Page 77 of Saltwater Memories
Will just barely caught the look of surprise on Lenny’s face before he spun around. Amanda’s arm was raised, and something shot through the air, directly into Lenny’s face.
Will started coughing – whatwasthat?
“Get the gun!” Amanda yelled.
Will saw that it had fallen to the ground and he rushed forward to grab it.
Lenny was on his knees, screaming. “Stop – stop! I wasn’t going to do anything! I was just going to scare him!”
Amanda looked down at him and frowned. “What other weapons do you have?”
“Nothing,” he said, choking. “I swear.”
“Keep your voice down,” Amanda said. “Or I’ll spray you right in the mouth.”
Lenny let out a sort of pathetic whimper, and Amanda stooped down, patting his chest, ankles, and pockets.
Will stayed on the ground, stunned and wide-eyed. How did she know how to do that? Was Amanda a…flight marshal or something? Did she know about the mob because she was involved with it, too?
No, that didn’t make any sense. That couldn’t possibly be it.
There was a commotion outside – yelling. Will and Amanda locked eyes for a short moment before a dog burst into the library, hackles raised. He stopped a few feet short of Lenny, barking and snarling at his face.
“Good boy, Toast,” Amanda said, looking down at Lenny. “If you move, hewilleat you.”
Lenny didn’t move. Neither did Will, mesmerized by the dog. For a moment he wondered if this was a bizarre nightmare.
There was more noise – it sounded like the door was kicked open.
“Police!”
“Over here Dad,” Amanda called out. “I’ve got Lenny.”
Three officers rushed into the room, guns drawn. Will put his hands up reflexively.
“That’s Will,” Amanda said, pointing. “He’s okay. He got the gun off of Lenny.”
“I don’t want it,” Will said, holding the gun above his head. One of the officers took it from him, then went to assist with handcuffing Lenny, who was still writhing in pain on the floor.
The third deputy hugged Amanda. He was a big guy, with a mustache and stern face. Will recognized him from a picture – Amanda’s dad.
“What onearthwere you thinking,” he said to her, squeezing her tight. “You should have waited. We were on our way. Mike called me, he – ”
“I couldn’t wait, Dad. Lenny shot the door open, I didn’t know what else he was going to do.”
He pulled away, incredulous. “What was your plan? To pepper spray him to death?”
She smiled. “I didn’t have a plan. I just needed to outlast him, and I did.”
Will stood up, still dumbfounded, watching this exchange. It wouldn’t make sense for Amanda to be in the mob – her dad was a cop. Although that would be a sort of tragic irony, like something from a movie…
“Dad, this is my friend Will. Will – this is Chief Hank Kowalski.”
Will stuck out a hand and Chief Kowalski accepted it with a firm grip. Will managed to hold his own. “It’s very nice to meet you, sir.”
He nodded, a frown fixed on his face. “Right.”
“Did you get the guy outside?” Amanda asked.
