Page 86 of Cruel Master
My whole body wants to shake, but I clench my fists and force myself into my seat. I can’t panic. I can’t let myself be weak. I try not to stare at the timer. Think. Talk.
“Why are you doing this?”
The words come quickly this time, as if the person responsible is glad I asked.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO HAVE YOUR LIFE’S WORK RIPPED AWAY?
I stare at the words. I’d expected something concrete, not a philosophical fucking discussion. I don’t have time for this. Juliet doesn’t have time for this. “What do you mean?”
ANSWER THE QUESTION.
I make myself consider it, though every second hurts. “Yes. I do. Twice.” How much does this person know about me? I’m guessing everything, so there’s no point holding back. “I lost my research funding before I joined the Brotherhood. And I had to shut down Candice.”
THOSE WERE JUST SETBACKS. YOU TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME. NOW I’M DOING THE SAME TO YOU.
What? What the hell? I’ve never hurt anyone. I’ve never stolen another’s work or taken credit for something I didn’t do.
“You’re wrong. I’ve never done anything to you. There’s been a misunderstanding. Please, just—”
DO YOU KNOW HOW CLOSE I WAS?
The timer says 1:53:23. Anger seeps in to replace some of the panic. I’ve never been a violent man, but the lack of a physical person to face off against is grating on me. I want someone to punch, but all I have is words on a screen.
“I don’t know who the fuck you are! Stop talking in riddles and tell me what—”
“I should have been first!”
The voice echoes through the office. He is well spoken, with a slight accent that I can’t place. I immediately think of eastern Europe, though I’m not sure why.
“Eight years of work stuck in this place, and you destroyed me in a day when you introduced thatthinginto the world.Candice.” He spits the word, and cogs start to turn, a trickle of memory creeping in.
My first week in the Compound. Kendrick introduces me to Brother after Brother after Brother. A hard-faced, unsmiling man gives me a tight nod, then walks off before Kendrick can speak. After he leaves, Kendrick tells me in a low voice, “Dimitry Blackstone. He’s been working in the AI field for years, but he’s never lived up to his potential. Give him a wide berth.”
I’m such a hermit that I only ran across him a couple of times and always took Kendrick’s advice, avoiding him. The name fits the trace of an accent. I try my luck. “Dimitry?”
There’s a long pause, punctuated only by my heart thudding in time with the numbers on the screen.
“So you do know my work.”
It is him. I was right. It’s a useless victory, however, because how does this help us? It doesn’t. And his work? I have no idea.I’ve been so focused on my own work that I haven’t bothered to look at anything the other Brothers are doing.
Saying that doesn’t feel like a good idea, though. I try to hedge my bets. “It’s valuable. I’d love to sit down and discuss it with you. Perhaps we can—”
“Don’t patronize me! Getting rid of yourcreationwas the first step, but the real problem is you. You’ll always be one step ahead of me.”
He wants me out of the way so his work can flourish. It makes a kind of sense, but it still doesn’t feel complete. I force myself to think as the counter ticks down. He needed me to shut Candice down, and he got what he wanted. There are much easier ways than this to kill me. Why involve Juliet?
And while I’m asking questions, why not just sarin gas us both when we were in the cell together? This theatrical performance means my death isn't all he wants. Can I bargain?
Christ. I’m the worst possible person to be managing a hostage situation.
“You don’t need to do this. Please. I’ll give you all my research and step away from AI altogether. I just want Juliet back. She’s all I care about.”
As I say the words, I understand the truth of them. I’d give anything up for her. Everything.
Dmitry laughs. “Oh, yes. Juliet. She’s fun, isn’t she? And so easy to manipulate. I had her all dressed and ready, rushing out to meet me, before you intervened.”
Blood pounds in my head as his words click into place. The man she’d been messaging who turned out to be a ghost. Fuck. My stomach lurches. “You were Alex?”
