Faville nodded toward the forest. “Near where the others were found, milord. She was in the fields up near the priory.”

Sir Guy ordered the man to give him a precise set of directions. “And recall all of your scouts and officers. No one else is to go into those woods until Brother Reynard and I have run this fiend to ground.”

“But … but, milord, at least let me send ten pikemen with you,” stammered the reeve.

“What use are pikes against the devil?” said Sir Guy, which left the reeve nonplussed. “No, Brother Reynard and I are armed with special weapons blessed by the Holy Father himself. Stay here and see to this poor child.”

Five minutes later he and the monk were galloping out of town.

When they eventually slowed their horses as they approached the scene of the murder, Brother Reynard asked, “‘Special weapons’?”

Sir Guy grinned. “Peasants love a good story.” He narrowed his eyes and studied the shadows under the trees. “Besides, in truth it is a weapon that we seek.”

The monk’s frown deepened. “Father Nicodemus sent us to find a monster.”

The Frenchman shrugged. “For our purposes, it is the same thing.”

Chapter Sixty

Chapter Sixty

CIA Safe House #11

Tehran, Iran

June 15, 1:07 p.m.

“Vampires…”

I repeated the word, trying to see how it fit in my mouth. It didn’t. Not in this context.

“Wait,” cut in Rudy, “are we talking actual monsters here?” I could only hear his voice, but I could imagine the way he’d look right now. Face tight, eyes dark and unblinking, his hand touching the middle of his tie, right over the spot where he wore a crucifix under his clothes.

“Dr. Sanchez,” said Church, “I don’t have the kind of answer you and Captain Ledger would like. Vampires exist, yes.”

“Perhaps you misunderstand my question,” said Rudy. “I’m asking if these vampires are—”

“Yes, Doctor, thank you for explaining the obvious to me,” said Church coldly. “I do understand the question. Are we talking about supernatural monsters or something else? Frankly, I don’t know. My tendency, as you well know, is to look for the scientific explanation.”

“The rational answer,” offered Rudy, but Church cut him off.

“Rational? You are a devout Catholic, Doctor. Is faith in an invisible God and invisible saints rational? Is it supernatural?”

“It’s religion,” replied Rudy. “It’s faith. And it’s not trying to kill my friend.”

“Do you believe in ghosts, Doctor? That is, I believe, a requirement of Catholics, as it is of most religions. Ghosts, spirits, demons, all manner of creatures that cannot be quantified.”

“Yo!” I shouted into the phone. “Can we save this for some time when I’m not standing in a house full of dead people?”