Page 30 of The Rat

“And you don’t have tobring him drugs.”

“No.”

Captain narrowed his eyes.“Hehasn’ttried anything inappropriate?”

“No, I swear. He wants a goodnight’ssleep, that’s all.”

“And he thinks oneappointmentwith the therapist will magically change that?”

“I don’t think it couldmake it much worse.”

“Fine.” Captain huffed. He got tohis feet,shot a menacing look at Pauly across the room, then spoke over hisshoulder to Rory. “I’ll sort it.”

The pullof Sebastian’s stare made Rory lookhis way. He raised his eyebrow questioningly, and Rory nodded.Sebastian smiled, and gave him the thumbs up.

Ollie walked across the room hugginghimself. His face was pale, and his eyes were darting.

“What’shappened?”

Ollie sunk down in the chairnext toRorybut didn’t speak.

“Talk to me, are youokay?”

“I’m okay… at the moment I’m okay.”

“Has someonethreatened you, hasTeddy—”

“No, he’s not hurtme.”

Ollie’s gaze snapped to hiscell, and he mumbled something Rorydidn’t quite catch.

“What?”

“Maggots,” Ollie repeated.

“Maggots? In thefood?”

Ollie shook his head. “In mycell.”

Rory shuddered. “Get ridof them.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

Ollie leaned closer. “I thinkthey’reTeddy’s pets.”

“Pet maggots.” Rory murmured,then hesnorted.

“It’s not funny, I’m serious. Heshowed me them last night, by the window, a load of them. There wasa big smile onTeddy’s face when he picked one up and put it in his palm,he tried to make me hold one, and I screamed.”

Rory raised hiseyebrows.“That high-pitched scream was you?”

“Asshole. What am Isupposed to do?”

“Don’t go putting them in yourasshole for a start.”

“I hate you.”

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