The slowest transfer in the history of hostage transfers happens over the next three hours.
Okay, it doesn’t take three hours. Not even three minutes. It only feels that way.
As the agents approach, I inspect them for injury. Instead of showing signs of weakness or defeat, they start relaying intel about what I’m about to walk into.
One by one, they drop a quick line to prepare me. Painting a picture for me.
“Gas sprays from chair rail molding in hallway.”
“Only two males with Carnage. Heavily armed.”
“Hostages upstairs. Third room on left.”
“Weapons kept in last door on right in a safe room.”
“Potential for makeshift weapons in billiards room. First door on right.”
Fuck yes.
Maybe Lila’s sister-bird was right, and we’re gonna be just fine.
SIXTY
The smallest man who ever lived
LILA
As the manformerly known as Silas slithers into the room, I’m struck withone question.
Has he always been this . . .?tiny?
I mean, he’s jarringly petite. SSA Chase is bigger than him.
No wonder Reed and his team thought he was afemalewhen they saw his silhouette in dark and grainy security cam footage from that murder.
How did this slip by me? Especially since I assume the first thing people notice about me is my size.
Perhaps the terror he rained over me these last few months recolored my memories of him, painting him as an imposing figure, a monster larger than life.
Now?
If I sat on him, he’d snap like a matchstick chair held together by Elmer’s glue.
I’ll keep that option in my back pocket in the event I can’t convince him to let the rest of us go free.
Thus far, nothing extreme has been needed.
The hostage exchange went off without a hitch. If nothing else goes our way from here on out, we saved sixteen federal agents.
That Ginny chick clumsily checked us for weapons, zip-tied our hands in front of us, and led us at gunpoint through this oddly luxurious mansion. The blood puddles and splatter set the ambiance, as did the plethora of dead bodies.
On the bright side, the deceased were all from Cadberry’s goon squad.
Once we got upstairs, I held my breath out of fear we’d be gassed like the agents. Instead, Ginny shoved us into a large rec room with a billiards table, three huge flat screen televisions, and a plush seating area. There’s a long bar along one wall with about twelve barstools tucked under the counter.
It’s an odd location for whateverbusinessCarcinogen intends to discuss with us. Maybe we’ll be shooting pool? Best two out of three gets to live?
Sadly, the remaining hostages aren’t in here, including Kenzie.
