Post by StoryGirl83 on Jan 9, 2010 23:37:04 GMT -5
Chapter Twenty-One – One Shot
Bianca ran her knife against a stone, sharpening it. “I shouldn’t have told them. I should have gone after Vera myself. I should have gotten our daughter back myself.”
Lawrence shook his head. “Bianca, you have never beaten her. You’ve only ever stalled her long enough to get bounties removed. If you could have, you would have long before we met.”
Bianca sighed and nodded. “I know, but trust is hard for me and I don’t know them at all.”
Lawrence went over to the couch and tipped over the arm. He reached in and pulled out a gun.
Bianca stared at him stunned. “Lawrence?”
“I have two brothers with the police,” he commented. “Did you think I didn’t know how to use one?”
“Of course I knew you could use one,” Bianca countered. “I just don’t know why you are getting it out.”
Lawrence looked her in the eye. “Vera took our daughter which means she really wants this bounty. She won’t give it up and if they can get Ashlyn back safely, she’ll come after us. She’s not about to let you talk anyone out of this.”
“I’ve killed other Phoenix before to protect their bounties,” Bianca lamented throwing two knives in rapid succession at a dart board on the far side of the room, hitting the bull’s-eye with both. As she walked over to retrieve them she asked, “Why can’t I kill Vera?”
“For the same reason you can’t kill Nina, your childhood playmate,” Lawrence replied as he loaded his gun, “or your mom. They may be killers, but they are killers you care for, love. They’re family.”
“But I’m not even related to Vera or Nina,” Bianca protested as she returned her knives to their sheaths and turned around to face him.
Lawrence never replied as blue-white lights filled the space between them and Chris orbed in cradling a sleeping Ashlyn.
“Ashlyn!” Bianca exclaimed and took a step forward. She stopped and reached for her knives as she saw Vera blink in behind Lawrence. In horror she watched as Vera raised her own knife.
Realizing something was wrong, Lawrence turned around, gun still in hand. His eyes widened at the knife headed toward him even as he took aim and shot.
“Knife,” Chris called out, unable to move his hand much with a sleeping child in his arms. The knife orbed into Chris’ barely free hand.
Lawrence let out a huge breath as he realized the knife was no longer a threat and that his bullet had hit it mark, dead center on Vera’s forehead.
Vera was dead before she dropped to the ground. Her spirit exited her body unnoticed and was pulled struggling into a dark vortex.
Lawrence slumped to the ground staring at his gun, shaking. “I’ve never. . .” A sigh rattled through his lips. Without looking he spoke in a shaky voice. “Bianca, get Ashlyn from him. Get rid of any prints on that knife. Vera wears gloves so they won’t expect any, but there must be no sign that he was here when the police arrive." He turned his head enough to look at Chris. “Thank you.” And then he fainted.
Bianca laughed nervously. “I guess that’s why he never joined the force like Mason and Sheldon.”
Chris offered her a half smile as he handed Ashlyn over to her. “I guess so.”
“He’s right,” Bianca commented as she watched her daughter’s steady breathing. “You can’t be associated with this. “She looked up at him, tears threatening her eyes. “Thank you. Thank you.”
Chris smiled. No, this wasn’t the woman he had known. She was like her, but not the same. “Be careful. What you do is dangerous. Probably as dangerous or close to what I do. I know a little about Phoenix and I know this can’t be easy for you.”
She made a sound that seemed to be agreement before she focused back on her daughter. “We’ll make sure there is no official mention of you in this,” she said as lay Ashlyn on the couch and walked over to where her husband was stirring, “but you’d best be going so I can call the police.”
Chris watched her for several seconds as he wondered if things might have been different if he’d met her sooner or if he’d have even cared before he remembered that other life time. And then, when he thought he knew the answer, he orbed away from her, away from her family, away from her life, because the answer didn’t matter.