The detective introduced Luke to three men in dark suits and ties.

You probably want to meet these guys. This is Agent Stone with the FBI, these are Agents Stern, Smith, and Wallace.

Were with Homeland, one of the men said, while shaking Lukes hand.

Begley send you here? Luke said.

The mans smile faltered, just a touch. Begley?

Yeah. Ron Begley. Luke made the shape of a basketball with his hands. Round guy? He runs a unit over there, dont ask me what. He and I had a little misunderstanding this morning about whether or not Ali Nassar was worth pursuing. I guess he changed his mind.

The three men laughed. We dont work for Ron Begley.

Good for you. Youre probably happier that way.

On the other side of a large false window, Ali Nassar sat a metal table. He sipped from a white coffee mug. His ankle was cuffed to the table leg, which itself was bolted to the floor. It didnt matter. Ali Nassar didnt look like he was going anywhere.

He was utterly and completely disheveled. His dress shirt was torn and rumpled, and unbuttoned halfway to his stomach. His hair stood on end. There were black half-moons under each eye. His jaw hung open. His hand trembled whenever he lifted his coffee mug.

An NYPD detective loomed over him, a big, brawny, red-haired Irishman. Everything in the observation room went quiet when Nassar started to talk.

Where is my daughter, and her mother? he said.

The cop shook his head. Theyre fine. You dont need to worry about them. We brought them back to the Iranian mission. They didnt do anything. They have no idea whats going on. Nobodys even interested in them.

Nassar nodded. Good.

Right, the cop said. It is good. Theyre safe. Now lets put them out of our minds for a minute. I want to talk about you.

Now Nassar shook his head. You have no right to hold me here. I want to speak to a lawyer.

The cop smiled. He was relaxed. Luke recognized a guy who heard that lawyer demand every single day, and then found a way around it.

Why do you want to do that? the cop said. You have something left to hide? You already talked to the FBI agent in the car.

He put a gun to my head.

The cop shrugged. Maybe he did, maybe he didnt. Thats the first I heard of it. I wasnt there, so what do I know?

Its illegal for you to hold me here, Nassar said.