The Hostage (Presidential Agent 2)

"This will, I am sure, be resolved shortly. When it is, Major, I will get back to you. As you might imagine, my own curiosity is now aroused."

"Thank you, sir."

There was a very clear click, and Castillo realized he was no longer speaking with the director of national intelligence.

And then Secretary Hall's voice came back from space.

"Charley, I have absolutely no idea what's going on. I suggest we wait until we see what Montvale can get out of Natalie."

"Yes, sir."

"Let me know what you find out in Budapest."

"Yes, sir, I will."

"Anything else we can do for you?"

"Dick, you still there?"

"Yes, sir, Chief."

"Will you send some flowers to the hospital for me, please?"

"That's a done deed, Chief," Agnes Forbison said. "She should have them by now."

"Thank you very much, Agnes."

"I like her, too, Charley."

"Is that about it?" Miller asked. "Break it down, Mr. Secretary?"

"Break it down," Hall ordered. As he watched Kranz close the laptop, Goerner asked, "Who are you sending flowers to, Karl?"

"One of my agents was shot in Buenos Aires," Castillo said.

"That's bullshit, Otto," Fernando said. "One of his agents was shot, but it's anything but the professionally platonic relationship he's trying to foist off on you."

"You sonofabitch!" Castillo said.

"Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free," Fernando responded. "Her name is Betty Schneider, Otto, and the two of them are like lovesick teenagers."

"Wunderbar!" Otto said.

XVI

[ONE] Danubius Hotel Gellert Szent Gellert ter 1 Budapest, Hungary 0930 28 July 2005 When they walked up to the registration desk of the hotel, the manager on duty said that Herr Goerner had a call, and led him around the corner of the marble desk to a bank of house telephones.

Castillo watched him impatiently.

Goerner returned after a minute wearing a wide smile.

"That was Eric Kocian," he announced, "and what we're going to do now is go to our rooms, put on our robes, and visit the baths."

"I don't have time for a swim or a steam bath," Castillo said. "I came here to see this man Kocian."

"To accomplish the latter, Karl, I'm afraid you must do the former."

"What the hell are you talking about?"