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BETWEEN DECEMBER 26 AND January 2, the nation’s capital is usually dead. Congress is in recess, the federal agencies are operating on skeleton crews, and the president is off skiing or golfing with family somewhere.

But today, three days after the FBI received an anonymous tip on its hotline, the offices Mahoney and I entered on Capitol Hill were crowded with young people working at breakneck speed. Cell phones were ringing constantly and everyone was shouting over one another.

“Welcome to the office of President-Elect Sue Winter,” said the harried woman with curly ginger hair who met us at the elevator. “And who are you again?”

“FBI, ma’am,” Mahoney said.

“Oh,” she said, clearly taken aback. “No one told me the FBI was coming.”

“And you are?”

“Hester Little,” she said, extending her hand. “I work for the transition team.”

“In what capacity?” he said, shaking it.

“Assistant to the assistant director of transition personnel,” she said, squinting. “I’m sorry, the person at the front desk said you were looking for a job.”

“Not at this time, Ms. Little,” Mahoney said, smiling at her and stepping back. “We’d like to talk with the director of transition personnel.”

The assistant to the assistant director’s face fell. “I’m afraid that’s kind of impossible. She’s meeting with the inaugural team at the moment.”

“Where?”

“Here.”

“Then you should go and kind of get her out of that meeting,” Mahoney said, the smile fading. “This is a double-homicide investigation and the FBI’s highest priority.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

She hurried away.

A few moments later, Ms. Little returned, apologized, and led us through a maze of desks to a conference room.

An extremely irritated-looking woman with close-cropped black hair came into the room through another door. “This better be good,” she said. “I’m losing ground by the minute.”

“Edward Mahoney, FBI. This is my colleague Dr. Alex Cross. We’re working the murders of federal appeals court judges Franklin and Pak.”

That sobered the woman. “Sorry, I’m Allegra Dennison, director of transition personnel. How can I help?”

I said, “An anonymous caller said that the incoming administration had been considering nominating Judge Franklin to the U.S. Supreme Court.”

Dennison frowned. “There’s no opening that I know of.”

Mahoney said, “But there must be lists you keep, files of possible candidates.”

“I’m sure,” she said. “But we’re not in the habit of discussing those with the public.”

“We’re not the public, Ms. Dennison,” Ned said, getting that hard-ass edge to his voice again. “We’re the law.”

“Yes,” she said, holding up her palms. “And I am not here to obstruct you in any way, Mr. Mahoney. I’ll tell you that as far as I know, Judge Franklin was not on any transition-team list of possible Supreme Court appointees.”

“Okay,” I said. “What about Judge Pak?”

“Pak? No. He was a longtime supporter of President-Elect Sue Winter, but no.”

“Supporter?”

“The president-elect knew Mrs. Pak in college and attended the Paks’ wedding. Both Judge and Mrs. Pak made regular donations to her campaigns over the years.”

“Huh,” Mahoney said. “And that didn’t get Pak on a list?”

“If it did, it has not crossed my desk,” she said firmly. “I want to put this rumor to rest. The office and work of the transition team is in no way, shape, or form connected to the tragic deaths of Judge Pak and Judge Franklin.”