Ethel touched the mangled lobe. “I’m fine. Stopped wearing earrings years ago. What about those planes?”

“I think they just landed.”

“Well, hadn’t you better check if they’re friend or foe? If you see a short guy and a tall guy who look like Mutt and Jeff, don’t shoot them. They’re on our side.”

“You’re sure you’re fine?”

She waved him away. “Go make yourself useful. Arrest somebody.”

Mancini gave a quick glance at the two bodies as if to make sure they were still dead and then hurried away.

Ethel turned to Susan. “Do what I say and don’t ask questions. Take your husband’s laptop and hard drive to my car. Stay with Davie and tell Jesse to bring his computer and backpack on the double. If you’re asked questions later, say O’Hara thought your husband had something of value, but you have no idea what.”

“That’s the truth,” Susan said.

“Of course it is. Now hurry.”

Ethel stood, felt the room spin, and sat back down. Her heart was racing. Jesse bolted through the door, backpack swinging by his side. He halted, eyes wide, when he saw Ethel sitting between two bodies.

“Get over here and focus,” she yelled. “Open your laptop on this desk.” She pointed to the spot where O’Hara had set up Finch’s laptop. “I’m hoping Frank won’t notice the difference. Have you got your backup drive?”

“Yes.”

“How long will it take to replace Jonathan’s data with yours?”

“Maybe thirty minutes, if I don’t have to offload Jonathan’s data first.”

“Too long. Can you just reformat your internal drive?”

“Yes. That would be quicker.”

“Then do it. As soon as that happens, start restoring your system. I’ll come up with some explanation.”

A few minutes later, Jesse gave a final click on the touch pad. “Okay. Restoration is underway.”

“Good. Go to the car and hide Jonathan’s computer and external drive.”

“And the KryptoFold?”

“Definitely hide that. Then bring the bag. It should contain my phone, which is still off, and the LEGOs.”

“Including the SUV model?”

Ethel smiled. “That’s the whole point. Frank knows I’m not stupid. He’d expect me to have some kind of plan. Again, be quick.”