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“Really? I’m intrigued. That takes skills.” Polsner’s praise sounds shallow.
“I have friends,” he vaguely says. “He died very young, your brother.” Even though I’m enraged by Michael’s recklessness, I have to admit that he’s doing great at keeping Polsner engaged.
“You sound sorry. All that softness.” Polsner sighs. “Medical examiner is definitely not the job for you, Doctor.”
Ignoring Polsner’s words, Michael tries again. “He’s not what you want. Let him go.”
“And what do I want, pray tell?” Polsner asks him.
“Someone to recreate your brother’s death with. Someone who looks more like him, just like the other victims.” He pauses, glancing down at me and then back up. “Someone like me.”
“Fuck no!” I snarl, furiously twisting my wrists as I writhe on the chair.
Polsner tightens his grasp. I can feel every single metal bead sinking into my skin, taking away my air supply.
“Take me! His death won’t give you the same satisfaction,” Michael pleads.
“I don’t know. Mr. Bear-Stone has been insufferable from day one. I’d rather enjoy killing him.” Polsner laughs near my ear.
I start to see black dots in front of my eyes. And all I feel is anger and repulsion. I can’t fucking die at the hands of this prick. And I can’t leave Michael alone again. Unprotected. I won’t let anybody hurt him ever again.
“He’s a millionaire. If you kill him with your distinctive murder weapon, they will hunt you down and find you in the end.”
“The police?” He laughs derisively, loosening his grip on the chain. I can finally suck in some much-needed air.
“I can easily take care of that from the inside.” ‘Like I’ve been doing.’ Polsner’s unuttered words are still loud in the room.
“Not talking about the police.” Michael’s stare doesn’t falter. His piercing blue eyes are firmly on Polsner. “If you let him go… outside, I’ll do whatever you say.”
Over my dead body! I’m about to growl again when Michael’s words register. That was weird phrasing. Why did he pause and say ‘outside?’ He glances at me and then quickly to my right. At the window? Are my brothers out there? Is Uri prepping old Betsy?
If Michael came with the others… They are all dead for letting him try to save me without even a weapon. Rami must have made him wear an earpiece. Which means he’s listening to everything we are saying. Maybe even telling Michael what to say.
The armrests protest again under my arms and a plan starts forming inside my head.
Michael’s life isn’t something I want to risk. Ever. But I need this chain off my neck to eliminate the threat.
“Don’t you want to feel it again? That same thrill? Having your brother so close you can hear his frantic heartbeats?” My voice is strained, but still tempting, judging by Polsner’s unnatural stillness. All his attention is on me now.
I give him an alluring image. “He’s panting, trying to breathe, but spine-chilling fear is making it worse. Black spots form in front of his eyes when the oxygen can’t reach his brain. He’s terrorized. Knows the end is coming. Do you like it when he gasps? When his hands scratch blindly at his throat trying to loosen the metal chain sinking in his neck? When he gurgles his last sound before going limp against you? Can you feel the life leaving his body?” I try to describe from experience with the donors, exaggerating a bit.
Michael’s eyes are studying me. For once, I can’t read him. But now is not the time to think about that. I need to focus on Polsner.
“That was such an electrifying ride to memory lane. Almost like you were there, Mr. Bear-Stone.” He moans, and the chain loosens even more. “Do you have a good imagination, or have you felt that kind of thrill before? I wonder.”
“Does it really matter?” Michael answers for me. “You want to keep killing your brother over and over…”
Polsner cuts him off, “Because he was such a fucking pain with his stupid condition. He was so fucking fragile, whimpering and shivering. Every time he bled, we needed to inject him with a clotting substance. Until we were broke. My father left because of that, and working two jobs killed my mother. Protecting him was the death of her. I promised her I’d take care of him. And I did. Oh, I did. He fucking deserved all I gave him. Just like the others.” The chain slides away from my neck, but I hear the unmistakable sound of a gun being unholstered.
I don’t want Polsner to accidentally fire a bullet. And I’m not sure Uri is out there with his rifle. There’s only one thing I can do. But I need him closer to me.
“You really got lucky at every turn.” I let out a loud puff of air. I look down at my hand, and when Michael’s eyes follow mine, I point at the door. I’m signaling him to move toward the exit, but he just stares back at me. So stubborn!
“Lucky?” Polsner says between gritted teeth.
“Definitely,” I add.
“I bet you made a mess when you killed your brother.” I almost snicker at Polsner.
