to call me 'sir.' And please don't."

Solez nodded.

"Why didn't you say something when we were at that brainstorming thing?" Castillo asked.

Solez shrugged. "I wasn't sure you would remember me."

"I should have recognized you. I'm sorry."

Solez shrugged again. "No problem. You had other things on your mind. We're both a long way from San Antonio."

"I'm really happy to see you, Ricardo," Castillo said. "You heard what happened?"

Solez nodded.

"She's in the operating room now," Castillo said.

"She'll be in there for probably another two hours. From the moment she gets off the elevator until I get out of here, I want you or Special Agent Britton-you know each other?"

"We met."

"Since you're talking about me, I wish you'd do it in English, Charley," Britton said.

"Sorry," Charley said, now in English. "It seems that Special Agent Solez is not only a fellow Texican, but his family and mine have been friends for generations."

"My dad is chief engineer for Castillo Properties," Solez said with pride. "Everything but the petroleum side."

Britton looked at him and nodded.

"Okay," Castillo went on, "from the time Special Agent Schneider gets out of the operating room until I can get her the h.e.l.l out of here, I want one or the other, preferably both, sitting on her."

"You got it," Britton said. Solez nodded.

"There will be SIDE people with you, of course," Munz said.

Both Britton and Solez nodded.

Castillo turned to the Marine corporal and looked closely at him for the first time. He was no more than five feet four or five and weighed no more than one-forty. He looked to be about seventeen years old.

I thought Marines on emba.s.sy duty had to be five-eleven and one-eighty or better. Where did this little guy come from?

Oh, yeah. Rule of War Thirteen B: "Every military organization with an authorized strength of two or more men will have a designated paper pusher."

This little guy is the Marine guard detachment clerk, pressed into duty as a driver.

"You're the driver, right, Corporal?"

The corporal came to attention.

"No, sir. The driver is with the car, sir. The gunny instructed me to tell you, sir, that an armored car was not immediately available, and to suggest you take appropriate precautions until one can be found for you."

"Okay."

"My name is Corporal Lester Bradley, sir. I am your bodyguard, sir."

For a moment there was silence, and then Jack Britton was suddenly overwhelmed with a coughing fit. Colonel Munz, his face turned red, and DEA Special Agent Solez became suddenly fascinated with the X-rays on display.

Major C. G. Castillo-after covering his mouth with his hand so it would not be obvious he was biting his lip as hard as he could; one chuckle, the hint of a giggle, from him, or anyone else, would trigger something close to hysterics in everybody-finally decided he could trust his voice.

"Well, I'm glad to have you, Corporal," he said. "I know how reliable the Marines are."

"Semper fi, sir," Corporal Lester Bradley said sincerely. sir," Corporal Lester Bradley said sincerely.

Colonel Munz turned from his examination of the X-rays, and probably not trusting himself to speak, signaled with a nod of his head toward the door that he wanted a private word with Castillo.

"Excuse me a minute, guys. I'll be right back," Castillo said, and followed Munz into the corridor.

Munz put his hand on Castillo's arm.

"Now that you're under the protection of the U.S. Corps of Marines, Karl, would you mind if I left you?"

"Don't underestimate the Marines, Alfredo. They're nice people to have in your corner."

"Are they all like that boy?"

"They are not often troubled with self-doubt," Charley said.

"And neither should you be, Karl," Munz said seriously. "I've been practicing our trade for a while, and I have met very few people with your natural talent for it."

"I take that as a great compliment, Alfredo."

"It was meant as one. Listen to me, Karl. Don't let what happened in there bother you. . . ."

He means my almost taking a dive.

". . . There would be something wrong with a man who, looking at a bullet in the skull of the woman he loves-a bullet which, but for G.o.d's mercy, would have taken her life-was not affected as you were."

Castillo met his eyes but said nothing.

Munz squeezed his arm.

"And pay attention to what your bodyguard said about your not having an armored car," Munz said with a smile. "I presume you'll be going to your emba.s.sy?"

Why not? Dr. Santa Claus said Betty'll be in there two hours. And I'm going to have to talk to Washington on a secure line.

Castillo nodded. "I took that to heart."

"There will be a SIDE car with you," Munz said, and then offered Castillo his hand. "Goodbye, Karl."

Goodbye? What does he mean by that?

"Thanks for everything, Alfredo."

"I will pray for your lady, Karl," Munz said, touched Castillo's shoulder, then walked quickly down the corridor to the elevator.

Charley went back in the office, told Britton and Solez he was going to the emba.s.sy and to call him if there was any word at all, and then-under the careful watch of Corporal Bradley, his bodyguard-went to the bas.e.m.e.nt and got in the unarmored emba.s.sy car.

On the way, his cellular went off, and he answered it with his heart in his throat. It was Amba.s.sador Silvio, who told him that Mrs. Masterson wished to go ahead with the ceremony at the Catedral Metropolitana.

"I'm on the way to the emba.s.sy, sir. To get on the horn to Washington. Would you like me to wait until you get there?"

"Please, Charley. I'll be there in thirty minutes."

[THREE].

The United States Emba.s.sy Avenida Colombia 4300 Buenos Aires, Argentina 2040 24 July 2005 "White House."

"This is C. G. Castillo. I need to speak on a secure-"

"We've been waiting for your call, sir. Hold one, please."

"Secretary Hall's office. Mrs. Kensington speaking."

"We have Mr. Castillo for Secretary Hall, Mrs. Kensington. This line is secure."

Mrs. Kensington pushed her intercom b.u.t.ton, said, "Pick up, boss. It's Charley on a secure line," then dialed another number on the secure phone.

Charley listened as she said, "We have Secretary Hall and Mr. Castillo on a secure line for a conference call with Director Montvale."

Oh s.h.i.t!

Charles W. Montvale, former deputy secretary of state, former secretary of the treasury, and former amba.s.sador to the European Union, was the recently appointed United States director of national intelligence. The press had immediately dubbed him the "intel czar."

"Charles Montvale."

Oh, s.h.i.t, again! He sounds like he's got his teeth clenched.

"Are you okay, Charley?" Secretary Hall asked as he came on the line.

"I'm well, thank you, Matt. And yourself?" Director Montvale said, a touch of condescending amus.e.m.e.nt in his voice.

"Castillo, are you on?" Hall asked. There was a touch of impatience in his voice.

"Yes, sir."

"Are you all right, Charley?"

"Yes, sir. I'm fine."

"And the girl?"

"She's in surgery now at the German Hospital. She took three hits-"

"Am I correct in a.s.suming the third party to this call is Major Castillo?" Director Montvale interrupted. He still sounded amused.

"Yes, sir," Castillo said.

"I am Charles Montvale, Major. Do you know who I am?" Now his voice was serious.

"Yes, sir."

"The President has asked me to take your call, Major. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"This call is being recorded. You may proceed."

"Hold off, Charley," Matt Hall said icily. "Mr. Montvale, let's get some things clear between us before anyone says another word."

"Is there a problem?"

"Several, I'm afraid. For one thing, I don't like being informed that my call is being recorded. You said nothing about that when you told my executive a.s.sistant you wanted to listen to this call."

"Actually, it was my executive a.s.sistant who spoke with your executive a.s.sistant," Montvale said. "And recording my calls-especially calls of this nature-is standard procedure."

"It's not my standard procedure. I would like your a.s.surance that the recording device has been turned off, that what has been recorded so far will be erased, and that there is no one privy to this call but the three of us."

"I intend to have the tape of this conversation available should the President ask for it when I report this telecom to him."

"Do I understand I don't have your a.s.surance the recorder is being turned off?"

"I frankly don't understand your att.i.tude, Secretary Hall."

"Is that a yes or a no, Mr. Montvale?"

"Jo-Anne, turn off the recorder," Montvale said after a moment.

"And erase anything that's been recorded," Hall insisted.

"Erase what has been recorded so far, please, Jo-Anne."

"Thank you."

"You said there were several problems, Secretary Hall?"

"Major Castillo works for me. I will tell him when to proceed or when not to. Is that clear?"