Epilogue


The Apothecary had poisoned presidents, high-ranking government officials and double agents. He had once been a trusted confidant to a prominent Asian ruler... only to slip a toxin into the emporer's drink. No one had ever known the difference between the poisoning and a heart attack. The Apothecary had been from Alaska to Beijing to Sri Lanka and back again, leaving an untraceable trail of bodies along the way.

He had never been scared. Not until this very moment.

"You failed," the man said simply. "You said you could destroy Darien Fawkes; use the madness against him."

"The madness was transfered. Fawkes should have been destroyed."

"Should have. Would have, could have, may have... We don't deal in maybes, Mr... what did you say your name was?"

"I am the Apothecary."

"Your name," the dark-haired man corrected, "is Albert Jing." He dropped a paper onto the Apothecary's lap. "Read the circled article."

The Apothecary picked up the paper with his trembling fingers. After reading the first few lines, he looked up and met his employers eyes. "This is... my obituary."

"Very good, Mr. Jing. It's an early edition of tomorrow's paper. I like to get a head start on Snoopy and Dilbert." Standing, the man said, "Read how he died."

The Apothecary picked up the paper again. "Poisoned. Poisoned by... tainted newspaper... ink..." He dropped the paper, looking at his hands. He looked at his employer, his eyes fearful. "Mr. Stark, please!"

Jared Stark removed his rubber gloves and dropped them in the trash, careful not to touch the outsides. "The poison seeped through your skin. It began killing you the moment you touched the paper. I don't like failures, Mr. Jing. And more importantly, I don't like people who don't own up to their mistakes."

The Apothecary had no idea what Stark was saying. He was curled in the fetal position on the marble floor of Stark's office, clutching at his throat. Stark sighed. "Get him out of here. And be careful not to make contact with the skin."

As the guards took the writhing Mr. Jing/Apothecary from the office, Stark steepled his fingers and looked out the window. "One day, Mr. Fawkes... we will find your weak spot. And we'll crush it."


end