Metafire

"Your opinion does not matter, John." It was Angela. "I now have the release code. I can program the bomb. We can make it impossible for George to have any effect. At this point, we are taking over. If you think about it, John, your situation is better. When your tug arrives to meet us, and you have Jane, then you will have our daughter as your hostage. We have to be playing straight with you."

Then Jane spoke, "We do believe the documentation. We do believe that George was the one that caused the previous explosions. But we also intend to survive. If you let us complete this, I and the others in Sante Fe, and on board Metafire here, can continue to provide the software systems from Metafire Systems, Inc. There will be no bomb threat. We just want to be left alone."

Ferguson was completely exasperated. This was a whole hive of criminals. He couldn't find a way to contain them. The Major was out. Jill was out. He was alone. Finally, it dawned on him what to say.

"Send George back."

"What?" Frank was incredulous.

"Send George back, and it's a deal. We weren't kidding. George is the murderer of millions. You have seen the evidence. We didn't fake it. We want him back. Then you can go free and do what you want. Of course, you had better also disarm the bomb."