Free Judgment Day (Templar Chronicles Book 5) by Joseph Nassise

to this bench, more power to me, I guess.”
    “Why you smug, little...”
    “That’s enough, Brooks!” Riley said, putting out his arm to restrain the other man when he tried to climb into the back of the van.
    “But sir! I...”
    “I said, that’s enough,” Riley said, in a voice that brooked no further argument. ”I will take the prisoner. You will see to Corporal Dalton, understood?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    Cade watched as Riley climbed into the back of the van and walked to him. He kept his expression carefully blank as Riley stopped in front of him, his back to the other Templar at the doors of the van, and mouthed the words, “Play along.” Cade nodded almost imperceptibly to show that he understood.
    “You’re not going to give me any trouble, are you?” Riley asked aloud.
    “No.”
    “Good. Keep your cool and we’ll have this sorted out soon enough.”
    Riley squatted down in front of Cade to unlock his leg manacles and then did the same with his waist chains. As he got back to his feet, his hand brushed against Cade’s and, in the process, passed him the key to his handcuffs.
    “All right, on your feet,” Riley ordered.
    Cade did what he was told. As Riley turn to lead the way out of the van, his bulk momentarily hid Cade from view, and Cade used that moment to reach up and wipe the sweat from his face, slipping the key into his mouth in the process.
    As Riley helped him down from the back of the vehicle, Cade took a look around. He’d guessed correctly; they were indeed at Ravensgate. Templars milled about, engaged in a variety of pursuits, but nearly all of them stopped to take in the sight of Echo’s current commander leading the infamous Heretic across the parking lot. Cade nodded at those who expressed, via a look or gesture, their solidarity and gave the others the thousand yard stare. He was a bit surprised that the latter outnumbered the former by several factors.
    Where had all the veterans gone? he wondered.
    By the time he and Riley had crossed to the entrance of the commandery, a small crowd had gathered by the door and more than a few were giving Cade some rather disturbing looks. There was enough anger and frustration on their faces that Cade began to think that they were going to physically attack him, but then Riley spoke up.
    “What the heck are you all gawking at?” he snarled at the crowd. ”Never seen a prisoner brought in for questioning before? Get back to work before I put the lot of you on punishment detail for the next two weeks!”
    Riley’s command voice was enough to get them to disperse and go on their way, but enough of them looked back for Cade to know that he was going to have trouble if he stayed too long. Riley had told him that the Preceptor was spreading rumors about his supposed allegiance to the Adversary, but Cade never expected his fellow Templars to believe such bullshit.
    Apparently, he’d been way off the mark on that one.
    Riley led him inside the building, through the checkpoint just beyond the entrance, and down the hall to a set of elevator doors. There were several other people waiting for the lift but they let Riley take the next one that arrived when they saw he was transporting a prisoner. No one, Cade noted, wanted to put themselves in a confined space with him.
    The legend of the Heretic strikes again , he thought wryly.
    Riley led him inside the elevator car and then punched the button for the second level below ground.
    Cade waited until they were on their way down before speaking.
    “What the hell is going on?” he asked.
    “A squad member reported your presence on the bridge earlier to the Preceptor so I had no choice but to bring you in. Now we have to find a way to get you out of here again before he comes looking for your head.”
    “So take off the cuffs and lead me to the door,” Cade said.
    “And wind up in the hands of Johannson’s interrogators myself? No thanks. You’ll get your chance to get out of here in a minute. Just