“My tools.”
“What did you use them on to get them in that shape?”
“Leftovers from when I had to break up that body you left draped over the tub like she was a discarded linen.” I rolled my eyes, pushing back against him. I held one of the long bone saws up tohis cheek.
I neglected to include the other half of the sink, which contained old, used saw parts that were meant for butchers but were probably for something like water fowl and big game birds instead of humans. One side of the sink contained the smaller items that were previously detailed. Some were antique tools that my father had kept hidden for amputations: mallets, curettes, bone nibblers, big sheers, and scalpels.
“You owe me a new blade. The bones wore this one down.” I lowered the instrument back into the sink.
“I take it back. I may be the one who has to hide from you.” He moved away to go lean on the table. “How will you torture me today?”
“Just samples—no torture.”
“I was looking forward to it.” He sighed in disappointment.
“Apologies for not having anything crueler in mind.”
“You are forgiven,” he responded with a small grin.
I grabbed some freshly cleaned flasks and moved next to the apparatus.
Silas had already started rolling up his sleeve, knowing what was coming.
“I’m going to need a different sample this time,” I said as I tightened the tourniquet around his arm, teasing the veins to find one to poke.
“Is that so?” He raised his brow. “Does that also mean I get more samples from you?”
“No.”
“How is that fair?”
“I didn’t say it was, but I’m not giving you more blood for a sample of spit.” I rolled my eyes.
“Open your mouth. I can give you some right now.”
“Silas,” I warned, shooting him a glare as I slid the needle into a vein, pumping the apparatus as it pulled the blood.
“How else would you like it?”
“In the glass, preferably.” I reached over and handed him a glass vial.
“That’s not as exciting as my first offer.”
“Can you cooperate? For once?” I asked tiredly.
He mumbled something, but I was distracted by the ringing of the shop bell.
“You didn’t lock the door on your way in?” I pulled the needle from his arm and slapped a cloth on the puncture.
“I must have beensoexcited to see you that I forgot,” he replied mockingly.
“Stay back here. I’m not finished.”
“I’m hungry,” he hissed impatiently. “Where are you going?”
“To receive clients.”
“How long will that take?”
