They all nodded and mumbled in agreement.
“Terrible. Just terrible. I’ve interrogated people before and they all seemed to be in the moment. They had great enthusiasm and they really participated. I’m just disappointed, that’s all. But hey, you’ve got one more chance. Things could still improve. It’s not over until the fat lady sings. So, tell me my friends, where are the frigging samples?”
Grebenshchikov tried to talk but for a moment his mouth lost all ability to coordinate its movements. “We had samples, but they were in the shed. We burned it all. We thought they were dangerous.”
“Of course they’re dangerous, Greg. Why do you suppose I’m interested in them? To use them as a secret ingredient in my best in the neighborhood barbeque sauce?” He collected himself for a moment. “So, let me get this straight. You are all telling me that there are no more samples?” His voice had slowed and dropped noticeably lower.
“There are…I mean… the data for the research is on Sokolov’s computer,” Grebenshchikov stammered.
“The data for the research? On Sokolov’s computer? Lovely. Wonderful. And I’m sure in some rudimentary way that would be helpful to me IF ONLY I HAD THE SAMPLES!”
He slammed his gun against the table again and they all cringed. He lowered his head, shaking it all the while. Inexplicably, he started to laugh softly.
“The god-damned fucking data is on the God-damned fucking computer.” He looked over at his partner. “Would you be so good as to retrieve this data and put it on some sort of stick or disc or whatever is available?”
He stood and walked off with a word.
“There, now you see? My partner is helpful. My partner is cooperative. He’s accomplishing positive goals that help both of us. He’s a team player. Why can’t you people be team players?”
He lifted his pistol as he sat casually at the table. He aimed and fired a quick shot. The pistol had a silencer and made an anaemic phewt sound.
The bullet smashed through Grebenshchikov’s kneecap. He shrieked and fell to the floor, clutching his leg as if to keep it from coming apart. The veins in his neck and forehead bulged as he dealt with the pain. A bloody smear already appeared on the linoleum as he thrashed.
The man stood and began to approach them.
“You see this? This is what happens! Why can’t you just cooperate? Hey, hey! Greg, you need to shut up! Keep it quiet. I need to be able to communicate with the others.”
Grebenshchikov struggled to stop verbalizing his agony. He moaned softly while tears ran down his face.
“Greg, that is another half-hearted effort and frankly, that’s the last thing this team needs.”
He swung his shooting hand out straight until the shot was lined up. He put a bullet through Grebenshchikov’s head. The moaning and thrashing immediately ceased.
The crew tried not to overreact, but there were gasps and moans.
“I hope you all realize that this was your fault. You let Greg down. You could have prevented this. And you know what else? Now that the precedent has been set, guess where we go from here? Haven’t you fucking Russians learned that discipline is progressive? It has to be! It’s the only way it works. And look at where the bar is now set.”
He shook his head as if he felt sorry for what had just transpired.
“It is what it is. That’s unfortunate but it’s also reality. So, who’s next? Let’s see. We have three men, Hamlin, and two women. Sorry to exclude from the man count, Hamlin, but you’re already damaged. I’m sure you’re very studly and macho, and would fit in nicely with the male group under ideal circumstances. I hope you forgive me. So, how about you, sir? What is your name?”
“There are some samples.”
His head whipped around and looked toward the other end of the line. It was Lena that had spoken, in her deep, sultry voice.
“I’m sorry, but could you please repeat that, darling?” He started to walk slowly toward the women.
“There are still some samples. I saved them.”
He stopped as a huge smile creased his face.
“There, you see? I told you. Didn’t I tell you? Now this is teamwork! Nicely done. I’m sorry, beautiful, what was your name?”
“Lena.”
“Lena. That’s a good name. Lena, could you give me some more details about these samples that you are referring to? Please.”
“I thought it was a shame, even with all the terrible side effects, to just waste the effort and sacrifice. So, I hid some away before we burned the lab.”
He actually did a fist pump. “Awesome! I love you! I love the way you think. That is forward thinking. That is independent thinking. That is using your intuition to its fullest advantage. Ha-ha! Now, sweetheart, I think I will address you exclusively since you are obviously the go-to person in this group. If you could just give me some idea as to where these samples are, I would be most grateful.”
“I would like to negotiate.”
He looked a little like he had just been slapped. His eyes blinked rapidly a few times, and then he seemed to settle back down.
“I’m sorry. You just said…”
“Negotiate.”
He sported a strange looking, smile/frown combination expression on his face.
“Negotiate? Okay. That took a lot of nerve. You did just see me shoot Greg, correct?”
She remained stoned faced, nodding slightly.
He waved his pointing finger in the air, using it to emphasize a point. “I like you, you know that? You remind me of myself. I think we might be kindred spirits of a sort. Isn’t that awesome.”
He strolled down casually until he was directly in front of her. He stood just far enough away that he remained out of kicking distance. This was not his first rodeo.
“I think I can summarize this situation in two ways. I need it resolved and I need it resolved quickly. You, however, have me over a barrel. You know where they are, I don’t. So, you have proposed a negotiation. Interesting. I’m just going over my various options. Here’s what I have come up with.
“Firstly, I have to determine if you’re telling the truth or not. This could just be a stalling tactic, could it not? But, if we negotiate successfully, it won’t take very long to confirm your claim’s viability. So, that leads me to believe that negotiation is, and should be, still on the table.
“Second, I need to know if any of these other weaker-minded folks also know about the alleged samples. If that is the case, I can change my approach significantly.”
“They don’t. Only me.”
“But darling, the problem is—I don’t know if I can trust you. Can I take you at your word? Or are you simply trying to protect our friends and colleagues? I have no way of knowing for certain which is which. So you see my dilemma. I think it would benefit me to torture them all to death first. Then, and only then, will I be certain that this negotiation is really necessary.”
“That would waste a lot of time.”
He laughed softly again. “You are a cold one. I really do like you. No emotionally charged grovelling, just the facts. That’s good. It helps me, you see. We can keep this moving along. So, where was I? Oh yes, about to torture and kill all the others.”
His partner returned and sat calmly at the table. “Got it.”
“Very good. Thank you. If you could hand that stick to me while I’m organizing this mess, that would be great. And incidentally, since we’re talking now, there have been some significant developments since you left us. Lena here says that there are samples and she knows where they are. But, she wants to negotiate. I’m still thinking about it. It seems reasonable. What do you think?”