Graham’s eyes became slivers. “Picked on?Picked on?My family line is severed because of what they did.Centuriesof inherited knowledge—gone!”
I could only guess what they had done to him. “You killed a bunch of innocent people. I’m just curious if you ever got the ones who hurt you or if you’re just another sadistic serial killer.”
“They’re all infected with the same evil. That’s what it is. Evil.”
“You didn’t answer my question. Did you ever get back at the ones who did that to you?”
His lips thinned. “I can’t. He never liked me, and he won’t let me near his territory.”
“Coward. You could have used that poison against some of the worst of the worst, but you’re too scared to confront the real bullies in this world. Instead, you chose innocent people—vulnerable people.”
Graham’s eyes darted around, and he glanced at his watch.
“Where’s the antidote?” I pressed. “If you save her life, I’ll tell the higher authority you cooperated.”
“I don’t have it on me. We have to go back to my place.”
I folded my arms. “I don’t believe you.”
He approached the edge, searching for the train at the far end of the tunnel.
“Look, we’re not going back to your place. Either you’re stalling, or you’ve got some elaborate scheme cooked up, and I’m not playing that game. Tell me where the antidote is, and I won’t slice off your toes.”
His eyes dragged over to mine.
A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. “Do you know why they hired me? Because I enjoy doing the dirty work. I’m the monster your bullies have nightmares about. We’ll start with all the small appendages—including the one between your legs. Assuming you still have it. Then the tongue.”
He blinked, mouth parting as panic and despair washed over his features.
I inched toward him. “Tell me where the antidote is. Unlike you, I don’t make empty threats. I’m also not very patient.”
From the distant tunnel, I heard the rumble of the oncoming train. Before I could get an answer out of Graham, he jumped onto the tracks.
My eyes widened. There was no way in hell I’d be able to get him out of there by myself. Graham lay there with his eyes slammed shut, waiting for the train to run over him.
Panicked, I leaned over the tracks and waved my arms frantically to get the conductor’s attention.
“Stop the train!” someone shouted, also waving their arms. Several people joined in as the train rolled by the platform, the brakes screeching.
“Stop, you idiot! Stop!”
The train neared, a woman screamed, and I turned my head away.
When it stopped, I braced myself for a gruesome sight. How the hell was I going to get the antidote now? I peered over the edge.
Graham sat facing the train, his legs apart and a rivulet of blood dribbling from his scalp. “I can’t go to jail,” he babbled. “I’d rather be dead. I won’t get my food; I won’t see anything but bars and walls. Not even television.” He swung his gaze up at me, his eyes pleading. “Let me die. You have the power to do it. Just one shock.” Graham began sobbing like a little boy.
I’d had plenty of men beg for their freedom or even their lives. But not once had anyone ever begged for death.
“Stay where you are,” the conductor said. “We called an ambulance.”
This was my case, and I had to make a decision. Turning him in would open up an investigation, and the higher authority might find out about the kids and what we’d done. I wasn’t worried about the paramedics arriving. Even if they took him to the hospital, Graham couldn’t escape. Not unless he got himself committed, and imprisonment was what he was trying to avoid.
I took out my phone and made a call. “Viktor? I need to ask for a favor.”
Chapter 28
After calling Viktor, Blue sent a text message to Raven, letting her know she was going home. Graham might not have an antidote, and even if he did, he would probably destroy it. What would stop him? A conscience? Apparently he’d lost that a long time ago.
