The Object: Book One (Object Series) by Winston Emerson

wide eyes and open mouth.
    "You kill my brother?!" Ted screamed.
    "Yeah, he's . . . man, I don't think I've ever been so close to a dead--"
    Suddenly Steve's body jerked and a mist of blood shot out of his mouth as he gasped for breath.  Sherman shrieked and reared back as if being thrown from a horse and said, "Oh Holy Hell, Steve, damn, you ain't dead!  Sorry for cursin', young lady."
    "What's goin' on over there?" Ted asked.  "Somebody better answer me."
    "Just hang on," Sherman said.  He leaned over Steve again, and this time Steve made eye contact with him.  "Sorry, Steve.  Don't mean to drag this thing out so long.  I ain't no good at killin'."
    "It . . . hurts," Steve said.  "Can't breathe."
    "Well look, they ain't no ambulance comin'.  You know that, right?"
    Steve nodded.
    "I got a gun," Sherman said, "but I don't know if I can do it, Steve."
    This time Steve nodded aggressively, opening his eyes as wide as he could.  Blood bubbled up at the corner of his mouth and streamed down his cheek.
    "What's he sayin'?" Ted said.
    "He wants me to . . . to put an end to it."
    "Well do it then!"
    "I'm tryin' to Ted!" Sherman yelled.
    "Please," Steve murmured.
    If Sherman hadn't seen his lips moving he wouldn't have caught it.  He leaned far over and picked up the gun, righted himself, stood with one foot on either side of Steve's legs.  "Ted.  You got anything you want to say to your brother?"
    Ted didn't respond.  Sherman peered around the side of the railing, thinking Ted must have succumbed to tears.  Instead he found Ted straining to peek up through the rails at Lillia, grinning.
    "Might want to move over to the wall, honey," Sherman said.  "Ted's got the angle on you."
    Lillia looked around herself for a moment, then realized what he meant and jumped away from the rail as though it were electrified.
    "No last words to your own family, huh, Ted?"
    Ted grumbled to himself for a moment and then said, "Catch ya later, Steve."
    Sherman pulled back the hammer.
    "Wait," Lillia said.  She turned and bounded up the steps, calling back, "I have an idea."
     
    ~~~~
     
    Barry doubled parked in front of a taxi cab around the corner from the police precinct.  West Jefferson Street was barricaded by fire trucks, probably to make it easy for cops and city officials to get in and out without having to tear through the masses of belligerent fools wailing and pleading for assistance with their various problems.  People crowded the front and back ends of the fire trucks blocking the street, and officers in riot gear held the barrier.
    "What'd you find?"
    Jason was running through the contacts list on Wally's cell phone, looking for any names that might be Wally's supplier or employer.
    "I don't know.  It's a bunch of chicks.  Kate.  Keisha.  Natty.  Momz.  Pizza Place.  T.  White girl.  My only guess would be T."
    "Call it."
    Barry scanned the sidewalks, studying individual faces, each frowning, cheeks wet with tears, noses clogged with snot.  "Too stupid to run," he mumbled.  "Resigned to whatever fate it brings them."
    "What?" Jason said.  He pulled the phone away from his ear.  "Signal's weak.  Wait.  Okay it's ringing.  Shit.  Disconnected."
    "Call it again."
    "No I mean the number's been disconnected."
    "Give me that."  Barry snatched the phone from Jason's hand and opened the door.  "Wait in the car."
    "Gladly," Jason said.
    Barry stood outside the car for a moment and checked his clothes for blood spatter.  Then he removed his handgun from its holster and inspected it, in case he had to check it in before entering the precinct.
    He approached the crowd at the back of the fire truck and pushed his way through to the front of the barricade.  The tallest in the crowd, he scanned the faces behind the riot glass and helmets until he spotted one he recognized.  Bodies pressed into him on both sides, reeking of sweat, dampening the sleeves of his suit jacket.
    " Tyler !  Hey!"  He whistled loud enough