THE MAYFLOWER HOTEL
WASHINGTON, D.C., USA
PLEASE DELIVER IMMEDIATELY ON RECEIPT!
MY DEAR MR. GOSSINGER:
THIS IS TO CONFIRM YOUR RESERVATION FOR OUR FOUR DAY ALL INCLUSIVE GOLF AND SNORKELING PACKAGE (FOR TWO) COMMENCING JUNE 10, 2005.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU AND YOUR GUEST IN THE GRANDE COZUMEL BEACH AND GOLF RESORT, WHERE WE ARE SURE YOU WILL FIND EVERYTHING YOU ARE LOOKING FOR, AND THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING US.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE SEEMS TO BE A SMALL PROBLEM WITH YOUR AMERICAN EXPRESS CREDIT CARD. THE DATE HAS EXPIRED AND WE REQUIRE AN UPDATE. I MUST ASK YOU TO CALL ME AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE TO HELP STRAIGHTEN THE MATTER OUT. MY PRIVATE NUMBER IS 52-00-01 456-777.
I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU VERY SHORTLY.
WITH ALL BEST WISHES,
Roberto Dondiemo
ROBERTO DONDIEMO
Roberto Dondiemo, my ass!
“It’s for me. Thank you very much, Sergeant Schneider,” Castillo said.
“Sometime, when you can find time, you can tell me about Mr. Gossinger.”
“I’d love to. I’ll make time,” Castillo said and then turned to Detective Britton. “I’ll be right back, Detective Britton. I have to deal with this.”
“Sure,” Britton said.
He went to Fernando, who was talking—in Spanish—to a Homicide Bureau detective, handed him the fax, and said—in Spanish: “I sure hope you brought your Cozumel International approach charts with you.”
“What the hell is this?” Fernando asked, in English, as Castillo punched numbers into his cellular.
“You said you wanted to go snorkeling in Cozumel,” Castillo said.
“What?”
The call went through much quicker than Castillo thought it would.
“Roberto Dondiemo.”
“Gee, you sure don’t have much of an accent when you speak English, Señor Dondiemo.”
“Thank you. I could say the same thing about you, Herr Gossinger. There’s hardly any trace of German.”
“Dare I hope you’ve straightened out the problem with my American Express card by now?”
“Indeed I have. Absolutely. It was . . . what’s the English phrase? . . . a glitch of some kind. Can I take it that we’ll soon have the pleasure of your company in the resort?”
“If I was sure I could find what I’m looking for, I would certainly come.”
“I have a good idea where you can find what you’re looking for, Mr. Gossinger. I could say I’m almost positive I can locate it for you.”
“You wouldn’t want to tell me now, I suppose?”
“I really think you should come down here, Mr. Gossinger. All work and no play, as they say.”