Page 99 of Hunter's Hidden Camera
Tate: “I’m afraid it’ll be more than punishment. You know how much Nikolai hates being wronged and how much hehates physical pain. A deadly combination. Somebody is not coming out of this alive.”
Nash: “Shut up, Tate! Stop trying to rile me up!”
Tate laughs.
Nash: “Speaking of which, how is the kid?”
Tate: “Bloody. But he’ll live. For now. Until Nikolai wakes up.”
Nash: “You tied him up good, right? I can’t risk him getting away, or then I’mreallyscrewed.”
Tate: “Hey, I’m a professional. I handcuffed him to a pipe in the basement. He’s not going anywhere.”
Tate gestures toward a door in the kitchen, one that presumably leads to the basement. I know that some houses, especially big ones like this one, have doors on the outside that also lead to the basement.
I look to my right. On the other side of the back porch are what look like two basement doors protruding from the ground. That’s my way in.
But before I can move, I hear from inside the kitchen.
Nash: “Nikolai!”
I look. Nikolai is also cleaned up, also wearing new clothes. He moves slowly, with much difficulty, into the kitchen.
Nash: “How are you feeling?”
Nikolai: “Pain killers. I need pain killers.”
Nash: “Here’s some Percocet.”
Nikolai: “Give me thewhole bottle.”
Nash: “Here.”
Nikolai: “I almost died, Nash.”
Nash: “I know, Nikolai. And I did everything I could to keep you alive. And here you are. You’re alive.”
Nikolai: “You are going to wish that I died.”
Nash: “Nikolai, I’m trying to make it right. I got you the kid who stabbed you.”
Nikolai: “The kid? Who stabbed me? He’s here? Now?”
Nash: “Yes, he’s in the basement. You see? I’m trying to make it up to you. I got Tate and the others to pick him up, and now he’s here. I did good, right?”
Nikolai: “We shall see about that.”
Nash: “There’s no need to punish me for what happened to you. Punish the person who actually hurt you. Who actually almost killed you. Punish the kid.”
Nikolai: “You make a good point. Punish the kid. But understand, Nash, you are on very thin ice with me.”
Nash: “I know, Nikolai. I know. And I’m gonna make it up to you. Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do.”
Nikolai: “You can start making it up to me right now.”
Nash: “Sure, sure. Whatever you want. Just tell me.”
Nikolai: “The kid.”
