Prosper stared without blinking as the man tried to crawl across the floor, leaving a gory slug trail of blood. The pipe was still in his hand and it rang against the concrete like an uneven metronome as he made each lurching movement, arm, leg, arm, leg.
“Please … kill … me,” the man croaked, a trail of blood dribbling from his lips.
One of the women ran forwards and pulled the pipe out of his hand while two men tried to restrain him. The prisoner gnashed at them like a rabid dog, blood spurting from his mouth.
Prosper was amazed by how tenacious he was, unwilling to surrender no matter what pain he must be in.
He looked up at Prosper. “Don’t … let them … take me … back.”
“Good job, team,” Lester said.
Klement walked towards the prisoner and stood with his arms folded as he looked down from one man to the other. “I expected better.” He shook his head and walked away.
CHAPTER 37
“So what happened to him?” Wolfe asked. He leaned against a kitchen unit, arms folded across his chest.
Prosper rubbed his cheeks, felt the scrape of stubble, and then leaned forwards in his chair and put his elbows on Wolfe’s kitchen table. “He must have followed me and then broken into the building.”
“And the inmates, they killed him.” Wolfe whistled softly. “Well I guess you won’t have to worry about chasing him out of town now.”
“It isn’t funny. He’s dead because of us.”
“Erm, because of you, not us.”
Prosper ground his teeth.
“It looks as though their experiment to turn people into killing machines is a success then.”
Prosper scratched his head. “I don’t think so. I saw those men who’d escaped. They looked more terrified than murderous. I think if they did kill Rivers, it was only because they were trying to escape. He was probably in their way.”
Wolfe shrugged. “Well I hope this new job is worth it.”
“Of course the job’s not worth a life.”
“Well that’s the price you’ve paid.”
Prosper raised his hands in exasperation. “I don’t know why I thought I’d get any common sense out of you.”
“I’m just trying to be the voice of reason.”
“Well don’t. I feel bad enough already.”
“You don’t look it. Actually, if I didn’t know you better, I’d say you look … excited.”
“Excited?”
“Yeah, for the first time in ages you don’t look morose. There’s a sparkle in your eyes.”
Prosper shook his head and sighed.
“So can they tie Rivers to you?”
“No, I don’t think they’ll be able to tie Rivers to us.”
Wolfe grinned. “Then we’re in the clear.”
Prosper shook his head. “This is all wrong. We got away with murder once, and now an innocent man has died because of us. Doesn’t that bother you?”
“Wrong place, wrong time. He shouldn’t have been there; it’s as simple as that. We’re not to blame because he tried to rob the place.”
“Of course we’re to blame. He wouldn’t have been there if it wasn’t for us.”
Wolfe shrugged. “You’ll just have to deal with it, because it’s happened, and nothing’s going to change that, and nothing’s going to bring him back, that’s for sure.”
Prosper exhaled. Wolfe was right, but Prosper just didn’t want to admit it.
“So what’s this new job entail?” Wolfe asked.
“It’s all very secretive.”
“Sounds interesting already. Tell me more.”
“Well from what I can gather, they investigate things that are a little more delicate.”
Wolfe frowned. “Delicate. What’s that code for?”
Prosper rocked back. “Things that the general public will never get to hear about. Things that would probably result in an uproar if people knew anything about them.”
“And does a lot of that go on?”
“If it’s got a unit devoted to investigating them, then I presume so.”
“Well you should feel right at home, you know, with your history.”
Prosper frowned. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”
Wolfe shrugged. “You’re a man who harbours secrets, so it must be your perfect job. But let’s just hope they never delve too deep into your history, because that’s a Pandora’s fuckin’ box and I don’t think they could afford to pay the overtime.”
Wolfe laughed, but Prosper didn’t find it funny. Quite the opposite in fact, because he knew that even though it was said in jest, Wolfe’s statement was closer to the truth than he would like to admit.
CHAPTER 38
Lester sat upright in his leather chair, hands on the desk, fingers tapping the surface. “We’ve identified the man who broke into the facility.” He stared at Prosper. “Samuel Rivers. He has a record for theft. Does the name ring any bells?”
Prosper felt hot. He swallowed and shook his head. “So he was an opportunistic thief?”
Lester continued drumming his fingers. “No, he’d planned his break in, even dressing like one of the guards.”
Prosper shrugged. “So he planned it. What’s that matter? That’s what lots of thieves do.”
“Because if he planned it, then it meant he knew about the place. Perhaps not what went on, but that the building was there. My question is how did he know?”
Prosper tried to maintain a blank expression. “Perhaps he’d seen activity around the place and got suspicious.”
Lester pursed his lips. He fixed Prosper with a steely glare. “It just seems coincidental that you join the team, and the next thing I know, the experiment is compromised.”
“I guess that’s why they call them coincidences.” Prosper shook his head in mock surprise. He knew as soon as he’d been called to Lester’s office that there was something amiss.
“Is that all you have to say?”
Prosper frowned. “What else is there?”
Lester rested his elbows on the arms of the chair and linked his fingers together above his stomach. “I don’t know. You tell me.”
“I can’t think of anything.”
“Are you sure about that?”
Prosper didn’t like the direction Lester was trying to guide him in. “Positive.”
“I’ve taken a chance on you, Prosper, because I can see drive and ambition. Don’t let me down.”
“I won’t, sir.”
Lester unlinked his hands and waved one as though shooing a fly to indicate Prosper was dismissed.
Not wanting to hang around, Prosper stood up and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. His back felt slick with sweat and he ran a finger around the neck of his t-shirt to try to let out some of the body heat.
Brundle was sitting on a window ledge at the end of the corridor. She turned and looked at Prosper as he approached.
“So what did he want to see you for?”
“He was just telling me that they’d identified the man who broke into the prison.”
Brundle frowned. “Why just tell you?”
Prosper shrugged. “No idea. So what are we going to do now?”
“Now we continue the search for 142345.”
“And where are we going to look?”
“Well we know he’s not gone too far if he saw the breakout, so presumably he’s still in the vicinity of the prison, so we’ll start around there again.”
“OK.”
Brundle peered up at Prosper, her eyes narrowed. “No discussion? No alternative plan?”
Prosper shrugged.
“Then we’ll collect Williams, and make our way out.” She stood up and headed along the corridor.
Prosper followed, head bowed, hands in his pockets.
Rain drummed down, seeming to sizzle on the ground outside as the big fat drops exploded. Prosper stood beside the window in his living room, looking out at the distorted world beyond.
“Dad, are you gonna play or not?”
Prosper turned and looked down at his son. “Sure. What are we playing?”
“Mario Kart, because you’re rubbish at it and I always win.”
Prosper laughed. “Well at least you’re honest.” He only wished he had the same quality. Lying and deceit were getting easier each time he was forced into a corner.
Natasha sat on the settee opposite, reading a newspaper. He glanced at her stomach, thinking about the new life growing within; if his wife knew half of the things he had done, she wouldn’t want him anywhere near her.
He recalled seeing the faces of the escaped men in the derelict building. Far from looking vicious, they had looked terrified.
Please … kill … me.
Things didn’t add up. They were supposed to have been conditioned to kill. To be merciless. But they didn’t come across that way. They seemed terrified …
“Dad, I thought you were going to play with me.”
“I’ve just remembered, I’ve got something to do,” Prosper said.
Natasha frowned at him. “It wouldn’t hurt you to play with him for a little bit.”
Prosper ruffled his son’s hair. “I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”
Leon’s bottom lip dropped. His expression made Prosper’s stomach sink, but he turned away and left the house before he changed his mind.
“So where’s the fire?” Wolfe walked into the living room with a couple of cups of coffee.
Prosper leaned forwards, the leather settee squeaking, and accepted the steaming beverage. “I just needed someone to talk to.”
“Ever thought of the Samaritans?”
“I’m being serious.”
“So what do you want to talk about?”
“It’s this case. Things just don’t make sense.”
Wolfe chuckled. “I guess human experiments never will.”
“But those prisoners I was telling you about. You should have seen their faces. They were scared.”
“So would I be if they’re being subjected to things as bad as you said.”
“I know. It’s just … I didn’t think about it until I saw them. You know, whatever Klement has done to them, they’re still people. How can they do that, treating them no better than animals I mean?”
“That’s what some people are like. They’re immune to it I guess.”
“Inhuman more like.” He sipped his drink, wincing as it burnt his tongue.
“So what are you going to do about it?”
“Do?”
Wolfe nodded. “Yes, do. You’re telling me all of this for a reason. You can out them to the papers. They’d kill for a story like this.”
Prosper rolled his eyes at Wolfe’s choice of words. “I’m not going to do anything.”
“Then why keep harping on about it?”
“Doesn’t it bother you, what they’re doing?”
Wolfe shrugged. “As long as it doesn’t affect me, why should it?”
Prosper slumped back and nursed his cup. “I knew I shouldn’t have bothered talking to you about it.”
“I’m entitled to an opinion.”
“That’s not an opinion, that’s called turning a blind eye.”
Wolfe laughed. “And isn’t that what you’re doing too?”
“To be honest, I don’t know what I’m doing anymore. It feels as though I’m on this rollercoaster and I just can’t get off.”
“Then take a break. Ask for some leave. Take Natasha and Leon away. Put some distance between yourself and the case.”
“But there’s still a killer out there. I can’t just walk away.”
Wolfe shrugged. “I’m sure they’ll capture him eventually.”
Prosper recalled the prisoners faces and he shivered. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
CHAPTER 39
Screams echoed along the corridor outside Klement’s office. Prosper tried to ignore the sound.
“So what can I do for you?” Klement asked from the other side of his desk.
“I’d like to interview some of the prisoners.”
Brundle sat next to Prosper with her legs crossed.
Klement cleared his throat. “That won’t be possible.”
Brundle held her hand up. “Not possible? This is an official investigation.”
“Our research is classified.”
“I don’t care,” she snapped.
Klement shook his head. “Well I can’t allow it. We can’t let anything contaminate the experiment.”
“We’re not going to contaminate anything,” Prosper said. “We just need to talk to them to see if they can help us track Peter Clarke down.”
“And how are they going to do that when they’re locked up in here?”
“Some of them must have spoken to him. He might have told them about his escape plan.”
Klement laughed. “I hardly think so.”
Brundle leaned forwards. “Well when we ask them, we’ll find out.”
Klement shook his head. “No, I’m sorry. It’s out of the question. I can’t have you disturbing my patients.”
“It’s not a request.” Brundle leaned forwards, putting her hands on his desk and getting in his face. “It’s an order. Otherwise, we’ll be holding you responsible for any more deaths that occur.”
Klement ran a hand through his hair. “This is highly irregular. There are some extremely dangerous prisoners beyond that door. I can’t take responsibility for anything that might happen to you.”
Brundle shook her head. “I don’t think you’ve quite grasped it yet, but we can look after ourselves.”
Klement tapped his fingers on the desk. “I will have to accompany you.”
“That’s not a problem.” She stood up. “After you.”
Klement took a baton off the wall and slipped it through a hook on his belt.
Prosper frowned. “Is that necessary?”
“Necessary? It’s vital.” Klement walked out of the room.
They proceeded along a grey corridor and passed through a series of gates and doors that Klement unlocked with a bundle of keys. Prosper noticed cameras silently eyed each corridor.
More screams and shouts rang out, chilling Prosper’s blood. He worked his tongue around inside his mouth, trying to work up some saliva to moisten his throat. As they approached the cell block, the air began to reek of piss, faeces and sweat.
“So how many prisoners do you want to talk to?” Klement glanced at Prosper.
“All of them,” Prosper replied.
Klement rubbed his jaw, then unlocked the next door. A guard seated behind a glass panelled wall nodded as they entered. More guards wandered the corridors up ahead, among them Rogers, his wide girth making him stand out. He turned and stared at Prosper, his eyes narrowed into slits.
Further shouts and screams punctuated the air.
Klement waved at the group. “Mr. Rogers, can you come here, please?”
Rogers walked towards them, his gait exaggerated, legs wide apart as though he was straddling a horse to compensate for his enormous thighs.
“Can you accompany us please?” Klement asked. “We’re going to question some of the prisoners.”
Rogers nodded, the tendons in his neck like steel cables. Klement approached the first cell door and peered through the peephole. Then he unlocked it and entered, followed by Rogers.
“Prisoner 651432, on your feet,” Rogers shouted.
Prosper stood in the doorway of the cramped cell and stared at the man lying on the wooden bunk. The man was of medium build and had a shaved head and eyes that looked like those of a dead fish. Bruises were visible on the man’s neck and wrists.
651432 swung his legs out of bed and jumped to his feet, standing straight.
“These people have some questions to ask you.” Klement stepped aside.
Prosper walked forwards. “I need to ask you about Peter Clarke.”
651432 looked at Prosper with a blank expression. He shook
his head.
“Peter Clarke. Prisoner 142345.”
The man’s eyes flickered, came alive for an instant. “142345,” he said, his lips carrying the ghost of a smile.
“Yes, do you know him?”
“He escaped.”
Prosper saw 651432 stare past him and he looked around and saw Klement tapping his baton.
He turned his attention back to 651432. “Yes, he escaped. Do you have any idea where he would have gone?”
The man nodded, the hint of a grin back. “Far, far away.”
“Just answer the question,” Rogers said.
“142345 escaped. He’s free.”
Klement pushed past Prosper and rammed the baton into the man’s stomach. “Do you know where 142345 has gone?”
Air gushed out of the man’s mouth and he clutched his stomach and bent over at the waist.
Prosper winced. “Jesus! There’s no need for that.”
Ignoring Prosper, Klement circled around the prisoner, fed the baton around his throat and grabbed it with both hands. Rogers stepped in front of Prosper, barring his way. The prisoner gagged and clutched at the baton to remove it from his throat. “I will ask you one more time,” Klement said. “Where has 142345 gone?”
The man’s face started to go red and spittle flew out of his mouth.
“You’re killing him,” Prosper shouted.
After a moment, Klement relaxed his hold and released one end of the baton. The prisoner dropped to the ground, curled in a foetal position, hands at his throat. Rogers stepped aside. Klement walked past them both out into the corridor.
Prosper knelt down beside the man. “Are you okay?”
The man gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head. “Get me out of here,” he whispered.
“Is he okay?” Brundle asked.
“He’ll live.” Prosper gained his feet. He walked out of the cell and glared at Klement. “What the fuck was that about? You could have killed him.”
Klement slipped the baton back into his belt. “These men are being conditioned on violence. It’s an experiment, Mr. Snow. I knew you wouldn’t understand. That’s why I didn’t want you to start nosing around. We’ve spent years on this work, and I’m not going to have it disrupted now.”
Prosper Snow Series Page 44
