The Tenth Justice - Brad Meltzer [165]
“Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!” Rick shouted out at a quarter to nine the following morning. Jarred awake when she heard Rick bang on the bathroom door, Lisa jumped and slammed her head against the pipes directly above her head. Groggy as she sat on the floor and leaned against the bathtub, she rotated her wrists to encourage circulation to her pale white hands.
In the living room, Nathan slowly rotated his neck. Still lying on his back, Ben had slept the best of the three friends. He licked the morning film from his teeth. “I have to go to the bathroom.”
“Hold it in,” Rick said, lifting Ben’s chair and setting it upright.
“You two look terrible,” Claremont said to Ben and Nathan, who had matching bags under their eyes.
“Where’s Lungen?” Ben asked, glancing around the room.
“At work,” Rick said as he walked toward Nathan. “Placating Fisk.”
“When are you going to call the broker?” Claremont asked impatiently. “It’s almost nine.”
“I’ll call him in a minute.” Rick tipped back Nathan’s chair and dragged him to the center of the room.
“What’s going on?” Nathan asked. “What are you doing?”
“Testing a theory,” Rick said, letting the chair down. Turning to Ben, who was now facing Nathan’s side, Rick asked, “Do you have a clear view of your friend?”
“Don’t touch him,” Ben warned. “I told you the decision.”
“You also told me the Grinnell decision,” Rick said as he rolled up the sleeves of his white, button-down shirt. “And look where that got me.” Rick pulled his arm back and cracked Nathan in the side of the face.
“Stop!” Ben screamed.
“Does American Steel really win?” Rick asked as Claremont looked on.
“It wins. I swear.”
Rick smashed Nathan in the jaw. “Are you sure that’s the right outcome?”
“Stop it!” Ben yelled. “It’s right.”
As blood dripped from Nathan’s mouth, Claremont said, “He’s telling the truth.”
“We’ll see,” Rick said, walking toward the bathroom. He dragged Lisa out by the handcuffs.
“Don’t you dare!” Ben yelled, seething.
“Shut up,” Rick said. Claremont pulled Nathan’s chair away and brought an empty one to the center of the room. Lisa kicked and fought furiously against Rick.
“Get the hell off me!” she screamed. “I’ll kill you!”
“Quiet,” Rick said as the two men forced her into place. When they had handcuffed her to the armrests of the chair, Rick stepped back to watch Ben’s expression.
Ben exploded as he felt his face turn a bright crimson. “Stay the hell away from her! I told you the damn decision!”
“My,” Rick said. “I didn’t realize you were so attached.”
“Hurry up,” Claremont said, looking at his watch. “We don’t have time for this.”
“Believe me,” Rick said, “if we don’t have the right decision, all the time in the world won’t mean a thing.” Turning back toward Ben, he continued, “Now, Ben, does American Steel really win?”
“Don’t tell him,” Lisa said.
Rick punched Lisa in the face. “No one asked you.” A red patch blossomed around her left eye. “Now you and Nathan match each other.”
“Get away from her!” Ben screamed, his arms struggling against his handcuffs and his body convulsing in a rabid rage. “I’ll kill you!”
“I asked a…question,” Rick said as he hit her again.
As blood and saliva flew from Lisa’s mouth, Ben fought uncontrollably to break free. “I’ll fucking kill you!”
“That’s not the answer,” Rick said. He slapped Lisa across the face. Her head flew sideways.
Enraged and screaming, Ben couldn’t contain himself. In a mad frenzy, he fought against his restraints. “IT’S THE TRUTH!” he shouted as tears rolled down his face. “WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT TO KNOW?”
“What’s the vote?” Rick asked.
“Five to four,” Ben said. “Dreiberg’s the swing vote.”
Rick pulled out his gun and pointed it at Lisa. “Are you sure?”