Illegal

NINETY

"At long last," Cardenas said, "the real Simeon Rutledge. Rapist and murderer."

"Ain't asking your forgiveness," Rutledge said.

"Ain't giving it."

One of these men was about to die, Marisol knew. The policeman's eyes burned with hatred. But Rutledge seemed defiant, his right hand motionless, his fingers spread, close enough to draw his gun in a split second.

The policeman held his own pistola in both hands. But were his arms trembling? Marisol had the horrible thought that the old man-even with a gun pointed at him-was the one in control. She doubted that the young policeman had ever killed a man. But with Rutledge, there were no doubts. He would neither hesitate before killing nor be remorseful after.

"Do what you got to do, Javie," Rutledge challenged.

Marisol wrapped her arm around Agustino. She had left Mexico, had come all this way, wanting only one thing, to save her son from harm. She looked toward Payne. Agustino had told her all about the man. He had turned down money-a fortune-to bring Agustino back to her. So decent and courageous. She had never known such a man. Now she sought some gesture from him, some instruction. What can we do to save ourselves?

Without taking his eyes off Rutledge, Cardenas spoke to Marisol in a formal policeman's voice. "Ms. Perez, do you recognize Mr. Simeon Rutledge?"

"Yes."

"Is he the man who raped you?"

"Yes, that's the pig."

Tino spit in Rutledge's direction. "I'll kill you, old man."

"No, you won't," his mother said.

"I will!" The boy squirmed out of her embrace. "He hurt you, Mami."

"Quiet, now!" She grabbed his arm.

"Payne, how about you?" the chief asked. "Is Simeon Rutledge the man who horsewhipped you?"

"You know he is," Payne answered without hesitation.

"Unhook your gunbelt, Sim, and drop it to the ground," Cardenas ordered.

Rutledge coughed and a pink bubble of blood formed on his lips. "Why not try taking it away from me?"

"You resisting arrest, Sim?"

"That's what you want, isn't it? Shoot me down right where your daddy sucked his lungs full of mud. Poetic fucking justice."

"Last warning."

"You been holding that sissy gun a long time, Javie. Your arms ain't getting tired, are they?"

Cardenas moved the barrel a bit lower. "Right in the belly, Sim. Gonna watch your guts spill out."

"I remember your first wild hog. What'd it take? Three shots? Four?"

"Drop the gunbelt, Sim."

"Thought you already gave your last warning."

Marisol tightened her grip on Tino. She did not want him to see this, but did not know how to prevent it.

Rutledge's fingers flexed and seemed to move even closer to his gun. "You'll get off one shot, for sure. But when you miss, I'll blow a hole right through your chest."

"Shoot him!" Tino yelled at Cardenas.

Cardenas's eyes flicked toward the boy.

Instantly, Rutledge drew the. 45. Cardenas fired and missed.

Rutledge slapped back the hammer.

Tino tore away from his mother and scooped up the knife. "I'll kill you, cabron!"

Marisol reached for him, but he dodged her.

Rutledge swung the gun toward the boy just as Marisol stepped between them. She felt a thunderbolt strike her chest, felt her feet fly from the ground, and by the time she landed flat on her back, felt nothing at all.