I went over and split some of the pre-cut bagels, putting a couple in the toaster as Sarah poured some coffee. We put on a good show, as if I knew that she liked nothing better than toasted bagels for breakfast and didn't even have to ask, and she knew exactly how I liked my coffee. She asked Josh if he wanted some and he looked up from the lunch boxes for a second, nodded and smiled.

She poured.

"So what are our chances, Josh?"

He had his back to us again, jamming too much food into a Little Mermaid lunch box.

"I was going to give them a call at the top of the hour," he said, "just after the shift change."

He finished loading up the Little Mermaid and glanced at his watch.

"Tell you what, let's see if I can get hold of the guy now."

He walked over to the wall telephone and dialed, hooked the receiver with about a ten-foot lead between his shoulder and ear, then walked back to put the lunch boxes into the kids' day sacks He had sold out: his tie was just plain old blue. He saw me looking at it in disgust, annoyed that there was nothing I could take the p.i.s.s out of. He grinned back at me.

The day sacks were made of clear plastic the only sort of bag that could be taken into some American schools now, because the kids had to show they held only books and lunch boxes and not guns. I imagined that White House security would have thought them a good idea, too.

I could hear cartoons on the TV next door. That worried me; it meant they'd finished breakfast and were killing time. In this house, there was never any TV while there were meals to be eaten or work to be done. I looked at my watch. It was seven thirty-two.

He got an answer.

"Yo, it's Josh." There was a gap.

"Yeah, absolutely fine, I'll be there today anyway to watch my kids; we can talk then." They spun more work s.h.i.t for a while, and had an in-joke about their president.

The toaster popped up. I picked up the bagels and went to the fridge, digging out some spread. Sarah's eyes followed me as she crossed to sit at the kitchen table. She looked like a student waiting for her finals results.

I deliberately didn't look at Josh; if he turned I didn't want any eye-to eye Our unconscious bubbles away inside, and mostly we manage never to let people see in; the only place they can is our eyes. I'd spent most of my life controlling it, but Josh knew the score. He'd been there, too. I just concentrated hard on the bagel as I spread, and listened.

He finished warning and got down to business.

"Who's the shift coordinator today? Ah, right. Is Davy Boy in?" He sounded pleased.

I walked across the kitchen and sat next to Sarah. She had her hands around her mug, just sipping slowly, taking fantastic interest in the coffee's molecular structure. Josh was still gob bing off on the phone with his back to us and zipping up the day sacks Once he'd done that, he walked over to us and dumped them on the table, still waffling.

"I've got two really good friends here, over from the U.K." and I want to bring them in for a visit. What do you say, bud?" He smiled at whatever was being said at the other end.

"Yeah, today ... yeah, I know, but it's their only chance, man ... yeah, that's OK." He looked at his watch, placed his thumb on the cutout, looked at us and said, "Call back in thirty."

Both of us managed a genuine look of happiness, but I was bluffing big time. We had a problem if the kids left before we got the OK for the visit.

I checked my watch again. It was now seven thirty-nine. Josh smiled, too, feeling good about himself as he sat down at the table with his coffee.

Sarah sounded excited.

"I'll go and get ready, then. See you both soon." She gave my shoulder a loving squeeze and disappeared.

Josh checked the kitchen. His jobs were done. We drank coffee in silence.

He ate a bagel and listened to Maria still shouting at the kids in the next room. I said, "When do the kids leave, Josh? It's a bit early for a one o'clock start isn't it?"

"About eight. A school bus will pick them up and take them downtown.

Dress rehearsals, man. I'll be glad when this is all over; this quilt business seems to have taken over my life."

I nodded. I knew exactly what he meant.

I tried to fill the silence.

"What's the dress code?" I said.

"I don't want to let you down."

"Hey, no problem, man. I just gotta look good; it's my job."

We continued to drink our brews and gob off. I asked if I could borrow one of his ties.

He was about to clip me over the head when a shout came from the dining room.

"Daddy! Daddy!" There was some whining going on and Maria was just about to go ballistic. He got up.

"Back in five."

He went out with a smile on his face; mine dropped. I checked again.

Seven forty-five. Fifteen minutes till the kids left, but closer to twenty-five before we got the go or no go for the visit. Not good; I needed the kids here just in case we had a no go, otherwise plan B wouldn't work. Time to get my finger out of my a.s.s and get in gear. I put my coffee down and went upstairs. Sarah's shower was running and she was standing naked by the curtain, just about to step in. I said nothing, but went to my bag and pulled out the 9mm, then checked the chamber.

She came over to me, putting her mouth right against my ear as she asked what was happening.

I placed the weapon in the waistband of my jeans and pulled out my shirt to cover it.

"The kids could be leaving before Josh gets the go or no go."

She leaned over the chair, got her clothes and started to dress, muttering, "s.h.i.t. s.h.i.t. s.h.i.t."

"You wait here and stand by. If I have to go for it, you'll hear. If so, get down to me and be quick about it. Remember, don't kill him, OK? Do you remember what to do?"

She nodded as she tucked her shirt into her trousers. I still wanted to run through it with her. We couldn't afford to f.u.c.k up now.

"If it's a no go, I'll hold them here, and you will have to go with Josh on your own. Can you handle that?"

She nodded again, without looking up.

"Good. Remember, he will do whatever you say if the kids are hostages.

Make sure you keep reminding him about his kids."

This time she stopped dressing and looked up at me.

"Good luck," I said quietly.

She smiled.

"And you."

Checking my shirt, I went downstairs, leaving Sarah as she checked that there was a round in the chamber, ready to go.

The bags had gone from the kitchen, but kid-type noise was still coming from the TV room. Josh came back in from giving them their day sacks "What's the score up there, then, eh?" He jerked his head to indicate upstairs.

"Is it serious?"

"I think so, mate. I hope so."

He had a big smile on his face.

"She's magic, man. She'd make my head spin."

"Tell me about it." I sat down to finish my coffee, with a sly check of Baby-G. It was seven fifty-seven. Three minutes and the kids could be leaving; still over ten before the call.

Dakota came into the kitchen, very excited about the day's program.

"Hi, Nick. Are you and Sarah hanging out with Daddy today so you can see us sing? It's going to be so cool!"

Josh tried to calm her down.

"Wow, chill. We don't know yet, we're waiting on a call. You'd better say good-bye to Nick now, just in case." With that he went back into the TV room to usher the others into the kitchen.

Dakota came over and gave me a hug. It must have felt as strange for her as it did for me. I was holding back; I didn't want her to feel the weapon.

"If I don't see you this afternoon, I'll call you all soon--with Kelly, OK?".

By now the others were coming through, more interested in what they were missing on the TV than in saying goodbye.

Josh was getting them organized.

"All go upstairs and say good-bye to Sarah. Holler through the door if she's in the shower." Off they scrambled.

I heard their shouts, and hers in return.

Josh was on the doorstep with Maria. It looked as if she was finished until this afternoon. Good: one less to worry about.

It was eight o'clock. Things could start getting scary soon. I made sure my work ca.s.sette was in, and stayed there. At least Josh's holster wasn't full yet; it never was with the kids around. I heard the hiss of air brakes outside.

"The bus is here, kids, let's go!" There was a thumping on the staircase and one in my heart as I walked into the hall to stop them, hand now reaching under my shirt.

They saw me.

"Bye, Nick, see you this afternoon!"

The phone rang and Josh came past me, back into the kitchen, sounding exasperated.

"Come on, kids, get your bags. Bus is waiting!"

Through the open kitchen door, I saw him answer the phone. I was standing in their way as they were about to turn left toward the door that led from the hallway into the TV room. I put my hand around the pistol grip. I knew it would work; people don't f.u.c.k about when it comes to their children.

Sarah was at the top of the stairs, weapon strong, five steps behind. The worse scenario I could imagine couldn't be stopped now. She was walking down the stairs, pistol behind her, in case one of the children looked back.

I slowed the herd.

"Hey, hey, don't go yet. I think your dad wants you all in the kitchen. He's finding out if Sarah and I are coming to see you all sing today." They turned left through the door to their dad. I had eye-to eye with Sarah. She was nearing the bottom of the stairs and was placing her weapon in her trouser band.

"Remember what I said."

She nodded as we both went into the kitchen with the last of the kids.

He got to the end of his call and the kids were all over him, wanting to know.

"Right, we're on at ten!" He beamed.

The kids cheered and we both cheered with them.

"Well done!" I had a big smile on my face.

"Thanks a lot, mate.

Brilliant!"

He remembered the bus.

"What are you guys doing here? Go, go!" He shooed them out toward the front door.

I heard the hiss of the bus's air brakes and the chug of diesel as it dragged itself down the road. Josh came back into the kitchen and collapsed onto a chair with a loud sigh, pouring himself some more coffee as he looked up at Sarah.

"Come back, Geri, all is forgiven." He looked at me.

"Great news, huh? To tell you the truth, I'm quite looking forward to it myself."

Sarah laughed, more out of relief than anything else.

"Say, do you guys have a camera?"

We didn't.

"No problem, we can pick one up from a store. I'm quite looking forward to going downtown. I miss working the team, man." He took another slug of coffee.

"This job is driving me crazy, know what I'm saying? I've got to get back on ops." Tilting his head back, he killed the coffee.

"I'm going to make a call to arrange parking. It's a nightmare up there."