One, Luke said.

Outside the windows, men in uniforms were sprinting down the hill. Cops. New York City cops, state troopers, a flowing river of policemen. Men in suits were with them, probably the SRT guys. Things were about to wrap up out there.

He was running out of time.

Two…

Nassar couldnt bear it. Stop! Ill tell you what you want to know.

Who did this? Luke said. Who do you work for? Iran?

Nassars shoulders slumped. The strength, the very life, seemed to flow out of him. He shrugged.

I work for you.

Chapter 33

4:50 p.m.

116th Precinct House - Queens, New York

It took over an hour to process Ali Nassar and bring him downstairs.

While he was waiting, Luke talked to Becca on the phone.

Youre a wonderful man.

Luke pressed his forehead against the grimy wall in the basement of the precinct house, and listened to the musical sound of his wifes voice in his ear. The police station was a harsh environment. The overhead fluorescents were too bright. Voices and footsteps echoed around him. Someone down the hallway laughed, a deranged cackle.

I dont feel very wonderful, he said.

But you are. You saved the President today. Its incredible. Its a miracle.

Luke sighed. He didnt feel like a hero. And it didnt feel like a miracleit felt like a nightmare, still unfolding.

Youre just tired, Luke. Thats why you feel down. When was the last time you slept, over thirty hours ago? Listen, Gunner and I are both really proud of you. When you get back to DC, why dont you go back to the house, get a good nights sleep, and then come out here. Its beautiful here right now. Well just take a few days, well turn the clocks off, well all be together. How does that sound?

It sounds really good.

I love you so much, she said.

Luke loved Becca too, and he wanted to see her. He wanted to spend a few quiet days at the country house with both her and Gunner. But as much as he wanted it, he didnt see how it could happen.

He couldnt tell her anything. All he told her was that, after the briefing with the President, he had flown back to New York to track down another lead. He didnt tell her about the helicopter attack. He didnt tell her about leaping onto the roof of a moving car at a hundred miles per hour. He didnt tell her about killing two men. He didnt tell her that this case seemed nowhere near over.

A young detective with thinning hair, his tie pulled askew and his sleeves rolled up, came down the hall toward Luke.

Agent Stone?

Luke nodded.

Theyre about to start the questioning.

Luke signed off with Becca and followed the detective to the observation room. The room was dim, with half a dozen men in it. Luke welcomed the half-darkness after the harsh light of the hallway.