Charles pressed a button on one of the remote controls. A blow-dried, waxy-looking reporter was instantly replaced with Lady Justice and her scales. It was Charles's way of calling the meeting to order.

Tonight there were no colored folders on the table, which meant the mission was going to be open for discussion.

"Before we get down to business, I know all of you want to hear from Jack, Harry, Maggie, and Nellie. Maggie, I think since it began with you, you should start off."

Maggie nodded as she looked around. "I don't know if I should start off by apologizing to all of you or not for acting independently. I knew I could help, but my window of opportunity was short, so I took matters into my own hands. I did what I could, then turned it over to Jack and Harry, who in turn enlisted Nellie's help.

"One of my guys came to my office the day before yesterday and told me a story he got from a reliable source. The story was that Bert Navarro was not going to be confirmed by the Senate on Friday because he refused to give up his friendship with Jack and Harry. That didn't sit well with me. I knew. . .know how important it is to all of us to have Bert appointed to the top position in the FBI. Knowing how stubborn and loyal he is, I went to Jack that night and told him what was going on."

Maggie looked across the table at Kathryn, who was picking at her cuticles as she pursed her lips, and addressed her next comment to Kathryn alone. "We opted to keep Bert in the dark, Kathryn. We wanted him to react to the event, and he did. It was all so bizarre, I don't think anyone was any the wiser. The same goes for Director Cummings. Both men were taken to the hospital, where they were checked out, treated, and released, and they're okay. Angry but okay. Now it's Jack's turn."

Jack took the floor. "I called Harry, and together we came up with the invasion of the ninjas. Harry's people, of course. Harry needed to have an airtight alibi, which his class gave him. It was a diversion, nothing more. The media ran with it like we knew they would, right down to a fistful of human ashes from one of Harry's guy's ancestors—which are currently being analyzed. Director Cummings allowed himself to be pummeled a little more than necessary, but it just appeared that way. Bert put up a fight to defend his boss, which played out well.