Blackjack

70

“Put the gun down,” Virgil said.

“No.”

“Put it down,” Virgil said.

He shook his head and took a swig of the Kentucky.

“No.”

“You got no reason to do this,” Virgil said.

Black laughed.

“Bullshit,” he said.

The bottle in Black’s hand was nearly empty and it was clear he was beyond drunk.

“You are not in charge here,” he said.

Both Allie and Daphne sat still, rigid with fear.

“I got no choice other than this,” Black said.

“Sure you do,” Virgil said.

“Not really,” Black said.

“Put the gun down,” Virgil said.

He smiled.

“You’re not in charge here,” he said.

“Do like I tell you.”

He shook his head.

“No. Besides, this going the wrong way here,” he said, waving the gun, “has no real impact on me, because... because... you see, I’m a dead man.”

“No reason to hurt someone else,” I said.

He smiled.

“Everybody thinks I killed that bitch.”

“Right now, all you need to do,” Virgil said, “is give me the gun.”

“I did not do it,” he said.

“What do you want, Black?”

“I want to be free.”

“Let me help you.”

“How can you help me?”

“Put the gun down and let’s talk about this.”

“Fuck talking,” he said. “Look where talking has got me.”

“Why this, Black?” I said. “This can’t help you.”

“I’d rather hang than be on the run for something I did not do.”

“Let us help you.”

“How are you going to do that?”

Virgil moved a little toward him.

“Just give me the gun.”

Black quickly pointed the gun at Virgil.

“Back!” he said.

Allie and Daphne jumped.

“Easy,” Virgil said. “Just be easy.”

“Back,” he said.

“Okay,” Virgil said.

Virgil moved back a bit.

“Bill,” Daphne said. “Don’t do this. Be reasonable.”

“Reasonable? I should have married you when I had the chance,” he said. “I fucked up.”

“Give him the gun, Bill,” she said. “Don’t do this.”

Virgil nodded and reached out a little.

“Just stay the fuck back.”

“You’re drunk,” Virgil said. “You’re not thinking clearly.”

“The hell you say.”

“Let’s go about this another way,” Virgil said.

“I want the goddamn truth to be told.”

“Okay,” Virgil said. “Good.”

Black’s words were slurry. He was bleary-eyed and drunk tired.

“That fucker lied.”

“Okay,” Virgil said

Black started to cry. He looked down a little.

Virgil moved slightly but Black raised the gun up.

“Goddamn it,” he said.

Virgil backed away with his hands up and clear from his sides.

“Okay, okay, let’s just settle down here... settle down...” Virgil said.

After a moment Black seemed to relax a little.

“That’s it,” Virgil said. “Okay... okay... so... where is Truitt?”

“Oh, good,” he said.

“Good?”

“You did not catch him? He got out,” he said. “Got away, I’m fucking glad of that. I was uncertain. I hope he can keep running and never get caught. Me on the other hand, I have no intention of running. I only got out to prove I did not do this.”

Black’s head lowered, and when it did Daphne threw the pillow she had clutched to her chest at him and Virgil charged on him fast and grabbed the gun. Virgil’s force knocked Black from the chair, and as the two men fell the gun went off. Allie screamed as the flash kicked from the barrel out into the dark room. The noise was deafening.