Page 48 of Too Much Heat

Still outside, he closed the door and Joe peered through the camera. Will removed sheets of paper stapled together andshook them out. Leafed through them. He took off his mask and gloves and opened the door. “Nothing suspicious.” He handed the sheaf to Lara.

With Joe looking over her shoulder, she glanced down. “Oh, my God.”

Joe said, “Divorce papers?”

* * *

Sammy asked Craig to wheel him to the couch. “Leave us alone for a few minutes?” Sam asked. Craig went back to the porch. In his clearer moments, Sam could see what he was doing to his wife. No more. He was getting worse and they both knew it. Now, she had tears in her eyes. “Sammy? What? Why?”

“I thought it was time. I wanted to make you happy, for a change.”

She dropped down in front of him and cupped his cheek, like a woman did to a man she loved. “Oh, Sam.”

He savored her touch, then motioned Joe over. “You come, too.”

Lara and Joe sat on the couch across from the wheelchair.

Sam had to force himself to go on. This was hard. “We had our time together, honey. And I’m getting worse. This,” he gestured to the papers “is a chance for you to live the rest of your life happy.”

Tears filled her eyes. She was mourning the loss of him. He felt the same. But this was necessary.

He called out, “Craig could you come back in here?” When Craig came to the doorway, Sammy said, “T-take me out somewhere?”

“Sure. Kirkland will be here for the two of them.”

A slice of pain shot through Sammy. Then it was replaced by sadness. But in some ways the unselfish act felt good. At least there was one thing he could give back to his beloved wife.

* * *

She drove by here every night to wait for an opening. Was this it? With just the two of them there? At least she wouldn’t have to hurt the cripple.

She parked down the street from Swanson’s house. She took the Glock and the silencer from her pocket, then left the car. A warm wind blew back her hair and she remembered how she and the kids had loved the summer.

The Secret Service guy came around from the back of the house and stood out front, arms folded. Shit, where was his car? Fuck it, she wasn’t backing down now. She approached him. From a distance, she held up the gun. “Drop your gun on the ground, Kirkland.”

He straightened. “Come out of the shadows.”

Nothing from her.

“Can I help you?”

She called out, “Oh, yeah, you can help me.”

She fired.

Chapter 8

Joe rolled over on his side, facing Lara. He cupped her cheek. “Doing okay?”

She smiled. “Better than.” The lovemaking had been particularly tender. “I love you, Joe.”

He stared down at her. This was a first for her. And him. “I love you, too.”

They hugged.

“Let’s toast to that. Want some wine?”

“Sure.”

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