Balance - Book 2
Page 42
CHAPTER 16
Sitting in the ‘dentist’s chair’ of the local D.O.M Jenny managed to maintain an aura of defiance.
“When did Selena first contact you?” Benny demanded, “Was it via telephone?”
She gazed off over his head, developing a profound interest in the sluggishly turning ceiling fan.
“Did she threaten you? Why did you decide to help her kidnap the witness? Jenny?”
No answer. I almost admired how disinterested she appeared.
“Come on, Jenny, there’s no point in this. Speak to me. Why bother with this bullshit tough-girl charade?”
“How are the ribs?” she asked nonchalantly.
Benny bristled. “You got lucky.”
“I’m not speaking to you, Enforcer Kingston. Or Clarence. It’s my right to not answer. I’m taking that right.”
“Sure, it’s your right. Well done on exercising it so masterfully, we’re both very impressed. Aren’t we, Jet?”
I nodded.
“But you are going to talk, Jenny. You know you are. You have information on an escaped convict and it’s coming out one way or another. I’ll be authorised to take it any minute now. You know that. Just save the discomfort and tell me.’
Her eyes remained fixed on the fan. It made a gentle plink, plink, plink.
Benny sighed and sat on the desk beside me. When he spoke his tone was one of genuine apprehension.
“Ever been probed by a specialist? Your privacy means nothing to them, Jenny. You will very quickly wish you had spoken to me. Alright? This is my last offer. Please, talk to me.”
The first glimpses of trepidation appeared in her eyes. The door opened and the head of Benny’s Chief Commander appeared. His eyes settled on me.
“You’re a very busy Cadet, Clarence.”
“I try, Commander.”
“Feeling alright? You look like hell.”
“Yes, sir. I’m fine.”
He turned to Benny. “A word please, Kingston.”
The door closed behind them. I was left alone with Jenny.
Plink, plink, plink.
“How do you do that?” I asked, ‘The Ghosting. It’s a very impressive technique. Must be useful.”
“She really liked you, you know.” Her voice was sombre. “When I told her you were at the penthouse with Kingston she didn’t believe me.”
My cheeks were suddenly so cold I feared they might be blue. “Was never at that penthouse.”
“She told me I must be wrong, that my prediction was inaccurate. The first time she ever questioned me about it. But I knew you were there. It was obvious from the first time I laid eyes on you. Would have been to her as well, but I guess she was in denial.”
I opened my mouth but words refused to emerge.
Plink, plink, plink.
“I Ghost the same way I perform Logical Predict,” she continued, “I accept people’s true natures. Sometimes they just don’t want to see things right in front of their eyes, even when it’s screaming them in the face.” She paused, eyes narrowing. “I hope she loses it completely, Clarence. I really do. It’s the only way she’ll attack you outright. And I wish I could be there to see the look on your face when it happens.”
The door opened and Benny returned with clipboard in hand.
“Jenny Buckland,” he said, referring to a clipboard, “I, Junior Enforcer Kingston, First Class, have been granted authority to extract vital information, by force. If you refuse to answer, this authority will be exercised.”
She stared at him defiantly.
“You were involved in an open attempt to kidnap a witness, assisting known felon Selena Stephania. Do you know where she is?”
Her mouth remained closed but body tensed in anticipation. Small fingers gripping the chair’s armrests.
“Are you going to cooperate in questioning? You refuse to answer? Fine, have it your own way.” He glanced at me. “Watch her, Jet.”
The clipboard was placed aside. He crouched and pulled carefully hidden leather straps from beneath the armrests. They were fastened over her arms.
‘No wonder I didn’t trust that chair,’ I thought absently.
Her chin was gripped between thumb and forefinger and he stared into her eyes. She attempted to resist, desperately turning her head away. But a moment later her teeth clamped down on lower lip hard enough to draw blood. It took less than ten seconds.
“Christ, she doesn’t even know,” Benny snorted, standing. The movement brought a grimace to his face and a hand jumped to his ribs. “They only spoke on the phone. Selena never mentioned her location. She knew we would get to Jenny eventually.”
Jenny, blood trickling down her chin, tried and failed to contain tears of resentment. The image triggered uninvited memories of Claudia the receptionist.
“Thank you for your cooperation,” Benny muttered, voice hollow, “You will be retired to a containment facility where you will be detained until your trial. This trial will be free and fair under Department Of Magic regulations…”
“Please just get out,” she whispered.
We headed for the door without another word.