The Cardinal by Stuart Jaffe

Author:Stuart Jaffe [Jaffe, Stuart]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Literature & Fiction, Action & Adventure, Mystery; Thriller & Suspense, Thriller & Suspense, Thrillers & Suspense, supernatural, suspense, paranormal, thriller, Fantasy, immortal, action, adventure
Amazon: B01MQPX8IX
Barnesnoble: B01MQPX8IX
Publisher: Stuart Jaffe
Published: 2016-11-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

The constant tick of the clock roared in Nathan’s head. Twenty minutes had already gone by, and he had yet to get into the storage room. The system was simple — if the door was ajar, anybody could use the room. Nobody lined up in front of the door because the inmates knew better than to flaunt their usage of the room in front of the guards. No gang ever got to control the storage room. There was only one room and everybody understood that if any group took it over, there would be riots and bloodshed. As a result, each time Nathan attempted to get into the room, someone else beat him to it.

Holbrook sat in a cheap, metal chair, his knee bouncing vigorously. “How much longer?”

“I know. It’s not usually this busy. Somebody must have gotten a big shipment in.”

“Maybe I should go talk to that guy.”

Nathan held back his rage and forced a grin. “Be my guest. I’m sure any of these gangs would love for you to be indebted to them.”

Holbrook did not move. He looked sick to his stomach, and he never took his eyes away from the storage room door.

Five more minutes went by before Nathan finally had his chance. Another inmate — Joker or Junker, Nathan couldn’t recall — tried for the door, but Nathan grabbed the handle first. He stared down Joker just in case, but the rules were that nobody could bully the room from another. If Joker wanted to fight, it wouldn’t be right then. He would wait to corner Nathan alone.

Nathan peeked in, checked that nobody had lingered behind. He then glanced over his shoulder and gave a nod. Holbrook tripped as he jumped from his seat and hurried over.

The storage room was a simple square with two aisles of shelving in the middle. A sliver of a barred, rectangular window sat near the ceiling letting in sunlight to save money on electricity. The room had a terrible odor — a mixture of cigarettes, pot smoke, burnt heroin, body odor, and desperation.

“I’m here, man, what do you got?” Holbrook sounded out of breath.

“Close the door.”

When Nathan heard the door shut, he made a fist. The sunlight dimmed, and at first, Nathan thought a cloud had passed overhead. But as the dimness turned to darkness, he knew what he would see.

“H-Help me,” Holbrook said.

Nathan’s shoulders slumped as he turned around. The Cardinal stood behind Holbrook. He had the bony fingers of one hand holding the inmate’s throat.

“Mmmm. I wonder if the worm is learning yet.” The Cardinal tightened his grip, and a thin line of blood dribbled down Holbrook’s neck. “Are you? Do you still care what I do with this thing?”

“Why are you doing this?” Nathan asked, not bothering to hide the exhaustion in his voice. “Is this your game? You like to torture me? Or do you want to hurt this body? Is that it? Tell me. Maybe it’s none of that. Maybe you’re bored out of your mind.

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