“Cam, see about the boy!” Allen shouted.
Cam hurried to Jacob, and Allen ran to Donnie, kicking Tucker'spistol across the room on his way. He knelt down next to Donnie, and yanked hiscell phone out of his pocket.
“Hold on,” Allen said, applying pressure to Donnie's torsowound with one hand and dialing 911 with the other.
“I'll be damned,” Donnie said, “it doesn't really hurt thatmuch. Just burns a little.”
“Yeah, it's not that bad,” Allen lied. “I need an ambulanceat the Strong residence on Norwood Farms Road. Multiple gunshot wounds.” Hedropped the phone on the floor next to him.
Jacob ran to Allen, dropped to his knees, and threw his armsaround him. “I thought they were gonna kill me,” he said.
“What happened?” Allen asked, still with one hand onDonnie's wound.
“Me and Oliver broke in. I know I was stupid, but we thoughtwe would find millions of dollars in the safe. We'd be rich, and then our dadscould quit their jobs.”
Allen smiled. “Go on.”
“No one was supposed to be home. When we heard them come in,we ran out the back door and tried to get away. Oliver fell over the cliff andhit the rocks.”
“Did Oliver wear black and white Nikes?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“I found one of them on the rocks.” He paused. “I know thisis hard to hear, but they dumped Oliver's body behind the elementary school.”
Jacob's eyes filled with tears. “I know. I heard them talking.They said it was to throw the cops off the scent until they decided what to dowith me. That Tucker guy, it was his idea. He wanted to kill me, too, but Mr.Strong, he wanted to ask for a ransom. I told him my folks don't have anymoney.”
Cam laid two fingers on the side of Tucker's neck. “He'sdead,” he said.
“Good!” Jacob blurted out.
“My sentiments exactly,” said Allen.
He took hold of Jacob's hand and put it on Donnie's wound.“Keep pressure on here.” Grimacing, the boy complied.
Donnie's face was white, and he was starting to sweat.
Cam stood above Donnie, looking down at him. “You're gonnabe just fine, son,” he said.
Allen stood and looked over at Strong. “I'm guessing he'sdead too.”
“Oh yeah,” Cam replied.
Allen bent down and picked up his 9mm. “I'm going to runupstairs and make sure no one else is up there,” he said. “We still have onebad guy unaccounted for.”
“Vinny Tubbs,” said Cam.
Jacob pointed at Strong. “That Tubbs guy and Mr. Strong gotinto an argument about how Tubbs was a traitor,” he said, “and Mr. Strong shothim.”
“You sons of bitches!” a woman screamed.
It was Betty Strong. She stood in the doorway, her pocketbookin one hand, and a revolver in the other. Allen didn't even have time to turnaround before Betty's bony finger began pulling the trigger. She fired threetimes, hitting Allen in the back with each shot.
Cam brought up his .38, shooting Betty twice in the chest.The old woman dropped to her knees, and fell to her back, still holding herweapon.
Allen stumbled forward, hitting the floor on his side. Hegroaned and rolled onto his back.
Jacob crawled to Allen. “Allen!” he hollered.
Cam dropped to his knees next to Allen, inspecting the man'schest for exit wounds. “Lie still,” he said, laying his hand on Allen's chest.
Sirens wailed in the distance.
“You're okay. You're okay,” Jacob sobbed.
“You're gonna be alright,” said Cam.
Allen coughed, and spit up blood. The blood trickled downhis chin. “No, I'm not,” he whispered. He coughed again.
“Don't die,” Jacob said. “Please, Allen.”
Allen reached up and grabbed the boy's shoulder and pulledhim close. “Tell Mya goodbye for me, and take care of Frankie.” Allen tried totake a deep breath. The blood rattled in his chest.
“I'll take care of Frankie,” cried the young boy. Tearsstreamed down his cheeks.
Allen's eyes went slowly to Cam. “Thanks for everything …Rambo's grampa.”
“Glad I could help, Allen.” He swallowed the giant lump inhis throat. “Most fun I've had in years. Who knew writer's lives was soexcitin'?”
Allen found it too painful to smile. “I sure as hell didn't.How's Donnie?”
Cam glanced over at Donnie. His eyes were closed, but hischest was moving up and down. “He's doing good.”
“I could sure use a drink right now.”
“I bet you could, pal.”
Allen took two more breaths before his lungs failed him, andhe closed his eyes.
Jacob dropped his head on Allen's chest and sobbed. Camreached out and put his hand on the back of Jacob's head.
“Sorry, son,” Cam said. He turned his head and gazed outthrough the broken window. His eyes fixed on Boone Island, barely visible onthe horizon. He took a deep breath, and sighed. “This is it for Maine,” hewhispered. “Maybe Key West next year. What could go wrong in Key West?”
The End
Coming Soon:
From the Tales of Dan Coast
A Note From the Grave
Charlie Hewitt a Novella
ALSO BY RODNEY RIESEL
From the Tales ofDan Coast Series
SleepingDogs Lie
OceanFloors
TheCoast of Christmas Past
Shipof Fools
DoubleTrouble
MostLikely to Die
DeadlyMoves
Onthe Wagon
NoEnemies Here
NeighborhoodWatch
AnotherMother
CornerOffice
WhatHe Doesn’t Know
ShouldaSeen it Comin’
JakeStellar Series
NorthMurder Beach
BeachShoot
WhenDeath Returns
TheObedience of Fools
Deadin the Water
ExcitedAbout Nothing
SouthernExposure
The Dunquin CoveSeries
TheMan in Room Number Four
Returnto Dunquin Cove
LocalHero
WeCall it Suicide
Sunrise CitySeries
SunriseCity
SunriseCity 2: From Bad to Worse
SunriseCity 3: Never Strikes Twice
SunriseCity 4: Dig Two Graves
SunriseCity 5: Scapegoats
Fernandina Beach Mysteries
MaintenanceRequired
HighMaintenance
SerialMaintenance
FamilyMaintenance
JensenBeach Mysteries
As Seen onTV
TV or Not TV
Dead Asleep
From Here toThere:A Collection of Short Stories
