Angels in Heaven

been caught, even if it takes
decades.”
    “We, too, have a similar reputation
for avenging the loss of one of our own,” the lieutenant said with a small
smile. I believed him without any trouble.
    “So, here is what I have been leading
up to in a somewhat roundabout fashion, I’m afraid,” I said, taking off my
specs and looking for something to clean them on.
    “Allow me,” Benny said hastily,
taking out his neatly folded breast-pocket hankie and handing it over.
    I went on without bothering to thank
him: “Binding extradition papers can be served on a U.S. citizen in a foreign country
only by handing them to him directly on American soil. The process itself takes
only a few minutes.” Who knows? It might even be true. “But what American soil
does one find in a foreign country? By international treaty, the Treaty of
Vienna, actually, in nineteen twenty-four—”
    “Eh, ’twenty-six, Chief,” Benny said
in a servile fashion. “Thank you, Keith,” I said coldly. “By the Treaty of
Vienna all embassies are deemed to be an integral and legally constituted part
of the country they represent. As is well-known, they are not owned and do not
come under the legal jurisdiction of the local country; they have, as do all
personnel concerned, diplomatic immunity. This is also true of consulates,
naturally, which are sort of a second-class embassy, if I may put it that way,
headed by a consular official, not an ambassador. What is not as well known is
there are other governmental agencies in foreign countries that are similarly
protected; these others include libraries, occasionally a trade mission,
sometimes a diplomatic mission, like one to the UN or the UNO, sometimes a
military mission, such as a foreign base, and sometimes—” Here I paused
expectantly and smiled gently across the desk.
    “Sometimes perhaps a cultural
association,” he obliged. “Sometimes perhaps a cultural association or club.
These can range from elaborate and well-financed operations like those the U.S. and Canada and India and Korea and a host of others maintain in the capital cities of the
world, like Paris, down to the more modest level of ours here. What all such U.S. establishments abroad share, including ours, is that the moment you pass through the
front door your feet are legally treading on American soil. Are you with me,
Lieutenant?”
    “I am in the seat beside you, señor,”
he said. “Correct me if I am wrong, but what you are asking me to do is to
briefly visit your offices again, but this time in the company of Mr. Brown.”
    “When I will read him a prepared
statement two paragraphs long, then hand him one document. And then the day he
steps through the front gate at Febrero Segundo, myself or more likely my
successor here, as I am due to be rotated to another post next year, will have
him on a private plane we have access to, heading for America within an hour,
and I can assure you, sir, it will be a long time before he gets to enjoy any
more of your delicious Mexican food.”
    We all smiled at that one, for
different reasons no doubt. Then there occurred a more lengthy pause while Joaquín
thought things over, into the middle of which Benny stepped smoothly.
    “Did you mention the contingency
fund, sir?” he asked me.
    “Ah yes,” I said. “The contingency
fund, which is a fund that is contingent; on my approval, mainly. As a small
gesture of gratitude, the United States would want to make some contribution to
the overall well-being of your prisoners. The latest information we have from
our penal reform studies suggest that such monies be best spent on recreational
facilities. What was the sum mentioned, Keith?”
    “Five thousand dollars, I believe,
sir. That would be roughly ... er, eleven million pesos.”
    “That should buy a few Ping-Pong
balls, eh, Lieutenant,” I said. “And perhaps new nets for the soccer field.”
    The lieutenant’s dark eyes twinkled
in merriment.
    “It might even run to a table to
bounce the balls on,” he said, and we all smiled again conspiratorially.
    “Did you mention that we can only
suggest possible usages for such funds but that their ultimate disposition can
only be decided by the appropriate prison authorities?” Benny asked.
    “I was just about to, Keith,” I said
testily. “It seemed obvious to me that in a ticklish matter like this, our
interests end when we hand the cash over to, say, the lieutenant. Did you think
I was going to ask him for a receipt