Free Out of the Dark by Geri Foster Page B

minute.”
    “I’ll see to Ms. Richards,” Frank replied, shooing them out of the room.
    Mac followed Brody as he made his way to the stairwell and down one floor. They came out into a hallway that had four rooms, two on each side. Turning a corner, a stark white wall revealed a two -way mirror. Behind it, a ten by ten interrogation room.
    “Don’t bother with the driver, I want the one that had the gun,” Mac said. He was the one that slugged Em.
    Outside the three doors a single armed guard stood watch. Mac entered the room on the left. Brody waited outside and would observe from the corridor.
    The guard followed him inside.
    The empty room had no windows, one door, a small table and two wooden chairs. Mac pulled out a chair, flipped it around and straddled the seat. He propped his arms on the back and looked at one scared, shackled son of a bitch. His face looked like it’d run into a brick wall. “What’s your name,” Mac demanded.
    “I ain’t sayin’ nothin’ without a lawyer. I know my rights.”
    Mac leaned over and slapped him on the head. “You have no rights. You kidnapped two people at the airport. We have you on the surveillance cameras.”
    He looked around. “What is this place, man? This ain’t no jail.”
    “You’re right, it’s not. And you know what else? Not another living soul knows you’re here. I could cut your throat, dump your body in the Trinity, and none would be the wiser.” Mac propped his chin on his folded arms. The suspect twitched and his eyes grew larger. “You’ll tell me what I want to know or you’re a dead man. But before that happens, I can make you wish you’d never taken your first breath.”
    With a confident smirk, the guy leaned forward. “I ain’t scared of nothin’, man.”
    “Then you’re as dumb as you look. I’d guess you never been waterboarded? Held up by your thumbs?” Employing his best sadistic smile, Mac opened a small drawer and pulled out a long handled Zippo. He motioned for the agent to grab the prisoner’s head and pull it back. Mac walked behind him and flicked the trigger, a flame shot out.
    “Ever had your eyeballs bur ned out?” Leaning in, Mac moved the fire closer. The guy screamed in horror. His eyes darted around like pinballs.
    “I don’t know nothin ’ ‘cept this guy came over and asked if I wanted to do a job for him.”
    “You see him before?”
    “No.”
    The flame moved closer. Mac smelled his fear.“You sure about that?”
    “This other guy hooked us up.”
    Heat scorched the hostage’s cheek.
    “That guy got a name?”
    Fire singed his eyelashes and the bastard screamed like a girl.
    Mac grabbed his hair and moved closer. “You think I’m shitting you , pal?”
    “Name is Castro, Mick Castro.”
    “Where does Mick live?”
    “243 Park. I n Oak Cliff.” He talked so fast Mac could barely make out what he said.
    Mac clipped the lighter closed and the prisoner was released. “I’m going to pay your friend a call. If you’re jacking with me, I’m coming back and I’m going to give you a fire enema.”
    The culprit held his shaking, shackled palms against his eyes as sweat rolled off his face.
    Mac and Brody went back upstairs. “Waterboarding , my ass.” Brody said. “You’ve never done that to anyone.”
    “I would to someone who’s hurt Em.”
    “Em?” Brody asked. “When did she go from Ms. Richards, to Emily, to Em?” Brody laughed. “Exactly what have you two been up to?”
    Mac grunted. “Don’t go getting any ideas, Brody.”
    “I’m not. Just asking, that’s all.”
    “Em’s a brave woman. Considering what we’ve been through in the last twenty-four hours, a lesser woman would be completely scared out of her mind.”
    “Don’t want to make you sore, but she didn’t look too good back there.”
    Mac stopped and looked at Brody. “What the hell does that mean? She fought off two thugs the size of linebackers.”
    “Yeah, but... ” Brody said.
    “ But , my ass.” Mac