Chapter 10 The Bait
I returned to our original carriage and sat calmly.
My eyes locked on the dark-faced man.
Less than a minute later, a drunk stumbled in from another carriage and punched him square in the face.
“What the hell? You crazy?!”
The man raised a fist to swing back.
The drunk slapped him again and collapsed dramatically.
“Oh. Wrong guy.”
The dark-faced man stood furious and confused.
The Train Police arrived right on cue.
“What’s going on? Who started this?”
“Don’t disturb the other passengers. Come with me.”
The drunk wobbled to his feet.
The dark-faced man hesitated, clearly unwilling.
The officer barked louder. “No mediation? Fine. Both of you off at the next stop—straight to the station.”
“Mediation. I’ll mediate.”
“Just a misunderstanding.”
He glanced back once, reluctant, then followed.
I waited two minutes, put on a miserable face, and left too.
As expected, someone couldn’t sit still.
A pregnant woman casually moved from the back rows to the middle and reached for the overhead rack.
Just as her hand closed on the suitcase, the Train Police and conductor appeared.
“Freeze! Hands on your head—down!”
Panic flashed in her eyes. She tried to bolt but froze when her gaze hit me blocking the rear.
No escape.
Her face twisted with rage. She yanked a small knife from her pocket.
“Get out of my way or you’re dead!”
Her eyes were wild, her whole face distorted as she lunged.
“Then let’s see who dies!”
I drove my fist into her face.
At the same instant, cold spread across my chest.
I saw her manic grin.
“Die!”
I staggered back, vision blurring.