Jack shook his head. "If you're trying to convict me, show me the evidence."
Mike slammed the table hard. "It looks like you don't see the seriousness until it's too late. If I don't take care of this today, I don't deserve to be here."
He picked up the rubber mallet that had been prepared, signalling for the stout officer to turn off the camera. Another officer grabbed Jack's hands, placing a cloth underneath, and instructed Jack to spread his fingers. Before Jack could react, Mike swung the rubber mallet down with full force.
At the sound of bones cracking, Mike asked, "Do you confess?"
Jack shook his head. Mike kept swinging the mallet, striking relentlessly until his hand grew sore from the effort.
Mike finally spat, "You're a tough one, aren't you? Lock him up for now." Then, the officer locked Jack in the detention center.
At noon, Rex met with Mike. "How is it going?"
Mike lit Rex's cigarette for him and said with a frown, "Rex, this punk is tight-lipped. He wouldn't even back down after I smacked him in the head. No matter what I did, he wouldn't confess to it. What should we do now?"
If Jack didn't break, once the time limit passed, they wouldn't be able to convict him. However, letting go of Jack was out of the question. Releasing him would cause utter chaos. If he was going to die, it had to be in the detention center.
Rex smiled. "I've told you before. As long as we get a confession from him, I have all the authority to handle him as I please."
"Got it!" Mike chuckled slyly with confidence.
Then, Jack was thrown into a punishment chamber. The stench was unbearable, with the air thick with a putrid, hopeless smell of decay. Seven to eight vicious-looking inmates were locked up inside the cell.
As Jack entered, violent offenders stared at him with intimidating gazes.
A young prison warden said, "Maxwell, you've got fresh meat. Go easy on him."
This statement was a double entendre.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: A Life Beyond Limits