“We’ve got to try something.”
“Yes, while they’re missing one,” Dan adds.
Grant leans in and says, “This is six-pound test line. We can bite through it.”
“Julie, can you bite through Mike’s line?” Hank asks.
She is directly behind Mike. She looks to her husband. Ed nods. She should try. She lies down. It looks like she has just put her head down in Ed’s lap to rest. She rolls a little forward. Behind his back, Mike pulls his wrists as far out from his body as he can. Julie begins to chew feverishly.
Ben glances over. Mike drops his wrists. Julie freezes. Ben glares at them. Hank wonders what made him look. There was no sound. He has a freakish intuition. Ben turns back to work. Julie leans back in and chews. After a minute, snap! Mike’s hands are free. He doesn’t budge but a thrill of hope tumbles through the group.
Gravel jumps up, “This is boring. Who plays poker? Ben?”
“Gravel, I’m busy.”
Gravel points to Hank and Dan. “You and you. We’re playing poker.”
“I don’t know how to play poker,” Hank says.
“No shit? What are you a fuckin’ pussy? Listen, kid…” Every time one of the Burne boys addresses his son, Hank has to suppress a surging rage. He stays calm only with great effort. Gravel continues to Jimmy, “If your dad can’t teach you to play poker find someone who can.” Gravel looks at Bella, “Maybe your mom. My mom taught us.” Jimmy starts to say something and stops. He looks at Bella, turns away, and buries is head in his dad’s lap. Ben sees this. Ben and Hank make eye contact. They hold for a moment. Even with his attention buried inside this carburetor Ben can tell something isn’t right over there. Something is off with this little family. He will have to figure that out soon as he is done with this.
Gravel says frustrated, “Where the hell is Theo? He plays a good game.”
Kent agrees, “No one can bluff like Theo.”
Ben says to Kent, “Go check on him. Maybe he needs a hand.”
“Not as if he can yell if he needs help.” Gravel finds himself funny.
“Hey, yeah,” Kent adds excited to show off his knowledge, “if a mute yells in the forest and no one hears him, did he still yell? Wasn’t that a Zen thing? I don’t know if you noticed Ben, but I’m very well read since you were gone.”
“Yeah, I did. And obviously saving time by reading every other word. Go check on your brother.” Kent throws on his trench coat. “And take the flashlight.” Kent takes the light from the table. He walks to the door buttoning his coat and leaves. Over in the corner, the hostages recognize their advantage. Only two Burne brothers at the moment and Mike’s hands are free. Now. Now is the time. Hank whispers to Bella behind him. “Can you get him closer?” He indicates a totem statue he can kick with his foot. She gets it. They are instantly primed, encouraged to try something. The helplessness of waiting and the fear of what’s coming are eating away at them.
Mike whispers to Hank. “I’m gonna go for the automatic on the chair.” The large weapon lies on the wooden rocking chair not far from the hearth.
Bella makes a little humming noise. Gravel looks. Slowly, seductively, she licks her lips. Gravel doesn’t need much encouragement; he is rock hard in his pants day and night. He grins and starts over to the group. She eggs him on with a look and a small knowing grin.
He stands near the group. “You know,” he says to her, “I could be extra nice...”
Hank’s leg juts out kicking the base of the totem. It crashes down on Gravel’s left shoulder! Mike is instantly on his feet. He leaps over Jimmy and goes for the weapon on the rocking chair. Ben dives for his weapon on the floor not far from where he is working on the carburetor. Gravel throws off the totem, which hit him hard. Ben is too quick. Mike is in midair lunging for the gun when Ben fires one shot nailing Mike between the eyes and Mike is dead before he hits the floor.
Ben turns the gun on the group with an eerie calm, “Who’s next?”
The hostages huddle closer together. Julie closes her eyes. Bruce and Grant drop their heads and wait, not knowing what will come now. Gravel removes his gun from his belt and as he points, “They’re all next!”
“Gravel, a