I stood up as the passenger door opened to disgorge one of Father Velimir’s sidekicks—the one with the red beard that I recognized from our meeting in the park with Branko—along with a couple of other priests. They looked agitated but pleased with themselves, and there was no mistaking the way they looked down at me. I squinted into the interior of the bus but the tinted glass wouldn’t let me see if there were other occupants. “Milja Petak,” said the one with the rufous beard. “Where’s Egan?” I demanded. “You said you would bring him!” “How were we to know this wasn’t a trap? You might have been waiting to kill us all.” The injustice made me gape. Me kill them—wasn’t it the other way round? I’d never threatened anyone! Okay, so Azazel…in the boat… Maybe they had a point. “Father Velimir gave his word,” I said harshly. “And he’ll keep it. Your friend is safe and we’re taking you to him.” He indicated the vehicle. “Get in.” The moment I was inside someone grabbed my wrists and bound them together with a cable-tie.
