"Anthony H Stewart - The Loser" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stewart Anthony H)

Jimmy pointed the gun at Mike.

"You stay here. If I see your face at the door in the next five minutes, I'll shoot it off."

Jimmy plunged out the back door into the darkness. He tripped over a curb, landing in some broken glass. His big toe hurt like fire, and he wondered if he had broken it. Now he was bleeding from his arm. He limped away, each step more painful than the last. He heard sirens. Were they after him? Was Carol still alive? It didn't matter, he had to get away.

The wind had picked up, and a few big raindrops pattered on the empty sidewalks. The temperature had dropped also, and the wind chill factor felt like it was below freezing. He pushed on, wondering where he could get the money to escape the city. His head started to pound, and he felt with his hand where a lump had risen on his head. He had stolen before, but it had always been impersonal. Now he had to do something he really didn't want to do. He waited in a parking lot until someone drove up. He came out of the shadows and stuck a gun in the man's ear.

"Car keys. Now."

The man's face turned ghostly white.

"B.. but"

"Shut up."

Jimmy got behind the wheel and took off. He had only gone a few blocks when he say smoke coming out of the engine. The car jerked, and he pulled to the side of the road. He lifted the hood. Steam poured from a large leak in the radiator. Enraged, he slammed the butt of the gun into the windshield, shattering it. All he got from it was another cut on his arm.

He started walking again. He wondered where they were, why they hadn't already gotten to him. Maybe they were waiting until he self-destructed. Well, if he didn't do something, they wouldn't have to wait long. He found an all-night convenience store. When he entered a small bell tinkled. The counter-man, a dark-skinned oriental, looked up from his magazine. Jimmy pointed his gun at the man's face.

"All your money. Now!"

The man didn't change expression.

"So sorry. All money in lock drawer. Only have small change."

"Give it to me."

Jimmy limped out the door. Thirteen dollars and seventeen cents. He was sure the man had tripped a silent alarm. He walked away quickly. Five minutes later, he heard alarms. He picked up his pace, turning into some nearby woods. The wind howled through the trees, and he felt the splash of raindrops on his skin. He had only one place left to run to.

Two hours later he found himself at McMann's office. Thinking the loan shark might still have some of the incriminating tapes, he broke a side window and crawled in. He knew he had to hurry. After thirty minutes, he found the tapes in a filing cabinet. He knew it was close to dawn. He hadn't slept since the previous night, and he was at the edge of collapse. Something had kept him going. Hate. Fear. Revenge. He started to crawl back out the window when Rudy Wallace entered the room, gun drawn.

"Thought I heard noise," he said, but before he could fire Jimmy pointed the gun. Click. Nothing. Wallace smiled and cocked the hammer of his pistol. Jimmy tried again and the gun exploded, tearing a hole in Wallace's gut. At the same time the bodyguard's bullet plunged into Jimmy's shoulder. Jimmy grimaced in pain. He felt dizzy, and for a second he thought he would fall down. He leaned against the wall. Just then McMann appeared, dressed in his usual blue suit and red and white striped tie. Strange. McMann was smiling.

"Go ahead and shoot, Walters. I don't think you will. Don't have the guts."

Just then another man filled the doorway, gun drawn. It was Taggart, gun drawn and ready. The last thing Jimmy heard was the magnum roar of Taggart's revolver.

"You showed up at the right time, deputy Taggart."

McMann smiled, looking down at Jimmy's lifeless body.

"No problem, Mr. McMann" Taggart said, holstering his revolver. "We figured he'd be heading here. I came in the back way."

"Quick action like this sure won't hurt your career," McMann said, lighting a cigar.

"I appreciate that, Mr. McMann."

"If there's anything I can do to help in the next election let me know."