Page 36 of Creature
John was fastened to a nearby wall, held inplace by metal bands at his throat and wrists. Perhaps around hislegs as well, but Harry couldn’t see from his angle. Not only wasJohn naked and gagged. The worst thing was a bloodless gaping woundin his chest, which looked to be a long and deep slice from ablade.
John, his face a mask of sorrow, watchedHarry.
Harry knew it was hopeless, but he foughthis bonds until his breath came in desperate snorts and sweatsheened his chest. The effort served no purpose other than tobruise and tear the flesh near the straps. He stopped moving andstared at John, wishing he could somehow communicate his regretsand apologies. Townsend should have known better than to send anidiot on a mission, and Harry should have known better than toaccept. He never should have brought John here; they should havestayed in the car and just kept driving. Sure, the Bureau wouldhave tracked them eventually, but it was a big country with so manyplaces to lose oneself. They could have had more days togetherbefore they were found. John could have been free a littlelonger.
Time passed. Harry’s sweat dried, leavinghim shivering. He took a closer look around the lab, as much as hisposition allowed, and he didn’t like what he saw. Trays ofglittering blades. Bottles full of murky liquid. Pieces of bonethat might have been human. The cloying stink of the room seemed togrow worse, insinuating its way into his nose and throat and lungs.Fearing he would otherwise choke, he fought to not vomit.
Sometimes John emitted low noises throughthe gag or made a small movement that caused his chains to rattlesoftly. He never stopped looking at Harry.
If only Harry could touch him—just a brushof fingertips against skin. It would mean so much.
Then John shifted his gaze beyond Harry, anda door opened and closed. The odor of cigarette smoke reached Harryeven before Swan stood beside him, glass and cigarette in hand.He’d changed out of his expensive sweater and now wore a white labcoat with a white shirt and black tie visible beneath. He watchedwith amusement as Harry renewed his struggles and gruntedfrantically.
“You have a choice.” Harrystilled at once. Seemingly satisfied that he had Harry’s attention,Swan continued. “I’m going to kill you. That part isnon-negotiable.”
Maybe Swan thought Harry would make a fussover that, but Harry waited for more. His own death didn’t frightenhim—he wanted to know Swan’s plans for John.
Swan apparently enjoyed an audience. He tooka drag on his cigarette, followed by a sip of bourbon. “Still, youhave an important decision. I can kill you now. Not quickly, Idon’t think, because I rarely have the opportunity to play. Or youcan remain alive a short time longer—until I’ve finalized myresearch. Then I will kill you quickly and resurrect you. You’ll bemy first success.” He stroked Harry’s bare hip. “You’re prettyenough to keep around in that capacity.”
Someone else walking around in Harry’sbody—that was an odd idea. And actually, it didn’t disturb him.Perhaps the new creation would be smarter than him, like John was.Perhaps he’d find a way to escape Swan’s clutches and maybe eventake John with him.
John rattled his chains, but Swan ignoredhim.
“So what do you think,Harry? Would you prefer the second option?”
Harry nodded vigorously.
“Excellent.” Swan pettedHarry’s hip again and then, smiling, moved his hand to Harry’sgroin and fondled his soft cock. Harry growled and John rattledmore loudly.
“I’m glad you wish tocooperate, because if you didn’t, I might start by removing this.”Swan squeezed firmly. “That would be a shame, wouldn’t it? Butyou’re well enough endowed that I might preserve the organ forpotential future use.”
If Swan thought he was intimidating Harry,he was wrong. Not that Harry wanted to be chopped to pieces. But hecouldn’t bring himself to care much about his own fate when Johnhung there with his chest slit open.
Swan withdrew his hand. “All right. If youwish to avoid that destiny, you must simply do one thing. Tell methe name of Mr. Lord’s attorney.”
Harry almost laughed. Infact, when Swan set down his drink, stubbed out the cigarette, andunbuckled the gag, Harrydidlaugh. This son of a bitch thought he was sofucking clever, but he still hadn’t figured out that Harry’s storywas bullshit.
“You’re amused? Do youbelieve I’m joking?” Swan looked slightly rattled, which Harryfigured was a good thing.
But what to do next? Harry could confessthat he’d fabricated everything, but then he’d end up tortured todeath and John would remain captive. Harry suspected that if Swanlearned the truth, he’d be enraged, which would lead to bad thingsfor John.
Harry could make something up. Create aname. That would buy him a little time but not much, because Swanwould rather quickly find out that no lawyer existed. In fact, he’dprobably realize that Lord was a fiction too.
Then Harry rememberedsomething: Townsend knew Harry was meeting with Swan tonight. WhenHarry didn’t check in within a reasonable amount of time, wouldn’tTownsend investigate? It might take him a while to act, especiallyif none of his agents were in Portland, but surely hewouldact eventually.Harry didn’t want John back in the Bureau’s hands but figured hewas better off there than with Swan.
Okay then. Continued lies were the way togo.
“I’ll tell you his name,”Harry said. “But can’t you let John go? You don’t need himif—”
Swan cast a quick look at John. “You namedit?”
“He named himself. He’s agood man, he really is. Set him free. You’ll still haveme.”
Swan laughed. “I don’t think so.”
Harry hadn’t expected him to listen, but noharm in trying. “I get that you lost someone you loved and you wantto do something about it. But there’s no reason to harm an innocentperson in the process, and John is innocent.”
“That creature isirrelevant to you. What is the attorney’s name?”
