As soon as his head fell forward, Shotgun stormed out of the room and into the hall. “Is it just me, or is the guy getting off on this shit?”
“Looks that way,” Axel answered with disgust. “I’m afraid we’re gonna be in for a long night.”
“Fuck that. I’m done dealing with this bullshit.” Viper looked over to Menace and said, “Bring her in.”
“You got it.”
When Menace turned to leave, Axel asked, “What was that about?”
"Everyone feels pain—even this motherfucker. It’s just a matter of finding the right source of pain to inflict.”
Moments later, Menace stepped back into the hallway with a young woman at his side. Her eyes were blindfolded and her hands were bound behind her back as he guided her over to Viper. It was clear the girl was freaking out when she started to cry, “What do you want from me? Why am I here? Please ... tell me something.
“Easy, doll,” Viper told her. “No one’s gonna hurt you as long as you do what you’re told.”
“Please, just let me go. I won’t tell anyone anything.”
“Won’t be anything for you tell. Just do like I say, and you’ll be fine.” He gave her the once over, then Viper asked, “Is it set?”
“Yeah, just like we discussed.”
“Good. Wait until I give the word before you take her into the room.”
“Understood.”
With Shotgun following close behind, Viper opened the door and walked back into the holding room. When he got over to Schommer, he reached out, grabbed his jaw and forced his head up as he barked, “Wake up, sunshine. We have things to discuss.”
Schommer batted his eyes a couple of times, then smiled. “Back for more?”
“I get it. You’re a sick fuck who gets off on pain. Good for you.”
“What can I say? Some guys have all the luck.”
“That they do, but yours is about to run out.” After one last hard jerk, Viper released his hold on Schommer. “There was some other interesting information in that bio of yours.”
“Is that so?”
Viper glanced over his shoulder and stared into the two-way glass, then gave a slight nod, signaling Menace it was time. We all watched as Menace led the girl into the room next to Schommer’s. As soon as both Menace and the girl were in position, Viper flipped the light switch and said, “You have a very beautiful daughter, professor.”
“She has nothing to do with this!” Schommer tried to pull his hand free from the knife, but it wouldn’t budge. “Let her go.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that. Not until you tell us what we need to know.”
“I can’t. I just can’t.”
“Well, that’s too bad.” Viper walked over to the window and tapped on the glass. Menace nodded, then reached for the girl’s coat zipper and slowly lowered it. When the coat fell open, you could see a C4 explosive secured to her abdomen. Viper motioned his hand towards the digital timer located in the center of the explosive as he said, “It would be a shame for such a beautiful girl to be ripped to shreds.”
“Oh, God! Catherine! No! Why did you have to bring her into this?”
“You know exactly why, and if you don’t start talking fast, your daughter is going to come to an untimely end.”
Schommer looked over to Viper, but he didn’t speak. Instead, he just shook his head. Knowing he needed the extra push, Viper motioned his hand over to Menace. Taking the cue, Menace reached over and pressed the timing mechanism, starting the clock on the explosive. Schommer’s eyes widened with horror as the clock started to tick away. “Please! Don’t do this.”
“Best get to talking, Teach. Three minutes doesn’t give you much time,” Viper warned.
“Turn it off for God’s sake! I’ll tell you what you want to know.”
“Can’t do that.” Viper crossed his arms. “You talk or the girl dies.”
“Fine. What do you want to know?”
“Everything.”
Schommer’s eyes were trained on the numbers on the clock centered on his daughter’s abdomen as he replied, “I just run the books and determine how much product needs to be made each week to fulfill the month’s quota.”
“Who’s running the show?”
“I’ve only referred to him as Scar, but I don’t know his real name,” Schommer answered quickly. “I’ve never even talked to the guy.”
“Then, who do you give the orders to?”
“A man named Joseph Stark. He’s the go-between.” He looked back over at his daughter as he rattled on, “I tell him what Scar needs to know, and he relays the message.”
“So, you’ve never actually had a face to face with this Scar fella?”
“No. Never.”
“Hmm.” Viper’s eyes narrowed like he didn’t believe him as he asked, “And how do you make contact with this Stark guy?”
“Mostly by coded emails,” Schommer stammered. “I do my job, and if all goes as planned, my cut is dropped off at my office at the end of the month. That’s all I know.”