The Hunters (Presidential Agent 3)

Castillo considered the question.

“You’re wondering if he would tell you all about it?” Delchamps pursued.

“He’d tell me all about it,” Castillo said ten seconds later.

“Well, then?” Delchamps asked.

“How do we explain our change of mind?”

“We tell him if there is to be a meeting, it has to happen right now, and the reason for that is that he wouldn’t have time to set up a reception for Munz at the hotel.”

“Those ex-Stasi bastards are pretty good,” Castillo said.

“Thank you, sir. I will want to remember that, so I will write it down.”

Castillo shrugged an apology.

“Want me to handle Pevsner?” Delchamps asked, and then, when Castillo nodded, went to the door and pulled it open. “Deal time, Alek,” he said.

Pevsner came into the living room and looked between Castillo and Delchamps.

“Well?”

“Colonel Castillo will go this far,” Delchamps said. “One, he will ask Colonel Munz if he is willing to meet with you. If Munz is willing, two, we will tell you where to meet us, and give you fifteen minutes to get there. Three, you will come alone, and if there is anything that even looks suspicious we’ll takeoff.”

“Agreed. But I would like János to drive me.”

Delchamps considered that for ten seconds, then said, “Okay, János can drive.”

Pevsner nodded.

“Let’s go, Colonel,” Delchamps said.

Pevsner followed them to the door.

As Castillo and Delchamps approached the car, Delchamps quietly but clearly said, “You get in the back with that damned dog, Ace.”

“Charley!” Pevsner called from his doorway.

Castillo turned to look at him.

“Thank for the flour and tree syrup,” Pevsner said and smiled.

“You’re welcome,” Castillo replied, then got in the backseat of the BMW.

Max licked his face.

[FOUR]

“You open to suggestions as to how we do this, Ace?” Delchamps asked after they had left the Buena Vista Country Club.

Castillo nodded and Delchamps offered a plan.

“Great minds,” Castillo intoned solemnly when he had finished, “walk the same paths.”

“You’re only saying that because you had absolutely no idea how this should be handled in a professional manner,” Delchamps said.