Page 74 of Sinner's Salvation

“What about the NYPD?” Evan asked.

“They all cleared out except for surveillance out on the street. They’ve also got a couple of people in the restaurant on the main floor. They’re rotating teams in and out. Not sure if they’re planning on doing it 24/7 or what. With all those Chinese tourists, we’re nearly at full capacity.”

“The Chinese,” Anna whispered, closing her eyes. “I had forgotten about them.”

“Yeah, well, it was pretty funny watching the cops try to ask some of them questions. All they wanted to do was take pictures standing next to them. A couple even wanted to have the cops put their handcuffs on them for the pictures.”

“I think they can all speak English, they just choose not to.”

“Anyone the Chinese deem family is highly educated,” Anna said. “And extremely dangerous.”

“Even the little old ladies?” Evan asked.

“Especially them,” Baz replied. “I’ve seen them wander over to some idiot who thought his sword and fancy armor meant something, only to be garroted by thelittle old lady.” Baz looked at Anna. “What are we going to do with them?”

She sighed. “I guess that depends on how badly the Chinese government wants them back.”

All three of them stared at nothing at all for a moment.

Evan began reviewing everything Ledger had said to him when he’d first arrived. “Ledger told me someone, I got the impression it was a group, tipped him off about you, Anna. Showed him something to convince him you were different. Worth the risk of grabbing you and shooting you to confirm the information.” He leaned forward. “Could it be those Italian guys?”

“The timing would suggest that it was them,” she said.

“I’ll get Yvgeny’s hacker squad to look into it,” Baz said. “And get them to see if there’s any chatter online about the Chinese government looking for some people.”

“You should go to Nika,” Anna said.

Baz got to his feet fast. Too fast. Faster than Evan had ever seen anyone move.

Evan jerked himself back, unable to stop his body’s natural reaction to the show of strength.

No one moved.

In an effort to break the tension, Evan asked, “Just how strong are you?”

“We’ve never developed a rating system,” Baz said, “But everyone believes I’m the strongest.” He shook his head. “I’ve got to go. I’ve got eight million things to do and just as many people to talk to.”

Baz headed for the stairs, but paused before he started up them. “Stay here, both of you,” he ordered. “Evan, there’s food in the fridge and in the cupboards in the mini-kitchen. A coffee maker included. The couch folds out into a bed. I will check in when I know something about anything. Mason and Magnus know you’re up here, too.” Baz went up the stairs, then closed the secret hatch at the top.

Evan looked at Anna, who smiled.

“To answer your question, we’re stronger, faster, and can heal from almost any wound. We don’t get sick and we don’t age. A few were older when they got sick and became one of us. They didn’t get younger, but if they suffered from arthritis, they didn’t afterwards. They might have the gray hair and less muscle mass, but on the inside, they’re healthy.”

“The fountain of youth,” Evan whispered.

“Living for a long time comes with a lot of problems. Some are obvious, but others aren’t.” She got up and walked in a circle, stopped to look at the screens, then wandered around the furniture. She had her arms wrapped around herself.

“Anna, what’s wrong?”

“There aren’t any windows and I feel like the walls are closing in.”

Evan got to his feet and followed her a half pace behind. “What would you normally do in a situation like this?”

She barked out a short laugh. “I wouldn’t be in a situation like this. I always leave myself with more than one way to esc...” She stopped walking and blinked. “You’re right. Yvgeny would have at least one other way out.”

“Do you want to find it?”

“Yes.”

---