Today's Reading
"I already asked you, verification of what?"
"That John Reiff is still stable," said Yamada.
When Lagner did not answer, Waterman studied her closely, squinting. "Why?"
Lagner blinked wordlessly at Waterman, reluctant to answer, until the older man gripped the gun and lifted it again from his knee. It was effective. "To revive another," she quickly answered.
"Another person?"
"Yes."
"Who?" asked Yamada. "Duchik?"
Lagner shook her head. "Liam is dead. Reiff saw to that. The project was always about more than just John Reiff. It was intended to pave the way. Reiff was just the first one. But we can't continue without knowing he is free from any longer-term complications."
"You mean life-threatening complications."
"Correct."
Yamada, wearing a look of skepticism, was still studying her. "Who is it?"
"It doesn't matter," she answered.
"So, John is their medical 'canary in the coal mine.'" Waterman waited for confirmation from Lagner, but didn't get it, driving him to point the gun at her again.
"Killing me is not going to get you anything," she warned. "And finding them will be much harder than finding me. Which you were foolish to do."
"Why is that?"
She looked up and squinted at Yamada. "Even if you think you're being careful. All tracks can be traced." Lagner's voice began to turn aggressive. They were not going to kill her. At least not yet.
Waterman's reply was like ice. "Then letting you live will only help their effort."
Lagner's arrogance suddenly vanished.
"By your own words, you've acknowledged that we have to kill you."
Her eyes rewidened.
Waterman then stood up. "It's nothing personal."
Lagner suddenly panicked. "Wait! Wait!"
The older man calmly edged the slide back on his gun, verifying a bullet was chambered.
"No!" she cried. She looked at Yamada only to find him appearing just as shocked as she. "Stop! Wait! I can help you!"
Waterman gave a dubious frown. "By giving us away?"
"I'll tell you anything you want to know!" cried Lagner. "Anything!" She then blurted, "I'll tell you how to hide from them!"
"It's been almost a year, and they haven't found us yet."
She watched as Waterman once again raised the gun. "Please don't! I swear I can help you!"
He was unmoved but paused when Yamada placed a hand on his arm. "Devin, wait. We came here for a reason, remember?"
Nora Lagner latched on to the reference. "Of course you did! You want something. What is it? Just ask me!"
"She can't be trusted," said Waterman.
"I can!" cried Lagner. "You can trust me! Ask me anything, and I'll tell you, I swear!"
The gun remained lingering in midair, with Waterman's finger snaking through the trigger guard and resting lightly on the metal trigger.
"Like what?"
"Anything!" she cried.
There was a long silence before Waterman spoke. "Where is it?"
Nora Lagner looked at him, confused. "Where's what?"
"Where is...it."
Shaking her head, she looked nervously at Yamada. "It what?"
"The Machine," answered Yamada. "Where is the Machine?"
Lagner nodded eagerly. "I'll tell you, I'll tell you! Just lower the gun."
Watching it fall, she opened her mouth to continue until suddenly catching herself in midsentence, where she stopped and stared at them in bewilderment, thinking for several seconds. "Wait. Why do you want the...?"
There was only one reason they would want the device, and it took Lagner only moments to realize it. When she did, her mouth dropped open in stunned silence.
...
