The Hunters (Presidential Agent 3)

“Prayer?”

Hall chuckled, then said, “I’ll have a word with the President, get him to get him off your back.”

When Castillo didn’t immediately reply, Hall added: “That’s my idea, Charley. Not our friend’s.”

After a long moment, Castillo said, “Why don’t we wait and see how it goes?”

Hall didn’t respond directly. Instead, he said, “His tactic is going to be damning you by faint praise. He’s already started. ‘You’

re a fine young man but inexperienced. You need a wise, guiding hand on your shoulder, to keep you from doing something impulsive and unwise.’ He’s going to keep repeating that—or something like it—until one day you’re going to do something impulsive and unwise. And then the President will tell you something like, ‘Before you do something like that again, you’d better check that with Mon…our friend.’ And that will put you in our friend’s pocket.”

“When I worked for you, I had one,” Castillo replied. “A wise hand on my shoulder.”

“That’s not true but thank you.”

“I guess I’m going to have to be careful not to act unwisely on an impulse.”

“That’s an open offer, Charley. Nonexpiring, in other words.”

“Thank you,” Castillo said, very seriously, and then chuckled.

“Speaking of the Civil War, sir, you remember what Lee said at Appomattox Court House? ‘I would rather face a thousand deaths, but now I must go to treat with General Grant.’ I would rather face a thousand deaths, but now I have to get our friend on the horn.”

That made Hall chuckle and then he said, “There’s a big difference, Charley. You’re not going there with the intention of handing him your sword, are you?”

“No. But, on the other hand, I was never very good with a slingshot, either.”

Hall laughed.

“Keep in touch, Charley.”

“I will. Thank you.”

Castillo tapped the telephone switch several times.

“White House.”

“Will you get me Ambassador Montvale, please? And verify that the line is secure, please.”

“One moment, please.”

Director Montvale’s secure line. Truman Ellsworth speaking.”

“Colonel Castillo on a secure line for Director Montvale,” the White House operator said.

“I’ll take it.”

Like hell you will, Castillo thought.

he said, “Mr. Ellsworth?”

“How are you, Colonel? We’ve been expecting to hear from you.”

“Would you take a message to Ambassador Montvale for me?”

“Certainly.”

“Please tell him that I’ll be in the U.S. embassy in Budapest for the next fifteen minutes if he wants to talk to me.”