Black Ops (Presidential Agent 5)

"You really should try some of this, Mr. Montvale," Castillo said, raising the glass in his direction. "It's very nice and can get that 'bad taste' out of your mouth."

Montvale just stared back.

"And if I don't give you my word that you will be free to leave the embassy?" Ambassador Silvio asked.

"Then I will have my lunch and leave."

"Colonel Castillo," Colonel Remley said, his tone hard-edged, "I am about to give you a direct order--"

Montvale held up his hand, interrupting him.

"Drink your wine, Castillo," Montvale said. "And have your lunch. Then we will go to the embassy."

Castillo looked at Montvale, then back at Silvio. "And have I your word, Mr. Ambassador, that I'll be allowed to leave?"

"You have my word," Ambassador Silvio said.

[THREE]

Ambassador Silvio's armored BMW was waiting at the curb when everyone in their party walked out of Rio Alba fifteen minutes later.

"I suggest that it would be easier to walk," Silvio said.

"Fine with me," Castillo said. "If Mr. Montvale feels up to it."

Montvale glared at him, nodded at Colonel Remley to follow, and set off down the sidewalk.

"The embassy's this way, Mr. Montvale," Castillo said, pointing his thumb in the opposite direction.

Montvale stopped in his tracks, then turned. He walked past Castillo without looking at him and with Remley following suit.

They all walked single file the one block to the employees' gate in the embassy fence with the Secret Service following them, and the gendarmeria SUV following everyone.

The rent-a-cops passed everybody through the turnstile. Then one of the rent-a-cops went to the sidewalk to more than a little arrogantly wave the Mercedes away from what was a no-parking zone. One of the gendarmes got out of the vehicle and took up a position near the turnstile. The driver held up his credentials. The rent-a-cop immediately lost his arrogance and slinked back to his station.

Castillo saw that this had not gone unnoticed and said, "Did you ever wonder, Mr. Montvale, what diplomats, members of the gendarmeria, and six-hundred-pound gorillas have in common?"

Montvale looked at Castillo in disgust mingled with a little confusion.

"What did you say?" the director of National Intelligence asked.

"They can park wherever they want to," Castillo explained.

"Good God!" Montvale said in disgust.

Montvale followed the ambassador into the building. When Castillo followed him, the ambassador turned to them both.

"May I suggest you use my office for your conversation?" he asked.

"That's very kind of you, Mr. Ambassador," Castillo said. "And, sir, would you clear it with the switchboard in case we have to have a secure telephone?"

"Of course."

They passed through a metal detector guarded by a Marine. Its alarm went off, but a nod of Ambassador Silvio saw them passed through anyway.

They rode an elevator to the second floor and entered the ambassador's outer office.

"Unplug that, please," Castillo said, pointing to the intercom box on the desk of the ambassador's secretary. "And the telephone, too, if it's capable of eavesdropping on the ambassador's office."