Rothchilde’s mirth disappeared when he remembered how N-Som was made. He couldn’t get the antacids out of his pocket quick enough.
“Chemicals. That’s all. Nothing more than chemicals.”
But it took the whole roll to calm his stomach down.
Jack Kilborn
Disturb
Manny looked around Townsend’s apartment. The first thing he saw was a heap of bloody clothing, stacked in the middle of the living room carpet.
Upon closer examination, he realized it wasn’t clothing at all.
Manny turned quickly to get out of there, slipping on a wet spot. He fell forward, covering himself in gore. The scream grew in his lungs, and Manny squeezed his eyes shut and clamped a hand over his mouth to squelch it.
Don’t attract attention, he thought. Stay calm.
He forced himself to carefully get off the floor. His clothes were soaked. He needed to change. Townsend’s clothes? Doubtful. The man was half his size. Maybe he had a large sweater, but pants would be impossible.
After a focused search he found the laundry room behind some double closet doors. Manny quickly stripped and threw his bloody clothes into the machine, adding half a box of detergent. He left red hand prints on the lid and the knob.
There was some underwear folded neatly on top of the dryer. Manny took them and wiped the entire surface of the washer. Careful not to touch anything else, he walked naked through the condo, looking for the bathroom.
“Hello, Manny.”
Manny yelped.
David was stretched out in the bathtub, the water a bright pink. He frowned at Manny. “Quit acting like a baby, and see if there’s another bar of soap in that cabinet.”
Manny couldn’t move his feet. He stared down at his brother, who was picking bits of something out of his fingernails.
“Did you hear me, bro? Soap!”
Manny recoiled at the shout. He tore open the vanity and found a bar of soap.
“Thank you.” David unwrapped the bar and rubbed it onto a rag, making red bubbles. “Want to come in? Water’s fine.”
Manny took a breath and found his voice. “Do you… do you feel better now?”
“Now? You mean, now that I’ve killed?” David thought it over, eventually grinning. “Yeah. Yeah, I do.”
“You’re a monster.”
“Sure I am. We both are. Created in a lab, just like Frankenstein. It’s the N-Som, Manny. You know it as much as I do. I don’t see how you can stand the dreams without cracking.”
Manny bit his knuckle, drew blood.
“They’re only dreams, David.”
“Sure they are. Here.”
David searched through the bath water and came up with a scalpel. He held it out to Manny.
“I don’t want it.”
“You promised. You promised if I killed again, you’d end it for me.”
Manny stepped back.
“I can’t, David.”
“Kill me, Manny.”
Manny shook his head.
“Kill me, or I’ll skin you like I did Townsend.”
Manny reached behind him, trying to find the door knob. David stood up, bloody water cascading off his naked body.
“It was hard, Manny. Like pulling the upholstery off a couch. You really have to put some muscle into it.”
David climbed out of the tub. He held the blade in front of him.
“I’ll hurt you, Manny.”
“Please, David. I don’t want to kill you.”
David frowned. The scalpel caught the light and glinted.
“Too bad. Well, I guess I don’t have any choice then. You broke your promise, and I have to punish you.”
Manny began to cry.
The cries quickly became screams.
Jack Kilborn
Disturb
The phone was ringing when Bill walked in the door. He was exhausted and scared, but his prevailing emotion was anger. This was insane.
Six hours at the police station had provided no help. The tape was clear evidence of a murder, and the fact that it was given to Bill was a threat that even a three-year-old could see. But the cops seemed to wallow in skepticism and ennui. The case was given to an overworked duty officer who thought it was a prank, and Bill was told they’d get back to him after their so-called investigation.
Bill answered the phone, half-hoping it was the asshole who gave him the tape. He wanted to vent.
“Bill? It’s Theena. I’ve been trying to call all night.”
Bill sat on the couch and rubbed his face. It had occurred to him that Theena could be involved. He had her down as a bit flaky. But the hundred grand question was; did that extend to murder?
“I was at the police station.”
“Are you okay?” Her concern sounded genuine. “What happened?”
“It… I got a death threat. It has to do with approving N-Som.”
“My God. Was it Manny?”
“Manny? No, why?”
“He’s been missing from the hospital since last night. I have no idea where he is. I think the people who killed my father took him.”
Bill tried to make sense of the news. “He could have left on his own.”
“Maybe. But he was in bad shape.”
“Have you checked…” Bill began, wondering if she’d checked Manny’s remote EEG.
“Yes.” Theena had anticipated him. “Manny’s still alive. I’m at DruTech right now. He’s in distress, running Beta 2 waves. It’s been going on for a few hours. Are you okay, Bill?”
Her voice was soft, genuine.
“I’m fine. Someone sent me a video tape of Mike Bitner being killed.”
Bill got no reply.
“Theena? Are you there?”
“I… I don’t believe it. He’s actually dead? This is, this is just horrible. What are you going to do?”
“Do you think your boss could do something like that?”
“Albert Rothchilde? I don’t like the man, to be honest, but he’s not the killer type.”
Bill had only met the man once, and didn’t like him either. He rubbed his eyes and tried to think.
“Is American Products doing well?”
“Extremely well. Stock is way up. I can’t believe this is happening.”
“What do you know about the other investors?”
“Albert has a controlling share. But there are dozens of other stakeholders. Politicians, businessmen…”
“The mob?”
Theena’s silence told him more than if she’d answered.
“Look, Theena, I’m going to the Feds. They have an organized crime bureau. Maybe they can help.”
As he said it, Bill realized he’d left the tape at the police station. Maybe he could get it back somehow.
“I’m scared, Bill.”
“You’ll be safe at DruTech. It has security. I’ll give you my cell phone number if you need to talk.”
“I’m sorry. I feel like I’m the one who got you into this.”
“I’ll be by in a few hours.”
