The Hunters (Presidential Agent 3)
Page 307
After a long moment, Aleksandr Pevsner replied, in Russian, “Ah, Colonel Castillo, my former friend. I am surprised that you would dare to call me ever again.”
“‘Former friend,’ Alek?”
“You lied to me, and about something you knew was very important to me.”
“Are you going to tell what? Or are you just going to sulk like a little boy?”
“You dare to deny it? To mock me?”
“To mock you, sure. You’re the mockable type. But I can’t deny anything until you tell me what it is.”
“Munz is what I’m talking about.”
“What about him?”
“You knew where he was all the time and said you didn’t.”
“I didn’t say I didn’t know where he was,” Castillo said. “I didn’t tell you I didn’t know. You jumped to that conclusion.”
“Do you know where he is now?”
“Kennedy can’t find him?”
“Or his family, Colonel Ex-Friend.”
“I don’t understand the question. Are you telling me that Howard can’t find Alfredo and his family? Or asking if I know where Señora Munz and the girls are?”
“If you knew where the women are would you tell me? The truth?”
“I do and I would.”
“Where are they?”
“Safe. In the safest place I c
an think of them to be right now.”
“You’re not going to tell me where?”
“No.”
“And Alfredo?”
“He’s in the second-safest place I could think of for him to be.”
“I want to talk to Alfredo.”
“Well, he has your number, Alek. If he wanted to talk to you, I think he would have called. That’s his call. So far as Señora Munz is concerned, give me four hours or so to have her released from her cell and for the tranquilizers to wear off and I’ll ask her if she wants to call you. But I have to say, I don’t think she’d call unless Alfredo said it was okay, and we’re right back to square one.”
“You sonofabitch. When I find you, you will be sorry.”
“Actually, you won’t have to find me. I’ll be in Argentina in twenty-four hours or less and I want to talk to you. And so do several friends of mine.”
“Ha!”
“The reason I’m calling, Alek, is to try to make sure you’ll still be alive when I get there.”
“Meaning what?”