The Hunters (Presidential Agent 3)

I am going to have to resist a strong temptation to trust him—and not tell him not to worry.

“Jesus H. Christ!” Castillo said, hoping he sounded concerned and angry. “What the hell would your friends want with Munz?”

“What friends would those be, Charley?”

“You know goddamned well what friends. The ones who tried to whack me in Budapest and tried to kidnap and/or whack one of my men in Montevideo.”

“If my friends had tried to whack you, Charley, we wouldn’t be talking,” Pevsner said, matter-of-factly. “Other people—not my friends—might be interested in what Munz knows about that missing money in Uruguay.”

“Why don’t you have Howard tell the other people that I have it?”

“That presumes Howard—and, for that matter, me—know who the other people are.”

“Yes, it does. I hope Howard has relayed my message that anything done to Eric Kocian I will take personally.”

Pevsner didn’t reply.

“Since you brought it up, Alek,” Castillo pursued, “that’s the real reason I called. Has Howard relayed it?”

There was a brief hesitation as Pevsner carefully framed his reply. “I believe Howard has spoken to some people who may know some other people.”

“Well, tell him to speak to them again and this time tell them I’ll take anything that happens to Alfredo or his family just as personally as I would anything that happens to Kocian.”

“Why are you so concerned about Munz? Does he know something you don’t want other people to know?”

“You sonofabitch! I’m concerned because he’s a friend of mine. For Christ’s sake, he took a bullet for me! We apparently define the word ‘friend’ differently!”

“‘Sonofabitch’?” Pevsner parroted, coolly. “It’s a good thing you’re a soldier, friend Colonel Charley. Soldiers swear. Otherwise, I would really take offense at that.”

“Would it break your heart to hear that I hope you did?”

“No,” Pevsner said, chuckling. “Not at all. Would you be surprised if I told you you’re wrong? That I think we both define ‘friend’ the same way?”

“Yeah, it would.”

“Alfredo Munz is a good man. He has become almost as close a friend of mine as Howard is. I trust him as I do Howard. He worked well for me. I try very hard to take care of my friends. As you do, Charley.” He paused, then went on: “If anything happens to my friend Munz or his family, then I would take it personally.”

I’ll be a sonofabitch if I don’t believe him!

“Maybe you better tell Howard to tell some friends who may know some other friends that you feel that way, Alek.”

“I have,” Pevsner said, simply.

“I’m on my way to the States,” Castillo said. “If you hear anything, let me know. Howard always seems to be able to find me.”

“Is your friend Kocian going with you?”

“So long, Alek. Always nice to talk to you.”

Because of the complex connection, there was no easy way to hang up. All Castillo could do was cover the receiver with his hand and hope that Pevsner would become impatient and hang up before the White House or embassy switchboard operators came on the line.

He was lucky. He first heard Pevsner swear, then the sound of Pevsner slamming his handset into its cradle three seconds before the White House switchboard operator asked, “Are you through, Colonel?”

“Mr. Alicia Castillo, please. The White House is calling.”

“This is Alicia Castillo.”

“One moment, please…