Page 49

‘Fine,’ was all Garovel said.

He tilted his head at the reaper.

Garovel waved a hand. ‘We didn’t quite see eye to eye, but we were cordial. Trust me, it could have been far less pleasant.’

“About what he said in the hospital... um...”

‘You’re thinking he had a point.’

“Didn’t he? If we hadn’t intervened, Colt might not have killed those other three policemen...”

Garovel was quiet for a time. ‘You’re right,’ he said. ‘In fact, I’m almost certain he wouldn’t have killed them.’

Hector reared back. “Certain?”

‘Colt wasn’t just in disguise. He was an actual policeman. The other officers knew him. That kind of infiltration takes time to establish. It’s not something you throw away unless you absolutely have to. Rofal must have really wanted her dead.’

“Well... he got what he wanted...”

‘Yes...’ Garovel frowned. ‘How are you holding up?’

“Oh... um, I, uh... I-I’m okay.”

‘Hector.’

He rubbed his cheek with a shaky hand. “I, uh... I’ve been trying not to think about it...”

‘Better to think about it here and now, instead of when you confront Colt again. Or Rofal.’

“W-when will that be?”

‘I’m not sure. We’re in the business of saving lives, not taking them.’

Hector looked at him heavily. “You would want me to kill them?”

‘It’s too soon to give my opinion,’ said Garovel. ‘I will need to observe their circumstances much more, first.’

“But...?”

‘But... what are your thoughts on the matter? Could you purposefully kill someone? It’s not what you signed up for.’

“You wouldn’t force me to do it?”

‘No.’

“I don’t know... I don’t want to kill anyone.”

‘Few do.’