He nodded. "Let's go face your fellow officers."
She drew the coat tight across her chest, a gesture that was defensive more than an attempt to keep out the chill wind. "Only if we must."
He could understand her reluctance — especially with the spectre of Jack's death still hanging over her head. But regardless of what happened, regardless of whether he eventually cleared her of blame, the fact was, she'd shot the man she thought was her partner. And they would always judge her by that one action. She could either live with it or quit.
He hoped it was the former. A recent survey by State showed that many disgraced officers spiralled down a self-destructive path. Sam, like those others, appeared to have nothing but her job in her life. He'd hate to see her step onto that same path.
"We must," he replied softly.
She took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. Then she nodded and walked forward, her body a slender shadow against the brightness of the lights.
Martyn cleared his throat. Gabriel looked back at him.
"Don't trust her," Martin warned softly. "Just ... watch it. She's been Kazdan's partner for five years. She might be a whole lot more."
This coming from someone who'd long been infatuated with the woman who may have just tried to blow them all to bits. He studied Mary for a moment, and then nodded. Because in truth, he was worried about the depth of Sam's determination to find out what her partner was up to. She might not love Kazdan, and she might well have shot him to save herself, but she certainly still cared about him. Who knew what would happen if Kazdan ever tried to subvert those feelings?
"Just get Mary to that safe house and keep a watch on her. Then you'd better send out a warning to our other operatives."
Martin nodded. "I'll be in contact once we've settled."
He nodded, and then he turned and followed Sam to the squad cars.
* * * *
Sam leaned a shoulder against the roughened trunk of an old silky oak and watched Gabriel walk towards her. He'd spent the last hour or so speaking to various levels of officialdom, and for the most part, had managed to keep her out of it. Which she sure as hell didn't mind. The lieutenant who'd briefly interviewed her had made his opinion of her quite clear. She'd shot her partner. She deserved to be lying in bits, not sitting in a squad car sipping lukewarm coffee. Not long after that pleasant experience, she'd abandoned the car, and her coffee, and retreated to the shelter of the silky oak. At least trees didn't judge."You okay?" He stopped, and held out a steaming mug of coffee.
She accepted it gratefully. "Once I warm up a little, I will be." She wrapped her fingers round the plastic mug and studied the black-clad figures swarming the crater. "They going to let us go anytime soon?"
"We can go when we please. I'm just waiting for SIU to deliver another car. Not much left of the old one, I'm afraid."
She nodded. She'd noted one of the doors wrapped around the trunk of a Sugargum earlier. Who knew where the rest of the vehicle was. "What's the plan when we get the car?"
His hazel eyes were suddenly enigmatic. "We visit Jack's apartment."
She frowned. "Is that wise? He might be home. And if he isn't, he sure as hell will have the place alarmed."
"He's a vampire. He won't be home at this hour of the night. Alarms I can get around."
Maybe normal alarms he could. But he didn't know Jack, didn't know how devious he could be. "That end of the Central Business District tends to be high security. We may not even get in."
His sudden smile held a cynical edge. "I'm SIU. I can get in anywhere." His gaze ran past her. "Car's here."
She glanced over her shoulder. Two gray Fords were pulling to a halt near the black squad cars. "I really don't think raiding Jack's is a good idea."
"Is that a professional or personal opinion?"
Annoyance ran through her. He obviously still believed she was somehow linked to Jack. That her actions, her reluctance, were an attempt to protect him. Maybe she'd have to shoot Jack again just to get Gabriel to believe anything else.
The thought shook her. Jack was her friend. She refused to believe anything else, even if the mounting evidence was to the contrary. At the very least, he deserved the chance to explain his motives — to explain why his clone had tried to kill her. Gabriel was here only because he wanted to find out more about her ability to sense the kites. To do that, he had to keep her out of prison. Friendship certainly didn't enter into the equation.
"Let's get out of here," was all she said, as she pushed past him and headed for the car.
Two gray clad SIU officers greeted them with polite nods. One handed over a key coder. That was it. No questions about what had happened to the previous car, and no forms to fill in. Jack was right. SIU was a law unto themselves, and, through Gabriel, it was a world she was getting sucked into deeply. And something told her only death would now free her from its grip.
She climbed into the car and crossed her arms, trying to ignore a sense of trepidation. In one respect, Gabriel was right. They had to find out what was on those disks, and Jack's computer might be the only one capable of reading them. But Jack would know by now that she'd taken them. He wouldn't take a chance on her not knowing about the apartment. He'd anticipate it and be ready.
Gabriel started the car and drove away smoothly, heading for the city. She watched the bright lights draw closer, and with every mile that passed, the sense of danger grew.