I'm a fool to kill you

SEVENTY-SEVEN

I caught up to Frank, who sheepishly admitted he didn’t know how to get to the roof.

‘Come on,’ I said.

We took the elevator again, this time all the way to the top. Then we ran down the hall with me in the lead until we reached the doorway to the roof.

I put my hand on Frank’s chest. I could feel him vibrating.

‘Frank, we have to be careful,’ I said. ‘There’s two of ’em, and they’re both gonna have guns.’

‘While we’re talkin’ here, Ava could be in more danger,’ he said.

‘OK, we’re goin’,’ I said, ‘just. . watch out.’

I knew we couldn’t wait for Hargrove to catch up, but all I needed was for this to end with Ava and Frank dead.

I opened the door and we went up the stairs to the roof door. Frank’s tension was contagious, but I kept him from barging right through the door. I put my ear to the door, thought I heard voices but it could have been my imagination.

‘We’ve got to go easy-’ I started, but Frank had had enough.

‘Bullshit!’ he said, and slammed the door open. He went through with his gun held out in front of him.

‘Damn!’ I swore, and followed.

No one. The voices had been my imagination, but then we both heard them. We moved away from the door and saw them over toward the edge, near the front of the building.

Holman was standing behind Ava, holding her by the shoulders. The other man — Smith or whatever — was standing in front of them, holding a gun.

‘Shoot her!’ Holman shouted.

‘Toss her off the roof!’ Smith shouted back.

Each man seemed reluctant to kill her themselves, which may just have saved Ava, which might have been the only reason we’d be able to get there in time.

‘Hold it!’ Frank shouted.

All three turned and looked at us.

‘Frank!’ Ava shouted.

‘Frank Sinatra?’ Smith said, staring.

‘Let her go!’ I yelled at Holman. ‘Your partner’s on the way, Holman. The jig is up.’

‘Damn it!’ Holman swore at the other man. ‘You see what happened because you couldn’t do your damned job, Nico?’

‘It can still get done,’ Nico said.

Holman let Ava go and she slid down to her knees. She didn’t seem to have the strength to run.

‘It’s OK, baby,’ Frank said.

‘Holman-’ I said.

‘Stay back!’ the detective shouted. He moved his hand towards his holster.

‘Don’t!’ Frank said. ‘I know how to use this. You, put your gun down!’

Nico looked at him and said, ‘You’re a goddamned singer.’

‘Try me,’ Frank said.

‘He can’t get both of us,’ Holman said. ‘We take care of them, and then the woman.’

‘You touch your gun and I’ll kill you first!’ Frank said.

I felt helpless. The whole situation was in Frank’s hands. I knew he carried a gun, but I didn’t know if he’d ever used it before. I didn’t have a lot of confidence.

Nico was still facing Holman and Ava with his gun.

‘Put yours down,’ he said to Frank, ‘or I’ll kill the woman.’

‘That’s not a woman, you idiot,’ I said, ‘that’s Ava Gardner. You kill her you’ll never walk away from this.’

I was trying to make him think twice. I was willing Frank to go ahead and pull the trigger, but that was easy for somebody like Jerry. It wouldn’t be so easy for Frank. I knew because I’d been in that position.

‘Kill her!’ Holman said. ‘Do it.’

‘You haven’t killed anybody yet, Nico,’ I said. ‘Not that I know of. Maybe you can walk away from this.’

‘Don’t listen to him,’ Holman said. ‘You brought her up here against her will. That’s kidnapping. That’s a federal offense. Neither of us is walkin’ unless we kill them all.’

‘It’ll be a blood bath,’ I said. ‘Maybe none of us will survive it.’ I knew I wouldn’t. I was the only man without a gun.

I could see the sweat running down Frank’s face. I knew the palms of his hands must be wet, too. Mine were.

‘Frank. .’

Holman reached for his gun.

‘Frank!’ I shouted.

‘Holman, don’t!’ someone shouted from behind us.

Hargrove had made it to the roof. Holman pulled his gun from his holster and I heard a shot from behind me. There was a burst of red on Holman’s chest. Some of it showered down on to Ava.

Nico started to turn and Frank pulled the trigger. I don’t know where he was aiming, but he hit Nico in the hip. The force of the bullet spun him around, and his gun flew out of his hand.

Hargrove raced past me and pinned Nico to the ground so he could cuff him.

Frank ran to Ava and took her in his arms, speaking to her softly.

I hadn’t had to move.