'Excellent.'
'Then, also…'
Hood took a knee and brought out the items one at a time and set them on the floor: the ring boxes first, then the bundle of love letters, the journal. He hesitated on the items that Seliah had given to him to keep, but only for a moment, then set them out, too. 'And here's a bottle of wine she was saving for a special occasion, and Daisy the horse and Betty the doll, and the pressed leaves in this book, and a lock of your hair. She wanted those last things scattered with her ashes if she doesn't come through this.'
Ozburn stared at the things for a long moment. 'Okay. Well. I never thought… this.'
'I can have you up to UCI Medical Center in a little over two hours, Oz. They'll knock you out, too, and try to let you fight off the virus. You'll be with her.'
'And if I'm lucky enough to live through that, it's off to prison for this fine agent. No, thanks, Charlie. I won't do that. And I've got a job to finish.'
'I hope you're clear on this, Oz. You've got a lethal virus multiplying itself in your brain. You're going to die very soon if you don't let those doctors treat you.'
'Clear.'
Ozburn waved Hood away with one of the guns, then picked up the two ring boxes. He opened them both, then closed them and tossed them one at a time to Hood. 'If Seliah doesn't make it, make sure these rings go with her ashes. I've got no use for them without her to wear them.'
Outside the wind lashed the house. In between gusts coyotes yipped from the dark distance. Ozburn knelt and swept Seliah's offerings into the bag with his big hands, going strictly by feel as he stared at Hood. When he was done he swung one of the machine pistols to his side and picked up both bags with one hand. He lifted the back of his gun hand to his face and wiped a rope of saliva from his chin. He bared his teeth at Hood and growled. Hood looked at Ozburn's horrific face. Then movement outside caught his eye and he saw the lights of Beth Petty's car coming up the rough gravel road.
'Company,' said Ozburn. 'You didn't hit a panic button, did you?'
'It's Beth.'
'That right? I'd like to meet her, Charlie.'
'Gotta stay on your good behavior, Oz.'
'Never lecture a man with two machine guns.'
'She's innocent of all this.'
'So was Seliah. God, I miss her. You wouldn't believe how much good old-fashioned lust builds up when you got whatever in hell I have.'
'I read that.'
'Seliah tell you about it?'
'No.'
'I thought she might have been coming on to you the night you put her in handcuffs.'
'She put herself in them, Sean.'
'Like Juan Batista.'
'Like him, yes.'
'The sex is like nothing you ever felt. It goes from pleasure to pain to something much bigger and stronger. You can't get enough. There isn't any word for that feeling. I can't even describe it.'
Hood watched the headlight beams swing across the window glass and go out. He saw Beth, wrapped in her long knit sweater coat, a brown bag in the crook of one arm, coming up the walkway toward the front door.
'She's pretty,' said Ozburn. He turned to watch her, gun in one hand and the bags in the other. His breathing got faster and in a smooth, quick motion Hood raised his right knee and slipped the derringer from its home, then quietly set his right foot down again.
'I'm going walk past you to the door and open it for her,' said Hood. 'I'll make the introduction.'
Ozburn continued to stare out the window and Hood heard the rattling wet inhale of his breath as he passed behind the man. Ozburn swung around, the silenced machine gun pointed at Hood's middle.
'Hold your fire, Sean,' said Hood. 'I'm a friend, remember?'
Hood stepped to the door. He was between Beth and Ozburn now, the derringer cupped in his right hand and held firm by his thumb. He let her knock, then swung open the door with his free hand and cocked the hammer into the gust.
'Finally!' Beth stepped in and threw an arm around Hood's neck and kissed him. He broke it off quickly and put his mouth to her fragrant ear.
'Beth. There's someone behind me. Don't be afraid. But if anything happens, run outside into the darkness and don't stop. I'll come to you.'
'What?'
He felt her body tense and he drew her by her hand into the foyer and pushed shut the door, then turned and presented Beth Petty to Sean Ozburn.
'Pleased to meet you,' she said cheerfully. 'Nice guns!'
Ozburn stared at her. 'You are an unbearable pleasure to my eyes.'
'That's the nicest thing I've heard all day.' She glanced at Hood and offered her hand to Ozburn. Hood's heart was pounding.
Ozburn set down the bag, took Beth's hand lightly, bowed and kissed it. Then he let go of the gun and closed his other hand over hers and smiled at her. 'You're mine now and I'll never let you go.'
'Well, don't tell him, but I'm kind of Charlie's for the time being.'
'I was the best of them once.'
'Oh?'
Ozburn pulled her closer and leaned into her, head tilted, nose to her temple, then her ear, then her neck. A thick ribbon of saliva swayed from his chin.
Beth looked at Hood, the fear bright in her eyes. Then she made a graceful tangolike turn that left her sweater coat half-on and half-off and Ozburn no gentleman's choice at all. He took the brown bag from her and held the coat so she could slide out of it.
Palming the derringer, Hood stepped between them and accepted the coat from Ozburn, which left the concealed weapon pointed roughly at Ozburn's heart.
'It was good seeing you, Sean. You're a true and good friend. We need to talk again. Soon, but not now.'
'Unbearable.' Ozburn wiped his chin on the back of a fist and looked ashamedly at Beth, then Hood. 'I am sorry.'
'Here are the treasures from Seliah.'
Ozburn took up the bag. 'Thank you. Remember to talk to Soriana about my proposal.'
Hood stood in the doorway and watched him walk into the wind. Ozburn stopped and turned and Hood knew that at this range he was defenseless against Ozburn's weapons. Ozburn saluted him, then lowered his sunglasses and continued on, looking back once, then continuing down the driveway to the road. Hood saw the glint of glass and metal in the distance. Beth came up next to him. Hood watched Ozburn make his way down the gravel road. He stopped once and waited, then walked on. A moment later the interior lights of a vehicle came on and Hood could make out a red pickup truck. A dark shape moved back and forth inside the cab. Ozburn opened the door and climbed in. The interior lights went out and the brights shot to life. A moment later Ozburn hooked a U-turn and sped down the road and out of sight, his dust a faint contrail rising in the darkness.
'I'm not sure what we just avoided,' said Beth. 'But I think it could have been very, very bad.' She held his arm in both hands and Hood could feel her trembling.
'We can't stay here,' said Hood. 'But I'll take you to the very finest motel in Buenavista.'
'How about my place?'
'Better.'
'You've got a story to tell me.'
'Do I ever.'
While Beth packed up the dinner provisions from the refrigerator Hood called Soriana, Bly, Morris and Velasquez.
He drove them to Beth's home in his vehicle, his Colt unholstered and secure between his thigh and the seat.
