Robert Walker - Cutting edge

“How did you know we were coming through these doors?”

“What is it with you, Stonecoat?” Lawrence was suddenly aware that Lucas suspected him of some duplicity.

“We just saved your redskin ass from certain death. Matter of fact, when you went down, you went down hard, and we all thought you were dead.”

And that's when you opened fire, he thought. “Look, it's all very much appreciated, but call me curious. Again, how did you know we'd be coming through this particular exit?”

But before Lucas could get an answer, he felt the great black wash over him. He did not feel his body as it slumped into Phil Lawrence, who caught him and laid him out on his stomach.

He didn't hear Meredyth's scream or see her tear away from Conrad's arms to race to him. He didn't hear her cry over him.

When Lucas's eyes opened, he found himself on his back, wrapped in a body bandage, the arrow having been extracted by paramedics. He was on a stretcher, still in the alleyway, looking up into Meredyth's tear-stained, glistening eyes, and she was holding firmly to his hands. Her eyes were red and swollen with sobbing.

“You're going to be all right,” she promised him.

“I know.”

“You think you know everything, don't you?”

“We're a team, like Twain and Kipling,” he replied.

She was confused by the reference. “What?”

'Twain once wrote, 'Kipling knows all that there is to know, and I know the rest.'“

This made her laugh, and it was good to see the smile on her tearful face. He said, “Sorry I blacked out on you.”

She shook her head. “No apologies, and it's called shock, not blackout, so don't worry about a thing.”

He understood, reading between the lines that she would keep his secret.

“You were right about the blood, Stonecoat,” said Bryce, who leaned in, his rugged and grandfatherly features telling Lucas that he'd seen many an officer shot in the line of duty, but seldom, perhaps never, with an arrow. “I have to admire your grit, Lucas Stonecoat. Now, you just take it easy. The medics made you bleed a hell of a lot more while they removed that thing. Had to cut an incision so it wouldn't get hung up from the nasty barbed arrowhead as they brought it out. You're going to be fine, son.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“And I believe Phil has something he wants to tell you.” Bryce pulled Phil Lawrence in closer, and Lawrence was nodding and began exactly where they had left off before Lucas had keeled over.

“Pardee and Amelford had the place bugged, Lucas.”

“The church? How and when?”

“They had Father Aguilar under surveillance from early on, never quite sure of his testimony from day one, but unable to pin anything on him. As to bugging the place, they're quite resourceful.”

“I've seen evidence of their resourcefulness, yes. So, they knew we were inside the church this morning?”

“All right, I confess,” said Phil, his hands up in the air now. “After what occurred in South Dakota, I asked them to be extra watchful of you two fools. By the way, one of the men who attacked you and Dr. Sanger in South Dakota was located.”

“Located?”

“Dead, but located.”

“Dead? Where?”

“In the trunk of a rental at the airport in Rapid City. He had a hole in his head, execution-style killing, but he was also gut-shot. The bullet taken from his abdomen was from a Browning, most likely your slug.”

“No ID, I suppose.”

Lawrence shook his head as if the question were foolish. “We think we'll trace him straight back here to the church. As to knowing when and where you and Meredyth would exit, we couldn't know exactly what exit you'd come out of, so we had every exit covered.”

“And you guys chose door number three and got lucky?”

“I'd say you and Sanger were the lucky ones. Now, I'm going to hand this over to the coroner when he gets here.” Lawrence had held firmly to the skull. “You want to tell me precisely where inside you located it?”

“An incinerator at the lower level.”

“Were there signs of more incriminating evidence?”

“A truckload, sir.”

“Great, then we'll settle this damned business tonight, and one shitload of Cold Room files will have been cleared in one fell swoop, thanks to you, Lucas. It will look great on your record. The chief of division can't overlook results like that.” He indicated Bryce with a flutter of his eyebrows.

Bryce had been asking after Meredyth's condition like a solicitous father. Lawrence followed Lucas's eyes to Meredyth, and Phil added, “Who knows, Stonecoat? Maybe you'll pull detective rank sooner than any of us expected.”

It still sounded like a payoff, Lucas thought. “Only one problem, sir.”

“Oh, what's that?” Lawrence's eyes flickered in the dim light.

“Discovery, sir.”

Bryce, as if wired to them, rankled at the word, homing in to its source, rejoining them. “What about discovery, Lucas?”

“We made the discovery of the skull and bones, sir, while in an unlawful search, Commander.”

“Damn, of course.” Bryce snatched Phil Lawrence away and the two men discussed this thorny problem between themselves, and it seemed Lawrence did all the talking. Lawrence then turned back to Lucas and Meredyth, and with Bryce looking on and nodding solemnly, said, “You two actually returned to ask Aguilar over there a few more questions tonight, didn't you?”

“What?” asked Meredyth. “You returned to the monastery to put a few unanswered questions to bed. “Lucas knew from the tone of Lawrence's voice what he wanted to hear. “Yes, sir, we did.”

“But Lucas,” she began.

“Dr. Sanger,” interrupted Phil Lawrence, “do you want to stand in the way of justice served?”

“Well, no, Captain, but-”

'Then you two returned to seek answers to a handful more questions when Aguilar, knowing he was cornered, threatened you with death,” suggested Lawrence. Meredyth exchanged a look of indecision and incredulity with Lucas.

Lawrence continued with his scenario. 'The both of you escaped, hid out in the incinerator room where you discovered all those missing parts we've been searching for for years, and then you made your escape. Pardee and Amelford, knowing your intentions, called for backup.”

Lawrence studied their faces. “Is that understood?”

Meredyth looked from Lawrence to Stonecoat.

Commander Andrew Bryce stepped closer and awaited an answer.

Lucas said, 'That's about the size of it, sir.”

“Good, then it's settled,” replied Bryce. “Now, we have all the goddamned probable cause anyone can ask for. We don't need any damned court's permission to search this vile place. Aguilar has untied our hands. Good work, Dr. Sanger, Officer Stonecoat.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir,” Lucas responded, while Meredyth said nothing.

“Dr. Sanger?” asked Bryce. “Can you live with this version of events?”

“I… I…” Lucas pinched her arm. “All right, I guess I can.”

Still, Meredyth continued to stare at Lucas if he had betrayed her. She was wondering if he was simply thinking of promotion, a permanent escape from the Cold Room. She stormed off to rejoin Conrad, who once again enveloped her in his arms.

“Now call for the evidence techs and the coroner, Phil,” said Bryce. “I want everything done precisely by the book and no foul-ups. Nobody takes souvenirs and nobody takes evidence home overnight to sit in their coolers or refrigerators, you got that, Phil?”

“Yes, sir, Commander.”

“And if that means you're here all night to oversee this thing, then so be it. It's going to hit the papers in a matter of hours. I don't want us looking like fools.”

“No, sir. Everything will be taken care of to the letter, boss.”