The Hostage (Presidential Agent 2)

Natalie, I really wish you had been able to talk the President out of sending me down here.

The security guard flashed Castillo a dirty look as he walked out of the lobby.

Santini came through the metal detector arch a minute later.

"Good morning, sir," he said, putting out his hand. "I just learned that you were coming."

"How are you, Santini?" Castillo said as he shook the hand.

Santini turned to the Marine guard.

"Can I get Supervisory Special Agent Castillo a frequent visitor badge, or am I going to have to run that through Lowery?"

"Sorry, sir," the Marine said. "Mr. Lowery runs a tight ship."

"Well, then, give him a regular visitor badge."

"Yes, sir. I'll have to have his passport, Mr. Santini."

"Jesus Christ!" Castillo said, and then smiled at the sergeant as he handed him his passport. "Sergeant, that 'Jesus Christ' was directed at whoever made a dumb rule, not you."

"No problem, sir," the Marine said, with a hint of a smile.

He handed Castillo a plastic yellow visitor's pass on what looked like a dog tag chain, and pushed a clipboard to him.

"If you'll sign that, please, sir."

"And if you'll follow me, sir," Santini said, "we'll see if we can't straighten this out with Mr. Lowery."

"He the security guy?" Castillo asked.

"Yes, sir, he is."

Castillo hung the visitor's badge around his neck and followed Santini through the metal detector.

Inside, behind the Marine guard post enclosure, was a foyer. In the center of it were two elevator doors, one of them open. Santini waved Castillo through it and pushed a floor button.

"I would say that we are about to corner the security lion in his lair," Santini said, when the door had closed and they were alone, "except that he's more of a pussy-cat." The door from the third-floor corridor to the embassy security officer's office was open. Kenneth W. Lowery- he looks a hell of a lot like Howard Kennedy-was sitting at his desk, talking on the telephone.

When he saw Santini, he smiled and waved him in.

"I'll get back to you," Lowery said, and hung up the telephone.

"Good morning, Tony," he said.

"Say hello to Supervisory Secret Service Agent Castillo," Santini said. "He's in town to complain about my expense sheet."

"Having seen your lifestyle, I can see where that would be entirely possible," Lowery said, getting up and extending his hand across his desk. "Nice to meet you."

"How are you?" Castillo said.

"What are the chances of getting Mr. Castillo a frequent visitor badge? He's going to be in and out."

"How long are you going to be here, Mr. Castillo?"

"Call me 'Charley,' please," Castillo said. "As long as it takes to get Santini to admit he's been robbing the service blind. That shouldn't take more than a week or so."

"Could I see your credentials, please? And your travel orders?"