“What if they—”
“Not a word. You mustn’t even listen to them. Everything that comes out of their mouths will be only to trick you. Understand? When they begin talking, you just think of your favorite song and mentally sing it to yourself over and over again. Don’t try to strategize. That’s my job, and I guarantee I’m a hell of a lot better at it than you could ever be. Not one word must pass your lips, do you understand?”
“Okay, I got it. You didn’t have to tell me this. I’ve already gone through a hell of a lot of pain and didn’t tell them anything.”
“That’s good. Because you and the others were incredibly clumsy, and Jaden is not pleased.”
Powers’s eyes widened in alarm. “You’re not sending Jaden after me?”
“That’s not my call. I just take orders like you do. I’m only telling you that Jaden is a perfectionist and would be happy to clean up loose ends.” He stared him in the eye. “If you prove to be a problem.”
“I won’t be a problem,” Powers said quickly. “We did everything we were told. It should have gone smooth as glass.”
“But it didn’t, and now we’re faced with a very delicate situation we have to solve.”
“Not by using Jaden.”
Hutchinson shook his head. “That would cause ripples. Ripples are discouraged in this matter. Which is your good fortune. Our mutual employer appreciates your cooperation. He has at great expense employed one of the world’s greatest legal minds—that’s me—to fight on your behalf. If he senses that you do not appreciate the extent of his concern, he will cut off all contact, all assistance. Do you understand what that means?”
Powers turned and stared out the window. “It means I’ll die.”
“I’m accustomed to a fair bit of melodrama from my clients, but in your case, your concern is warranted.” Hutchinson reached into his jacket and produced two foil packets.
Powers tensed. “What are those?”
“A token of appreciation.” Hutchinson grabbed two plastic cups from a countertop and set them on the small serving table next to the bed. He tore open the packets and emptied their gooey contents into the cups. He then picked up a pitcher, filled both cups with water, then stirred each with a straw.
Powers stared at the cups. “Is that what I think it is?”
“Yes. It’s your medicine. Something that no hospital can provide you. You need it, don’t you? Less efficient than the type you inject, but I’ve been told it’s just as effective. The officer on duty searched me before I came in and I never would have been allowed to bring a syringe and needle in here. Drink the one on the right first, then the left.”
Powers picked up the right cup and examined it for a long moment. “No offense, but … how do I know this isn’t poison?”
Hutchinson smiled. “Poison? Is that why you think I came here?”
“I think you came here to make sure I keep my mouth shut. Okay, you won’t use Jaden. But two packets of fast-acting poison would do the job, wouldn’t it?”
“If that’s what they really wanted, then all they had to do was absolutely nothing. Correct?” His voice lowered. “Why are you being difficult? It’s a little incentive to keep you doing what we want you to do. You know you need it.”
Powers looked at the cup for a moment longer, then downed it.
Hutchinson tapped the other cup. “Now this one. I’m not to leave until I’ve seen you drink both.”
Powers drank the other one in one long gulp. He wiped his lips. “Sour.”
Hutchinson folded the foil packets and placed them back into his pocket. “Now remember our discussion. Cooperation is everything. Not one single word.”
“I won’t forget.” His lips twisted bitterly. “How could I? I’m just wondering something.” Powers leaned back in his bed. “Would you have given me those packets if I hadn’t agreed to keep quiet?”
Hutchinson brushed his hands together and straightened his jacket. “See you soon, Mr. Powers.
He left the hospital room and closed the door behind him.
*
“POWERS IS SCARED SHITLESS and he’s not talking,” Hutchinson said when Jaden answered the phone. “You won’t be needed … yet.”
Jaden muttered a curse. “And when you make that call, it might be too late. It should be done now.”
“The job was fumbled. Michaels got away, and now we have a situation. I’m not going to have to answer for it. It’s in your court.”
“I set it up, but you sent inefficient bumblers to grab her. I should have done it myself. I won’t make that mistake again,” he said. “He should have let me take care of her a long time ago.”