Luke and Don, dressed in street clothes again, walked quickly down the hospital corridor with the sharp dresser from the NYPD counter-terrorism unit. Luke hadnt even caught the guys name. He thought of him as Three-Piece. Luke was about to give the guy his orders. They needed things to happen, and for that they needed the citys cooperation.

Luke was taking charge, like he always tended to do. He glanced at Don, and Don nodded his assent. Thats why Don brought Luke on: to take charge. Don always said that Luke was born to play quarterback.

I want Geiger counters on every floor, Luke said. Somewhere away from the public. We didnt hit any radiation until six levels down, but if it starts to move upward, we need everyone out, and fast.

The hospital has patients on life support, Three-Piece said. Theyre hard to move.

Right. So start putting those logistics in place now.

Okay.

Luke went on. Were going to need an entire hazmat team down there. We need that body brought up, no matter how contaminated, and we need it done fast. The clean-up can wait until after we have the body.

Got it, Three-Piece said. Well put it in a lead-lined casket, and bring it to the coroner in a radiation containment truck.

Can it be done quietly?

Sure.

We need a match for dental records, DNA, scars, tattoos, surgical pins, whatever we can find. Once you have the data, pass it on to Trudy Wellington on our team. Shes got access to databases your people wont have.

Luke pulled out his phone and speed-dialed a number. She picked up on the first ring.

Trudy, where are you?

Im with Swann on Fifth Avenue, in the back of one of our cars, on our way down to the command center.

Listen, Ive got… He looked at Three-Piece. Whats your name?

Kurt. Kurt Myerson.

Ive got Kurt Myerson from the NYPD here. Hes with the counter-terrorism unit. Theyre going to bring the body up. I need you to connect with him for dental records, DNA, any identifiers at all. When you get the data, I want this guys name, age, country of origin, known associates, everything. I need to know wheres he been and what hes been doing for the past six months. And I need all of this yesterday.

Got it, Luke.

Great. Thank you. Heres Kurt, hes going to give you his direct number.

Luke handed Kurt the phone. The three men pushed through a set of double doors, barely slowing down. In a moment, Kurt handed the phone back to Luke.

Trudy? You still with me?

Would I ever be anywhere else?