Nana sat off to the side, watching us over the top of A Thousand Splendid Suns, one of the books she’d been tearing through these days. She and Bree had settled into a tentative partnership, with Bree slowly asserting herself around the house and Nana learning she could afford to let go of a few things she’d always controlled—like how to load the dishwasher.

It was all good—until the phone rang.

Usually, I expect the kids to put up an immediate stink when that happens. “Don’t answer it, Daddy” had become a common refrain around our house. So when both of them just looked away, waiting for the inevitable, I felt even worse.

I checked the ID. It was Mahoney. As promised.

“I’m sorry; I really do have to take this,” I said to Ali and Jannie.

Their silence was loud and clear as I went out to the hall to answer.

“Ned?”

“We’re a go, Alex. There’s a Holiday Inn off Exit 72 in Arlington. I can meet you in the parking lot if you come now. Right now.”

Chapter 44

IT WAS CALLED Operation Coitus Interruptus, which only goes to prove that there are some people in the FBI with a sense of humor.

Ned’s full team had convened at a small farm in Culpeper County, about an hour and a half west of DC and not far from Shenandoah National Park. It was a strange, foreboding mix: Mahoney and his co–case agent, Renee Victor; six HRT agents; three crisis negotiators from the Tactical Support Branch; and a ten-man FBI SWAT team.

I’d been expecting an all-HRT team, but I wasn’t concerned in the least. FBI SWAT has some of the best tactical units in the world. This was going to be quite a show.

There was also a rep from Virginia State Police, who had two collection wagons on standby, and me. I’m not sure what strings Ned had to pull to have me there, but I appreciated it, and also knew that he figured I would add value. We all gathered around the tailgate of someone’s pickup for a quick briefing from the big guy.

“There will be some heavy hitters inside, but for us, it’s going to be SOP all around,” Ned told the group. “I want SWAT in first, then agents, and I want all exits secure at all times. You should be prepared for any scenario, including sexual situations and even violent resistance. I’m not expecting the latter, but it’s possible; anything is. The idea is to work fast and safe, and to clear this place out as cleanly as we can.”

Surveillance showed that the main house had entrances on the north, south, and east sides. Mahoney divided us into three units accordingly. I’d be going in the front door with him. There were also several outbuildings, which were supposed to be empty, at least tonight. I couldn’t help wondering about the kind of parties held in them.

Before we left, Ned gave me an FBI jacket and a new Aramid vest from the back of his car. The vest was lighter than anything I’d used before, which was okay, since we were hiking in from a couple of miles away.