I met those hard brown eyes and saw a hatred there like what I'd seen earlier in Lieutenant Marks' face. They both hated me for being things that I could not change: one for an innate God-given talent, and the other because I was a woman. Funny, how one unreasoning hatred looks so much like another.
I kept the gun very steadily pointed at his chest. I'd let all the air go out of my body, and was waiting, waiting for Olaf to decide what we'd be doing tonight. Either we'd be fighting crime, or we'd be digging a grave, maybe two if he was good enough. I knew what my vote was, but I also knew that the final vote wasn't mine. It wasn't even Olaf's. It was his hatred's.
"You drop the knife, and Anita will put up the gun," Edward said.
"Or she will shoot me while I'm unarmed."
"She won't do that."
"She is afraid of me now," Olaf said.
"Maybe," Edward said, "but she's more afraid of me."
Olaf looked down at me, a glimmer of puzzlement rising up through the hatred and anger. "I am going to shove this blade inside her. She fears me."
"Tell him, Anita."
I hoped I knew what Edward wanted me to say. "I will shoot you twice in the chest. You may get a slice of me before you fall to the ground. If you're really good, you might even slit my throat, but you'll still be dead." I hoped he made up his mind soon because it was awkward holding a shooting stance while sitting on your butt. I was going to get a crick in my back if I didn't get to move soon. The fear was fading, leaving only a dull emptiness behind. I was tired, and the night was still young. Hours to go before I'd sleep. I was tired of Olaf. I had a feeling if I didn't shoot him tonight, I'd get another chance.
"Who are you more afraid of, Anita - Olaf or me?" Edward asked.
I kept my gaze on Olaf and said, "You, Edward."
"Tell him why."
It sounded like a teacher telling his student what to say, but from Edward I'd take it. "Because you would have never let me get the drop on you like this. You would have never let your emotions compromise your safety."
Olaf blinked at me. "You do not fear me?" He made it a question and seemed disappointed. There was something almost little-boyish about his disappointment.
"I'm not afraid of anything I can kill," I said.
"Edward can be killed," Olaf said.
"Yes, but can he be killed by anyone in this room? That's the question."
Olaf looked at me, puzzled now more than angry. He began to lower the blade, slowly.
Edward said, "Drop it," in a quiet voice.
Olaf dropped the blade to the floor. It hit with a ringing clang.
I got to my knees and then scuttled backwards along the edge of the table, lowering the gun as I moved. I got to my feet at the head of the table near Bernardo. I looked at him. "Move over around by Edward."
"I didn't do anything," he said.
"Just do it, Bernardo. I need a little space right now."
He opened his mouth as if to argue, but Edward cut him off. "Do it."
Bernardo did it.
When they were all at the other end of the room, I put the gun up.
Edward had an armful of cardboard box. It was overbrimming with files. He set it down on the tabletop.
"You didn't even have a gun," Olaf said.
"I didn't need one," Edward said.
Olaf pushed past Edward to the hallway beyond. I hoped he was going pack and leave, but doubted we'd get that lucky. I hadn't known Olaf for hour, and I already knew why he was no one's sweetie.
20
A MURDER ALWAYS BREEDS a lot of paper, but a serial murder, you can drown in the paperwork. Edward, Bernardo, and I were swimming upstream. We'd been at it for about an hour, and Olaf hadn't come back. Maybe he had decided to pack up and go home. Though I hadn't heard any doors or cars, but I wasn't sure how soundproof the house was. Edward didn't seem bothered by Olaf's absence, so I didn't give it much attention either. I had read one report through back to front. One to get an overview and see if anything jumped out at me. One thing did. There were slivers of obsidian in the cut up bodies. An obsidian blade, maybe. Though we were in the wrong