“Yes. They aren’t doing too well.”

“Well, he’s just bubbling over with gratitude.”

“This situation with you and Harvey is difficult for him. To be honest, for me too.”

“Did you and Henning…”

“Absolutely not. He’s married, and I don’t have those kinds of feelings toward him. Bruce Henning’s a fine agent. He’s honest and hardworking, and loyal as hell to the bureau, but he’s a Boy Scout.”

“And you don’t date Boy Scouts.”

She looked at him. “I don’t date married men.” They rode in silence for several minutes.

“I saw that glance you gave Harvey just before everyone piled into the vehicles.”

Nathan didn’t respond.

She smiled. “You have the deepest blue eyes I’ve ever seen.”

“Thanks, I guess.”

Following the other two sedans, Holly made the turn onto Highway 50, heading west toward Sacramento. “You handled Henning pretty well back at the airport,” she said at last. “You didn’t back down or go on the defensive. You were calm but assertive.”

“You ever watch a television show called Dog Whisperer?”

“Hmm.” She thought for a moment. “I’ve heard of it, but I’ve never watched it.”

“Well, it’s about this guy called Cesar Millan and he has this uncanny ability with dogs. He’s a dog psychologist of sorts, but he really counsels people who have dog problems. He likes to say he rehabilitates dogs.”

“Okay…”

Nathan knew she was wondering where this was going. “It’s what you said about being calmly assertive. That’s Cesar’s philosophy. Be calm, but assertive.”

“And you think the same approach works with people?”

“To a limited extent. The basic difference is that dogs live in the moment, people don’t. Dogs don’t hold grudges. People do. Everything is right here and right now with dogs. I really like them a lot. I own two giant schnauzers.”

“I’ve heard of that breed.”

“They’re around a hundred pounds. Super-smart. Bullheaded, though.”

“Sounds familiar.”

Nathan looked out the window and smiled. “Point granted.”

“Not many people own giant schnauzers or a helicopter,” she said.

“The helicopter isn’t a symbol of ego or financial status for me. It’s about freedom. Too many people take it for granted.”

She paused for a moment. “May I ask you a personal question?”

“You can ask.”

“What was it like I mean, being a scout sniper?”

“That’s quite a question, Holly. We hardly know each other.” He fell silent for several miles. The road stripes slid under them in an endless procession of hypnotic yellow flashes. She didn’t force the conversation, and he appreciated the silent interval to gather his thoughts. He wasn’t sure how deep he wanted to go into his psyche. There was a demon down there. “I can’t speak for anyone else, but at the moment of truth it’s a feeling of intoxicating power.”

Holly didn’t respond.