Bell wets his lips. “Death by torture.”

Emma’s head turns fast. Bell’s face is completely impassive.

Simon only smiles. “And you’d be the first to carry the hot pincers from the fire.” He releases a short laugh. “I like you, Mr. Bell. Let’s not make a habit of meeting like this—it’s socially awkward.”

“Simon, stop,” Kristin whispers. Even from this distance, Emma can hear her perfectly because of the room’s excellent acoustics.

Her brother’s gaze is indulgent. “How many times have you said that to me, do you think? You know it’s impossible.”

Kristin shakes the bars between them. “I wish you weren’t in this cage.”

“The last time I saw a tree was more than a year ago.” He cups her cheek. “You’re a balm to the soul, you know.”

“I miss you so much.” Kristin’s voice is breaking.

“Listen to opera with me? We can imagine we’re curled up on the lawn at home.” Simon’s eyes are bright and his hand on Kristin’s face trembles. Before Emma has a chance to reconcile this softer side of him with the side she knows, he shakes it off and lifts his head. “Pradeep can work the record player. He’ll succumb to apoplexy if we don’t give him something to do—look at him there, wringing his hands. It’s already a huge distress to him that you’re inside the barricade.”

“It’s too late for me to step back now.”

“And you never would.” He kisses Kristin’s soft cheek. “It’s one of the reasons I love you.”

Emma feels compelled to look away, and the nearest diversion is Bell. “What’s happening outside?”

Bell seems relieved for the chance to focus on something else. “Raymond’s arrived with the SWAT team. Martino’s here, too.” He lifts his chin at the Gutmunssons. “I don’t think they have much time.”

Emma remembers what’s more important. “Listen. There’s something else you need to know—”

But now another knock on the door interrupts, this time a booming pound. Pradeep is looking increasingly irritated. When the door is opened, Dr. Scott stands beside Agent Martino in the entryway.

“Uh, I’ve been told it’s time to clear the room,” Martino says, speaking loudly for everyone’s benefit. “Miss Lewis, Mr. Bell, Miss Gutmunsson, time to go.”

“Let the twins say goodbye, at least,” Dr. Scott admonishes. She lifts her eyes to Emma’s. “Miss Lewis, walk with me?”

Emma’s torn: reluctant to leave Simon and his tantalizing information, reluctant to leave Bell alone. But Scott is wearing an urgent look, and Pradeep and Martino should have enough combined muscle to hold Bell back if anything happens. She steps out of the room, keeps pace with Scott’s clicking strides in the great hall.

“I have a SWAT team in my courtyard, Miss Lewis, and I don’t like it. How did Simon seem to you?”

Emma considers saying, He’s as much of an asshole as always, but it probably wouldn’t go down well. “He’s angry that the FBI is using him.”

“I know how he feels.” Scott’s lips purse as they walk through the rolling steel gate. “Raymond is being argumentative. I had to draw a hard line about keeping essential staff in the building, and as my presence is not considered essential, he refuses to let me supervise.”