‘Ach! The stuff they put in the papers these days.’ He let the pages slip through his fingers page-by-page to the ground to reveal the heavy-bladed carving knife wrapped within. Pickle issued a nasal squeak as piss warmed the crotch of his pants.
‘Yer mistake was goin’ in too low an’ wi’ the wrang sorta’ blade.’ Doc stooped and drove the blade upwards in arc to demonstrate Pickle’s error, pricking the helpless man’s ribs with the point. ‘Couldnae cut deep enough te get the job done – needed one like this.’
Even his three henchmen, who were quite used to Doc’s savagery, flinched as he suddenly pinned Pickle to the pillar and plunged the blade into him. ‘See what I mean?’ he whispered, staring pitilessly into his victim’s terrified eyes.
‘Now that, Pickle – is what I call a proportionate response.’ Doc hissed, twisting the blade. A tear slowly formed and slid down the dying man’s cheek. Pickle’s eyelids fluttered then slowly closed, but only when Doc felt the man’s death rattle did he finally release his grip.
***
That is the secret of Doc’s success. Fail to kill him and he will kill you.
THE END
(Coming soon: Mothers’ Tears)
A Deviant Breed (DCI Alec Dunbar series) Page 35
