Harris looked at him. “I’m here to adopt a little girl,” he said, plainly. “I figure that’s as important as it gets.”

Gordon smiled, motioned him into a chair and settled back into his own.

“Well, I’m glad you weren’t inconvenienced,” he said. “When we spoke on the phone, I probably should have made it clearer that we didn’t have to do this in person.”

Harris wasn’t sure what he meant. “You told me you wanted to talk about Rachel Pemstein.”

“Yes,” Gordon said. “But we could have scheduled a video conference. If you were too busy.”

“Rachel’s ten years old. She lost her mom.”

“Tragically, yes.”

“How could I be too busy?”

Gordon looked at him a moment, offered another smile. “That’s just what I like to hear,” he said. “And by the way, sir, it’s an honor to meet you. Really, how often does one get the opportunity to sit across from someone who saved the president?”

“Thanks,” Harris said. “About Rachel—”

“Unfortunately, everything’s been on hold because of your hospitalization.” Gordon smiled his personable smile. “You’re doing well, by the way? Because your health goes to your ability to care for a child her age. It will become critical throughout the application process.”

Harris wondered if he’d missed something.

“I’m not here to apply for anything,” he said. “Charlotte made me Rachel’s godfather. She wanted me to adopt if something happened to her. It’s in her will.”

“Yes, she was very clear about it,” Gordon said. “But you’ll still need to go through the process. There are rules and requirements. Comprehensive steps you’ll need to take. It’s all in the packet.”

“Wait.” Harris looked at him. “What packet?”

“The adoption packet. Did I forget to mention it?”

Gordon opened a file drawer, pulled out a large manila envelope and held it across the desk in both hands.

“Here,” he said. “I prepared this for you.”

Harris took it from him. It was thick and hefty.

“This feels like a book by one of those thriller writers,” he said.

Gordon chuckled. “It contains all the paperwork to be filled out. Also, literature that explains what’s required of you in terms of documentation. References, a psychosocial evaluation, federal, state and local criminal history checks—”

“Criminal history?”

“Yes,” Gordon said. “You’ll need to be fingerprinted.”

Harris looked at him. “I’m director of investigations at Net Force.”

“Yes, I know—”

“I headed the FBI Cyber unit right here in this city.”

“Yes.”

“Plus, everybody knows I saved the president’s life. You just brought it up yourself.”

“Yes. And again, I’m honored to—”

“So how come you need my fingerprints?”

Gordon looked at him. “I don’t,” he said. “But an adoption will have to go through a New Jersey state agency. The laws are strict, and rightfully so. Again, it’s a process.”