Page 4 of Terminal Voyage

Earl went silent again. After a moment, he said, “I don’t hear you making arrangements. I’m pulling the trigger if I don’t hear some progress.”

“Okay, okay,” Tyson said.

JD still had the dirtbag lined up in his sights, waiting for the opportunity.

Tyson called the sheriff and filled him in on the scenario. He spoke loud enough for Earl to hear. “I need a million dollars.”

I’m sure the sheriff told him there was no way in hell. It was against policy to pay ransom demands.

“Fantastic,” Tyson said. “I’ll let him know. He’ll be ecstatic.” He shouted to Earl, "We’re going to get you all sorted. In the meantime, I bet you’re pretty hungry. Can I get you pizza, cigarettes, water?"

Earl hesitated for a moment. "If you try to screw me over, she’s dead.”

"It’s gotta be hot in there,” Tyson said. “Why don’t you both come out and get some fresh air?”

"Nice try, but I'm not leaving this shack until I see the money."

Tyson tried to keep him talking. “What are you going to do with all that money, Earl?”

The tension seemed to slack for a moment, but it ramped back up again. Earl wasn’t the most stable person in the world. "Don't think I don't know what you're doing.”

"What am I doing?”

"The food, the cigarettes, the water... It's all poison. You’re going to try to knock me out, then come in here and take me into custody. You’ve got no intention of giving me that money. You ain’t gonna let me walk out of here. You're all liars.”

"Earl, I've been nothing but straight with you since the moment we got here. But I don't mind telling you, my patience is growing thin. The best outcome for you is if you put the gun down, let Teagan go, and surrender peacefully.”

"Not gonna happen.”

"You're so close now, Earl. The money’s almost here. You can take it and walk away.”

“Don’t give me any more of your bullshit.”

“Earl, have I ever lied to you?”

He paused. "I'm tired of talking to you. I want both of you away from here. Now! Move!"

Tyson and JD stayed in position.

"I mean it," Earl growled. "Get away from the shack, or I'm going to blow her pretty little head off.”

"Alright, alright,” Tyson said, backing off.

Earl didn’t have much to lose. Kidnapping, murder, it was all pretty much the same. He’d be going away for the rest of his life.

3

JD flicked a quarter through the seam at the corner of the shack. It bounced off the floor and rolled, drawing Earl’s attention. He twisted away, pulling the pistol away from my head for an instant.

I spun free.

It gave Jack a momentary window.

BANG!

JD took the shot.

Muzzle flash flickered.