One Hour Later
Maxwell ignored the knock on the door again as he continued to check the messages from the broadcast stations he had sent the announcements.
The groans, tossing and teeth-chatters from the bed did not faze him as he sent a message to his men to increase their reach and double the rewards offered.
"Sir, please we need to check on the patient." the doctor knocked again.
He finally raised his head after he sent the last message and said "There is no need. We are still having a discussion," he said casually.
"It doesn't seem like it, sir. Please, we need to check on her. Any agitation could affect her splinted arm, and it could rupture the damaged tissues again, which could endanger her life."
"Is that so?" Maxwell said in consideration as he moved closer to where Susan was shaking like a leaf while sweating profusely.
He looked like he was about to give in to what the doctors were saying, but at the last minute, he shook his head and said "It is fine. Nobody will miss her."
"I…hate…you…" she said through chattering teeth.
"The feeling is mutual, dear."
"Pl…please. I just…need…I need…"
"To tell me who the father of your child is? Yes, I agree with you. Go ahead."
"I…did…not…do…anything…" she insisted.
Just as she had been insisting since he asked her.
The outrage with which she had lashed out at him when he first asked would make anyone in the vicinity think that she was truly being wronged.
She called him all sorts of names and rained abuse on him.
Undeterred, Maxwell knew a guilty person when he saw one.
His goddamned step-sister was as filthy as a white garment soaked in used oil.
He was sure of it.
The doctor had said the result would be at least twenty-four hours, but Maxwell did not have until twenty-four hours.
Allysyn did not have twenty-four hours.
Not that a result would matter to a pathological liar like her anyway.
Maxwell had a hunch, and he had gone with it.
When he first saw her twitching, he had not thought much of it, he just wanted to get his answers so he could get the needed solutions on time.
But when she started shouting at him, even while spasming from time to time, Maxwell had seen an opportunity and he took it.
He waited her out.
He had sent a message to Andrew to ensure that Reyona did not worry about him.
He told Andrews what to do about Officer Guy.
Then he waited and waited.
Soon enough, her shouting, yelling and name-calling soon toned down to teeth-chattering.
Then the shakes had started.
Then the chills.
Followed by clammy sweat.
Then the pitiful tears.
Maxwell knew the pattern very well.
He had seen it in pay-per-sleep rentals far too many times not to know the pattern.
She had not gotten to the breaking point yet.
She was close but not quite there yet.
"Sir, I am afraid we will be forced to break down the door. I also have a responsibility to my patients."
"That would be a waste of a perfectly useful door," Maxwell said, with his gaze pinned on Susan.
To her, he said "Just tell me the truth. Tell me the truth and we can end this right now. The doctors will come in and help you, and you never have to see my face again."
"They…ccc…can't…won't help…me"
We are getting somewhere.
"I could make them," Maxwell said easily.
She looked hopeful for a moment like she wanted to believe him, but then she shook her head.
Just when he thought she was going to keep her teeth-chattering going again, she said "I… I…helped him. That…was…what… I…did…"
"How did you help him?" Maxwell asked immediately.
She stopped talking again as Maxwell heard people talking beyond the door.
More voices. Shit.
"Damn it! How the hell did you help him?" Maxwell asked in a furious, low tone.
She only shook her head as tears squeezed out of the sides of her eyes.
Maxwell knew her tears had nothing to do with remorse.
It was more because of the thirst for the enemy eating her up.
"Your daughter, who you put in this state, could die if you do not tell me what I need to know. We have not been able to get her blood type anywhere. She could die. Do you understand me? Allysyn could die." he said urgently, with the hope that whatever maternal instinct that could possibly be inside her would be awakened by that.
No such luck.
"I…did…not…do…anything." she squeezed out as she twisted violently on the bed again.
The cuffed hand was already having bruises at the point where she kept pulling at it.
Maxwell knew he couldn't overlook what the doctor had said, yet he had to get the answer out of her.
If he lost her now, he was sure she would clam up once she felt relief.
He moved closer to her and used the last ace up his sleeve. "Look here. I know what you need the most right now. I know how much you wish you could just have some in your mouth or a little…just a little of it, and you will be fine, yeah?"
She nodded instantly, with widened eyes as drools joined the tears wetting the sides of her face.
"Yeah? Yeah? You were right. The doctors can't help you with that. But you know who can help you?"
"Who, please?" she begged desperately.
"Me, tell me what I need to know, and I will bring it to you. I already have it in my bag in the other room because I know you will need it. You give me what I want, I will give you what you need."
"I…don't trust…you," she said with tears mixing with her snot.
With a steely gaze, Maxwell straightened, "I guess you will never know then. I will call the doctor to come and do what is required, then the officers will take you away."
He took a step towards the door before she said "I…did…not mean to… I loved…love him."
"So you naturally help him," Maxwell said with an understanding tone. "I am sure he would understand. Now, how did you do it?"