The Shooters (Presidential Agent 4)

"That might raise some eyebrows, sir," Castillo said.

"Anything else I can do for you?"

"No, sir. That's about it. Thank you."

"Who is your general, Charley? You don't mind if I call you Charley, do you?"

"Not at all, sir. General McNab, sir. He's deputy commander of the Special Warfare Center at Bragg."

"He was three years ahead of me at the Point," Wilson said. "Interesting man."

"Yes, sir, he is that."

"May I use your telephone?"

"Yes, sir, of course," Castillo said.

As he walked to the wet bar, General Wilson said, "When there is more than one call to make, you should make the one to the most important person first. You may wish to write that down."

General Wilson appeared clearly pleased with his humor, causing Castillo to wonder, Is he a little plastered? On two drinks?

"Yes, sir," Castillo and Miller, both sounding confused, said almost in unison.

The explanation came almost immediately.

"Sweetheart," General Wilson said into the phone, "Tom found him. We're with him right now in the Daleville Inn.

"He doesn't look like his father, darling, but he has Hor-hay's sense of humor.

"So that means two things, baby. First, there will be two more for supper tonight. And Hor-hay's parents are coming in tomorrow.

"Yes, really. Young Castillo called them just now. Can you do a really nice lunch for them? And dinner, too?

"No, I thought they'd be more comfortable in the VIP house.

"We'll be there shortly.

"Is Randy there?"

General Wilson looked at Miller and asked, "What's your class?"

"Ninety, sir," Miller said.

General Wilson said into the receiver, "Tell Randy he'll have another classmate there tonight. Lieutenant H. Richard Miller, Jr.

"Yeah. His son.

"That's about it, sweetheart. We'll be over there shortly."

He put the receiver in its base and pointed to the telephone.

"Your turn, Tom," he ordered. "First, call protocol and reserve one of the VIP houses for a Mr. and Mrs. Castillo for tomorrow night and the next night. If there's someone already in there, have them moved, and then call Cairns and clear Mr. Castillo's airplane to land there tomorrow."

"Yes, sir," Captain Prentiss said.

"While he's doing that," General Wilson said, "may I help myself to another little taste?"

"Yes, sir, of course," Miller said.