28 R
“You have only one right in here,” I said. “At any time
3rd Pass Pages
ManInMyBasemnt_HCtext3P.qxd 10/24/03 8:16 PM Page 181
The Man in My Basement
you can ask to be released. And then, ninety-six hours af-1
ter that request, I will open the door and you can go.”
2
“Don’t forget your money.”
3
“I don’t care about the money. All I care about is my 4
rules in my jail.”
5
“And why the ninety-six-hour delay?”
6
“Because you’re not going to be the boss here. This is 7
my house. If you want to play some stupid game, you 8
have to play by my rules. And believe me, if you say to-9
morrow that you want out, I will turn out the light and 10
leave you down here with nothing but a mug of water for 11
four days.”
12
I believe that that was the first time I saw the true An-13
niston Bennet. All artifice was gone from his face. His 14
brow knitted and his fingers did a jittery little dance.
15
“And if I don’t answer your questions to your satisfac-16
tion?” he asked.
17
“Same thing,” I said. “Solitary confinement. No light.
18
Bread and water. For four days.”
19
“What is this, Charles? Do you think you can break 20
me?”
21
“This is my home,” I said. “My home, my rules.”
22
“How long do I have to think about this?”
23
“Right now. Right now. Either you say that you agree 24
or I pull your ass outta there and drive you to the train 25
station in those pajamas.”
26
Underneath the glowering eyes a smile came to Annis-S 27
ton Bennet’s lips.
R 28
3rd Pass Pages
ManInMyBasemnt_HCtext3P.qxd 10/24/03 8:16 PM Page 182
Walter Mosley
