Chapter 8: Cold Home

Erwin arrives at the White House, noted by General Dan Thorpe, and is ushered into the Oval Office. Facing the president and senior officials, he recounts the jail massacre: a single, barefoot attacker in a purple tutu with a knife and chain killed dozens, abducted Steve, and spared Erwin after recognizing his combat reputation.

Pressed for details, Erwin explains he tried invoking “Carolyn,” which briefly slowed the attacker. The man uttered a name sounding like “Nobununga,” which Erwin misread as Nobunaga before concluding it was different. He emphasizes the attacker’s extraordinary speed and that Steve appeared surprised and resisted, suggesting abduction rather than escape.

Erwin outlines why he’d targeted Carolyn earlier: her odd attire echoed a bank robber’s, and a single, perfect fingerprint at Steve’s house seemed intentionally planted to connect her to him. He characterizes Steve as a relatively ordinary plumber burdened by guilt but likely innocent of the cop’s murder.

The White House discloses that Carolyn herself called, used access codes, and demanded a presidential pardon for Steve. Erwin infers leverage and warns that an immediate kinetic response is likely what Carolyn wants, urging the president to avoid reacting along her scripted path and instead wait for more clarity.

After the meeting, the president thanks Erwin, banters about public personas, and invites him to a recurring card game, cementing mutual respect. Thorpe, impressed, looks to debrief Erwin further as the policy team departs to deliberate.