The Frenzy War (36 page)

“Mother of mercy,” Valeria said.

The werewolf appeared to cradle Eun's head for a moment, but she was really just repositioning it in her claw. Then she approached the camera, as close as her chains would allow her to go. Pulling back her arm, she hurled the head at the camera, dislodging it in a shower of blood. When the camera struck the floor, the image on the monitor went dark.

S
hortly after 6:00 A
M,
Angelo steered a silver SUV into Newark Liberty International Airport. After a long and largely sleepless night spent thinking about the deaths of Henri and Eun, he had waited at the warehouse until Father Tudoro called to say his flight had landed.

Twenty minutes later, coasting past the airport's ground transportation area, he scanned the walkways for his mentor. An elderly priest was not hard to spot, and he saw the gray-haired man soon enough. Pulling over to the curb, he got out and walked over to the smiling man. They clasped hands and spoke in Italian.

“It's good to see you, Father.”

“And you, Angelo. I'm anxious to hear the details of your work here.”

Angelo's heart sank. Despite his pleasure at seeing his
father figure, he had hoped the Brotherhood's apprentices would be with him. Masking his disappointment, he took the priest's large rolling suitcase and loaded it into the hatch of the SUV, then helped Tudoro into the backseat.

“You've been making headlines,” Tudoro said in a non-judgmental tone once the vehicle had started moving.

“It's hard not to attract attention in a city like New York, Father.”

“Agreed. Despite what the newspapers say, we're not terrorists. This is a war. Slow down up ahead, please.”

Puzzled, Angelo slowed down. At a crosswalk ahead, a man with a backpack stood at the curb. He almost didn't recognize him with his beard: Reddick, Michael's apprentice. His spirits lifted.

“I should have brought the passenger van.” Smiling, Angelo popped the hatch, and Reddick loaded his backpack into the hatch and climbed into the backseat.

“Ciao,” Reddick said.

“Ciao. I never thought I'd be so happy to see your skinny little ass.”

“I can't wait to fight beside you, brother.”

Just don't get yourself killed,
Angelo thought as he shifted the SUV into gear.

At a bus station on the outskirts of the airport, Tudoro pointed out another man, this one wearing a bandanna. Angelo recognized Colum, Henri's French-Canadian apprentice. He pulled over to the curb and popped the hatch again, and Colum loaded his suitcase into the back and got up front.

“Bonjour,” Colum said to the other passengers.

“Bonjour,” Tudoro and Reddick said.

“Now we have to switch back to English,” Angelo said. “It was nice while it lasted. Colum, Reddick, what have you heard?”

Colum glanced at Tudoro. “Only that the Beasts killed Myles.”

They don't know about Henri or Eun yet.

“We can bring everyone up to speed at your headquarters,” Tudoro said.

Angelo nodded.
“Si.”

Mace awoke to Cheryl stroking his face. Sitting on his edge of the bed, she had already dressed and made herself up for work.

“What time do you want to get up? Anna's here.”

Mace glanced at the clock—6:30 A
M.
It felt earlier. “How late is she working? There are labor laws, even for nannies.”

“Her mother's taking care of Patty tonight.”

“I'll get up now. Technically, I'm supposed to work a swing shift, but after last night—and since I'm leaving early to be at your interview …”

Cheryl kissed him. “Last night was wonderful. Thank you.” Standing, she walked to the doorway.

“You look great,” he said. “I'll see you later.”

Smiling, she left.

Mace got out of bed and stretched his arms, legs, and lower back.

Sniper came into the room, wagging his tail.

“No running today, buddy.” He rotated his bad arm in its socket.
My broken-down body is holding up pretty well so far.

He had taken a shower after making love to Cheryl only a few hours earlier, so all he did now was splash water over his hair before dressing in a navy-blue suit.

Anna spoon-fed Patty when he came into the dining area.

“Good morning, Anna.”

“Good morning, Captain. It's a big night for Mrs. Mace!” With an exaggerated frown, Mace kissed Patty on the forehead. “Do you hear that? Mama has a big night.”

“Mama!”

“Thank you and your mother both for the long day.”

Anna smiled. “It's no problem. We love her. She's an angel.”

“Have a good day.” He tapped the tip of Patty's nose. “Be a good girl.”

While waiting at a light on the drive into Manhattan, he experienced déjà vu. At least a dozen military vehicles rolled into the street ahead of him: jeeps, Humvees, and troop transport trucks. The National Guard. His cell phone rang in its hands-free cradle, and he pressed it. Jim Mint's name flashed on the display.

“Well, well, if it isn't the keeper of the brass ring.”

“Tony, please tell me you're making progress.”

“Yesterday was only our first full day. What do you expect, a miracle? Give me a break.”

“I'm under a lot of pressure here. That explosion last night turned the department upside down. A lot of other agencies and departments are breathing down my neck, and none of them are producing results. You're the only ace I
have up my sleeve.”

“That's kind of you to say. I see the governor's made a few calls.”

“They're all over the city. The last thing we need is for these bastards to turn and run like everyone
thinks
the Manhattan Werewolf did.”

“I don't know what they're going to do. But when you pull out guns this big, guys with swords are bound to consider their options.”

“Have you got anything at all?”

“Give me until lunch for an update, okay?”

“What time do you eat?”

“One o'clock.”

“Make it noon.” The line went dead.

Angelo drove the SUV into the warehouse complex parking lot.

“Are all of these vehicles ours?” Tudoro said.

“Yes. They were paid for with cash, using aliases.” Angelo switched off the engine and got out.

Colum and Reddick helped Tudoro out, and Angelo led them to the door by the loading bay.

Colum looked at the darkened windows around them. “Are these other buildings empty?”

“Yes. There are plenty of complexes like this around here, thanks to the economy.” Angelo unlocked the door and took them inside.

“This place is huge,” Reddick said. “And cold.”

“It would cost a fortune to heat the whole building. We use space heaters on the second floor.”

They boarded the freight elevator, and Angelo threw the lever. As they ascended to the second floor, Angelo felt Tudoro avoiding his eyes. When they reached their destination, Angelo pulled the gate up and led his colleagues into the complex. In the dining room, he found Michael and Valeria sitting with a tall man with thinning hair.

“Loreti!” Angelo could not help but smile at the sight of his own apprentice.

The Argentinean rose and embraced his teacher. “I'm glad to find you well.”

Angelo made a noncommittal expression. “These are difficult times.”

Michael and Valeria stood and approached Tudoro.

“Welcome, Father.” Michael shook his hand.

Valeria hugged the old man. “It's good to see you.”

Watching Tudoro pat Valeria's back, Angelo felt a twinge of jealousy, which caused guilt to well up inside him. Discounting the apprentices, Valeria was the youngest member of the group, and he knew the priest felt protective of her.

Michael shook hands with Reddick and Colum.

“I'm keeping Scioli in Rome,” Tudoro said. “He and I have a great deal of work to do as soon as I get back. I'm flying out again in two days.”

“You're leaving so soon?” Valeria said.

Tudoro offered a patient smile. “Of course, child. This is no social visit.”

Valeria bowed her head. “I apologize. My emotions …”

Tudoro rubbed her arm, then moved to the security monitor. Rhonda lay unconscious on the floor, her nude body on full display. “Has she spoken yet?”

“Nothing of consequence,” Michael said. “I don't think she will, either.”

The priest faced him. “Then find another use for her or kill her.”

“I plan to do both.”

Tudoro gave him an approving nod, then moved over to the wall where three Blades of Salvation had been mounted for display. “It's time you shared your news with everyone.”

Michael motioned to the tables. “Sit down, please.”

The priest and his soldiers sat at the two tables.

Michael remained standing. “We've inflicted casualties, but we've suffered as well. Eight beasts are dead, but so are three brothers. Myles was killed in the second battle. Henri was fatally wounded, and we had to leave him in the vehicle we destroyed last night. While we were out, our captive murdered Eun.”

The newcomers glanced at the screen, and Tudoro gestured to the table. “Sit down, Michael.”

Angelo watched Michael sit opposite the priest.

“You've told us what you know. Now let me tell you what I've already shared with Reddick, Colum, Loreti, and Scioli. Monsignor Delecarte has suffered a stroke and is at death's door.”

Angelo stiffened and saw Michael and Valeria do the same.

“The monsignor was not just our spiritual leader; he was also our treasurer. I don't think I need to specify where the funds came from that have kept the Brotherhood active for the last five decades. Monsignor Delecarte had hoped to bring me into a position where I would one day succeed him. Alas, politics have prevented that from happening, and now we're out of time. With the economy's collapse, we've lost most of our savings. Upon his death, Monsignor Delecarte's revenues and possessions will go to the church.”

“We're broke?” Michael said.

“I'm afraid so.”

“What about those rich men and women who contributed to our cause in the past?”

“They're all based in Europe. We were too successful in purging the continent of these unholy beasts. None of our friends seem to care what happens in the Americas.”

The disbelieving look on Michael's face mirrored how Angelo felt.

“Are you shutting us down?”

Tudoro shook his head. “No. At least, not yet. But the clock is ticking.”

“How long?”

“I'm still trying to secure funds. I haven't given up, but this is an expensive operation—intelligence, transportation, expenses, the modest sums we've banked for each of you …”

Michael lowered his voice. “How long, Father?”

“You have maybe one month to wrap up your assignment here, if that's what you choose to do, then another month to go underground.”

Eight weeks,
Angelo thought. “And what will we do then? We've trained for this our whole lives. We don't know how to do anything else.”

“All good soldiers face the same predicament,” Tudoro said. “I will of course find work for everyone in this room, either with the church or with one of our satellite organizations. Safe work out of the public eye. Consider it an early retirement.”

“I will not spend my days gardening on church property while this country is home to our enemy,” Michael said. “I pledged my life to our cause.”

“I appreciate that,” Tudoro said. “But we have to be realistic. There is a time for everything, and the time has come for the Brotherhood to become dormant, perhaps to rise again another day.”

“What about the money intended for Myles, Henri, and Eun? That could keep us going for a while.”

“That money was placed in numbered Swiss bank accounts, just like yours. And just like you, each of them changed their passwords. That money is lost, never to be recovered.”