Mick was up and moving to cut them off. They had no way of knowing that he was coming. Tana passed him with a wink and a nod, tray and cloth ready to clean his table. He ignored her. He had to get the timing right. This would be tricky, but he could pull it off, sure he could.
His hand slid into his jacket pocket. He was relieved that it was only shaking slightly. Safety off. Here it comes. The moment he’d been planning for weeks to stop his mind screaming hysterically at the darkness inside his own head.
The younger woman stepped around the last table and held out her free hand. The old woman had insisted on carrying a plastic grocery bag, so her companion carried both handbags.
Mick was close now, two steps away. He looked towards the office, saw the manager step inside.
Now. It had to be now.
He took one step closer, then spun and moved away as the old bird slipped on some spilt milk and went down between the tables with a shriek.
Her grocery bag exploded against the tiled floor. Blood and guts everywhere. Liver, tripe, cheap food. Old people’s food. Who would have thought one old woman could make so much mess?
Mick tippy-toed through the gore, planning each step to avoid getting any on his Docs. Christ, he’d just polished them a couple of hours ago.
What if he slipped and ended up back in hospital? Some people had no consideration for others, sure enough.
That didn’t apply to Tana. She was there in a flash, on her knees with the old duck’s companion, making soothing noises and being human.
Mick flashed his blackened teeth, relieved that he hadn’t had to trip the old bird after all. The luck of the Irish.
He stepped quickly into the tiny office, nearly colliding with the manager as he rushed out to see what had happened. Mick pushed him back against the pine desk. Brought up the .38 and leveled it right between his eyes, almost resting on his broken nose. Those eyes widened in shock. Fear. Then recognition, as Mick took off his shades.
Mick nodded. “That’s right. Ah told ye what would happen when Ah caught ye on the outside. Without yer tame prison guards. Who’s the bitch now, yeah?”
Mick was gone by the time they found the body.
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