Secret Honor (Honor Bound 3)

“No need,” she said. “Or at least I don’t think so.”

She got up, walked into the bedroom, and returned a moment later clutching a bottle of Rémy Martin in one hand and three brandy snifters in the other.

“Your father always kept a bottle in the bedside table,” she said. “Against the chill.”

“You mean, when you were mad at him?” Clete asked innocently.

Claudia’s not at all embarrassed to display her intimate knowledge of my father’s bedroom before Welner. Good for her!

She didn’t answer. She poured brandy in the glasses, then emptied hers into her coffee cup.

“I think your father would like it that you and Dorotéa will be in there,” she said, indicating the bedroom. “Damn, I miss him.”

“Me, too,” Clete said.

“And I,” Welner said. “A little more every day.”

She raised her coffee cup. Clete picked up the snifter, raised it to her, and took a sip.

“You know, this is why we can’t lose the war,” Clete said.

“The cognac?” Welner asked, confused.

“It’s the first thing they hand Winston Churchill when he wakes up,” Clete said. “Before his coffee.”

“How do you know that?” Claudia challenged.

“I don’t know. I must have read it someplace.”

She shook her head and had another sip of coffee.

Antonio came through the door from the corridor. “Señor, are you at home to el Coronel Perón?”

“Hell, no…,” Clete responded immediately, and then changed his mind. “Of course I am,” he said, oozing synthetic enthusiasm. “What a wonderful way to begin the day.” He looked at Claudia. “What is this, Claudia? Speak of the devil?” he asked, and then got up.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but you behave!” she ordered.

“Señor Frade, mi Coronel,” Antonio said, and handed Clete the telephone.

“Good morning, mi Coronel,” Clete said.

The others could hear only his side of the conversation:

“No, Señor. It’s always a pleasure to hear from you.”

“Well, actually, Señor, I am sitting here over coffee discussing current events with Señora Carzino-Cormano and the good Father Welner.”

“Damn you, Cletus,” Claudia hissed.

“Yes, Señor. He is standing right beside me.”

“Of course, Señor. One moment, please.”

Clete extended the telephone to Welner. “Father,” he said, loud enough for his voice to carry over the telephone, “el Coronel Perón asks to speak to you.”

Welner took the telephone.

Now Clete and Claudia could hear only the priest’s side of the conversation: