The Shooters (Presidential Agent 4)

"I told him that once he provided a decent leather armchair with footrest, the accommodations would be satisfactory. And to continue to send the bill to Fulda."

"Billy, what am I supposed to do with Max?"

"You were the one who sent Madchen to him. As ye sow, so shall ye reap."

"I've been thinking of sending him to my grandmother."

"His broken heart would be on your conscience, Karlchen. Max took one look at you and-for reasons that baffle me-transferred his affections to you. But dogs choose their masters, you know, rather than the other way around."

Castillo looked across his office. Max was lying on the carpet in front of the couch, his head between his paws, looking at him.

"Where was Sandor Tor when you took your walk this morning?"

"He insisted on going with me. He and an apparently deaf man from the Secret Service. He wears a hearing aid and keeps talking to his lapel."

Castillo laughed, even though he knew he shouldn't.

"You know why he's there, Billy."

"Even as much as they dislike me, I don't think the FSB is going to try to shoot me in front of the White House."

"Never underestimate your enemy. Write that down, Uncle Billy."

"If you have nothing important to say, Karlchen, the hotel has at long last delivered our breakfast. They do a very nice corned beef hash with poached eggs. I suspect Madchen will like it."

"I've got to go out of town for a couple of days. We'll resume this conversation when I get back."

"Remember not to give Max more than one small piece of chocolate at a time. Too much chocolate gives him flatulence. Auf Wiedersehen, Karlchen."

Castillo put the handset back in its cradle. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but didn't. A red LED on another telephone was flashing. Castillo leaned to it to read the legend.

"Montvale," he said, and reached for it.

"That didn't take long, did it?" Miller asked.

"Good morning, Mr. Ambassador," Castillo said. "Why do I think you've just been talking to Mr. Ellsworth?"

"He has a phone in his Yukon," Montvale said. "Did you actually bring that dog to the meeting?"

"Actually, Max invited himself."

"I gather the meeting wasn't all that we hoped it would be?"

"I didn't learn much that I didn't already know."

"So what's next?"

"In case the President asks?"

"In case the President asks."

"Well, I have to go to MacDill to see General McNab, and then to Fort Rucker to see about Huey

s, and then to Mississippi to see if I can talk Ambassador Lorimer out of going to Uruguay."

"Your plane is back already?"

"No. I'm going to travel in unparalleled luxury and comfort in an ExecuJet aircraft."