Chapter 20

           THETEARSWEREreallycomingnow,andonefatstriperolledalongthebarrelofthegun anddownthelooparoundthetriggertoburstflatagainstmyindexfinger. RaymondHesselclosedbotheyessoIpressedthegunhardagainsthistemple sohewouldalwaysfeelitpressingrightthereandIwasbesidehim andthiswashislifeandhecouldbedeadatanymoment. 

           Thiswasn’tacheapgun,andIwonderedifsaltmightfuckitup. 

           Everythinghadgonesoeasy,Iwondered. I’ddoneeverythingthemechanicsaidtodo. Thiswaswhyweneededtobuyagun. Thiswasdoingmyhomework. 

           WeeachhadtobringTylertwelvedriver’slicenses. Thiswouldproveweeachmadetwelvehumansacrifices. 

           Iparkedtonight, andIwaitedaroundtheblockforRaymondHesseltofinishhisshiftattheall-nightKornerMart, andaroundmidnighthewaswaitingforanightowlbuswhenIfinallywalkedupandsaid,hello. 

           RaymondHessel,Raymonddidn’tsayanything. ProbablyhefiguredIwasafterhismoney,hisminimumwage, thefourteendollarsinhiswallet. Oh,RaymondHessel,alltwenty-threeyearsofyou, whenyoustartedcrying,tearsrollingdownthebarrelofmygunpressedtoyourtemple, no,thiswasn’taboutmoney. Noteverythingisaboutmoney. 

           Youdidn’tevensay,hello. 

           You’renotyoursadlittlewallet. 

           Isaid,nicenight,coldbutclear. 

           Youdidn’tevensay,hello.