Friday, September 30, 2011

Book of the Blind - Part XLIII

Gibson’s finger tightened around the trigger. The hammer cocked, painfully slow.

That was when the ganger lost his nerve and ran, dropping the pistol in his haste.

Gibson waited until the kid was out of sight, then sagged, looking every inch an old man.

“God damn,” he said. “God damn.”

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Book of the Blind - Part XLII

Gibson nodded his head toward the wannabe thief’s weapon. “Put the gun down and walk away.”

The gun in the ganger’s hand started to shake, but it didn’t go down.

“Last chance, son.”

The ganger licked his lips, decisions flickering through his eyes, changing from moment to moment.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Book of the Blind - Part XLI

“Now,” Gibson said, “I’m going to wager that you’ve never fired a gun before. But me? I have. I’ve killed two men. I’m not proud of it. But they were both threatening to take my life or the lives of others, so I sleep well at night knowing I put them down. So you have to ask yourself: Do I want to be number three?”

The kid’s eyes widened behind the ski mask.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Book of the Blind - Part XL

“Give me your money before I blow you to hell!” the kid said.

A black car swept by, splashing through puddles left by the heavy rain earlier that night. It drew the ganger’s attention for a split second.

When he turned back, Gibson had his revolver out and aimed, his gun hand rock steady.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Book of the Blind - Part XXXIX

“I said gimme your money, old man!” the kid said. At least, Gibson thought of him as a kid. That was going to make this next part a lot more difficult.

“You’ve got one last chance to grow some common sense and kick off,” Gibson said mildly. He’d taken measure of the kid as soon as he showed and decided he was probably a ganger looking for a thrill.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Book of the Blind - Part XXXVIII

It didn’t do anything to help his mood that a twentysomething jackass in a ski mask had just leveled a gun at him while demanding his money. Not even two blocks from the police station, he had to put up with this bullshit.

“Son,” Gibson said. “You really don’t want to do this. I promise you.”

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Book of the Blind - Part XXXVII

Of course, if Morgan woke up the next morning and the city had gone to Hell in a very literal sense, she would be perfectly willing to admit that she was wrong.

* * *

Sean Gibson didn’t leave the precinct until nearly five AM. He was less than pleased about that.