Page 3 of Sinner's Salvation

Another noise, fabric sliding against fabric, and someone groaned.

She was in a small room, given the lack of background sounds and air movement, with at least one other person. That groan sounded like it had come out of the bottom of a deep well.

“I don’t understand,” a man said, in a tight, guttural tone.

That was Brian Stettler’s voice, and it didn’t contain its usual lightness of surprise or bite of irony.

“Why would you shoot her?” he continued. “And why am I here?”

“We got a tip that this woman isn’t who she says she is,” someone else answered. The Homeland Security agent who shot her. His voice had an irritating whine buried in it. “She’s a threat. We didn’t realize how big of a threat until shedidn’tdie of a wound that should havekilledher.”

“Maybe your aim is just that bad,” Brian muttered.

“She should be dead,” the Homeland Security agent suddenly shouted. “The wound on the back of her head isgone, like it was never there.” His voice bounced around the room. “She’s some kind offreak, andI’mgoing to find out what.”

“Well, I’m not a freak,” Brian said, with more control but no less intensity than the Homeland Security agent. “I’m an FBI agent, and you fuckingshot me.”

Ooh, he sounded angry.

“I didn’t kill you, did I?” the Homeland Security agent said, with no sympathy at all. “I just grazed you. I had to make sure you aren’t...whatever she is.”

“You sound completely crazy,” Brian said, turning the last word into an accusation.

“I needed to make sure you’re human, and that required an experiment,” the Homeland Security agent said, lowering his voice as if it was a difficult task. He was easily riled. “The first of many.”

Experiment? Like they were laboratory animals?

Had the worst happened then? Was the secret of vampires existing in the real world out?

“Shooting us was an experiment?” Brian asked, his tone incredulous. “That’s attempted murder times two.”

“She isn’t human, Agent Stettler,” the cool voice of the Homeland Security agent said, now devoid of emotion. “Not anymore.”

“She’s as human as you and I,” Brian replied, his voice hoarse and breathing erratic. “She has some kind of disease, that’s all. Maybe it slows down her metabolism or something.”

Interesting that he’d come up with that on his own. Or maybe he hadn’t. He had been stashed away in Yvgeny’s safe room with Nika, Baz’s girlfriend, and Samantha, Yvgeny’s paramedic. Nika had likely explained a few things.

“However she got to be the way she is, she’s different and my source says she’s not alone,” the voice said, with a hard, implacable edge. “They heal fast and they’re stronger than normal humans. We need to understand the extent of the differences between us and them. We need to know the limitations of their healing and fighting abilities.”

There was a long pause before Brian spoke again.

“You may want to reconsider that,” he said, his voice blurred with exhaustion. “She’s a member of the Slovenian government and the head of a large financial institution. She’ll be missed. There could be...repercussions.”

The other man chuckled. “As far as the rest of the world knows, you and this creature died in a car accident. The vehicle caught on fire. I’m afraid there isn’t much left of you for your family to bury.”

In other words,we can kill you whenever we want.

“Me?” Brian asked. “Why would you...” His voice trailed off. “Why?”

“She requested you as her FBI contact, and her behavior toward you is...possessive.”

“I work for her nephew and he knows I’m an FBI agent, so I think she found me odd, and wanted to keep an eye on me.”

“Possibly,” the other man said, in a flat tone that communicated quite clearly he didn’t believe it. “I’m sure we will have answers to all our questions eventually.”

There was a rustle of fabric. “It’s in your best interest to cooperate, Mr. Stettler.” Soft footfalls. “When she wakes, convince her to do the same.” The Homeland Security agent’s voice came from a different spot in the room. “Your life depends on it.”

Something metallic rattled, then a rush of fresh air swept into the room, carrying with it more of the bitter smell, along with the sound of several voices and heavy footsteps. Then it all disappeared with the audible snick of a door closing. Athunkfollowed. Probably a lock being engaged.

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