Jennifer

"You're finished, doc. There's not gonna be be a chain of clinics with you name on them like you planned. You didn't think we knew about that, did you? Only place your name's goin' is on a prison roster."

Carson had the look of a cornered animal. He was certainly cornered. His eyes were wild with fear.

He's seein' his future. Prison scares people like him the most. Rough types are more prepared. And they're always thinkin' there's gonna be a way out.

"Let me go," Carson croaked hoarsely. "Give me a chance to run. You know they'll catch me anyway. It was all James' operation. Most of the money went to him. And the guys in Texas."

Bein' fat not so smart for a criminal. Sweating, and it's not sixty out here."

Alex leveled the Colt, knew what Carson was seeing. He'd seen it, had Jessica point it at him, safety on of course. Magazine out and a snap cap in the chamber.

It was the only time he'd ever looked into the barrel of a gun pointed at him. Even then it was scary.

"By all rights I should give you the whole magazine," he said. "In the gut. Watch you..."

"PLEASE! I'll do anything. Look, I've got some money stashed. I never trusted James, any of them."

No honor among thieves? Say it ain't so.

"This pig giving your trouble?"

Jennifer.

Alex glanced back. Her gun wasn't quite as big as his 1911. The Bulldog. The hole in the end of the barrel was almost as big though. Five rounds of .44 Special.

What's she doin' here?

Jennifer moved to stand beside him. She raised the gun, steadied with the left hand, arm bent slightly. Leaned forward.

Modified Weaver, way I taught her."

"Jen, don't!"

She turned her head slightly, not quite taking her eyes off Carson.

"Don't what? After what he did? What he'll do if he gets another chance?"

"He won't get another chance," Alex said. "He's going away for a long time. If he ever gets out.."

"If he breathes another five minutes it's a..."

"Jen, I know. Let the law do its job."

He looked over at Carson, if possible more terrified now.

He killed her brother. Damn, she's gonna....

The blast of the Bulldog was deafening. A man of average size would have dropped when that first .44 slug hit him. He swayed, raising a hand to his chest where a red spot had aleady appeared.

The next shot hit the hand. He fell now, to his knees. Still looking up with those fear-glazed eyes.

Jennifer lowered the gun a little. Three more shots. Carson may have twitched a little. Or not.

The silence was absolute. It seemed time had stopped.

Because I can't hear anything.

All five shots had hit in the ten ring. Five big red spots on the light blue shirt.

She learned fast.

Jennifer let her arm drop to her side, holding the gun loosely.

Gotta move fast.

"Put it away," Alex said. "Hang loose while I take care of this."

Her cheeks were wet with tears. She didn't respond. Didn't look at him, just at the body on the ground. Alex took out his phone, tapped a number.

"Jess, I'm with Jennifer. You got my twenty."

He waited while she checked.

"OK, you know where Scott is?"

He looked at Jennifer again.

"Good. Have him bring a throwdown. Put a couple of rounds through it and get it here fast."

He turned to Jennifer. She hadn't moved. Gently he took the gun and put it in the pocket of his jacket.

"You OK?"

"No. Maybe I will be, someday."