Learning to Live, Again

Chapter Five

??? POV

"She almost got away." The boss stands before him, his voice gruff and extremely angry.

His heart races in his chest, but he keeps his cool and answers calmly, "She was able to get her wrists free, yes, but sir, she is still in the vicinity."

"Only because I knocked the sorry bitch out!"

He nodded. "Sir, I understand that. I will make sure Ponyboy ties her up better next time."

"Yes, be sure he does." He turned to leave, but the boss' voice stopped it. "Oh, and tell Ponyboy to not be so rough on her next time. We still want her to be able to think long enough for us to get information from her. After that, I don't care what happens to her."

"Sir, why don't we just kill her? That way the information dies with her."

The boss glared at him. "Because, you nitwit, we don't know who all knows about this. That stupid cop could have all the information right this minute, and we need to know what she told him." He nodded, and left his boss alone in his office.

He made his way down the hallway and to the room where Niamh was. She was lying on the floor, her hands tied behind her back in such an awkward angle it looked like they were broken. Her face was black and blue with blood stains from her nose and lip. Her white hair was getting long, and soon it would be past her shoulders. He hadn't know her long, but he knew her hair grew like crazy.

Sighing, he put a blindfold over her eyes, and sat her up, gently slapping her cheek to wake her up. She sputtered and coughed, groaning from the pain. "Niamh, listen, if you just tell us what you know, and what you told that stupid cop, I can get you out of here. You could be free. You could see your sons again. Just tell me what you know."

Niamh laughed, but it was without humor. "I'm not stupid. The second I tell you, you'll kill me."

He shook his head. "No, I promise. I don't like hurting you, but you're so damn stubborn. Just tell me what you know, and who else you told." He caressed her cheek and she gasped, jerking her head from his hand.

"Don't you dare touch me."

He began to get mad. "If you would just tell me," he shouted, "you could go!" He picked her up by her arms and slammed her into the wall, causing her to hit her head against it. He shook her angrily. "Just tell me!" She looked sick, and he feared she'd throw up. He dropped her, and she fell onto the ground. "You're worthless," he spat and left her in the room alone.