The Eighth Trumpet (The Jared Kimberlain Novels) Read Free Page A

bastards like you. Take care, no capital t or c.”
    “Taking vengeance is another way of putting it. It’s against the law so far as I know, but I don’t want to quibble.”
    Kimberlain looked up coldly from his work. The polishing stones squeaked against the blade. “Are you threatening me, David?”
    “I’m not that brave.”
    “But you’re still smart; I can see that. Probably smart enough to turn around right now and walk out of here so I can finish watching my movie.”
    “What I’ve got might be a challenge for you.”
    “That’s what you said about Peet—when was it, a little over three years ago, right?”
    Kamanski tried very hard not to react.
    “Come now, David, you remember Winston Peet, don’t you? Giant, about seven feet tall, a bald head. He killed seventeen people in as many states. Ripped their heads clean off their bodies after he strangled them. Papers called him the worst serial murderer in modern history. Back when you were with the Bureau. You boys were getting nowhere so you begged me to track down your killer for you, and I came up with Peet. Wanna see the scars? Only you bastards couldn’t get him executed, couldn’t even get him imprisoned.”
    “We put him where he’ll never hurt anyone again.”
    “In that nuthouse? Bullshit. Someday he’ll get out. Just watch. He writes me letters and tells me so.”
    “This time it’s different,” Kamanski said.
    “No it isn’t, not to me. See, after the Peet thing, while I was lying there in the hospital damn near dead, I realized I had three choices: I could die, I could become like you, or I could change the course you set my life on. That’s when the paybacks started.”
    “But they’ve never stopped, have they?” Kamanski wondered whether the Ferryman would spring on him now. “They come from everywhere, I’m told. You have no phone, no listed address, but still they find you. It’s out of control, can’t you see that?”
    “You’re wrong, Hermes,” Kimberlain said quite calmly. “The paybacks reduce the world to something manageably small: just somebody who got fucked, the person that fucked them, and me. The last resort. They’re willing to do whatever it takes to find me, because they’ve got nowhere else to turn. And each one I help brings me a little closer to making up for my actions with The Caretakers.”
    “You would have rotted in that stockade, Jared. You owe me for that much. Call this a payback.”
    “You used that same argument three years ago when you came to me about Peet. My payback to you is finished.”
    Kimberlain went back to his sword. Kamanski figured it was time to toss him the bait.
    “Jordan Lime wasn’t the first. There were two other successful industrialists murdered before him. Three incredible, impossible murders. All the victims were among the best-protected men in the country.”
    Kimberlain tried to keep on with the polishing, but clearly his mind was starting to drift.
    “Come on, Jared, do I have to spell it out for you? Somewhere out there is a serial killer operating on a supersophisticated level. Think about future targets for this nutcase. Maybe the President will be next. You think the country could handle that right now?”
    “You’re asking me to become a Caretaker again.”
    “I’m asking you to go after a madman who may soon be in a position to hold the entire country hostage. You’re the only one who can do it, Jared. This is your game.”
    The Ferryman inspected the progress he had made on the ancient sword. It was slow work, but it was gratifying to see the past come back to life in his hands.
    “I’ll think about it,” he said, without looking up. “I’ll let you know.”
    “When?”
    “Get out of here, David, and let me finish this side.”

Chapter 3
    “YOU MENTIONED THERE WERE two other murders,” Kimberlain said to Kamanski an hour later in the backseat of the car. The driver kept one hand on the wheel; with the other he massaged a shoulder sore