the truth. As soon as he walked in Christopher could see his soul, it was a dingy white, with spikes of gray, but he intuitively knew that meant Hamlin was a fairly decent guy. He also knew that Hamlin wouldn't believe him. He didn't even believe it. One moment he was about to be killed by low life thugs, the next he visited an interdimensional library operated by a ghost-like creature, then he was chasing bad guys down the street with a flaming sword. Yeah, that made lots of sense.
"The question is, what are you going to do with me? You guys have two strikes, hospital and now here. Great job protecting me so far."
Hamlin grunted. "We don't have the resources to leave enough guys here. Technically, you aren't a witness so we can't put you in any of those programs. Maybe a safe house... I know we’re afraid of leaks in the department, but they can't all be bad. Maybe we can keep this to just a few of us? Do you know anyone out of town?"
"No," Christopher said. "I don't think I should run this time."
"Run? Son, I don't think you understand who you are dealing with here. At first you were just icing on the cake, but I think after this it’s gonna be personal. He can't let you get away. Too much has happened. You won't be running away, you'll just be making a smart move."
But Christopher wasn't fully listening to him.
"I've always run, from home, from my father, that's why I went out of the city for school, to get away from him. From my classes, even from my girlfriend. Did you know she was cheating on me? I didn't even confront her, didn't even talk it out. I just stopped talking to her. I ran."
The more he spoke, the more he knew it was true. He had always run rather than fight. Maybe it was the seed of power sitting in his chest, but he didn't think he could run anymore. At some point you reach the end of the runway. At some point running is harder than staying and fighting. He did not think he would be running anymore, ever.
Hamlin sighed, resigned. "So, are you just going to stay here? Right where they just tried to kill you? You'll be a sitting duck."
"I don't think they'll be too quick to come back here. Not after what happened."
Their eyes met and something passed between them. Christopher knew that Hamlin knew he wasn't telling the detective everything, but they had no choice but to trust each other.
"What about this girl you saw?" Hamlin asked. "Do you think she could be involved? You sure you never saw her before the train and then your window?"
"No. I have no idea who she is."
"And no better description than dark hair and a tattoo on neck? Goth, or do they call it Emo now?"
Christopher just shook his head. Old people .
"I don't know. She was dressed in dark clothes. It was night, I couldn't see much."
"No problem. I'll put out and an APB, she should be easy to find in New York,” Hamlin said. "She'll stand out like a sore thumb."
They looked at each other and neither could hold a straight face. They both started laughing.
It felt good, Christopher thought. He needed that.
"You gonna be okay with tomorrow? I mean the funeral?" Hamlin asked. "I'll be there with some guys of course. Just to watch out. I don't think he will make a move at something so public, but we'll be watching."
"Yeah, I'll be fine. It won’t be a long service. Burying all three at once, side by side at the family plot and all that."
"Do you want me to pick you up?"
"I'm supposed to take a limo. My dad’s assistant set it up. But I think I'll cancel. I'd rather ride with someone I know."
"Okay, watch your back. I'll pick you up in the morning."
And with that he was gone and Christopher was alone.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The day of the funeral was overcast, but no rain. Christopher thought that maybe the rain part only happened in movies. He wished it would rain to fit his mood.
More people attended the funeral than he had expected. His father had been a crime fighter in a way and beloved by many people. The lanes of the
"The question is, what are you going to do with me? You guys have two strikes, hospital and now here. Great job protecting me so far."
Hamlin grunted. "We don't have the resources to leave enough guys here. Technically, you aren't a witness so we can't put you in any of those programs. Maybe a safe house... I know we’re afraid of leaks in the department, but they can't all be bad. Maybe we can keep this to just a few of us? Do you know anyone out of town?"
"No," Christopher said. "I don't think I should run this time."
"Run? Son, I don't think you understand who you are dealing with here. At first you were just icing on the cake, but I think after this it’s gonna be personal. He can't let you get away. Too much has happened. You won't be running away, you'll just be making a smart move."
But Christopher wasn't fully listening to him.
"I've always run, from home, from my father, that's why I went out of the city for school, to get away from him. From my classes, even from my girlfriend. Did you know she was cheating on me? I didn't even confront her, didn't even talk it out. I just stopped talking to her. I ran."
The more he spoke, the more he knew it was true. He had always run rather than fight. Maybe it was the seed of power sitting in his chest, but he didn't think he could run anymore. At some point you reach the end of the runway. At some point running is harder than staying and fighting. He did not think he would be running anymore, ever.
Hamlin sighed, resigned. "So, are you just going to stay here? Right where they just tried to kill you? You'll be a sitting duck."
"I don't think they'll be too quick to come back here. Not after what happened."
Their eyes met and something passed between them. Christopher knew that Hamlin knew he wasn't telling the detective everything, but they had no choice but to trust each other.
"What about this girl you saw?" Hamlin asked. "Do you think she could be involved? You sure you never saw her before the train and then your window?"
"No. I have no idea who she is."
"And no better description than dark hair and a tattoo on neck? Goth, or do they call it Emo now?"
Christopher just shook his head. Old people .
"I don't know. She was dressed in dark clothes. It was night, I couldn't see much."
"No problem. I'll put out and an APB, she should be easy to find in New York,” Hamlin said. "She'll stand out like a sore thumb."
They looked at each other and neither could hold a straight face. They both started laughing.
It felt good, Christopher thought. He needed that.
"You gonna be okay with tomorrow? I mean the funeral?" Hamlin asked. "I'll be there with some guys of course. Just to watch out. I don't think he will make a move at something so public, but we'll be watching."
"Yeah, I'll be fine. It won’t be a long service. Burying all three at once, side by side at the family plot and all that."
"Do you want me to pick you up?"
"I'm supposed to take a limo. My dad’s assistant set it up. But I think I'll cancel. I'd rather ride with someone I know."
"Okay, watch your back. I'll pick you up in the morning."
And with that he was gone and Christopher was alone.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The day of the funeral was overcast, but no rain. Christopher thought that maybe the rain part only happened in movies. He wished it would rain to fit his mood.
More people attended the funeral than he had expected. His father had been a crime fighter in a way and beloved by many people. The lanes of the
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