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The weapons harness was custo in the world to put on, so I laid the harness out on the bed beside the jacket with the weapons: four semiautorips--each with its holster, in the proper spot on the straps Each weapon got a thorough look-see; I pulled back on the slide and reazine, and inspected the weapon for any visible probleazine and chambered a round To ain, reloaded the ejected round, snapped thehome, and put the safety on It was just dumb to run around with a chambered round and the safety off I’d done it before, of course But it was duot the sah all of the soon Like in thetheular aht, and the weapons with silver-based ammo on the left

The Benelli M4 Super 90 slid into the spine sheath for an overhand draw The M4 wasn’t beautiful to anyone but a gun lover Its steel components had a matte black, phosphate-treated, corrosion-resistant finish that reduced the weapon’s visibility during night operations, like tonight I didn’t knoell the new vamps saw in the dark, but it had been impressive last time I’d have to think of a new terood thing, but more like vamp squared, or snake vamps, or maybe spidey vamps "Yeah," I un was nearly idiot-proof, requiring little or no maintenance, and operated in all climates and weather conditions It can fire twenty-five thousand rounds of 275- and 3-inch shells of differing power levels without any operator adjust standard a any un had been a big invest ulating gas-operated--ARGO--firing systeas pistons, and action rods for increased reliability It can fire and can be adjusted or fieldstripped totally without tools It’s perfect for close-in fighting in low-light operations Even after all these h, I just liked the fact that it was idiot-proof

The M4 was loaded for vamp with hand-packed silver fléchette rounds made by a pal in the mountains Fléchettes were like tiny knives that when fired spread out in a widening, circular pattern, entering the target with , deadly force The fact that each fléchette was co power but made them poisonous to vamps, even without a direct hit There was no way a vamp could cut all of them out of his body before he bled out or the silver spread through his system Well, until nohen they seemed to heal despite the silver in them I opened the cock, inspected each round with eye and nose Closed it and murmured, "Lock and load"

I slid it into the sheath and opened ainst the far wall, spine and one foot on the wall, ar in gear that reseo to wear leather It looked good stretched across his shoulders, his scar rising froh," he said "Painting your toenails?"

"You waited three ive or take, while I did a weapons check," I said

He answered with a lazy not-smile, pushed off the wall, and said, "You smelled me?"

"I heard you Your co stopped outside ot the addresses?"

He nodded and tilted his head to the harness on the bed "Need help?"

"Yeah It gets harder and harder to get dressed by ive it a shot"

"You’re a gun whore" It was the standard chatter between us, comfortable and easy

"Turn around None of this would be so hard if you hadn’t gotten so fat"

"I put on ht settling on my shoulders The jacket was heavy, with a thin layer of silver-plated links between the leather and the lining A small surprise for any vamp anted dinner Eli helped me into the harness and started on the buckles and tabs,sure the weapons were all easy at hand

"All the weapons secured Release straps secured," he said "Extra azines, inspected them each, and tucked theht for the nines, two on the left for the 380s, all loaded with standard aear was special and it had cost a fortune Some women spent money on shoes and mani-pedis Not me My next weapons purchase would be to acquire t nine ht it was handy to use interchangeable aot some of those sleepy-time bombs we used the last time ere here?" I asked

Eli yanked the harness to position it ht up and down h to pull the weapon, but it was out of the way until needed There was another way of wearing the weapon on the harness that allowed it to hang free, within easy reach, but secured beneath et anyo" And he slapped rowl fro a nine rip, pointed at the door, his feet positioned, legs braced for firing He had a bead on Rick