“I’m not a china vase. But to answer your question, yes, I’m fine. I was raised with three older brothers who sometimes fought dirty. I’ll live.”

Nathan thought Grangeland looked stunning. Her red cocktail dress was cut low and tight. Below her blond hair, half-karat diamond studs adorned her ears. Nathan grinned. “I was… just wondering where your piece is concealed.”

She leaned forward and whispered, “It’s a secret.”

“I’ll bet it is.”

“Do you want Ferris and me to leave?” Harvey asked.

“No,” Nathan said quickly. “That would be dangerous.”

“Agreed,” Grangeland added.

Harvey looked at Ferris. “I apologize for snapping at you up there.”

“Already forgotten.”

“So,” Nathan continued. “Ferris here said you were an alternate for the 2000 Olympic team. I’m assuming it wasn’t for synchronized swimming?”

“Yes, that’s a fair assumption.”

“Look, I know we didn’t get off to a good start. I’m sorry for busting in on you like that. I was frustrated with the surveillance. Not a very good excuse, I know.”

Grangeland placed her napkin in her lap. “Understandable, given the circumstances.”

“Were you guys in the building when it blew?” Harvey asked.

Ferris shook his head. “No, we’re from the Fresno resident agency.”

“We’ve been under a lot of stress too,” said Grangeland. “I feel like I wake up every morning with a gun in my face. I guess that’s why I challenged you. I shouldn’t have done that. At least there’s one saving grace to all this,” she said, looking around. “This hotel’s first-class. We’ve stayed in some real fleabags before.”

“I can imagine,” Nathan said.

Their server arrived and took their orders for dinner. Grangeland and Ferris ordered iced tea. Officially, they were on duty.

“Harv and I discussed it, and although we don’t think very highly of Director Lansing’s tactics, we don’t extend that resentment to you. We’d like to work with you, if you’re willing.”

“What do you have in mind?” Grangeland asked.

“We’ve set a trap for Ernie Bridgestone. If he calls Amber Sheldon again, I specifically told her to mention my name. She didn’t know why that was so important. Do you?”

Grangeland looked at Ferris, then back to Nathan. “No, should we?”

“During the Freedom’s Echo SWAT raid, we killed their little brother.”

“You were there at the compound when the claymores went off?”

“Yes,” Harvey said. “Sammy Bridgestone was seconds away from shooting the SWAT team when we nailed him.”

“I see.”

Nathan leaned forward slightly. “We can’t tell you everything that’s happened, but we can tell you this. We’re going to need your help if my plan is going to work.”

“To avenge his little brother, you’re thinking Ernie Bridgestone will use Amber to set you guys up.”

“That’s right.”

“It sounds like another SWAT job. Why use us?” Ferris asked.