With a Vengeance

by Riley Sager

Sal Lawrence, Car 12, Room A Lt. Col. Jack Lapsford, Car 12, Room B Kenneth Wentworth, Car 12, Room C Herb Pulaski, Car 13, Room A Edith Gerhardt, Car 13, Room B Judd Dodge, Car 13, Room C

Revenge is fleeting. Vengeance lasts a lifetime.

Already at the bar, Sal hovers a hand over the glasses before choosing one on the end of the row. Herb is next, snagging the one now in the center without thought. After him comes Lapsford, who reaches for one glass, changes his mind, takes the other. Turning away from the bar, he brushes against Judd, who picks up the remaining glass with his right hand and carries it to the center of the car, where he stands alone.