Page 83 of Sinner's Salvation

“He told me that she was a terrorist masquerading as diplomat. He said she had some unique skills and was an imminent danger to the country.”

“He told us the same thing,” the FBI agent said. “Then he told us that our agent had died while trying to bring this Anna Breznik in.”

“He told me that she had the ability to heal what would normally be lethal injuries,” Evan said. “I didn’t see him injure her or your agent, but I saw them at some point after they’d been hurt. They were both covered in blood, and were pissed off.”

“I still didn’t know what was going on, so I went into the room to ask some leading questions. Which is when I discovered their identities and that what had happened to them at Ledger’s hands was very illegal.”

“You said you had a recording of Ledger planning your murder?” Marek asked.

“Yup.” Even reached into one of his pockets and pulled out his work cell phone. He turned the device on, located the file, and pressed play.

He watched the three men’s faces as the audio file played.

None of them looked happy, but Marek’s face hardened as the audio continued, until he was well and truly angry by the end of it.

“Who was he talking to?”

“A congressman and a senator, which was a really dumb thing to do,” Evan said. “Since they all gossip worse than an old lady bridge club. Everyone is going to know he thinks there are vampires running around the world.”

“You don’t think there’s anything strange about Anna Breznik?” his boss asked.

“Define strange,” Evan said. “Are you talking about cultural differences or what?”

Marek didn’t answer, just studied him with a blank expression.

Evan met his gaze with a direct one of his own. “What are you really asking?”

“Do you know her? Have you met her before?”

“No and no. You know as much about her as I do.”

“Then why are you going to bat for her so hard?”

Evan arched one eyebrow. “She is a diplomat from a foreign country who was kidnapped, shot, and interrogated by a member of the American law enforcement community. She was accused of being a vampire, which if you don’t mind my saying, is fucking crazy by anyone’s definition.” He tilted his head to one side. “How would you like me to act?”

“Sometimes things are done for a variety of reasons,” Marek said.

“What do you know that I don’t?”

The two FBI agents, who’d been watching their exchange with great interest, shifted in their seats, leaning forward.

“Homeland hasn’t shared that with me,” Marek said. “But the Secretary of Homeland Security has assured me that she’s guilty of some seriously bad shit.” His boss smiled, and it wasn’t a nice smile.

Evan raised his hands for a moment. “Hey, the situation has been above my pay grade since the moment I stepped foot on Fort Hamilton Base. You want me to step back, I’ll step back.”

“Did you set off a bomb at the base?” one of the FBI agents asked.

“Nope. I didn’t have the time or opportunity. Ledger, however, had both.” Evan looked both agents over. They didn’t seem interested in going anywhere. “Are you going after your agent or are you going to cut your ties with him?”

“Why do you care?” one of the agents asked.

“Because if you’re going to walk away from him I want to recommend Army Intelligence recruit him. He’s brilliant undercover.”

The FBI agents both looked like he’d hit them in the head with a board.

His boss pursed his lips and waggled his head back and forth. “I don’t know. The CIA might want him more.”

The two FBI agents looked at each other. “Perhaps it’s time to speak with our director.”

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