Back at his house, Gus picks up the phone. Uses his good hand to do it. Even though Red shot him in the leg, the horse doctor said to favor the whole side. It'll help the stitches heal.
"You're not out of this yet," the voice on the phone says.
Gus doesn't recognize it. Can make an educated guess anyway.
"Jane?" Gus says. Tries to hide the surprise in his voice. Wife and kids are home.
"The land the FBI agents promised you, you still want it," Jane says like a statement, not a question.
Gus clears his throat. Even that causes him to wince. The stitches on his leg are already too loose. The horse doctor used a big needle.
"I'm in no shape to do anything," Gus says.
"Yes, you are," Jane says.
"No, seriously, I'm not," Gus says.
"I don't remember asking you a question," Jane says.
"Yeah, well, I don't remember...uh," Gus says. Tries to think of a snappy comeback. Fails.
There's a pause from Jane. Then a beep. Static takes over the line.
Gus wonders if he should hang up. Jane comes back before he can.
"You will go to the Reynolds farm. Wil's parent's place. You won't get land. But you will get money for your trouble. You can collect it there," Jane says.
"What do you mean?" Gus says. Waves away his curious wife.
"The money will be waiting inside for you. Easy as that. You deserve compensation for your troubles. You performed well," Jane says. "But bring a gun. Just in case."
Gus looks out the window. The yard light highlights the start of a snow storm. The glow forms a sort of yellow snow globe floating in mid-air.
He thinks about the last time he went out on a limb for money. Things didn't go so well. But this doesn't sound too bad. No strings attached.
"I just go over to the house, right? The money will be waiting for me in what, a briefcase or something?" Gus says.
"Yes. On the kitchen table," Jane says.
Gus shrugs to himself.
"Sounds easy enough. You want me to leave right now?" he says. "The weather is picking up."
"It's now or never. Hurry," Jane says.
"The way you say it, I don't have much of a choice," Gus says.
"No. You don't have a choice. Now. Or never," Jane says.
"I could always choose never."
Jane raises her voice. It doesn't sound angrier. Just louder. Like someone turned the volume up on a speaker.
"The last person who mocked me didn't live to tell about it," she says.
"Fine, fine. I'm leaving," Gus says.
He hobbles downstairs. Comes back up with Safety, his single-shot shotgun. Kisses the kids goodbye. Makes up an excuse for his wife about why he has to leave. It's as flimsy as how he told her he'd accidentally shot himself in the leg.
It's the last time they'll see him alive.
*** PLEASE SUPPORT MY WRITING! ***
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The Invisible Hand - A crime novel
Mystery / ThrillerA corrupt sheriff hires a ruthless vigilante to hunt down a murderer during the modern day North Dakota oil boom in this crime thriller full of unexpected twists and turns.
