AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Sof'ya said, "Thank you."
Svetlana didn't respond at all.
"The first thing we're going to do is get you some summer clothing," Castillo said. "And the way we're going to do that is that Mrs. Berezovsky will go with Agent Britton"--he pointed to Sandra, not Jack, surprising more than a few--"to the local shopping center. Make sure you know the sizes of everyone, Mrs. Berezovsky.
"While they are gone, I will show the others your accommodations, and you can move your luggage into them. Mr. Darby and Mr. Delchamps will have to take a look through the luggage--"
"Is that necessary?" Svetlana interrupted.
Does that mean you have something you don't want me to find?
Or that you have nothing I might consider contraband, and are going to be amused at our fruitless search?
"Obviously, Colonel, I have decided that it is," Castillo said. "And right now I would like your purses, wallets, money, passports, and all identification. Put them on the Ping-Pong table, please, now. The purses will be returned after Agent Davidson has had a chance to examine them."
"Less the contents, of course?" Svetlana asked sarcastically.
"Colonel, why don't we try to start our relationship as amicably as possible? We are going to be spending a good deal of time together, and I don't see much point in making it any more unpleasant than necessary."
Colonel Alekseeva responded to the proffered olive branch by standing, then walking over to the Ping-Pong table and dumping the contents of her purse on it.
"Okay?" She held up the purse--he thought it looked like something that could be used to hold horse feed--so that he could see it was empty.
"Fine. But leave the purse, will you, please?"
She glowered at him.
What's this, a new tactic?
Now she's going to be a martyr, and I'm going to have to be nice to her, so she'll look deeply into my eyes again?
"One never knows, does one, Colonel, what might be hidden in the lining of a purse? For all I know you might have another .32 in there."
She tried to stare him down and failed.
"Are you about ready to go shopping, Mrs. Berezovsky?" Castillo said.
"May I take my daughter with me?"
"You may. But don't you think she'd rather play with the dogs?"
She looked at her daughter and then smiled.
"Yes, I do," she said.
"Just get enough clothing for three days," Castillo said. "Plus a bathing suit or two."
"Bathing suits?" Svetlana asked incredulously.
"This is a five-star prison, Colonel. With a swimming pool. I also think you will like the food, which will be ready by the time Mrs. Berezovsky and Agent Britton have returned."
She didn't say anything.
"Your choice, Colonel," Castillo said. "Use the pool or don't use it. For that matter, wear a bathing suit or don't wear one. That's up to you."
"There are three bedrooms--actually suites--on the second floor, Tom," Castillo said to Berezovsky, then pointed at a closed door. "The center one here is mine; it has an office in which I will conduct my part of the interrogations. The other two suites don't have the office. Arrange yourselves in them any way you want.
"At night, the doors will be locked and there will be someone in the corridor to make sure we have no 'sleepwalkers.' And there will be someone in the drive to make sure no one opens--or goes through--the windows. That should prove no problem, as only a fool sleeps with an open window in an Argentine summer.
