Prison of Blood and Lies

Twenty-Four

I cleaned myself up as much as I cared to and dressed. I met Gemba on the prison floor, as agreed. He stood in Tucker’s cell and leered over his form on the floor. He was still a wolf.

The wolf’s yip pierced the air as Gemba kicked at its sides.

“Are you going to get in here and help or are you just going to stare at me?”

I stepped into the cell and the metal door clanged closed behind me.

“I’ve never tried to work a werewolf in wolf form before.”

“He needs to cooperate or I’m going to kill him.” He landed another kick in Tucker’s ribs. I almost felt sorry for him. Almost.

I rested my hand on Gemba’s shoulder.

“Let me take it from here, please. I’ll give it a try.”

Gemba didn’t say anything but he took a step away from Tucker. I knelt down on the cement floor by his head. He pulled his lips back into a snarl when he saw me.

“Shhh, that’s a good boy.” I reached my hand out to pat him on the head and he snapped his jaws at me.

“Okay, have it your way, then, Tucker.” I turned around and looked at Gemba. “Go ahead. The mongrel tried to bite me.”

Gemba burst forward and stomped his foot on Tucker’s tail. He yipped in pain and tucked his tail under his hind legs.

“You can talk to me reasonably, or I’ll let Gemba beat the s**t out of you. Your choice, Tuck.”

He snarled but didn’t make any move to snap at me again. I scratched behind his ear and lowered my face to be level with his.

“I have no idea if this is going to work, Gemba,” I said.

“Try anyway.” The frustration seethed through his words. He let Tucker get to him. Whatever information he needed must have been important.

I focused on Tucker’s eyes. He watched my every move. I mustered as much energy I could in my exhausted state and aimed it at the gray wolf. His tail wagged up and down a few times from under his leg.

“Did it work?” Gemba asked.

“We’ll see.” I didn’t know what to say to the wolf. “Tucker, we need to talk to you.”

He wagged his tail again and his long tongue lolled out of the side of his mouth.

“Ugh, dog breath.” I waved the air in front of my face.

“Can you change back? For me? It’s important that you give us answers.” I scratched behind his ears again and pushed even more of my seductive energy at him. His paws became hands and his snout shortened into a human mouth. His form was no longer a beaten dog lying on the floor. A naked man had replaced the pitiful wolf.

“Very good, Tucker,” I smiled. He kept himself in pristine shape. Every inch of his back and legs was chiseled muscle.

I held my hand out behind me. “Give me the clothes, Gemba.” He dropped the fabric in my hands.

Tucker stood from the floor in his full naked glory. I kept my eyes on his and tossed the clothes to him.

“Now go ahead and dress,” I commanded. My voice was barely above a whisper but he complied without any sign of resistance. He was mine for as long as I held his gaze.

I heard fabric shuffle behind me and a glowing ring appeared around his neck.

“There. The collar the dog deserves. You can leave, Alice.”

“I thought you needed my help to get him to talk.”

“Well, I couldn’t exactly interrogate a dog, could I? Thank you for your help.” He dismissed me.

I released my hold on Tucker when he pulled the orange shirt over his head. He shook his head as the cloud lifted from his mind. He looked down at himself and pulled at the collar around his neck.

He raised his lip in a snarl. “You’re going to pay for this.”

I shrugged. “It’s unlikely. Now be a good boy and cooperate with Gemba.” I put the back of my hand to the side of my mouth and pretended to whisper, “he’s not in a very good mood today. It’d be best to just tell him what he wants to know.”

I waved over my shoulder as I exited the cell. I could feel Tucker’s hateful gaze boring into the back of my head.

As I approached the elevator, I felt another set of eyes on me. I spun around, unnerved. Zen stood at the door of the cell and waved to me.

I approached and opened the door.

“Hurry, there’s no time,” it whispered. Its eyes were wide and wild, darting around the room.

“Time for what?”

“I need you to go into Gemba’s office,” it hissed.

“Why would I do that?”

“I think I’ve proven myself trustworthy, haven’t I?” Zen raised an eyebrow as if it knew something.

“How do you know?”

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost. You saw him, didn’t you? Your dead husband.”

Nausea crawled in my stomach. Tucker had been a welcome distraction.

“Alive and quite well,” I snapped.

“Anyway, I need a favor. It’s urgent. Go into his office. My ring is in there somewhere.”

“A ring? Why is that so important?”

“It has great personal meaning. Please, just find it and bring it back down to me. It would be so nice to have something of mine down here in the dark, you know?” Zen looked pitiful. “Hurry. He’s busy with the dog over there. Now is the perfect time.”

“Fine. But, like you I don’t work for free. When I come back, you’re going to answer my questions. Understood?”

Zen nodded.

“Please, just hurry. Go!”

I got in the elevator and pushed the button. The doors closed and it lurched upward. I shook my head. Was I really going to steal from an angel for a demon?

I didn’t think that Zen had lied to me yet and it had given me more help than Gemba. What if it was right about Gemba not being who he said he was?

I approached the office door. It was dark but the door had been left ajar.

I stepped into the office and flipped the light switch. Blinding fluorescent light filled the office. I remembered Gemba pulling documents from a safe. I stepped behind his desk and found the safe tucked under the desk. I tried my key but it didn’t work.

I needed to hurry before Robert or another one of the guards walked by. I opened the long top drawer. In the back, behind a small stack of worn notebooks was an emerald set in a dull gold ring setting. I grabbed it and tucked it in my bra.

I put the office back how I found it, flipped off the lights, and partially closed the door behind me. I looked around and didn’t see anyone. I turned and walked back to my room.

I’d give Zen the ring when Gemba was back in his office.