The heavy steel door to the isolation wing groaned open, and the temperature seemed to drop ten degrees. Ethan walked alongside Miller, their footsteps echoing like hammer blows against the concrete floor. When they reached cell 4-B, Ethan stopped and peered through the small, reinforced observation slit.
Inside, Prosecutor Carter was unrecognizable. The man who once stood in expensive Italian suits, looking down on the world with a sneer, was now huddled on a thin cot. He was Haggard, his face covered in dark, blooming bruises and dried blood.
"He looks like heās had a rough first night. Did he trip on the way in?" Ethan said.
"Not exactly. Letās just say the boys had a lot of pent-up frustration to release," Miller said.
Ethan noticed a particularly nasty gash over Carterās eye. "You guys really went to town on him. I didnāt think you cared that much about his legal policies," Ethan said.
"It wasnāt just us, boss. We got specific orders from the new District Attorney, Brown. Apparently, they have some deep-seated personal grudges from years ago. Brown made it very clear that Carter shouldnāt find a single moment of peace in this facility," Miller said.
Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. "I like Brown more and more every minute. Heās efficient."
Ethan signaled toward the lock. "Open it up. I want to pay my respects to the fallen king," Ethan said.
"You want me to stay in there with you? Heās pathetic, but cornered rats still bite," Miller said.
"No, I can handle this garbage myself. Go take a walk around the block. Give us some privacy," Ethan said.
"Consider it done. Iāll make sure nobody even breathes near this hallway until youāre finished. Take your time, Ethan," Miller said.
Miller swiped his security card and punched in the code. The electronic lock disengaged with a sharp clack, and the heavy door slid open just enough for Ethan to slip through. Miller gave a quick nod and disappeared back down the corridor.
Ethan stepped into the dim, cramped room. The air smelled of sweat, copper, and fear. Carter didnāt even look up at first; he just pulled his knees tighter to his chest, trembling.
"Good morning, Prosecutor. I hope the accommodations are to your liking," Ethan said.
Carter flinched violently at the sound of the voice. He slowly lifted his head, his one good eye widening in pure, unadulterated terror as he saw Ethan standing there, bathed in the faint light of the hallway.
"You... youāre supposed to be dead. They said... they said the Scavengers would handle you," said the prisoner.
"The Scavengers are busy counting their losses, Carter. And you? Youāre just a loose end that Iām about to tie up," Ethan said.
Ethan grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the concrete wall with a dull thud that knocked the air right out of his lungs. Without giving him time to recover, he lifted him by the neck, leaving Carterās toes barely scraping the floor.
"When you brought me to this place, I bet you never imagined weād one day be in this position," said Ethan.
"Let go... please..." said the prisoner, his voice choking from the pressure on his throat.
Ethan didnāt let go. Instead, he delivered a sharp blow to the stomach that made Carter fold in half. The pent-up frustration from that unjust arrest, from Vanceās terrorist lies, and from the humiliating treatment he received when he first arrived in chains was boiling to the surface. Ethan grabbed him by the hair and forced him to look into his eyes.
"You looked at me like I was trash, Carter. You locked me in a hole while you laughed with Vance," said Ethan.
"Donāt mention that pig... Vance is a son of a bitch! He forced me!" shouted Carter, his mouth smeared with blood.
"Donāt mention him. Heās just a cold corpse in a morgue now, and soon youāll be exactly the same, so you shouldnāt be in such a hurry to catch up to him," said Ethan, before throwing him back to the floor like a sack of garbage.
Ethan dusted off his hands and adjusted his jacket, looking down with contempt at the man sobbing at his feet.
"I hope you have a nice stay here. Iām leaving you in the care of my friends, the guards. Iāve already spoken to them; I asked them to give you āspecialā treatment from now on. You wonāt sleep a single minute without feeling the weight of a boot in your ribs," said Ethan.
Carter grit his teeth, terror overcoming his physical pain. He crawled across the floor until he reached Ethanās boot, clutching at it desperately.
"Wait! I have information! Information that can be useful to you!" shouted the prisoner.
Ethan paused, one eyebrow raised. "Information? And what do you think your word is worth now?" asked Ethan.
"I know youāre the boss here! I know if you order it, things wonāt be so hard for me anymore! Iām not asking you to release me... just stop the torture. Iāll do whatever you want! Iāll tell you what the Scavengers are planning with Parthenon!" shouted Carter, his voice cracking with desperation.
Ethan crouched down, bringing his face level with the disfigured man. A terminal coldness crossed his eyes.
"Talk fast, Carter. Convince me itās worth leaving a few teeth in your mouth," said Ethan.
"Before I was locked in here... before the arrest was even official... several families came asking about you. The Scavengers, the Clovers, and a few others. They wanted every scrap of information I had on you since I was the one who processed your intake the first time," said Carter.
Ethan narrowed his eyes. "Go on," said Ethan.
"My lawyer came to see me this morning. He brought a message. He said the Scavengers are planning to fuck you over so hard youāll wish you were dead, and once theyāve finished with you, theyāre going after Thompson. They want to make an example of his betrayal," said the prisoner.
Ethan let out a cold, sharp laugh. "Is that so? Iāve been out in the open all day, and nobody has made a move on me. What the hell are you talking about?" said Ethan.
Carterās eyes widened, a flicker of genuine realization crossing his bruised face. He started to tremble even harder, his voice dropping to a terrified whisper.
"They havenāt made a move yet? I see... then youāre in even graver danger than I thought, Blake," said the prisoner.
"Explain yourself before I lose my patience," said Ethan.