Why must the past always catch up with you?

"My brothers case really allowed you to climb up the ranks didn't it? You really made a name for yourself back then. I hear that's really not easy in your field."

The young man in front of her was the splitting imagine of his brother. She wasn't surprised. When she'd interviewed him all those years ago he'd already looked like a mini me of his brother. Although they hadn't appeared close they were undeniably siblings.

Back then this man had only been a child that had solemnly answered her questions. He'd appeared to be a normal child. He was a bit quieter, but that was normal for children with high intelligence. At that time she'd observed him closely because a persons gene could give them a predisposition to having a psychotic break. But throughout the interview he hadn't displayed any of the warning markers that one would look for.

He had answered her questions straight forwardly. It hadn't tried to outsmart or manipulate her. He'd known zero interest in the details of his bothers crimes and had shown what she knew to be real disgust towards his brother.

He'd appeared very angry with his brother and hadn't tried to protect him at all. For now at least she couldn't understand this situation.

Although her facial expression didn't change at all her mind was racing to connect the dots. The more she could understand about the person in front of her the better her chances were at protecting and rescuing the victim in front of her.

She glanced at the poor woman shivering beside him. She had iron contraptions around her neck, both her wrists and ankles. She looked extremely frightened and very quiet. It appeared she'd already been warned to be silent.

"Your brother was my first big case." Bai Mei Li turned her attention back to him. "Are you here for vengeance Mr. Lewis?" With her arms crossed on her chest and a single finger tapped her arm it gave the impression that she was on guard. She was of course but the action made it overly obvious.

It made David Mark Lewis feel as though he were a threat to her. He liked that feeling. He hated this woman to down to his bones. All because of her he'd lost everything. His life had been going down the path of perfect until she came in with a wrecking ball. All his carefully laid plans were flushed down the toilet.

"Do you know what happened after my brother was convicted and sent to jail?" He asked. His malice filled eye trained on her.

"Yes, I know what happened to him. I know what happened to your entire family. As I said this was my first major case. I kept tabs on everything."

"So you just watched everything happen without doing anything?"

Bai Mei li was silent for a long moment before speaking again. "Yes, there was nothing for me to do Mr. Lewis. The choices we make all have consequences after all. You brother made the choices that led him to be arrested, convicted, and sentenced to prison. Your father made the choice to start drinking heavily. He made the choice to drive while drunk which led to the accident that killed him. Your mother slipped into a depression that led to her negligence that led to her death… and you…"

She was watching him closely. Watching every movement that he made. Every micro expression he made as she talked about the deaths of his family. Was she saw and didn't see told her quite a bit about his personality. When she overlapped this new information with the interview from all those years ago she. Had a much better understanding of this persons psychology.

Of course this was risky. Another persons life was on the line and if she pushed him too hard they it might lead to person loosing their life. So while she was talking she was prepared to move to another topic the moment it seemed like he might becoming too agitated.

However contrary to what she thought would happen he remained very calm as he listened. It appeared that he was listening to someone else life story.

"… and you. There was no blood relations willing to take you in after what your bother had done was made public. So you entered into the foster care system. You didn't do well there. You just couldn't seem to adjust."

His laughter held no humor to it. "No I didn't do well there. Everything fell apart when you entered our lives. Then you went off winning awards and advancing in your career. You left me in a shattered world then bounced off to live happily ever after. There has to be a checks and balance system. You aren't allowed to wreak havoc in my life and just forget about it." His eyes were turning blood shot. Whenever he thought about everything he'd gone through… everything that he'd lost he wanted nothing more then to harm this woman in the most painful way possible. He wanted her to suffer a thousand times more then he had.

He thought this through carefully… this plane on how to make her suffer. He'd planned carefully… every single detail. No matter what he'd make her life a living hell.

"We are going to play a game. Horror movie style. Do you see this beautiful woman here?" His lips curled up into a cruel smile… his voice was dripping with venom. " She's a very important game piece. She was kind enough to volunteer." He chuckled darkly as he leaned down, brushed her hair back and light kissed the side of her that wasn't blocked by the metal choker. Her terrified shiver almost made him shutter in excitement.

He had no idea that this kind of thing could make his blood boil like this. It excited him a way he'd never considered before. It was such a… intoxicating feeling. He just wanted to feel again and again.

"You see the lovely accessories that I've lovingly made for her?"

Of course Bai Mei Li had long ago noticed them but she remained silent. He wanted to be the star of this movie so she'd allow him too.

"They have a very special function." His grin was growing more and vicious more as he spoke. "Each one has a remote transmitter attached to it. When it's activated it will released a toxic gas that will kill the person locked in that particular warehouse. Simultaneously it will sever the limb it's attached too. Exciting right?!" His wicked laugh was filled with excitement. The girl beside him couldn't hold in anymore and started weeping but that only seemed to excite him more.

Bai Mei Li's heart was thundering in her chest. This meant that it wasn't just one victim. There were actually six.

The panic she was experiencing only last a moment. She knew at this moment the most important thing she could do right now was remain calm. Outwardly she allowed her shock to show.

From what she'd gather David was a narcissist sociopath psychopath with budding sadistic tendencies. Bai Mei Li had noticed that his nether region was reacting to excitement. For this type of person it was best to play on their narcissism. Letting him that his plan had really gotten to her would soothe is ego and allow to continue on with his plan without making random decisions. Keeping him rational was very important.

Bai Mei Li let him see her take a deep breath as though she were trying to steady her nerves.

"What are the rules? How do I play?"

See her reaction pleased him How could she not be deeply shocked? There was of course no way for her to of seen this coming.

"The rules are very simple. You just need to solve the problem that me bother couldn't. Do that and I'll let everyone go."

She frowned. His brother Steven Lewis had been studying engineering before he flunked out of school. According to the information that they'd gathered he'd fallen in with the wrong crowd and had gotten involved with drugs. After that Mr. and Mrs. Lewis had forced him into rehab and then into the military, What question could he of been working on?

"You don't know? He didn't tell you?" David said with a bit of interest in his tone.

"No."

He laughed again. "You know I visit my brother quite regularly. He said there was a question that just kept popping up in his mind. WHY did he have to do it? Why could he stop. Even now he can't stand the thought of being locked up and unable to hunt. It tortures him. I thought that the least I could do as his brother was help him find the answer to this question for him. And since you are so… celebrated I thought that it was safe leave this in your hands." That wicked grin was still present he was truly enjoying this. He knew that this was an impossible question. If it was so easy to understand the compulsion to kill there be be far less people like him and his brother.

Bai Mei Li's heart sank. What type of question was this. It was same as asking why humans exist at all. There were many answers to this question… so many in fact that there might as well be none.

"Don't worry. This shouldn't be a problem for someone like you! The celebrated agent Dr. Bai Mei Li. This should be easy for you." He chuckled and looked to his watch. It was almost time. "I've arranged a private call to my brother. My brought has one hundred and eighty minutes. For every thirty minutes that you haven't been able to convince him of your answer ill be activating one of the iron bracelets." He looked to the sobbing woman beside him and kiss her cheek. "Don't worry I'll save your beautiful neck for last." She laughed darkly then looked back to Bai Mei li

The phone in his hand rang. He beamed and answered it. "Brother! It's all set up."

"Hello against Bai… long time no talk. I've been think a lot about you" Steven Lewis's deep and charismatic voice drifted gently into her ear making her shutter.