Page 36 of True Valor
“God, Julie.You’re right, I can’t kill you.”He closed his eyes for a minute, hopelessness slumped hisshoulders.“But I’m a dead man if I don’t.”
And then, before Julie had time to registerwhat she saw, Doug put the barrel under his chin and pulled thetrigger.
Just like that, it was over.Julie sat in thesnow, watching in detached fascination as Doug crumpled to theground, turning the snow red.She couldn’t tear her eyes away fromthe sight.Not until movement at the front of the car caught herattention.
Nic came from out of nowhere, the 9MM trainedon Doug’s fallen form.Nic’s eyes didn’t leave his target for aninstant as he spoke.
“You okay, baby?”
Julie could only nod, watching Nic kickDoug’s gun away, approach the body, nudge it with his foot, thenlean down to check the neck for a pulse.Only then did he look ather.
“Julie?”
She nodded again.
“Is he dead?”she asked.
The question came out so nonchalantly, as ifseeing somebody blow their brains out was a normal, everyday thing.The tone did not reflect what was going on inside her, though.Herbreath came out fast and raggedy.
Nic took one more glance at Doug, then cameand crouched beside her.“Are you really okay?Calm down, you’rebreathing too fast.Calm…” He was all business, taking her pulse,watching her with a purely clinical look.
Julie pushed his hand away.“I’m fine!Otherthan the fact that this guy,” she pointed with her chin as she gotto her feet, “was going to kill me.Yeah, I’m fine.And where didyou come from, anyway?”
Nic watched her face as her voice climbedhigher.Deny all she wanted, she was shook.As well she shouldbe.
“Over there.”Nic tossed his head to indicatethe forest on the other side of the car.“I wouldn’t have let himkill you.”He’d meant that to sound comforting but it came outalmost accusatory.“Sorry.”
Julie leaned heavily against the car.Nicmoved to stand in front of her, taking her shoulders.“That washairy.It’s okay if you fall apart.”And now, he soundedcondescending.Damn it.Instead of saying something else stupid, hesettled for pulling Julie into his arms.
She trembled despite her bravado.Who couldblame her?
The embrace was short-lived.Julie backedaway and looked up at him.No tears.“I guess now we pretty muchhave to go to the police, huh?”
She was right.Days ago, he’d have been gladto finally be on the “right side” of the law.Now he wasn’t sosure.Something about going to the authorities didn’t feel right.Maybe it was because they’d spend hours trying to explain thiswhole thing.Why didn’t they come forward sooner?Why did this guyshoot himself?
One thing was certain, the first call Nicwould make wouldn’t be to the cops.The first call would be toCruz.
Nic had covered the body with a blanket,careful not to disturb the crime scene.Julie didn’t rememberDoug’s last name, even though she was sure he’d said it.So Nicwent back, pulled out the guy’s wallet, and retrieved as muchinformation as he could before putting it back.Then, they finishedgetting the car out of the snowdrift and headed for the nearest payphone.And, yet again, Nic wished for his phone.
Nic chose to call Eric’s cell phone insteadof calling the Section.That way, if asked, no one had heard fromNic.
“Cruz.”No hello.
“If you’re not alone, don’t let on it’sme.”
“I’m alone and by the sound of your voice,you’re in trouble.”
“I need information.Got time to do somedigging?”
“Sure.How big a hurry?”
“Big.I’ll call you back in thirty.”
Cruz launched into a string of Spanish cursewords.Some Nic knew.Some he didn’t.Nic gave Cruz all theinformation he had on Doug Davis.
“Do I want to know why so big a rush?”Cruzasked.
Nic smiled.Why lie when the truth would blowhis friend’s mind.“Cause the body’s getting cold,” he saidnonchalantly before hanging up the phone.Then he turned to Julie,who stood a few feet away.“We’ve got thirty minutes to kill.I’llbuy you dinner.”He took her arm and steered her into the café.
