The assailants studied the detective with somber expressions. One of them threw a furtive glance at the broken body laying on the wet asphalt; the other showed no concern for the fate of their fallen comrade whatsoever.
Instead, he grinned.
"Look at that. A prince on a white horse appeared to save the damsel."
Detective Sunless shook his head as he walked in their direction.
"Are you colorblind or something? My car is obviously black. And I am not a prince."
He smiled darkly.
"I am a king. Well… a sovereign, to be precise."
The assailant laughed.
"Did you hear that? That was way too funny, man. We have an actual psycho on our hands! One of her patients, I guess."
Detective Sunless passed by Saint, who had stood frozen throughout the entire exchange. Now, finally, she shook off her daze and called out to him in a subdued tone:
"They are armed."
He glanced at her briefly.
"Of course they are."
There was not a hint of concern in his voice.
