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Page 71
Standing, he slid the pad of paper onto the table. 'We'll have a talk with Buddy, Doug and Lou tonight, and see how things develop from there.'
'And you'll let us know what happens.' It wasn't a request.
'Of course.'
As Francine and Lisa got to their feet, Trev stepped past them. He opened the glass door. 'I really appreciate your taking the time to come in about this. And Lisa, if you think of anything else that might . . .'
The noise that pounded Trev's ears, this time, was not thunder.
He jerked his eyes toward the blast and saw Lucy's chair lurch backward, hurling her away from the switchboard as the base of her skull erupted, splashing a red mess at the floor.
'Down down down!' he shouted, sinking to a squat in the doorway and reaching for the off-duty revolver at his side while the black thing on the other side of the counter (is that Patterson?) fired a round into Lucy's chest that sent her chair flipping over. She tumbled out of it, legs flying up, and hit the floor in a backward somersault.
Then Patterson's gun was aimed at Trev. He heard himself yell 'SHIT!' as explosions smacked his eardrums and a slug whizzed by his face and some of his bullets missed but two struck Patterson high in the chest and another punched through his throat and Patterson flopped out of sight behind the counter.
Gasping for air, Trev switched the empty gun to his left hand. He grabbed the metal doorframe with his

 
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