Page 39 of Rat

“Focused on what?”

“Revenge.”

“Revenge on who?”

Sebastian tipped his head back and sighed. “The guy that put me in here.”

“You’re here because you killed someone.”

“But why did I kill him? Because some arsehole inspector got to him, turned him against me.”

“Who?”

Sebastian shook his head. “His name’s not important.”

“What are you going to do to him?”

Sebastian’s eyes glinted. “The last thing he’ll hear before his world comes crashing down will be apop.”

He retreated to his bed, out of view.

Rory lay down, staring at the ceiling with unblinking eyes.

8

Hamish leaned over thetable. He pouted his lips, pushing up his moustache.

“Well?” he pressed.

After Sebastian’s sinister threat, Rory had used the prison phones to call his ‘uncle’. It was a way of letting Hamish and Morris know he’d found something out that was important without arousing suspicion. Nothing suggestive was said on the call, it was mundane, but just him phoning the number was enough to get them to visit the prison.

“It sounds like he’s out to get you, sir,” Rory mumbled.

“Are you sure?” Morris asked. She was leaning against the door, staring at Rory with her usual disdain. They were in the governor’s office again, but the governor himself was elsewhere.

If anyone asked Rory where he’d disappeared to, he was to tell them he had a meeting with his lawyer.

“I’m sure.”

Sebastian hadn’t named Hamish, but it had been obvious to Rory that was who he’d been talking about, who he felt was responsible.

“What’s he planning?” Morris asked.

Rory shook his head. “I don’t know. He mentioned a pop.”

“A pop?”

“The last thing he’ll hear before his world comes crashing down will be a pop.Those were his words.”

“A gun, does he mean a gun?” Morris demanded.

Rory shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“Come on, Rory.”

“That’s all I’ve got. Since the last time we spoke, that’s it. It’s not easy finding a way in.”

“There’s one in your face and one in your arse, why not put them both to good use? That’s why you were chosen for this, was it not?”

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