Covert Warriors (Presidential Agent 7)

“So,” Tom Barlow said, “what do these people—whoever they are—want with this Colonel Ferris?”

“The last time we went down that road,” Sweaty said, “we agreed we’ll just have to wait and see.”

“On the other hand,” D’Alessandro said, “there’s the possibility—which a couple of our guys—”

“‘Your guys,’ Vic?” Tom Barlow said.

“The Special Forces guys in Acapulco as trainers,” D’Alessandro explained. “A couple of them suggested that they snatched Colonel Ferris to exchange him for some—maybe all—of the Sinaloa cartel guys we have in jail in the states.”

“And killed the others to make the point they’re willing to kill Ferris if we don’t go along?” Castillo asked.

“Right.”

“That’s possible, Vic,” Delchamps said. “But I go along with Alek. I think his pal Vladimir Vladimirovich is behind this. A prisoner swap may well be part of their game plan, but my gut tells me there’s more to it than that.”

“And do you agree with my suggestions as to how we should deal with the situation?” Pevsner asked softly.

“I’m a dinosaur, Alek, you know that. As well as what that means.”

Both Parker and Danton had sudden clear memories of what they had heard from the elderly lady with the walker at Lorimer Manor: “Dinosaurs believe that the only good Communist is a dead Communist.”

“And you, Charley, are you in agreement?” Pevsner asked again, softly.

It took a moment for Castillo to frame his reply, and then he said, “I would really have preferred the armistice, but count me in, of course.”

This time, Danton thought, they’re talking about killing people.

And this time they’re not kidding!

“So, as I understand our agreed-upon plan, we wait for Vladimir Vladimirovich’s next move, in the meantime putting in place certain precautions. Need I spell them out?”

“Yeah, you do,” Castillo said. “Just so everybody understands everybody else.”

“Very well,” Pevsner said. “I have already taken what precautions I think are called for here at the Grand Cozumel and in Argentina. What happened in Acapulco might be a diversion; and they might really start what they’re up to with me.

“That said, I agree with you, Charley, that they probably are considering action against your grapefruit farm here, or even against your family—especially your grandmother—in the United States. Against that possibility, the ten ex-Spetsnaz Stefan and I brought up this morning will be flown to the grapefruit farm at first light tomorrow by Fernando and Uncle Nicolai.

“Once they are in place to his—and of course to Fernando’s—satisfaction, Stefan will return here to handle the ex-Spetsnaz, another ten of them, who will arrive on the PeruaireCargo flight the day after tomorrow.

“Fernando will stay at the grapefruit farm as long as he feels is necessary or return to the United States, whichever he feels is best. I will return to Argentina tomorrow morning and see what, if anything, I can learn about Vladimir Vladimirovich’s plans from my sources.

“Dmitri will stay here in the Grand Cozumel. My instructions to the staff are that he speaks with my voice. You and Svetlana will go to San Antonio to satisfy yourself about your grandmother’s security.”

Pevsner met Castillo’s eyes, and added: “Is that about it?”

“Two things, Alek. I don’t care what you told your staff about Tom. He and everybody else are to understand that I’m calling the shots in Mexico. Is that understood?”

“Dmitri,” Pevsner said, “is that satisfactory to you?”

“Perfectly,” Berezovsky replied. “But I wonder about you. You’re not used to asking anybody for permission to do anything.”

“I have given my word,” Pevsner said.

“That’s good enough for me,” Castillo said. “The agreement is that nobody takes any action—except in self-defense—until it is discussed and agreed to by Alek, Edgar, Dmitri, and me. And we’re all agreed, right, that that applies to snatching Pavel Koslov?”

“You know I don’t agree with that,” Sweaty said angrily. “We should grab him while we have the chance.”

“You made that point, my love, over and over. And you were voted down. They call that democracy.”