"How can you stand the smell?" she asked. "I wish we could do this someplace else, but then you wouldn't be in a cage, would you?"

She walked over to the cage, though she didn't get close enough that Gertie could grab or kick her.

"I'm not going to start with a question," she said. "I'm going to start by showing you what happens if you don't answer a question. That way, when I do ask you a question, you'll know the penalty. Put your hand out."

"No."

"You're in a cage that barely gives you enough room to breathe. Do you really think that I can't get to you? When I say 'Put your hand out' what I mean is 'Put your hand out, because that's the easiest and least painful way for us to get through this.' The more difficult you make it for me, the more horrible I'll make it for you. And if I have to jab this knife into your ear like what happened to your friend over there, I'll do it. I have no emotional investment in keeping you alive."

Gertie could not see a way out of this. She couldn't extend her right arm, but she was able to get her hand outside of the cage.

Viv crouched down next to her. She grabbed Gertie by the wrist.

"Open your fist," Viv said.

"Please," said Gertie, amazed that she wasn't sobbing yet. "I'll answer whatever questions you have."

"Really? Even if it puts your friends in danger? You'd sell them out to spare yourself a little pain?"

"You don't have to do this."

"I know I don't. I am completely aware of my options right now. Like my option to slash your wrist if you don't open your hand. I'm pretty sure you'll bleed to death before my husband gets back with the Band-Aids."

Gertie opened her hand.

Viv let go of Gertie's wrist and grabbed her pinky. She pressed the tip of the knife underneath her fingernail, then jammed it in, just a bit. Gertie shrieked as the pain shot all the way up her arm, so much worse than she ever could have anticipated.

Viv pulled the knife right out, but the pain took a while to fade. Gertie pulled her hand back inside the cage.

"So now you've had a sneak preview of what's going to happen if you don't cooperate. I'm going to ask you some questions. Don't lie to me. I'll know if you lie."

"The way you knew your husband was lying?"

Viv's face went dark and furious. Gertie didn't care. The woman clearly had every intention of torturing her, so why not piss her off? She might make a mistake.

Then the anger faded and Viv smiled. "Good one. Perceptive. You got me. No way for me to deny it, you got me, fair and square. But I'd like to get to the questions, if that's all right with you."

Gertie said nothing.