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Hyde stood there, hand over his bleeding mouth, and didn’t move. Franz groaned on the ground, choking and gasping for air, but finally looked up.
“In there,” Ewan said, gesturing with the gun toward a gap in the chain-link fence that led into the school parking lot.
Hyde didn’t move. “What the fuck are you doing?” he asked.
“Go in there or I will kill you right here and now,” Ewan said.
I looked around wildly. There was nobody in sight, but houses loomed up all around, and anyone could’ve been looking out their window.
Hyde moved first. He dragged Franz up, then the pair staggered into the parking lot. Ewan followed them, holding the gun up loosely. I came last and stood near the entrance, watching the sidewalk, body vibrating with fear and adrenaline.
Ewan gestured toward the wall of the house next to the school. The lot was empty otherwise. “Stand there,” Ewan said. “Back against the wall. Go on, both of you.”
Hyde and Franz stood next to each other, their heels against the wall. Franz was breathing heavily, and he pawed at his neck, while Hyde spit blood onto the ground.
“What’s this shit about, Ewan?” Hyde said. “Fuck, I think you broke one of my teeth.”
Ewan lowered the gun down, but held it in one hand at his side. “I know you two idiots are working for Colm Healy,” he said. “I need information.”
“We’re not—” Hyde started, but Ewan took one step forward, and he stopped.
“You two just left a house that Ronan Healy entered last night,” Ewan said softly. “And I’ve heard the fucking rumors. Don’t play games, Hyde.”
“Just tell him,” Franz croaked. “Fuck, tell him whatever he wants to know.”
“That’s the spirit.” Ewan showed his teeth. “I only need to know one thing.”
“What?” Hyde asked, suspicious, and glanced toward me.
“Where’s Colm been staying?” Ewan asked.
Hyde shook his head. “I’ve got no fucking clue,” he said. “I’m a nobody. You know that. I’ve got nothing to do with leadership.”
“He’s not lying,” Franz said, and leaned his head against the wall. “Fuck, Ewan. You think we want to lie to you?”
“I think you’re afraid of me,” Ewan said. “But you also know that the Healys will kill you just as easily as I will. Got to be real careful, right?” He stepped forward and raised the gun, and pressed it against Franz’s gut.
“Ewan,” Hyde said. “Come on. What the fuck?”
“Where has Colm been staying?” Ewan asked.
“I don’t—”
Ewan pulled the trigger.
It was loud, shockingly loud, though muffled by Franz. I gasped and had to cover my mouth to stop myself from screaming. I instantly felt like I was back in my father’s house, watching him get executed. Ewan had the same cold, dead eyes, like he didn’t give a damn what he did.
The big man grunted in shock and stumbled to the side before hitting the ground. Blood burst out from his wound and leaked onto the ground. The big man moaned in pain and weakly patted at the hole in his stomach, trying to stop the bleeding, and Hyde stood horrified and transfixed, his hands against his mouth, not moving an inch.
Ewan turned the gun to Hyde. I knew he’d kill Hyde if he didn’t talk, and I wanted to beg him to tell Ewan everything he knew, but I was terrified. I kept scanning the block and the windows, looking for a witness, but the place was quiet, like gunshots were common. It was insane, so insane.
“Where has Colm been staying?” Ewan asked.
“Breakfast,” Hyde barked.
Ewan hesitated. “Talk.”
Hyde squeezed his eyes shut, trembling. “Breakfast. I don’t know where he’s staying, but I know where he’s getting breakfast.”
“Where?” Ewan asked.
“Place called Baby May’s,” he said. “It’s right near Drexel. It’s a fucking college place normally, but he likes their food, so shit, he goes there in the mornings real early, right when they open.”
“Are you lying?” Ewan asked.
“No,” Hyde said. “Fuck, Ewan, let me call an ambulance. He’s really bad, man.”
Ewan glanced down to where Franz lay bleeding. “Better call fast,” he said, and shoved the gun into his waistband. “Next time, tell me what I want to know the first time.” He turned and walked toward me, and I stared at him.
There must’ve been fear in my eyes, because I saw his expression shift into something like pain, then soften. He reached me and put a hand on my arm. “Are you okay?” I asked.
“You shot him.”
“I know,” he said. “Would it make you feel better if I said that he’ll probably live?”
“Not really. Maybe. I don’t know.” I sucked in gasping breaths and realized I was panicking.
He took my wrist and steered me away. We walked out onto the sidewalk again and I heard Hyde yelling into his phone, begging the 911 operator to send an ambulance as fast as they could.
Ewan didn’t hurry. He had blood splattered on his chest and arms, but he smiled, and looked like he wanted to whistle. I felt like I needed to scream, but his hand was hard on my wrist, and we made it back to the car without any issues.
