Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Colletion_ Books 6-10 - Laurell K. Hamilton [831]
“Why didn’t you tell them the truth?” Bernardo asked.
“What? I think that some serial killer is there murdering her. And how do you know this, ma’am? Well, officer, you see it’s like this. I’ve known he was a serial killer for days now, but our mutual friend Ted Forrester had forbidden him from attacking women while he was here helping us solve the mutilation murders. You’ve heard of the mutilation murders. Who is this? It’s Anita Blake, the vampire executioner. And what does an executioner know about serial murderers? More than you’d think.” I looked at Bernardo.
“All right, all right. They’d still be asking questions when we arrived at the house.”
“This way they’ll send an Albuquerque PD car there ASAP. They’ll get there before we can even come close.”
“I didn’t think you even liked Dallas when we met her.”
“It doesn’t matter if I like her or not.”
“Yes, it does,” he said.
“If I don’t like her, then we just let Olaf butcher her, is that it?”
“He saved your life. He saved mine. We don’t owe this woman anything.”
I looked at him, trying to read his face from just the profile. “Are you saying that you won’t back me on this, Bernardo? Because if you’re not on my side on this, then I need to know because if we go up against Olaf, and you hesitate, then you’re going to get yourself killed, and maybe me.”
“If I go in, I’ll go in ready to kill him.”
“If?” I said.
“I owe him my life, Anita. While we were at Riker’s, we saved each other’s lives. We counted on each other and knew the other one would be there. I don’t owe this Dallas chick anything.”
“Then stay in the car.” A thought occurred to me. “Or are you saying that you’re on his side, really on his side?” I had the Browning out in my hand already. I clicked the safety off, and he heard it. I saw him stiffen.
“Well, that’s not fair. If I take my left hand off to pull a gun, then we wreck.”
“I didn’t like the way the conversation was going,” I said.
“All I’m saying, Anita, is that if we can save Dallas and let Olaf get away we should let him go. It’d make things even between us all.”
“If Dallas is unharmed, I’ll think about it. That’s the best I can do. But let me remind you, if you plan on killing me to help Olaf, that Edward is going to live. He’d hunt you both down, and you know it.”
“Hey, I never said anything about pulling down on you.”
“Just trying to test the limits of our misunderstanding, Bernardo, because trust me, you don’t want me to misunderstand you.”
“There’s no misunderstanding,” Bernardo said, and there was no teasing in his voice, just a dry seriousness that reminded me of Edward. “I think it’s shitty to turn Olaf in to the cops.”
“They’ll already be there, Bernardo.”
“If there’s only two uniforms, we can help him get away.”
“Are you talking about killing the policemen?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Don’t. Don’t go there because not only will I not follow you, I’ll bury you there.”
“For two cops you don’t even know.”
“Yeah, for two cops I don’t even know.”
“Why?” he said.
I shook my head. “Bernardo, if you have to ask that, you wouldn’t understand the answer.”
He glanced at me. “Edward said that you were one of the best shooters he’d seen, quick to kill. He said you only had two faults. You got too up close and personal with the monsters, and you thought too much like an honest cop.”
“An honest cop, I like that,” I said.
“I’ve seen you, Anita. You’re as much a killer as Olaf, or me. You’re not a cop. You never were.”
“Whatever I am, we are not killing the cops on sight. If Dallas is unhurt, we’ll discuss letting Olaf go, but if he’s hurt her, then he pays. If you don’t like the plan, then give up your weapons and wait in the car. I’ll go in alone.”
Bernardo looked at me. “What’s to keep me from lying to you, keeping my guns, and shooting you in the back?”
“You’re more afraid of Edward than you are grateful to Olaf.