The front door opened. Paxton paused from his questioning to see Krys walk in…alone. Just as the old veteran had predicted, the kid’s only motivation this whole time had been to find his mother’s killers. Paxton couldn’t bring himself to blame Kaspar for it. If Paxton ever found out who killed his wife…he would have done the same.
Paxton regained his focus. He grabbed Danny by the chin to force the old man to look him in the eye. Danny’s looking away like a coward had long grown tired. It was time to face the consequences. Paxton looked deep into his enemy’s eyes and saw nothing but a soulless man. A broken individual who had already accepted what was to come his way. This brought about a sigh of relief. No use in doing things the ugly way if they could be avoided. He released Danny’s chin. Danny looked down again and fished for another cigarette.
“What have you people been doing to the water supply?” Paxton demanded.
“Hmmm,” Danny mumbled with a cigarette hanging from his lips. “It’s too late to stop it, now.”
“Answer the question!” Kilbourne demanded from behind.
“Don’t try to intimidate me, Killy. I ain’t afraid of an overly muscular pussy like you.”
Kilbourne got close to Danny. He grabbed him by the back of the neck then applied pressure with his thumb to Danny’s pressure point. Danny wailed out in pain. He dropped his cigarette into the ash tray and kicked both of his feet up and down. After several taps on the table, Kilbourne let go. Danny cursed out loud as he grabbed at his aching neck.
“What do you want to know?” he asked.
“What you’ve been doing.” Paxton replied.
“We’ve got ourselves a bit of a problem…as the human race, I mean.”
“Which is?”
“Over population,” Danny replied. He picked up his cigarette. “We’ve got so many little bastards running around out there, it’s made living conditions harsh. Natural resources will be all but depleted soon; available only to the highest bidders.”
“What does that have to do with the water?” Paxton demanded, confused.
“We’ve been experimenting with a new type of genetic engineering. Let me ask the fine lady over there a question.”
“What do you want?” Krys asked.
“Have you been experiencing any stomach pains lately? Any problems with vomiting or anything of the sort?”
Krys’s eyes grew wide. She looked around the room at her three comrades who could only look back at her. The look of concern in their eyes the only comfort available; she felt like she would tumble over.
“Yes…” she replied.
“That’s a side effect of the drug. It’s still experimental and we haven’t worked out all of those tiny little bugs, yet.” Danny explained.
“What are you people trying to do?” Krys wondered.
“Through genetic mutation, we are trying to inhibit your ability, as a woman, to bear children.”
“So,” Paxton wondered aloud, “that’s why it only affects women?”
Danny lit his cigarette and took a drag. “Not exactly, we have a drug for men, too. But, we can’t risk the male population. That’s why we only released the female drug for our experiment.”
“You’re a monster.” Krys cried.
Krys was helped into the living room by Kilbourne. Danny made a kissing motion with his lips as she walked past. The gesture was met by Krys’s middle finger.
Danny continued. “We’ve tried other population control tactics. We offer the free abortion…I mean, family planning clinics. We even mandated abortions, but it appears that you horny motherfuckers can’t stop screwing each other. You…citizens forced us into trying something new.”
“What’s going to happen to Krys?” Paxton asked.
“She will die. The mutants are eating away at her stomach right now. Soon, they will eat away at the rest of her body. There’s no way to stop it. No cure, because no doctor will have seen this type of thing before.”
“You slimy,” Krys shouted from the living room, “son of a bitch!”
“I’m so sorry that this has to happen to a beauty such as you, but that’s life. You can’t exactly plan it out as you want, can you?”
Paxton clinched his fists together. “Where are you manufacturing the drug?”
“You think I’m going to tell you that?”
“Yes.”
Danny took a drag. “What are you going to do? Dig out my fingernails like with that other poor bastard? Fuck you.”
“It’s up to you.”
Danny thought about the predicament he found himself in. He took another drag and brushed away the ashes into his ashtray. He then took a deep breath and brushed at his forehead.
“You pesky rodents just won’t let me enjoy my smoke, will you?” Danny asked.
“I thought smoking was illegal.” Paxton replied.
“Just another method of control. Care for one?”
Paxton shook his head. “No. Where is the drug being manufactured?”
“There’s an old power plant…” Danny started to say.
The sound of the front door swinging open forced everyone to look to the front. Kaspar reemerged into the house. He walked up to Paxton and the two exchanged nods. Kaspar then looked into Danny’s eyes: he wasn’t going to let him get away this time.
“Ryan,” Danny said, “how nice of you to grace us with your presence again.”
Kaspar maintained his focus. “Whatever question John just asked you, you better start answering right now.”
“Hehe. That’s why I liked you. Like I was saying, there’s an old power plant on the outskirts of the city. You should know it well: you drive past it every time you come into the city.
“Why?” Paxton demanded through gritted teeth. “Why stoop to such a low?”
“It’s always been about control,” Danny replied. “Like this cigarette here. You think my bosses care if I smoke? Of course not. I’m not one of you people anymore.”
Paxton clicked the safety off of his Glock. “Danny, I can’t believe you.”
“Well, believe it, Johnny.” Danny took one final drag. “I’m a sick bastard; always have been. I just hope my Ruth can forgive me when I see her again. You’re going to kill me now, right? That’s what you people do. And, that’s why we’ve got you by your hairy ball sack.”
It didn’t matter to Paxton if what Danny said was true. Even if they were being used, justice still needed served. It was better to be used and labeled a criminal than to sit on his ass, watching from the sidelines. He pulled his Glock and aimed it at the now shaking old man. The look of fear on Danny’s face almost brought a smile to his. The old man had brought about so much fear on the innocent. Now, here he was, getting his just reward.
Paxton took careful aim. “Unlike you, I’m not killing you for who you are. I’m killing you for what you’ve done.”
“Justify it all you want.” Danny replied. He went north, south, west, and east with his right hand then shut his eyes. “Go ahead and do it.”
Paxton lowered his gun. He looked towards Kaspar and nodded his head. Kaspar’s heart began to race. He retrieved his Beretta from his thigh holster. Danny peaked through his half shut eyes. Kaspar didn’t know if he could do it; even if the old bastard had led Agents to kill Mother. Kaspar had every right to put a bullet through his head. His decision was final. No words were spoken.