It occurred to him that he hadnt reached Becca. She would be worried about him. He hoped she had gotten out to the country house. It was over on the Maryland Eastern Shore. It was quiet over there, safe. Washington, DC, and its suburbs were going to be chaos for a while.

I need to call my wife, he said.

The Secret Service man in front of him gave Luke a sharp jab in the stomach. It startled Luke into the present moment. He looked into the mans hard eyes.

Are you hiding any weapons? the man said again.

I dont know. I was searched in the Oval Office. I think they got them all.

Who are you?

That was an easy one. Agent Luke Stone, FBI Special Response Team.

Wheres your identification?

I dont know. Ask your buddies. They took everything. Listen, I really need to make a call, and I dont have my phone.

You can make a call after you answer our questions.

Luke glanced around. It was bright and sunny, but his exhaustion, and the events of the day, conspired to give the sky a dark cast. Above their heads, the choppers made shadows on the ground like circling vultures. Over by the entrance to the facility, the President had turned around and was walking back this way. He was easy to spot among the crowd because he was so tall.

The Secret Service man snapped his fingers in front of Lukes face. Are you listening to me?

Luke shook his head. Sorry. Listen, guys. Ive had a long day. Just let me call my wife, and then Ill tell you whatever I know.

The man slapped him. It was a sharp, stinging slap, meant to get his attention. It did that and more. Luke struggled to get his arms free. A second later, he was on the ground, face down against the rough surface of the black tarmac. Two men held him. To his left, they had put Ed on the ground as well.

From his worms-eye point of view, Luke watched the President approach, walking fast, surrounded on all sides, left, right, front, and back, by Secret Service agents. He stopped ten feet away.

Gentlemen! he said in a commanding tone. Let those men up. Theyre with me.

Luke soon stood inside the entryway to the Mount Weather facility. A crowd of people, many of them military in formal blue uniforms, swirled around him. The entrance was literally a giant tunnel drilled into the granite face of the mountain. The ceiling was arched stone three stories above them. The President had disappeared.

Luke raised his phone again.

Hi, this is Becca. I cant answer your call right now. Please leave a message after the tone, and Ill call you back as soon as I can.

Luke wanted to smash the phone on the cement floor.

Damn it! Why doesnt she pick up?