organizes, and funds partnerships such as yours. Thanks to private investors, we’re in the process of building a worldwide army that stands on the front lines of the war against Heaven and Hell. Are you familiar with the dangers both pose against humans?”
Anthony tried to decide if that was a trick question. He took a little too long to say, “Sure.”
“Things are sorely out of balance for the humans. One of the Union’s primary missions is to stop in-fighting amongst humans—kopides, aspides, and anyone else with special talents. We have to unite to focus our energies. Take up the sword and shield to defend ourselves.” He focused fully on Anthony. “Did you have an old rivalry with Michele Newcomb?”
“Uh, no.”
“Then why did you kill her?”
“I’ve never even met her.”
Zettel frowned. “You’re lying.”
“Yeah. Right. I am lying to a man who could shoot me dead on the spot.” Anthony rolled his eyes. “That’s a smart idea.”
“Why don’t you have any identification in your luggage?”
“You got in my luggage?”
“How long have you been married?” Zettel asked instead of responding.
Anthony’s pulse accelerated. Oh, hell. Allyson was probably asking Elise the same thing. When had they started dating? May? “Just about four months.”
“Newlyweds. Congrats. What year were you born?”
“Why the hell do you care?”
Zettel unfolded his arms, cracked his knuckles. Even though he had a schooled, east-coast accent, he still gave the physical impression of being a very smart gorilla with a crew cut. “Belligerence didn’t treat your wife very well. There are dozens of Union operatives arrayed throughout this base, and all of them are armed.”
“I’ve never even heard of Michele Newcomb. You can ask all the questions you want and that won’t change.”
“This can take all day if it needs to,” Zettel said. “All week.”
“Are you listening to a single thing I say?”
Judging by the commander’s expression, Anthony was ninety-nine percent sure that Zettel didn’t believe a thing he was saying. “She’s aggressive for an aspis,” he went on.
Anthony had to laugh at that. “She would be aggressive for a coked-out cage fighter.”
“You claim you don’t know Michele Newcomb. Would it be possible, then, for you to make any guesses as to why she might have had your name on her travel request?”
“You said she was a recruiter, right? Maybe she wanted to recruit us. How the hell am I supposed to guess at a stranger’s motivations?”
Zettel stared at him. Anthony responded in kind.
After a lengthy two minutes, which felt more like two hours, Zettel spoke into his phone. “You done yet? Bring her back in here.” Allyson escorted Elise back into the tent. She didn’t look like any new bones were broken, but she didn’t look happy, either.
“How long have they been married?” Allyson asked.
Zettel smirked. “Four months.” They both laughed.
So was that it? Had Elise given the wrong answer? Were they about to get shot and left to bleed out in the desert? Anthony couldn’t even find it in himself to panic beyond a slight hiccup of worry. Fear wasn’t nearly as heavy as the misery he had been carrying for weeks. It was actually a refreshing change.
But nobody drew a gun. Zettel stood.
“You both understand, this is an important summit. More important than any before. Not only are we dealing with a critical issue, this is the Union’s first move to provide some desperately needed organization to the United States. We can’t risk this going FUBAR. You got me?”
Elise glowered.
The commander strode to the flap and lifted it open.
“The first meeting is in an hour. I’ll expect to see you both there,” Zettel said. “We’ll be in contact.”
“You’re letting us go?” Anthony asked, but Elise was already grabbing his arm to haul him outside. The top of his head immediately stung from the sunlight.
“See you around,” Allyson
Anthony tried to decide if that was a trick question. He took a little too long to say, “Sure.”
“Things are sorely out of balance for the humans. One of the Union’s primary missions is to stop in-fighting amongst humans—kopides, aspides, and anyone else with special talents. We have to unite to focus our energies. Take up the sword and shield to defend ourselves.” He focused fully on Anthony. “Did you have an old rivalry with Michele Newcomb?”
“Uh, no.”
“Then why did you kill her?”
“I’ve never even met her.”
Zettel frowned. “You’re lying.”
“Yeah. Right. I am lying to a man who could shoot me dead on the spot.” Anthony rolled his eyes. “That’s a smart idea.”
“Why don’t you have any identification in your luggage?”
“You got in my luggage?”
“How long have you been married?” Zettel asked instead of responding.
Anthony’s pulse accelerated. Oh, hell. Allyson was probably asking Elise the same thing. When had they started dating? May? “Just about four months.”
“Newlyweds. Congrats. What year were you born?”
“Why the hell do you care?”
Zettel unfolded his arms, cracked his knuckles. Even though he had a schooled, east-coast accent, he still gave the physical impression of being a very smart gorilla with a crew cut. “Belligerence didn’t treat your wife very well. There are dozens of Union operatives arrayed throughout this base, and all of them are armed.”
“I’ve never even heard of Michele Newcomb. You can ask all the questions you want and that won’t change.”
“This can take all day if it needs to,” Zettel said. “All week.”
“Are you listening to a single thing I say?”
Judging by the commander’s expression, Anthony was ninety-nine percent sure that Zettel didn’t believe a thing he was saying. “She’s aggressive for an aspis,” he went on.
Anthony had to laugh at that. “She would be aggressive for a coked-out cage fighter.”
“You claim you don’t know Michele Newcomb. Would it be possible, then, for you to make any guesses as to why she might have had your name on her travel request?”
“You said she was a recruiter, right? Maybe she wanted to recruit us. How the hell am I supposed to guess at a stranger’s motivations?”
Zettel stared at him. Anthony responded in kind.
After a lengthy two minutes, which felt more like two hours, Zettel spoke into his phone. “You done yet? Bring her back in here.” Allyson escorted Elise back into the tent. She didn’t look like any new bones were broken, but she didn’t look happy, either.
“How long have they been married?” Allyson asked.
Zettel smirked. “Four months.” They both laughed.
So was that it? Had Elise given the wrong answer? Were they about to get shot and left to bleed out in the desert? Anthony couldn’t even find it in himself to panic beyond a slight hiccup of worry. Fear wasn’t nearly as heavy as the misery he had been carrying for weeks. It was actually a refreshing change.
But nobody drew a gun. Zettel stood.
“You both understand, this is an important summit. More important than any before. Not only are we dealing with a critical issue, this is the Union’s first move to provide some desperately needed organization to the United States. We can’t risk this going FUBAR. You got me?”
Elise glowered.
The commander strode to the flap and lifted it open.
“The first meeting is in an hour. I’ll expect to see you both there,” Zettel said. “We’ll be in contact.”
“You’re letting us go?” Anthony asked, but Elise was already grabbing his arm to haul him outside. The top of his head immediately stung from the sunlight.
“See you around,” Allyson
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