Dakota Jim
Banned
This is the last of a story I wrote a couple years ago....It's a full novel but it ends here:
The San Diego County Coroner called and stated that the body could be released for the funeral, and that the cause of death was Coronary Thrombosis. When she asked what that meant, he explained that a blood clot had hit Don‘s heart, and he died almost immediately. So, that was easier to live with than a bullet in his brain, she thought.
When she told Ace of that call, he seemed relieved, and she felt as if a weight was lifted off her shoulders too. So, next was the funeral, and on with her life. She didn‘t owe Don‘s friends anything, beyond the funeral. When it was done, she and Ace could take up their new life together.
The next morning they arose early and had a light breakfast. They had separate missions this morning. Ace was returning Don‘s leased car. He had removed all the personal items from it last night, and Barbara was meeting with the funeral director, to purchase a coffin and plan Don‘s funeral. Barbara left at 8 a.m. and was to meet Mr. Ballet at the funeral home on El Cajon Blvd. at 8:30. Ace had spoken with the leasing company the day before, and was told he would be brought back home, after the car was returned and checked out.
When he got into Don‘s car he felt strange. Here he was, a man who had been making love with this guy‘s wife and now he was driving his car. It was a beautiful, clear San Diego morning. A perfect day for a drive. Ace marveled at the smooth sound of the engine as he started it. The kind of engine you could balance a nickel on the hood, he thought.
Hub had reached Harry. When he was told of the death of Don and the need to call off the hitter, Harry picked up the phone to call Ace. He dialed the number he had used before but go a message…” We‘re sorry the number you have reached is no longer in service and there is no new number“.
Harry thought, couldn‘t be. Ace hadn‘t told him of any number change. He dialed again. Same results. Harry called Hub back at Ace‘s office, and asked if he had a new number for Ace. Hub told him he never called Ace, that Ace always called him. Harry put down the phone and thought about it. Well, his shooter would be checking in with him, and he would simply call him off. It shouldn‘t be a problem for anyone.
As Ace began the journey to the leasing office he hadn‘t gotten out of the woods, when he saw a car parked at a strange angle on the side of the road near a large tree. Outside the car looking confused, was a young woman. Probably either out of gas or lost, Ace thought, as he slowed down beside the woman. He rolled his passenger window down and asked if he could help her. Before she said a word, Ace saw movement in the backseat of her car. As he watched, he saw a man rise up and point the end of a rifle at him. For a split instant he was confused, then he understood. The hit man! This is the car he’s looking for! Ace threw up his hands and shouted, “No, No!! I am not the guy you.........…“
The last thing Ace saw was the flash. He never heard what caused the birds to all take flight. That loud sound that echoed in the hills. Boom...boom....boom
The San Diego County Coroner called and stated that the body could be released for the funeral, and that the cause of death was Coronary Thrombosis. When she asked what that meant, he explained that a blood clot had hit Don‘s heart, and he died almost immediately. So, that was easier to live with than a bullet in his brain, she thought.
When she told Ace of that call, he seemed relieved, and she felt as if a weight was lifted off her shoulders too. So, next was the funeral, and on with her life. She didn‘t owe Don‘s friends anything, beyond the funeral. When it was done, she and Ace could take up their new life together.
The next morning they arose early and had a light breakfast. They had separate missions this morning. Ace was returning Don‘s leased car. He had removed all the personal items from it last night, and Barbara was meeting with the funeral director, to purchase a coffin and plan Don‘s funeral. Barbara left at 8 a.m. and was to meet Mr. Ballet at the funeral home on El Cajon Blvd. at 8:30. Ace had spoken with the leasing company the day before, and was told he would be brought back home, after the car was returned and checked out.
When he got into Don‘s car he felt strange. Here he was, a man who had been making love with this guy‘s wife and now he was driving his car. It was a beautiful, clear San Diego morning. A perfect day for a drive. Ace marveled at the smooth sound of the engine as he started it. The kind of engine you could balance a nickel on the hood, he thought.
Hub had reached Harry. When he was told of the death of Don and the need to call off the hitter, Harry picked up the phone to call Ace. He dialed the number he had used before but go a message…” We‘re sorry the number you have reached is no longer in service and there is no new number“.
Harry thought, couldn‘t be. Ace hadn‘t told him of any number change. He dialed again. Same results. Harry called Hub back at Ace‘s office, and asked if he had a new number for Ace. Hub told him he never called Ace, that Ace always called him. Harry put down the phone and thought about it. Well, his shooter would be checking in with him, and he would simply call him off. It shouldn‘t be a problem for anyone.
As Ace began the journey to the leasing office he hadn‘t gotten out of the woods, when he saw a car parked at a strange angle on the side of the road near a large tree. Outside the car looking confused, was a young woman. Probably either out of gas or lost, Ace thought, as he slowed down beside the woman. He rolled his passenger window down and asked if he could help her. Before she said a word, Ace saw movement in the backseat of her car. As he watched, he saw a man rise up and point the end of a rifle at him. For a split instant he was confused, then he understood. The hit man! This is the car he’s looking for! Ace threw up his hands and shouted, “No, No!! I am not the guy you.........…“
The last thing Ace saw was the flash. He never heard what caused the birds to all take flight. That loud sound that echoed in the hills. Boom...boom....boom
