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"I'm very much aware, Mrs. Masterson, that this is a difficult time for you…"
Mrs. Masterson s
norted.
"… but I hope you'll understand that certain plans have to be made."
"Such as?"
"Where in the United States would you like to go?"
"Keesler," she said. "Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi is closest to Jack's parents' home. In Pass Christian."
"Pass Chris-tee-ann"? That's the French pronunciation. And while I'm on that subject… what about her brother, who's supposed to be in France?
"Is there someone there, in Pass Christian, who we can contact? Your father?"
"My father lives in Metairie-New Orleans. And he has a heart condition. My father-in-law lives in Pass Christian. I really think he'd be the man to break this to my father. I was just talking about that, frankly, with Mrs. Silvio when you came in, Mr. Castillo. She's going to call Jack's father, or the ambassador is, just as soon as they can get to a phone. I hope they can get through to him before he sees it on CNN or Fox. And then I'll call him, of course, when they let me out of here."
"Have they told you when that's going to be?"
"They want to keep me overnight for observation," she said, then turned to the ambassador. "Juan, can't you do something about that? I want to be with the children."
"I understand," Silvio said. "But they really want to look for signs of whatever that drug might have done to you. If you'd like, we can bring the kids here to see you."
"No. I don't want them to see me like this. They're better off with Julia."
Julia, presumably, is Darby's wife.
"They're in school now?" Castillo asked.
"Their father has just been murdered," she snapped. "Of course they're not in school."
"Forgive me," Castillo said.
Then the other woman is Lowery's wife; Darby's wife- Julia, the old friend of the family-is with the kids.
"Is there anyone else, ma'am, that we should contact?"
"No. I'll notify everyone just as soon as I'm out of here."
That "no" came really quick. Wouldn't she want to tell her brother, even if he didn't get along with her husband?
"Mrs. Masterson, I won't intrude on your grief anymore. If there's anything you need, all you'll have to do is tell Mr. Santini."
"Thank you."
Castillo nodded at the people in the room and walked out.
He had taken half a dozen steps to the elevator when Ambassador Silvio caught up with him. Santini was on the ambassador's heels.
"I'm forced to agree with you, Mr. Cas-Charley," Silvio said. "She's concealing something."
"I got nowhere with her, either," Santini said.
"Mr. Ambassador, she didn't even mention her brother," Castillo said. "Would you be willing to try to get him on the telephone?"
"I thought that was odd, too," Silvio agreed. "I'll put a call in to him just as soon as I get back to the embassy. Where will you be?"
