Heres the kicker, Trudy said. Eldrick Thomas and Ken Bryant were friends in prison. Their appearances were so similar that the other inmates, and the guards, often referred to them as the Twins. Im looking at mug shots of them on Swanns screen. They could be brothers. In fact, if you really wanted to take it that far, they could be mistaken for the same man.

Why is he in Baltimore? Luke said.

No one knows.

Has anyone spoken to him?

Negative. He was unconscious when they brought him in. Hes in surgery at this moment, getting the bullets removed. Hes under general anesthesia.

Is he going to live?

They expect him to survive surgery. Beyond that is anyones guess.

Why are you telling me all this?

He could feel her smile on the other end of the phone. I just thought you might want to know.

Who are my chopper pilots? Luke said.

Rachel and Jacob, Trudy said. I ordered them special for you.

Friendlies, Luke said.

Thats right.

The call ended. Luke glanced out at the water. A black Bell helicopter was coming in. That was their ride. His bug-out bag was at his feet. He opened it and pawed around for his Dexedrine pills. He found them and held the bottle up for Eds inspection.

Dexies, Ed said. I used to live on them in Afghanistan. Take em long enough and theyll kill you, ya know.

Luke nodded.

I know.

He opened the bottle and carefully poured two capsules into his palm. One half of each capsule was reddish-brown, the other half clear.

It looks like we have one more shot at this, if we want it. You up for bending a few more rules this morning?

Ed took a capsule from between Lukes fingers. He popped it in his mouth and swallowed. He glanced at his watch.

I think I can make some time.

Chapter 20

Zero Hour

Between Alive and Dead

He drifted, listening to the sounds.

Music was playing, some kind of quiet classical music with violins and piano. The people gathered around him were talking in mechanical voices.

Scissors. Scalpel. Suction. I said suction! Cant you clear that out some more?

Yes, Doctor.

Then: He was lucky. An inch to the left and it would have nicked his aorta. Hed have been dead in a couple of minutes.

Eldrick wasnt interested in the doctors, and he wasnt interested in the body on the table. They were all below him now, and he caught a glimpse of the thing the doctors were working so hard to save. It reminded him of a dead dog by the side of the road. It didnt seem like something worth saving.

He turned and through the doorway he saw his grandmother in the next room, standing at the stove and stirring a pot. Something smelled really good.

LT, get your butt in here.