Klempner
Although I can hear chaos from down the stairs, up here now, it’s quiet. There’s no-one in the dance room.
In the pool room, the only sound is the crunching of glass under my boots. I carry on to Finchby’s office.
All empty?
It seems so.
The time?
Time to go.
Except… as I’m about to turn and leave a girl, I see her; barely a teenager, some variety of Asian, Indian perhaps. Streaming tears, she skitters out from behind the desk, making for the kitchen.
I follow her and she cringes back into the corner. I offer my hand. “I’m not going to hurt you. You have to leave.”
She babbles at me in I’ve-no-idea-what language, then abruptly, her face swings up to mine and fingers outstretched, leaps up at me, clawing at my face. Reflexively, I jerk back, and she bolts past me and out, back the way I came.
Fuck!
I dash after her, but in the few seconds, she’s gone, vanished.
Where did she go?
Out?
Or somewhere deeper inside?
I check my watch… Three minutes…
Christ!
I have to find her… If she’s on the stairwell, perhaps I’ll hear her. I turn for the bar, heading for the stairs up and down, and there…
Fuck.
Baxter.
I reach for my Glock… And it’s not there.
Damn… When did I put it down?
Baxter flashes brows. And the knife in his hand. “Going somewhere?”
“I was planning on leaving.” I slip the knife from my belt. “Your friend Finchby has already left the building. I believe the money may be with him.”
“I’m not going to weep over Finchby. And I didn't do it for the cash. Well… mainly not for the cash. And I have my half anyway.”
We circle, eyeball to eyeball.
Make the first move?
Wait for him?
I move slowly, watching for the twitch of the hand. The nudge of the shoulder. The tell that he's going to stop talking and...
He slashes out… moves fast…
But it’s a feint and we both know it, calculated to draw a reaction from me.
Testing me…
My speed…
My reactions…
Younger than me...
How much by?
Ten years?
His knife...
inches. Well
Well used…
Left-handed…
that gives
right-handers. I've done
stabs out. Hard. Fast. Teeth bared. Pupils
back and he follows through, but I grab him by the arm. We grapple. His
I
Sweat. Sour.
sour scent of
Not excitement.
Fear.
away, dancing back from me and suddenly I'm overreaching… off-balance… and
grins, then grunts as I lash for his neck but as he
up on my advantage, I bully forward, reaching for his blade, slashing out
right hand and he twists
The other knife...
Ambidextrous?
away from my
the rib cage and
Got you, you bastard…
her.
the exit, apparently blind to me and Baxter, she charges between us and I twist away to avoid slicing the silly
my foot skids on
Drinks slops?
Blood?
In slow motion...
arms
I go down...
Baxter’s on top
…
his blade
The rasp
The metallic tang
Whose?
Mine…
his moment, the knife poised at my
point nipping at the vein, he reaches
My Glock?
and aiming for my forehead,
not use the
the balls
up on my elbows I swing round wildly,
There are none.
of my own fucking gun
Is this it?
this
ways I could have died over the years, I’m taken out by
for something I didn’t
Live by the sword…
mind works at these moments. The brain does odd things
think
muzzle of the gun looms close and huge. The rest of the world vanishes around me. My
My throat tightens…
just the real man.” The voice is sultry, smooth, and drips honey and contempt in equal measure… “A hero with a gun and a knife against an
know
its
in the spiked heels. The matching skirt just clears the crotch and
frames a face
“Mitch?”
admit it. I
So does Baxter.
It might have been full of women offering their all. But nothing compares to
like
lifted, one leg a little curved to strike a pose. And
dangles, an open silver loop. She hooks a finger into the loop
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!