Chapter 11
In the tense aftermath of my revelation, a heavy silence enveloped us, each breath pregnant with unspoken words. I pressed my lips together, hands clasped, waiting for the weight of my truth to settle upon them like a thunderclap.
"How are you the silent killer?" Vanessa's question pierced the stillness, drawing an eye roll from me, her hand still clutching her throat, a silent reminder of the impact of my actions.
"I honestly don't have an answer to that," I confessed, touching my forehead wearily, yearning for the solace that sleep could bring.
"Why keep it from us?" Dimitri's demand cut through the air, earning a scoff of disbelief from me as I folded my arms, a perplexed expression etched on my face.
"Did I owe anyone an explanation?" I retorted, a hint of defiance in my tone, meeting their gaze with a mix of defiance and confusion.
Jay's authoritative voice broke the brewing tension, redirecting the focus to the imminent threat, his words a call to vigilance as Vanessa shot me a final disdainful look before leaving with Dimitri.
"So, what's the plan now?" I turned to Jay, seeking guidance in the midst of uncertainty.
"We extract information from the prisoner," Jay stated matter-of-factly, striding into the interrogation room. His demeanor shifted as fear gripped him, a stark contrast to his usual confidence.
"Help me help you, and this will end soon," I uttered coldly, taking a seat across from the trembling prisoner, my gaze unwavering.
"Please, I've told you everything," the prisoner pleaded, tears tracing down his cheeks.
"I need a nail, candle, and a glove, Jay," I requested, a sinister smirk playing on my lips as I locked eyes with the quivering captive.
"What for?" Jay inquired, his eyes narrowing as I glanced at him. He shook his head and left the room to fulfill my request.
"Now, here is the deal; you can either spill the beans the easy way or the hard way. Either way, I still get what I need from you. The choice is solely yours," I calmly stated, watching his composure crumble into whimpers.
“Please…” his plea trailed off, eliciting a disappointing shake of the head.
“Proving stubborn I see,” I remarked in a clipped tone. My patience was waning and I needed to get the answers from him, fast.
"I swear, I do not know anything else," he pleaded, beads of sweat falling from his body. Just then, Jay returned with the necessary items that I requested for. I lit the candle, donned the glove, and heated the nail. Jay observed in silence. Once the nail was hot enough, I seized the prisoner's arm in one swift motion and inflicted a searing wound, prompting a cry of agony.
As blood trickled, I relished the moment. With a sigh, I urged, "I can keep going, or you can stop this."
"All I know is Dennis got word you were after him in Rome, but I don't know who told him," the prisoner gasped, clutching his injured arm.
"He's speaking the truth," Jay interjected, eyeing the prisoner warily. Displeased, I rose to exit the room.
"Where do you think you're going?" Jay demanded. Without looking back, I replied, "To grab a drink!" Jay groaned, trailing closely behind.
"What's the plan now?" Jay queried as we strolled into the kitchen. I reached for a bottle of whiskey, pouring myself a healthy dose, downing it in one go, feeling the fiery trail down my throat before meeting Jay's gaze.
"Now, it's time to activate phase two of the operation," I declared, dialing Alan on my phone.
"I'm not sure about that. We just finished tailing Dennis, returned to this chaos, and you want to jump into phase two already? Maybe we should lay low for a bit, catch our breath, and take Dennis by surprise," Jay suggested, wisdom resonating in his words.
"You sound like Jon," I chuckled, pouring another drink.
"I'll take that as a compliment," Jay grinned.
"Alan, any updates on the camera I planted on Dennis?" I inquired as Alan answered the call.
"Nothing yet, it's still blank, taking ages to boot up," Alan replied, sounding fatigued.
"Let me know once you have a feed," I requested before ending the call.
"You can't possibly be serious about going out now!" Jay exclaimed incredulously.
"The sun is up, which technically means it’s a new day," I pointed out, finishing my drink before heading to my room.
Taking a deep breath, I pondered my next move. Opting for a change in attire and skipping the mask, I reasoned that they wouldn't recognize the silent killer's face.
"I should accompany you," Jay insisted as I re-emerged into the living room where he was diligently waiting for me.
“That’s so sweet of you, but no,” I adamantly declined.
“You’re not thinking straight Jem! You’re so stubborn and always compromising the operation!” Jay yelled, eliciting an arrogant scoff from me.
"That’s why I said you shouldn’t come. I have the operation blueprint; I can handle it," I assured him, stepping out into the unknown.
I took in a deep breath of the crisp morning air, adjusting my sunglasses as I hailed a taxi, instructing the driver to head to Dennis's office. Double-checking the blueprint, I stepped out of the cab, paid the driver, and made my way towards the building.
Suddenly, a sleek black car screeched to a halt in front of me, and before I could react, a group of shadowy figures in black surrounded me. Despite my efforts to resist, their numbers overwhelmed me. Desperation rising, I reached for my gun, but a swift blow from one of the assailants sent me crashing to the ground.
"Get off me!" I grunted, struggling to break free, but the man swiftly subdued me, injecting a substance into my arm. A wave of drowsiness washed over me, rendering my limbs heavy and weak. Through fading vision, I glimpsed Dennis Saunders looming above me, a wicked grin playing on his lips.
"Hello, SK," his voice echoed ominously as darkness enveloped me.