The mention of burning stirs behind Cooper’s eyes. Miss Lewis wants to burn down the world.

“There’s one,” Cooper whispers as his murderer stands up.

But his vision is going dark, and Hoyt is already walking away.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Emma stares out the window of the Fairmont and the world seems to be glazed over, moving very slowly. She’s stopped crying. The sense of being in a tailspin is dissipating; now she just feels dazed. Mike Martino is driving, and she and Bell sit in the back seat, and nobody talks on the hour-long trip back to Quantico. It’s five thirty in the afternoon, the sun outside making everything look sepia-toned. The car radio is playing “More Than This” down low, and Emma will forever associate the song with this moment.

It’s hard to fathom, as Martino slows the car to get the nod from MPs at the gate, that it’s still Friday. It’s the same day as it was this morning, when she and Bell and Cooper screeched out of the base. Bell hit his head when they went over a speed hump, she remembers. She looks over and he’s gazing out the window now, fist against his lips. While she feels like she’s been anesthetized, Bell’s whole body is shimmering with distress and controlled fury.

Martino takes the car down to the motor pool, and they come to a stop in the cool, dark garage. Bell supports himself with the car door as he exits, like an old man. Emma’s reluctant to leave the car. She’s not sure where they’re supposed to go, what they’re supposed to do. She’s going to reach the Cool Room and expect to see Cooper waiting for them there. She’s not sure if she can handle the feelings she knows will come when she opens the door and finds only empty space.

People stare at them as they move out of the motor pool and head for the elevator.

“Where are we going?” Emma’s shocked to realize her voice comes out as a whisper.

Martino presses the button in slow motion. “I’ve been ordered to take you up to see the Section Chief.”

“Do we have to do that now?” Bell’s voice is rough, and more curt than Emma has ever heard it before.

“I’m sorry, but yeah.”

“Don’t you think—”

“Travis.” Emma touches his arm. “Let’s just get it over with.”

His jaw grinds, but after a pause he nods. His face is so tight that the skin over his cheekbones is shiny. This must’ve been the way he looked when his father died, Emma thinks, and it feels wrong to be staring at him. She drops her gaze and it makes her wonder, how does she look?

They enter the elevator. Martino leans back against the wall as the doors close and the car rises.

“Cooper said…” He pauses after invoking the man’s name, shakes it off. “He asked me to look out for you. I’ll be with you when you see Raymond. It’ll be okay.”