The Shooters (Presidential Agent 4)

"Not very much. But as long as he thinks I'm on board to get his men back and I'm willing to go along with his plan to shoot everybody in sight and let the Lord sort them out, I don't think he's going to cause me any problems. I left him with one of the A-Team commanders, who'll warn me if he's about to go out of control."

"What have you got against letting him do what he wants to do?"

"I'm an Army officer, Alek, for one thing, not the avenging hand of God. For another, if I let him do that, and this operation blows up in my face, they call that murder."

"Letting him do what he wants is the only chance you have to get away with this, friend Charley."

"Unless you can get these people to let Timmons go."

"I've told you that that is not going to happen. These people are making a point. They can kidnap people. They're not going to turn this fellow loose because you threaten them. And if you just drop in and get him, leaving their men alive-and their refining facility and warehouse full of drugs intact-they would have to send another message. On the other hand, if you-or this fellow Duffy-leave bodies all over the terrain, to use your phrase, and blow up their warehouse and refinery, what do you think will happen?"

"I think you're about to tell me."

"There's no way that could be kept a secret. The word will get out-Duffy's gendarmes will talk. More important, Duffy will want it to get out, to take credit; he got the people who killed and kidnapped his gendarmes. And that will leave the Argentine government with the choice of trying Duffy for murder or saying, 'Congratulations, Comandante, for dealing so effectively with these criminals. It is to be regretted, of course, that so many of them died, but those who live by the sword, etcetera, etcetera…"

"What about my involvement?"

"Who's going to believe the United States government sent Delta Force shooters and helicopters to carry them down here to rescue one ordinary drug agent? I find that hard to believe myself, even coming from you, friend Charley."

Castillo looked at him with a sinking feeling in his stomach.

"All you have to do is get out of wherever they're holding your man as soon as you have him," Pevsner said, then added, as if he had read Castillo's mind, "You know I'm right, friend Charley."

Castillo still didn't reply.

"And Colonel Primakov is wise enough to take his losses; he's too smart to attempt retribution against what he will believe is the Argentine government. He'll lay low for a while, and then start up again. He may even call off the people he sent looking for you. After all, you'll no longer be here, will you?"

"Shit," Castillo said.

"What's next for you?" Pevsner asked, the question implying that a discussion had been held and a conclusion drawn.

"I'm going to Asuncion in the morning," Castillo said. "To see what I can find out about who in the embassy ordered me whacked. And I want to see what I can find out about this scheme to seize cruise ships. There's something about it that smells."

"Is there an expression in English to the effect that wise men leave sleeping dogs lie? That's really none of your business, is it, friend Charley?"

Castillo looked at him and thought, And he's right about that, too.

"No, it isn't any of my business. Neither, I suppose, is finding out who in the embassy wants me whacked. Unless, of course, they succeed before I can get out of here."

[THREE]

La Casa el Bosque

San Carlos de Bariloche

Rio Negro Province, Argentina 0730 11 September 2005 Castillo, Munz, Janos, and Pevsner were standing on the steps of the house smoking cigars and holding mugs of coffee steaming in the morning cold. Max was gnawing on an enormous bone.

They had begun smoking the cigars at the breakfast table but had been ordered out of the house by Anna's raised eyebrow when Sergei, the youngest boy, had sneezed.

"He and Aleksandr both have colds, poor things," she had said, and then raised her eyebrow directly at her husband.

"Gentlemen, why don't we have our coffee on the verandah?" Pevsner had suggested.

Once there, he had said, not bitterly, "There is a price one must pay for children. It generally has to do with giving up something one is fond of. True, friend Charley?"

"Absolutely," Castillo agreed.

I think.