Page 61 of Equalizer
Calvin didn’t doubt that his death would bring out a darker side of Owen that he had glimpsed, an obsessive determination that would stop at nothing to achieve its objective. Reined in, that ability made Owen a brilliant agent. But bent on revenge, Owen was likely to break rules, cross lines, and sacrifice himself to atone for Calvin’s death.
Killing me is likely to destroy both of us. I wouldn’t be any better if the roles were reversed.
Humphries had stopped talking, intent on finishing his work. Calvin maneuvered so that his fingers could reach the spot in his waistband that hid the saw blade. Escaping was a long shot, but Calvin intended to go down fighting.
“You get to see the best part.” Humphries sounded excited as he pushed his patient’s gurney toward the large metal box.
“Where’s your witch? Shouldn’t he be here?” Calvin couldn’t help being curious. He worked at the saw blade and then twitched his fingers to begin the slow job of fraying his ropes.
“The magic was done before you woke up. Don’t worry—he’ll be back when it’s time to preserve your parts. Hands and feet bring a premium,” Humphries gloated. Calvin repressed a shudder.
“Here’s where science changes the world.” Humphries attached wires linking the big box to the patient’s newly sewn-on hand.
“Behold!” He threw a lever, and the box lit up, whirring and beeping as it came to life. Electricity crackled around nodes at the top like a deadly halo. Calvin could feel a charge in the air, even at a distance, like the air before a thunderstorm.
The whole contraption whined, and then the man’s hand began to twitch and jump, coming off the gurney and several inches into the air. The patient, until now drugged senseless, opened his eyes and screamed, and his body arched against the restraints.
Calvin sawed faster. The blade slipped, and blood slicked his fingers. He tightened his grip and ignored the pain.
I don’t have to cut through all of the ropes. Just enough to wiggle free.
There are plenty of knives on the table. Any of them should do nicely. The witch isn’t here, and Humphries is only human.
I might not succeed but attacking beats waiting to be killed.
The smell of ozone and burnt flesh filled the workshop, and Calvin fought the urge to gag. The patient, eyes wide and chest heaving, gripped the gurney white-knuckled with his original hand. He looked pale and terrified, but the fingers of the new hand twitched, and Humphries clapped with exultation.
“Another success!” Humphries celebrated.
Calvin felt the rope give, and he struggled with all his might. One loop snapped, and the rest fell to the ground. He launched himself out of his chair, ignoring the pounding in his head, and dove at Humphries.
Humphries recoiled, bumping the gurney and sending it rolling. It hit a crack in the cement floor and toppled, which snapped the restraints and dumped the patient onto the floor. The man lay still and did not try to crawl away.
Gunfire sounded outside the warehouse, barely audible above the whine of the generator. He hadn’t seen any guards, and now Calvin guessed they had been watching the street to avoid interruptions.
Owen. He’s come to rescue me—and I sure hope he’s got backup. I’ve just got to play for time.
Calvin grabbed a scalpel from the cart, tamping down his gift to ignore the graphic images the item raised in his mind. He brandished it at Humphries, who stared at him wide-eyed as if he couldn’t grasp how suddenly his advantage had disappeared.
Humphries ran at Calvin with a knife, and Calvin dodged, slashing his stolen scalpel across the doctor’s face. Humphries screamed and staggered. Calvin shoved him with the implement cart and sent him flying back against the machine. Humphries threw his arms wide with the impact and snagged his lab coat on the generator’s big lever.
The massive generator threw up a shower of flame and sparks. Humphries, caught on the lever, shuddered and twisted like the side of beef in the galvanism exhibition as the voltagesurged through his body. Fire shot from the machine, setting Humphries alight and catching in the trash that lay piled against the walls. Humphries screamed as the flames rose, engulfing him and burning him alive.
The piles of trash and stacked wooden boxes caught quickly. Billowing smoke filled the warehouse with a choking haze that burned in Calvin’s lungs.
“Calvin! Calvin!” Owen’s voice came from the direction of the doorway.
“Over here!” Calvin dropped to his hands and knees to keep his head below the smoke. He crawled toward the fallen patient, fearing the worst.
He rolled the man over, and the arm with the stitched-on hand flopped to the side. Calvin checked for breath and heartbeat but found neither.
“Calvin!” Owen fell to his knees beside him. “Thank God. You’re alive.”
“We’ve got to get out of here before the smoke gets worse,” Calvin replied. “Humphries and his patient are dead.” He pointed toward the charred corpse that still hung from the generator, which was now engulfed in flames
Owen pulled him to his feet and grabbed him by the arm. They hunched low, running toward the door. Whatever was in the heaps of wood and paper burned fast, creating a thick, stinking cloud that made them cough and stung their eyes.
Owen led the way, throwing the door open and hauling Calvin outside.
