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“Holster?”
“If you don’t do it now, I’ll shoot The Major.”
“With the rifle my mom gave him? That’s unsportsmanlike.”
“Do it, Trapper.”
The gleam in Hank’s eyes made him look maniacal enough to turn this standoff bloody. Trapper couldn’t risk that until he had a better grasp of what was going on. “In order to reach my holster with one hand, I have to take off my coat.”
“Slowly.”
Trapper shrugged the coat off his shoulders, then let the sleeves slide down his arms. It fell to the floor. Reaching behind him with one hand, he detached his holstered nine-millimeter from his waistband.
“Now pitch it over your shoulder.”
“That’s dangerous. I’m not sure the safety is on.”
“Do it.”
He tried to pinpoint the spot of the thud against hardwood when the holster landed.
“Keep your hands raised,” Hank said.
Trapper held them at shoulder height. “Now what? We stand here until one of us caves? Your lifetime record for holding out is for shit, you know.”
“Shut up!”
The Major’s breathing whistled when he inhaled. “Hank, why are you doing this? Have you lost your mind?”
“His soul, I think,” Trapper said. “What’s this about having to search for Glenn?”
The Major said, “He hasn’t been seen or heard from since last night.”
“He was called away from the house,” Hank said.
Trapper didn’t like the sound of that, or the gloating expression on Hank’s face. “Called away?”
“By Deputy Jenks.”
“Department business?”
“Not exactly.”
“What exactly?”
Hank said, “I notified Jenks that Dad had—as you put it—grown a conscience and spilled his guts. Which presented us with a problem. Jenks lured him out to The Pit. No more problem.”
“He killed Glenn? Jesus Christ,” The Major whispered. “Why?”
Trapper said, “Because the reverend here wanted to take over for Thomas Wilcox as chief bad guy.” Trapper snickered. “But the thing is, Hank is so screwed
and doesn’t even know it.”
“Whatever your con is this time, Trapper, I’m not falling for it.”
“No con. Hadn’t you heard? Wilcox is dead.”
“Oh, I heard all the gory details. Your girlfriend reported them from outside the Wilcox mansion.”
