He ducks easily. The gun slams into the side of my skull. An arm bands around my throat from behind.
Everything turns soft and fuzzy. My body bucks, muscles straining for the smallest bit of air.
“Where’s the old woman?” Doherty’s voice sounds so far away.
They’re not letting go. This…this is it. I’m going to die. A warm, quiet peace settles over me.
Gladys got out. She’ll be okay.
Gladys
“Holy shitsicles!” The bright sunlight blinds me. A wall of heat makes it hard to breathe. Or that could be my heart pounding.
Those two jackwagons didn’t pay me a single mind after Doc started wailing on them. I had to pull myself up those damn stairs by the handrail, but I made it out the back door.
“Make sure you stay in public.”
This parking lot ain’t public. But that big street at the far end sure is. Ignoring the pops and cracks from my knees, hips, and ankles, I stumble around the half a dozen cars until I reach the sidewalk.
The earbud is too damn small, and my fingers ain’t working right. But I get it into my ear and tap it like Doc said to do—all while shuffling toward the corner.
The stoplight turns green as I get there. Where should I go? Nothing much to the left. A couple of folks coming out of a restaurant with a doggie bag. Damn. I’m starving.
Up ahead, a big neon sign announces the grand opening of the “Fairfax Shopping MegaPlex.” A whole mess of balloons sways in the breeze, and the bright lights promise hourly giveaways, big sales, and “more.” There have to be people there.
The beep in my ear is so loud, I almost trip over my own damn feet as I start to cross. Halle-fucking-lujah!
“Hello? This is Gladys Henshaw. Those fuckers are gonna kill Natasha tonight. You lot better come get me before they find metoo. I’m on Center Parkway headin’ toward the Fairfax Shopping MegaPlex. Oh, and Doc said to say ‘firefly.’”
I’m out of breath by the time I get all that out. The light at the next corner is red, and I check behind me. Shitsicles. The dark-haired one—Doherty—runs out of the parking lot and scans the street. When he sees me, I wave and smile.
A group of handsome men in suits come out of a restaurant between us and hide him from view. They’re walking toward me. Maybe I should flash my tits like the Doc said. But then the light chirps, and it’s the second best sound I’ve heard all day. Right behind those damn beeps in my ear.
“Did you hear me, firefly people? Doc said you were the cavalry, and that mall won’t keep me safe very long if you don’t find me. The Colonel’s gonna kill Nat tonight at the prison.”
“Holy fuck. Gladys?” The rough, deep voice in my ear scares the shit out of me. I yelp, and a mom pushing a stroller looks at me like I’m two sandwiches short of a picnic. But I shuffle through the big automatic doors. A blast of cold air hits me square in the face.
“Yep. Who the hell are you and how long do I need to wait for you to get here? Doc’s in a building two blocks away with a whole mess of computers. In the basement. If they didn’t kill him for what he did to get me out of there, he needs savin’.”
I wonder if any of Dr. Sexy Pants’s friends are as hot as he is? And single. It’s been a long time since I had anything nice to look at.
“We’re on our way,” the voice says, interrupting my fantasy. “Ten minutes. Are you safe?”
“As safe as I can be. But you ain’t said the code word.”
“Goddam—goldilocks.”
“That ain’t it, sonny.” I look around for the best place to wait. The food court is packed, so I shuffle over and sink down at one of the few available tables. My stomach rumbles. I wonder if anyof these people would take pity on an old woman and buy her some french fries?
“Firefly, Gladys. The code is firefly.” He lowers his voice and adds, “She called me ‘sonny.’”
“Well,nowI’m satisfied. I’m sittin’ in the food court. You get to Doc first, young man. Then come find me. I’ll be waitin’.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Gladys
I keep expectingDoherty or the other one—the mean one—to come and drag me out of the food court, but after ten minutes, I start to relax. Until a tall drink of water with some gray in his brown hair and an easy smile strides my way. Then I sit up straight.
