“How do you know that?”

I know that because if there’s an atomic bomb onboard, New York City is ground zero, as Buck so vividly explained. But in the world of compartmented information, I wasn’t sure I could share that with Scott Kalish, so I glanced at Tess, who shook her head.

I said to Kalish, “I can’t say. But trust me on this.”

“Okay… we’ll concentrate on westbound ships.”

“Good. And call your counterpart in the Nassau County Marine Bureau and ask them to begin a sea-and-air search to pick up where yours ends. Also, someone will need to call NYPD Harbor.” I further suggested, “Get the rest of your fleet out.”

There was silence on the phone, then Kalish said, “I don’t mind helping you out, John, but this has turned into a budget buster.” He asked, “How important is this? And am I covered?”

I again glanced at Tess, who held out her hand for the phone and I gave it to her.

She said, “Captain Kalish, this is Tess Faraday of State Department Intelligence.”

He didn’t reply, probably wondering how the trainee got promoted so fast.

She continued, “We have reason to believe that the amphibious craft rendezvoused with a ship that could be harboring a number of armed terrorists.”

There was a few seconds of silence, then Kalish said, “I thought this was about an amphibious craft with a bunch of Russian hookers onboard, going out to a party ship.”

“I can’t say anything further, Captain, but I will have someone in Washington contact you directly.”

“That would be good. Soon.”

Tess handed me the phone and I said to Kalish, “So that’s the deal, Scott. This got big and ugly.”

“Okay… but for all we know, the target ship could be a hundred miles south of the shipping lane. Or it could be at anchor, waiting to make its run.”

“That’s true…” Basically we had no information, and what information we had was old by this time. I said, “It would make sense that this ship is Russian registry.” I asked, “Can you find out what Russian ships—commercial or private—are due into the Port of New York?”

He thought a moment, then replied, “Yes and no. Yes if the ship has its Automatic Identification System transmitter operating. Then the Coast Guard can look on a screen and see the location of every approaching vessel, with all its info—its name, where it’s from, its cargo, and so forth.”

“Sounds good.”

“But if the ship is up to no good, it might turn off its AIS transmitter.” He added, “Like an aircraft would do if it was up to no good. But the difference is that aircraft will show up on radar as unidentified, but the sea is not so well covered by radar.” He further added, “A ship at sea can theoretically disappear by going electronically silent.”

“I understand.” But I still didn’t understand how Petrov thought he could get a ship emitting radiation past all the patrol craft, or past the old harbor forts that were equipped with very sensitive radiation detectors. I couldn’t use the word “nuclear,” so I asked, “How could a ship harboring terrorists get past all the checkpoints? Give me some scenarios.”

“Okay… well, a ship can theoretically slip past the Coast Guard and past the Ambrose checkpoint if it has shut off its AIS transmitter. And I suppose it can go right into the harbor unseen, especially at night.” He added, “But eventually the ship has to dock somewhere to unload the terrorists.”

Actually the ship only had to make it into the harbor, then detonate the nuke as it approached Manhattan.

Scott Kalish, however, was thinking it was a boatload of guys from Sandland, armed with AK-47s and hand grenades or something, so he said to me, “I’m not understanding Russians and terrorists in the same sentence.”

“Not all terrorists are named Abdul.” I further clarified my bullshit, “Maybe saboteurs would be a better description.”

Kalish still wasn’t satisfied and he said, “I’m not getting a clear picture of the threat or the mission.”

“I’ll get back to you on that.”

He continued, “I assume if there are terrorists—or saboteurs—onboard this ship, we need to approach with caution and be prepared for an armed confrontation.”

“That’s a good assumption.”

“I would have appreciated this information sooner.”

“Right. Well, now we’re sure.”

“Well, I’m still not sure about the mission or the threat.”

I really wanted to be straight with Scott, but you don’t want to yell “atomic bomb” and scare the crap out of everyone—especially if you’re not sure. But I kept coming back to Arkady Urmanov, who was not in America to get a job. Though it was still possible that he was just partying with his pals tonight.

Kalish asked, “Anything further?”

I glanced at Tess, who was looking at me as if to say, Don’t say it.

“John? Anything further?”

Time to make an important decision. The code name for a radiation detection operation is Radiant Angel, which Tess might not know, so I said to Kalish, “Pray that a radiant angel will guide you.”

There was a silence, then he asked, “Are you serious?”

“Don’t worry about the budget.” A nuclear takedown of Manhattan will cost a lot more. “That’s all I can say, Scott.”

“Holy shit…” He pointed out, “If I’d known this, I’d have made sure everyone was glued to their radiation detectors.”

Join the compartmented information club, Scott. I looked at Tess, who didn’t seem happy with me, then I said to Kalish, “I just got the word.”

“Okay… well, in a way, this makes finding this ship easier… but… geez…”

To change the subject, I asked him, “Any luck with Tasha’s cell phone?”

No reply. His head was still in Nukeland. “Scott?”

“No… but the commo people are working on it.”

“Okay, I’m on my way to Tamorov’s. I need two county detectives to meet me on Gin Lane. They should look for a black Dodge minivan and my black Chevy SUV.” I also told him, “I may want to get aboard one of your choppers or boats later.”

“Okay… you can rendezvous with either at Shinnecock Coast Guard Station. Just let me know.”

“Will do.”

I was about to hang up but Scott informed me, “I’m getting a report here… hold on.”

“Good news, I hope.”

“It is… if you’re the guy we’re looking for.” He told me, “There’s a fog rolling in from the south.” He added, “Typical this time of year.”

“Keep me posted.” I hung up.

Tess said to me, “You handled that well. Until you mentioned the unmentionable.”

“He needs to do his job.”

“Then someone else will make the decision to tell him. Not you.”

I informed her, “When you and Buck asked me to work with you, you knew what you were getting.” I strongly suggested, “Call your people in Washington and tell them to call Scott Kalish.”

She took my phone and began sending a text, telling me, “Buck is on his way to the Shinnecock Coast Guard Station. I’ll advise him to also go to Timber Point and see Captain Kalish in person.”

“Tell Buck he needs to be straight with Kalish.”

She sent the text to Buck and asked me, “What do you think Kalish’s chances are of finding an unknown ship on the high seas?”

“Not good at the moment. But at some point the target ship will get into range of a radiation detection device.”

“Can’t radiation be shielded with lead?”

“Yes and no.”

“Tell me about yes.”

“Well… from what I remember from a Nuclear Emergency Support Team class I took, if the device is encased in lead it may not emit enough gamma rays to be picked up by a detecting device—from a distance. But you will get a reading up close.”

“How close?”

“Depends on the amount of radiation being emitted, the sensitivity of the detector, and the thickness of the lead shield.” I also informed her, “The best shield is water, so the big scare is of a nuclear device riding underwater on the hull of a ship that might slip through.”

She didn’t reply to that, then asked me, “Can we get all shipping stopped at sea?”