“Aye, and her path and this son of Adam’s path are about to meet.”
???
Thomas's phone chirped in his ear. He tapped it. “Benton.”
“Regent Landry has a prisoner he needs you to interrogate, sir.”
Thomas frowned. It was his assistant, Rodney’s voice. “Now? I’m off for the night.”
“Yeah. He says now. Sorry, sir.”
“On my way.” Thomas tapped the phone off before Rodney could answer. Growling, he rose, powered down the rest of his drink, and dragged himself back to his house. Before entering, he brushed off the sand and ran a hand through his hair. He hadn’t even had time to get out of his business suit.
He’d wanted to be alone tonight. More than anything. He needed to think, to stare at the ocean, to get so drunk he’d pass out and maybe get some much-needed sleep. He could have attended the many parties thrown tonight to celebrate the death of those two crazy old Jewish men in Jerusalem, but he’d already gone to several the past few days. In truth, he found most parties dull.
After stopping to check himself in the mirror, he rushed out the door, waved his hand over it and commanded it to “lock and arm,” then leapt into his electric Mercedes, whose door had automatically opened as he approached.
Within minutes, he stopped at the security gate of the New World Faith Reformation Headquarters, waited to be scanned by two robot security guards, then drove in and parked in his Vice Regent spot. He smiled as he got out of his car and approached the building.Vice Regent. Just one step below Regent Landry, the faith leader of the entire North American Region and one of ten spiritual regents who reported directly to His Excellency Gabriel Wolfe, Master Immu Aali’s spiritual guide. Which meant Thomas was only two steps below the most powerful and influential religious leader in the world.
“Take that, Daniel Cain!” he snapped under his breath, as he passed his hand over the front door scanner and entered the building. He had made it. He had become even more successful and more powerful than Daniel could ever have dreamed of becoming.
Down the long, sterile hall and into the main operations room, Thomas marched with the authority of his station. Immediately upon entering, his assistant Rodney Barnes and the three other men in the room stood at attention.
Screens in all shapes and sizes lined the back wall, filled with views from the many cameras placed throughout all the reformation camps in the North American Region. Hooked to some of the fastest quantum computers, these systems kept track of every prison, prisoner, and guard. They knew every movement, everything they ate, even when they relieved themselves. Thomas often wondered if the computers could read their thoughts as well. He nodded at the technicians who ran the programs, lowly technicians doing their menial work, work that he would never have to do again.
No, Thomas was a spiritual guide, a New World Faith leader whose job it was to convert the masses to worship the one true god. Part of that job was to interrogate prisoners and recondition the brainwashing they’d received from democratic Christian ideas.
“Who is this prisoner?” Thomas took the folder from Rodney containing the prisoner’s information and quickly scanned it. “A woman?”
“Yes, sir.” Rodney tilted his head and shrugged. Dressed in the New World Faith uniform skirt and blouse, complete with heels, the only indication Rodney was a biological male was the shadow of a beard on his chin, though he tried to cover it up with makeup. Who was Thomas to judge? Since the Neflam arrived, it was a new, more inclusive world. Whatever Rodney identified as, he had been a great assistant, and that’s all that mattered.
“Must be pretty important to be housed here at headquarters,” Thomas said, “andfor me to be called in so late.”
“All I know, sir, is she’s a high-level Deviant caught six months ago. Regent Landry says she knows a lot about the Deviants’ plans, their meeting locations, and possibly even the location of their biggest hideout.”
“Let me guess. She’s not talking.” Which was why Thomas had been brought in. Landry always assigned him the tough cases.
“Nope.” Rodney quirked his red painted lips. “And she won’t say a word to anyone but you.”
“Me?” Shocked, Thomas glanced over the name. Victoria Williams. “Don’t know her.” He blew out a sigh. “And it couldn’t wait until morning?”
“Not according to Regent Landry. He says if you can’t break her, he wants her executed immediately, not put back into her cell where”—he raised a manicured brow—“apparently, she’s been converting others with her lies.”
Great. Another Deviant nutjob. Thomas glanced at the screen showing the celebrations in Jerusalem. The camera focused on the dead Jewish men lying on the ground before the newly erected temple. Crowds of cheering people danced and guzzled drinks around them. He was just as happy as everyone to see these two lunatics dead—thanks to Master Aali—but why leave their bodies to rot in the street? They must stink by now.
“Sorry to have to drag you away from your celebrations, sir.”
“Naw. Went home. Which is where I’m heading again when I finish with this woman.” He attempted a smile. “Where is she?”
“Room 5. Want me have a guard come with you?”
Thomas laughed. “For a woman? No. I’ll be fine.”
Turning, he headed down another hall to the left. Two uniformed men bowed their heads slightly as they passed him.Respect. Yes, he had well earned such respect.
The guard standing before Room 5 stood at attention at his approach and then opened the door.
Thomas walked in, slamming the door behind him, then sat in the chair across a table from the Deviant. Without looking up, he slapped her folder on the table, flipped it open, and briefly browsed her crimes, history, and psychological profile. Typical stuff. He’d done a thousand such interrogations before. Then leaning back in the chair, he raised his gaze to hers.
