“Facebook is absolutely amazing, don’t you agree? Couple it with email, and the world and all of its citizens are practically within reach.”

“How did you get a device that was connected to the net? Who gave it to you?” Straus demanded.

“You had left me alone when my father paid a visit. During that visit, he spelled out his plan of action. While I only pretended to share an interest in seeing his plan through to its profitable ending, my father was resolute in blackmailing you and the rest of the doctors involved in my life. So resolute that, I am afraid to say, he lost his perspective along with a healthy amount of suspicion.

“My father, Doctor Straus, gave me a Smartphone. And with that amazing piece of technology, I gained access to a world well beyond the control of anyone. Millions upon millions of names, articles, books, news items, images, instructions, and vehicles to contact long-lost friends and relatives rested in my hands. Your fear of entering my bedroom made concealment a very simple matter. A few times, I actually left the device connected to its charger on my nightstand while having conversations with you through the glass and steel bedroom door.

“My brother was, understandably skeptical  of my request to keep our engagement a secret at first. But, bless him, he never approached our father or mother for confirmation. Instead, he conducted his own bit of research and discovered that our father was keeping something secret. That something, of course, was his knowledge of me.

“I contacted my twin brother through Facebook and filled him in on my life. It took a while but Thomas sent me an email, stating that he was going to make contact with me, face to face. I suggested that doing so would involve too much risk. I then suggested that he gain access to my room using the hidden trap door that was recently installed beneath my bed.  Yes, Doctor Straus, I’ve had access to the outside world for quite a while. That was yet another revelation that you would have discovered if you hadn’t been paralyzed with fear and had actually entered my bedroom. That day we encountered him on the street outside of your lodge, Doctor Straus, was just the very first of several meetings.

“True to his word, Thomas never told a soul, not even our parents, that he knew about me and that he and I were devising a plan of our own. While my father’s plan was focused solely on financial gain, the plan my twin brother and I concocted was entirely about exposing the truth. My plan, however, differed from his.

“If I may pat myself on my back, the genius on my part was the successful blending of the two plans into the only plan that mattered. That plan, of course, being mine. I’m sure you’ve guessed that my plan had nothing to do with financial reward or exposure but was singularly focused on the list of names that, one by one, were crossed off.

“One of my most challenging obstacles to overcome, and the one that I am most pleased with, was figuring out how to time the executions of my father’s and my brother’s plan. It did take some convincing and more than a bit of deception to have my brother follow a late addition to the plan. But I needed him to delay. He had planned for me to escape several days before my father told me that his plan would have you all but offer yourself up to me in the quiet solitude of your lodge. I convinced Thomas that we needed a contingency plan if his plan failed. Poor brother. I had him marking trails I knew I would never tread on and leaving supplies hidden on those trails that I would never be in need of.

”I learned about how you and your hit men contributed to my list’s exhaustion from my father. How he learned that it was you behind the murders of Rinaldo and Zudak, I’m afraid will forever remain a mystery. But, I do thank you for your contribution, though I wish you hadn’t gone to so much trouble.”

The look that shot across the distorted face of William Straus was evident. Alexander knew that look needed further exploration.

“I expected surprise but not the look of shock and despair that I see in your bloody and bruised face. It is too bad you didn’t pack any instant ice packs. Your face is in dire need of something to reduce the swelling.”

Straus said nothing.

“I hope I didn’t damage your tongue, Doctor. It would be a shame if you find yourself unable to finish your delightful story. My curiosity remains piqued.”

“Untie me and I will tell you the rest,” he mumbled, each movement of his jaw sending streaks of pain.

“Considering the disabled position you are in, coupled with the fact that I know you are unarmed, I am willing to comply with your request. Yes, I did find your weapon tucked neatly inside of your bag. You shouldn’t have left it so far away. A better place would have been in what they call an ‘inner waistband holster.’”

Alexander moved slowly towards the side of the bed, the smell of his decomposing body preceding him. As he bent over and began to untie the knot, he leaned in close to Straus.

“Any attempt to leave the comfort of this bed will result in something awful, Doctor Straus.”

Seconds later, Straus felt blood rushing back into his left hand, creating a deep, burning sensation. He lifted his hand and rubbed it with his right hand, hoping to massage away the pain.

“Now,” Alexander said after returning to his chair, “you were about to say?”

“Your body is decomposing,” Straus offered, the pain in his left hand slowly dissipating.

“I will grant you that one time delay. You probably don’t recall, but you’ve already told me that part of the story. I’m much more interested in the rest.”

“If I tell you, do you promise to let me leave?”

“No,” Alexander replied. “I make no such promise. I do promise that if you don’t tell me, I will crush every bone left unbroken in your face, however.”

“If you kill me, you will die within hours. Let me leave, and I promise to tell you how to prevent your death.”

“You are suggesting that I let you walk free from this place that you love so, walk down to your car where you will certainly drive as fast as your car will go, and wait with baited breath for you to tell me the rest of the story? Honestly, Doctor Straus. What do you take me for, a fool?”

“Not a fool, just someone who has no other options. You let me leave, and I will leave a note where my car is parked, telling you everything you need to know and to do to save your life. And, I will tell you that you actually now have everything you need to save your life right in this very room.”

Alexander glanced at Thomas O’Connell, who was slowly coming back to reality.

“That explains the look on your face when I told you that it was my brother sharing the bed with you. I must assume that he holds the key to my survival.”

“Let me leave, and I’ll tell you what you need to know,” Straus said, his voice hiding the excruciating pain radiating throughout his body.