Sucker Punch (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter 27)

“According to her and Bobby, no one but them and Ray.” Duke looked at Olaf and added, “Ray Marchand is the victim—was the victim.”

Olaf nodded, as if thanking Duke for clearing up his confusion. Once I’d have thought that he didn’t really care about any part of a case except the killing at the end, but he was actually good at the job and a great person to have on your side in a firefight. Edward put his abilities close to his own, which was damn high praise. If you could keep him from wanting to go all serial killer on you, he was good backup. Of course, the if was pretty serious when it happened.

“Whoever left the footprints was trying to point the finger at Bobby,” Newman said.

“Maybe,” Duke said, which was more than he’d conceded before about Bobby’s innocence. We were making progress.

“All I can say for sure is that the footprints don’t belong to him,” Kaitlin said.

“Is it enough to buy us time on the warrant?” I asked.

We all sort of looked at one another.

“I’ve never tried to get extra time on a warrant except when the suspect fled the area. I know I can get an indefinite timeline for a pursuit across the country. I’m not really sure what will be enough to get an extension for proof of guilt,” Newman said.

“Tell me why you are trying to save the shapeshifter listed on the warrant,” Olaf said.

We explained it in more detail to him until he held up a hand. “If Anita thinks it is not a shapeshifter kill, then I will trust her expertise.”

“Thank you,” I said.

Olaf nodded at me.

“When I looked Blake up, your name was in some of the online articles. I thought you’d be on my side and want to end this fiasco,” Duke said.

“I am not on anyone’s side. I was alerted that there’d been another crime associated with the warrant. I was nearby, and I came to offer aid if it was needed.”

“Thank you,” Newman said.

“Don’t thank me. If Anita hadn’t been listed with the warrant, I would have just gone home.”

“You sweet on Blake or something?” Duke asked.

Olaf gave the sheriff an unfriendly look. “I have never been accused of being sweet on anyone.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Anita and I have hunted together before. We’ve killed together. I was nearby, so I came to see if she needed my help. That is all.”

“What’s your opinion as a marshal, Jeffries? Do you agree with Blake and Newman about the course of action?” Livingston asked.

“I think it is not our jobs to decide guilt or innocence. Our job is to kil

l who the warrant tells us to kill. Unless the hunt is difficult, our jobs are very simple. Newman is complicating it.”

“That’s what I said. Keep it simple. You go in, kill the murdering monster, and get out. Bing, bang, boom,” Duke said.

“Bing, bang, boom?” Newman said, staring at him.

“Yeah.”

“If you think it’s so easy, Duke, then fine. If I can’t get extra time, I’ll let you do the honors,” Newman said. He let his anger ease into his voice just a little.

“What are you talking about, Win?”

“If the judge won’t grant a stay of execution long enough for me to be certain Bobby wasn’t framed, I’ll let you do it. You can look him in the eyes and pull the trigger. I’ll stand right outside the cell so it’ll be legal.”

“It’s your warrant, Win.”