Chapter 10
The marvelous day had to end -and so it did. The sun was sinking as they left their wonderful love spot. To Raul, the day had passed so quickly in joyous fucking and intimate closeness with Denise, that it seemed as if five years hadn't passed.
Now he knew that Denise was his -truly his, and that he loved and was loved.
Everything that had happened during the day between Denise and himself now impelled him to one of the toughest decisions in his life.
There was no other way. He had to torpedo the whole operation. He searched himself for regrets and could find none. Roger was the only one he really cared about, the only one who would really be hurt. Roger's final caper, was going down the drain.
Long before he reached the clearing, he saw the lights of the cabin through the trees. They must be going over the plan together, making sure each knew his part. Roger wasn't in the clearing as usual. Raul steppd onto the porch with cat feet. The door was ajar, and a wedge of light spilled out. He paused to listen.
"...fifteen minutes at the most." It was Lamar's harsh voice. "You have the car waiting to take, off, bebe, and we got no problem."
"Don't worry about me, Paul," Gaby said scornfully, "I can handle my end."
Larry pushed the door open and went in. All three of them were on the couch before the fireplace. At the door's creak, like a lean and hungry cat, Paul came up and around, sliding into a crouch, his gun appearing his hand as if by magic.
Fear squeezed Raul's loins as he looked into the weasel eyes of the gunman. Paul would be happy to use that gun, if only to prove how tough he was.
Gaby came to her feet and started toward him.
Raul motioned her back. "Relax, Gaby."
Roger was frowning slightly. "You said you wouldn't be coming back. Is something wrong?"
Lamar put the gun back into his waist band. "Yeah, boss man. You changing the plan?"
Raul looked longingly at the bottle on the table; he needed another drink. But he had to keep a clear head until he'd said what he was here to say. He took a stance before the fireplace, keeping a wary eye on Paul. If trouble came, it would be from him. For the first time, Raul wished he had a gun.
"Roger said worriedly, "It's a little late for changes, lad."
Raul took a deep breath and said flatly, "One change, Roger. The caper's off."
Lamar's laugh was a scornful bark. "You're calling it off?"
Roger was caught with a drink halfway to his mouth. "You can't, son. Not now."
Raul glanced at each of them in turn. They were all alike. Each in his own way a greedy vulture, hovering, waiting to gorge on the flesh of his town.
Startled by his own thoughts, he looked deep within himself. And it was true. It was his village. And he'd recruited these scavengers to feed on it.
"It figures. You got the guts when you catch a man with his pants down, but now..."
Roger leaned forward. "It isn't that. No. It's the girl, isn't it?" He gazed at Raul. "She won't think any better of you just for backing off now."
Gaby charged to her feet, her face livid. "She?" Her big breasts bounced indignantly. "You've got yourself a new twat to screw, damn you."
"Not a new one, Gaby. And old one," Roger said. His hands were out of sight below the table. "You can't do this to me, son. Not at this late date."
"You mean he's been two-timing me ever since we've been up here?" Without warning Gable snatched the bottle from the table. "YOU RAT." She swung at Raul's head.
He ducked, the bottle whistling harmlessly past his head.
"It's off," Raul repeated grimly. "I came up here prepared to say I'm sorry, but not now. I see that it was all a mistake, all wrong from the very beginning." All the while he kept his eyes locked on the gun happy creep. And that was his mistake.
"You're the one that's wrong, lad," Roger said almost gently.
Raul gazed around. Roger's hand steadied on the table, aiming the gun at Raul's heart.
"You're not going to cheap me out of this caper for some girl." The old man's face was set. "I mean it, Raul. This is the end of the line, you know. I make it now, or.."
And Gaby was back. 'In a voice close to tears, she said, "Raul, I don't understand. You promised. You said we'd go away together. You said you loved me."
Without looking at her, Raul said, "You'll find someone else, Gaby. You'll always make out."
He stepped forward against the table. "It's no damned good, Roger. The caper has gone sour."
Roger shook his head mournfully. "No. You're the one gone sour." The gun never wavered.
Larry realized it was now or never. He jammed a knee against the table tipping it upward toward Roger. At the same time he stooped and swept the glasses from its top with a swipe of his arm.
Lamar, caught by surprise was hit in the face with a barrage of flying glass. He howled, throwing himself sideways off the couch. Roger was struggling to heave the table off his lap.
Raul aimed at the table, this time turning it over on top of the man. Roger's gun flew from his hand and thudded to the floor a few feet away. Raul whirled to meet the expected attack from Lamar, but the gunman was pawing wildly at his face, out of action.
Raul started for Roger's gun, bending to scoop it up.
He had forgotten Gaby. She brought the bottle down on his head.
He saw it coming, out of he corner of his eye, and threw himself to one side, so it was only a glancing blow, but it was enough to stun him.
He plunged forward, his cheek burning as it scraped along the rough flooring.
Their voices reached him dimly.
"The two-timing louse. That'll teach him."
"Let me finish the..."
"No. Paul. As of this moment, I'm in comman."
Raul tried to get to his feet.
"Get some rope, Gaby," Roger said. "We will leave him here until the job is done. Then we can decide what to do with him."
Raul fought off black waves of unconsciousness. One thought filled his mind. He had failed. He had misjudged Roger's determination. The robbery would come off as planned. With or without him.
He felt hands fumbling with him, and soon his wrists were tied and his ankles bound securely.
Lamar caught Raul under the arms and began to tug him across the floor. The pain exploded in his head. He must have passed out briefly, for the next thing he knew he was being hauled onto a bed on his back.
"We better gag him," Paul was saying.
"Time for that in the morning," Roger said. "He'll be all right like this for tonight."
Even in his dazed condition, Raul sensed a subtle change in the man. Now that he was in command, he stood taller. Raul looked away. Rage and frustration pulsed behind his eyes. He rolled his head back and forth.
Roger had ushered the two out of the room and closed the door behind them. He came to the bed and looked down at Raul thoughtfully. "I'm sorry about the rough treatment, lad, but I'm afraid you brought it on yourself."
"You'll never pull it off, Roger."
"Why not. The plan is as good as it was before. You've done your part. The rst is up to us anyway."
Raul knew it was true; the holdup could be carried off as well with him tied up here as it could with him drinking beer with Charles.
"There's nothing I can do or say that would make you change your mind?"
"No." Raul muttered.
Roger sighed. "The female of the species. Tell me something. What is that this Denise has that makes her so different from Gaby?"
Raul fought against the bounds, "I'll see you never get away with it, Roger. The first chance I get, I'll blow the whistle."
Now anger struck Roger. His smooth face contorted in an ugly grimace. It was some moments before he regained enough control to say evently, "You know how fond of you I am, Raul. But if I don't have your promise to keep quiet, I will leave you in Lamar's hand. I'll have no choice."
Without another word he left the room.
Already Raul's fingers were plucking at the knots. But Lamar had done an expert job. Raul kept at it doggedly, and the ropes cut into his flesh.
He kept on. He had to escape.
There was only one thing left to do; he had to get to the village and warn Charles.
In desperation, he rolled from side to side, straining at the ropes. He rolled too far, over the edge of the bed; he hit the floor squarely with a loud thump.
He heard the pound of footsteps immediately. The door flew open and the three burst in, Paul in the lead. Cursing, Lamar rushed over and kicked Raul in the side. Raul doubled up, and Paul kicked him again.
"That's enough," Roger said. "Paul, perhaps you better gag him."
They picked Raul up, and within a short time he was completely helpless. He was spread-eagled the length of the bed, his mouth effectively gagged.