The Gentlemen's Hour

147

Johnny is looking through the documents when he hears something in the hallway.

“You have a bathtub?” he asks Petra.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Go lie down in it,” Johnny says as he unlatches the holster at his waist.

“I will not."

The doorbell rings.

A man’s voice says, “Petra? Boone sent me to see if you’re okay.”

“One second,” she says. “I’m just getting dressed.”

Johnny juts his chin toward the bathroom. She gets up from the sofa and starts to go. The door comes in. There are three of them.

Los Niños Locos.

Crazy Boys.

The first one through the door sees Johnny, the badge he’s holding up, and the pistol he has in his other hand, and makes a snap decision.

He raises the gun in his hand and fires. Johnny fires back—two shots in rapid succession—and the Crazy Boy goes down. The other two come in over him.