Black Ops (Presidential Agent 5)

"Four of them," Castillo said, pointing down the aisle at the travel kennel. "One of them is a gift from Billy and myself to your kids, our godchildren."

"We can talk about that later," Gorner said.

"And I want to get Inspector Doherty and Special Agent Yung--"

"Who?"

"They're FBI, Otto. I want to get them together with the German police as quickly as possible--"

"Karl, I don't know about that," Gorner protested.

"We're going to need all the help we can get to find these murderers, Otto," Billy Kocian said. "And Doherty and Yung are recognized experts in their fields."

He didn't say which fields, Castillo thought admiringly.

I don't think either one of them knows much about investigating a murder. But Billy knows Otto can be a self-righteous pain in the ass unless you control him.

And already Billy is acting in charge, letting Otto know, as I'd hoped.

"I'll get on the phone," Gorner said.

"So what I'm thinking, Otto, is that it would be best if you took Billy to Wetzlar and I took Doherty and Yung to Marburg--put them up in the Europaischer Hof, where they could get together with the authorities first thing in the morning. Then I'll take everybody else--including the dogs--with me in either the Jag or the Mercedes and the van to the Haus im Wald. That make sense?"

"It does to me," Billy Kocian said, his tone suggesting his opinion settled the matter once and for all.

Gorner looked at him for a long moment, made a face of resignation, and nodded.

"Take my Jaguar," he said. "I suspect I will need a drink--several drinks--in Wetzlar, and I don't want to drink and drive."

[FOUR]

Route A5

Near Bad Homburg

2210 26 December 2005

"Please do so," Castillo said in response to an announcement from the information operator that, having found the number he asked for, they would for a small fee be happy to connect him directly.

Castillo was driving the Jaguar. Edgar Delchamps was in the front passenger seat. David Yung and Jack Davidson were squeezed in the backseat with Max between them. Max looked out the rear window at the Mercedes-Benz van that was following them and carrying Jack Doherty, Jake Torine, Dick Sparkman, Madchen, the puppies, two members of the Gossinger Beteiligungsgesellschaft, G.m.b.H., security staff, and their luggage.

"Europaischer Hof," came over the speaker system of the Jaguar. "Guten Abend."

"Here is Karl von und zu Gossinger, of Gossinger Beteiligungsgesellschaft," Castillo replied more than a little imperiously in German.

"And how may we be of service, Herr von und zu Gossinger?"

"I will require accommodations for the next few days for two business associates. A suite with separate bedrooms would be preferable, but failing that, two of your better singles."

"We will be honored to be of service, Herr von und zu Gossinger. When may we expect your associates?"

"In about an hour. I presume there will be no difficulty in billing this directly to the firm?"

"None whatever."

"We will wish to eat. Will that pose a problem?"

"We will keep the restaurant open for your guests, Herr Gossinger."