Apaches - Lorenzo Carcaterra [137]
• • •
“WE HOLD TO the plan for as long as we can,” Boomer said, looking past Dead-Eye toward Rev. Jim and Mrs. Columbo. “If we make it out, we regroup here and head back to the landing strip.”
“Don’t I at least get a gun?” Lavetti asked, still stretched out on the ground.
“Know how to use one?” Rev. Jim asked.
“Of course I do,” Lavetti exclaimed.
“Then the answer’s no,” Mrs. Columbo said. “We may be crazy, but we ain’t stupid.”
“Don’t think of yourself as an Apache,” Dead-Eye told him. “Think of yourself as a bulletproof vest we don’t have to wear.”
“It’s like havin’ my very own shield,” Rev. Jim said. He snapped one cuff around Lavetti’s wrist, closing the other end on his own. “Wonder how many bullets he takes before I tire of draggin’ him around.”
“Enough to kill him, I hope,” was Mrs. Columbo’s answer.
“We ready to do this?” Boomer asked, standing and zipping his jacket.
“No,” Dead-Eye said. “But if it means getting out of this heat, I’ll give it a shot.”
“Dead-Eye and I will walk down the front path like we’re invited to a party,” Boomer said. “Soon as you can, Rev. Jim, get that Greek fire going across the pond.”
“It’ll either be flames or me shootin’ past that water,” Rev. Jim said.
Boomer turned to Mrs. Columbo. “Mary, you get as close as you can and launch those rockets just like we showed you on the plane.”
“Don’t worry,” she said. “If I can drive a wrecking ball down a Manhattan street, I can sure as shit shoot a rocket against the side of a house.”
“We all meet inside,” Boomer said. “First one to Lucia takes home the prize.”
“We’re all going to be killed,” Lavetti said, panic firmly set in. “She’s in there waiting. They’re all in there waiting. If you turn back now, I can work something out. Have her back off. It’s your only way out.”
Boomer stepped over to Lavetti and slapped him hard across the face. “As soon as the shooting starts, uncuff yourself from him,” Boomer said to Rev. Jim. “He’ll be surrounded by his friends.”
“See you at the fair.” Rev. Jim began dragging Lavetti with him toward the golf pond.
Boomer watched them go, then turned to Mrs. Columbo. He touched her cheek and smiled. “You sure you’re gonna be okay?” he asked.
“You worried because I’m the only woman on the team?” Mrs. Columbo asked.
“I’m worried because you’re the only woman I care about left alive,” Boomer said softly.
“You really know the right time for romance,” she answered with a smile. She lifted her launcher and rocket pack and headed off in search of a shooting site.
“That just leaves the two of us,” Dead-Eye pointed out.
“You’re a smart man.” Boomer placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “How the hell’d you end up with a guy like me?”
“Born under a dark cloud,” Dead-Eye told him. “And there’s nothing I can do to change it.”
“Let’s go make some noise, then.” They began to walk down the well-lit path, knowing there were eyes on their every step. They turned a slight curve and saw the house, a quarter of a mile ahead.
“They’re not gonna let us get much closer,” Boomer said.
“I wouldn’t have let us get this far.”
“Maybe we got it all wrong,” Boomer said. “Maybe they don’t want us dead.”
“That’s what Custer thought. Up until that first arrow.”
• • •
“WHY ARE YOU waiting?” Lucia asked Wilber, anger in her voice and eyes.
“Can you see them yet?” Wilber asked. “I thought you wanted to see them.”
“Enough with your stupid little games, Wilber,” Lucia said. “I want to see them dead.”
“They are dead,” Wilber said. “They just haven’t been told yet.”
“Well then, have the men let them know,” Lucia said. “Now.”
Wilber opened the windows to the terrace, stepped outside, and gave the signal.
• • •
REV. JIM EASED the nitro ball into the air gun, then placed the front tip of the gun inside the opening of the five-foot plastic tube. He and Lavetti were crouched at the edge of the golf pond, directly across from the rear of the house.
“You have any idea what you’re doing?” Lavetti asked, desperate.
“Not a clue.” Rev. Jim moved both hands slowly, dragging