his eyes fixed on the bundle of explosives and wires like it was a coiled snake.
The fat man glanced at him. ‘You are not the only soldier of God who needs a sword,’ he said, handing him boxes of shells for the guns he had chosen. ‘And yours will not be the only battle fought here in the days to come.’
97
Arkadian turned off the road just short of a second roadblock. Beyond it the city of Ruin spread out like a ghost town. There were no people visible, no cars moving down the streets. The only movement was a military truck, crawling along the long wide boulevard that arrowed its way to the centre of the city where the Citadel rose like a spire.
‘This is sort of a no-man’s-land,’ Arkadian explained, ‘far enough away from populated areas for the air to be deemed safe by the health authority. We use it as a command centre for policing the quarantine. You’re safe here but I still have to ask you to put on one of these.’ He leaned into the back of the car and fished a fresh surgical mask from an open carton. Arkadian waited for him to put it on before he opened the door and stepped out.
Shepherd was struck by the sound coming from the other side of the large building they were walking towards – the shrieks and laughter of children playing, their voices tinkling and swooping like birds in the air. ‘This is one of the kindergartens,’ Arkadian explained. ‘All the children have been evacuated from the city now.’ He pushed through the entrance and went inside.
The lobby was choked with posters for mountain hikes and biking and handwritten postcards on pinboards offering guided tours of the Old Town. Arkadian walked over to a door in the far wall that opened into an office with a few desks and computer terminals. ‘Welcome to the police department,’ he said, moving to a desk in the corner. ‘It doesn’t look much but it’s plugged in to all the relevant databases, all the ones you require, at least.’ He pulled a second chair over and gestured for Shepherd to sit then typed in his log-in name and password. Shepherd noticed he was favouring his left hand.
‘How’s your arm?’ he asked. ‘I read about what happened.’
‘You ever been shot, Agent Shepherd?’
‘No.’
‘It hurts more than you would imagine and it’s still not properly fixed. The mornings are worst and it aches whenever the weather is about to change.’
The screen flickered and Shepherd caught his breath as a photograph of Melisa appeared.
‘Melisa Ana Erroll,’ Arkadian said, catching Shepherd’s reaction. ‘What is your interest in her, exactly?’
‘I’d like to talk to her – in relation to an on-going investigation.’
Arkadian turned in his seat and stared straight at him. ‘Shall we be honest with each other?’ Shepherd shook his head like he wasn’t sure what he meant. ‘I’ll start shall I?’ Arkadian offered. ‘When I got your message I called a few people and ended up speaking to your partner.’
‘Franklin?’
‘You have another partner?’
Shepherd shrugged. ‘I’m not sure Franklin would call himself my partner.’
‘Well, whoever he is he told me everything, or at least enough so that I know why you’re looking for this woman.’ Arkadian removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. ‘This is never easy and there is never any way to say it except straight. Melisa Erroll fell victim to the blight four months ago when the spread was still in its early stages. She was taken into the Citadel for treatment and apparently died three days later.’
Shepherd couldn’t breathe. Part of him didn’t believe it. He felt the ache inside, stronger now than ever, the red threads still pulsing and twisting.
He looked at the screen in case the photograph wasn’t her. But it was.
He was suddenly aware of everything: his breathing, the way his clothes touched his skin, how his whole body felt awkward in this seat, in this room. He was aware that Arkadian was still talking, and studying him with his knowing eyes, but he couldn’t hear what he was saying. He tried to concentrate until some of his words swam into focus. ‘Do you need a minute?’ He shook his head.
‘According to the records her father contracted it first and she looked after him until he was taken into the mountain. Then she fell ill herself.’
Shepherd took a breath and felt his voice vibrating in his head. ‘Is she – is her body buried somewhere?’
Arkadian