He looked down at Keller—he was a short, slim man, nearly totally bald. David knew that Lawrence was a long-distance runner. He was late-fifties, divorced, had a couple of kids. He had been around Washington forever, and was a consummate political player. He was the proverbial hot knife cutting through butter. Lawrence Keller was the only comforting fact of this entire disaster—there was someone nearby whom David Barrett could trust.

Everyone was talking at once.

“The Turkish prime minister sends his deepest condolences, and wants you to know that if any Turkish national was involved in this crime, the penalty will be death.”

“French commandos are on standby—awaiting our orders. The entire country is on lockdown.”

“House to house searches have begun in Geneva, Zurich, and Bern, as well as smaller Swiss cities and towns.”

House to house searches had begun? What in God’s name had taken them so long? He realized he must be in shock. The voices around him were becoming an increasingly strange Babel—impossible to understand. Bits and pieces of nonsensical information flowed past him.

“The British Prime Minister has gone on TV to say…”

“China has offered the use of spy satellites and surveillance…”

“Vladimir Putin is being briefed as we…”

“CIA, NSA, and all intelligence listening stations…”

“Shut up!” he shouted, before he knew he was going to. “Everyone just shut up, and stop talking. I can’t stand it anymore.”

He turned to Lawrence Keller. “Lawrence, who is going to be briefing us now?”

“General Richard Stark from the Pentagon,” Keller said. “I’m told he has up to the minute information, and all intelligence is being fed to, and vetted through, his office.”

Barrett nodded. “I need you, Lawrence. I’m lost right now. I need you to stay on these people. I need this to happen at twice the speed it’s happening right now. I need to hammer every target on Earth. I don’t care what needs to be done or whose toes are stepped on, or frankly, who gets killed. I don’t care if entire countries become parking lots. I want my daughter back.”

Keller nodded. “I am going to move heaven and earth for you, David. This is my promise.”

“Thank you.”

The entire phalanx of people moved into the elevator. Barrett stood in the middle of the crowd. He closed his eyes. He saw Elizabeth as a small girl, at a family barbecue at the old family house in Newport, running to him, the sea in the background. He could see every detail of her—the flower dress she wore, her floppy green sunhat, her sandals that buckled at the ankle, her blonde hair, her huge smile, one front tooth missing.

He didn’t know if he was going to scream or pass out.

He took a deep breath instead. It would be unseemly to pass out in front of so many strangers. A Barrett did not show weakness.