'No point, Lard Arse. Most people can't snap one cable tie, never mind six. You're going nowhere.' He patted Insch's chubby cheek. 'I can't believe you never told her how you beat a fucking confession out of me! Eh? How you told the court I fell ...' Wiseman slammed his fist into Insch's face,'down ...' punch,'the ...' punch,'fucking ...' punch,'stairs!' He sat back and flexed his hand. 'See, your law-abiding, police officer husband liked beating up suspects, didn't you, Fatty?' He stood, took two steps back and slammed a foot into Insch's ribs. The bitch whimpered. 'We ... we've got money! You can have it! Just let us go!' Wiseman pretended to think about it for a minute. 'No.'' But ... but they'll come looking for us! You can't--' 'Oh, shut up.' He tore off another strip of duct-tape and sealed her cakehole. 'What've I got to lose, eh? These bastards catch me they're going to screw me over. Just like last time. I've seen the papers: what is it, five, six murders? You think two more are going to make any difference?' She mumbled something behind her gag, eyes wide, terrified. 'Shhhh ...' He dropped down in front of her, stroked her hair, cupped her podgy face in his hand; smiling as Fatty thrashed about on the floor, making angry, impotent noises. 'I've been waiting for this for ages. Believe me, there are worse things than dying. There's being banged up with fucking sickos and kiddy-fiddlers for fifteen years. There's getting raped in the showers. Now why don't you settle back and enjoy the show? It's going to be a lonnnnng night ...'
Heather sat, knees drawn up to her chest, ears straining at the darkness. 'I don't understand, what--' 'Shhh!' Duncan pulled on his hard-done-by face. 'I was only asking.' 'Can you hear it? I can hear it ...' 'Maybe you should eat something?' 'I can hear it breathing.' 'Heather--' 'Something's out there.' She pointed out into the darkness, where the bars were, and Duncan shuddered. 'Don't think about it.' 'You know what it is, don't you?' 'There's still plenty of pork left. Or is it veal? I can't tell.' 'Duncan - tell me!' 'Where do you think he's gone? I mean, he left enough food--' 'DUNCAN!'
