"This is true."

"I'm assuming the transmitter is in the lodge itself."

"Most likely. It would be safe and secure there, and hidden from view."

"Right. It may be in the basement. The fallout shelter."

I nodded. "Probably."

"So, if you want to shut down Madox's ELF station, then that is where we shut it down."

"Absolutely." I suggested, "You excuse yourself to go to the ladies' room-which Madox will know takes fifteen to twenty minutes-find the transmitter, and smash it."

"Okay. And you can cover me by sticking the BearBanger up your ass and firing it."

Ms. Mayfield was in a strangely humorous mood tonight. It must be her way of dealing with stress.

I said to her, "As I mentioned earlier, the real purpose of this visit is not social-it is to place Bain Madox under arrest for ... give me a Federal crime that fits."

"Kidnapping. He had to kidnap Harry before he assaulted him."

"Right. Kidnapping and assault. The state tries him for murder."

"Correct."

Actually, if Madox provoked me in any way, he wouldn't have to worry about any trial. I said to Kate, "It's good to be married to a lawyer."

"You need a full-time lawyer, John."

"Right."

"Also, to make an arrest, you need something aside from your suspicions."

"If we don't arrest him tonight," I said, "do you want to be responsible for four nuclear explosions tomorrow? Or tonight?"

"No ... but, legalities aside, an arrest is not that easy at the Custer Hill Club." She pointed out, "There are only two of us, and many of them."

"We are the law."

"I know that, John, but-"

"Do you have that little card to read him his rights?"

"I think I can recite that without a card by now."

"Good. Do you have handcuffs?"

"No. Do you?"

"Not on me." I said, "We should have brought the duct tape. Maybe Madox has the shackles he used on Harry. Or, maybe I'll just kick him in the nuts."

"You seem very confident."

"I am very motivated."

"Good. By the way, why do we need these BearBangers? We have guns and shields. Right?"

"Well ..."

"Yeah, well. Okay, John, I'm with you. But don't get us into something you can't get us out of."

I may already have done that, but I said, "Just be alert, aware, and ready-like any other tricky arrest. We are the law, he is the criminal."

She had two words for me: "Remember Harry."

I looked at her and said, "Kate, that's why we're doing this alone. I really want to make this bust myself. Just me. And you, if you want."

We made eye contact, and she nodded. "Drive."

Kate seemed a little anxious about the evening, but she also seemed to be looking forward to it. I know this feeling very well. We're not in this business for the money. We're in it for the excitement, and for moments like this.

Duty, honor, country, service, truth, and justice are good. But you can do that from behind a desk.

In the end, you carry the gun and the shield out into the field for the sole purpose of confronting the bad guys. The enemy. There is no other reason to be on the front lines.

Kate understood that. I understood it. And, in about an hour, Bain Madox would also understand it.

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

We passed Rudy's darkened gas station and continued on into the state park preserve.

We approached Stark Road and saw a power-company truck parked on the side with its lights flashing, and I was sure this was the state police surveillance vehicle. I slowed down to be certain he saw us turning onto Stark Road.

As we continued on through the tunnel of trees, I said to Kate, "Okay, give the state police a call, and tell them that I need to speak to Major Schaeffer, and it's urgent."

Kate took her cell phone out of her bag, turned it on, and said, "I have no service."

"What do you mean? Madox's relay tower is only about four miles from here."

"I have no service."

I took my cell phone out and turned it on. No service. "Maybe we need to get closer." I gave her my phone.