Omega Sanction

Chapter Twenty-one

The Ukrainian colonel came to an abrupt halt three feet inside the door as he caught sight of the bed.

"What is that?"

Jawhar pushed the door shut behind the colonel and put an arm around his shoulder, pulling him farther into the room. He smiled. "I call it art."

"It's a woman," the colonel said.

"Yes. My friend Katrina. She has kept me occupied while I waited for you."

"Is she alive?"

Jawhar let go of the colonel and looked at the bed. "Yes."

The bed was soaked with blood from the body. Long slices crisscrossed Katrina's body. Some were still slowly oozing blood, others had scabbed over already.

"What is that?" The colonel pointed at a bag attached to a coat hanger looped over the top stanchion of the headboard. A tube ran from the bag to the woman's neck.

"Plasma. I wouldn't want her to bleed out on me," Jawhar said. "It cost me quite a bit on the black market, but fortunately everything is for sale here." He took a step closer to the bed. "As I cut, I replace what comes out. This can go on for a very long time."

The Ukranian colonel was a hard man, but his face was white.

Jawhar held out his knife. "Would you like to contribute to my work in progress?"

"No." The colonel cocked his head as he heard a faint mewling noise.

"Her screams." Jawhar held up a glass from the nightstand. There was something floating in it. "Her tongue. I removed it first to keep working conditions tolerable and the neighbors from investigating."

The colonel stepped back. "But the police—"

"Oh, come, now," Jawhar said. "You know as well as I do that the police will not care about some prostitute. Besides, I will be long gone before she is found, will I not?"

"But I am associated with this room." The colonel couldn't take his eyes off the woman on the bed.

"Certainly this is very minor compared to what you are doing for me," Jawhar said. "I wouldn't think you'd be hanging around after we conclude our deal. I understand South America. Colombia, to be exact?"

"But we have yet—"

Jawhar put down the glass holding her tongue. "You do not have it?"

"It takes time."

"You've had time."

"I must get you out of here," the colonel said. "We have to be more secure. There are spies everywhere. Have you wired the additional money?"

"I would be a fool to pay you again and have yet to receive anything in return," Jawhar said. "And you would be a fool if you came here without checking your account and knowing that the money has not been wired."

"We must leave now. I will take you to a safe place."

Jawhar stared at the colonel for several seconds, then reluctantly nodded. "All right. Give me a few minutes to pack, then I will join you downstairs."

The colonel paused at the door. "The girl—"

"Do not concern yourself," Jawhar pushed the door shut in his face. Then he turned toward the bed. He leaned over and smiled into the girl's pain-filled eyes as he removed the IV from her neck. "Pleasant dreams," he whispered.