68.

By the time Epstein arrived with his hordes, it was just me and the freedom fighters, Hawk and company having silently departed. By the time the hordes finished up and went away with the two prisoners, it was quarter to seven in the morning and the sky was growing light. Epstein and I were having coffee at the counter in Susan’s kitchen.

“Susan’s okay,” Epstein said.

“She wasn’t here.”

“Happy coincidence,” Epstein said.

I nodded.

“The two zombos tell me that there were other men here,”

Epstein said. “And that four of their zombo companions were killed.”

“Really?” I said.

Epstein nodded.

“Good coffee,” he said.

“Better than Shauna’s,” I said.

“Hard to be worse,” he said.

I went to the refrigerator and opened the door and looked in. It was very clean.

“You want a bagel?” I said. “Susan doesn’t have too much else.”

“Too early,” Epstein said. “I eat this early I feel lousy all day.”

I closed the refrigerator door. Epstein sipped some coffee.

“Here’s what I think,” Epstein said. “I don’t say I’m going to try to prove it. I’m just sharing my thoughts.”

I nodded, and sat at the counter.

“I think you set this up. You got Susan to spend the night somewhere safe, and then I think you did something to force Perry Alderson’s hand, and he responded and you were waiting for him. Hawk was probably here, and Vinnie Morris, and I don’t know who else.”

I nodded.

“In a while,” Epstein went on, “four bodies will turn up somewhere with nothing to tie them to you but the word of two whack job terrorists, who will probably find it in their best interests not to talk about it anyway.”

I nodded. Epstein poured himself some more coffee and added some milk and a lot of sugar.

“In doing so,” Epstein said, “you have behaved like a reckless vigilante.”

I nodded.


“Which has resulted in a great saving in time and effort on behalf of the bureau, and may have been of service to your country.”

“Gee,” I said.

“So I think I will just say fuck it on the question of who else was here and who was killed, and concentrate on arresting and prosecuting Alderson, and the FFL.”

“Seems a sound decision,” I said.

Epstein nodded.

“I’m going to go arrest Alderson,” he said. “You want to come along?”

“Nope,” I said. “I’ve had my moment with him.”

Epstein nodded.

“Good,” he said.

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