Sword of God

Jones glanced around at all the gore. 'Everything? I think you missed a spot.'

The man walked across the bloody cave, barely leaving footprints in the residue. Until then Payne and Jones were under the impression that the chamber was wet. But the dampness was an optical illusion, a combination of the bright light and the crimson stains that made the surface glimmer, a red version of the Amber Room in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Only the tint in this room was biological.

Payne extended his gloved hand and introduced himself, using the opportunity to study the masked man before shifting his focus to the crime scene. Dr. Ernie Sheldon was short and frail, with little hair other than the gray fuzz that covered his temples and the back of his head. The corners of his eyes creased with wrinkles whenever he smiled. It was one of the few things that Payne could see behind his mask.

'You're sure we can come in?'

Sheldon nodded. 'Of course! How can you help me if you can't come in?'

'Good question. Better yet, why are we here? It's obvious this isn't a missing-person case.'

'Why do you say that?'

Jones motioned toward the floor. 'There's less blood at the Red Cross.'

'True, there's a lot of blood in here. But how do you know who the blood belongs to?'

'We don't,' Payne admitted. 'In fact, there are a lot of things we don't know. People have been pretty tight- lipped about why we're here. And to be honest, it's starting to piss us off.'

'Then allow me to apologize, because that's all my fault. I'm the one who wanted you kept in the dark. Me and no one else. I'm completely to blame.'

Payne glanced at Jones, who shrugged as he studied the cave. 'Go on.'

'Actually,' Sheldon said, 'there's not much to explain. I want you to form your own opinion based on your observations, not mine or anyone else's.'

'That's understandable. But to do that, we need a starting place. Some basics that'll let us form a rational conclusion. Otherwise, D.J. is liable to guess that this place is nothing more than a Korean slaughterhouse.'

Jones grinned. 'Moooooooooooooooo.'

'Fair enough. What would you like to know?'

'What's your job description?'

Sheldon shook his head. 'That's something I'd prefer not to reveal at this time. Concentrate on the scene, not me.'

'Fine. What is this place?'

'It's a lava tube, formed when molten rock burst forth from-'

Payne interrupted. 'I know what a lava tube is.'

'Then why'd you ask?' Sheldon's voice was playful, not demeaning. Like a mentor forcing his pupil to ask the right question.

'I meant this facility. It's obvious this place wasn't used for public tours.'

'What's your best guess? Take a look around and hypothesize. If you guys are as good as-'

'Some sort of prison. Fairly old.' Jones knocked on the table, listening to the metal thump as it echoed throughout the chamber. 'Possibly World War II, maybe later. It's been around for a very long time.' He crouched to examine the floor bolts, which held the table and the chair in place. 'If I scraped away the blood, I could probably find a manufacturer. That would tell us if it was Korean, Japanese, or American.. .. My guess is American.'

Sheldon smiled. 'Why do you say that?'

Jones shrugged. 'Because we're American. Why else would we be called in?'

'Touche.'

Jones shifted his focus to the lightbulb that dangled above his head. It wasn't on, so he was able to stare at it, searching it for clues. 'Jon, come over here.'

Payne strode across the room, his eyes focused on the bulb. 'See something?'

'Maybe. I'm not sure if this table will hold me. Can you give me a hand?'

Holding Payne's shoulder, Jones stepped onto the chair, then the table itself. The surface was remarkably solid, refusing to sag under his body weight. He flipped on his flashlight and studied the light socket. To his eye, there was a tiny piece that didn't belong. It was circular and curved. Definitely modern. 'Just what I thought. It's a camera, embedded in the base. I bet if I took it apart, I'd find a microphone inside, too.'

Sheldon clasped his hands together, clearly amused by Jones's discovery, yet not the least bit surprised. 'And what was its purpose?'

Payne answered as Jones hopped off the table. 'To record interrogations.'

'Heavens! You two are good.'

Jones ignored the flattery and studied the black cable that ran along the ceiling to the rear of the cave. It stretched into the corridor from where Sheldon had originally emerged, which meant this facility continued beyond the current chamber. Possibly much deeper. What had the SUV driver told them? The longest lava tube on the island is more than eight miles long.

'That camera is next-generation American technology. Definitely military. Expertly placed. And since these walls are way too thick to transmit to an outside source, that means the recording device has to be …'

His words hung in the air as he followed the wire into the next room.

Unprepared for what he was about to see.

8

Halfway down the path, Kia sat on a tree stump, her head perched between her knees. Breathing was still difficult, but no longer because of the bile that had risen in her throat. Now it had more to do with her behavior than anything she had just seen.

Good Lord, she thought. Did I really just run out of the cave?

In all her life she had never been more embarrassed by her actions. Sure, she'd talked a good game, bragging that she wasn't squeamish, pretending she could handle anything, but all it took was one look at the crime scene and she started running. Of course, the good news was that she followed through on one promise to Payne. At least she didn't vomit on any evidence.

Kia untied the surgical mask that hung around her neck and tossed it down the rocky path. Her booties came off second, followed by her surgical gloves. With a rubber snap, she flicked them into the air. Even if she was ordered back to the cave, there was no way she was going in. Not with all that blood. Deep down inside, she knew her stomach wouldn't allow it.

'Nasty scene,' said a voice from behind.

Kia whirled around so fast she almost fell off the tree stump. Her lack of grace caused the driver of the SUV to laugh as he emerged from the trees.

She apologized. 'Sorry about that. I didn't mean to disturb you.'

'Don't worry about it. You weren't the scene I was talking about.' The driver wore thick gloves and carried a bag labeled Medical Waste. He used it to collect her garments. 'Remember what I said when I gave you these? I'd been inside the cave, and once was enough for me.'

She nodded, no longer quite as mortified.

'All of us have our limits. And all of us have a specialty. My guess is you weren't selected for forensic work or combat. You were brought in for another purpose.'

'Is it that obvious?'

'Then why'd you go in the cave in the first place?'

She shrugged, not really sure of her answer.

'Let me guess. You were trying to fit in, weren't you? Trying to impress your squad leader. Trying to show him how tough you were.' He laughed, the sound of someone who had been in her position and had made the same mistake. 'Listen, I know this is going to sound pretty simplistic, but I'll let you in on a little secret I learned long ago. The best way to impress your boss is to do your job. That's it. That's the key to getting ahead in this world. Do what you're supposed to do and you'll get noticed.'

'Too late. I think I already got noticed.'

He grinned. 'Yeah, sprinting out of the cave probably wasn't your best choice.'