“A, she’s been in that building for over two hours,” said Swagger. “B, she’s in a room in the administrative section, not in the prayer center, so she’s obviously either imprisoned or undergoing interrogation.”

“Maybe she’s watching a ball game with some of the kids in hopes of overhearing something.”

“I just don’t like it.”

“We are on very thin ice here,” said Nick. “This is not the vacuum of combat where the only criterion is taking the objective. It is Main Street America 2018, and the rules are different. We cannot raid an innocent mosque with guys in Kevlar and carrying HKs. These folks are savvy, they’re on the phone in seconds, lawyers are there in a few more seconds, and, in minutes, TV is there and the Free Press, and we have a major administrative fuckup. MARJORIE DAW is disgraced and closed down.”

“None of that has anything to do with a woman’s life in danger.”

“What do you think, Houston?” he asked the Detroit guy.

“In this town, it’s always better to take it easy. You do not know the can of shit you are opening if you do something wrong. It will land all over everybody in this room and never go away.”

“I would add,” said Nick to Bob, “that maybe your read is that she’s in danger because you’re overcommitted to her, and maybe you’ve seen so much combat that everything is always combat. I’d hate to have to testify to a condition of ‘danger’ on such flimsy evidence at my board hearing.”

“Fair enough, and always a possibility.”

“Chandler?”

“Not fair to put her on the spot,” said Nick. “She’s junior and under Bureau discipline. Chandler, you don’t have to answer.”

“Yes, sir, but I will. Mr. Swagger, I’m FBI all the way. If the agent in charge—that is, Agent Memphis—makes a decision, I will obey it. Period, end of message.”

“Okay, she’s a good marine,” said Swagger. “We knew that.”

“Mr. Gold,” said Nick, “you’ve got more experience than any of us. Please jump in here, tell us what you think.”

“It would be different in Israel, where the courts and the media favor the government in its anti-terrorist efforts. So I cannot advise, because your context and nuances are so unique.”

“You have to say something,” said Nick. “Sorry, but you are here to advise, and it’s no help at all if you don’t.”

“Then I would say cock the hammer, point the gun, but don’t pull the trigger.”

“Okay,” said Nick. “Houston, you call that U.S. Attorney for a verbal warrant, so that if it does come to a raid, the State boys can hit the door in a second.”

“I’m going to move them across the street,” said Chandler. “That’ll shave even more time off their reaction interval.”