The Hunters (Presidential Agent 3)

“According to Artigas, the Uruguayan police have no idea, either,” Howell said.

“What do you think it was, Mr. McGrory?” Darby asked. “A robbery? An attempted kidnapping?”

That’s “Mr. Ambassador,” thank you very much, Darby!

“I have no idea what it was,” McGrory said. “The question, it would seem to me, is, what do we do about this photograph?”

“Alex?” Silvio asked.

“I would suggest, Mr. Ambassador…”

Silvio is Mr. Ambassador, McGrory thought, and I’m not? You sonofabitch!

“…that we get this information into the hands of Mr. Castillo. Or that Mr. McGrory should. The photo turned up in Uruguay. On Mr. McGrory’s watch, so to speak.”

“Who’s Castillo?” McGrory asked.

“This is classified information, Mr. Ambassador,” Silvio said. “When Mr. Masterson was abducted, the President told me he had appointed Mr. Castillo to supervise the investigation. And later, the President charged him with the security of the Masterson family and with their repatriation to the States.”

“Who’s he?”

“He’s the President’s agent.”

“What does that mean?”

“I can only tell you what the President told me,” Silvio said.

“Is that the same man who came to Montevideo to see Special Agent Yung?”

“Yes, I believe so.”

“What’s his connection with Yung?” McGrory asked.

Silvio shrugged.

Artigas wondered: And what’s the connection between this and Yung suddenly being ordered to the States?

“What we can do, if you’d like, Mr. Ambassador,” Silvio said, “is send the photograph to the secretary, together with the information that Darby positively identified this man as Mr. Masterson’s brother. You are sure, are you not, Alex?”

“Yes, sir, I’m sure. I met him several times when Jack and I were in Paris.”

Just in time, McGrory stopped himself from saying he would take care of notifying the secretary, thank you just the same.

I am not going to be twisting alone in the wind, he thought.

“Yes, I think that’s the way to go,” he said.

Artigas thought: Señor Pompous, I think you’re wondering if, without having any idea why, you’re in the deep do-do.

God, I hope so.

[SIX]

Hacienda San Jorge

Near Uvalde, Texas

1330 3 August 2005