Race

I tried to say something, but I needed air to do so, which was now suddenly in short supply.

I grabbed his wrist but I couldn’t even circle it with my fingers.

I was about to kick him in his privates when I heard a voice.

His fingers released my neck and I flopped on my bum.

I knew sucking air quickly would be hazardous so I closed my mouth and inhaled slowly through my nose.

My neck was raw. I would need more makeup to cover that, too.

I looked up and nearly lost my breath. Again.

Laura, with her red hair, was standing beside the big guy, who I was now going to charge with assault and even attempted murder. She had a smile on her face.

“Laura, wh-what are you doing here?” I asked.

“I should ask you the same question,” she answered.

“I’m here for the tea,” I said, collecting myself. “What about you?”

She smiled the smile I had earlier found endearing. Right now it felt intimidating.

I managed to get up.

“Shouldn’t you be in the States?” I said.

“You don’t get it, do you?”

“Of course, I get it.” Get what? I narrowed my eyes.

She laughed, rolling her head back. “You have no idea.”

“I have many ideas, but I can’t discuss any of them with you…at this moment.” I looked around.

She motioned to the big man, who moved toward me.

I moved back but hit what felt like a metal door.

Feeling cornered, I pulled on the handle and fell back into darkness.

I looked around and everything was black.

Someone switched on the lights.

“Better?” she said.

There were several machines, all covered with blue plastic, at one end of the basement. Equipment-the science lab kind-was scattered everywhere.

“This looks like a clan lab,” I said, turning to them.

Then it hit me.

“You,” I pointed. “You’re making Nex.” It suddenly dawned on me that I had infiltrated RACE. Something else dawned on me.

“You’re part of RACE?” I said to Laura.

She smiled, “Good. We are finally making progress. Kong, tie him up on that chair.”

The big guy moved toward me. I doubled back and planted myself on the chair. If this gigantic bone- crushing-type-of-guy wanted to tie me up, who was I to protest? I placed my hands behind my back and smiled.

He looked disappointed. He was looking forward to roughing me up. I wasn’t going to give him any satisfaction. I may be a wimp, but I was a partially damaged wimp.

He bound my wrists.

She walked over and leaned down. I could smell her perfume.

Was that Elizabeth Taylor’s Black Pearls?

“I liked you,” she said. “But you had to follow us and then enter our establishment.”

“You’re name isn’t Laura Spencer, is it?” I said.

She shook her head.

“You never had a sister in Toronto, did you?”

“Everything was a lie, Officer Rupret.”

I had opened up to her. I couldn’t believe I had told her about Nigeria and my grandfather. I felt used.

“Don’t feel bad,” she said. “At least you didn’t burn in your house.”

What?

“Why didn’t I?” I said.

“Think. You’re part of the police.”

Yes, I was part of the finest police force in the country, and at this moment I was damn proud of it. “I have seen where you produce Nex. Why don’t you give up? You won’t get away.”

“Yes, you have seen everything.” She looked at Kong. “But you won’t get away. Alive.”

Up until then I had had the feeling that I was not in any life-threatening danger. But suddenly I was feeling differently. I had to do something.

“Half the police department is outside,” I bluffed.

“No, they are not.”

“Yes, and I’m wired. You’re being recorded.”

“Really?” She ripped my shirt open-the buttons flew everywhere. “You’re lying.”

“Code red. Code red. Abort mission,” I mouthed to my armpit. “Officer down. Officer down.”

“Oh, shut up,” she said and slapped me. Hard.

That would leave a mark.

“Don’t you understand,” she said, getting agitated. “The police will not come to help you.”

“Why is that?” I said.

She said nothing.

Then it hit me. “The mole,” I said slowly.

Her face betrayed nothing.

“Yes,” I laughed. “You wouldn’t think I would know. Would you?”

She licked her lips.

“You thought I wouldn’t find out who your mole was?” I said. “But I did. I put two-and-two together.”

“You know?” she finally said.

“I know.” I was proud of myself. Seeing her squirm like that made my chest inflate. It deflated immediately when I caught sight of Kong.

She said, “I didn’t think you were-”

“-Clever or intelligent enough,” I said.

“Bright was the word I was looking for. I didn’t think you were bright enough.”

“Well I did. Your mole was part of Operation Anti-RACE so that he could spy for you. He fed you information so you could be a step ahead of us. Whenever possible he misguided us. But he didn’t misguide me. I was onto him from the beginning. The way he talked. The way he walked. It wasn’t normal.” She listened attentively. “Then the incident with Officer Barnes at the House of Jam-” I stopped. I turned to Kong. The bald head Barnes was talking about. Kong was the one who’d hurt Barnes. I wasn’t about to start pointing fingers at anyone, seeing as I was immobile. I just ground my teeth and continued. “The missing camera tape was my first indication.”

“What camera tape?” she said.

She was testing me.

“The missing camera tape from the House of Jam. So he doesn’t tell you everything, does he?”

“Only what is necessary,” she half responded.

“He had insisted Joey stay with me after he had run away from you.” This part was difficult for me but I wanted it off my chest. “He insisted Joey stay with me. You! You kept me away so that your goons could get to him. Isn’t that right?”

Her eyes betrayed her.

Anger rose in me. “He was just a kid.”