“I can only help you if you help me,” Jensen said. “Where’s your mom?”

Charlie sighed. “She went to go find my dad.”

“Where is your dad?”

“On a plane.”

“So she’s going to the airport?”

“I guess.”

“What’s your dad’s name?”

“August Adams.”

Jensen nodded to indicate admiration. “I know that name,” Jensen said. “I’ve seen him in a magazine, right?”

“He’s kind of famous, I guess,” Charlie said, shrugging.

Jensen got down from the seat and faced Charlie eye-to-eye. “I need to know the truth,” he said in earnest. “Is your dad in some kind of trouble?”

“Can you help him?”

“I think we both can,” Jensen said.

The ambulance stopped at the emergency entrance to George Washington University Medical Center. The doors opened, and two men carried Grandma Rose out the back, rolling her inside the hospital. “The boy is supposed to stay with her,” one of the EMTs said.

“Change of plans,” Jensen said. “I’m taking the boy.”

“You sure that’s okay?” the EMT asked.

Jensen shot him a look.

The EMT gave a thumbs-up and got back in the ambulance, which took off to aid another victim of the DC nightlife.

A black car pulled up into the ER driveway. Jensen approached it and opened the door, waving a hand to Charlie to step inside. “I’ve got a special treat,” he said.

“What is it?”

“You ever meet a real FBI agent?” Jensen asked.

Charlie smiled and stepped in.

Agent Meng got the call just before getting on the jet. They were bringing the boy to him to take to New York. “Wasn’t Stanley supposed to get rid of him?” he asked Jensen.

“Stanley is dead.”

“You’re kidding,” Meng said, truly surprised. “I have to be honest, I’m not exactly sad to hear the news. That guy was serial-killer material, if you ask me.”

“He took his work seriously, that’s all.”

“So why don’t you finish the job and get rid of the kid?”

“Because April got away too. She’s headed for New York.”

“So the boy is bait in case something goes wrong.”

“I don’t know. I’m only passing on what I’ve been told,” Jensen said. “If you’ve got a problem, take it up with Cornelius.”

Meng, in fact, did not want to do any such thing. Others who had made the mistake of crossing the Dragon Master tended to “disappear” not long after. “How long before you’re here?”

“I can see you right now,” Jensen said.

A minute later Meng watched a black car pull up beside the jet. Jensen hopped out and brought Charlie over to meet him.

“This is Agent Meng,” Jensen said. “He’s with the FBI.”

“Cool,” Charlie said, taking in the airplane. “You’re going to take me to my dad?”

“I sure am,” Meng said. “Have you ever been on a private jet?”

“Nope.”