Page 146 of Near Miss

“Can we discuss your marksmanship later?”

They peeked around the edge of the bar at the new arrivals.

“I count five,” Carly whispered into Stone’s ear.

Stone was about to agree when two more silhouettes exited the ballroom.

“I mean seven,” she said.

“Barrington!” an angry voice yelled. “I know you’re here. Come out. You’re only prolonging the inevitable!”

“He sounds upset,” Carly said.

“I’m not feeling particularly happy at the moment myself,” Stone said.

“Do you think that’s the Sarge?”

Across the room, someone said, “Sarge, I found something.”

“What is it?” the angry voice said.

“Yeah, I think it’s the Sarge,” Stone whispered to Carly.

“It’s a woman’s shoe,” the guy who’d found something said. “A nice one.”

“Sorry,” Carly said. “I took them off when I first stopped to shoot, then dropped them when we came out here.”

“Barrington,” the Sarge yelled, “I know you’re not alone. I tell you what. You give yourself up, and I’ll let your companion go unharmed.”

Stone peeked around the bar hoping to make out at least a shadowy shape, but the others were now hidden from view.

“I hear your mind turning,” Carly said.

“I’ll try to think quieter,” Stone said.

“If you’re considering taking him up on his offer—”

“I’m not. He’s bluffing.”

“You took the words out of my mouth.”

“That’s a first.”

The Sarge said, “Everyone, spread out.”

“Oh, good,” Stone said under his breath. “For a moment there, I thought we were in trouble.”

“I think wearein trouble,” Carly whispered.

“I was quoting Butch Cassidy. It’s what he says to Sundance at the end of the movie.”

“What movie?”

“Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.”

“That’s a movie?”

“It is, and a great one. Did I just find a hole in the mental database?”

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