Page 35 of True Valor
“Are you here to kill me, then?”
Us, Julie.He’s here to kill us.
But she hadn’t let on that he was even there.Nic crept slowly still watching this Doug guy.He wasn’t ready toshoot yet.That gave Nic a bit more time.
“You catch on fast.”
The words came out with a sneer, but his facedidn’t mirror that emotion.There was a flicker of uncertainty inhim.
Good.
“I didn’t see the man who killed them.Hewore a ski mask.”
“Well, he sure as hell saw you.”Douggrinned.“And you nearly broke his knee with that kick.”
That was obviously news to Julie.A questioncrossed her face.
Keep talking, babe.
“So he sent you to eliminate me because hethinks I know who he is?Is that it?”
“That’s about it.”
“Just like that, Doug?”As she spoke sheshifted ever so slightly, taking up a more provocative stance.
She was flirting with the guy!A stab ofjealousy was followed almost immediately by grudging respect forher ingenuity.
“You’re just going to shoot me?Just likethat?”
It was working, too.Doug took a slight stepback.Julie pushed her advantage.Nic wasn’t sure that was a goodidea.
“Doug, you’re not a killer.”
“You don’t have a clue what I am, the thingsI’ve done.”
“Have you ever shot anyone before, Doug?Areyou a killer?Are you sure you can do it?Whose flunky areyou?”
Crap, Julie.
That earlier uncertainty the guy had shownnow had challenge mixed in.
Shut up, babe.The guy took a step forward,grabbing Julie by the throat.There was no more time.Nic leveledhis own weapon.
“No, bitch,” he hissed, “I’ve never killedanyone.And I’m nobody’s flunky.”
Julie pulled at the hand that held her.Buther eyes flashed with indignation, not fear.Finally, he pushed heraway, sending her sprawling in the snow beside the car.Niccouldn’t see her, his view blocked.He sure as hell could hear her,though.
“Well, you may not be a flunky, but since youcan’t think for yourself, go ahead, shoot me.Go ahead, Doug, shootme.”
The guy aimed at her, his finger caressingthe trigger.Nic’s own finger began to tighten.
Everything was in slow motion.
Julie scrambled back.Like that would help.Dumb.Would Nic hear the gunshot and come running?Please, no… Shedidn’t want him to die, too.Maybe Doug would only wound her andleave her for dead.Then Nic would come and save her.He was aparamedic.He could do that.Maybe she wouldn’t die.
Julie’s mouth was dry.
The look on Doug’s face changed.A secondbefore, he’d been furious.Now something else.He smiled, an odd,disheartened kind of smile.
