Clete Frade had an insane thought as he turned on final and ordered Delgano to put the gear down.
If we crash on landing, a lot of problems would be solved.
And as soon as the Lodestar touched down, Clete saw that the problems were about to begin: In civilian clothing, El Coronel Alejandro Bernardo Martín—the Chief of the Ethical Standards Office of the Bureau of Internal Security—was in front of one of the hangars, leaning on the fender of a 1939 Dodge sedan.
“I was afraid of that,” Delgano said.
“Just remember: You know nothing.”
“And what if someone did see us at Estancia San Pedro y San Pablo?”
Frade didn’t reply.
As the Lodestar taxied past the closest hangar toward the second one, where Martín waited, Frade saw something he absolutely didn’t expect to see: Sergeant Major Enrico Rodríguez, Cavalry, Retired. Enrico was sitting on the open tailgate of a 1941 Ford station wagon.
“Did you see what I saw, Gonzo?”
“Maybe things aren’t as bad as they seem.”
“That’s known as pissing in the wind. But at least Enrico’s alive.”
Martín was waiting for them when they got out of the airplane.
“Well, I’m flattered to see you here, Colonel,” Frade said. “But Delgano and I really expected a brass band.”
Martín—not surprising Frade at all—did not seem amused.
“You look distressed,” Frade said. “Is something wrong?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“Are you going to tell me?”
“Colonel Perón made it quite clear that he would prefer to explain the situation to you personally.”
“Well, I’m in no mood for him right now. It’s been a very long flight, and I want to go home. I just saw that Enrico has brought a station wagon—”
“Going home,” Martín interrupted, “will have to wait until you see Colonel Perón, I’m afraid, Señor Frade.”
“That sounds awfully official, Colonel. Almost as if I said, ‘I’m going home,’ you’d put handcuffs on me and throw me in the back of your car.”
“I hope it won’t come to that, Señor Frade.”
“Oh, Jesus Christ!” Frade said disgustedly. “Well, let me tell Enrico what’s going on, then send him to my house in Buenos Aires.”
Martín considered that for a long moment.
“All right,” Martín said finally. “Please don’t do anything impulsive like getting in your car and driving off.”
“You want to come, Gonzo, and call your wife to let her know you’re back?”
“I need a word with Señor Delgano,” Martín said. “Please don’t be long, Señor Frade.”
“Señor Clete, when I saw you in the airplane, I knew that a merciful God had answered my prayers,” Enrico said emotionally, and wrapped his arms around Frade.
He
’s actually crying.