MALICIOUS INTENT

Chapter Twenty

Adam knew all about duct tape. It was strong, and sticky, and perfect for binding victims. In the sterile safety of the lab, he had dusted it for prints many times, and matched the tear from sample to roll. But why had he never tried to imagine the pain and fear of being restrained in such a terrible way? Marley's hand was unforgiving as he sliced through the final piece of tape with his knife and placed it firmly across Adam's mouth. The lab rat's eyes stared back at him, mute with horror. More tape had been wrapped around his wrists, three times for extra strength, and Marley had folded the end for that little obsessive touch of neatness which made Adam feel even more afraid. One last piece had been spread across the wound in his shoulder - the only first aid that he was likely to get.

"You're dripping blood on the couch," was Marley's explanation.

Standing back, he studied his handiwork with an air of satisfaction.

Now what? thought Adam, trying not to panic.

With the sharp end of the scalpel, Marley began to scratch any remnants of sticky residue from his fingernails. The process absorbed him. Turning away, he ignored the lab rat completely.

Adam imagined rolling off the couch and making a break for the door. In his mind, he made it all the way across the room before Marley caught him and slit his throat...

Bad idea.

Lifting his bound hands, he tugged at the strip of tape across his mouth. The result was agony. Beards and bondage - not a good combination... Adam gave a muffled squeak, as Marley spun around.

"Don't touch," warned the janitor, looming closer and pinning the blade against the lab rat's jugular.

"Mh-hm." Adam stiffened. Okay. I get the message. So I'll just lie here, shall I, and wait for certain doom..?

Or maybe a nice dramatic rescue?

Once more, Adam heard Sid's voice in his head, and knew how unlikely that would be.

Elsa had played her part. They were searching for him, all right - but in the wrong place.

No one was coming to save him.

Nobody knew he was there.

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She hadn't meant to eavesdrop. Not on the boss.

Elsa fled down the corridor, slipping past her startled colleagues. Lindsay and the evidence were forgotten. Only one thing was on the young woman's mind right now.

Adam.

She had to save Adam.

Passing by Mac's open doorway, moments ago, she had seen the huddle, and heard their revelation. The janitor... Commonly known as Marley... It was clear from the look on their faces that they had found the man who took their friend.

Why didn't they move?

Why didn't they rush to help him?

In the end, of course, they would. With guns, and with anger. She knew exactly how that would go...

She had seen it before.

Heedless in her desperation, Elsa began to run.

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When Adam heard the outer door burst open, his heart soared. Surely this would be someone who could rescue him? Another janitor, perhaps, or Sid returning the ladder - or Mac? He wished with all his might to see his boss appear - but the figure that stumbled into the room was such a shock that the lab rat thought he must be delusional after all. How bad was his concussion?

"You have to go," breathed Elsa.

Marley blinked, and said nothing.

The young woman's eyes flicked across to Adam. He met her gaze, feeling stunned and oh! so stupid.

"They know it was you," she continued, turning back to Marley. "Why did you take him? That was never the plan."

"Why did you leave him?" The janitor's question was simple, but cold.

"If I'd thought for a second... Surely you've done enough? Stabbing Adam... I couldn't believe it. You swore he wouldn't get hurt this time. Only a blow to the head..."

Marley shrugged. "I lied."

"But I did what you asked. You said it was just about the letter."

"I couldn't resist. It was such a perfect moment. Poor little lab rat, alone and helpless..."

"You have to go," the woman repeated.

"Yes - you'd like that, wouldn't you? Elsa, the heroine, tries to save her precious friend and nobody ever finds out what a coward she was all along." With the air of a man who knows his own mind to the point of suicidal stubbornness, Marley folded his arms and smiled down on Adam benevolently, like a father teaching his child. "People are false. Sad, but true."

Closing his eyes against both of them, Adam was overwhelmed by sadness. Why am I always so naive? Behind the tape, he held back a choking sob. Why couldn't I see? Every word, every action of Elsa's over the past few weeks took on an ugly, blackened hue - the colour of disappointment, and betrayal. She was my friend...

Elsa watched in despair as the truth sank into him like a poison, making him shudder uncontrollably. Marley's words, yet again, causing untold harm. "You made me do it. What choice did I have?"

"You had a choice." Marley shrugged. "Dishonour, or deceit. Don't blame me for your weakness. I merely took advantage of your flaws."

"You bastard!" she snapped. Dropping onto her knees, she reached out for Adam - but he pulled away, his blue eyes wide open by now, and full of anguish. "I'm so sorry..." she whispered. "If you only knew..." Elsa clutched his bound hands in her own, and lifted her face to the unfeeling janitor. "Get out," she told him. "Leave us alone. It's over. Taylor's coming."

"Good," said Marley. "That's just what I wanted."

Striking out with a sudden, violent flourish, he tore the scalpel across her face. A bright red line appeared in stark relief and began to swell with blood. Elsa clapped her hand to her cheek and screamed in terror. Adam felt sick. Whatever the woman had done, he couldn't bear to see her being treated like that. Fuelled by anger, he swung his legs off the couch and surged to his feet, diving sideways at Marley and knocking the knife from his hand. They fell to the floor in a hopeless tangle - but Adam's hands were still bound, and the fight was over in seconds. A couple of well-aimed blows to the face and gut was all it took. Dazed and horribly winded, the lab rat tried to catch his breath. Marley rolled him over and sat on his back with a smirk of triumph.

Leaning down, he whispered in Adam's ear.

"Who delivered the letters for you to find? Elsa. Who slipped the pen in your pocket? Elsa. Who caused the fight between you and that oaf? Your little friend, Elsa. Who was the spy in your camp all along?" He sneered at the woman, who crouched nearby, sobbing. "Elsa."

Why? Adam's eyes begged the question, but she refused to meet his gaze any more.

Standing up, Marley retrieved the scalpel and hauled the lab rat to his feet. "Leave her alone. She's worthless," he said.

And he dragged Adam from the room.

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A/N: One hundred reviews! That's amazing! Thank you so much.

More tomorrow. See you there? I hope so!