By Order of the President (Presidential Agent 1)

“Everything he had before they were pulled,” Hall said. “In addition, I authorize you to tell him anything you think he needs to know about your orders from the president.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Put that in the memo for record, too,” Hall ordered.

“Yes, sir,” Castillo said and punched an autodial key on his cellular.

“While he’s doing that,” Hall ordered, “see if you can get Commissioner Kellogg on the phone.”

“Yes, sir,” Miller said.

“Thank you, Commissioner,” Hall said. “When you get to the office at eight, Major Miller and my executive assistant, a man named Castillo, will be waiting for you. This is important and I’m grateful for your understanding.”

He saw Castillo’s eyes on him as he pushed the phone’s CALL END button.

“Yeah, you’re going. For several reasons. We obviously don’t have time to get Miller any identification, for one. For another, I want you both out of town for a while.”

“Yes, sir. What if there’s another message from Pevsner? ”

“I thought, if it’s all right with you, that I’d have Joel Isaacson put a man in here, in the apartment. He would know only what he has to know. That if there is a call for you, you’re out of town but can be reached on your cellular and give the caller your number.”

“That’ll work, sir, so far as Pevsner is concerned. But if you put Secret Service people in here, they’ll know I live here. Isn’t that going to cause problems?”

“They already know where you live. And a lot more about you than you probably think. Why do you think your code name is Don Juan?”

“Really?” Miller chuckled.

“And you didn’t think Isaacson and McGuire let me walk over here by myself, did you?”

“I wondered about that, sir. But once they get in here . . .”

“You’re talking about the improbability of your being able to pay the rent on this place on your Army pay?”

“That’s the sort of thing that causes gossip, sir.”

“Why should it? If I know about it, my approval is implied. ”

“Yes, sir.”

“I don’t think I’d have to tell Joel to remind them to keep their mouths shut but I will.”

“When do you want us to go, sir?”

“I’d like you to see what the FBI has on your friend Pevsner, but that can wait until you get back. I’d like to have you out of town before I go to the White House.”

Castillo looked at his watch.

"We just missed the Metroliner,” he said. “There’s another in an hour?”

“That’d do it,” Hall ordered.

Castillo went to the telephone.

“Who’re you calling?” Miller asked.

“The concierge,” Castillo answered and then spoke to the phone: “This is Mr. Castillo. I’ll need two first-class tickets on the next Metroliner to New York, charge them to my room, and have a cab waiting in thirty minutes to take me to Union Station.”

“You said ‘two tickets to New York,’ you know,” Miller said when Castillo had hung up.