So what if, when that number comes up or when the code is sent, Joey simply doesn’t answer? Or doesn’t enter the code he’s instructed to? Wouldn’t that foil it? Wouldn’t that end the risk right there?

But likely if he doesn’t answer or enter the code, there’s some kind of backup trigger too. Some kind of feedback loop on a timer? His bosses have probably figured that Joey might get himself into position but then—suddenly suspicious, suddenly nervous—he might not follow through. So maybe there’s a trigger regardless.

Figure it out.

Oh, easy.

It’s just a matter of figuring out who Joey is supposed to blow up. And where. And when. And figuring it out without blowing up the phone—and both of them—in the process.

Zack tries to push the phone out of his mind. It’s an impossible puzzle. But it won’t leave him.

A phone that detonates itself? Itself and Joey? Zack can understand the rude merciless justice of it. Making Joey pay for his mistake. Making him pay for his sloppiness. For getting caught, ending up in court, and creating a potential path of evidence to his bosses.

And if it’s not self-detonating and it is a remote trigger, then the relevant question is, where is the bomb?

59.

59.

“Something’s up with you,” says Emily. “You’re suddenly so distant.”

Zack doesn’t answer.

“But I think I know what’s up,” she says quietly.

Zack remains silent. Preparing himself. His mind careening in a thousand directions…

“It’s obviously the stress of this guy being out,” says Emily. “It’s bringing it all back, isn’t it? It’s having its effect. This is when we need to be there even more for each other,” she says. “When we have to be more supportive than ever. Watching each other’s backs. Not just physically. Emotionally too.”

She looks at him. “What do you say? Can we be there for each other?”

He is about to tell her, about to say something, to say everything, but he knows how devastating it will be, the betrayal it will feel like.

“Are we there for each other?”

He says nothing. Can bring himself to say nothing. So he just reaches for her and pulls her close.

Which he knows will only ultimately make it worse.

It’s going to be ugly, thinks Zack. It’s going to be so ugly.

60.

60.

Need to see you, Zack texts Steve. Right away. Pretty important.

He resists the urge to add, A matter of life and death. It might be, of course, for Joey Richter and for dozens of innocent people but Zack doesn’t dare explain the specifics to Steve, and he’s pretty sure the phrase alone might scare Steve off.

Too important for a text?

Yeah.

Wow. K. Come on up.