Page 18 of Devious Gambit

I climbed up on the bathroom sink and pushed the window as wide it could possibly go. I didn’t know what was more frightening, meeting Adam Sweeney face on, or jumping two stories down. Breaking my ankles versus him breaking my face, or whatever else he had planned for me.

“Rhys!” his voice shuddered through my bones, as he hammered his fist against the door. “I know you’re in there.”

The other guy laughed as Adam cat called and snorted like a pig. “The cops have been sniffing around. If I find out you’ve got anything to do with it-”

A gunshot fired out echoing through the empty spaces. Adam and his friend fell deadly quiet. I heard a familiar voice yelling at them, but couldn’t quite pick up on the words. I stepped off the sink and dropped to my hands and knees, crawling to the living room window to peer outside.

“What the hell do you two boys think you’re doing?” I heard Marjorie Dwight speak calmly. She was standing outside her backdoor holding a shotgun and looking like she knew how to use it. Mrs. Dwight was about 70 years old, and held that shotgun like it was a third limb.

“You’re on my property,” she warned, “I suggest you get off right now, if you don’t want holes in your empty heads.”

“Empty threat!” Adam hissed. “Come on, old lady. Take a shot.”

The gun was fired, a yelp rang out and I heard a ping when the bullet hit something hard. Quick footsteps down the wooden steps followed, as the large frames of Adam and his friend past my window. A minute later, Marjorie Dwight came up the steps with the shotgun and tapped on my door.

“I figured it wasn’t a good idea to call the police,” she told me when I opened the door, trembling like a terrified field mouse, “after what he said to you. But I think you and I need to have a little talk.” She stepped inside and I felt the blood drain from my face, knowing what she was going to say.

“Mrs. Dwight,” I begged, “please don’t kick me out. I love living here.”

“That’s not what I’m going to say to you.”

“Oh?”

“I know that type of man like the back of my hand. Hell, I was married to a violent fool like that until I grew some sense and left him. If you can’t involve the police for whatever reason, then you need to get better at protecting yourself. I might’ve scared him for now, but I suspect he’ll be back, ‘cos he wants something from you.”

“He wants me to keep my mouth shut about something I saw him do.”

“Don’t they all and that’s none of my business. But here’s what I’m suggesting. I let you borrow my pocket pistol. It’s just a little thing, but big enough to make an impact if needed.”

“Umm I don’t think I’m a gun person.”

“Have you ever held a gun before?”

“No.”

“Then how do you know you won’t be comfortable with one in your hand.” She waved her wrinkled hand at me. “Don’t worry, I’ll teach you how to use it. We can practice target shooting in the backyard.” She patted my arm. “I’ll let ya have a think about it.”

“No,” I exclaimed. “I think you’re right. Obviously, I can’t take a weapon on university grounds, but I could keep it here for protection at night.”

“Your choice. How about we practice target shooting tomorrow when the light’s better?”

“Okay.” I wasn’t keen on the idea, but I might sleep better with it nearby. Either that or I find accommodation on-campus in a dorm with several other students making too much noise. No thanks.

“Come down to the house for a coffee and I’ll introduce you to Delores.”

“Delores? You named your pistol?”

“Well, of course, sunshine,” she replied as I followed her outside onto the landing. She stopped to insert her little finger into the newborn bullet hole in my apartment wall and I swallowed back my horror. “I hit ‘em where it hurt the most. In the shit center,” and broke into an infectious witchy cackle. “You should’ve seen ‘em scurry away like crabs on the beach when Bigfoot comes along.”

“I thought Bigfoot was a forest dweller.”

“Are you kidding me? That big, ol’ hairy monster has got a thing for crabmeat, I’ll tell you right now,” she stated, waving her shotgun about.

EIGHT

Jace

We were flying out early Saturday morning to play against Indiana Hoosiers, so I thought I’d have an early night on Friday. This was a must-win game. We had to win, losing was not an option, and I had to be on fire.

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