Slowly, as though he’s afraid Hal will be spooked if he moves too quickly, Sterling removes his arm from my shoulders.It feels like he’s gearing up for a fight.
Oh fuck!The recorder.
Luckily, all of Hal’s attention is on Sterling, so I’m able to slip my hand into my pocket and start the recording.I’m not sure why it feels so crucial, but I’m going to trust my gut.
“There’s one thing that I’ve been wondering,” Sterling starts.“The guy calling the shots out there?He’s all about control, and yet he lost it with you.Made sure to separate you too.Put you in here, away from everyone else.That’s interesting to me.”
Hal’s smile turns sharp and dangerous.The room reshapes itself with this new light, no longer a safe haven, keeping evil out, but a trap slash cage, where the hunter is here with us.
And Sterling is baiting him.
Carefully, cautiously, I shift my hand to my side, inching toward the scissors.
“Why is that?As far as I can see, you’re not a threat.So, that makes me think you needed to be here for another reason.That maybe something in this room is valuable to you.”
I curl my pinkie finger around the handle.
“You’re pretty slick—you know that?”Hal says.
He’s too happy.I don’t like it.
“No, no, don’t stop now.Keep going.Tell me about this master plan I’m supposed to have.Since you’rethe best.”
I freeze when his eyes cut to me.
Sterling’s hand forms a fist on his thigh.
Careful, I plead silently.Don’t spook him.
“I imagine a sick child is quite stressful,” Sterling says.
It tears Hal’s attention back to him.
“It’s the most terrifying thing you could imagine.”
The tension goes ice cold.
Quickly, I pull the scissors in, hiding them under my thigh, my fingers curled tightly around them.
“I can imagine,” Sterling replies.“You said yourself; family is important.A scare like that could drive a good man to desperation.”
“Oh, yeah?What the fuck would you know about desperation, huh?Nothing, I bet.Bet you’ve never known loss in your life.Got everything handed to you.Yeah, I see you, with your fancy watch and your expensive suits.Does this make you feel important?You trying to impress your girlfriend here, get her all wet by?—”
“Don’t you dare talk about her,” Sterling growls.
It’s exactly what Hal wants.He crosses his arms, pleased.“You’re just like the rest of them.High on your fucking soapbox because you’ve never had to get your hands dirty when shit gets real.Well, news flash: some of us don’t have the luxury of the moral high ground because we’re too busy making sure we can fucking eat.”
Gone is the quiet man from before, replaced with a burning fury that is shaping around my suspicions.Sterling is right.Hal wasn’t pulled away from everyone else; he was put here on purpose.
But there’s nothing in here.No money, no way out.Only two desks and a couple of computers, and Hal hasn’t made a single move toward them.
Hal stands, and Sterling rushes to his feet.
I feel very small.
Hal points at him.“You think wagging your finger at some politicians is gonna change anything?Oh, you talk a big game, but when it comes down to it, you’re not prepared to do what it takes.”
Sterling steps forward.They’re only a foot apart now.
