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“Ok, just a few more forms and we can get you into the system!” Chase Davis was not a man who scared easily. He’d seen gods, walked with monsters and more. This, however… this thing masquerading in human skin… this was somehow worse than a monster.
Allegiance Marie Dupre. The Bourbon Street Butcher, as dubbed by the press. She sat across from him, all curve, and fast-twitch muscle, eyes skimming over the contract with seasoned grace. “Hm. You’ve got itty bitty handwriting, dontcha?”
“I suppose so…”
sign it, sign it, stop reading and sign it you murderous bitch!
She pursed her lips, tilting her head from one side to the other. “Does every new employee sign one of these thingies?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“And is every contract written in this style? All that lovely cursive… Kinda obscures the words of it if you don’t know how to read it, hm?” She put the contract down and pushed it away with two fingers before looking up at him.
“Do you think I’m stupid, Mr. Davis?”
“What? His blood ran cold, throat closing up as Allegiance-Marie leaned forward.
“I asked, do you think I’m stupid?”
“No ma’am-”
“Because you’re acting like I am.” She picked up the contract between forefinger and thumb, dangling it between them like a flag of war.
“You see, I did some research when Dr. Samuels offered me this place. I found out a lot about you that way. Do you want to know what I found out about you?” She paused, letting the silence simmer low and slow while Chase scrambled to keep his face neutral.
“I learned that you used to be a paralegal! Out of Winter and Withers LLP, based in Eugene Oregon, which, coincidentally, is right near where your parents live-”
What are you getting at, Dupre?” He could feel his hands trembling.
“I’m asking you a question, Davis. How much would you sacrifice to find the truth? How many lives would you give up? Your parents? Your friends?” Her lips peeled back over crocodile teeth, and her eyes focused on him, pupils contracting into slits. “You thought you were clever here, I’ll give you that. Sneaking in a clause about telling the truth about any topic. You thought that I’d be like every other poor fool signing one of these pretty little things. Glance over, then done.” She stood, and ripped the contract, putting down the torn halves in front of him.
“The next time you try to pull something like this, you will lose someone close to you. Am I clear?
“Crystal, ma’am.”
“That’s what I like to hear.”