Punching Bag

| 23 |

Everyone has been staying clear of Townsend. He's been locked away in his room for the most part.

I've seen his doctor come in and out, but it's not like he gives us any updates or anything.

I last a bit over a day before my itching gets the better of me.

I exit the dining room after dinner and head for Townsend's quarters. I walk around the corner and see his door down the hall.

When I'm midway through I'm cut off, forced to stop.

Godwin has come from a different hallway and blocked me from reaching Townsend's door.

"Jesus Godwin, do you mind?" I try to sidestep around him but he blocks me again.

"You will not be seeing Neville tonight." He holds his ground.

"And why is that?" I question.

"He is not in his right mind. He needs to be alone right now to work through it."

"He's not in his right mind most of the time." I go to walk around him again, but I'm blocked.

"I said you will not be seeing him."

"If he wants me to leave than I will. It's not up to you to decide." He lets me by this time, but I only take a few steps before he calls out to me, making me pause.

"I've been thinking about what you said the other day." I turn to face him.

"And that was?"

"How you suggested Reddington was responsible for the failure of the job."

"Yeah I mean he could be."

"He could be yes..." Godwin pauses for a moment. "It was actually what you said that made me think... How you said Reddington is the only new factor recently. Well he's not the only one is he?"

My breath hitches. My body momentarily freezes but I remember that I need to act calm and unsuspecting.

"Are you going to say what you're getting at or not?" I taunt back, seeming as unbothered as I can.

"A lot of things add up."

"Yeah I bet they do." I bite back sarcastically.

"I've informed Neville of my concerns."

"And what did he think."

"It doesn't matter. The seed has been planted in his mind and that's enough."

"If you don't trust me then why don't you just fire me?" I challenge.

"Well you've had the grand plan of fucking the boss so it seems you'll stay as long as he wants."

"What a shame for you." I snap back.

I start to continue my way down the hall, but my thoughts are racing and I can't stop myself from turning back to Godwin.

"You know, I didn't once ask for any position he gave me. I just did my job. Everything that happened, you think it would've happened if I was the one of initiated it instead of him? Neville doesn't do anything he doesn't want to do. He's not a moron."

I don't give Godwin a chance to respond, I briskly walk down the hall and finally enter Townsend's rooms.

It's the first time I've been in here, every other time he comes to me. There's not a single light on so it's hard to see. There's a small hallway with two archways, one on the left and another on the right. I walk to the middle of them and look into each room.

Firstly on the left, a television, couches, a desk, computer, papers, a table and even a small fridge. I then look to the right and take in nothing but the silhouette of Townsend.

He sits in a large sofa chair in front of a window, lost in his staring. His bed is made and seems untouched. The only other thing in the room is the bedside tables and another small table across the other side of the room with pill bottles and alcohol on it.

"Neville." I whisper.

No response.

I creep closer to him.

"Neville it's Cora."

No response still.

I make it to the side of him to find him asleep. He sits up relatively straight, the only thing proving he's unconscious is that his eyes are closed and his breathing is relaxed.

I tiptoe slowly back out the room and out the door, back into the hallway.