“And what I am going to do now is have a word with Señor Medina,” Doña Alicia said.
She turned to Sweaty.
“Señor Medina has been running Hacienda Santa Maria for us for thirty years. And before that, his father ran it. And before him, his father.”
She paused, then looked at Lester. She pointed at the Brick on the side table.
“That device, you told me, Lester, prohibits people from eavesdropping on conversations?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And Fernando has one?”
Lester nodded.
“And you told me, Carlos, that Fernando is at the hacienda?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Lester, would you bring that to me and show me again how to use it?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Lester,” Castillo said, “before the head of the family talks to him, you better get him on the horn and explain Net Two to him.”
“Yes, sir.”
Castillo looked at Doña Alicia. “And when you get Fernando on the Brick, then what?”
“I told you, I want a word with Señor Medina.”
“About what?”
“I’m going to ask him to get in his car right now and go see Señor Torres . . .”
“Who is?”
“I told you before, an old and trusted friend who is commandant of the Policía Federal in Acapulco.”
“Then he’s probably in up to his ears with the Sinaloa drug cartel,” Castillo said.
“I’ll admit that possibility,” she replied. “But we don’t know that, Carlos. And he will believe me when I tell him that unless Colonel Ferris is released safely and immediately, there will be much trouble.”
“You’re going to threaten this guy?” Castillo asked incredulously.
“I’m going to explain the situation to him. It can’t do any harm, Carlos. And if that doesn’t work, I’ll think of something else.”
Castillo glanced at Svetlana and saw that she was once again smiling approvingly at his grandmother.
[FIVE]
The Situation Room
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C.