Chapter 10

The splintered wood digging into her throat was not a deterrent to her brand of evil because Anna laughed, even when Steve drew blood. ''Do you really think I'm afraid to die?'' she scoffed. ''As you said, I'm already facing the death penalty. You'd be doing me a favor, in getting it over with more quickly.''

''Who said anything about 'quickly'?'' Steve snarled. ''The death penalty is quick. Merciful, even. What I have in mind for you involves a whole lot more suffering. Last chance before this starts getting ugly - and painful. How many people has Hansen sent after Jaime -''

''How the hell would I know?''

''Who are they?'' Steve continued. ''And is Michael Marchetti one of them?''

''Wonderful!'' Michael exulted, beaming at Jaime. She had successfully completed her task with all three bionic limbs, after her first triumph. He added another small weight to the bar. ''Now I want you to start again with your left arm and work your way through again.''

''Oh c'mon,'' Jaime grumbled. ''Didn't even get a break that time. Are you trying to kill me or what?''

Rudy stepped up to the weight bench and took Jaime's left wrist in his hand, counting off her pulse in his head as he talked to her. ''We're trying to help you, Honey,'' he explained (again). ''Even if you do eventually need more surgery, getting stronger as a result of these sessions increases the odds that everything will go smoothly. Your pulse is fine. Your breathing is still normal. You have at least one more round in you.''

''I'm tired.''

Anna looked over Steve's shoulder where Oscar had been standing mute since his attempt to end the session had failed. ''Goldman, I'm tired of playing in the sandbox with your little errand boy here. Why don't you and I -''

''Because you're talking to me now,'' Steve growled. ''Or choosing not to talk to me...but either way, we're not finished!'' He pressed his makeshift 'dagger' just a little bit harder into the base of her throat.

Anna kept talking to Oscar as though there wasn't a potentially lethal stake of wood about to be driven into her neck. ''You might tell Wonder Boy here that it's impossible to get any information about that plane crash - or anything else - if he 'puts me out of my misery'.''

Her pointed refusal to even acknowledge him only enraged Steve further. He wielded the weapon with just enough force to finally produce a visible flinch from his quarry. ''I'm not kind enough to 'put you out of your misery' yet,'' he told her. ''You haven't suffered nearly enough...''

''Haven't I suffered enough?'' Jaime pleaded. She looked from one doctor to the other but both stood in silence, unwilling to get into a back-and-forth battle of wills with their extremely stubborn patient. Then she happened to glance over Rudy and Michael's shoulders...and spotted Mark standing quietly in the far corner. (It seemed to be his position of choice no matter where he turned up to observe his patients.) Jaime wondered how long he'd been standing there - and she realized she now had two choices. She could either cooperate with her physical therapy...or she would find herself trying to justify her actions the next morning over coffee and donuts.

''Alright; let's do this,'' she told Rudy and Michael. ''But shouldn't you be taking weight off...not putting more on?'' Jaime obligingly worked her way through all four limbs again then smiled almost sweetly. ''Load me up some more and let's go another round; I can take it!''

Anna looked directly into Steve's eyes and flashed an evil grin. ''That the best you can do?'' she mocked. ''Try harder. I can take it'' She gasped almost involuntarily as Steve leaned into her by bracing most of his weight against her midsection with his left arm while he kept subtly increasing the pressure of the jagged tip that was cutting into her neck.

It was beginning to get dangerous. ''Steve, that's enough,'' Oscar told him, placing a firm hand on his shoulder to try and get his attention.

''Enough?'' Steve shook his head. ''For everything Jaime has suffered, this isn't nearly 'enough'! Anna...Anja...or whatever you're choosing to call yourself today...you crossed a new line...a new low, even for you! Tell me how to recall your little robot-army NOW, before any more harm comes to my wife. One way or the other, this ends for you tonight. And Oscar, you need to step back. Please don't make me force you...''