The Blonde

7:34 a.m. and 10 seconds

Vanessa tried to find the syringe again so she could plunge it in deeper this time. Rip it across his belly. Drive it right back into his fookin’ spine.

But he moved away too quickly. He said, “You have a loose mouth, don’t you, Vanessa?”

The Operator put his palm to her right cheek. Then he pushed her head back into her pillow, pinning her there. Didn’t take much strength at all. He probably could have held her in place with one finger.

“Fun’s over.”

He pulled the security cord behind her bed.