It was a glass elevator, which moved through a round glass tube in the southwest corner of the building. As they rose, the view of the city became breathtaking, then dizzying. Soon, they could catch a vast sweep, the Empire State Building directly across from them, the United Nations building to their left. In the distance, a line of airplanes glinted in the early morning sun on their approach to LaGuardia Airport.

Luke smiled. Arrest him for what?

Ed giggled. The elevator kept moving, up and up.

Man, Im tired. I was just going to bed when Don called me.

I know, Luke said. Me too.

Ed shook his head. I havent done this round the clock thing in a while. I dont miss it.

The elevator reached the top floor. A warm tone sounded, and the doors slid open.

They stepped into a wide hallway. The floor was polished stone. Directly in front of them, ten yards ahead, two men stood. They were big men in suits, dark-skinned, perhaps Persian, perhaps some other ethnicity. They were blocking a set of double doors. Luke didnt really care.

Looks like our doorman called ahead.

One of the men in the hall waved his hand. No! You must go back. You cannot come here.

Federal agents, Luke said. He and Ed walked toward the men.

No! You have no jurisdiction. We refuse your entrance.

I guess Im not going to bother showing them the badge, Luke said.

Yeah, Ed said. No reason to.

On my go, okay?

Sure.

Luke waited a beat.

Go.

They were five feet from the men. Luke stepped up to his man and threw the first punch. He was surprised at how slow his own fist seemed to move. The man was five inches taller than Luke. He had the wingspan of a great bird. He blocked the punch easily and grabbed Lukes wrist. He was strong. He pulled Luke closer.

Luke raised a knee to the groin, but the man blocked it with his leg. The man put a big hand to Lukes throat. His fingers clenched like an eagles talons, digging into the vulnerable flesh.

With his free hand, his left, Luke jabbed him in the eyes. Index and middle fingers, one in each eye. It wasnt a direct hit, but it did the job. The man let go of Luke and stepped backwards. His eyes watered. He blinked and shook his head. Then he smiled.

It was going to be a fight.

Then Newsam was there, sudden, like a ghost. He grabbed the mans head in both hands, and banged it hard against the wall. The violence of it was profound. Some people banged an opponents head against the wall. Ed Newsam did it like he was trying to break through the wall using the mans head.

Bang!

The mans face winced.

Bang!

His jaw went slack.

Bang!

His eyes rolled.