The Hostage (Presidential Agent 2)

"In the opening lines, I'd like something to the effect that we are grateful to the Argentine government-on whom we have been relying to get to the bottom of this tragic event since it developed-for their great efforts, in which we have complete confidence."

Ms. Grunblatt considered that for about fifteen seconds.

"Okay. And what else?"

"Sylvia, I learned from you that when all else fails, tell the truth."

"And the truth is?"

"All we know is that Mrs. Masterson disappeared undercircumstances that suggested she had been kidnapped, and that Mr. Masterson was murdered, probably by the abductors, as she was left in the taxicab with him."

"Okay," she said. "I'll get right on it."

"It will take him, say, fifteen minutes to get here."

"You'll have it, Mr. Ambassador."

"I'd like a look at what Miss Grunblatt comes up with, please," Castillo said.

That earned him a frosty glance. She said, "It's Mizz Grunblatt, Mr. Costello."

"It's Castillo, Mizz Grunblatt."

"You think you might wish to add something, Mr. Castillo?" Silvio asked.

"Oh, no, sir. I'd just like to know what we're saying."

"Am I allowed to ask who Mr. Castillo is?" she asked.

"He works for the President, Sylvia, which means we tell him anything he wants to know."

"Is that for dissemination?" she asked.

"Absolutely not," Castillo said.

She held up both hands, palms out, to indicate that that information could not be torn from her under any conditions.

He smiled at her.

"Do you kill people who look over your shoulder while you work?" Castillo asked.

"Only if they're looking down my dress," Ms. Grunblatt said. "You that hot to see what I come up with?"

"I'd like to see it before I go to the German Hospital," he said.

"Sure, why not?" she said.

"I'll see that you have a car and driver, Mr. Castillo," the ambassador said.

"I can take a taxi, sir."

"Indulge me," the ambassador said.

"Thank you, sir." [THREE] "So what do you think?" Ms. Grunblatt asked.

"I think it's just what the ambassador wants," Castillo replied. "Who gets this?"

"Once the boss approves it, I'll e-mail it first to the Herald-that's the English-language paper here-and then AP, then the New York Times. Then I'll call them to let them know I sent it. After that, everybody else-the local media."