The woman stops walking thirty yards from me. The man approaches to within ten yards but comes no closer. They do not reach for their weapons but they keep their hands ready. Down the street I hear three people get out of the second limousine. They spread out in three different directions. They carry weapons: I hear the metal brush their clothes. They take up positionsI am finally able to see them out of the corner of my eyeone behind a car; another next to a tree; the last crouched behind a sign. Simultaneously three people inside the limousine at the pier level high-powered rifles at me.
My hesitation has cost me already.
I stand in the sights of six sets of cross hairs.
My fear is still manageable. I figure I can take a bullet or two and still escape over the side. As long as they don't get me directly in the head or heart. Still, I do not want to run. I want to talk to Slim. He is the first to speak.
"You must be Alisa."
I nod. "Slim?"
"In the flesh."
"You agreed to come alone."
"I wanted to come alone. But my associates didn't think it would be wise."
"Your associates are all about. Why so many soldiers for one girl?"
"Your reputation precedes you, Alisa."
"What reputation is that?"
He shrugs. "That you are a resourceful young woman."
Interesting, I think. He is almost embarrassed by the precautions that have been taken to abduct me. He has been told to take themordered. He doesn't know that I am a vampire, and if he doesn't know, then probably no one with him knows since he is clearly in command of the operation. That gives me a huge advantage. But the person above him knows. I must meet this person, I decide.
"What do you want?" I ask.
"Just that you come with us for a little ride."
"To where?"
"To a place not far from here," he says.
That is a lie. We will drive a long distance if I get in his limousine. "Who sent you?"
"You will meet him if you come with me."
Him."What is his name?"
"I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to discuss that at this time."
"What if I don't want to come?" I ask.
Slim sighs. "That would not be good. In fact, it would be very bad."
They will shoot me if I resist, without question. It is good to know.
"Did you know Detective Michael Riley?" I ask.
"Yes. I worked with him. I assume you met him?"
"Yes."
"How is he?"
I smile, my eyes cold. "I don't know."
"I'm sure you don't." He gestures with his hand. "Please come with us. A police car might be along at any moment. I'm sure neither of us wants to complicate matters."
"If I do come with you, do I have your word I will not be harmed?" I ask.
He keeps his face straight. "You have my word, Alisa."
Another lie. This man is a killer. I can smell the blood on him. I shift slightly on my feet. The rifles aimed at me all have telescopic sights. They move as I
move. I estimate at least one of the shooters will hit me before I can get over the pier rail. I don't like being shot, although I have a few times. I have no choice but to go along, I decide, for the moment.
"Very well, Mr. Slim," I say. "I will come with you."
We walk toward the limousine, Slim on my right, the woman on my left. As we are almost at the entrance to the pier, the limousine down the street suddenly appears. Without picking up the men it deposited, it drives until it is parked behind the first limousine. Four men jump out. Their clothes are all similarblack sweatsuits. They point automatic weapons at me. My fear escalates. Their precautions are extraordinary. If they decide to open fire now, I will die. I think of Krishna, I don't know why. But he did tell me I would have his grace if I listened to him. And in my own way I have not disobeyed him. Slim turns in my direction.
"Alisa," he says. "I would like it if you would slowly reach in your coat and remove your gun and toss it on the ground."
I do as he asks.
"Thank you," Slim says. "Do you have any other weapons on you?"
"You will have to search me to find out."
"I prefer not to search you. I'm asking you if you have any other weapons, and that you surrender them now."
These are dangerous people, highly trained. I have to go on the offensive, I think, quickly. I stare at Slim, my eyes boring into him. He tries to glance away but is unable to. I speak softly, knowing he hears my words as if they were whispered between his ears.
"You do not have to be afraid of me, Mr. Slim," I say. "It does not matter what you have been told. Your fear is unnecessary. I am nothing more than I appear."
I am planting a suggestion deep in his psyche, pushing buttons he already feels. But the woman takes a sudden step forward. She speaks. "Don't listen to her. Remember."
Slim shakes his head as if trying to clear it He gestures to the woman. "Search her," he orders.
I stand perfectly still while the woman works her way down into my boots and discovers my remaining pistol and knife. I consider grabbing her and holding her as a hostage. But a study of the eyes of the men assembled tells me that they will kill her to get to me, and lose no sleep over the act. The woman disarms me and jumps back from me as if afraid she will catch something from me. All of them, without exception, are confused about why I have to be treated with such caution. Yet all of them are determined to follow orders. Slim removes two pairs of handcuffs from inside his coat. They are gold colored, and don't smell like steelprobably some special alloy. They are three times thicker than normal cuffs. Slim tosses them toward me and they land at my feet.
"Alisa," he says patiently. "I would like you to put one pair of these around your wrists, the other pair around your ankles."
"Why?" Now I want to stall for time. Maybe a police officer will come by. Of course, these people would just kill the officer.
"We have a long drive ahead of us, and we want you safely tucked away before we allow you in our car," Slim says.
"You said we didn't have far to go?"
"Put on the cuffs."
"All right." I put them on, marveling once more at their preparation.
"Press them together so that they lock," Slim suggests.