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by Scott Normandin
Roger opened another desk drawer and
produced a stack of magazines. The one on
top Tom recognized right away. It was that
month's newsmagazine proclaiming Roger the
hero of the year for his unselfish acts
of heroism. Roger's face proudly displayed
on the cover with that roughish scowl the
press had grown to see as his trademark
look.
Roger tapped an angry finger on the top
of the magazine stack. "Do you know
what this is?"
Tom tried to think clearly through the
thick fog that suddenly enveloped his thought
process. He needed to regain control of
his faculties, fast. "Magazines? I
just got that one on top, it's a really
good article on you."
Roger threw the magazine at Tom's face
and growled, "This is just another
nail in your coffin you jerk."
He started throwing them at Tom one by
one, "Each time one of these damned
things showed up in my mailbox, it was just
another nail in your coffin. Why didn't
you listen to me when you had the chance?
I have been warning you for over a year
now, you bastard."
Tom tried to respond in authority, but
it only sounded like the squeak of a cornered
mouse, "Those pictures needed to be
seen! The whole world needs to see brave
unselfish acts like you did, I just happened
to be lucky enough to be there with my camera
at the time."
Roger folded his arms in front of him
on the desk. This was the moment he had
been waiting for. It was just Tom and him
now, no interruptions, not for a while at
least.
Tom thought about his situation, thinking
desperately for a reason for Roger to end
this whole thing, to let him go, to flip
that damn switch in the other direction.
"You know, Mr. Devvin, this office
wall is pretty thin. I am willing to bet
that when this thing goes off, it will not
only take you and me with it, but also hurt
your secretary and whoever else may be on
the other side of that wall. Now, do you
really want that Mr. Devvin?"
Roger smiled slyly, "Do you remember
that memo I gave my secretary when you arrived,
Tom? It was a note explaining what I had
done, and I asked her to quietly evacuate
the building and call the police. They should
be here any time now, and you can be quite
sure my secretary is gone." Roger turned
the intercom to be within Tom's reach. "Go
ahead and see if she is there."
Tom heard sirens in the background and
he knew it was all the truth. They were
alone in the building. "I don't think
it will be necessary."
Roger shook his head and glared at Tom
with an icy glaze, like there was nothing
human left inside of him. "You know,
people like you should not even exist. You
stand aside while other people get blood
on their hands while you collect the bankroll.
It never even mattered to you who you hurt
with all your money grubbing did it?"
The sirens were close now, and Tom could
see the flashing lights. It sounded like
the entire department was dispatched to
the building. It was then that Tom realized
that Roger had no intention of leaving that
building that day. The only question was
if Tom would ever be allowed to leave alive.
Considering whom the bomb was, that possibility
was looking slim.
The police had arrived quickly, but not
soon enough for Tom. His legs were falling
asleep and were starting to cramp. He was
beginning to think he might have to act
in desperation, and explore his options
for the least likely possibility for his
demise.
The phone rang as the sirens fell silent
outside, it was the police calling. Roger
picked up the phone, "Hello?"
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