Grable swallowed； hiked up his belt。 〃Captain； unlike some in the force； I didn't waste my time in the classroom piling up degrees。 I came up through the rank and file。 I know what I'm doing。〃
There was a long moment while Grable looked down on the slumbering tent city。 Hayward glanced at her watch。 The light was ing up moment by moment； and the sun would rise within minutes。 Why the hell was Grable waiting？
〃We're running a little late； if you don't mind me saying so；〃 she said。
〃I don't operate on a timetable； Captain。〃
Hayward tried to suppress her misgivings。 This was Grable's operation…Rocker had made that clear…and she was to follow his lead。 Going in with a bad attitude wasn't going to do any good。 And the plan might work。 Hell； itwould work if they could just get in and out fast enough； drag Buck to the waiting squad car before he'd even managed to wake up。It could work ； she told herself；as long as Grable moves fast。 If you're going to arrest someone； you do it。 You don't give them time to think about it first。 She glanced at Grable again； wondering why he was taking so long。
〃Right；〃 said Grable； noticing the glance。 〃Let's go。〃
They cut west through the low trees and brushy undergrowth； circling the flank of the tent city； sticking close to one side of a shallow defile。 Soon they reached what looked like a herd path leading directly into the makeshift munity。 They were downwind now； and the odor of raw sewage and unwashed humanity hit Hayward hard。
Grable quickened his pace as they approached the fringes。 A few people were already up； some cooking on little backpacking stoves； others wandering around。
Grable hesitated just inside the ragged outer ring of tents。 Then he nodded brusquely to Hayward and they started forward again。 Hayward nodded in a friendly way to those who were up and watching them pass。 The ground flattened and the tents huddled closer together； forming narrow lanes and alleys。 In a few minutes they had arrived at the center clearing around Buck's tent。
So far； so good；thought Hayward。
The front flap was tied on two side posts。 Grable stopped before the entrance and called in a loud voice： 〃Buck？ This is Captain Grable of the NYPD。〃
〃Hey！〃 A tall； clean…cut fellow appeared out of nowhere。 〃What are you doing？〃
〃None of your business；〃 said Grable brusquely。
Shit；thought Hayward。Not like that。
〃There's no problem；〃 she said。 〃We're just here to talk to the reverend。〃
〃Yeah？ What about？〃
〃Back off； pal；〃 said Grable。
〃What is it？〃 came a muffled voice from inside the tent。 〃Who's there？〃
〃Captain Grable； NYPD。〃 Grable began untying the knotted drawstring that held the flap shut against one of the side poles。 He had it almost undone when a hand reached from inside； closed over his； and removed it。 The flap lifted and then Buck stood there； straight and stern。 〃This is my home；〃 he said coldly and with dignity。 〃Do not violate it。〃
Cuff him； Hayward thought。Cuff the son of a bitch and get the hell out。
〃We're New York City police officers； and this is public land。 This isn't some private dwelling。〃
〃Sir； I ask you once again to stand back from my home。〃
Hayward was astonished by the man's presence。 She turned to see how Grable was going to handle it。 She was shocked to see his face paling beneath the sheen of sweat。
〃Wayne Buck； you are under arrest。〃 Grable tried to unclip his handcuffs； but his hands were shaking slightly and it took longer than it should have。
Hayward couldn't believe it。 Grable was out of his depth。 That was the only answer。 He'd ridden a desk so long he'd lost his street smarts…if he ever had them…and he'd forgotten how to deal with a fluid situation like this。 That explained his hesitation back at the arsenal； his sweating； everything。 He'd wanted the missioner to send in a large party to deal with Buck； but when Rocker had given the job directly to him； he couldn't refuse。 Now； with no SWAT team to back him up； confronted by the implacable Buck； he was losing his nerve。
Buck stared； making no move to cooperate； but not doing anything to resist； either。
The clean…cut man； who seemed to be Buck's bodyguard or aide…de…camp； turned； cupped his hands； and cried out in a tremendous voice；〃Arise！ Arise！ The cops are here to arrest the reverend！〃
There was a stirring； a sudden murmur of voices。
〃Turn around and place your hands behind your back； sir；〃 said Grable； but his voice was trembling。
Still Buck made no move。
〃Arise！〃
〃Captain；〃 said Hayward； her voice low； 〃he's resisting arrest。Cuff him 。〃
But Grable made no move。
In an instant； Hayward sized up the situation and realized their window of opportunity had already closed。 Looking around； she recalled the time when…as a kid on a dare…she'd poked a stick into a hornet's nest。 There was a moment； just a moment； of suspension 。 。 。 then a muffled hum just before the hornets came boiling out； madder than hell。 That's what the tent city felt like。 People were up but not yet out of their tents； a dull hum of activity that was about to explode。
〃Defend the reverend！ The police are here to arrest him！ Arise！〃
Now came the boiling。 Suddenly； hundreds of people were up and out of their tents； pulling on shirts； moving toward them。
Hayward leaned in toward Grable。 〃Captain？ We got trouble。 Just be cool。〃
Grable's mouth sagged but no sound came out。
The crowd was pressing in； a wall of people quickly forming at the front； others streaming in from every direction； ringing the tent； a babble of angry voices。
Shit。She turned to face the crowd。 〃Look； friends； we're not here to cause trouble。〃
〃Liar！〃
The cry went up。 〃Blasphemers！〃
They pressed in。 Buck said nothing； did nothing； he just stood there； the picture of dignity。
〃Look；〃 said Hayward； holding out her hands； keeping her voice calm； 〃there's just the two of us。 Nothing to get excited about。〃
〃Godless soldiers of Rome！〃
〃Keep your filthy hands off the reverend！〃
This was even uglier than she thought。 Grable was backing up instinctively； eyes roaming for an escape route that did not exist。
The crowd surged forward； growing angrier。
〃Touch either one of us and it's assault；〃 Hayward said； loudly but calmly。
This paused the front of the crowd； but with others behind pressing forward； it was only a matter of time before they were overwhelmed。
Grable dropped the handcuffs and went for his gun。
〃Grable；no ！〃 Hayward yelled。
Immediately； a roar went up。〃He's going to shoot！ Murderer！ Judas！〃 The front wall surged forward。
Whang！went the gun into the air； the reaction to the sudden sound rippling through the crowd。 And in that instant； Buck； standing only a few feet behind Grable； knocked the gun from his hand with one swift； sure motion。
Thank God；thought Hayward； keeping her hands in sight and well away from her own piece。 Something had to be done right away； or they were toast。 She turned and spoke to Buck。 〃You better do something； Reverend。 It's all in your hands。〃
Buck stepped forward； raising his hands。 There was silence from the crowd； an instant stillness。
He let a moment pass； and then slowly lowered his arm and aimed a steady finger at Grable。 〃This man came here under the cloak of the Prince of Darkness to arrest me。 But God has exposed his deceit。〃
Grable appeared speechless。
〃These centurions； these soldiers of Rome； entered our encampment like skulking snakes； on the devil's own errand。 And they have been defeated by their own shame and cowardice。〃
〃Shame； cowards！〃
Hayward took advantage of a lull to speak quietly to Buck。 〃We'd like to go now。〃
Another roar erupted from the crowd。〃Shame！〃
A stick flew out of the crowd； landing in the dust by their feet。 She could see others being brandished above the crowd。 People on the fringes had begun to hunt among the shrubbery for rocks。
Hayward leaned forward； speaking again in a low voice she hoped only Buck could hear。 〃Reverend Buck？ What's going to happen to you and your followers if we get injured？ Or taken hostage？ How do you think the NYPD will react to that？〃 She smiled coldly。 〃It'll make Waco look like a Sunday barbecue。〃
There was a moment of silence。 Then； not even acknowledging he'd heard； Buck raised his hands again and bowed his head。 Once more a silence immediately fell。
〃My people；〃 he said。 〃My people。 We are Christians。 They may e with malice； but we must show them passion and forgiveness。〃 He turned to his aide…de…camp。 〃Open a way for the unclean ones； Todd。 Let them go in peace。〃
Slowly； the sticks were lowered。 A lane appeared amidst the shuffling throng。 Hayward bent forward； face burning； picked up Grable's gun； tucked it into her belt。 She turned away only to realize Grable wasn't following。 He was still rooted in place。
〃You ing；Captain ？〃
He started； looked around； then walked past without looking at her。 After a moment； he broke into a trot。 A great cheer rose up from the crowd。 Hayward followed at a dignified walk； eyes straight ahead； struggling not to betray in any way…through expression； posture； voice…that she was enduring the worst humiliation of