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"I will. Thanks, Otto."
"Auf wiedersehen, Karlchen."
"Sorry," Castillo said into the cellular. "I was on the other line."
"How long will it take you to get to a secure line, Charley?" the secretary of Homeland Security asked.
"Ten, fifteen minutes."
"The sooner the better," Hall said. "I'll be waiting. He's gone ballistic."
The line went dead.
Castillo had no doubt that he who had gone ballistic was the President of the United States.
VI
[ONE] Communications Center The United States Embassy Avenida Colombia 4300 Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina 1100 23 July 2005 The slender, trim man sitting behind the desk rose when Castillo walked in. The man was wearing a suit and a crisp white shirt, but there was something about him- carriage, short haircut, attitude-that made Charley sure he was a soldier.
"Mr. Castillo?"
"Right. I need a secure line to the White House. It's been cleared."
"Sir, the ambassador left word that if you came in, he wanted to see you right away."
Shit!
This situation wasn't covered in Obeying Orders 101 at The Point. The rule there was simple: you obey your last lawful order. My last order was to get on the horn as quickly as possible. And technically, Ambassador Silvio can't even legally issue me orders.
Or can he? He's the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the President of the United States.
And Major C. G. Castillo is not about to tell Ambassador Silvio, in his embassy, that I don't have time for him right now, but I will try to fit him into my busy schedule just as soon as I can.
"Thank you," Castillo said, and headed for the ambassador's office. "You wanted to see me, sir?" Castillo asked, when Silvio's secretary ushered him into the ambassador's office.
"Yes, I did. Thank you for coming so quickly. I just wanted to tell you that the security staff has been alerted and are holding themselves ready for your instructions."
What the hell is he talking about?
"Sir?"
"You don't have any idea what I'm talking about, do you?"
"No, sir. I don't."
"I thought you might not. May I ask what you're doing in the embassy?"
"Sir, I got word to get on a secure line to my boss… to Secretary Hall… as quickly as possible."
"I just had a very interesting conversation with my boss, as a matter of fact. Well, why don't you speak with your boss, and when you're finished, we can compare notes, so to speak."
"Sir, I have the uncomfortable feeling that I've done something to displease you."
"I'm displeased, frankly, but it's nothing you've done, Mr. Castillo," Silvio said. "In a manner of speaking, I would say that you and I are leaves being blown about by the winds of a storm."
Charley couldn't think of anything to say.
"Why don't you speak with Secretary Hall? And then come see me?" Silvio said.
