“I saw him take it in the neck.”
Roam was behind his back, working fast.
“Give it to me, man,” Dutch urged.
“I saw it.I saw him take it in the neck.”
Dutch shuffled closer, muttering, not to Carlyle, “Get herback.”
Georgie disappeared.
“He went down.He’s a big guy like me.”
“Give it to me.”
“Made a big noise when he hit.Bitch screamed.Loud.Soloud.All of that.Seemed louder than the gunshot.”
“I can see that,” Dutch told him when he stopped talking.
“‘Not the kid,’ she said, then shoved the guy out the door,”Carlyle continued.
At least she did that.
“Dad was down, but his arms were moving, he was looking atme, motioning me to get out of there.I didn’t do what he told me to do.I wentto him.”
After that, Carlyle jerked suddenly, slammed his large fistsinto the floor beside him, then curled instantly into a ball, his hands oneover the other on the back of his head.
“He went down.Never got up.Never got up.Nevergonnaget up,” he said to his thighs.
“Do I need to call Jules?”Vance asked quietly.
“No,” Dutch answered.
He didn’t touch him.Dutch didn’t move.
Carlyle started rocking.
It didn’t last long.
Carlyle’s hands slid away.They fell to the floor like theyweren’t flesh he could control, but useless appendages made of nothing.
He lifted his head and eyes filled with everything Dutch hadfelt all his life, all at once, caught on Dutch’s.
Dutch heard Jagger suck in breath and knew Jagger recognizedit, just like Dutch.
“Igottafind him, for my dad.”
“We’ll find him for you, man,” Dutch promised.
“It’sgottabe me,” Carlyle said.
“Yougottastay safe, becausethere is one thing I know in this world above all other, your mom’sgonnaneed you.Do you understand me?”
Carlyle swallowed hard.
“Do you understand me, Carlyle?”Dutch pushed.
Carlyle just stared at him, gone.Gone to the pain.Gone tothe memories.
