“Excellent. You’ve done very well for today.” Aboud sounded as pleased as a father guiding his son’s first steps.
Erik was struck by the paradox.
The doctor steered him back to the cot and helped him reseat himself. “I’ll send someone around with a tray of food for you in a little while. Your first solid meal in weeks. It’s important that you rebuild your strength quickly since we have an important meeting to attend.”
The paladin raised a quizzical eyebrow.
“I told my benefactor of our successful experiment.”
“Benefactor?” Erik repeated cautiously.
“Yes, you would know him as your diviner.”
Erik still registered confusion. Aboud apparently thought he was a member of the Blessed Nephilim.
“Mr. Metcalf was overjoyed at the news. In fact, he has taken your survival as a sign from heaven that you are to be spared. You should know that he only sends malefactors to me for what he considers their just punishment. However, in your case, he is prepared to pardon you for all previous wrongdoing. He said that if God has preserved your life, then he must do likewise. That is why he wants to meet you. He wishes to bestow his blessing and absolve you of your sins.”
Erik felt completely befuddled by the news. He tried harder to focus. Staring at the doctor, he asked, “Doesn’t he know who I am?”
“My friend, even I don’t know who you are. You were brought here in a body bag by Joshua Metcalf and left for dead. What is your name, by the way?”
“Erik.” The paladin cleared his throat. “So, the diviner doesn’t know what I did?”
“I have no idea.” Aboud shrugged. “Over the past few months, he’s sent any number of people to my lab to be used as test subjects. I doubt he knew many of them personally. Of course, none of them arrived riddled with bullets as you did. Was it a firing squad?”
“Huh?”
“I can only assume that Joshua and his men shot you for some infraction.”
Erik nodded slowly, trying to play along. “Did you tell the diviner about my injuries?”
“I assumed he knew. If he didn’t then the matter is between Mr. Metcalf and his son Joshua. Either way, you have immunity now. The diviner has wiped the slate clean. He will tell you so himself during our meeting.”
The paladin tried to wrap his head around this new set of facts. Joshua’s security team had shot him and dumped him here. Why wouldn’t the spymaster have told the diviner about an intruder on the grounds? Knowing how little information Metcalf shared with his underlings, it appeared the apple hadn’t fallen far from the tree. For now, Erik needed to figure out how to use that lack of disclosure to his advantage.
He was going to be transported to the main compound for his interview with Metcalf. Given his injuries, it was ridiculous to think he could make a break for it and fight his way out. He started to evolve a new plan. Metcalf had never seen him before, so there was no danger from that quarter. Only three men inside the compound could ID him—Joshua, Daniel, and Hunt. If Joshua saw Erik, he wouldn’t tell his father because he’d have some awkward explaining to do about the night of the break-in. Daniel was an ally, so he could be trusted to keep his mouth shut. Leroy Hunt preferred to avoid the compound altogether so there was very little chance they’d run into each other.
The more Erik considered his predicament, the more he figured it might offer another opportunity to rescue Hannah. He’d play along and go to the meeting. He could pass himself off as a Nephilim from one of the satellite compounds. If questioned about the bullet holes, he could say he’d been shot while trying to avoid being transported to the lab. Metcalf was just superstitious enough that he’d view Erik as divinely-protected. He might not be inclined to ask any hard questions. If Erik’s story wasn’t examined too closely, he might be allowed to stay at the main compound until his recovery was complete. Then, with Daniel’s help, he and Hannah could slip away while nobody was looking.
“Get some more rest, my friend.” Aboud helped him lie back down. “In two days’ time, we will meet with my benefactor. I want him to see you at your best to prove my vaccine worked.”
“I’ll be ready,” Erik murmured. A whole new world of possibilities had just opened up.
Chapter 15—Punch Drunk and Disorderly
“Silence!” Abraham Metcalf thundered. He eyed his visitors angrily.
Daniel and Leroy sat in the bucket chairs facing his desk. They had just finished explaining their theory about Joshua’s complicity in Chopper Bowdeen’s assassination attempt.
Metcalf seemed unconvinced by their argument.
The scion tried again. “Father, you can see the blueprint for yourself. The notes are written in Mr. Bowdeen’s own hand.”
The diviner glared at his son and then transferred his attention to the papers spread out before him. “I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation for all of this.”
Hunt piped up. “Boss, there ain’t no other way that Chopper could have got to your office in the dead of night without nobody knowin’. Somebody tinkered with the cams for him ahead of time.”
Metcalf sighed. “While I’m perfectly willing to consider the theory that Mr. Bowdeen had an accomplice, there’s no proof that Joshua was the man.”
Daniel opened his mouth to protest. “But his name is written—”
The diviner cut him off. “Enough! I cannot believe you would betray your own brother.”
“Me!” The scion was about to launch into a heated defense of his personal motives, but Metcalf raised his hand to forestall him.
“Be still. I will discuss the matter with Joshua and see what he has to say for himself.”
“Yeah, that ought to do a lotta good,” Hunt mumbled under his breath.
“This conversation is over,” the diviner said.
At that moment a knock was heard on his
