“We did it,” Beckett repeated. “We stole the money. You’re being framed for our crime.”
“I ain’t laughin’,” Beaumont barked angrily.
“It’s no joke. When we go back into that courtroom, I’m going to confess to the crime.”
Beaumont exploded. “What the fuck!?” he yelled as he jerked back and forth, trying to free himself from the shackles so he could strangle Beckett.
“I’m going to set this right,” Beckett pleaded.
Beaumont stopped struggling against the shackles and glared at Beckett.
“I promise,” Beckett added.
“All right Evan, I think you’ve said enough,” Corbin said.
“No Alex, I haven’t said nearly enough,” Beckett replied bitterly without turning to face Corbin. As he did, Corbin pulled the gun from his belt.
“Fuuuuck!” Beaumont exclaimed upon seeing the gun. He backed into the corner.
Beckett spun around to face Corbin and saw Corbin point the gun at him. “Whoa!” Beckett exclaimed. He threw his hands up before him as if to block the bullet, even though Corbin hadn’t yet fired. “Put the gun down, Alex,” Beckett said as calmly as he could manage. His heart raced and his pulse pounded in his ears.
“Yeah, put the gun down,” Beaumont added, as he tried to dig himself deeper into the corner.
“You couldn’t leave well enough alone, could you, Evan?” Corbin hissed. His rage was obvious. His eyes became small and narrow and tore into Beckett’s. His nose flared, his lips curled into a snarl, exposing his teeth, and his left eye twitched. Yet, there was a strange calmness about Corbin, almost a detachment. He moved smoothly, almost mechanically, he spoke effortlessly, his breathing wasn’t labored, and even his hands had stopped shaking.
“You don’t have to do this, Alex.”
“You’ve left me no choice.”
“You’re better than this, Alex.”
“I’ll get over it.”
“You won’t get away, Alex.”
“I will.”
“Alex, give me the gun,” Beckett said slowly, carefully. He began to lower his hands.
“We’re way past that point, Evan. You just wouldn’t listen, would you?” Corbin sounded disgusted. He shook his head as he spoke. “Do you have any idea what you’ve put me through? Do you have any idea what I had to give up because of you?”
Beaumont took two steps along the wall, away from Beckett. “Whatever this is, it’s between you two and-”
“Shut up and stay calm, Beaumont,” Beckett said.
“No Beaumont, don’t shut up,” Corbin countered. “Why don’t you tell our naive friend here who really killed Mona Hampton.”
“I ain’t killed nobody,” Beaumont insisted. He took another step away from the corner and away from Beckett.
“I’m not playing around with you,” Corbin said. His eye twitched again.
Beaumont suddenly stood up straight. His lips curled into a half-smirk, half-snarl. “Shit. You know what? I seen people get shot and I seen people’s eyes before they shot somebody. I know what it takes to kill somebody, and you,” Beaumont said, trying to point at Corbin, “you, ain’t got it.” He took another step along the wall.
“Nice try, Beaumont,” Corbin said dismissively. “If you want to be the first to die, then so be it.” In one swift motion, he turned the gun on Beaumont and jerked it slightly as if he’d pulled the trigger.
Beaumont, expecting a bullet, immediately dropped to the floor, trying to cover his face with his hands. “Shit, don’t shoot!” he screamed.
“Then tell him, Beaumont, or the shooting starts!” Corbin now stood with both hands on the gun, which pointed directly at Beaumont. He took a step back to give himself a better field of vision on both Beckett and Beaumont. “There’s no reason you can’t walk out of here. All I want from you is the truth.”
Beaumont looked out from behind his arm, which blocked his face. “Wh. . what?” His voice cracked.
“The truth Beaumont!”
“You ain’t gonna shoot me?”
“Now!”
Beaumont looked at Corbin, then he looked at Beckett, who was fixated on Corbin. A smile crossed his lips. “A’right. You want the truth?! I killed that bitch. I shot her dead.”
“And the rest?!”
“Yeah. I killed Letricia too, and that fucking ’spic, and a half dozen other people too they ain’t never gonna prove.” Beaumont stood back up, most of his fear having dissipated. Indeed, he seemed strangely proud of his confession.
Beckett looked at Beaumont, confusion registering on his face. “You said-?”
“Fuck, I lied!” Beaumont interrupted him. “You didn’t really believe me, did you? What kind’a lawyer are you?!” Each word was bathed in contempt for Beckett.
Corbin pointed the gun at Beckett again. “This is the guy you want to die for?”
Beckett shook his head. “It’s not about him, Alex, it’s about right and wrong.” Beckett took a deep breath. He stared at the gun. “They’re going to execute you if you pull that trigger. . do you really want to die for money?”
“It’s not about money, Evan. It’s about freedom.”
“No Alex, if it was about freedom, you would have left last night.” Beckett took a step toward Corbin and reached his hand out as if to take the gun. “Give me the gun, Alex.”
“You brought this on yourself.” Two shots rang out. Followed by two more.
Epilogue
Molly stared at the cookie. She’d been thinking about this cookie for several days now, but she would pass on it once again. In her right hand, she held the coffee she just purchased from the new coffee shop. Their cookies didn’t look particularly good, which is why she found herself here again. In her left hand, she held the
