Twenty minutes later, convinced that Rick and his colleague were long gone, Ben left the rest room. He searched his pockets for change and pulled out a few coins, which he inserted into the pay phone. As he dialed Lisa’s number, his eyes darted through the bar, which was filled with a few basketball fans who were eating breakfast before the first game of the day.

“Hello,” Lisa answered.

“You will not believe what just happened to me,” Ben said, his voice racing. “I just got attacked by Rick and some other guy. They jumped me and tried to kidnap me. I slammed them in the head with a shovel and ran for-”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Lisa said. “One thing at a time. Start over.” After hearing his explanation of the past half hour, she said, “I don’t believe it.”

“Believe it,” Ben said.

“Did you get a good look at Rick’s partner?”

“Not really. My mind was running at full speed. All I remember is that he was trying to tell me that he was from the Justice Department.”

“Do you think he was?”

“Of course not,” Ben said. “The Justice Department doesn’t attack people with chloroform. He just didn’t want them to call the cops.”

“Who was he, then?”

Ben’s eyes were focused on the front door of the bar. “Either Rick’s lackey or the guy Rick’s using to make money on American Steel.”

“Why would Rick need a new person? American Steel’s a public company. Rick can buy all the stock he wants.”

“But you need money to buy stock. And presumably, Rick was wiped out from Grinnell. He needs someone who already has a lot of American Steel stock or who’s willing to put up the funds. Otherwise, he’s-” Ben looked at his coat on the floor. “Damn,” he said. “I just realized I left my briefcase by the supermarket. I’m sure they grabbed it.”

“You didn’t leave the decision in there, did you?”

“Of course not. But the letter I was working on is in there. Which means they know that I’m turning myself in.”

“They knew that the moment you didn’t show up at the museum yesterday,” Lisa said. “Meanwhile, have you called Nathan and Eric?”

“Not yet. Why?”

“Call them,” Lisa demanded. “If Rick’s running around your neighborhood, the first place he’s going to check is your house. Are they still home?”

“Nathan’s at work, but Eric might be.” Ben hung up and searched his pockets for more change. He was a nickel short. Undeterred, he anxiously entered his calling card number into the pay phone. As his fingers danced across the buttons, he realized he’d misdialed the number. “Damn,” he said, hanging up. He picked up the receiver and frantically reentered his calling card number. “C’mon, c’mon,” he said as he waited for the tone. He heard it and entered his home number, praying Eric had finished his editing and left the house.

“Hello,” Eric said.

“Eric, it’s me. Get out of the house. Rick and that guy in the navy coat-”

“Have you spoken to Lisa?” Eric interrupted.

“Don’t worry about Lisa,” Ben said. “You have to-”

“Shut up a second,” Eric insisted. “Rick called here looking for you. He said it was an emergency. And he wanted me to tell you that he was going over to Lisa’s.”

Ben’s heart sank. “How long ago did he call?”

“About a half hour ago. Do you need any-”

Ben hung up the phone, reentered his calling card, and dialed Lisa’s number. “Shit, shit, shit,” he said as the phone rang five times without an answer.

Finally, Lisa picked up. “Hello.”

“Get out of your apartment,” Ben said. “Rick’s on his way over.”

“Or maybe I’m already here,” Rick said. “How are you doing, Ben? Long time, no see.”

“Oh, my God.”

“Why so sad?” Rick asked. “It’s just me.”

“If you hurt her, I swear I’ll-”

“Spare me the threats,” Rick demanded, his voice growing suddenly serious. “I now have both Lisa and Nathan-”

“Nathan?”

“Shut up and listen for once,” Rick said. “I have both of them, and I’m sick and tired of playing games. Now tell me where you are.”

Ben was silent.

“This is no time to be stupid,” Rick said. “You already lost one friend this weekend. Do you want to go for two?” Getting no response, he added, “How about three?”

“I’m at Boosin’s Bar,” Ben finally said. “It’s on New Hampshire.”

“I know where it is,” Rick said. “I expect you to be standing outside in ten minutes. And if you happen to feel the urge to call the authorities, your parents, Eric, or anyone else, I will be extremely upset with you. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Ben said, fighting his rage.

“Good. Now, one last question,” Rick said. “What’s the outcome of American Steel?”

Again, Ben was silent.

“I asked a question,” Rick said.

Still, silence.

“This is just about money,” Rick warned. “Don’t turn it into anything that requires violence.”

“American Steel wins,” Ben snapped. “Are you happy? Now you can go make your millions.”

“I’m extremely happy-that’s exactly the same answer Lisa gave us,” Rick said. “We’ll see you outside in ten minutes.”

Hearing Rick hang up, Ben exploded. He grabbed the receiver and slammed it against the pay phone. The few patrons who were in the bar looked up when they heard the crashing noise. Again, Ben banged the receiver against the metal base of the phone. And again. And again.

Suddenly, someone grabbed him from behind. “What the hell is wrong with you?” the bartender asked, pulling the receiver from Ben’s hand.

“Get off me!” Ben screamed, struggling against the bartender.

The bartender dragged him to the front door and pushed him outside. “If you’re going to be a psycho, go someplace else.”

Waiting outside of Boosin’s, Ben teemed with anger. With his hands shoved deep into his jacket pockets, he despondently kicked at a small pile of snow next to the building. Within ten minutes, a red Jeep pulled up to the curb. The only person in it was Claremont. “Wait right there,” Claremont said as he got out of the Jeep and approached Ben. Now that Claremont was no longer wearing his brown fedora, Ben studied his attacker’s features. With a round face that was highlighted by a worn, floury complexion, Claremont looked much older than Ben had expected.

“Take off your jacket,” Claremont said, pointing with thick, stubby fingers.

When Ben obliged, Claremont patted him down. “Still worried about microphones?” Ben asked.

“I’m told you have a habit of wearing them.” After establishing that Ben was clean, Claremont opened the door for Ben. “All aboard,” he said.

Thirty-five minutes later, the Jeep pulled into the back parking lot of the Palm Hotel, in Bethesda. “Follow me,” Claremont said as he walked toward the back entrance of the building. “And if you say one word to anyone…”

“I get the picture,” Ben said.

They took the elevator to the twenty-fourth floor and walked down the hallway to room 2427. Claremont slid his coded card into the electronic lock, pushed open the door, and entered the lavishly decorated suite. The main room was empty.

“Where is everyone?” Ben asked.

“Shut up and follow,” Claremont said. He led the way through the bedroom and opened the door that connected the suite to the one next door. They walked through the second suite and reached a door that connected that suite to a third. Finally, they entered the largest of the three suites, where Rick, Lisa, and Nathan were waiting.

When Ben and Claremont entered the room, Rick got up from his seat on the sofa. “Well, well, the gang’s all here,” he said. “Lisa, Nathan, I believe you know Ben. Ben, this is Lisa and Nathan.”

Ben was surprised to see Nathan and Lisa sitting calmly at the large glass dining-room table. Looking through the glass tabletop, he noticed that they were both handcuffed to their chairs. A swollen black eye colored the left side of Nathan’s face.

“Are you okay?” Ben asked.