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"He's awake?"

"Yes. He actually asked for water this morning. We're not giving him solid food yet."

The detective nodded. "I see. Is he able to talk?"

"Yes, but please, be gentle. Remember, he's suffered a massive trauma."

A sound of exasperation emitted from the detective, causing the nurse to blush. "I'll be gentle. Do you know his name?"

"No."

"No?"

"He says he can't remember."

"Can't or won't?"

The nurse exhaled, sharply. "Detective. Listen to me. There is a young man in there who was beated to the point of near death. Its amazing he hasn't sustained more serious injuries. Its amazing he's sitting up and actually asking for things. Please, do not accuse my patient of lying."

The Detective shrugged. "OK. Show me where he is."

"Look at this."

Cobb looked up as Eames strode towards him. The Forger's face was set, his mouth a grim line. "It made the press. Admittedly, its one of those filler articles, but still-"

The paper was snatched out of his hand. "Let me see that."

Eames sat down, and stretched his legs out as the Extractor scanned the print. "Page 7, column 4…Registry office massacre…" he looked at Eames. "We didn't massacre them."

"Exactly." Eames smirked. "We just beat him senseless and let the others go. With a payoff."

Cobb looked at Eames. "You were pretty brutal."

"Listen," Eames leaned forward. "All the years I've had to put up with him sneering at me, looking down his nose-" he glared at Cobb. "My fist finally connecting with his face – very satisfying."

Cobb raised his eyebrows. "And she just went." He rested his chin on his hand. "Just like that."

"Yeah." Eames pulled his cigarettes out of his pocket. "Says a great deal, doesn't it? Poor little Artie starts being beaten – and Ariadne runs away crying. I would like some loyalty from a wife." He paused. "Come to think of it, so would Arthur."

The Extractor was studying the newspaper. "It says he was taken to a local hospital. But he's unidentified."

"They gave false names at the registry office."

"Really?" Cobb raised his eyebrows.

"Yep." Eames exhaled a lungful of smoke.

Cobb looked at Eames. "You know he'll come to find us." He swallowed. "After he's found Ariadne."

The Forger shifted. "I doubt he'll find her. Nearly getting beaten to a pulp on your wedding day isn't the best introduction to married life. I suspect he'll stay away from her."

"You don't know that," Cobb shook his head. "Arthur is the Point Man. Meticulous, determined – if he wants to find her and us, I have no doubt that he'll succeed."

Eames looked at Cobb, his eyes narrowing.

"Really? He didn't succeed in marrying her, did he?"

Cobb lowered his voice. "You're not listening to me. What we did to them – he'll want to find us."

"He shouldn't have tried to screw us over. Your words."

Cobb exhaled. "Yes, I know. He broke his word to us, lied to us. But-" he licked his lip. "I didn't think what would happen would happen."

Eames looked at him, coldly. "Oh, really? Even though you made the deal with Fischer?" The Forger shook his head. "You're even more naïve than Arthur."

Turning his back, Eames walked out.

"Good morning." The detective approached Arthur, who still looked pale and slightly shaken. The bruising on his face had mellowed from an incandescent crimson to a sullen mauve, with hints of chartreuse. There was a gash on his left cheekbone.

"Hi," Arthur said, warily.

"My name is Detective Sharpe," the older man said, sitting down. "And I found you on the floor of the registry office. You were beaten unconscious."

Arthur swallowed. "Was I?"

"Yes," Sharpe said, patiently. "You weren't in good shape. You still aren't. The nurse tells me you can't remember your name."

Arthur shook his head. "I can't."

"OK," the other man said, kindly. "Maybe these will job your memory." Putting his hand in his pocket, he brought out two small objects. "Open your hand."

Arthur complied, and watched as the two pale gold rings were dropped into his palm.

"You were wearing a bridegroom suit," Sharpe said, softly. "And you were holding these. What do you remember? Come on, tell me."

"Where's my wife?"

"You were the only person we found."

"The only person?" Arthur's voice jumped in pitch slightly; he struggled to control it. "But – if I was getting married, my wife would have been there."

"No, I'm sorry." Sharpe shook his head. "There was no sign of anyone else. But I do need to ask you some questions. You remember you were getting married – what else do you remember?"

"Nothing."

"If you're lying, I will jail for obstruction when you recover."

Arthur swallowed. "I'm not."

"Good." The detective got up. "I will come back and talk to you again. We found no identification on you, so we can't contact anyone."

Arthur dropped his gaze. "OK."

"So what happened?" The voice flowed out of the cellphone, as smooth and supple as a snake. Cobb swallowed.

"Well…the wedding got stopped."

"Good. And they are…?"

"Apparently Arthur's in hospital, but doesn't know who he is. Ariadne disappeared."

"So its not finished."

"No, Robert," Cobb lowered his voice. "It is finished. I had to watch and help in beating my Point Man to the point where he could have died."

"You could have refused."

"Were you going to give me a choice?"

Silence.

"You need to find him, Dom."

The Extractor swallowed. "That's not possible."

"Yes, it is." The smooth voice continued. "And then you need to finish what you and Eames started."

"You're asking me to-"

"Yes. Kill him."