"I can't speak to enthusiasm, sir, but I expect cooperation."

"I thought perhaps other, higher priorities might be involved," Masterson said. "Or perhaps that when you turn over the rock, there will be worms some might wish had remained concealed. Perhaps in the national interest."

"When I was on Air Force One with the President just now, Mr. Masterson, he ordered Amba.s.sador Montvale, the director of national intelligence, and the secretary of state to give me anything I asked for, and I intend to ask the CIA for everything they have on Lorimer. And I'm going to ask the FBI and the DIA and the DEA, the state department's bureau of intelligence and research, and the post office and the department of agriculture and anybody else I think might possibly have a line on him."

"Would a reward for information, as substantial as necessary, and offered either publicly or privately, be of any use, do you think?"

"I don't think that will be necessary, sir."

"Please keep it in mind, Mr. Castillo, that if something . . ."

"I appreciate that, sir, and I will."

"Is there anything else you'd be willing to tell me?"

"I can't think of anything else, sir."

"Then perhaps we should go out to the plantation before our being missing really attracts attention."

"Sir, about the plantation," Castillo said. "I'd really like to get out of here first thing in the morning, and we have to think about getting Fernando back to San Antonio-"

"Fernando's not going back to San Antonio," Fernando interrupted. "Fernando's always wanted to go to Paris in the middle of the summer. Somebody once told Fernando you can't find a Frenchman in Paris in July. Just think, all that beauty and no Frenchmen."

Masterson chuckled. "You sound like my son, Mr. Lopez." He turned to Castillo. "I really wish you would spend the night at the plantation, if for no other reason than I think Betsy will be pleased to see that I share her confidence in you."

Jesus H. Christ!

"I can only hope, sir, that her, and your, confidence in me is justified."

Which almost certainly won't be.

[TWO].

Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina 0715 26 July 2005 "Pope approach control, Lear Five-Zero-Seven-Five," Colonel Jake Torine called into his throat mike.

"Lear Five-Zero-Seven-Five, Pope."

"Pope, Seven-Five. Do you have us on radar?"

"Affirmative, Seven-Five."

"Estimate Pope in seven minutes. Approach and landing clearance, please."

"Lear Five-Zero-Seven-Five, be advised Pope is closed to civilian traffic."

Colonel Torine turned to Major C. G. Castillo, who was in the left seat.

"What now, O Captain, my captain?" he asked.

"I thought we'd be cleared," Castillo said.

"Always check," Torine said. "Write that down, Charley."

"You guys aren't very good at things like this, are you?" Fernando Lopez, who was kneeling between the seats, asked innocently, earning him the finger from Major Castillo.

Colonel Torine switched to TRANSMIT.

"Pope, Seven-Five has been cleared to land at Pope. Verify by contacting Lieutenant General McNab at Special Operations Command."

"Seven-Five, we have no record of clearance-"

"And while you're doing that, give us approach and landing clearance, please. This is Colonel Jacob Torine, USAF. Acknowledge."

It proved impossible for the airfield officer of the day, Major Peter Dennis, USAF, to immediately find anyone at the Air Force base who could confirm or deny that Lear Five-Zero-Seven-Five had permission to land. Neither could he immediately establish contact with General McNab.

With great reluctance, but seeing no other alternative, Major Dennis telephoned Major General Oscar J. Winters, USAF, Pope's commanding general, at his quarters, where the general was having his breakfast, and explained what had happened.

Major General Winters was fully aware that paragraph one of the mission statement of Pope Air Force Base stated in effect that Pope was there to provide support to Fort Bragg and the major Army units stationed thereon. Furthermore, he knew that Lieutenant General Bruce J. McNab, U.S. Army, was wearing the hats of both the commanding general, XVIII Airborne Corps, and the commanding general, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, and thus also had command control of the 82nd Airborne Division (which was under XVIII Airborne Corps) and the U.S. Army Special Warfare School (which was under the Special Operations Command).

He was also aware of General "Scotty" McNab's well-earned reputation for unorthodoxy, and of his legendary temper. And there was, General Winters knew, an Air Force officer, a colonel, named Jacob Torine. Why Torine would be flying a civilian Bombardier/Learjet 45XR Winters had no idea, except that Torine had spent much of his career as an Air Commando, and Air Commandos were about as well known for unorthodoxy as were members of the Army's Special Forces.

Wise major generals, Air Force or Army, make every effort not to unreasonably antagonize lieutenant generals of their own or any other service.

General Winters instructed Major Dennis to grant Lear Five-Zero-Seven-Five permission to land, but with the caveat that it be ordered to hold on the taxiway, where two Security Forces Humvees armed with .50 caliber machine guns should meet it prepared to take it under fire in case the sleek and glistening white civilian jet should turn out to be some sort of flying Trojan horse.

"I'll be right there, Major," General Winters said.

On the way to Base Operations in his Air Force blue Dodge Caravan, General Winters managed to get General McNab on his cellular phone.

"General McNab," he said, "we have just learned that a civilian Learjet is about to land at Pope, piloted by someone who says he is Colonel Jacob Torine, USAF, and that you can verify he has permission to land. I am on my way to the field."

General McNab's reply was succinct: "Well, I guess I better do the same. Thank you, Oscar. See you there."

The Bombardier/Learjet 45XR had been sitting on the taxiway near the threshold of the active runway for about ten minutes when both Lieutenant General McNab and Major General Winters personally appeared there.

General McNab led the way, standing up in the front seat of an Army Humvee. He was a small, muscular, ruddy-faced man sporting a flowing red mustache. He was wearing a desert camouflage uniform, aviator sungla.s.ses, and a green beret. General Winters followed in his Caravan. He was wearing a cla.s.s A uniform.

When the Humvee stopped thirty feet from the Lear, General McNab jumped nimbly to the ground and walked up to the Lear, where he, hands on hips, looked up at the c.o.c.kpit with all the arrogant confidence of General George S. Patton. A very large and muscular captain, similarly uniformed, got out of the Humvee and took up a position immediately behind General McNab.

Major General Winters and Major Dennis got out of the Caravan and walked up beside Lieutenant General McNab and the Green Beret captain.

The Lear's door unfolded, and Colonel Torine and Major Castillo, each wearing a suit and tie, deplaned. Both saluted crisply, which rea.s.sured Major Dennis, who reasoned if they weren't military they would not have done so.

"Good morning, sir," Torine and Castillo said, almost in concert.

General Winters returned the salute crisply. General McNab returned it with a casual gesture in the direction of his head.

"I must confess, Oscar," General McNab said, "that these two are well known to me, and that the really ugly one is indeed Colonel Jake Torine."

McNab looked at Torine, and said, "I knew they wouldn't let an old man like you fly big airplanes much longer." He looked at Castillo. "And Major Castillo, daring to show his face at my door again."

General McNab turned to General Winters.

"Whenever I think that Captain Walsh is the worst aide-de-camp I have ever had, Oscar, I think of Major Castillo in that role and realize I am wrong. Castillo earned that appellation in perpetuity."

Captain Walsh smiled, and shook his head.

"As to why there is no record of their aircraft being granted permission to land here, I have no idea. I was notified by CentCom that they were coming. I am forced to conclude that either CentCom or the Air Force f.u.c.ked things up again, as both are lamentably famous for doing."

"I'll look into it, General," Winters said.

"If I may offer advice without giving offense, Oscar, let sleeping dogs lie."

"No offense taken, General."

"Would it be possible for you to drag that airplane somewhere where it will be more convenient for them to get back in it after we've had some breakfast?"

"Certainly, sir. Colonel, do you need fuel?"

"No, sir. We're all right," Torine said.

"Castillo, once again demonstrating his remarkable ability to arrive at the wrong time, did so by arriving here just as Walsh and I finished our wake-up five-mile trot around Smoke Bomb Hill," General McNab said. "I require sustenance immediately after my morning five-miler. Otherwise, my wife accuses, I become ill-mannered."

"I understand, General," Winters said.

Fernando appeared at the Lear's door.

"Can I get off now without being blown away?" he asked.

"Aha," McNab said. "Unless I err, the owner of the airplane. You may not believe this, Oscar, but he was once a fairly competent captain of armor."

"How are you, General?" Fernando asked.

"Very well, Fernando, for an old man, with all these terrible responsibilities heavily weighing upon my overburdened shoulders. Could you use some sustenance?"

"Yes, sir, I could."

"I'll have it towed to Base Ops," General Winters said.

"Thank you, sir," Torine said.

"Thank you, Oscar," General McNab said, and gestured to Castillo, Torine, and Lopez that they should get into the Humvee.

There was still a small line waiting to be fed at what the Army now called the "dining facility"-formerly "mess hall"-of the 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment when McNab's Humvee pulled up outside. Everyone in the Humvee piled out and went to the end of the line.

One of the principles of leadership Castillo had learned while he had been Second Lieutenant Castillo, aide-de-camp to Brigadier General McNab, was that the quality of food served was one of the most important factors in troop morale, and that a very good way to ensure that high-quality food was served at all times was for senior officers to drop in unannounced at a randomly selected mess hall and eat what was being served to the privates.

General McNab took out his wallet and paid for breakfast for everybody but his driver, an unmarried sergeant living in barracks who was not drawing a rations and quarters allowance, and they went through the line watched by a visibly nervous mess sergeant, who was aware both of McNab's legendary temper and that it was often triggered when food did not measure up to his expectations.

The food-and there was a wide array of choices- was good. McNab waited until they were through, poured himself another cup of coffee, and then handed Castillo a sheet of Teletype paper.

"If you have trouble with the big words, Charley, I will be happy to explain them to you," he said.

Castillo took the message and read it.

TOP SECRET-PRESIDENTIAL.

OPERATIONAL IMMEDIATE0205 27 JULY 2005FROM: COMMANDER IN CHIEFCENTCOMMACDILL AF BASETAMPA FLATO: COMMANDING GENERALXVIII AIRBORNE CORPS/SPECIALOPERATIONS COMMANDFORT BRAGG NCEYES ONLY LT GEN B. J. MCNABCOPIES TO:SECDEFENSE WASHINGTON DCEYES ONLY SEC BEIDERMANSECSTATE WASHINGTON DCEYES ONLY SEC COHENSECHOMELANDSEC WASHINGTON DCEYES ONLY SEC HALLDIR OF NATIONAL INTELWASHINGTON DCEYES ONLY DIR MONTVALE1. CONFIRMING VERBAL ORDERS OF THE PRESIDENT TO THE UNDERSIGNED 26 JULY 2005 AND TELECON BETWEEN GEN NAYLOR AND LT GEN MCNAB 2305 26 JULY 2005.2. BY DIRECTION OF THE PRESIDENT:(A) COMMANDING GENERAL XVIII AIRBORNE CORPS/SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND WILL IMMEDIATELY MAKE AVAILABLE SUCH PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY C. G. CASTILLO, CHIEF, OFFICE OF ORGANIZATIONAL a.n.a.lYSIS, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.(B) ANY INABILITY TO PROVIDE SUCH PERSONNEL OR EQUIPMENT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY REPORTED TO CINC CENTCOM EYES ONLY GEN NAYLOR BY THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS MEANS, PREFERABLY SECURE TELEPHONE.NAYLOR, GENERAL, US ARMY.

CINC CENTCOMTOP SECRET-PRESIDENTIAL.

Castillo handed the message to Torine, who read it and then handed it back to McNab, who folded it and put it in his pocket.

"So tell me, Chief," McNab said, "what are you requesting besides the three radios, and operators therefor, that General Naylor mentioned last night?"

"That's about it, sir," Castillo replied.

"I have two more questions, Chief," McNab said, "if I may dare to ask them."

"Ask away, sir."

"Thank you, Chief. One, when do I get Vic D'Allessando and my twenty-four shooters back from Mississippi? General Naylor said that decision is up to you."

"Sir, just as soon as other security arrangements can be made to protect the Mastersons. I'm working on that now."

"Will it count as another question, Chief, if I ask you where you're going to get those security arrangements?"

"As soon as I get to Washington, sir, I'm going to call China Post and see who's available."

"What the h.e.l.l is that?" Fernando asked.

"Some allege, Fernando," McNab explained, "that China Post Number One in Exile of the American Legion-your cousin and I are members-functions as an employment bureau for former and/or retired special operators seeking more or less honest civilian employment." He turned to Castillo. "If you'd like, Charley- excuse me, Chief Chief-I'll give China Post a heads-up call and tell them you'll be calling."

"That'd be great, sir. Thank you very much."

"It would probably help if I could a.s.sure them the compensation would be in line with their skills."

"Money is not a problem, sir."

McNab nodded.

"Question two," he went on. "What the h.e.l.l is going on?"

"Yesterday, sir, immediately upon landing, Mrs. Masterson told me the villains who abducted her and murdered Mr. Masterson . . ."

"So you're going to try to find this Lorimer fellow?" McNab asked, when Castillo had finished.

"Yes, sir. With a little bit of luck, we'll be in Paris late this afternoon."