26
NINE
Go in hard, show them who’s in charge, that’s what Zacharov had always told me. And because I was female, I had to be twice as tough as the men.
Or twice as devious.
The prisoners were awake now, and I could tell by their expressions that they were worried but not too worried. They thought I’d gotten lucky at the hospital, that they were smarter than me, and ultimately, testosterone would prevail.
It was a look I’d seen a hundred times before, usually before the life faded from a man’s eyes and all that was left was an empty shell and the belated realisation that they’d f****d up.
I started with a smile. Maybe they couldn’t see my mouth, but it would show in my eyes.
“Good afternoon, gentlemen. Do you have a preference for English or Russkiy?”
All these little puzzle pieces
