I would feel the same. When you spoke to her, Samuel had given you a drug that often makes people forget what has happened while they are under its influence.”
Calm down. Calm down.
“This is a lot to take in all at once, I suppose,” Bret said. “But I assure you, we will not harm Irene. She’s not a target. We didn’t want to hurt you, either. I want you to be free when this is all over.”
“And Sam? Does he want the same thing?”
Bret hesitated. “Well, of course, that’s the ideal situation.”
“And if things don’t work out ideally?”
“You shouldn’t think about such things.”
“Forgive me, Bret, but it’s hard to think about anything else.”
“I’m going to do everything I can to get you out of here alive.”
He could find no real comfort in that. He began to take comfort instead in the sharp aching of his head, reasoning that this much pain meant the drugs no longer had so strong a hold on him.
To survive, he knew, he needed information. And he needed to make sure Bret remained concerned about him.
“Where is Sam?” he asked.
“With his girlfriend. He doesn’t like to be called Sam, by the way. He goes by Samuel now.”
“Okay, I’ll try to remember that. ‘Detective Harriman’ is a little formal. Why don’t you call me ‘Frank’?”
Bret hesitated. “Maybe when it’s just the two of us here,” he said.
Frank shrugged one shoulder, as if it didn’t matter. But he thought of the implications of Bret’s statement even as he said casually, “I’m more comfortable here on my side. Are you the one who moved me around?”
Bret nodded. “It’s not good for you to stay in one position. And I thought you would like these clothes better. I — I hope that doesn’t embarrass you.”
Having his clothes changed while he slept? It humiliated him. But he said, “No, not at all. The other outfit was embarrassing. I didn’t like the gown much.”
“I knew you wouldn’t!”
“You were right.”
“I know you don’t like being restrained, either… Frank.” He said the name timidly, trying it out.
“You’re right, Bret. I know you understand why.”
He nodded. “I do, Frank. I don’t like to see anyone tied up. I don’t even like to see dogs tied up. Or animals in cages.”
“Was the animal shelter your idea?”
“The shelter,” he said, “but not the killing.” Anxiously he added, “Do you believe me?”
“Yes,” Frank said quite truthfully. He remembered the hesitancy Bret had shown at Dana Ross’s place. Samuel had been the one who did all the rough work.
“Maybe later, I’ll be able to convince Samuel that you should be allowed to walk around. He thinks we’ll be in danger from you if you aren’t restrained.”
“What do you think?”
“Oh, you can’t leave this building unless we let you out, so it would be foolish to try to harm one of us. And we have some devices that we could put on you that would discourage escape attempts, or violence, but that would allow you to move about.” Seeing Frank’s eyes widen, he added quickly, “I wouldn’t put them on you without your consent, of course. And you would know the penalty for breaking the rules beforehand.”
When Frank didn’t reply, Bret added, “I don’t really like the idea myself — but as an alternative to being tied to the bed?”
“Yes, you’re right.”
A silence stretched between them. Frank said, “So Samuel has a girlfriend?”
Bret nodded.
“It’s hard for me to realize that you’re both men now. It’s been a long time.”
“Yes.”
“What’s the girlfriend like?”
Bret shrugged. “He doesn’t love her. She’s just someone to have sex with.”
“You don’t like her?”
“I don’t like or dislike her. She doesn’t really matter. I feel a little sorry for her, if anything, because I think she really cares about Samuel.”
“Are you sure he doesn’t care about her?”
“Oh, he cares, but only because he likes having sex with her.”
“Do you have a girlfriend?”
