Bartholomew stood alone in Randall Grifford's office.
The office was low lit, the walls decorated with the mounted heads of his most dangerous animal conquests. Grifford entered the office quietly, shutting the door behind him, and seated himself behind his desk, beneath the enormous mounted head of a rhinoceros. "Thank you for your patience, Bart. Please be seated."
Bartholomew stared at the Lion's head a moment longer, turned, and walked to the desk, and sat across from Randall Grifford.
"Dangerous, that one." Grifford removed his gloves, and pointed at the lion's head. "They were all dangerous, I suppose... but that one wasn't so willing to die and become an old man's trophy."
"A fighter."
"You've no idea. My first shot, I was certain I had it, but he got back up. My rifle jammed, and I'll tell you, I was lucky."
"You're a skilled killer, Judge. I'm sure it was more than just luck."
"You would think so, but you would be wrong. That one wasn't going to go out without taking me, too. He lunged at me - landed on me - and the only reason he died, and I did not is not but for the luck that he fell on my blade. Had I been a moment slower, or he not so wounded, you may be sitting here instead of me."
"Judge, my grandson David is in a coma."
"David is like that lion. He should be dead, Bart. He's not willing to go into the darkness without a fight."
"...he is the last of us. My line dies if he does."
"Struck by a school bus."
"Yes."
"Historically, Driftwood's had some bad luck with buses. You know why, do you not?"
Bartholomew's grim expression hung heavy over his face. "Yes. I can feel the currents of imbalance. There's a predator out there, somewhere out there, tipping the scales."
"...we've not seen him since the crossroads. Not one goddamned sighting. We're in a stalemate. They're not killing us anymore, and we're not killing them."
"He must be stopped, or there will be more like David."
"Don't discount your grandson so easily. The boy is strong. He will make it through this, and come out even stronger for it."
"He's missing his advanced training."
"I know the rites, and the blessings, Bart. All of that when this is over."
"You had something you wanted to discuss?"
"Yes. Suheila Sharif is returning to Driftwood."
"...we're not exactly equipped to set her up."
"Nonsense, Amir, and Nida's estate - what remains of it - is in a trust. Her aunt has been compelled to move here from Irvine. We've leased a place for them in the Baywoods."
"Apartments?"
"She won't need to worry about where she lives when she's married."
"To whom?"
"Gerald Dean's boy, Cameron. I'll ask you to check in on Suheila from time-to-time. She's the same gifts as Nadjia... stronger... and we cannot have talents like that falling into the wrong hands."
"I hear you, Judge. I've got a full plate, I'll need help."
"Very well. Talk to Karen. She'll be off to Advanced Training in a couple years."
"I do not doubt her skill, but she's not received her Rites and Blessings. Even so, advanced training is only two years."
"Bart, times are changing. Training is better now than when Jonathan attended. Ours lasted six years."
"...and yet here we are."
"Do not presume time in a classroom, a gym, or a combat range guarantees survival. The military trains the finest warriors in the world in a few months. Their special forces in a year. Two years guarantees our warriors are still stronger than the strongest enemies in any theater of war. In three to five years we could be pushing out new hunters in a matter of months, instead of years. Times are changing, and in this war we are the endangered species."
"I can't argue with that."
"If you could, Bart Walker, would you?"
"Yes, Judge. I would argue anything I felt insured the survival of our cause."
"Which is why you are second only to me. We need soldiers out there, because one day that monster out there will be stopped, and Coven will grow brazen. They will rise up, and replenish."
Bartholomew nodded. "Help me get David back. Start here at home."
"I feel an ultimatum."
"No, your honor. Only a plea that we keep David in mind."
"All our resources are involved in getting David well again. Just do as I say, and we will flourish. The Inquisition will rise - is risen - and no one and nothing will stop us this time."