"Is it just me, or is this one bigger than the one they had in London?" I asked, looking up.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2F5AE2ZhqJ
"Let's go," Everest responded, slipping into the revolving door, which by the way, was coated in gold, top to bottom.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatuhQ8X7JG
"Is it just me or does this building have way less security than the one in London?" Honestly! There were no guns this time, no face scanners, no locks. In fact, the door was wide open for any local pedestrian to walk through as if they were entering a mall!
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxseIrxDnL
However, in terms of grandeur, this building gave the London Reynolds Corporation a run for all it was worth.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMi677zElWb
"Is it just me or is there way more gold in this building, than the London one?"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpE96hQ7eM
"Will you stop?" Everest snapped.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3rEuRoevM
"What? It's a genuine question. Did you know that if you collected all the gold in the world and put it into a huge cube, the cube will be just big enough to fit under the Eiffel Tower?" I read that in a children's science book a little over twelve years ago. "Now, I know where it all goes." I gazed around the isolated building.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3o33iVz55F
His glower was the only reason I shut up after that.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCnrUF6iG6
Despite my adrenaline infused enthusiasm for all the gold in the building, that was all there was. The gold, that is. Literally, except for a pair of elevator doors on one wall, the place was an expensive imitation of an abyss. A golden abyss. Whatever you want to call it, the fact remained that it was absolutely, frustratingly, empty. Yeah, not even a receptionist's desk.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VSMvoI8Z6
"What, so they want us to barge into her room?"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYF6NLUMiRc
"Be quiet!"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEH1rKbHhF
"Be quiet," I mocked, turning around – choice, for I stupidly collided into a person.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9i7KTmcrE
It was a woman who stumbled a few feet back, due to our touchy encounter.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdWOV94sFk
"Sorry!" I apologised.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYmq74y05y
"No, no, it's perfectly alright," she spoke, straightening her clothes. "I was just going to say—" that was the moment she lifted her head. Her mouth closed briefly, and then opened, offering a weary smile. "You seem a bit... lost."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡum6Ks9SUPt
"Just confused. And a bit lost." I laughed, not that there was anything particularly humorous in what I had just said, but to make her feel a little less terrorised.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWmn0WHxUV
"Do you have an appointment with someone?" Her voice was some what strained. I couldn't blame her; Gemma probably only hired people who despised Emerald Reese with a passion.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tgHHps7j2
"We want to see– hey!" Gemma, I would have said if Everest hadn't barged me aside.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsEiXtBUf1
"Who's in charge?"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH444bjXJlP
I knew I could always trust Everest to be tentative.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45A78svnPv
"Miss Reynolds...?" She said it like the answer should have been self-explanatory from the name Reynolds Corporation.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0W02lKYpY
"Where is she?" He demanded.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96RZOJjsaj
"Uh," she blinked. "I apologise, who are you?"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsurS6vhLlK
"We just need to speak to Gemma," I answered, in a softer tone than the Iceberg. Even so, she seemed even more fearful when I spoke. Oh, the irony.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCqb52oQFu
"Do you have an appointment?"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVvCmblKqt
Yes, Gemma Reynolds invited 202 for tea and discussed appointment plans with her on warm autumn's day.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqYZAEhEfs
"No."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTj6MwbEKRE
"I'm afraid unless you are an employee, you cannot go in without an appointment."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RMO7WKSCo
Of course she knew I didn't have an appointment! And of course she knew Gemma wouldn't have given me one in a million years! It was just a nice way of saying "you can't come in" without the fear of having your boulders dislocated by 202.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGvagUTODd
"Go in where? There's nothing here!" I waved my arms around dramatically at the dustless venue.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxbHpGDjMf
She let out a nervous laugh. "Of course there is. You see, we have these facial recognition scanners by the elevators. The doors only open to employees. Each employee has a specific number and each floor represents a range of these numbers. The elevator will take them to that number then to the floor which their number is allocated in."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81TtKtBDIH
"But how would they know which floor to find someone else on?"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsv8Ir4tRc
"Every employee is required to learn every other employees' numbers if they want to find who they're looking for."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnnyiKnixE
Sounds like a pain in the backside kind of system.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnH1Bg4w3h
"Nonetheless, it's an efficient way to maintain security," she added.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUw0KPXwRY
"Wouldn't it be easier to just have a receptionists desk here or something?"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyG7rTfDB0P
"This system is the most modern way to maintain order."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaxeRxgEAD
I thought for a second. "So, if no one actually has any business beyond those elevator doors, then this whole area here," I gestured to the titanic entrance. "Is just for decoration?"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLgkxKNr11
The woman looked like she didn't have an answer for this question. I couldn't blame her, so I asked her something else instead.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQrLn0MtpP
"Er... what if the facial recognition doesn't recognise someone?"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlotT9eitSB
She looked a bit more confident then next time she spoke. "That's why we have automatic firearms, alongside the doors."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44wVW1TkhS
There it is.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNZIh7k3B7
"Stop terrorising the girl," a deep voice spoke behind the woman. A man. He was dark and stood so tall, I had to tilt my head up to make eye contact. Beside him, cowered a smaller, thinner male.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4hhD57NMi
"It's my job to keep the place secure," the woman retaliated.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykx6ZAR3SH
"What if they're just looking for a job..." I muttered to myself.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzfRX5v3pL
"Fair point. It's a stupid system, but Gemma insists upon it. Gum?" the big man held out a packet of Extra. Strange, and despite myself I took it.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWEsVsIry6
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tHfNazA2h
"I'm Bernard. I was Robert's closest friend and associate." He held out his hand, and I felt a tightening in my chest and regretted taking the gum offer. No friend or associate of a murderer was good news. Despite this, I shook off the chill that ran down my spine and took his huge hand in mine.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkUn8QmOXt
"Emerald," I shook the hand as sternly as I spoke, maybe a little too stern, for he winced, causing me to loosen my grip a little, but quickly covered it.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IMy7bs8SH
"I know," he offered a rigid smile, flexing his (now red) fingers and glanced over my shoulder. He pushed the small guy in front. "This is Joseph; he an intern."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIVfuZwrbt
Being etiquette about this useless introduction, I shook Jospeh's hand too.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDioBbSLhjD
Bernard looked over my shoulder. "And you are...?"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KJAr8rKx1
"Everest."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvZA6c0mlV
It looked as though Bernard was waiting for Everest to shake his hand.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6PUqe26oQ
He didn't.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTl1YRi5Qk
"I assume you're here for Gemma?" Bernard half asked, half stated. "Wait," he chuckled. "I'm not assuming. Brian already told me."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHgVQkBCKD
Of course he did.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkKecyy3dT
"Can we see her?" I requested, nicely with a touch of mindfulness.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hWs6zplFf
"No," he replied curtly.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMCZhJset3
Well, I tried.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZV0TMd6QvH
I advanced forward. "I wasn't asking."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3SHOQmoRw
They all took a tentative step back.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh97SDut4Fw
"Woah," Bernard surrendered, but his face didn't exposed the slightest hint of panic. "Calm down, tiger! Before you go all nuclear bomb on me, give me a chance to explain."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfICYlKdu2N
To be honest, I was expecting something along the lines of: "It's a security breach." Or, "you're the last person she wants to see," or even a "you might kill her, and we can't exactly allow that to happen." But what he actually said was worse.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EMRhKe5kd
"She's not here."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZqCC0jdcc
To simplify, and to put it in the most elementary sentence possible, it took the piss.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtih4lkMnP0
I blinked. "What?" My voice strongly contradicted my back breaking efforts to maintain a gentle impression.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Wuhn9cpgr
They all took another tentative step back.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoHfgVXEN6
"Gemma isn't in the building at this moment of time," Bernard explained.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGXRb1AEX5
I blinked again. "She's not here?"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsfACxSQdg
"That is literally what I said the first time," there was no cockiness in his voice.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3Jwh0QNqw
"She's not here?" I repeated, the unconscious part of me hoping that if I asked it repeatedly, she might mystically fabricate before us.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6arcg8UCXQ
"Is she always like this?" Bernard asked Everest.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iCfslS3Ll
"She's worse," the traitor replied in a tranquil tone.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxalPlFTjck
I, on the other hand, found it profoundly difficult to speak in the same composure. "This is ridiculous! How the hell is she not here?!"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZT3x9emDSZ
"It's pretty self explanatory," Bernard responded. "Her body left the buildi—"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5pidzNW8v
Before I could consider it, my hands were on the guy's collars. "Do you have any idea what we've been through, trying to locate that she-devil?! We suffered through a forest! We got soaked in a monsoon of a rainfall in that stupid city! I had be nice to the brother of the man who killed my parents! And, and, we almost got thrown in jail trying to catch a mere ride to this godforsaken country—"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdZ3j9eNNC
He inched his head back in a spasm of agitation. "I'm, uh, sorry that you had to go through all of that—"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3EmQT0R3c
"–so did we really scavenge for her this far just, just to find out—"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAqVNhuHna
"—but, Gemma, she's on—"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzvrGBvv9J
"—that she's yet to be found?"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3kSWWcTJb
"—important business matters."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EHqI8zINy
"—because, honestly—" I stopped, my eyes narrowing into slits. "What business matters?"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWa1HhQqC9
He opened his mouth as if he were about to answer the question but then stopped. "Highly confidential. I'm afraid I can't tell you."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDs1V2WA0bf
Right then, I ready to invert his rib cage. He must have sensed this, because the next thing he said was satisfactory. "All I know is that she's somewhere over the Golden Gates."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTF4NJoAADY
I let go of his collars and decided to take a different approach. "Tell her to come back, then."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFe6je8y2sv
He responded with a chuckle. "That goes beyond my pay grade. And if I were to do such an absurd thing, I wouldn't even have a pay grade."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtTxHDHD6u
"I'll triple your pay!" I blurted some unrealistic promise. I was desperate, okay.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBunhgX2lA
"That's very generous of you, but even if I did, I doubt she'd actually come."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3ImStCjha
Oh my God!
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vtwUzf9I3
"So what you're telling us, Bernard, is that we literally – and may I emphasise, literally – crossed an ocean for someone who won't cross a goddamn bridge for us? Is that what you're trying to tell me?"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhpLKVrsrq
Through that hard exterior, a small hint of sympathy flashed across his face. "I'm, erm, sorry you had to go through all of that, but I don't know what you want me to do. I can't tell you where she is, and I can't tell her to come back."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7Wr3EvoIB
"You—" I stopped when a middle aged Reynolds employee stepped out of the revolving door, trying her hardest to conceal the terror in her face upon seeing me. About half a dozen other employees, just coming in, mirrored her impression. "Walk on," I instructed, as they scurried towards the elevators, muttering each other's position numbers to one and other – or giving warning signals to each other about the presence of a certain someone.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fQw8LGlXy
"Maybe we should move to someplace, more private," Bernard offered.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWY9EoOiuT
Someplace where you won't frighten my workers off.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0LtTMWkqL
I let him lead us to the elevators, with the woman and the smaller guy following a safe distance afar from us. The inside of the elevator was none but gold. It came as a huge surprise. Bernard prodded four digits into the elevator board, and after that everything went silent – until the ding of the elevator announced our arrival at floor what-ever-number-he-typed.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0Y42fkjRI
The large room was barely furnished; only a white table on one end, and a metal locker on the other. The walls were weird; they had straight lines streaking through them as if there were compartments hidden behind the walls. Or maybe it was just the Reynolds' hilarious style of decor.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTrPJtAV4W
Oh, and there was a man in the room. He seemed to be awaiting our arrival, for he spoke immediately as he marched over to us, with a still face.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ547aUucagR
"For introductory purposes: Welcome," his words seemed off – so off, they could have fallen off the edge of the Earth. It was what he said next that proved this cynic. "However, I think you should be well informed that I don't appreciate troublemakers."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomT0Iy37VZ
"How strange, you work for the Reynolds, then," I shot back.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92rpTBXKor
He let out a dry laugh that quickly came to a halt. "I'd be heedful with that mouth of yours, especially regarding where you are standing."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AGMCeYyXN
I looked around. "A rather poorly furnished room?"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacYhKUsrp8
"I don't like to repeat myself, Miss Reese."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcr7oqfT1ph
Miss Reese.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKsxDSArC9
Respect!
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RvdagceS0
"Who's he?" I asked Bernard.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7H1CGJjfnW
"Mark Hemisphere," Mark Hemisphere said.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCV6dyYQEI
I sustained a snort. "Those are like two actual words in the dictionary."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBNxU9A7gb
"That's very didactic; I never knew," he replied, blandly.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGhoW01k2Q
You're just embarrassed.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOK88lGLRMs
"He's my boss," Bernard informed me in a much gentler tone than that Hemisphere.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLhpJza4eT
"I thought you were the manager," I replied.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSOHuNw5d7
"Mr Hemisphere co-owns the building. He is one of Robert Reynolds' closest friends and has worked for the Reynolds for sixteen whole years."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4baTcPJfqM
Robert Reynolds' closest friend rang in my ears several times. And really? Another person who isn't Gemma?
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDDh6KS4Ja
"Look, we didn't come here to meet every bloody Reynolds worker in America. We came to see Gemma," I said impatiently.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQ7C5i1Yce
"'Bloody,'" Mark rolled the word on his tongue as if it weren't English.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYsXCKwaFS
"Tell us where Gemma is," I insisted, getting right to the point.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZub7bdPrR
"It's not as easy as that," he bit. "You see, we can't."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlVhQg6YQG
"Yes, you bloody well can!"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDP0hncFHR9
Mark glared at Bernard, all fiery.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AYiilZEiV
"I tried to tell her! She wouldn't listen!" Bernard sulked.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlB4kItU5No
"Who's the boy?" Marked asked.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNZKv1mXgG
"Goes by the name Everest," Bernard replied, as if Everest weren't there. "I still don't know his business here."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZAtsxs6oN
Neither do I.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSOS2tXWtw
Mark's eyes scanned over Everest. "Looks like a prettier descendant of Zeus."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGX1OHAly2T
Now, this – was amusing. If I were Mark, I'd have taken a step back, because from where I was standing, I could just about feel the murderous energy radiating off of Everest. I have to say, if they had continued talking like this, I might have actually liked these people.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡab7Ql932KO
Except, the next thing Mark said begged to differ.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVagWmfI0Tw
He turned to me. "Despite being a big man," he gestured to Bernard, "Bernard over here, lacks self esteem. That's why he brought you to me," he took a step towards me. "So I'll ask you nicely, once. Get out."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOX4n42JVxP
I blew a bubble; the gum burst a few inches away from Mark Hemisphere's face.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rYpKNAOT8
A moment went by. And then he spoke. "You're desperate. You can't leave this place without Gemma's cure. But, you won't get anything out of us, so I suggest you leave, instead of wasting your time."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58KeSa1gwk
That sounded reasonable, except it was hopeless. I came here to get Gemma's cure, and I will not leave the States until I had it in my hand. The only issue was that I was stuck playing tag after Gemma, and these infuriatingly adamant people were not helping.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvJoY1iS9R
Unless I hypnotised the information out of them. Literally.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9616GbjQZS
"And before you try it, your hypnosis won't work in here," blasted Mark deadpanned, almost reading my intentions. "This place is filled with receptors which will release a signal that will turn your brain to jelly if you try it."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGxR6T4XGe
Oh, I see what they did. They led me to the most 202-proof part of the building. Smart. But not smart enough.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZYo5qThr8
"Okay, fine," I withdrew. "We'll go. But," I looked directly at Bernard. "You know you were working for a murderer, right?"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGW5gC6DB51
"Mark's no murderer."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzR81Yn2LT
"I'm talking about Robert," I stated as if there weren't any guns concealed in the walls, all pointing at me.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnd2uK6CFpQ
Marked frowned a little, while Bernard scratched his head. "I don't know what you're talking about." It sounded more like a question that a statement, to be honest.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaE2H6Y24hU
"Not only that, but you were also his friend, I believe that's what I heard you say earlier," I continued, glancing at Bernard. "I wouldn't be surprised if you took part in the attack as well."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyqraODT6j
"What attack?" Bernard's Acting skills: pending.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjafkVpb9Z9
"You would know," I responded in my best Everest impression before turning to blasted Mark. "And you. You said you've held your position here for how long? Oh, that's right, sixteen whole years. So, the same goes for you."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpuRQ5dFaE
Mark, in contrast to Bernard, let out a laugh as if the whole situation was comical to him.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVHvh2quKo
"Is that supposed to threaten me? You have nothing that could prove your absurd accusations, little girl."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rZcIQbScP
"Oh, no don't worry, we have plenty of proof back at the Front. But, of course they'd never actually publish them because that would mean their own dirty secret will come out too." All of this was true.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsNTlPATXN
"So where are you getting at? By the looks of it, you seem trapped."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7h2GgFUg8t
I let out a humorless laugh. "Please, let me finish. As I was saying, I'm not with them anymore," This was also true. "And, oh! Look what I happened to pocket just before I left." I dramatically pulled out the cheap hard drive the protest man gave me, as if it held leagues more value than it actually did.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbD9HuyfcHp
However, Mark wore a bored expression.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOdW4c9T4s
"It's a hard drive made by the Front." This was a lie. "And you know how advanced they are with their tech, right?" I asked this as if it were something even a moth would have known. "See this pretty button, here?" I pointed at some imaginary button. "If I press it, all the information on the hard drive will be delivered to every single newspaper station within a forty-seven mile radius. And I hear signal reception is really good in here," I added in a mocking whisper.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWdz7Av0T7
Mark's face slackened just a bit. Yes!
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtfbSoQcj2
"You're bluffing."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOXGrzPnlb
Of course, I am.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiprplhepT5
"I don't bluff."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnRqIVQgsh
"I don't believe you," Mark cut through. Sharp fella.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFU4ftyjnPb
"Then, let's push the button and find out." I was also pushing my luck by saying this.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcJsbAMsQy
"Go on."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygH19baqB2
"I hope that smile stays on when you're in jail," I stalled.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjjOX4WwXH
Someone cleared their throat in that moment. It was the skinny dude, Joseph, I think his name was.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXpmve4VTH
"Actually, Sir, if you don't mind me saying," he started with the uttermost frightened respect, "I wouldn't test my luck. I attend MIT, and I hear these people are top notch with their technology. And I must grudgingly concede, they are more advanced than Reynolds Corporation by at least fourteen-point eight-two percent, an Oxford study found."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhYkhPFfTw
Thanks, Joseph... you absolute dumbass.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7kjwVOon1
I leaped at the opportunity. "Yes!" Maybe a bit too eagerly. "I mean... that's all true. You, Sir, are looking at seven life sentences, right here in my palm," I lied limitlessly.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvbYBkTx0H
For once, since this soul-sucking encounter began, at last, Mark Hemisphere looked defeated.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwFn5eD7w0
"What do you want?" he spoke through his teeth like uttering those four words took all the newtons in his body out of him.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPDFVOK3ct
"Gemma's location."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7Q5UjqrdM
Mark's face seemed to be beyond conflicted as he hesitated with what his next movements were to be.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0XQGsbEjd
"Seven life sentences," I sang, jovially.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpyVADoTOt
Letting out a frustrated groan, he moved over to a lonely laptop on the table at the end of the room. "Even if you weren't 202, I would have killed you by now just for possessing such a despicably infuriating attitude."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVL94U2iYm
I smiled. "Eight."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIM1myE1AAN
A key on the laptop broke under his finger.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkj9ESFq8iT
"202," Everest warned, standing beside me.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFtJZLXzhR
I flickered my eyes up at him.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4FmUEWedF
"Don't push it," he somewhat growled.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtOWRBq0zr
"Is somebody jealous?" I whispered. "Don't worry, you will always be my first victim of annoyance."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4V8V2XGxK
Looking into his artic glare, I immediately regretted saying that.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBMBMTK6UO
"Once you have her location, I want to see you destroy that hard drive in here, before my own eyes," Mark announced.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ntrVbs8DA
I raised an eyebrow. "Hmm. I must look incredibly stupid, mustn't I? Perhaps I ought to get a makeover..." I stared right into Mark's firelike eyes. "I'll destroy the hard drive when we're out of this room, and you'll make sure that I leave with that address in my hand. Are we clear?"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzAv4agStF
His glared at me in pure and utter fury.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEEqcTz0h9
"Are we clear?" I repeated.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBV0GK7r5H
He remained still for a few seconds, but eventually nodded. Once.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkEM9HhO7z
I smiled. "Good, so we're singing from the same song sheet."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlni5ChHvlZ
"We have a tracker on her," Mark growled, hands fumbling angrily over the keyboard. "It will take time to load."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWX93M0vrC2
"How long?"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNX2BiGyZl
"About six hours," he said it in a somewhat sadistic tone.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGG5azK94l
"Six hours?" I exclaimed, dumbfounded.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsd9v3w1eCz
"You heard me," he responded triumphantly.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAWjK4PhKV
"That's preposterous! What's the point of having a tracking device if it will take hours to actually track her?"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGAzBjIVtB
"The tracker is located inside her. Automatically stimulating it will send a small shock through her body; she'll know she's being tracked. Doing it this way, although lengthy, will ensure she doesn't find out that you're on her heels."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6i4WwK4AjF
I swallowed, clenching and unclenching my fists. "You better be telling the truth."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmXjursHqi
Bernard noticing my agitation, said, "But, if it's just the cure that you really need, there is someone you can go to."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oC8raqEOp
"Who?"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSbiqbNGXb
"Dr L—"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJBBHDAHt4
"Bernard," Stupid Mark interrupted in his stupid fiery voice.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSe5UMsHflh
"No, no, let the kind man speak," I insisted.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTpZJ7CBoW
"Absolutely not. Bernard get out—"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgz6AAvbqjF
I wasn't really interested in what Bernard had to say before, but Mark's ballistic reaction to it evoked a tender sort of curiosity in me. Yes, that and the fact that whatever Bernard was about to say was probably very impressive.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEpWlYTCOZ
"Say it," I instructed.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kDaVB29R0
"Who are you to order my employer around—" Mark started.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTT9iCrisbM
"Seven life sentences, Mark, seven." I interrupted.
That shut him up. Gosh this dumb hard drive was amazing!710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHFEUdzGKf
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQT2VHtWit
"Dr Leonardo Sterling," Bernard said at last.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JVD3urn85
My eyes drooped in uninterest. "Yeah? Who's that?"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZ4pjen8WC
Bernard opened him mouth.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAZXEXKMhi
"Bernard," Mark interrupted sternly, "Why don't you leave the talking to me." Something about the way he said it, made me frightened for Bernard just a little bit.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyy4VVRtHX
"Yes, Sir." Bernard curtly nodded.
Alright, now I want to know
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTC8d5bf2RY
"Who's Leonardo Sterling?"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPYfMB9by1
"Sterling; he's a doctor," Mark replied.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILbjhQjsAq
"Well, duh," I responded, "What else?"
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCGQWs4Flw
"And he owns a clinic in at least fourteen states."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBzwmY1YLe
"Okay..?" So he owned a few hospitals. I still failed to see what made him so significant.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXWEZdhTsG
"He's also an FDA commissioner."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlaoyrOktC
I restrained a gasp.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIbasJaLL8
So that was what made him so significant.
"That means, only he can approve Gemma's drug!" Of course. He must have been some doctor. On average it took about a minimum of thirteen years to be promoted into becoming FDA commissioner. Add that onto a medical degree, we're talking twenty years in the industry. I wouldn't have been surprised if it were an ancient man we were talking about. 710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjTTjsZjdo
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpq3UmFqMvu
Mark nodded once.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDk4mNIzvH
"So, he must know where it the drug is! Or how to get it, at least!" Screw Gemma, all I needed was a five minute talk with this guy!
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbB5ck7gf4
"Except there's one complication," Mark deadpanned, "he's not very fond of you."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0ernMAeAd
Oh, for God's sake.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwiY8n3vIc
Bernard and the woman nodded solemnly to Mark's words.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXnk1bHnLn
"What? Why?" I demanded.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquBNTHDuSa
"He's knows Gemma very well, and she didn't exactly illustrate the most pleasant picture of you to him either."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFmy3uiX2Q
"But he doesn't know me!" I complained like a child.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsUnbywfhD
"Yes, well, he's got a very good idea of how dangerous you are."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQe3UkGjok
"I am not dangerous."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMejQQeScD2
"Of course you're not," he replied in a voice full of irrelevant sarcasm. "But, he's got a cautious eye out for you."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoV4IXsRo3
"I heard he would rather give up his career as an award winning doctor before letting you set foot on his premises," the woman remarked. I almost forgot she was still here.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBRN8hTN13
"Can be short tempered and judgemental most times, too." Bernard added. "Your best option is to wait until the tracking is complete, find Gemma."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKmDoTgqXh
"Then, why would you tell me about him?" You'd think these people had logic.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuBpwhSJkC
"Bernard over here says things without thinking. I'd have to have a talk with him about that."
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzZZYOBF3N
I eyed the leathal room. So I just had to sit here for six hours. But I wasn't stupid, this room was a 202 prison. "I'll be around," I declared exiting the evil room.
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBbs8FgbY1
It was going to be a long six hours.
***
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7kis5Jm7M
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcFgy3kQJk
Author's note:
710Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldbkWHEBgL
Hella long chapter, I know.
Did anyone notice (probably not) that when Emerald says "I don't bluff", she's quoting Everest from her first (proper) conversation with him in chapter 3?
ns216.73.216.176da2
