Part 1, Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8 Summary

Cross reports to agent Nooney's office where he is told that Tony Woods from the director's office has requested his presence in Baltimore. Nooney seems upset as he dismisses Cross from the rest of the day's classes, informing him that a helicopter is waiting to take him to Baltimore. Cross leaves Nooney's office and meets the helicopter at the helipad. In less than half an hour he arrives in Baltimore and is told that a City of Baltimore detective, Dennis Coulter, has blockaded himself in his home, holding his family hostage. Cross knows Coulter as they had worked together on a drug investigation and is told that Coulter has specifically requested him.

Once he arrives on scene, Cross notices that the house has been freshly painted, signaling to Cross that Coulter probably had not been expecting this kind of trouble. Cross...