by LC Champlin
“Albin.” Mr. Serebus assumed a judge’s sobriety. “Ken just called me. He’s cooperating with the Goats’ client. That’s how they knew where to find us.”
“At this point, how can I believe you?” Albin took a step back. Trust, the most valuable commodity one could possess, could shatter as easily as crystal on cement. “Even if you are speaking the truth, the fact remains that at the time, you did not know of Kenichi-san’s involvement with the client, yet you attempted to kill him.”
Nostrils flaring, Mr. Serebus looked down on the attorney. “I was going to explain, but it was a moot point after we left the Oshiro. I assumed you would’ve agreed with my actions if I had listed the advantages.”
“I”—Albin pointed to himself—“am your adviser.” At the word your, he jabbed his finger at Mr. Serebus. “I am aware of the advantages and disadvantages. I can see none in murdering a man with whom we could have negotiated.”
Mr. Serebus snorted. “You can’t negotiate with someone who wants to play god.”
“I’m beginning to see that.” The frost of realization settled, freezing hope’s leaves.
“You’re my second in command now, in addition to being my adviser. Is that going to be a problem?”
“Do not change the subject.”
The defendant crossed his arms. “The subject is finished. I did what needed to be done.”
“I advised against—”
“The purpose of an adviser isn’t to tell me every move to make.” Baring his teeth in a snarl, Mr. Serebus leaned forward. “You are not the be-all end-all of logic. I”—he flicked his fingers toward himself—“maneuvered us out of this mess. Your purpose as an adviser is to tell me how best to do what I want to do.”
Blood pounded in Albin’s ears. He dropped his voice as he responded, “No, sir, that is the role of an attorney, not an adviser.”
“What’s the problem, then? I thought you respected my leadership.”
“I thought you respected my advice.” And friendship.
“Albin, if you would listen to my explanation, you’d see the benefit of compromising on your position.”
“Neither my role nor my conscience allow me to compromise my standards.” Anger ached in Albin’s chest. “Already you have forced me to accept behavior of which I disapprove. The file snooping and corporate espionage were disagreeable enough, but now you take for granted that I will rationalize premeditated murder. At this point, I question if Carolyn’s death was truly an accident.” The suspicion verbalized itself before Albin could halt it. But perhaps it would jolt Mr. Serebus into reality.
“Your role is what I need it to be for furthering our ends. As is mine!” Mr. Serebus delivered the last word with a cry in his voice. “I’m not just a CEO anymore; I’m the leader of a community. The sooner you understand that, the sooner we can get back to business.”
“In what business are we truly engaged?”
“The domination business, Albin. I thought you knew that. What the hell else would I be doing? Order, control—they’re what the world needs.” Mr. Serebus spread his arms to encompass all of Redwood Shores as he continued, “That’s the only way to protect them—and us. If I hadn’t stepped up to take command, the people here would be in no better state than the Libyans after their civil war. We—you and I—give them what they want: security. God chose me to lead.”
God? Grimacing, Albin squeezed the bridge of his nose. “At what price?”
“Any price the risks-benefits ratio deems worthwhile. Some losses are expected and acceptable.”
“Losses such as the people who attempted to fight the cannibals at Heron Court Apartments?”
Mr. Serebus turned to look out the kitchen window. “I really don’t understand your complaint. I won. Your advice wouldn’t produce the yield I needed, so I took my own path. The people are better off here, and so are we.”
“Do I need to paint a detailed explanation on the wall?” Albin stepped farther into the kitchen. “You misled and excluded me because you knew I would never cooperate if you told me the truth. You knew I wouldn’t agree to taking over the Oshiro, or to letting the Red Devil Goats escape.”
“You wanted me to hand over the ReMOT to the government, too. It’s not the correct move.”
Albin held his stare. “Tell me the truth. Did you initiate the broadcast?” Say no, for God’s sake.
In answer, Mr. Serebus offered silence.
With his heart battering against his rib cage, Albin looked away. Surely the man had not acted so rashly and arrogantly. “If you did initiate it . . .” You are a fool. The same fool who ignored advice and resorted to manipulation of the man he called his best friend.
“What.”
“I became only another implement to perform your will.”
“And?”
Albin looked up. “You see no difficulty with this.”
“We’re completing the task in the most efficient way possible. I thought you took pride in that? Or have you suddenly become a damned bleeding heart like the rest? Let me remind you that your hands are as bloody as mine.”
“I require no reminding, but perhaps your memory requires refreshing on why my hands are bloody.” At the last words, the attorney raised his hands.
“Survival, the same reason mine are red. It’s common sense. We do what we must, not only to survive but to thrive. We”—Mr. Serebus thumped his chest with his fist—“are the strong ones. We are the predators, the wolves.”
“Predators live at the expense of others.”
“Everyone does!” The other man gave an incredulous laugh. “That’s life.”
“Not. Like. This. I cannot continue in this manner. Mr. Serebus—Nathan, stop. Carolyn is dead—”
“My God! Are you feeling guilty? You mean to tell me you’ve suddenly grown a heart? What horrible timing.”
“I displayed loyalty because I respected you. But you reward my loyalty with manipulation when you should have simply come to me as you have for the last eight years and discussed your goals.” All they had shared—gone.
Arms akimbo, Mr. Serebus shrugged. “What’s done is done.”
“Of that I am aware.”
“Good.” He turned to the refrigerator and pulled it open. “Now let’s stop wasting time.”
“I intend to.” Darkness settled over the landscape of Albin’s mind. It must end. Now. “Turn around, sir.”
“What—” Mr. Serebus stopped, hand still on the door, and gaped at the .45-caliber muzzle that considered him. Then he straightened, annoyed. “Stop playing around. Look, we’ve been through a lot today. Go take a nap or get something to eat—”
“You say you are the alpha wolf.”
“I am.” Eyes narrowed, Mr. Serebus cocked his head. “A wolf can’t turn on another. That’s what you promised.”
“I am no longer the wolf. I am the hunter.”
Albin’s finger tightened on the trigger.
BANG!
As the dark man jerked back, abject shock upon his features, Albin and Judge fled.
CEASURA
You made it through. Congratulations! Thanks for taking the time to read this book. If the story made you feel something, or at least killed some time, support your local author by leaving a review on Goodreads or Amazon. Thanks! That helps other people find the book and encourages me to write the next chapters.
Want to know what happens to Nathan, Albin, and rest of the pack? Curious about the shady organization behind the cannibal contagion? Of course you are.
The hunt continues with book 3, Day of Darkness, out spring 2018 on Amazon.
To keep up to date on its progress, as well as get blog posts about villains, weird science, and more, visit my site lcchamplin.com
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