I’m sure are not are Generals Naylor and McNab. And we can count on their help once we find out who’s behind it. But we have to find out who’s behind it, whether the Russians, or Montvale, or Truman Ellsworth. .”
“You think that Ellsworth might be involved?”
“I think it’s possible. The only thing I know for sure is that the only one who can find out is Castillo, and if he breaks a few laws finding out, I have no problem with that.”
She considered that a moment, and then said, “Don’t interpret this as a sign that I’m considering going along with any of this, but as a practical matter, how is he going to. . I guess ‘kidnap’ is the word. . Ferris and/or Abrego from the Mexican authorities, or the kidnappers, or for that matter, the U.S. Marshal Service?”
“I told you, he has the ex-Spetsnaz he got from Pevsner and the people from China Post-plus, of course, the Merry Outlaws.”
“And how, as a practical matter, Frank, is he going to move them around Mexico with the entire Policia Federal-plus the kidnappers, the drug cartels, and possibly even the SVR-looking for them?”
“Well, he has the helicopter. That’ll help.”
“You’re not talking about that Black Hawk?”
He nodded.
“You actually turned that helicopter over to him?”
“Persons representing themselves as officers of the CIA went to Fort Sam and flew it away,” Lammelle said. “They told Fort Sam officials they were returning it to Mexico.”
“You actually sent your people to Fort Sam to steal that helicopter for Castillo?”
“What I said was ‘people representing themselves as officers of the CIA.’ And it was never stolen. Though there wasn’t exactly a bill of sale, Charley did buy it for a million plus, so it could be argued it’s actually his chopper.”
“My God! You’re insane!”
“Natalie, you’re the one who told me that the Mexicans reported that Black Hawk was destroyed in President Martinez’s war on the drug cartels. How can you steal something that doesn’t exist?”
She shook her head in disbelief.
“Anyway, apparently these persons have gotten away with their deception. There have been no reports to anyone about anything unusual happening at Fort Sam.”
“And how does he plan to get the Black Hawk into Mexico?”
“It’s already there. As we speak, he’s showing it to a man he describes as one of the four honest cops in Mexico. I was just talking to him. I hung up”-he pointed to the Brick on his desk-“as you were coming through the door.”
“Does this honest cop have a name?” she asked.
“I’m sure he does.”
“But you’re not going to tell me?”
“Castillo’s going to do what he’s going to do, Natalie. What you have to decide is whether you’re going to help him or not. Whether, in other words-this is the choice Naylor had to make when he knew there was nothing he could do to stop Charley from going to La Orchila Island-Charley’s failure would do more harm to the country than his success.”
“Get him back on the Brick,” she said.
“He may not want to talk to you.”
“Why not?”
“I think he’s as much afraid that your high moral standards will demand that you do ‘the right thing,’ as you’re afraid he’s about to start a war with Mexico.”
“You’re saying he doesn’t trust me? I don’t believe that.”
“I’m saying he thinks you have a different agenda, one probably in conflict with his.” He paused, then went on: “Natalie, I’m betraying a confidence when I tell you this, but I think you should know there are now two nets on the Brick. The old one, which you have on your Brick, and the new one. You’re not on the new one. Neither are Those People. Charley doesn’t entirely trust them, either.”
“So where does that leave us?”
“I just realized it puts me in a somewhat uncomfortable position,” Lammelle said. “What the hell!”
He reached for his Brick, took out the handset, put his index finger in front of his lips as a signal to Cohen, and then pushed one of the direct connect buttons and the SPEAKERPHONE key.
“Yeah, Frank?” Castillo’s voice came over the loudspeaker.
“What would you say if I told you that Natalie Cohen knows what you’re up to and wants to talk to you about helping?”
“I’d say you have a dangerously loose mouth and have been smoking an illegal substance. What the hell is this all about?”
“I thought you liked Natalie and trusted her.”
“I like her very much. Do I think she wants to help? No. If she knows what I’m doing and wants to talk to me, it’s to talk me out of what I’m doing. And goddamn you, Frank, if you did tell her.”
There was a buzzing sound.
Cohen and Lammelle looked at each other until they realized the buzzing was coming from the secretary of State’s Brick.
“Hold one, Charley,” Lammelle said.
Cohen opened the leather attache case and took out the handset. She saw which number was illuminated, and mouthed, “Crenshaw.”
“See what he wants,” Lammelle said.
“See what who wants?” Castillo demanded impatiently. “Who are you talking to, Frank?”
Lammelle cut the connection.
“Natalie Cohen,” she said.
“If there was ever any question in your mind that the President is acting irrationally, forget it,” the attorney general said.
“What are you talking about?”
“Schmidt and I just left the Oval Office,” Crenshaw said. “The President just decided to send three Black Hawks loaded with Gray Fox operators to the Oaxaca State Prison to exchange Abrego for Ferris. And from his attitude, I don’t think he cares if there’s a firefight with the Policia Federal. In fact, I think he’s hoping for one.”
“Why would he want. . oh.”
“The word is ‘irrational,’ Natalie, and that’s a euphemism.”
“Let me get this straight, he’s going to send Gray Fox to deal with this Policia Federal officer?”
“Juan Carlos Pena,” Crenshaw said.
“That’s going to take him at least twenty-four hours, maybe forty-eight, before they can leave, right?”
“McNab is in Afghanistan, so Clendennen sent for McNab’s deputy, General O’Toole. And for Beiderman and Naylor. That’ll take some time, of course.”
“Let me get back to you, Stanley,” she said. She met Lammelle’s eyes and added, “I realize this is a desperate situation, requiring desperate measures. Let me see what I can do.”
She broke the connection.
“You say this no longer works to talk to Castillo?”
“You still can talk to him on it. You just won’t know what’s being said on what we’re calling Net Two.”
She punched a number on her handset.
“Hello, Madam Secretary,” Castillo’s voice came over the loudspeaker.
“Charley, what do you know about a Policia Federal officer named Pena? Juan Carlos Pena.”
“Rude question, but necessary,” he replied. “Why do you want to know?”
“Because the President is about to send three Black Hawks loaded with Gray Fox special operations to exchange Abrego for Ferris at the prison this man operates in Oaxaca State.”
“He doesn’t operate the prison. He’s the head of the Policia Federal for Oaxaca State.”
“So you do know him?”
“Yeah, I know him,” Castillo said. “Why don’t you go back to the beginning with this, so I know what you’re talking about.”
