The Hostage (Presidential Agent 2)

"Again, Juan, that was the right thing to do. And thank you again. Well, I feel myself again. When do I get out of here?"

"An hour after you say the word, Mrs. Masterson," Castillo said. "It will take us about that long to arrange your transportation."

She looked at him, and not with gratitude.

I don't think I've done anything to annoy her-except maybe being an intruder into the diplomatic community-so that leaves her being afraid of me.

What the hell is that all about?

And how come her brother, the UN diplomat-Jean-Paul Lorimer-wasn't in the conversation? She didn't ask if he'd been notified, and he wasn't mentioned in that diplomatic holy orders speech she gave.

"What's the word?" she asked, almost belligerently. "I want to get out of here and be with my children."

"You just said it, Mrs. Lorimer. I'll tell Mr. Santini to get things rolling."

"Good."

"Mrs. Masterson," Castillo went on, "Colonel Torine, the pilot of the C-17-the Globemaster III that the President sent down here-is outside. I thought perhaps he could tell you about what's planned to get you and the children out of here and back to the States. And that you could tell him what you require."

She looked at him and nodded, then turned to Betty Schneider.

"Would my children be safe at the ceremony in the cathedral?"

"The head of SIDE, Mrs. Masterson-" Castillo began.

"If you don't mind, Mr. Castillo, I asked her."

"Excuse me."

Betty exchanged a glance with Charley, who nodded, and turned to Mrs. Masterson. "Mr. Santini and Mr. Castillo are better equipped to answer that, Mrs. Masterson, than I am."

"Still, I'd like to hear what you think, please."

Betty nodded, and then after a just-perceptible hesitation said, "The Secret Service is pretty good at protecting people, Mrs. Masterson, but it's not perfect. President Reagan was shot. A crazy woman shot at President Ford twice."

"Let me put it this way: If they were your children, would you take them to the cathedral?"

"Fortunately for me, I don't have to make that choice. And I certainly wouldn't presume to advise you what to do."

"Thank you. I appreciate your honesty," Mrs. Masterson said, and then looked at Castillo. "My children and I will attend the ceremony at the cathedral. I want them to have that memory, of their father being honored. And Jack-and my father-would see it as my duty."

Castillo nodded.

And again, no mention of the brother.

"Send in your colonel, please, Mr. Castillo," Mrs. Masterson said. "I'd like to be able to tell my children what's the agenda."

Castillo nodded again, and left the room.

El Coronel Alfredo Munz was standing in the corridor with Colonel Torine, Jack Britton, and Tony Santini.

"She has decided to attend the ceremony, with the children," Castillo announced. "And she wants to go home."

"Give me thirty minutes," Santini said.

"I told her an hour," Castillo said. "Which will give me a chance to take a look at her house before we send her out there."

"Everything's in place, Charley," Santini said evenly.