large man in a black uniform who was stationed at the end of the hall. Along this hall was only one doorway and behind it a bedroom.
The guard saluted, and as Dikes turned away, shoving Reel in front of him, the man let a small smile escape his lips.
Dikes unlocked the door and pushed Reel, her hands still bound behind her, through the opening. He walked in, closed the door, and locked it.
He took off his gloves. She turned to face him.
“It has been a long time, Sally. Too long.”
“I feel the same. I’ve been wanting to come back and kill you for a long time. Thanks for giving me the chance.”
He laughed, a cold, mirthless sound.
“Kill me? You obviously know nothing of the situation. You are entirely within my power here. You are a woman. I am a man. You are tied up. I have a gun. This place is heavily guarded by my men. I will decide when you die. Only me. It is just like the concentration camps. Run with absolute authority and perfect order. Things of beauty. But I don’t expect you to understand.”
“What I understand and what you don’t could fill a library, Leon.”
His smug look faded. “You know I do not permit anyone to call me by that name. I am Der Führer to all.”
“Really? My nickname for you was always Little Dicky Dikes. Descriptive and accurate. I still don’t know how you got me pregnant. I never felt a thing. Didn’t even know you were inside me. But you do have small hands and feet, and you know what they say.”
“If it makes you feel better to speak such nonsense, please, go right ahead. It will not change anything that will happen here tonight.”
“I agree. It won’t.”
He took off his cap and undid the buttons of his shirt. He smiled. “So, did you miss me?” He took off his gun belt and put it on the table.
“Probably not as much as you missed me.”
He removed his boots and undid his trousers and stepped out of them.
She looked down. “I hope you took a Viagra pill. Otherwise, there’s probably not going to be an appearance of the equipment you’re going to need. You are an old man, after all.”
“I intend to show you that I am a man, all over again. You remember last time, how you screamed? In joy, I am sure.” He pointed to the bed. “Lie down. Now.”
“I’m not in the mood.”
He pulled his pistol from its holster and pointed the muzzle at her head. “Now, Sally. I am growing impatient.”
Reel lay on the bed.
He pulled off her sneakers and then her socks.
He rubbed her feet. “Your skin is still soft.” With a violent jerk he ripped her jumpsuit down to her ankles and threw the garment against the wall. “I forget if you like it rough or not. I have had so many women since you.”
“How many did you have to pay? And how many did you have to kidnap?”
“You never really saw my virtues, did you?”
“Why would I waste my time in a pointless exercise?”
He was bending over her when she spit in his face. He straightened and took a moment to wipe his face with the back of his hand before turning to pick up his pistol.
Reel sprang off the bed and swung her bound hands under her feet so they were in front of her. She ripped the scrunchie out of her hair and held it like a garrote. Before Dikes could turn back around, the garrote was around his throat. She jumped off the floor and clamped her legs around his torso, pinning his arms to his sides. She lurched backward and they fell onto the bed.
They bounced up and down as he struggled to free himself. The mattress springs started to squeak noisily. Reel heard footsteps grow closer to the door.
She started to pant and then moan loudly as the mattress kept squeaking. Saliva was coming out of Dikes’s mouth as he was slowly being strangled.
As he tried to cry out for help, Reel started yelling. “Do me! Oh, God, do me, Der Führer! Do me!” she shrieked. “Yes, yes!” She bounced up and down on the mattress until she thought the bed would collapse.
Then she heard the footsteps tiptoeing away from the door. She could imagine the guard smiling to himself, imagining his boss screwing her brains out. Maybe he thought he would get the leftovers.
She felt Dikes growing weaker. She clamped her legs