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Yet, even with all of that in his favor, I merely said, "Has he?"
I should have called him the day I took Dion out, but I'd been distracted.
Distracted by Fletcher, a man I let go, knowing full well he'd seen me murder someone else. Collateral, Daddy used to say, needed to be avoided at all costs. But should that not be successful, we could not leave any witnesses behind.
Uncle David didn't bother with avoiding it, he just eliminated the whole equation. It was one of the few points the two men ever disagreed on and debated frequently. Though to be honest, they both seemed to enjoy that fight, so maybe they were just contrary for contrary’s sake.
"Yes." Uncle David's voice held no emotion, but the icy dispassion was a comfort of its own. "You thought the network had been compromised."
Yes, I had. It was why I was digging into it. Pulling the threads, one at a time. Someone had betrayed Daddy. That someone would regret it. Dion had donesomething, but he wasn't powerful enough to have run the trap and trace. Though he could have provided information to someone else.
"It has been my concern, yes."
"I believe you may be right, Ladybug." He hadn't called me that in a long time. "I would consider anything he set up for you burned. We will have to take the loss until I can procure a new cyber specialist."
"Understood."
"And Vienna?"
"Yes?"
"Watch your back. If the network is compromised, then we are all at risk until the leak is plugged."
Yes. We were. "I understand. I am taking a few days right now, anyway. I can afford to be patient."
"Good. I will call again soon."
He didn't wait for me to say goodbye, just disconnected the call. Leaning back in the chair, I turned the phone over in my hand before I powered it off. The call had been under three minutes. We never talked for longer than that.
Avoid detection, even if you weren't being hunted. It only took a slip of concentration to go from predator to prey.
I trusted Uncle David, but I didn't trust him to not take the kill from me. When I found the person who betrayed and murdered my father, I planned a very special death for them.
No one was taking my vengeance away from me. Not Uncle David. Not the network. Not anyone.
* * *
It wasafter midnight when I descended the steps into the basement. The stairwell entrance was well hidden behind a sliding wall in the laundry room. It closed silently behind me and a single light came on as I walked into the main room. Unlike the house next door, this basement had special features beyond the soundproofing and hidden entrance.
It boasted two cells, bricked in with a single door on each. The bars allowed the occupant—there was only one at the moment—very little light, unless I left it on purposefully.
I'd done that for a week. Light. Sound. Pain.
The stimuli gave him no rest, the moment his heartbeat dropped below resting, everything blasted him.
Still, I'd give him credit.
Doctor Anton Salinas groaned. He was still alive. Upon opening the outer door to his cell, I barely managed to control the gag reflex at the smell wafting out. Ten-day old corpses smelled better. Starvation and deprivation were taking a toll. I pulled up a chair and took a seat as he shuffled toward the bars still imprisoning him.
"What do I have to do to get you to kill me?" His voice was rough, raspy, and pained.
Almost broken.
Almost.
“Hmm, why do you think you deserve death?” I crossed my legs and tapped a finger against my chin. He definitely deserved something, but I wasn’t convinced that a quick death was it.
“I don’t even know who you are or why I’m here,” he pleaded, gripping two of the rough bars between us. They weren’t wide enough to fit his head through, although that didn’t stop him from trying. His grunts were mildly satisfying as the bars dug deep, cutting lines into his forehead.
