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“I was going to begin this by saying this has to go no further,” Naylor finally said. “But that would be a waste of my breath, wouldn’t it?”
“General, what I try to do is live up to my oath to protect the U.S. from all enemies, foreign and domestic.”
Naylor ignored that. He said: “The original communication from the kidnappers ordered us to take this fellow Abrego by helicopter from the La Tuna prison to Juárez International Airport, just across the border, accompanied by two U.S. Marshals. This was to be tomorrow morning. The exchange was to take place then. The President feels that if this plan were followed, they would be met by an overwhelming force who would relieve them of Abrego and—the phrase he used was ‘wave bye-bye’—with the result being they would have Abrego and we would not have Colonel Ferris.”
“That makes sense. So what’s Plan B?”
“This is what the President does not want the CIA involved with in any way.”
“Involved with what?”
“President Martinez sent him a letter saying that Abrego should be taken to the Oaxaca State Prison for interrogation by the chief of the Policía Federal for Oaxaca State, a man named Juan Carlos Pena.”
“And he’s going to do this?”
“Martinez said contact should be established with this man Pena.”
“And you want to send Vic to make contact?”
“Yes. Now, where is he?”
Lammelle was quiet a moment, then said: “I don’t think you’re telling me everything, Allan. Why should Clendennen be worried about me knowing about something as simple as sending Vic to see this cop?”
“That’s all I can tell you,” Naylor said. “I’ve already told you more than I should.”
“But not as much as you’re going to tell me if you want me to put you in touch with Vic.”
“So you do know where he is?” Naylor snapped.
“I’m the head of the CIA, Allan. I know everything. What else have you got to tell me?”
Lammelle could hear Naylor exhaling audibly before Naylor said, “When Abrego is taken to the prison, after we establish that Ferris is there, the President is sending three Black Hawks loaded with Gray Fox operators with him. They will free Ferris.”
“Gray Fox?” Lammelle asked, incredulously.
“He’s set up a command post in his study,” Naylor said. “General O’Toole is there with him. Colonel Kingsolving has been sent for.”
“And once they grab Ferris, how are they going to get him out of Mexico? That prison is in southern Mexico, almost to the Guatemalan border.”
“Why do I think you know more than you’re telling me?”
“Allan, Vic is in the El Paso Marriott, on Airport Boulevard, registered as José Gomez. If you’ve got a pencil, I’ll give you the number.”
“If you know something I should, Frank . . .”
“The area code is 915 . . .”
“Hold one,” Naylor said. “Okay. Give me that number again.” Lammelle gave it to him, and then said, “Give me five minutes, Allan, and I’ll call him and tell him you’ll be calling.”
“What have you got him doing down there?”
“It’s always a pleasure to talk to you, Allan,” Lammelle said, and hung up.
[FOUR]
Hacienda Santa Maria
Oaxaca Province, Mexico
