Concerns about his height evaporated when Kate saw his apartment.The interior was decorated like a shrine.In place of a television was anactualshrine, with an eight-by-ten portrait of a beautiful young woman with the same wispy platinum blond hair as James sitting amidst a collection of candles, flowers, and cards.Julia, obviously.
But what really caught Kate’s eye were the crosses.Everywhere.A large one above Julia’s shrine, a smaller one over the hallway, one over the dining table, one above the couch, and through the hallway, Kate could make out another one over the bedroom door.
A stack of Bibles sat on the coffee table.Kate was willing to wager that each one would be a different translation of God’s word.
Marcus and Kate shared a look as Whitmore walked into the kitchen.“Would you two like some water?Perhaps some cranberry juice?”
Marcus lifted his eyebrows again.“Cranberry juice.”
“It cleanses the blood,” Whitmore said.“I’ll pour you a glass.”
“No, thank you, that’s fine.”
Whitmore nodded, a slow, even bow.“Would you mind if I indulge?”
“Indulge away.”
He pulled the glass bottle out of the refrigerator and grabbed a glass from a cabinet above the sink.He poured himself three fingers of the deep red juice, then replaced the cap and put it back in his refrigerator.
“You suspect me of being responsible for these murders.”
“Why do you say that?”Kate asked.
“I can sense it.You’re afraid of me.”
Marcus chuckled.“Don’t get too cocky, kid.”
Kate laid a hand on his arm and said, “You recently published a blog post where you claimed that Derek Hammond and Michelle Santos deserved what happened to them.”
“They did.”
“Because, and I believe this is verbatim, ‘He who sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed.’”
“Do you deny that those are the words of God?”
“They’re found in the Bible,” Kate replied.
He smiled slightly.Kate really didn’t like that smile.“I find it fascinating that you don’t believe, Agent Valentine.Surely with all you’ve experienced, you must believe that God’s hand is active in this world.”
“I believe that people are active,” Kate replied, “and some of those people prefer to blame their behavior on divine commission rather than the acting out of their own desires.”
“So, you don’t believe that God is working through you to correct the world?”
She took another breath.“Why don’t we get back to the victims?”
The first sign of emotion flashed across his face.“You’re referring, of course, to Jelena Santana and Gene Parker, along with their families forced to watch their killers live freely while their loved ones rot in the ground.”
“Nope,” Marcus said.“I’m referring to Derek Hammond and Michelle Santos, two people who were found not guilty of murder and were granted freedom by a court of law.”
“A corrupt court following corrupt laws.”
“Still laws.Thelaw, if we’re being technical.”
“So, you believe man’s law supersedes God’s law?”
“Do you believe otherwise?”
“Of course.When we worship and serve the creature more than the creator, we exchange the truth of God for a lie.”
