Chapter 13

After we’d finished eatin’, all of us, except the Colonel, returned to Steve’s office.

After we were all seated, Steve asked, “OK, where do we go from here?”

Since I figured his question was directed at me, I answered.

“Well, it seems like you all want me to play target here. If’n that’s so, y’all ready to take care of the fallout?”

Steve and Lisa both looked at me with a puzzled look. Obviously, they didn’t catch where I was a comin’ from.

“OK, let me put it another way. If’n I go out and present myself as a target, sure as God made li’l green apples, they’re gonna try and take me out. Hell, they pro’lly gonna do it even if I don’t. But, if’n that happens, you better believe I’ll be a shootin’ back. It could get pretty messy when that happins.”

Steve’s face quickly took on a look of apprehension while Lisa’s still looked puzzled. She asked.

“Amos, I guess I don’t understand. That would be crazy for them to try something like that.”

I laughed, and then answered, “Lisa, you gotta understand about these people. They got this warped sense of honor that dictates that no one messes with them. They think they are above the law. You can take it to the bank; whoever is in charge of this here gang is pissed off beyond belief. He’s lost his dope and I’ve killed one of his men. He won’t sit still, that’s one thin’ you can count on.”

Steve finally shook off whatever was botherin’ him and said, “I never thought of that angle. I think I need to talk to someone higher up to make a decision on this.”

I was beginin’ to like Steve, but he really didn’t understand.

“Steve, it won’t make any difference now. The horse is already out of the barn. You and your FBI buddies can make all the decision’s they want. I’m a tellin’ you that it won’t make a hoot to these folks. They are gonna come after me, and when they do, it ain’t gonna be purty.”

From the look on Steve’s face, it were purty clear, whoever was a plannin’ this fiasco, hadn’t though it through very well. Their little game of pullin’ me into this was gonna create problems for them that they hadn’t begun to think of.

Steve finally got hisself under control and then said, “Amos, you and Lisa wait here a minute. I think it’s time that the grandmasters in this game find out what they created.”

With that said, he got up and left the office.

When I looked at Lisa, her face was as white as a ghost. With a shaky voice, she asked, “Amos, I’m beginning to believe we’re in more trouble that I can imagine. What do we do now?”

Well, first thing is we get you out of it. They pro’lly don’t see you as a threat.”

She bristled all up and said, “No way! I’m a part of this whether you like it or not!”

I said, in a quiet, calm voice, “Lisa, you better think on this. We’re not playin’ some kind of game here. These guys play for keeps. They don’t have rules that they follow. They don’t care what they do or who they do it to.”

Lisa was quiet for a moment and then said, in a firm voice, “Amos, I understand. I mean that, I really understand. But, I can’t walk away from this. I know it’s dangerous, but someone has to stand up to these guys or they win. Do you understand that?”

I could see the resolve in her face. Hell, she were gonna be a part of this whether I liked it or not.

I looked at her a moment, and then said, “OK, but you gotta promise me. No more fightin’, no more attitude. We can’t afford it. You also gotta listen to me. I know what I’m doin’. You read that file, so you know that I’ve been here afore.”