Genre Scribes: Friday Fiction Writing Challenge #51 — Torch

Sébastien Nichols closed the file on his phone. There was nothing in there to indicate any connection between Kelvin Maxwell and Dr Emma Wade.

He leaned against the wall of the dusty garage and observed the woman. If he were honest with himself, he’d have to admit a certain amount of admiration for the her. She was clearly scared but fighting hard to hide it with the tilt of her chin and the squaring of her shoulders — a hard gesture considering she was bound to a chair.

For some reason, she was protecting Kelvin and no matter what Caleb did to her, she wasn’t talking.

Sébastien pocketed his phone. Admirable or not, the woman was a danger to his hard-won advantage. And, the longer he and his men stayed here, the harder it would be to stay one step ahead of Kelvin. That sliver of a lead was all that was keeping Deniable Unit and Harvey Dalton from reigning hell down on him. He cleared his throat.

Caleb whipped his head around, panic in his eyes. “I can’t make her talk if she doesn’t know anything.”

Sébastien smiled. “I can make her talk.”

Caleb backed away, relief radiating off his muscular frame.

Sébastien pulled up a swivel chair and parked it opposite Emma. “We both know you’re lying, and we both know that physical threats mean nothing to you. So, let’s play a game of who’s more important to you than Kelvin Maxwell.”

Emma fixed him with a tear-filled defiant stare.

He tilted his head, considering her as he placed his .45 on the tool bench beside him. Maybe she carried a torch for Kelvin. “He called you for help two days ago.”

The confused look on her face was almost believable. Almost.

“Now,” he wheeled closer to her, “I’m wondering why did he have your number?”

“I’m a doctor, lots of people have my number.”

Sébastien grinned. “Not my kind of people. You two must be quite close for him to turn to you.” He watched her closely for any telltale expressions that he’d hit the mark. Nothing. “Maybe he got your number from your sister on Sycamore Lane or your parents at —”

“He’s dead.” She looked like she was going to throw up. “He called like you said, and by the time I found him, he was dead.”

Sébastien tapped the gun. “There’s a trail of bodies leading down the mountain towards town. Unless you’ve had elite training — which according to your file you haven’t — you’re lying to me again, and after I thought we were becoming friends.

Sébastien pulled out his phone; he needed to know what he was dealing with, and if he could use her as bait to draw Kelvin out. “Maybe he’s closer to your sweet, sweet nephew.” He turned the phone so Emma could see the photo of the ugly brat.

“He’s at the hospital.”

Something was off, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. But one thing was clear, Kelvin was important enough to her that she risked her life to protect him. Who knows, Kelvin could have a soft spot for her, too.

Sébastien grabbed her phone from the bench and held it up to her face to unlock it. He tapped the number to call the burner phone and put it on speakerphone. The call connected and he gestured with the gun for her to speak.

Emma locked eyes with Sébastien and yelled, “Harvey, run.”

“Emma. Emma!” Harvey Dalton’s gruff voice boomed over the speakerphone.

Sébastien froze. Fuck.