King Acid

10- LET THERE BE LIGHT

"Mr. Norton."

He was still bedridden, painfully oblivious on account of the drugs. To him, Boyd was just a voice. His synchrony with life, slowly breaking down, only granted him speech in drowned whispers.

"What is it?"

"Sir, the blood samples have been analyzed. They're from Ericka Light."

Boyd could sense in Norton's blank, still stare that something was breaking inside. He dared not ask what.

"So, she's been missing, and we haven't noticed."

"That's right. But there's good news. Apparently, she went back to the crime scene and was captured there. She's now being held in a police station."

"Good, good. Bring her here; I want to talk to her. My Rolodex's in the office. Ask for a team from the Secret Service to take you there."

"You want me to go, sir?"

"Yeah. I don't want to entrust this to a stranger. Pick her up in my name. Hurry."

"Yessir. Right away."

"And one more thing."

"Yes, sir?"

"Call Chambers. Tell him to stop whatever he's doing and head to Bonaire to find Clausich. Tell him to take him away from there by any means necessary and bring him here." Norton shuddered weakly on his bed. "I need him. I need him now."

Boyd made a timid reverence.

"Of course, sir."

                                             *****

Boyd made the calls regarding both Chambers and the Secret Service, delivering their respective messages. The only thing left was to bring the traitor to her bedridden judge and executioner. He waited patiently in the station parking lot for several hours until an armored black car showed up, out of which emerged men in suits with sunglasses and paternalistic moods they used for all their protégés. There were three agents, including the driver. He barely exchanged a word with any of them during the drive.

                                             *****

Once they arrived at the precinct, Boyd exited the car and walked into the building, leaving the driver at the steering wheel and the two officers who escorted him at the entrance. He didn't need to waste time showing identification. Everyone had been briefed on the arrival of someone important, someone they were not allowed to question.

He made his way through the depths of the facility and moved past the brig corridor until he reached the bars of that fully darkened room, only filled with Cerberic barking.

"Tell the dog to shut up," he said to the darkness.

"Ace, mohlchyats," replied the darkness with a female voice.

Suddenly, there was silence. A quiet black room.

"Miss, I believe there's been a misunderstanding with you."

"Quit the theatrics, officer."

Boyd adjusted his tie with studied condescension.

"Sarcasm to break the ice, Doctor Light? You're so fucked. Do you know what's going to happen now?"

"Your boss is still alive?"

"Not only is he still alive, but he wants to talk to you directly. Frankly, I'd prefer just a regular interrogation if I were you."

At that moment, an officer of the police approached him.

"Sir, we found this at the motel where she was hiding," the officer said, giving him the gun.