will present your suggestion to our group at a meeting next week. Many of your uncle’s advance moves and trips make him easier to assassinate because of publicity. No one knows where Steinerman goes and how he travels. That shouldn’t present a problem. He, on occasion, accompanies Rafael. Maybe opportunity will present itself.”
“What if you miss your first attempt?”
“Then he’ll either go deeper into hiding or counter with a massive retaliation.”
“We can’t afford to miss,” added Tomayo. “A bloodbath will follow.”
“Steinerman is more effective when Rafael is out of town,” Federico said. “Then he’s in charge, and protected. If you think getting to your uncle is tough wait till we try to get Steinerman.”
“Pilar,” Tomayo said. “His coming to the airport was an exception in security motivated by needing to meet you – the old ‘know thy enemy’ cliché so to speak.”
Pilar sighed. “Gentlemen, it’s been a hell of an evening. Your shocking revelation and conversation has numbed me. Shall we call it a night?”
Federico walked over and, fatherly like, held her shoulders with both hands.
“Very painful to see you hurt tonight. I know you appreciate the necessity.”
“Yes.” A solemn tone remained in her voice.
Tomayo opened the door.
“Federico, go first.”
Federico bid goodnight and left.
Tomayo raised her chin making her look at him with sad eyes. Wetness remained by her right eye. Tomayo put his lips there. She wrapped her arms around him, and leaned against his body. Releasing, she reviewed her face with a hand mirror from the purse.
“Do I look all right?”
“You look fine. You make a better Miss Argentina than before.”
“All right liar let’s go face the world.”
She forced a grin.
Silence reigned on the drive back to central Buenos Aires. Pilar fled to her thoughts staring at a fading orange and gray dusk, Tomayo respecting her private moment. Alejandro stopped the Volkswagen bus at the corner of Calle Florida and Tucuman. Tomayo nudged Pilar, who stepped out of her dismal world.
“Here’s where we get off. We have packages in back to carry from shopping all this time. Take a few.”
He handed her three and kept five. They walked Florida with their packages, continued to Plaza San Martin, and crossed the park to their car, the area lit and crowded with expectation of more congestion.
Tomayo opened the trunk and placed the packages. He saw the two Mercedes parked farther down and their drivers scampering across the road to start their engines. He lifted the packages and rearranged them to make sure the stalkers saw them. Tomayo pulled out. The caravan headed towards Palermo.
“We’ll stop for dinner on the way. What do you feel like having?”
Pilar rubbed her stomach.
“Lost my appetite.”
“Nonsense. You are full of grief…that won’t make you feel better.”
“I’m poor company in a bad mood.”
“I’m hungry. You can watch me eat. I won’t take you home looking and feeling down in the mouth, and obvious to Esmeralda and maybe the kids if they’re awake.”
“I yield, Doctor. Find a place.”
He searched the avenue for respectability, liking the facade and landscaping plus ample parking at the next restaurant and pulled in, the interior appropriate and acceptable. Tomayo asked for a table in a private section. Pilar ordered a brandy with ice. Tomayo ordered a beer. Impressed with the menu, he mentioned it.
Pilar said, “You’re determined to feed me aren’t you?”
“No sense wallowing in grief. You did that for a long time. You were hurt tonight. Don’t feed off it. You’ll make yourself sick by allowing it to overcome you.”
“To avoid a lecture, I’ll have the house salad. Federico is impressive.”
“And admired and respected.”
“I should have asked more questions. I’ll ask them of you.”
“Go.”
“What happens if Uncle Rafael held free elections? Will he select a man like Federico as
“What if you miss your first attempt?”
“Then he’ll either go deeper into hiding or counter with a massive retaliation.”
“We can’t afford to miss,” added Tomayo. “A bloodbath will follow.”
“Steinerman is more effective when Rafael is out of town,” Federico said. “Then he’s in charge, and protected. If you think getting to your uncle is tough wait till we try to get Steinerman.”
“Pilar,” Tomayo said. “His coming to the airport was an exception in security motivated by needing to meet you – the old ‘know thy enemy’ cliché so to speak.”
Pilar sighed. “Gentlemen, it’s been a hell of an evening. Your shocking revelation and conversation has numbed me. Shall we call it a night?”
Federico walked over and, fatherly like, held her shoulders with both hands.
“Very painful to see you hurt tonight. I know you appreciate the necessity.”
“Yes.” A solemn tone remained in her voice.
Tomayo opened the door.
“Federico, go first.”
Federico bid goodnight and left.
Tomayo raised her chin making her look at him with sad eyes. Wetness remained by her right eye. Tomayo put his lips there. She wrapped her arms around him, and leaned against his body. Releasing, she reviewed her face with a hand mirror from the purse.
“Do I look all right?”
“You look fine. You make a better Miss Argentina than before.”
“All right liar let’s go face the world.”
She forced a grin.
Silence reigned on the drive back to central Buenos Aires. Pilar fled to her thoughts staring at a fading orange and gray dusk, Tomayo respecting her private moment. Alejandro stopped the Volkswagen bus at the corner of Calle Florida and Tucuman. Tomayo nudged Pilar, who stepped out of her dismal world.
“Here’s where we get off. We have packages in back to carry from shopping all this time. Take a few.”
He handed her three and kept five. They walked Florida with their packages, continued to Plaza San Martin, and crossed the park to their car, the area lit and crowded with expectation of more congestion.
Tomayo opened the trunk and placed the packages. He saw the two Mercedes parked farther down and their drivers scampering across the road to start their engines. He lifted the packages and rearranged them to make sure the stalkers saw them. Tomayo pulled out. The caravan headed towards Palermo.
“We’ll stop for dinner on the way. What do you feel like having?”
Pilar rubbed her stomach.
“Lost my appetite.”
“Nonsense. You are full of grief…that won’t make you feel better.”
“I’m poor company in a bad mood.”
“I’m hungry. You can watch me eat. I won’t take you home looking and feeling down in the mouth, and obvious to Esmeralda and maybe the kids if they’re awake.”
“I yield, Doctor. Find a place.”
He searched the avenue for respectability, liking the facade and landscaping plus ample parking at the next restaurant and pulled in, the interior appropriate and acceptable. Tomayo asked for a table in a private section. Pilar ordered a brandy with ice. Tomayo ordered a beer. Impressed with the menu, he mentioned it.
Pilar said, “You’re determined to feed me aren’t you?”
“No sense wallowing in grief. You did that for a long time. You were hurt tonight. Don’t feed off it. You’ll make yourself sick by allowing it to overcome you.”
“To avoid a lecture, I’ll have the house salad. Federico is impressive.”
“And admired and respected.”
“I should have asked more questions. I’ll ask them of you.”
“Go.”
“What happens if Uncle Rafael held free elections? Will he select a man like Federico as
Similar Books
