Page 54 of Final Strike

Roth combed through the different threads, torn between agitation and fear. He’d been living in the Bay Area when the Twin Towers were hit. The airport had shut down. What would happen if Lund, Suki, Sarina, and Jane Louise were prevented from landing in Dulles or Reagan?

Waiting for a cell phone to ring was maddening. He kept it on the table beside him, and every few seconds he’d glance at the blank screen, waiting for it to light up.

The news anchors were talking in circles now, repeating the limited information they had about the event, over and over, and then interviewing talking heads who made pointless speculations. Roth had a feeling none of them were even remotely close to the likely truth. It was the beginning of the end times.

The phone lit up, and Monica’s name came up on the screen.

Roth grabbed for it so fast it shot out of his hand and slid off the table, but he caught it.

“Nice save, klutzy papa,” Brillante said, giving him a thumbs-up.

Roth shook his head and answered the call. “Monica!”

“The director wants to speak with you at headquarters. Now.”

Roth swallowed. “Me?”

“Yes. You were right. Get an Uber and get over here. Come to the east entrance. I’ll meet you there.”

“What about the twins?” Roth said. “Is it dangerous over there?”

“I think it would be prudent if they stayed at the hotel. I can send an agent to pick you up if you want Jordan to stay with them.”

Roth scratched his forehead. “I don’t want to leave them alone. I haven’t heard back from Lund this morning, and I’m starting to freak out.”

“What’s happening right now is bigger than just your family, Jonathon. Calakmul showed up in person. There are bodies in the Situation Room that were clawed to death.”

“Oh no,” Roth groaned.

“I need you to come in. Right now. Leave the boys with Jordan. I’ll send—”

“No, Lund left a second guy. I’ll come with him. I don’t want to be separated from my boys for long. I can’t, Monica. Not after all we’ve been through. Not with what might be coming.”

“I understand. But the director needs to talk to you now. You’re the only one who’s personally dealt with Jacob Calakmul. We need to know what he could do next. You’re our only asset on that front.”

“I’m an asset?” Roth said incredulously.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. It’s FBI lingo. You’re important. Very important. Come to headquarters right now, okay?”

“I will.”

“Call me when you’re en route.”

“Okay. Thanks, Monica.”

“For what?”

Roth sighed. “For caring about my family. And our country. This can’t be easy on you.”

“Protect and serve,” she answered. “I’ll do everything I can to keep your family safe and get you back together.”

That gave him a small swell of relief. “Bye.”

Jordan called in the young bald man who’d escorted Dr. Estrada and Illari from the airport the previous day to bring Roth to the J. Edgar Hoover Building. Jordan was awake and would personally stay with the boys to make sure they were okay, giving the second guard a chance to catch some sleep.

Their Uber pulled up alongside the building, and they got out, the guard first, examining the area. Roth had texted Monica as they were circling the building, and when he got out, she emerged from the privacy-glass doors and gestured for them both to come forward. They did, and found several agents waiting for them, including Carter.

“Mr. Roth,” he said, nodding to him respectfully.

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