Page 69 of Sinner's Salvation

“Uh oh,” Evan said. “This is not good.”

“What do you mean, not good?” Anna asked.

“That soldier talking to Baz? He’s my commanding officer. He’s the one who signed the order sending me here. He’s smart, observant, and questions everything.” Evan frowned. “And he’s supposed to be in the Middle East right now.”

“Did I hear the wordkidnap?” Marek asked.

“Yeah,” Baz answered, before anyone else could. “This guy, Ledger,” Baz pointed at the man. “kidnapped an FBI agent and a foreign diplomat because he thought they were vampires. He shot both of them in an effort to prove it. Then he comes here and shoots an NYPD Detective screaming that she’s a vampire too.” Baz gestured at Nika, who the paramedics were just strapping onto the gurney. “He also shot me, but I was wearing a vest.”

“Why are you wearing a vest?” Marek asked, sounding only mildly interested. “You’re not in the military anymore.”

“I drive a yellow cab,” Baz said, as if the reason was obvious. “I always wear one.”

Marek nodded. “Right, right, and I suppose youstillhave that near compulsion to be armored up.”

The paramedics started rolling the gurney toward the elevator.

“I need to go with her,” Baz said.

Marek put a palm flat on Baz’s chest, stopping him before he could move. “Why?”

“She’s my girlfriend.” Then he shook his head.

“Either she is or she isn’t,” Marek said. “Make up your mind.”

“Girlfriend isn’t the right word. She’s more than that.”

“The love of your life?” Marek offered with a small smile.

“Yeah, that’s it.”

Marek shook his head. “I wish I could let you ride with your lady, but I need someone to explain what’s going on here, and you seem to be the most rational person in the room.” Marek looked around at the assembled agents, detectives, and soldiers standing in around in a multi-million dollar apartment with blood all over the floor and one wall. “So, that’s got to tell you how...precarious the situation is.”

“Come on, Baz,” Evan whispered. “Give him what he wants. It’s the fastest route to getting out of there.”

Baz studied Marek’s face, then took in the rest of the people in the room.

Finally, he took in a deep breath. “Brian,” Baz called out. “Can you ride with Nika? Stay with her?”

“Sure,” he said, with a smile that was a bit too happy.

Sleep deprivation did that to you.

“Hey, Baz,” one of the NYPD detectives called out. “Can I go with Nika too?”

“I’d appreciate it, Williams,” Baz told him. “I’ve got to sort out this mess.”

The detective joined the paramedics, Brian, and Nika in the elevator. The doors closed and the stress level in the room went down a notch.

The soldier stared at Ledger. “Where is my interrogator?”

“You mean the traitor?” Ledger spat out. “You must be Marek. Your boy set off a bomb in the building. He’s a traitor. Are you a traitor? Another spy?” Ledger tried to shake off the FBI agent holding him, but the agent didn’t budge.

Marek stepped closer to Ledger and seemed to study his eyes. “Are you on any medications or drugs?”

“Me?” Ledger started laughing, and it sounded...wrong. Too high pitched, too frenetic.

Marek looked at the assorted law enforcement agents in the room. “Has this man taken any medication?”

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