Page 74 of Zero Hour

Jasmine felt sick.

Please let them call.At least then she could do something.

There was a knock on the door and a pretty blonde assistant stuck her head into the room. “Sir, there’s been a development at the house.”

Jasmine stiffened. “Which house?”

Pat’s, Amir’s, hers?

Pat’s expression darkened. “I’ll be right out.”

He turned to Jasmine, his voice gentler. “Stay with Hollis. I’ll be right back.”

She nodded numbly, barely aware of the detective speaking next to her.

“Ms. McCarthy,” Hollis said, in a reassuring tone. “We’re throwing everything we have at this. I promise you—wewillbring your son home.”

She nodded again, her throat too tight to speak.

They weretrying.

All of them.

She only prayed it would be enough.

CHAPTER 28

Pat frowned. “Basketball jerseys?”

Anna nodded. “Yeah. Riad just came home with a shopping bag. He pulled out six Washington Wizards jerseys.”

Pat’s pulse spiked. “Six?”

“Yep.”

Blade was already pulling up his phone. “Wizards have a home game on Saturday. Capital One Arena. They’re playing the Lakers.” His eyes lifted from the screen, sharp with understanding. “That’s abiggame.”

Pat inhaled sharply. “That arena seatstwenty thousandpeople.”

“And it’ll be packed to capacity,” Blade added. “Not to mention the bars and restaurants around Penn Quarter. Thousands more outside.”

“Fuck,” Pat growled. “That’s the target. They’re going to send six suicide bombers into the arena.”

A thick silence blanketed the office.

The Capital One Arena wasn’t just a stadium—it was the heart of downtown D.C. Shops, offices, public transit hubs. Tensof thousands of people moving through the area on a game day. A mass casualty attack here would be catastrophic.

Anna’s voice cut through the tension. “Director of Homeland Security is on her way in.”

Pat gave a terse nod. “Ready the boardroom.”

Ed Hollis from the FBI appeared in the doorway. “Pat, we’re still working on the kidnappers’ location. Keep us posted if they make contact.”

In other words, if they sent a ransom demand, or an ultimatum.

“Will do.” He shook Ed’s hand. “Thanks for the assist.”

Jasmine watched the exchange, worry lines etched deep into her forehead. Pat’s chest tightened. He wanted to reach for her, reassure her. But right now, comfort wasn’t the priority. He had a fucking crisis unfolding, and he needed to get his head straight.

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