Chapter 8
MELANIE
TWAS GOING TO GO CRAZY.
I could feel it slowly seeping into my mind the more I stared at the painfully pink–padded walls of my new cell. I almost missed the damp basement and rickety floors.
Whatever his faults and they were many I had to give it to the boss around here; he knew how to break people down until they would beg at his feet.
- however, refused to be broken. Therefore, I spent my time keeping myself as same as possible by doing calculations in my head or imagining the look on Cadell’s face when he learns that not only is he not getting his hands on those jewels any time soon, but I am also out of his reach.
The thought was pleasing and almost made all this worth it. Almost.
I had no concept of day or time so I didn’t know exactly how long I’ve been here. I do know that he (I’d heard the man assigned to my door refer to him as Mr. Alonso) came in at the same point in time every day, which is five to ten minutes after someone had come in to take away the plates I’d eaten lunch with
At first. I was tempted to reject the food just to be contrary, but I needed all the strength I could get if I was ever to break out of this place. Whenever he came our conversations usually took the same pattern:
“For a little thing like you, what you attempted to do was really ballsy. But I’m a very busy man, and every minute you don’t tell me what I need to know I lose a little more of my patience, which doesn’t bode well for you” he says, giving me that creepy unblinking stare.
But he’s not as slick as he thinks he is. I know he’s trying to goad me into tripping myself up and giving him a clue, so I match his blank stare for blank stare as I reply,
“For a man who is supposedly busy you sure do spend a lot of time here. Did I shake your world that much or are you just lonely?” At this point, he just turns and leaves.
The same thing, over and over. Being in confinement does leave room for a lot of thinking so I’ve done some of my own and arrived at some conclusions. The dossier containing information about the heist never mentioned this man and I was led to believe Enrico himself owned the shiny baubles not knowing he was just a frontman for this Mr. Alonso
Which means Cadell didn’t know either or knew and deliberately kept me in the dark. Knowing him, I’d put my money on option two. Consequently, Cadell either kept it from me because it didn’t matter or I’d unwittingly stumbled into the hands of someone that even Cadell with all his power and connections had to tread carefully around.
This could go really had or really good for me. I considered just telling him everything and somehow convincing him to not shoot the messenger but from what I’ve seen so far, after he’d gone after Cadell he’d just see me as one more loose end to the up and I’d be dead. No, thank you.
While these thoughts were going through my head the door slid open and 1 arched a brow as my current nemesis and his sidekick walked through.
“Well, you’re early. Missing me already?” I said with a sly smile. He merely leaned against the wall beside the door in silence, regarding me with his trademark blank face. His sidekick looked a little uneasy but I did what I always do and ignored him. “Hello, Melanie,” my nemesis said in a silky tone that sounded almost smug. I stiffened, dread making its way throughout my body even as I fought to keep my smile on my face. I knew the only reason why I was still breathing instead of floating face down in a river somewhere was the information I was withholding.
Clearly he has other means of getting said information and now he knows my name which means he is close to finding out everything if he hasn’t already and I’d be done for. Fuck.
“Melanie. Is that your actual name or one of your facades? Don’t answer that he continued before I could even open my
“I’ll know soon enough. I’m sure you’ve already figured out that I’m close to getting what I want by which time you won’t be of any use to me anymore. But if you tell me all I want to know now and not make me waste any more resources, I’ll make your end a lot less painful. What do you say?”
When all he got was more silence from me, he arched an eyebrow, which was the most expression I’d seen on his face.
Chapter 8
“I’m not sure whether to be impressed by your loyalty or appalled by your stupidity. Have it your way then“.
He pushed off the wall and put a hand on the door, “Welcome to the beginning of your end, Melanie. Had we met under different circumstances, you would have been a great asset to me.
Just as he stepped through the door I blurted, “We did meet under different circumstances, remember? Spirito, Rome“. He turned abruptly and I saw the moment he remembered before he closed off his expressions again and said…. “Goodbye, Melanie” and the doors slid shut.
I immediately started kicking myself mentally for even entertaining the thought that he would probably not murder me all because we’d had one really memorable night years ago.
For all I know he could be a serial killer who only targets his bedmates and I’ll just be one in a long line of missing women. I gave myself a few more mental kicks for straying to remember how it felt like to be in his bed when the same man was trying to shove me off my mortal coil.
I had to figure out a way out of here, and fast. The door slid open again and a man walked in carrying a tray containing what should be my lunch and the painkillers I’d been taking since the first day I was put in here. He set it down and I noticed a sliver of color partially hidden beneath one of the paper plates.
I pried it out as the man left and it turned out to be a note in a pristine handwriting that suited my nemesis so much I had little doubt it was his.
“Eat
- up. little bird. You’d need your strength for what’s coming the note read, as if I would’ve forgotten his plans for me in the short time since he’d left.
Leaving notes for me with the food delivered on his orders. If the circumstances were different or the contents of the note not so sinister, it would’ve been almost romantic. I set it aside.
My lunch consisted of a loaded chicken sandwich with a side of fries which I ate with enthusiasm and renewed appreciation as it may be my last
I swallowed my painkillers with the water provided and after a few moments got up to begin my usual walk around my padded cell.
I hadn’t completed the first lap when I was hit with a sudden wave of dizziness and my knees buckled. I had just a moment to berate myself for being so stupid before the darkness took me..
