Punching Bag

| 17 |

I didn't end up seeing Townsend at all last night, he never came to me.

I tried to wait up. Listening out for any signs that they'd arrived back home, but I didn't hear anything before sleep got the best of me.

I've been down in the offices working all morning. I'd been hoping to overhear something else but no luck.

I didn't realise the time had gotten away from me, seeing now it's late afternoon. I gather my things and head up to the house for some lunch.

Once again, I'm halted by the sound of Townsend's voice.

"If you waiver, Dr. Perillos will help encourage your cooperation."

I walk further into the house.

"Let's begin with the Sikorsky Archive. Does Reddington have it?

I sneak around the corner and can finally see into the living room.

The man that was with Reddington at my meeting with him is on the television, being broadcasted live. He's strapped down in a chair, some device digging into his neck.

Townsend stands in the living room, full attention on the screen. He seems irritated, frustrated, but filled with adrenaline and determination. He's dressed in his robe, uncaring.

Vandyke is in the room. As well as Elizabeth Keen.

"Now, Mr. Zuma. I need an answer."

No reply.

"No? Nothing?" Townsend says, then he walks away from the screen.

I quickly duck back around the corner, just in case he happens to look my way.

Someone, I'm assuming the interrogator, begins their next move.

Townsend begins talking again, so I peer back around the corner. He questions the hostage again, then confirms the administration of some kind of jellyfish poison apparently.

Footsteps begin. I hide again.

"It's Reddington. He's made contact."

A female voice.

Who the fuck is this?

I look back into the living room and I have no idea who this woman is. I've not even seen her down in the office floors.

I shake my head. That's definitely not the most important thing right now. Reddington is in the thick of all of this, and I failed to give him any sort of warning. A failure.

Townsend calls Reddington, demanding the archive.

"All I've thought about recently is how you killed my family."

What?

He seems to begin negotiating some type of deal with Reddington and eventually accepting. He turns the screen back on, and tells his interrogator.

He calls over Vandyke and is telling him the plan for Reddingtons deal, with the way they're talking I can't make out much.

Vandyke exits the room, Townsend takes the opportunity to sit back down.

I'm not sure what to do. If I stay here and wait for what happens next, I highly risk being caught. If I leave, I won't know what's going on. If I come out, he might let me in and explain. Or he might kill me.

"Cora. Come here."

I freeze.

Decision made.

I slowly come out, facing him and Elizabeth Keen.