Another embassy car drove up. The two FBI agents from Montevideo got out.
Special Agent Yung looks more than a little surprised to see me.
"Colonel," Ambassador Silvio said, "those are two FBI agents I borrowed from Montevideo. If at all possible, I would like them to be able to witness your investiga-"
"Pass them!" Munz bellowed.
The two FBI agents trotted over.
Munz turned to the Navy commander. "I want the truck driver taken to the prefecture. Get a statement, take his photograph and his fingerprints. Let him call his employer and his wife, but make sure that he says nothing more than that he witnessed an accident and is giving a statement. Treat him well-my first reaction is that he's a good Samaritan-but keep him there until you hear from me."
"Si, senor."
"All right," Munz said to the Naval Prefecture policeman. "Tell me what happened from the moment you arrived on the scene." His story neatly dovetailed with what the truck driver had told them.
Munz looked at the two FBI agents.
"I will issue orders that you are to have access to all facets of this investigation."
"Thank you," Ambassador Silvio said.
"Is there anything else, Your Excellency?" Munz asked.
Silvio responded, but to Darby.
"The children," he said.
"My wife is at the Masterson house," Darby replied.
"I will send my wife over there as soon as I can get on the phone," Silvio said. And then he asked, "Presumably, you've taken steps to guard it?"
"Yes, sir."
"Your Excellency, Senora Masterson and the children will not be out of sight of my best men," Munz said. "I realize that's not much you can put confidence in."
"Why do you say that, Colonel?" Silvio asked, courteously.
"Senor Sieno and I were sitting in his car outside the Masterson home from eleven P.M. onward, and Senor Masterson got away from us."
So that's his name. Sieno. Paul Sieno.
"Is that how you think of it, 'He got away from you'?"
"From Senor Sieno and me, and from Senor Sieno's men and mine. There were eight people watching his house, Your Excellency."
"Why would he want to 'get away from you,' do you think?"
"I think he was contacted by the villains, who told him where to meet them, and threatened his wife's well-being if he didn't come alone. So he went alone. How, I don't know, but he was desperate, and he got away from us, and made it to somewhere where he could find a taxi-the San Isidro railroad station, probably-and took it to wherever he was told to meet them. Did Your Excellency notice the taxi is not a Buenos Aires city taxi?"
"Yes, I did, as a matter of fact," Ambassador Silvio said.
"And I was thinking that's what probably happened."
"I am both deeply sorry and grossly embarrassed, Your Excellency, that I have failed my duty," Munz said.
"If you and Sieno were sitting up all night in Paul's car, Colonel," Silvio said, "I don't think anyone can fairly accuse you of being derelict in your duties."
"I fucked up big time, Mr. Ambassador, that's the bottom line," Paul Sieno said.
"I don't feel that you did, Paul," Silvio said kindly, then turned to Alex Darby. "Alex, will you stay here to learn what you can? And at the hospital?"
"Yes, sir."
"Mr. Castillo, can I see you for a moment?"
"Yes, sir, of course."
Silvio took Castillo's arm and led him out of earshot.
"We're going to have to talk, Mr. Castillo," the ambassadorsaid. "Is there some reason we can't do that now? Would you ride to the embassy with me?"
"Yes, sir, of course." "Do you have any idea what's going on here, Mr. Castillo?" Ambassador Silvio asked when they were in the ambassador's big BMW. "Is there something I should know?"
"Sir, I have no idea what's going on," Castillo said, and then blurted, "except that it's a fucking outrage."
"I'm a diplomat, I'm not supposed to use language like that, but I quite agree."
"Sorry, sir. That slipped out. He was such a nice guy!"
"Yes, he was," Silvio agreed. Then he said, "Excuse me," and took out his cellular telephone and pushed an autodial number.
"Jack has been murdered, my love," he said in Spanish. "At the moment, that's all I know. Betsy, who has been drugged, has been taken to the German Hospital-
"No. Drugged. Not sedated-
"I was going to suggest that you go to the hospital, but until they bring her out of it, I can't see what good that would do. Alex Darby's wife is with the Masterson children-
"Thank you. Make sure you have at least one of Lowery's people with you, and that the Policia Federal are following you-
"None of us would have believed what just happened, my love. Do what I tell you. I'll call you shortly." [TWO] The Office of the Ambassador The United States Embassy Avenida Colombia 4300 Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina 0635 23 July 2005 "I expect that you will want to make a report to your superiors, Mr. Castillo," Ambassador Silvio said as he led Castillo into his office.
"Yes, sir."
"You might as well do that from here," Silvio said.
"That's very kind of you, sir, but I don't mind-"
"We really haven't finished our conversation, have we?" Silvio interrupted him. "Just as soon as I speak with the secretary of state, I'll have them put you through."
Is he doing that to be a nice guy-which he certainly seems to be-or so that he can hear my report?
"Thank you very much, sir."
"Having said what I just said, I realize that I have no idea how to get through to the secretary at this hour of the morning-it's what, half past five in Washington? And I think she would want to hear this directly from me."
"Sir, I know how to do that," Castillo said.
The ambassador indicated the secure telephone on his desk.
Castillo put the receiver to his ear and heard, "Operator."
"My name is Castillo. I need a secure line to the White House. The ambassador's here to clear it, if you need that."
Silvio took the phone from Castillo.
"This is Ambassador Silvio. Mr. Castillo is cleared to call the White House now and at any time in the future."
"Thank you," Castillo said as he took the handset back.
"White House."
"This is the United States Embassy, Buenos Aires. Please verify this line is secure."
Ten seconds later the White House operator said, "This line is secure."
"This is C. G. Castillo. I need the secretary of state on a secure line, please."
This took a little longer. It was thirty-five seconds before a male voice said, "This is the secretary of state's secure line."
"C. G. Castillo for the secretary of state."
"The secretary is asleep, Mr. Castillo."
"I thought she might be. Put me through, please."
Another forty-five seconds passed.
"Put him through, please," Natalie Cohen said.
"Castillo, Madam Secretary."
"Charley, do you realize what time it is here in Washington?"
"Yes, ma'am. Hold one for Ambassador Silvio."
He heard the secretary of state mutter, "Oh, God!" as he handed the ambassador the telephone.
Then he started for the door. The ambassador waved his hand to signal him to stay.
"Ambassador Silvio, Madam Secretary," Silvio said. "I have the sad duty to inform you that the body of Chief of Mission J. Winslow Masterson was found an hour and a half ago. He had been shot twice in the head…" "The secretary wishes to speak to you, Mr. Castillo," Silvio said, and handed him the telephone.
"Yes, ma'am?"
"How come you placed the call, Charley?"
"I knew how to get through to you without going through layers of bureaucrats."
"Do you know anything the ambassador doesn't?"
"No, ma'am. Nobody has any idea what's going on."
"Presumably you've told Matt Hall?"
"No, ma'am. That's next."
"You want me to give him a heads-up?"
"Thank you, but I don't think that'll be necessary."
"I'm going to have to wake the President up with this. He finally told me, last night, that he'd sent you down there. And of what you found out, Sherlock."