Page 106 of The Rat

“I wish you bled out inthat cupboard. I wish Pauly sunk that knife into yourheart.”

His words knocked the airfromRory’schest, and he bowed forward. Ollie turned, opened the door, thenslammed it behind himself.

“He doesn’t mean that.”Captain whispered.

“He does, and sometimes I wishit,too.”

“Don’t saythat…”

“Are you not gonna yell atme, wish me dead?”

Captainshook his head, then murmured. “No,you have to own your choices. That question about me workingundercover suddenly makes sense.”

“You were right, it wasn’t worthit. It wasn’t worth hurting Ollie, lying to you, betrayingSebastian.Itold you I can be evil, too.”

“You’re not evil, Rory. You didwhat you had to…” Captain held out his hand. “It was nice meetingyou.”

“Really?”

Captain smiled, and Rory clutched hishand.

“Promise you’ll look afterOllie.”

“I will, Iswear.”

“And you’ll take care ofyourself.”

“I’ll do mybest.”

Rory squeezed Captain’s hand harder.“I’m sorry…”

“Don’t be…I get it, I reallydo.”

Captain dropped his hand, gavehim a brief smile, then turned away. He closed the door softlybehind himself, and Rory collapsed on his chair. Heheld his facein his hands and rocked back and forth.

The door opened, and Rory knewthe governor wasstanding behind him. “Are you ready to seeSebastian?”

Rory lifted his head. He wasn’t ready,he’d never be ready, but he had to do it.

“Yeah.” He grabbedhis letteroff the desk and got to his feet. “Let’s go.”

****

The governor opened thehatch,thenstepped away. Rory kneeled on the floor, and when Sebastian’s faceappeared in the opening, it took all his willpower not to breakdown in front of him.

“Rory?What the hell?” His eyes were roundwith worry, and he searched Rory’s face for an answer. Rory duckedhis head.

“Hey…” Sebastian mumbled,reaching throughthe hatch.

“Hands inside.” Thegovernor muttered.

Sebastian huffed, then retractedhis hand. “What’s wrong?”

“What Pauly said wastrue.”

Sebastian leaned away from thehatch.

“I’m a police officer. Myinspector planted me here to gather information on you.”

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