The Hunters (Presidential Agent 3)

“What did I tell you?” Kocian asked.

“How many of you are there?” Castillo asked.

They looked at him but didn’t answer, looking instead at Görner.

“You can tell him,” Kocian said. “That’s Herr Karl von und zu Gossinger.”

“There are three of us, Herr Gossinger,” one of the men said, in German.

“You heard what happened to Mr. Kocian?” Castillo asked, in Hungarian.

Both nodded. The same man said, “Mr. Kocian was assaulted on the Szabadság híd.”

“It was not a robbery. It was far more serious and it may well happen again,” Castillo said.

They both nodded again.

“I want two men outside this door at all times,” Castillo ordered. “And I want at least two more close by.”

“I can have another man—as many men as you would like, sir—here in fifteen minutes.”

“Get two,” Castillo ordered. “Do you know how to use your pistols?”

“They’re all retired policemen, Úr Gossinger,” Kocian answered for them.

“Everyone has cellular telephones?” Castillo asked.

They nodded.

“If anything at all suspicious happens, you notify first the police and then me. That means you will have to give me one of your telephones. I will be in Úr Kocian’s apartment.”

The man who had spoken gestured for the other to give Castillo his cellular telephone.

“Thank you,” Castillo said, examining it. “And how do I call you with this?”

The man showed

him.

“In the morning, we are going to move Úr Kocian from here to his apartment. We don’t want anyone to know we’re doing that, which means we don’t want anyone to see him leaving the hospital or entering the hotel. He will be in a wheelchair. Suggestions, please?”

“I will not be in a wheelchair,” Kocian announced.

“Úr Kocian will be in a wheelchair,” Castillo repeated.

“We could get a van from the Tages Zeitung, sir. Back it up to the loading dock in the basement of the hospital and then do the same thing at the Gellért.”

“I want one of you to drive the van,” Castillo ordered. “And when you are prepared to leave, I want you to call me. You will say, ‘Úr Kocian is having his breakfast and waiting for the doctor.’”

The man nodded and smiled.

“Did I say something amusing?” Castillo asked. “You’re smiling.”

“Excuse me, sir. I was just thinking you sound more like a policeman than a newspaper publisher.”

“Think what you like about me, but don’t repeat what you’re thinking.”

“No offense intended, sir.”