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message went to Mr. Bowen, one to Director Weir, and one to me. Until today, nothing of consequence had been revealed. But this morning each of us received a film of the bombing in Nevada. The film had been edited. I’ll share it with you now.”
    Burns made a rapid, circular hand signal and a video began to play on the half a dozen monitors around the room. The film was in black and white; it was grainy and looked handheld, like news footage. Like war footage, actually. The room was very quiet as we watched the video.
    From a distance of a mile or more, one camera angle revealed the army trucks and jeeps arriving in Sunrise Valley. Moments later the mystified residents were escorted from their mobile homes into the trucks.
    A man pulled a handgun and was shot dead in the street. Douglas Puslowski, I knew.
    The convoy then drove off quickly, raising great clouds of dust.
    In the next shot, a large, dark object tumbled into view from the sky. While it was still in the air, there was an incredible explosion.
    The film of the actual bombing had also been edited but showed footage from only a single camera. The editing was mostly a series of jump cuts. Jarring, but effective.
    This was followed by a long shot of the explosion. The plane that delivered the bomb was never in the shot.
    “They filmed the whole damn thing,” Burns said. “They wanted us to know that they were there, that they are the ones who bombed the town out of existence. In a few minutes they’re going to tell us why. They’ll call on the phone.
    “The person making the calls has been using phone cards from public phones. Crude but effective. So far, the calls have originated from grocery stores, movie theaters, bowling alleys. Pretty much untraceable, as you know.”
    We sat mostly in silence for a minute or two. There were only a few private conversations going on.
    Then the quiet was broken—the phone at the front of the room began to ring.

Chapter 20
    “THIS WILL BE on speaker for everyone to hear,” Burns told us. “They said it was permissible, even advisable for all of you to be here. In other words, they expected an audience. They’re very big on rules, as you’ll see.”
    “Who the hell is
they?
” Monnie whispered up close to my ear. “See, it
is
sci-fi. Aliens, maybe? That’s my bet going in.”
    “We’ll know in a minute, won’t we? I’m not betting against you.”
    Director Burns pushed a button on his console, and a male voice came over the speakers. The voice was heavily filtered.
    “Good evening. This is the Wolf,” we heard.
    The hair on the back of my neck rose immediately. I knew the Wolf; I’d chased him for nearly a year. In fact, I’d never known a more ruthless killer.
    “I’m the one responsible for the destruction of Sunrise Valley. I’d like to explain myself—at least, as much as you deserve to know. Or should I say, as much as I want you to know at this time.”
    Monnie looked over at me and shook her head. She knew the Wolf, too. The news couldn’t have been worse if the call had come straight from hell.
    “It’s good to be able to talk to all of you, so many self-important people gathered together just to listen to my ramblings. The FBI, CIA, Homeland Security,” the Wolf continued. “I’m so very impressed. Humbled, actually.”
    “Do you want us to talk, or listen?” Burns asked.
    “Who am I speaking to? Who was that just now? Would you mind identifying yourself?”
    “It’s Director Burns, FBI. I’m with Director Weir of the CIA and Stephen Bowen of Homeland Security.”
    There was a crackling sound over the speakers that might have been a laugh. “Well, I’m just so very honored again, Mr. Burns. I’d have thought you would assign a lackey to speak to me. At first, anyway. Someone like Dr. Cross. But, you know, it’s better that we talk top-to-top. That’s always best, don’t you think?”
    Weir from the CIA said, “You specifically requested ‘the first team’ in your earlier