WALKING DISASTERS | Jack Thompson

43.

DANIEL AND PEGGY began their interrogation, and when Daniel played the bad cop and got nothing from Hunt, Peggy pulled out a syringe and Daniel turned to her. "He's all yours."

Getting to her feet, Peggy held out the syringe so that he could see it. "We're not going to torture you."

"Of course you're not," Hunt replied. "I know all about you, running around, pretending you're Eliot Ness. See, that's your problem, really. People on your side have a line you just can't cross."

"I meant to say we're not going to torture you because we don't have time," Peggy elaborated.

She stabbed the needle into Hunt's neck and injected him with the concoction. "Ow."

"I was in the war as well," Peggy told him. "And it taught me that people on my side sometimes need to blur the line to stop people on your side. I've done my homework on you, Mr Hunt. I know you served in the Pacific. That means you'll recognise the effects of malaria."

"Malaria?" he asked.

"A particularly virulent strain," Peggy replied. "Developed from an avian parasite by Stark Industries. There is an antidote, but if you refuse to talk, why should I give it to you? I'm sure you'll need some time to mull over our proposal. The toxin's effects become fatal in twenty minutes. I'll be back in ten."

"Hey!" he shouted, as the trio left the room. "Hey! Hey! Get back in here! Hey!"

"That's one way to do it," Daniel said, as he closed the door.

"Well, let's hope it works," Peggy replied.

"What did you stick him with?" Daniel asked.

"Howard wanted to created a cure for the common cold," Sera explained. "He came up with a compound that brings on intense symptoms in minutes."

"You gave him a cold?"

"An intense cold."

"HEY!"

"Cup of tea?" Peggy asked.

Ten minutes later, they went back to work, this time with Sera asking the questions. She stood before Hunt, arms folded. "One name, Hunt. Let's just start with one name," he was panting, sweating, and had a fearful look in his eyes, and Sera smirked. "You're impressive. At death's door. All you need to do to live is answer a few questions, and yet here you sit, silent. I can't tell if you're motivated by strong convictions or spite."

"Sera?" Daniel said quietly, drawing her away from Hunt. "Want to pump the brakes on him a little bit? He's got five minutes left."

"That's a generous estimation," Sera said.

"He's no use to us dead."

"He's no use to us alive and quiet."

"Thomas Gloucester!"

Their heads whipped around to Hunt and Daniel said, "The Wall Street guy?"

"Hugh Jones."

"Roxxon," Peggy said. "We've had the pleasure."

"Give me the antidote," Hunt demanded. "Now."

"Not until we finish our conversation," Sera said. "Then you'll be clear and free to do as-"

"Free?" he asked. "I'll never be free again, not after this. This stuff's gonna buy me a couple of days."

"You can get out of town," Daniel said. "Run."

"Or the SSR can protect you," Peggy said.

"Are you three really that dumb? Huh?" he asked. "There's no running, no protection. You think the men I work for are just criminals? Like a... Like a stick-up man?! They're in everything! And what they can't buy, they destroy. President McKinley, Black Tuesday. You think those things just happened? Run? I'm already dead, and so are you."