Black Ops (Presidential Agent)

by W. E. B Griffin

  She was wearing her cowboy suit, which included a light gray Stetson hat, a denim jacket worn open over a translucent blouse of Western cut--through which he could see her upper undergarment--a pair of lizard-skin boots, and of course denim trousers.

  She spun around.

  "No comment?" she asked.

  "How the hell did you get those pants on? With a paintbrush?"

  "You're not supposed to ask questions like that of a lady, my heathen," she said.

  "Jesus, Charley!" Davidson said in mock disapproval of his query. "Even I know that."

  Svetlana smiled at Davidson, then went to Castillo, put her arms around him, and whispered in his ear, "If you will be a good boy, later I will show you how I get them off."

  [NINE]

  0700 9 January 2006

  When Castillo walked into the library he saw that while it was not going to win any prizes for order and cleanliness, it was a great deal cleaner and more in order than it was the last time he had seen it the night before.

  He also saw Lester Bradley sound asleep in an armchair, and that Casey, heavy-eyed, was sitting in another.

  "He wouldn't go to bed when we finished about oh-five-hundred," Casey greeted him. "Said he 'had the duty.' He's been like that since about ten after five."

  Castillo gently shook Bradley's shoulder and, when he opened his eyes, said, "Wake up and go to bed, Lester."

  Bradley was on his feet a second later.

  "Sir, I guess I dropped off for a second."

  "Go to bed, Lester. Say, 'Yes, sir.' "

  "Aye-aye, sir."

  Castillo waited until Bradley had walked sleepily out of the room, then asked, "What would you say, Dr. Casey, sir, if I gave you the same order?"

  "I would say, 'Yes, sir, whatever the colonel desires, sir.' Right after I tell you what Miller had to say and I show you what we've done."

  "What did Miller have to say?"

  "Delchamps's and Darby's planes got off the ground, and so far there has been no report that they dropped into the Atlantic. And he said Doherty and Two-Gun Yung arrived. He said he's going to install Doherty in the office to keep an eye on the FBI trying to put an eye on you, and that Yung will arrive at the Midland Airport at twelve twenty-five. He said he thought he might be useful here."

  "He will be. Thanks. And now why don't you get some sleep?"

  "You'll notice that all four monitors are glowing dully," Casey continued. He pointed at the monitors, one of which was on a table too small for it, and the others sitting on the floor. "But when the proper buttons are pushed, they begin to show us things. For example, the physical location of the AFCs in which I have activated the transponder."

  One of the monitors showed a map of the world. Lightning-bolt symbols showed the locations of the radios in Germany, Argentina, Uruguay, Hungary, and the United States.

  "At various scales," Casey went on, "for example, here in the States."

  A second screen lit up, with a map of the United States, showing lightning bolts in Nevada, Texas, North Carolina, and the District of Columbia.

  "Or closer."

  The first screen went blank, then lit up with a map of the Washington area, with lightning bolts at the Nebraska Avenue Complex, the Baltimore airport, and the safe house in Alexandria.

  "Or closer."

  The second screen now showed a map of the Baltimore airport, with a lightning bolt coming out of a hangar.

  "That's the one in your Gulfstream. And thanks to the friendly folks at Google, we have this view of that, as well."

  A third screen lit up showing a three-dimensional image of the Signature Flight Support, Inc., hangar.

  "God knows that picture wasn't taken yesterday, or even last month, but it's better than no picture. And I sure as hell didn't want to hack into Fort Meade."

  "Could you do that?"

  "Who do you think set up their imagery? Whenever we need that, we can. Just didn't think it wise in the middle of an op."

  Castillo was awed. He smiled. "Go to bed, Aloysius."

  "And so far as people are concerned"--Casey punched more buttons on a keyboard. The world map reappeared with symbols of humans--"this shows the last known location of everybody of interest."

  Casey then repeated the process of demonstration, which this time ended with a three-dimensional view of the ranch house, above which was a line of numbered symbols. A chart to the right identified the numbers. Castillo was represented by the number 1, Casey by the number 2, and so on.

  "I'm awed."

  "This is pretty rough, Charley, but it's up and running."

  "Now, go to bed. We're going to have to wait for what comes next."

  "I think I will."

  "Thanks, Aloysius."

  Casey yawned, then made a deprecating gesture and walked out of the library.

  Castillo sat down in the armchair Lester had vacated, reached for the coffee thermos, poured himself a cup, and began to wait for what would come next.

  XVII

  [ONE]

  Double-Bar-C Ranch

  Near Midland, Texas

  1725 9 January 2006

  The first thing Castillo had to wait for was the arrival of former FBI Special Agent David W. Yung, Jr. Jack Davidson, who had gone into Midland to meet Yung at the airport, called at half past twelve to report that Yung hadn't been on the plane, had probably missed his connection at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and might be on the next plane, or planes, one of which was due at two something and the other at four something.

  Castillo told him to wait. He didn't want a record, should the FBI have a "locate but do not detain" out on their former co-worker, that Two-Gun had rented a vehicle and driven himself from the airport to the Double-Bar-C.

  That hadn't happened. Yung walked off the next regional jet that landed at Midland International.

  Minutes before Two-Gun and Davidson walked into the ranch's library, Corporal Bradley had updated the data bank with new information. Colonel Hamilton's suitcases were now in Fort Bragg. But the 727 had not yet left for Africa. It had been discovered that an Air Tanzania already existed, which made it necessary to remove most of that color scheme and replace it with a scheme identifying the aircraft as part of the fleet of Sub-Saharan Airways, Ltd.

  Corporal Bradley was thus able to demonstrate the command post's new installed technical capabilities to Yung.

  While he was doing that, one of the AFCs went off, the caller identified as Alex Darby. He was in Fulda, in Otto Gorner's office. A conversation followed, during which it was learned that Edgar Delchamps's going to Vienna had been something of a mistake, as Eric Kocian was in Budapest. God only knew when he'd get to Budapest now. It was also learned that the transmission of the late Herr Friedler's notes would be begun as soon as they could be scanned.

  As Lester was demonstrating how the changed data--Last Known Location of 7-Darby, A--could be entered into the data bank so that it could be shown on one of the monitors, Svetlana came into the library. She wore another new cowgirl suit, one much like the other--just as form-fitting--but the denim was red in color.

  She kissed Castillo somewhat less than chastely on the mouth, then whispered something in his ear, and then finally said, "Lester, if you'll show me how to do that, I can do it."

  "It's not hard, Colonel," Bradley replied, at which point Castillo deduced from the look on Two-Gun's face that he now understood the cowgirl was one of the Russians Castillo had gotten out of Vienna, and also that Miller had not advised him that the relationship between the Russian defector and Colonel Castillo was not one that one would normally expect.

  "Close your mouth, Two-Gun," Davidson advised, "and pay attention to what Lester's teaching Sweaty. You're here; you're going to be on the duty roster."

  [TWO]

  0700 10 January 2006

  The world map now showed that the Sub-Saharan Airways 727, having refueled in Morocco, was somewhere over the Sahara Desert, en route to Kilimanjaro International Airport, Tan
zania.

  It also showed Colonel Hamilton and DeWitt in Brussels, Belgium, where they would board an Air France flight to Dar Es Salaam International Airport, Tanzania, at 2300.

  They learned from Sandor Tor, via the AFC installed in Eric Kocian's Hotel Gellert apartment overlooking the Danube in Budapest, that Edgar Delchamps had gotten as far as Vienna. He had telephoned to say he would be along in a day or two, just as soon as he took care of something he had to do in Vienna.

  Because Delchamps was not answering his cellular telephone and had not provided an alternate number at which he could be reached, Colonel Castillo could not ask him what the hell that was all about. And Castillo needed Edgar in Budapest to go through Billy Kocian's files to choose what would be scanned and sent to Midland.

  At supper--Dona Alicia and Estella prepared a rack of pork, Svetlana made garlic mashed potatoes, and an enormous salad, and there were several bottles of a very nice Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon--Dmitri Berezovsky confessed to Castillo that he was a little worried about Delchamps. The Russian said that while he really liked Edgar--he thought they had become friends--he struck him as the kind of man who had to be kept on a short leash.

  "I think he was kidding when he said he'd like to whack the CIA station chief lady," Castillo replied.

  Svetlana said, "Of course he was, my Carlos. I was the one who wanted to kill her."

  Judging by Dona Alicia's face, Castillo could not tell whether or not she thought that Svetlana was only making a little joke.

  After supper, Dmitri beat Two-Gun at chess six games in a row, one lasting an exhausting two minutes and twenty seconds by the clock.

  And they watched television and the monitors and waited.

  [THREE]

  0700 11 January 2006

  The monitor showed the updated data that Colonel Torine had called in: that the Sub-Saharan Airways 727 and its cargo and crew were on the ground at Kilimanjaro International and that Uncle Remus was looking around to see what pickup trucks or similar vehicles were available for purchase in the nearby towns of Arusha and Mosi.

  Sandor Tor reported that Edgar Delchamps had called again and said that he would arrive by train from Vienna at 1415.

  "I guess he did whatever he had to do in Vienna," Dmitri observed.

  "He spent a lot of time in Vienna," Castillo said. "So far as we know, he has a Fraulein--more likely a Frau, I suppose--with whom he passed a little time. He knew there was no rush."

  "Isn't he a little long in the tooth for that sort of thing?"

  "I don't think so. Sandor Tor told me that Billy Kocian has two very good friends in Vienna. And you know how old he is."

  "An inspiration to all of us," Berezovsky said.

  An Internet inquiry of Air France revealed that flight 434, nonstop Airbus service from Brussels to Dar Es Salaam, had arrived on time.

  And they watched the monitors and talked a little about what exactly would be the best format for the data Castillo would lay before the President, and Two-Gun said he'd start making up a dummy to be filled in as the data arrived and was digested.

  And they waited.

  [FOUR]

  1310 11 January 2006

  "Colonel Hamilton for Colonel Castillo, Encryption Level One," the sultry voice of the AFC announced. Castillo looked at the monitors. The one showing Sub-Saharan Africa showed a now-flashing lightning bolt in Bujumbura, Burundi. It also indicated the local date and time beside the flashing lightning bolt: It was now 0110 12 January 2006 in Bujumbura.

  Castillo pushed the SPEAKERPHONE button.

  "C. G. Castillo."

  "I have Colonel Castillo for you, Colonel Hamilton. Encryption Level One confirmed."

  "Thank you very much," Hamilton said.

  "You don't have to thank her, sir," Castillo said. "She's a computer."

  "I'm aware of that, of course. Force of habit."

  "Yes, sir."

  "It's ten past one in the morning here, Castillo. I'm in the Hotel du Lac in Bujumbura."

  Castillo looked at another of the monitors. It showed a three-dimensional picture of the Hotel du Lac.

  "Yes, sir, I know."

  "In Washington and on our way here, I discussed a number of things with Mr. DeWitt and I must say I was very impressed with him."

  "He's a very impressive man, sir."

  "Among the things we discussed was our mode of operations. I also discussed this with Colonel Torine when DeWitt and I got to the Kilimanjaro airfield. And a third time, with Mr. Leverette, when we finally arrived here in Bujumbura."

  "Yes, sir?"

  "I thought we had resolved, once and for all, the command structure of this operation. I am of course in overall command. Colonel Torine will handle the transportation and logistics outside the Congo. Inside the Congo, Mr. Leverette and Mr. DeWitt will be responsible for transportation and security, and I will be responsible for the investigation."

  "That seems to be a practical solution for your situation, sir."

  "So I would have thought. When I went to bed tonight, I thought it had been agreed between us that we would get some rest tonight. Not only was it a long flight, but we have passed through--I don't know precisely how many but a number of time zones. . . ."

  "Six, sir," Castillo furnished.

  "And the natural clock of the body has been disturbed. Rest obviously was called for. Tomorrow morning, I thought it was agreed, when fresh from our rest, we would plan our incursion of the Congo."

  "I awoke about fifteen minutes ago, Castillo. I had trouble sleeping, and with the thought that perhaps Mr. Leverette and/or Mr. DeWitt were having the same problem, I decided I would see if they did, and if so, we could perhaps get a jump on our morning planning session."

  "Uh-oh," Jack Davidson said.

  "What was that, Castillo?"

  "Nothing, sir. One of my men came in the room."

  "So I started out of my room. I was startled by a man dressed in the local clothing--or lack of it--sitting directly in a chair across from my door. He had in his lap an Uzi--the full-size one, not the Mini Uzi Mr. D'Allessando was kind enough to loan me.

  "He addressed me in English, by rank. He said, in effect, 'Is there something I can do for you, Colonel?' to which I replied, 'What are you doing outside my door?' to which he replied, 'Uncle Remus said we should sit on you, sir.'

  "By then I realized the man was one of our shooters, so I asked him to direct me to Mr. Leverette's room. He replied, 'I can, Colonel, but Uncle Remus is not in his room.'" Colonel Hamilton paused. "And what is that all about, Castillo? Everyone calls him 'Uncle Remus.' Why do they do that?"

  "Only his friends, sir, are permitted to call him that."

  "I asked you why they do that. You are aware of the inference, the implication, I presume?"

  "Yes, sir. Well, sir, the best answer I've ever been able to come up with is that the Uncle Remus character in the books was a kindly old gentleman who was always telling stories, and Mr. Leverette seems to fit that description."

  "Be that as it may, Castillo, permitting your subordinates, particularly your subordinate enlisted men, to call you by the name of a fictional character in a series of children's books that some think--and here you may take my point--are racist in tone is pretty odd behavior for a chief warrant officer of the highest grade, wouldn't you agree, Colonel Castillo--"

  Castillo caught himself smiling. "I honestly never gave it much thought, sir. I will look into it--"

  "It comes perilously close to conduct unbefitting an officer and a gentleman, Castillo, and you know it."

  "I must respectfully disagree, sir. Mr. Leverette is one of the finest officers with whom I have ever served."

  "Well, let me tell you what he's done."

  Castillo glanced at Davidson, who was grimacing.

  "Yes, sir."

  "I asked the shooter with the Uzi," Hamilton went on, " 'If Mr. Leverette isn't in his room, where is he?'

  "To which he replied, 'He and Phineas went over the fence, Colon
el.' Then he handed me a letter and said, 'Uncle Remus instructed me to give you this in the morning, Colonel. But I guess it's okay to give it to you now.' "

  "A letter, sir? What did it say?"

  "I will read it to you," Colonel Hamilton said. "Quote. Dear Colonel Hamilton. Phineas and I decided it would be a good idea if we conducted a preliminary reconnaissance of the border area prior to the planning of the incursion. Since you were so tired, and we felt sure you would agree this was a wise step, we didn't wake you. We will return in forty-eight hours. Respectfully, Colin Leverette CWO5 USA. End quote. Well, what about that, Castillo?"

  "What about what, sir?"

  "If that isn't direct and willful disobedience of orders, what is it?"

  "Sir, did you order Mr. Leverette and Mr. DeWitt not to conduct a reconnaissance of the border area?"

  "I thought it was understood. I told you that."

  "Well, to judge from Mr. Leverette's letter, sir, I'd have to say the understanding wasn't unequivocally clear. He would never disobey an order, sir"--Unless, at the time, Colin thought it was the right thing to do--"Sir, why don't you have a word with Mr. Leverette when he and Mr. DeWitt return?"

  "You can take that to the bank, Castillo," Colonel Hamilton said. "I'll give the both of them a dressing-down they'll remember the rest of their lives."

  Probably more like two seconds.

  Uncle Remus and Phineas DeWitt have been dressed down by Bruce J. McNab, and with all possible respect, Colonel Hamilton, sir, you just ain't in the same ball club.

  "Sir, I realize I shouldn't say this, but I respectfully suggest you not be too hard on either of them. They mean well."

  "I will contact you on their return, Castillo."

  "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

  "Colonel J. Porter Hamilton. Please terminate the communication link."

  "Anything else I can do for you, Colonel?" the sultry voice asked suggestively.

  "Uh, no," Hamilton replied somewhat uneasily, then in a stuffy tone added, "That will be all, thank you."

  Castillo looked at Davidson, who said: "Well, Colonel Castillo, sir, I guess we'll just have to wait and see, but I would not be surprised if Colonel Hamilton ignores you vis-a-vis not being too hard on Uncle Remus and Phineas. He will lecture them both severely and probably reduce them both to tears. But nice try."