Chapter 76

Time to go. Brandon didn't know precisley how long the attention span of a six year old was, but Abby had been outside with Evan Foster when Brandon drove by in Michelle's mom's Monte Carlo. That was about half an hour ago now, and he didn't want to take the chance that Abby would go back inside while he was getting in place. As long as she was out beyond the gallery, he would't have to go as close to the house as he prepared to.

Beside the excitement at the park ought to be ending soon. He hadn;t heard anything in the news yet, but wanted to be well on his way out of town before Brian Fuller got just reward.

"Stop there." He told Michelle, and she did. Her cheeks were chafed with tears, her wrist rubbed red where Justice had pulled at his leash as he scented familiar territory. Brandon smiled, remembering a show he'd once done that had a dog in the cast. "Dog's and kids." The director had said. "They are alot more trustworthy than adult actors. they never miss a cue."

He walked through the trees to where he could just see Abby peering into the sky, then scouted the area untill he saw two men with yellow block letters on that back of their jackets. FBI. Fine. There might be a few more surrounding the rest of the property, but these two were patrolling exactly the part of perimeter Brandon needed them to patrol, about fifty yards apart. They were both looking into the sky just now watching Abby's kite.

Brandon motioned for Michelle to come in front with him. Behind her, he withdrew the gun, the silencer snagging on his pocket lining for a second.

"That is it! I got it! Abby's voice sailed across the hill, and Justice whimpered. Brandon heard the distant sound of Evan Foster laughing, watched him struggle with the string to the kite. A minute later it took a nose dive straight to the ground. Abby moaned and ran to help pick it up.

Brandon found the perfect position, pushing Michelle along silently in front of him. When he had the right view, he stopped and shoved her to her knees. Terror stiffened her spine but to late. He pressed his hand over her mouth , held her, and put the gun to her temple.

The nearest FBI agent was busy chuckling at the kite fiasco. The other one called to him across the field.'

"You think you can do better than that, asshole?"

"I could keep it up better than Foster just did," he called back, then muttered a whole bunch of stupid he-man insults under his breath."Rich spoiled jerk. Betcha he can't keep up much of anything..."

He ground a cigarette beneath  his heel and strolled a little closer to Brandon.

Move away bastard, move away. Brandon held his breath.

His arm tightened on Michelle and he whispered in her ear. "Make a sound and I will shoot you."

She belived him. The guard meandered away, Justice getting antsy now, and Brandon tossed down a hot dog to shut him up. He waited for the agent to move farther out and worked his way to the edge of the trees, keeping the gun against Michelle's head, the leash in hand.

No more time. It had to be now.