“You think I’m paranoid?”
“Yes, I think you’re paranoid.”
“I don’t care if you think I’m paranoid. Let’s say I’m paranoid. If Mo is so damn sure that he knows where these bodies can be buried, let’s use his gun.”
“What? Why? What gives here? That’s not the plan—”
“You just said you didn’t know what the plan was. You hadn’t figured it out yet! Now you’re telling me it’s not the plan to use Mo’s gun? What the hell, Ray? Don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining.”
“I don’t want to say yes without checking with him. I don’t even know if he’s bringing it.”
“Call him and ask him to bring it.”
“I can’t, there’s no cell reception.”
“Use the landline. I saw one in the bedroom.”
Mary felt a bolt of fear at the sound. If they came in here now, she was dead. She reached the base of the night table, lying at the leg. She was in so much pain she could barely think. She wasn’t sure what to do next. She had to get the phone off the table. She tried to free her hands but the duct tape held tight.
“I don’t want to call him. We’ll talk when he gets here. What’s the rush?”
“What time’s he getting here then?”
“He had to stay late at work. Two hours.”
“That was two hours ago. He should be here by now.”
“Maybe he got hung up. Maybe there was traffic. What the hell is your problem?”
Mary had to get the phone off the table. She struggled to sit up, so she could knock the phone onto the floor with her shoulder, but she didn’t have the strength to raise her upper body. She felt dizzy and weak. She slumped back down.
“Did he say he was bringin’ his gun?”
“Of course he’s bringing it.”
“How do you know? Did you ask him? You’re the master planner. Or did you make sure that mine was the only gun? So we had to use mine—”
“No, I didn’t!”
“So, did you ask him if he was bringin’ his gun?”
“No, I didn’t have to! He keeps it in the truck!”
Mary heard the conversation go from tense to heated. Ernie and Ray were starting to yell at each other. She hoped the shouting would hide whatever noise she made if the phone dropped. She had to wait for the moment. She held her breath. She had to make the right move. If she blew it, they would come in and kill her. Her head pounded hard. So did her heart.
“Ernie, what the hell are you trying to say? What is your problem?”
“Okay, you want to know what I’m sayin’? I’m sayin’ that I don’t know if I trust you anymore, pal!”
“What are you talking about? We’ve worked together fifteen years!”
“But we never killed nobody! I’m startin’ to see you using me! You’re treatin’ me like garbage! Like I do your dirty work and you’re the puppet master!”
“How?”
“You and Mo are family, I’m on the outs! I started to think, what if I kill these women and we don’t all drive home together? What if you two decide to off me and go your merry way?”
“Why would we do that?”
“It solves all your problems, doesn’t it? Somehow you stage the scene so you frame me for murderin’ the women and you guys are gone! You’ll never have to worry about me spillin’ the beans! You guys are brothers! Lookin’ out for each other! You always have!”
“Since when?”
Mary lay on the floor, blinking her eyes, trying to keep them clear of blood. Suddenly she spotted a phone wire running down the side of the night table. It was only six inches away. She went toward it, dolphining to the side of the night table.
“Since forever! That’s how we got into this in the first place! You and Mo usin’ the cheap wiring! The cheap drywall, too. The units wouldn’ta burned so fast if you used the five-eighths of an inch! The burn rate’s slower in the good stuff, but he’s paddin’ the bottom line at PowerPlus and you’re gettin’ a cut!”
“Don’t get high and mighty! You kept your mouth shut! We paid you fair and square!”
“So you say! What’s a fair cut? I don’t know if what you’re tellin’ me is true! You and Mo are thick as thieves!”
“Ernie, calm down! What you’re saying doesn’t make any sense! Mo is on the way with the lye! We’re going to shoot these bitches, bury the bodies, and be done with it! We’re a yard from the end zone here!”
“How do I know he’s bringin’ lye? I don’t think he’s bringin’ any lye! I think you’re just waitin’ for him! I think that’s your plan! Then he comes up, you shoot me, and you leave DiNunzio’s car in the driveway with my car! You two go home in his truck, after I’m dead!”
“Ernie, you’re out of your mind! There’s no way! We’re in this together! He’s bringing the lye! That much we planned! The details about which gun we use, fine, whatever, we’ll use his gun if that’s what you want!”
“That’s what I want! I want to use his gun!”
“Fine, we will!”
Mary got her face right next to the wire and tried to grab it with her lips behind the gag. She got it on the third try, struggling to breathe. She waited for the right moment to pull the phone off the table. She remembered that landlines used to be heavy and noisy. If the shouting kept up, she had a fighting chance. Then all she had to do was press 911 with her nose. For the first time in her life, she thanked God she had a big nose.
“And I want him to shoot the women, Ray! I don’t want to shoot the women! You say it doesn’t matter? It matters to me! I don’t shoot women!”
“Okay, he’ll do it! Sheesh! Just sit down! Let’s sit down! Get out of my face! I feel like you’re coming at me!”
“I’m tellin’ you, I don’t like this, Ray! It stinks to high heaven!”
“Ernie, sit down. Let’s sit down. You need to calm down. Cool down. You want a beer? I’ll get you beer.”
“No, I don’t want a beer.” Ernie huffed loudly.
“Good, sit down. Take a breath. Geez, this is getting out of control.”
“Ray, don’t tell me what’s gettin’ out of control. What’s out of control is that we got away with killin’ Todd and now you want me to kill two women. One is a famous lawyer. You think the cops are gonna let that go? I don’t think so. And it’s all on me. I won’t do it. I’ve done enough. I’m out.”
“Okay, you’re out,” Ray said flatly, and suddenly, there was a shout and a terrifying burst of gunfire, pop pop pop pop!
Mary tried not to think about the horror of what was happening in the next room. She’d only get one chance. She tugged the phone cord. The phone came tumbling down on her head. She managed not to cry out in pain. The phone landed on the rag rug. The receiver fell right near her face.
Pop, pop! came more gunfire, and then there was silence.
Mary had to act. Ray had killed Ernie. Ray was going to shoot her and Bennie next. She didn’t have a moment to lose. She heard a dial tone from the receiver.
She wiggled into position to call 911.