A guard appeared at Lukes left elbow. Luke had driven up to the gatehouse on autopilot. Numb, he handed the man his identification along with Eds. The man went away, but came back a minute later.

Im sorry, he said. These are both rejected. You dont have clearance.

Maybe its a sign, Ed said.

Run them again, please, Luke said.

Ahead of them, the gate opened. The security guard reappeared.

Sorry about that, he said. Must be a glitch in the system.

Luke drove slowly through the White House gate.

*

Swann was good. He was very, very good.

They entered the West Wing, passed through an identification check, then moved quickly down a hall lined with Greek-style columns. Their footsteps echoed on the marble floor. They turned right, and the entrance to the Oval Office was just ahead.

Two Secret Service men stood outside the door.

Hi, fellas, one of them said. Thats far enough.

Luke raised his badge. FBI. We have Yankee White security clearance. We need to talk to President Hayes.

The President is in a meeting.

Hell want to hear what we have to say.

The guy shook his head. We werent told anything about this. Youll have to wait while we check it out.

Ed didnt hesitate. He punched the first man in the throat, then spun and caught the second man across the jaw with an elbow. The first man went to the floor clutching at his throat. Ed crouched, slammed his head against the stone floor, then was back up again. The second man was reaching for his gun when Ed punched him in the face. The man was unconscious before he hit the floor.

Luke and Ed burst through the door to the Oval Office.

Across the room from them, the President was there, and so was the Vice President. They were poring over what looked like a giant map draped on the Presidents desk. Behind them, three tall windows looked out on the Rose Garden. A man was taking photographs. A young man with thinning hair stood nearby. Half a dozen other people were in the room.

When Luke and Ed came in, the President stood up straight. He was very tall.

Four Secret Service agents drew their guns.

Freeze! On the ground!

In the middle of the room, the cream-colored carpet had a round Seal of the President. Luke stepped into it. He raised his hands.

FBI, he said. I have an important message for the President.

He was tackled from behind. In a second, his cheek was against the carpet. His arms were twisted painfully behind him. A mans foot was on his face. A few feet away, Ed was in the same position.

FBI! Luke screamed. Federal agents!

They had his badge and ID. They took his gun from its holster. He felt them pull up his pants legs and take away his extra gun and his knife.

What is going on here? the President said.