Black Ops (Presidential Agent 5)

Ambassador Silvio's secretary looked at her boss in genuine surprise. And again Silvio signaled with a nod of his head to do what Castillo had requested.

"Mr. Ambassador," Castillo said, "with the caveat that what will be discussed in your office will be classified Top Secret Presidential and is not to be disclosed to anyone, including the secretary of State, you're quite welcome to come with us."

Montvale answered for him: "Please do, Mr. Ambassador. I really would like a witness."

"Very well," Ambassador Silvio agreed, with obvious reluctance.

Castillo turned to Colonel Remley.

"With respect, sir, I don't believe you have the Need to Know."

"And what if I insist that Colonel Remley participate, Castillo?" Montvale said coldly.

"Then we will not have our chat," Castillo said evenly. "And, Colonel, with Ambassador Silvio as witness, I now inform Mr. Montvale that he is not to tell you what is said or what may transpire in the ambassador's office."

"I find it hard to believe that you have the authority to order Ambassador Montvale to do anything," Remley said.

"With respect, sir, in this instance I do."

"Wait here, Remley," Montvale ordered. "I have the feeling that shortly I will be able to point out to Colonel Castillo how far out of line he is."

Ambassador Silvio waved them into his office, followed them in, and closed the door.

"Is there anything I can get for anyone?" Silvio asked.

"I'd like a minute or two in there, Mr. Ambassador," Castillo said, pointing to the ambassador's private restroom. "The waiter in Rio Alba kept pouring the soda water, and I kept drinking it, and my back teeth are awash."

"Jesus Christ, Castillo!" Montvale said in disgust.

"Help yourself," Ambassador Silvio said, not quite able to restrain a smile.

When Castillo came out of the restroom, Silvio was sitting behind his desk and Montvale was on a couch. Castillo sat in an armchair upholstered in what appeared to be some type of silk fabric, took a leather cigar case from his trousers pocket, and went through the ritual of trimming and lighting a long thin black cigar.

"If you're quite through with doing that, may we begin?" Montvale asked.

"I'm waiting for you, Mr. Montvale," Castillo said.

"All right, where are they?"

"Where are who?"

"Colonel Dmitri Berezovsky and Lieutenant Colonel Svetlana Alekseeva of the SVR."

Castillo saw interest jump into Ambassador Silvio's eyes.

"Next question?" Castillo said.

"You're not going to deny that you have them, for God's sake?"

"That would depend on what you mean by 'have,' Mr. Montvale."

"I'll be goddamned! Now he thinks he's Bill Clinton!"

Again, Ambassador Silvio could not completely restrain a smile.

"What this is about, Ambassador Silvio--and since Lieutenant Colonel Castillo . . ."

Castillo thought his pronunciation of "lieutenant colonel" turned the rank into an obscenity.