Angels & Imperfections

  Chapter 40

   

  “Hey, that’s a cool gun,” a voice said.

  I opened my eyes to see Walter and Orlando both looking down at me.

  I was lying on the floor just inside the living room. I guess Orlando must have dragged me in there, after he hit me. Walter was holding a Glock 19 in nine millimeter in his right hand, casually pointed at me. He had my .45 stuck in his waistband, and he was holding my Browning in his left hand. Clearly Walter had frisked me and found the guns I had been carrying under my shirt. My Jacket was lying in a chair where one of them had tossed it.

  My head began to clear. There was a sharp pain all along the back of my head. I guessed Orlando had been behind the door when I came in, and had bashed me on the head with something. I had pretty much done the same thing to him, a few months ago.

  Turn-about, is fair play.

  I became aware of Christine and Lori, who were both seated side by side on the love seat, next to the couch.

  Lori was holding Mr. Tumescence. She looked very sad. Christine looked angry.

  “Gimme it,” Orlando said, reaching out for my Browning as Walter was slipping it into his jacket pocket.

  “Yes, I will, shortly. Right now I need you to help Mr. Tucker get on his feet. No, delete that…help him have a seat on the sofa.”

  After Orlando had shoved me onto the couch, Walter looked around the room at everyone and grinned.

  “Now isn’t this cozy, all the players in the same place, at the same time? I must say, I’m annoyed at you, Mr. Tucker. You’ve delayed the proceedings for far too long.”

  “What ‘proceedings’ did you have in mind, Walter?”

  “Oh, I promised Orlando I would reunite him with Lori, among other things.”

  “Yeah, I can guess what those ‘other things’ are.” I suggested.

  “Well, Mr. Tucker, you’re a clever boy. Let’s hear what you think is going to happen.”

  “It’s my belief your plan is that the only person who is going to leave here alive, is you.”

  “Oh, don’t be so dramatic, Mr. Tucker. I am going to punish you. I’m going to start by having the date with Christine she has been so reluctant to do.”

  I looked a Christine.

  She was staring calmly at Walter.

  “Then, Orlando is going to have some fun with Lori.”

  I looked at Lori.

  She was crying quietly, with big tears slowly running down her face.

  “Walter, did you send one of your men to kill me?” I asked him.

  “Yes, I did, and boy was I disappointed. It just goes to show, if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.”

  “Why did you kill Ed Nordstrom?”

  “You know why. It was just some routine housekeeping.”

  “No. I don’t know why.” I answered.

  Walter’s face got red.’

  “Nordstrom was disloyal to me. That’s why I killed him. Loyalty is a trait I value above all others. End of story.”

  I shook my head. “That’s what your father says. It’s not too late, Walter. You can stop all this and be forgiven. If you stop right now, we won’t bring any charges against you.”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t concern myself about such things, if I were you.” He observed.

  Walter took my .45 out of his waistband and handed it to Orlando.

  “I think you’ll find this is an even better gun than the one he stole from you. Keep it pointed at Mr. Tucker, and feel free to shoot him or Lori, if he so much as moves a hair.”

  Orlando grinned and jacked the slide on my .45, pointing it first at me, then Lori, back and forth. I knew as little as four pounds of pressure on the trigger would fire my gun. If he continued to wave it around, he was likely to kill one of us by accident.

   

  “Get up Christine; we’re going in the bedroom,” Walter said, pointing his Glock at her.

  Christine stood up very calmly and led the way into the bedroom. As she walked past me, she caught my eye and I saw something strong, something like confidence there.

  “Don’t do this Walter. The police will know you raped her.” I warned him.

  Walter paused in the doorway.

  “You must think I’m stupid. I’ve been telling everyone for months, Christine is my girlfriend. The phone records will confirm it, and I’ve even brought my toothbrush. You see, I know how to plan ahead.”

  He closed the door behind him.

  “Orlando, listen to me. Walter means to kill you, me, and both of the women,” I said, desperately.

  He grinned. “You, for sure, dude. Me? No, I don’t think so.”

  “He’s been planning this for months. It’s why he hired an attorney to bail you out.”

  “Planning what?” Orlando asked, stupidly.

  “He means to make himself look like a hero. He’s going to kill you with his Glock. Then he’s going to kill me, and both of these women, with the same gun you’re holding right now. He’ll make it look like he came here and found you, having just killed us. He’ll be the big man who killed you.”

  “…Say what?”

   

  It all happened at once.

   

  From inside Christine’s bedroom, there was the sound of three, fast gunshots. Inside the apartment, the noise was shocking and incredibly loud.

  Orlando looked toward the bedroom, just as the front door crashed in. There was the sound of shattering glass in both of the bedrooms.

  Orlando turned back toward the front door, swinging my.45 in that direction.

  I shot him three times with his own stolen .38, which I had left hidden between the cushions of the couch, since the last time I had been here.

  Orlando went down, like a balloon with all the air escaping.

  Several armored SWAT team men came into the room, all levelling their assault rifles on me.

  I slowly set the .38 on the floor, and raised my hands high above my head.

  “He’s a friendly,” Tony yelled, coming in behind them.

  “Clear,” someone yelled from inside the guest bedroom.

  “Clear,” someone yelled from Christine’s bedroom.

  “All Clear,” Tony yelled, as he knelt beside Orlando, pocketing the .38.

   

  I went to Lori. She had buried her face in Mr. Tum’s fur. The cat had remained unruffled through the noise and violence. He was actually purring. Lori was sobbing.

  I stroked her hair. “It’s OK, baby girl. Everything is OK, now.”

  Christine’s bedroom door opened and a heavily armed and armored SWAT team member led Christine into the living room. She looked perfectly calm.

  “This lady dropped the perp back in there, sir, he’s deader than disco,” the armored officer said, pointing over his shoulder at Christine’s bedroom.

  “That guy had two guns, but she shot him three times, with this,” he said, holding up Christine’s “Judge” revolver. “When I came through the window, she nearly unloaded the last two on me. I was quick to take it away from her.”

  Tony was feeling for a pulse at Orlando’s jugular vein.

  “This one is still alive, call in the EMTs,” Tony said, standing up. He was standing with one foot securing my .45.

  I looked at Christine. She was beginning to tremble. I could tell she was starting to crumble.

  Tony saw it too.

  “Christine, come sit down here with Lori.” Tony said, as he wrapped an arm around her. She collapsed against him and began to sob.

  Tony embraced her and let her cry. With his foot, he slid my .45 away from where Orlando was curled on the carpet, which was slowly soaking up his blood. The stain resistant chemicals in the carpet fibers, like the four of us, being gradually overwhelmed.