Black Ops (Presidential Agent 5)

"Thank you."

"Why don't I go with you, Carlos?" Dmitri Berezovsky asked.

"I am going with you," Svetlana announced.

"Thanks, but no thanks," Castillo said. "For one thing, they wouldn't let either of you get near the President. For another, even if I could get you in to see him, you'd be Russian embezzlers facing Montvale and the DCI, and they both are convinced you're liars.

"Jack will go with you," Castillo went on. "Les, I'd like you to go with me, if you're willing. And you, too, Two-Gun. Les to work the radios, Two-Gun to explain the money trail in his report if I can get the President to listen."

"Sure," Yung said.

"Yes, sir," Bradley said.

"Jack, as soon as you can," Castillo went on, "get on the horn to the Pilar safe house. Have someone there get in touch with Aleksandr, give him a heads-up that Dmitri and Svetlana are headed back to his Cozumel resort. He'll have an idea or two on how best to get them from there back to Argentina quietly and safely."

"Done," Davidson said. "When are you going to leave?"

"Just as soon as I can wind it up, I've got to stop at Midland for fuel and to file a flight plan. Keep an eye on my pal Max, okay?"

Dmitri repeated his offer to go with them as they shook hands at the house, and Castillo repeated his reasons why that wouldn't make any sense.

Svetlana and Dona Alicia went as far as the plane. Bradley and Two-Gun boarded the Lear, and Dona Alicia waited in the Yukon while Castillo and Svetlana said their good-byes.

"I have this terrible feeling I will never see you again, my Carlos," Svetlana said.

"Don't be silly. The worst that can happen to me is that they'll have somebody sit on me until I go through that retirement charade. As soon as that's over, I'll get on a plane and fly to Gaucho Land, where you'll have my golf clubs all waiting for me."

"I wish I was with child. At least I would have that."

"I already have one of those

, and from what I have seen, one is enough."

"It is all right, my Carlos. We had what we had, and we both know the rules of the game we're in. I will pray for you."

If I thought it'd work, I'd pray myself.

"I have to go, sweetheart."

They kissed.

The kiss was unlike any he could remember. That frightened him.

The last thing he saw as the Lear broke ground was Dona Alicia and Svetlana standing in front of the Yukon. Dona Alicia had a comforting arm around Svetlana, who was weeping.

Castillo caught himself thinking that it looked funny.

Sweaty's so much taller and larger than Abuela.

Jesus Christ, that's tremendously touching, not funny.

I really am a callous bastard!

[ELEVEN]

Atlantic Aviation Services, Inc.

Philadelphia International Airport