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She was shocked by his reply. He was a man who always got involved. "What happened between you two? Your team members were ferociously loyal to each other. I saw that firsthand."

"My friend lost a leg because of Jack," he snapped. "Is that a good enough reason for you?"

Her jaw dropped in surprise. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah, so am I. And I'm sorry I didn't see how bad Jack's decisions were before someone had to pay such a huge price."

"Is that why you quit Delta?"

"Yeah."

She didn't know what to say, so she said the only thing she could: "Okay. I'll talk to the police. I'll see if I can help them find Jack. Do you want me to drive you back to the hospital now?"

"No. I'll take the subway."

"You don't have to do that."

"I need to think. I need to walk. I need to…go."

He walked away, and she watched him until he disappeared from sight. Then she made her way back to her car. It was only when she got inside that she realized how much she reeked of smoke.

She pulled down the mirror and looked at her face, seeing dirt and tiny splinters in her hair that had probably come from the door that had exploded all over her, reminding her that this wasn't just some puzzle she needed to figure out. This was life and death, and her desire to find Jack had almost gotten her killed. Was she really going to keep going?

Tyler walked for a couple of miles, then took the subway to the East River Veterans Hospital so he could retrieve his car. He didn't know if Rachel had gone back to work, but it didn't matter. He had nothing to say to her now, because he couldn't give her the answer she wanted.

So, he got in his car and drove across the Brooklyn Bridge to a two-story house in Williamsburg that belonged to another one of his Delta teammates, Gary Weller.

When he pulled up in front of the house, he saw Gary and his six-year-old son, Henry, playing catch in the yard, while his wife, Jessica, and their four-year-old daughter, Dina, were coloring with chalk on the cement path leading up to their door.

The homey family scene put an odd feeling in the pit of his stomach. Gary and Jessica had been high school sweethearts and were one of the few couples he'd known who had kept their love story alive during Gary's time in the Army, and in the year since he'd left. They'd had to deal with years of separation, including a nine-month deployment a year after their wedding. There had been many moments of fear, injuries, rehab, and, somehow, they'd come through it all. That seemed like one hell of a miraculous feat.

He smiled as he watched Gary patiently show his son how to grip the baseball. Gary had always been one of the calmer members of his Delta unit. He'd been able to stay detached from the drama that sometimes occurred when the intensity level got high, which had been often. And if anyone could have been called a peacemaker or a mediator, it was Gary, with his boy-next-door freckle-faced, cheerful charm.

Gary turned and saw him sitting in his car. He gave him a wave and a questioning look.

Tyler got out of his car and crossed the lawn, giving his longtime friend a brief hug.

"It's about time," Gary complained. "It's been almost a year since I've actually seen you in person."

"It can't have been that long," he murmured.

"It has been," Jessica agreed as she walked over to give him a warm embrace. "It's good to see you, Tyler."

"You, too." His gaze widened as he saw her put a hand on on the slight bump in her stomach. "Uh…"

She laughed. "Yes, I'm pregnant, not just fat."

"Congratulations. You're going to have a full house."

"I know. It feels a little crazy at times," she said. "How are you? What are you up to?"

"Been working a lot."

Jessica gave him a knowing smile. "Sounds about right. Is that all you've been doing?"

"Pretty much."

"Well, I'm taking the kids to the library, so you and Gary should catch up."