“My sister Stella is a journalist, Mark. Have you met many? They are resourceful and, even more, they are relentless. She knew the last thing you’d expect was a press conference at your front door. What matters is they have to be found. She is my mother, for God sake. I want her and my sister safe, regardless of how pissed off I am. And Jesus Christ, where is my nephew?”

“We’ll find them all. We just needed more men, which is why the president had to get on board. The National Guard—”

“I had that authorized days ago. They’ve already mobilized in California and North Dakota. They’re obviously already in Louisiana, but how you intend to find one person in a state besieged by hurricanes is beyond me. As much as I hate the fact that you have a child trapped miles beneath the earth, at least the streets of DC don’t have to become a military zone.”

His phone rang again, and he handed it to one of the agents in the front seat. “Can you see what Agent Lucas wants? He’s called five times. OK, Senator, this is important: You believe that the president understands the seriousness of this now?”

Kate scrolled through the mountain of texts on her own phone. Her communications director had also called repeatedly. Everyone wanted her response to her sister’s claims that the government was holding their mother hostage.

Once again, her mother was telling the truth.

“Convincing a sixty-eight-year-old former marine that people are being abducted and returned to earth as weapons is not an easy sell, Director. Which is why you incorporated me in this, knowing that if I believe it, then the president will too. I understand how you think I’m your pawn in all this. But I can promise you this,” she said, raising a finger. “I went into that boy’s room on my own. It was my life that was in danger. But I did it of my volition.”

She’d never been more terrified in her life. Ryan had told her that her nephew had been dreaming, that the violence was about to start. She’d slipped out to find the agents stationed outside choking each other. As she’d hurried by, one of them sprang after her, his eyes wild. She’d reached the elevator, the doors barely shutting to keep him from following. He’d pounded on the doors and screamed like an enraged animal.

“The president saw the video of what happened in that hallway,” she said softly.

“Agent Hallow warned you for a reason—”

“Director, I’m sorry, you need to take this.” The agent in the front seat handed him the phone.

“Rick, just find out—”

“Director, it’s about the boy. He wants to talk to the senator.”

“What?” Kate sat forward.

“Agent Lucas?” Mark put the phone to his ear. “What’s going on?”