Page 84 of The Rat

Rory bit hislip. “You think so?”

Hamish nodded. “I know he wouldbe. You’ve done amazing, and I need you to stay in here a littlelonger, see what he does when he’s under pressure. Can you dothat,Rory?”

Two months ago he was desperateto leave, but everything had changed. The thought of going had nausea swirling inhis stomach. “Yeah, I can stay in longer.”

Hamish smiled.“Good.” heturned to Morris. “Isn’t he doing good?”

“Yeah…”Morris whispered.

She was leaning againstthewall andhadn’t looked towards the table once.

“Did that hurt to say?” Roryasked.

Morrispushed off from the wall, then leftthe room.

“Don’t worry abouther.”

“I’m notworrying,”Rory said.

Hamish laughed, then offered hishand over the tablefor Rory to shake.

“You’ll be out of here reallysoon,” Hamishsaid.

Rory had never felt so many opposingemotions at once. His dad would’ve been proud he’d stopped a futurecatastrophe, but he was also betraying someone he liked, and whenhe left the prison, he left behind Ollie who’d come to rely onhim.

Thetwo-minute walk back to the wingdidn’t help him sort through his mind. It was a mess, and for thefirst time in months, Rory sought out Captain. He knockedtentatively on the cell door, and Captain’s gruff voice asked himto come in.

“It’s me…”

Captain groanedand heaved himselfup. Sweat dripped down his face, and he slumped forward, clutchinghis stomach.

“You lookawful.”

“Thanks.”

“What’s wrong?”

Captain huffed. “Sickness,sweating, a headacheso bad I’m tempted to knock my head into thewall…”

“Why?”

“The whiskey tap couldn’t keep upwith demand.”

“Oh.”

Rory stepped inside and sat down nextto Captain. “Don’t you dare tell me, I told you so.”

“I’m not gonna. Withdrawal looks likehell.”

“Itis. I’ve seen many hells, but this one Ikeep going back to. I’m weak to this hell. Where’sOllie?”

“Art class.”

“I’m awful at drawing, I can justabout manage stick men. That’s the limit of myartistictalent.”

Rory’s lips twitched into asmile.“Same,but Ollie, he’s something else. Gifted.”

“Yeah?”

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