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." He followed up with, "Security says they've got a live one.And you need to be able to tell them whether they do or not."It had sounded like a joke, a dare.But he was serious.She had had stranger requests but not from her assistant director.Cunningham would have never sent her out like this."What exactly is it you want me to do, Deputy Director?" she asked again."They've got him cornered.Now, maybe he's just some kid with a red backpack.Scared out of his wits because of all the excitement.But if he's one of the bombers we can't take that chance.These guys" Wurth's hand waved at the SWAT team as if he were only now introducing them to Maggie."They can't take him out if there's a chance that pack's gonna blow.Cops can't approach him either.Same reason."That was it.End of explanation.Wurth pulled a ball cap on and started struggling into a blue jacket that had SWAT on the back.He made it look like the Kevlar vest was a straitjacket.It took a couple attempts of poking his arm behind him into the jacket before he found the armhole.One of the team members handed a blue jacket to Maggie."And me?" she had to ask Wurth.Evidently he thought he had explained everything he needed to explain.He looked up at her as he struggled with the zipper, his fingers still giving him a problem."You can tell us if he fits the profile of the other bombers."He said it as if it were a matter of fact.Maggie wanted to laugh.This was crazy."And if I can't?"He stopped.So did the SWAT team.The look on Wurth's face told her immediately that hadn't been considered."I know you're probably a little nervous, Agent O'Dell," Wurth said, quiet and slow, sounding like a child's father.Suddenly she was "Agent O'Dell," when all during the flight she had been Maggie."I'm not nervous." Her stomach told her differently but she had learned long ago to set aside the nerves.That wasn't the problem.She knew how to focus.She trusted her gut instinct.She could respond and perform under stress.But this was ridiculous and she wanted to tell Wurth exactly that.Had he ever examined crappy, black-and-white surveillance video? "This isn't the way profiling works.""Look, Agent O'Dell." This time he took her arm and bent toward her, close enough she could smell the peppermint on his breath, almost as if he thought what he was going to confide wouldn't be heard by the SWAT team despite the crowded exit way."This may be our only shot to prevent another tragedy.A.D.Kunze is willing to take a risk on your talent.So am I.Now we just need you to be willing to take that risk, too."He was a smoother politician than she had given him credit for."Let me borrow your tie," she told him as she pulled on the blue SWAT jacket.Wurth looked surprised but didn't question her or hesitate and he tugged at his necktie."Anybody have gloves?" she asked and was immediately handed a pair.She pulled on the gloves, the fingertips too big but they were warm and she wouldn't be handling anything that required perfect dexterity.Then she took Wurth's bright red necktie and wound it around her left wrist, making a knot and letting the ends dangle about six inches."When I raise my left hand above my head," she told the SWAT team, and demonstrated, "that means 'take him out.'" They all nodded.She turned to Wurth, waited for his eyes."Make sure whatever law enforcement is out there now knows the signal."She had no intention of raising her hand but she knew they would look for a signal.More importantly, they'd wait for a signal.With several law enforcement agencies taking part, it was better they wait for some signal rather than misjudge and react to any sudden movements.One of the SWAT members was already relaying the message over the radio strapped to his shoulder, but Maggie waited for Wurth's assurance, his commitment, his accountability."Absolutely."She watched his fingers rezip his jacket and this time she noticed they weren't shaking."Okay," Maggie said."Let's do this."CHAPTER32This time Nick led the way while Yarden hung back, always a couple of steps behind.He showed his ID to the guard at the bottom of the second escalator.National Guard, sniper unit.By this time no one made it upstairs without scrutiny and security clearance.As Nick climbed the stairsall the escalators had been stoppedhe felt his breathing change.He wasn't sure he was prepared to see what was at the top of the third floor.His father used to tell him there wasn't anything worse than seeing a body ripped apart in a car accident, flesh peeled back, burned or mangled.As county sheriff, Nick had a couple of opportunities to judge for himself.But Nick had seen worsethe small blue bodies of two little boys, carved and left by a serial killer in the prairie grass along the Platte River.Could anything top that? He hoped not.He knew how this worked only because two weeks ago as part of his training for the new job position he had attended a seminar on terrorist attacks and what to look for at any one of the facilities where they provided security.It had been intended to be a guide on how to convince their clients to upgrade their systems.Two weeks ago Nick thought the seminar preached scare tactics.The "what if" scenarios seemed a bit over the top.Now he realized how wrong he had been.Thanks to that seminar the information was all still fresh to him.So he knew the protocol.In his mind, he tried to prepare himself for what he was about to experience.Rescue mission always came first: treat the injured, put out fires, make the building safe.Those who were wounded and injured were now on the first floor, across the street at the hotel triage area or on their way to a hospital
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