A sharp click. The door opened with a long, ugly scrape.
The bulb overhead burned dim and yellow, throwing long shadows over the concrete. The three inmates were on their bunks. Greek sat on the lower one, back to the wall, hands on his knees.
Tank stood by the barred window, smoking into his fist. Scalpel lay on the top bunk, one arm hanging down, fingers tapping the metal. All three raised their heads at the same time.
Greek spoke first, voice low and almost warm. “Officer Carter.” “Coming to see us at night.
Miss us?” She stepped into the cell. The pistol was in her right hand, barrel lowered.
The knife sat secure at her waist. The door closed softly behind her. The lock clicked louder than it should have.
Tank let smoke out through his nose. “Alone. No backup.” “Bold move.”
Scalpel dropped down from the bunk and landed lightly. “Go ahead and bolt the door,” he said with a nasty grin.
“Wouldn’t want to be interrupted.” Olivia raised the pistol in one quick motion. The black barrel pointed straight at Greek’s chest.
“Hands on your head. All three of you. Now.” Greek lifted his hands slowly, in no hurry.
“You know what happens if you pull that trigger. By morning they’ll bury you in paperwork. Your sister too.”
“Hands on your head,” she repeated sharply. Her voice stayed level.
Tank took a heavy step forward. “Come on now, Liv, we can still do this the easy way.” “Then you asked for it.”
She fired. The bullet hit Greek square in the left knee. Bone cracked loud in the cell.
Blood sprayed across the dirty floor. He dropped onto the bunk with a howl, clutching the shattered leg. “You crazy bitch!”
Tank lunged at her. She fired again and caught him in the right shoulder. Tank spun, dropped to one knee, and grabbed at the wound.
“Damn it!” Scalpel froze, eyes wide. “What are you doing?”
Olivia stepped toward him, lowering the barrel just a little. “On the floor. Face down. Now.” But he did not move.
She fired into his left thigh. Scalpel screamed and hit the floor. High, thin scream, almost like a child.
“Don’t! Don’t!” She walked over to Greek.
He was twisting in pain. Blood ran through his fingers. “Look,” she said very quietly.
“Look at them.” Greek lifted his head with effort, eyes red from pain. “You’re out of your mind.”
She turned to Tank. He was trying to crawl toward the wall. She fired into his stomach.
The bullet went in just below the navel. He folded over and began to choke. Blood spilled from his mouth.
“Look at each other,” Olivia said coldly. “Remember this.”
Scalpel dragged himself across the floor, leaving a broad trail of blood. “Please, I didn’t mean it, I just…” She crouched beside him.
Pressed the hot barrel to the back of his head. “You meant every bit of it. You laughed.” The shot was dull and final.
Scalpel’s head jerked, and his body went slack. Tank was coughing blood, eyes rolling back. “No, no, don’t…”
One clean shot to the head. The big body jerked once and went still. Greek was alone now, slumped against the wall.
His leg was pouring blood, and his face had gone white. “You won’t,” he whispered. “You’re still human.”
Olivia crouched in front of him. The black barrel pressed into his sweaty forehead….
