Prison of Blood and Lies

Sixteen

I woke before dusk and readied myself for the evening. If Gemba had been telling the truth, tonight’s questions would finally hold some of the answers I sought. Though I no longer prayed, I wished for open doors over dead ends.

I tucked my jeans inside my boots and laced them up. I left my room and walked down the hall toward Gemba’s office. Before I rounded the corner, I stopped. Voices filled the hallway.

One voice belonged to Gemba. His words were clipped and he sounded annoyed. The other voice was female and unfamiliar to me.

“I said, I’m working on it. You’ve got to give me a little more time,” the woman said.

“I don’t have to do anything. I need more. The supply is running low and the entire business depends on a constant supply.”

“I’ve left messages, he won’t return my calls.”

“So, go knock on the door. I don’t care how you manage it.”

“Fine.”

“I mean it, Nadia. You don’t want to cross me.”

I continued toward the doorway and as I rounded the corner, the woman, Nadia, saw me. She scoffed and pushed past me, our shoulders brushing as she tried to get past me. Her waist-length black hair swayed behind her as she walked. She was a vampire. Like me.

“Gemba,” I inclined my head.

He had a notebook in front of him that he tucked in the drawer. “Ah, there you are. I was beginning to wonder if you were going to get out of bed.”

“Sorry. Was I interrupting something? I didn’t mean for her to leave.”

“No. That was Nadia. One of my business associates.”

“She looked upset.”

“We were just having a discussion about her performance. She’ll get over it.”

“I hope this doesn’t sound weird but, it probably will. I’ve never actually talked with another vampire other than those that held me. Does she come around often? Do you think she’d be open to talking to me about vampire stuff?” I cringed. That sounded as silly out loud as it did in my head.

“She really isn’t that into socializing. She probably wouldn’t be up for it.”

“Oh, alright. Forget I said anything.” It would have been so nice to talk about all the changes. I simply wasn’t who I used to me but I didn’t know if it was because of what happened to me or if it was because I was brought back a vampire.

“Are you ready to go downstairs?” he asked, mercifully changing the subject.

“I’m ready when you are,” I said, trying to contain my eagerness. The anticipation built inside of me. To think that I might finally get some answers after months of dead ends.

He stood and together we went to the prison floor.

Gemba pointed at the cell in the corner. “There. You can start with that one.”

“What does he know?”

“We picked him up attempting to recruit for one of the bigger groups that run through this city. He has connections.” He scowled in the direction of the cell.

“And in that cell, is an unusual prisoner. A demon. It has its claws in so much of the crime in this city. I’m sure it can give you some information. A word of caution, however, it lies. You’ll need to parse its words carefully.”

I nodded. “It?”

He shrugged. “You’ll see.”

I’ve only been able to try my powers on humans and werewolves so far and I knew that I couldn’t use them against Gemba. What about a demon?

“Um, if my powers don’t work on you, will they work on the demon?”

“The cell itself limits it’s capabilities. I’m quite proud of that one, actually.” He smiled at me. “So long as you don’t remove it from the cell, you will be fine. Do not bring this one to the interrogation room.” His tone took on the serious quality I overheard in the office this morning. “Actually,” he said. “You can work with them both inside their cells. It will be good practice. If you get into trouble, just yell for a guard.” He pointed up at a black orb hanging from the ceiling in the center of the room.

“Camera?” I asked.

“Yes. The guards keep an eye on the prisoners from the security suite.”

I didn’t remember him showing me a security suite when he showed me around. Come to think about it, the only others I’d come across here were Robert and the people who helped carry Mack in from the SUV. I remembered that there was an entire upstairs that I hadn’t seen. Didn’t Gemba say it was his residence?

I shook it off for the moment. There were more important things to worry about.

“Wait, you aren’t staying down here with me?”

“No, I have other matters that require my attention.”

He reached in the pockets of his slacks and pulled out a key on a key chain. “Here.” He handed it to me. “You’ve proven trustworthy. You can use this to access the elevator any time. It also works on the cell doors.”

“Wow,” I said as I reached to take the key from him. “Thank you.”

He closed his hand around the key chain before I could grab it. “Of course standard prison rules apply. You can’t bring anything or anyone in from the outside to them. Am I clear?”

“Of course,” I said. “Why would I want to help this trash? Especially the ones who are involved in trafficking people. I’d rather kill them myself.”

“I thought you’d say that. Still, it’s a formality that needed to be addressed. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” He dropped the key in my outstretched hand and pushed the elevator call button. He entered the elevator and disappeared from view. I was on the prison floor. Alone with possible sources of information on my torture.

I smiled with delight.

Time to get to work.

I decided to start with the first prisoner Gemba had pointed out. I approached the door to the cell and peered in through the slat of the heavy steel door. A man stared at the ceiling from his cot. He was gruff-looking and dirty.

His aura clung tight to his form, like a snake ready to strike.

I put the key in the lock and opened the door. He bolted up from the cot.

I put on my sexiest smile and put my hand on my hip.

“Why, hello there. I have some questions for you.”