The Hostage (Presidential Agent 2)

"I saw the guy in the golf cart with the shotgun," Castillo said.

"I have a few of my own people, of course, but most of my security is Argentine. There is golf here… Do you play, Charley?"

Castillo shook his head.

"And polo. I don't play, but Aleksandr and Sergei are taking lessons, and Anna and Elena are taking courses in horse riding… what's that called?"

"Equestrianism," Anna furnished.

"… equestrianism at the stables here. And, of course, the schools are good. The better ones, like Saint Agnes in the Hills, are a British legacy."

"Your kids go to a school called 'Saint Agnes in the Hills'?" Castillo asked, smiling.

Pevsner smiled back. "Which has an Anglican priest for a headmaster. There being no Russian Orthodox church to speak of in Argentina, and since the Anglicans and the Russian Orthodox recognize each other's priesthood and liturgy, Elena was last year confirmed into the Anglican church."

"Well, you seem to have everything under control, Alex," Castillo said. "Good for you."

"I thought so, Charley, until Howard came here this morning and asked me, 'Guess who got onto my elevator in the Four Seasons just now?'"

"At the risk of repeating myself, I had no idea until today that either you or Howard had ever been near Argentina. And if you're worried that I'm going to tell anyone we bumped into each other, don't."

"You said something about a kidnapping?"

"The wife of the chief of mission at the American embassy is missing under circumstances that suggest kidnapping," Castillo said.

"Kidnapping is common here," Pevsner said. "Didn't she have security?"

"Why would anyone kidnap a diplomat's wife?" Anna asked. "Does he have money?"

"A lot of money," Charley said.

"I didn't see anything in the paper," Pevsner said, as he leaned forward to pour wine into Charley's glass.

"They're trying to keep it quiet. They hope that maybe when the kidnappers find out she's a diplomat's wife, they'll turn her loose."

"That's not what they're liable to do," Pevsner said. "I can make a couple of calls for you, if you'd like."

"All contributions gratefully received," Castillo said. "So far there's been no contact. I really feel sorry for the husband. They have three kids, and they want to know when Mother's coming home."

"Oh, God!" Anna said. "How awful!"

"Yeah," Castillo said.

"Where did they take her?" Anna asked. "Not from their home?"

"From the parking lot of the Kansas restaurant in San Isidro."

"Alex and I eat there often," Anna said, then, a touch of horror in her voice: "Not right in front of her children?"

Castillo shook his head. "She was waiting for her husband to pick her up after work. The kids were at home."

"And the President sent you down here to do what?" Pevsner asked.

"Find out what happened and report to him."

"Speaking of the President, and before I make those calls, did you ever have a chance to mention to him that I was helpful in getting that airplane back for you?"

"Yes, I did." The President's diary for that weekend read, in part: Friday 17 June 2005 7:55 PM: Arrival at President's Residence. Saturday 18 June 2005 through Sunday 19 June 2005 8:25 PM: No official events or guests or visitors. Sunday 19 June 2005 8:25 PM: Departure for The White House.