The Hostage (Presidential Agent 2)

"I don't remember," the truck driver said.

Munz looked at him for a moment, then at the ambassador, and then at Darby, Castillo, and the driver, as if asking them if they had any questions. No one did.

"Thank you, senor," Munz said. "What's going to happen now is that as soon as the technicians get here, they will take some photographs of your truck, and otherwise examine it, and then we'll move it out of the middle of the road. Then you will be taken to the Naval Prefecture, where other officers will take a statement from you, and probably your photograph and fingerprints. I will issue orders that your truck will be guarded while you are gone, and that you be allowed to telephone your employer and your wife, if you want. You will tell them that you witnessed an accident, and that the police are taking your statement, nothing more. Nothing about the taxicab. You understand me?"

"Si, senor."

"Thank you," Munz said, and offered the man his hand. And then Ambassador Silvio offered his and said, "Thank you." Darby and then the driver and finally Castillo shook hands with the driver.

Then everybody followed Munz back to where the Navy commander stood with the policeman.

Another embassy car drove up. The two FBI agents from Montevideo got out.

Special Agent Yung looks more than a little surprised to see me.

"Colonel," Ambassador Silvio said, "those are two FBI agents I borrowed from Montevideo. If at all possible, I would like them to be able to witness your investiga-"

"Pass them!" Munz bellowed.

The two FBI agents trotted over.

Munz turned to the Navy commander. "I want the truck driver taken to the prefecture. Get a statement, take his photograph and his fingerprints. Let him call his employer and his wife, but make sure that he says nothing more than that he witnessed an accident and is giving a statement. Treat him well-my first reaction is that he's a good Samaritan-but keep him there until you hear from me."

"Si, senor."

"All right," Munz said to the Naval Prefecture policeman. "Tell me what happened from the moment you arrived on the scene." His story neatly dovetailed with what the truck driver had told them.

Munz looked at the two FBI agents.

"I will issue orders that you are to have access to all facets of this investigation."

"Thank you," Ambassador Silvio said.

"Is there anything else, Your Excellency?" Munz asked.

Silvio responded, but to Darby.

"The children," he said.

"My wife is at the Masterson house," Darby replied.

"I will send my wife over there as soon as I can get on the phone," Silvio said. And then he asked, "Presumably, you've taken steps to guard it?"

"Yes, sir."

"Your Excellency, Senora Masterson and the children will not be out of sight of my best men," Munz said. "I realize that's not much you can put confidence in."

"Why do you say that, Colonel?" Silvio asked, courteously.

"Senor Sieno and I were sitting in his car outside the Masterson home from eleven P.M. onward, and Senor Masterson got away from us."

So that's his name. Sieno. Paul Sieno.

"Is that how you think of it, 'He got away from you'?"

"From Senor Sieno and me, and from Senor Sieno's men and mine. There were eight people watching his house, Your Excellency."

"Why would he want to 'get away from you,' do you think?"