“What goes around, comes around,” said Donny. “Someday everyone in this building is going to be held accountable for what is happening right now. I don’t know if it’s going to take two days or twenty years, but it’s going to happen. And following orders from up the chain of command will not excuse illegality. Especially not illegal detention and interrogation techniques that we all know are torture.”

“Don’t listen to this snake, Perez,” said Stevens.

“Each of you are personally in contempt of court, and liable for the unlawful imprisonment of my client,” said Donny. “And I don’t even want to know what other crimes you may be perpetrating on her. But you can be goddamned sure I will hold you accountable for them. Especially if you do not free her right now. So ignore me at your own risk, Mr. Perez.”

“He’s Special Agent Perez to you,” said Stevens.

Donny corrected himself, and watched Special Agent Perez cogitate over the situation.

They heard the faint sound of a very loud scream muffled by sound baffling. Stevens nodded at his uniformed colleague to close the door.

“Is there someone with some decision-making authority I could speak to?” said Donny.

“Wait here,” said Perez. He pulled out his phone.

“Who are you calling?” said Stevens.

Perez didn’t answer. He stepped out into the hallway.

“Keep your hands where I can see ’em,” said Stevens. He had his truncheon out now.

Donny gave Stevens the finger, with both hands.

They waited there for what felt like a long time. He thought he heard the sound of Perez’s voice, but the air conditioner kicked on and muffled it through white noise.

Perez came back in.

“Come with me,” he said.

Stevens looked disgusted, and gave Donny one last shove from behind for good measure as they left the room.

When they finally brought Joyce out, she was wearing the red jumpsuit of a noncompliant detainee. Donny almost wanted to make a smartass remark about it, but saw the shackles and thought better of it.

“Where’s her stuff?” said Donny, and Perez had the guards remove her shackles. “She needs her passport.”

No answer.

“And what about her car?” asked Donny.

“Maybe you should just go while you can,” said Perez. “Deal with those things later.”

Joyce looked at Donny and nodded.

“Fine,” said Donny.

And then Joyce walked over to him, and they hugged for long enough that Perez said you need to go. He opened the door for them, and said follow me.

Perez led them outside into the Texas heat, light so bright even under the covered walkway that you had to squint. They passed checkpoints and stepped around barricades. And then they were standing at the beginning of the bridge, on the other side of which was Mexico.

Donny held Joyce’s hand, and they walked. She was a little slow.