“You were so enthusiastic earlier about sharing information, but it seems you’re the one keeping secrets from the rest of us.” The Greek Hunter approached Earl. “MHI thinks they’re better than everyone else. You’re wrong, Harbinger. I think you are in league with the men from your government. I think you knew about this event beforehand.”

One of the Chinese took the opportunity to jump in. “It was your men that sounded the alarm. How do you explain some of them already being armed and fully equipped so quickly?” He gestured at me and Julie.

“I sleep this way.” I answered. “Doesn’t everybody?” The two questioners glowered at me. I couldn’t help it. I was born to be a smartass.

Julie however, was a peacemaker. “I woke up from a bad dream. I had a real bad feeling is all, and I thought I heard something out of place. So we geared up. That’s it.”

“Convenient.” The Greek Hunter walked threateningly toward Earl. “You take all of us for fools?”

“Them? No. You?” Earl took his time shaking a cigarette out of a pack and lighting it with his MHI Zippo. “Maybe…Back off, kid.”

“I should give you a beating, Harbinger.”

I didn’t know who knew about Earl’s secret here, but there were definitely rumors floating around about how dangerous he was. Many of the Hunters in the blasted room got sudden excited looks on their faces that read variations of oh, no, he didn’t or this ought to be good.

Earl simply blew smoke in the angry Hunter’s face.

“Sit down, idiot,” Lindemann shouted before the Hunter could take a swing at my boss. The German came over and shoved the Hunter back. “You are no match for him, and your stupidity is wasting our time.” That seemed to cow the man. He may not have known Earl, but all of the Europeans knew the man from Grimm Berlin. Lindemann turned back to Earl. “I lost a brother tonight, Harbinger. I would appreciate you focusing on the task at hand.”

“Sorry, Klaus. Accusations get my dander up.”

“Dying pointlessly has the same effect on me. What else do you know?”

“Hugo was the one that killed the monster today, and now this…” Earl waved his hand around the blasted room. “I think he brought something back with him from the desert. I just don’t know what, but I bet I know who does. I think Stricken set us up.”

“Stricken,” the Pole spat. “I will gut him like pig.”

“Get in line,” Earl said. “I should’ve considered this possibility. Today’s case wasn’t about a single creature, it was related to some kind of phenomenon. I assumed whatever it was had been left out in the desert, not dragged back here with us. This is my fault. I shouldn’t have made assumptions. I was distracted.”