Both James and Shelton could not believe what they were hearing, but listened in astonishment as Stasya continued.
"Not only had I survived an attack by this monster, but I was also carrying his seed."
"Did you have the child?" asked Shelton.
"Yes."
James suddenly felt sick to his stomach but he knew he had to speak his thoughts. "The sisters— Tarista and Devonia—they're your daughters, aren't they?"
"Yes, Inspector James they are."
The statement hung in the air as only silence filled the room. For several moments no one spoke. James stood up and walked back to the front of interview room seven, staring at the twins. They too stared back at him. He turned back to Stasya. "So just exactly what are we doing here, Commander?" he asked.
"I am trying to help you understand what you are dealing with Inspector."
"So help me understand."
"You cannot apply traditional interviews procedures with them. You must be prepared before you make any attempt to speak."
"Prepared in what way? They're criminals, nothing more."
"That is untrue and you know it Inspector. To walk inside that room with either of them unprepared would be the biggest mistake of your life."
"Then what would you have me do? Douse them with holy water?"
"Evil doesn't fear such superstitious rituals of sacrament," she said with a steadfast conviction as she slammed the King James Bible down on the table. "But all evil trembles at the word of God."
Silence filled the room again as James ran his hand through his hair. He was exhausted and frustrated, but for the first time since the Carlyle murder, it seemed questions might finally begin to get answered. He slowly made his way back to the table, taking the seat next to Shelton.
"I don't believe in God," said James.
"You will by time you leave here today."
"You make it sounds like Inspector James is about to meet the devil times two," said Shelton.
Stasya smirked at Shelton. "Make no mistake Captain Shelton, Inspector James, the evil that sits inside those two rooms is a very old evil."
"What do you mean old evil?" inquired Shelton.
"I mean, it goes all the way back to the book of Genesis."
James shook his head, "You can't expect me to believe any of this angel and demons bullshit. It's not real. The fact of the matter is some people do very bad things. Evil is a label we slap on it. We invent God and the Devil so that somehow it all makes sense and that life isn't that random."
"Why do you deny the facts witnessed by your eyes? You don't remember being dragged through hell? You don't remember the faceless man forging the nails that would crucify our Lord? Or the black winged angel who presented the Roman soldier with the Spear of Destiny?" said Stasya as her voice grew louder, causing her to stand up. James stood in response to her obvious rise in escalating frustration with him. He backed away as she approached him and grabbed him by the arm.
"What are you doing?" he shouted.
"You are going to lie to me and tell me you do not remember room 1219 full of dead film stars watching that man rape the love of your youth Julie Anne Jackson?" screamed Stasya as she pushed James closer and closer to the glass of interview station seven. "And you don't remember Kritzler? The endless line of Jewish girls? Edmund Frayker? Nazi's? The man in White? Kirkland being led away into the darkness by the girl?" she screamed as she spun James like a top and slammed his face into the two-way glass and pointed at Tarista. "OR HER RAPING YOU?"
Stasya was now in a fit of uncontrolled anger. Tarista and Devonia began to both scream, shout and laugh at James as they violently jerked at their restraints. Shelton stepped in and pushed Stasya away from James. "ENOUGH!"
Stasya backed away and composed herself as Shelton checked on James. "You okay, Tommy?" James nodded he was. "Okay, let's everyone chill out," demanded Shelton. Stasya quickly nodded in agreement.
"Forgive me, Inspector James. I don't know how I lost control over myself," apologized Stasya.
"It's fine. I'm okay. I didn't mean to offend you Commander. I don't have any understanding of what's been happening to me. But you are right I do remember. I've been lying to myself and trying to pretend it's been a dream or my imagination."
"Then everything she just said is true, Tom?" asked Shelton. James nodded. "It's true Cap, all of it. What I don't understand Commander Gusarov, is how did you know what happened to me?"
"Because I was there Inspector James. I saw it with my very own eyes."
"When?"
"The day I gave birth to them," she said pointing at the Baranova sisters.
Shelton stared with mouth open. "You saw this when?"
"Summer 1987."