Read ALL THINGS PRETTY PART TWO for Free Online Page A

supposed to go.
    “Oh, I can pretty much guarantee she’ll never trust you
again, cop.   For what’s left of your
life, that is.”
    Barber straightens and takes a gun out of the back of his
pants.   He jacks one in the chamber
and levels the barrel of the Glock at me.   We’re down to brass tacks now.   He’s made up his mind. He’s calling my
bluff.   And something’s gotta give. I’ve got one chance to
save Tommi, to save us all.   It’s
balls out and go big or go the hell home.    
    I start walking toward Barber, arms outstretched, every bit
of bravado I can muster playing from my fingertips.   “It’s go time, big man. Bring that shit
on!   With my last breath, I’ll be
laughing, thinking about you taking it up the ass in a cell next to Tonin’s for
the next twenty-five to life.”
    His lips thin and the only sign I see of his indecision is in the faint tremor of his hand.   But it’s enough.   I’ve got him worried.   And that’s all the opening I need.
    I move no faster, just keep pushing my cockiness to keep him
off kilter.   “What’s it gonna be?   Don’t
have all day,” I say.
    Barber stiffens his arm, like he’s trying to find the
resolution to just do this and trust in his instincts rather than letting my
words get in his head. I take the half-second opening while he wavers and I
make my move.  
    Ducking, I throw my body at Barber’s middle.   I hear the weapon discharge and I reach
up blindly for his gun hand, grabbing it and jerking toward the ground as hard
as I can.   I feel the cool metal of
the grip against the outside of my last finger just as we topple over the table
and go skittering across the slick concrete floor.
    Moving as quickly as I can, I throw all my weight onto
Barber’s chest, pinning one arm with my knee while I twist his hand to at least
aim the gun at the other side of the building, away from any human
targets.   The instant he’s subdued,
I blast my elbow into his face.   Almost as an extension of the motion that brings me back around, I yank
the gun from my waistband and turn to level it at Chaps, who’s still scrambling
to get his own pistol out and aimed.   He hasn’t quite made the arc all the way to Tommi when I pull back on
the hammer of my revolver.   The muted
click echoes through the room like the warning shot of a cannon.   He stops dead.
    “Don’t do it, Chaps.   I’ll drop you where you stand.”
    His eyes are wide and a fine sheen of sweat is dotting his
brow. I see the indecisiveness on his face.   I meet it with the sheer gravity of my words.   “Don’t believe me? Try it.   Try it, you son of a bitch.   I will kill you if you point that thing at Tommi.   I will end your life if you so much as whisper a threat against her.   You don’t deserve to live and I’d thank
holy God for the chance to send your ass straight to hell.”
    One heartbeat. Two.   Before the third thump vibrates in my chest, indecision becomes hesitation,
and hesitation becomes fear. I see it flood the dull gray of his glare.   If he had more time to think, he might
choose differently, but I’m taking that away from him, forcing his hand.   He’s backing down.
    I’m sure that on some level he knows there’s still a chance
for him.   Lance Tonin is who we’re
after. He’s the big fish. If Chaps talks, he could make a deal.   And I’d say he’ll do just that.   As
long as we can keep Tonin from getting to him before then.   It’s hard to hide from a man like Lance
Tonin, especially in a brick building full of criminals with nowhere to
go.  
    “Be smart, man,” I add, tipping the scales even though I
know he be shooting anyone now.    
    Chaps lets the gun drop upside down
and swing around on his trigger finger, pointing harmlessly at the wall. Carefully
and quietly, I let out the breath I’d been holding.  
    I nod at him and he pales, like what he’s done is just now
sinking in.   He gave up his only
real advantage.   The