Excursion (Chapter 63)

Sloan put away his cell phone. “We got some bad news. Longstreet won’t be coming until tomorrow. He said something important came up and to keep his boy occupied.”

“Aw shit,” complained Harland. “We gotta baby sit for another day?”

Daniels agreed. “This is ludicrous. Our job was to snatch the kid and deliver him here. Mission accomplished so we’re out of here.” Daniels grabbed a canapé from the table and headed toward the door.

‘I wouldn’t leave just yet if I were you,” said Sloan. “General Wallace will be coming tomorrow as well, and if you want to receive any credit for this, you’d better stick around. Your job is not exactly finished anyway. The lad needs to be occupied so start occupying.”

Bustamonte went over to Jamie and sat down next to him on the sofa. “I’m guessing you’re feeling a little uneasy right now, but your daddy will be here tomorrow and your life will start to get back to normal.” He patted Jamie on the head and looked over at Harland.

“Now that was real touching,” Harland said while rubbing his eyes in a mock crying gesture.

“Hey Lloyd,” said Buster, “where do you keep your heart, in your wallet next to the moths?”

“Let me see,” said Lloyd, “ain’t that the same little bastard that kicked your only testicle up into your throat?”

Suddenly as everyone was laughing Jamie saw his chance. As Bustermonte began to raise himself off the sofa, Jamie noticed a gun strapped around his ankle. It’s now or never. He grabbed for the weapon and yanked it out of the small holster. He immediately put the pistol to his own head. He was amazed at how heavy the gun was. Now as he scanned the others in the room, time seemed to be coming to a stand still. “Don’t anybody come near me or I’ll shoot myself,” he heard himself say.

“What the hell is going on with this kid?” said Daniels, “and where in God’s name did he get the gun?”

“Sorry sir.” said Buster, “it’s mine. He grabbed it off my ankle.”

Daniels shook his head. “This is your home little boy. Don’t you know where you are? You’re father’s coming here to be with you.”

“Alright kid, don’t do anything we’ll all be sorry for,” said Harland.

“He’s not going to shoot himself,” said Daniels.

“Oh yes I am. If anyone comes any closer I will.”

“Do you know how painful it is to have a bullet go through your brain little boy? asked Daniels.

“No,” said Jamie, “but I don’t care about pain. I once got hit in the head with a rock and got fourteen stitches without even crying.”

Daniels turned to Bustermonte and whispered in his ear, “We’ll wait him out. He’s not going to be able to hold that gun up to his head for long.”

Jamie’s arm was already weakening and starting to fall. The pistol was now leaning on his shoulder aimed at his neck. Jamie realized he hadn’t thought this through very well. He had no idea what his next move would be. He felt his body quiver and suddenly rise up off the sofa. Where he was going was anybody’s guess.