The Wrong Man Read Online Free PDF Page B

here: never let anyone know what you’re really thinking or feeling. But then, thathad never been
     much of a problem for Bishop. ‘How was what?’ he asked.
    Big Bear turned from Bishop’s small, barred window and said, ‘You know . . .’ He raised an imaginary spoon to his mouth and made
     chewing motions before turning back to the window.
    Bishop shrugged. ‘Not hungry.’
    ‘Wise man,’ Bigger Bear said and continuedreading the letter. After a few seconds Bishop saw the shadow of Biggest Bear hit
     the cell wall in front of him. It was substantially taller and wider than his. That made three, then. Bears always came in
     threes.
    After a while, Bigger shook his head, put the letter down and rose from the bunk. He had three inches on Bishop and looked
     downat him with a puzzled frown. ‘Your cellmate’s seriously weird, man. Still writing puppy dog letters to a bitch who left
     him for another fool five years ago. What’s with that?’
    Bishop shrugged again. ‘I don’t ask.’
    ‘Maybe you should.’ Bigger Bear started tapping his forefinger repeatedly against his upper lip and looked past Bishop to
     BiggestBear. Bishop felt a large hand urge him into the centre of the room.
    ‘Me, I’m curious about everything and everyone,’ Bigger said. ‘Like you, man.’
    ‘What you see is what you get.’
    ‘What I see, I don’t get. For instance, why’d you turn that white boy into a cyclops?’
    ‘We had a slight disagreement.’
    ‘Yeah? Over what?’
    ‘Whose turn it was to borrow the library’s only copy of
Little Women
.’
    Bishop heard a throaty chuckle from behind him, but Bigger’s frown remained. Big Bear had turned from the window and was watching
     his brother closely.
    Bigger sighed. ‘A comedian. Still, a contract’s a contract.’ He looked at a point above Bishop’s head and said,‘Okay.’
    A large, bronze, hairless arm encircled Bishop’s neck and pulled him back like an anaconda with its prey. Instinctively, Bishop
     brought both hands up to the man’s arm, but the other two brothers took Bishop’s wrists and yanked them behind his body. Somehow
     Biggest Bear managed to grip both in his one massive hand. Bishop could still use his legs, but allother avenues had been
     closed in three quick actions.
    Bigger Bear left his line of sight, presumably to act as lookout, while the smallest brother flexed his fingers several times.
     His face grew solemn as he let his eyes roam over Bishop’s anatomy. The lower torso seemed to get the most attention. After
     a few moments he pursed his lips, clenchedboth fists into hard balls and pulled his right arm back.
    Bishop felt a sudden, flaring agony in his midriff. It was unlike any pain he’d known, despite his experiences in the Corps.
Jesus Christ, that was one punch
. His stomach felt like someone had set fire to it. When he finally finished hacking, he raised his eyes to see Big Bear in
     thesame boxer’s crouchas before. This time Bishop saw the strike coming and clenched his muscles just before it made contact.
    It didn’t help.
    He dry-heaved and the pain only intensified. He tasted blood at the back of his throat and coughed repeatedly.
    When his breathing eventually returned to normal, Big Bear approached him and lifted his head up by the hair, studiedhis
     face for a few seconds. He then looked at Bigger by the doorway, still flexing his right hand. A silent exchange was taking
     place but Bishop had no clue as to what was being said.
    Big turned back and released Bishop’s hair. Then he drew back his right arm once more.

NINE
    Unlocking the door to C-1, Brendan Cook entered the room reserved for the more volatile patients. It was a smallish room.
     Two beds bolted to the floor, separated by a wide aisle and a barred window. He looked over at the unconscious man on the
     left-hand bed. A real mess this one, inside and out, with bandages covering much of his face andan IV drip protruding from
     each arm.
    ‘How’s it