Drawn Together by Z. A. Maxfield Read Free Book Online Page B

phone into his pocket. He took out his lighter and cigarettes. Rory tried to take them out of his hand, but one look from Yamane told him it would be futile.
    “Yamane.” He barely breathed. “Is there something the matter?” Yamane lit his cigarette with a shaking hand and drew in a deep lungful of smoke. A knock came at the door and a voice called, “Room service.” 32 Z. A. Maxfield
    “Breakfast,” said Rory. “Would you like me to get it?” Yamane said nothing. The knock came again, this time louder.
    “Room service,” an indeterminate voice called again.
    Yamane took a deep breath. He seemed to have made up his mind about something.
    “I’ll get it,” he said, stubbing out his cigarette.
    Rory followed him to the door. A woman in uniform pushed a cart into the room. She identified herself again and kept up a steady flow of chatter as she placed their breakfast tray on the table. When she was done, she pushed the cart into the hallway and came back, then closed the door behind her. Rory assumed she was returning with a bill to sign. Yamane stood frozen next to the door, looking down at the floor.
    “Yamane.” She stood before him with her arms folded. “Long time, no see.” Yamane said nothing.
    She looked at Rory as though he were a cockroach. “I see you found a toy to play with while you’re here.”
    “I beg your pardon,” said Rory. He definitely didn’t know what was going on.
    “I thought you were still in Seattle,” Yamane finally said. “They said you’d be there for at least five years.”
    “No thanks to you,” she spat. “I experienced a miraculous cure.”
    “Cure,” he repeated stupidly.
    “Yes, I was released early. My doctor is writing a paper on it for the Journal of American Medicine called ‘Borderline Personality Disorder and the Therapeutic Use of SSRIs.’ You would be so proud.”
    “What do you want?” demanded Yamane.
    “Well, you know, I really don’t know yet.” She seemed to be considering her options.
    “That’s why I’ve come here today; to give you fair warning. Time to play, Yamane.” Yamane walked to the table and sat down. As Rory watched, he seemed to shrug. He took an orange out of the fruit basket and began peeling it. “Go ahead and warn me then; I’m listening.” Rory could see Yamane’s hands still trembled faintly. He remained standing by, watching the drama unfold with an uneasy prickle of apprehension.
    “Did you think you were rid of me forever?” She spoke quietly, but for all that gave the impression that she shrieked. “Look at you, in your pretty Chinese dress like some doll.”
    “Hey.” Rory stepped forward, but Yamane held up his hand.
    “Let her finish,” he said, casually eating his fruit.
    “The game begins now, Yamane.” She motioned with a flick of her head toward Rory.
    “Get rid of your pet. It would be such a shame to have to harm him. I remember that dog you were so fond of -- Daiki, right?”
    Drawn Together
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    “Yamane?” Rory tried again. He wanted to know who the hell this woman was. He was feeling threatened and he didn’t like it.
    “Daiki,” said Yamane, ignoring him. “Yes, that’s right.”
    “He was loyal too, wasn’t he?” She leaned over the table and grabbed his left wrist.
    “Such a shame about Daiki.” Yamane couldn’t move the hand she held in a white-knuckled grip, even though he tried. Rory saw what she intended a second too late, and as he lunged for her, she struck, stabbing a fork through the meaty muscle between the thumb and forefinger of Yamane’s left hand all the way to the laminated wood tabletop.
    Rory intended to make a grab for the crazy woman, but hearing Yamane’s agonized scream, he rushed to his friend’s aid instead. He caught Yamane as he tried to rise to his feet then stumbled.
    “Well, bye now,” the woman said, walking to door, sauntering, as Rory frantically tried to stop the bleeding with the paper napkins on the table. When this failed, he yanked