The less she said was for the better.
She popped the tops off on the metal opener screwed to the wall and moved to table.
Duval was sitting across from Daryl and smiling at her as if this was a common occurrence for him.
She set one bottle in front of Duval and then reached out to set the other in front of Daryl. Before she could pull her hand back, Daryl grabbed her wrist.
Seaton held her breath for a moment until he spoke.
“Get us some fucking utensils! Do you even know how to do this job?”
She nearly stumbled back when he let go of her arm as quickly as he grabbed it.
That’s when she saw Yun head for the kitchen.
“Hey! Old man!”
Yun stopped just shy of the doorway.
“Yeah, you!”
Yun turned around, his face a mask of calm. “Yes, sir?”
Daryl smiled at him. “Don’t do anything stupid back there.” He waved his gun in Seaton’s direction and she held her breath. “She gets the first bullet.” Then he waved it toward the kitchen. “You get the next one.”
Seaton saw Duval shifting on his chair and she knew he was about to do something. Turning on her heel, she reached for the silverware caddy on the counter.
Earlier she’d intended to start setting empty tables when she had a moment, but new customers had caught and held her attention.
Now, instead of picking out just a handful of cutlery for the table, she picked up the whole caddy of silverware and headed for the table.
Seaton saw Duval roll his shoulders.
A simple gesture that people did to stretch or release some tension, but there was a difference in the way Duval did it.
She’d never be able to explain it in words, but she knew that it wasn’t an unconscious gesture, but a conscious one.
And as he leaned forward, putting his one forearm on the table, she saw her chance to help.
The whole caddy fell from her shaking fingers and hit the hard laminated floor with a crash that made her jump.
Before she could pull herself together, a loud crack filled the air and then a second one.
Seaton looked toward the table and saw Daryl lift his gun, swinging his arm in her direction.
She saw a flash before she heard a noise.
A moment later she hit the floor.
CADDO
He swore he was already moving before he heard the gunshots in the diner.
There were police between himself and the door, but he passed a few of them, and he’d likely shoved one away in his rush to get inside.
No one tried to stop him as he rushed through the door and passed by Duval to drop down beside Seaton and Yun.
The older man was sprawled nearly on top of Seaton and Sam helped him sit up before reaching for Seaton.
