Free A Witch and Her Man (Jeff and Gail) by G.E. Stills Page A

walked to the door and knocked. From inside, he heard Al's voice. "Go away. I'm busy."
     
    Jeff knocked again, louder this time.
     
    "Oh, all right, already. I'm coming. This better be important or I'm going to beat the shit out of you!" Al yelled.
     
    He heard the dead bolt rattle and saw the doorknob turn. When it stopped turning, he slammed his shoulder against the door, forcing it open abruptly.
     
    In an instant, Jeff took in the scene. Al was sprawled on the floor. His gun had been flung further along the floor, just out of reach. No one else occupied the room. The television was on low volume and a can of beer sat on a table beside a recliner. The room was unkempt and contained no decorations on the walls. Two doorways led from the room.
     
    He focused his attention to Al, whom he recognized from his picture. There were fresh scratches on the man's cheek. Al scrambled to his knees and headed for his gun.
     
    "Don't even think about it, Al. I'll shoot you dead long before you reach it."
     
    Al stopped and started to get up.
     
    "No, on your knees with your hands on the back of your head. Do it now," he barked.
     
    In a show of bravado, Al yelled, "You didn't even read me my rights, stupid. I wanna talk to my lawyer. I'm good friends with the assistant chief of police. I'll have your badge, pig."
     
    "News flash, Al. I'm not a cop. There aren't going to be any lawyers. I'm tired of talking and getting no answers."
     
    "I know my rights and I want my lawyer right now!" Al screamed.
     
    For an answer, Jeff took two steps across the floor, placed the gun to Al's forehead, and pulled the trigger. Al closed his eyes and flinched when he heard the firing pin click. He opened his eyes wide when the gun did not go off.
     
    "Geez, what an amateur. I coulda reached my gun after all," he spat out contemptuously.
     
    "That was just for dramatic effect. There's a round in the chamber now. Should I pull the trigger again?"
     
    "No."
     
    "Is there anyone else here? Be careful how you answer, Al, because if someone rushes in, you're going to be the first to die."
     
    "No."
     
    "Good. Now you're going to tell me everything you know about Shorty and Justine. The man and woman you killed. I'm certain you know their identities. You're going to add your thoughts and suppositions, too. Start talking," he ordered.
     
    "Not telling you a fuckin' thing," Al mumbled.
     
    "What was that, Al? I thought you said you weren't telling me anything. If that's the case, I guess I'll just kill you and be done with it. Is that what you said?"
     
    The man cringed. "Not what I said. What do you want to know?"
     
    "We're going to have a question and answer session. I'll ask the questions and you'll supply the answers. Oh, and Al, I guess you do have one right, the right to die. I don't much care which you choose because you killed a friend of mine and the friend of a friend. Now I'll give you one last chance to start talking." He hoped his words and tone let Al know he was quickly running out of patience. He knew he had won full cooperation when he saw a large circular wet stain start to form at the front of Al's pants.
     
    "But they'll kill me if I talk!"
     
    "I'll kill you if you don't. The choice is yours. I'm here, they're not. So, if you talk to me, you'll at least have a head start at leaving town or even the country."
     
    "I... I... I didn't kill anyone. Felix did. I swear," Al began. "He used my gun to kill the witch while I held her. He told me his had jammed."
     
    "Your gun was used to kill a P.I. also." Jeff filed a new name into his mind along with the Assistant Police Chief.
     
    Al gulped. "Felix used my gun to kill him too. He said his gun wasn't working."
     
    "You're a fool. Can't you see that Felix has set you up to take the fall if what happened ever comes to light?"
     
    Al blabbed everything he knew as he knelt with the gun barrel pressed to his forehead.
     
    "Anything else, Al?"
     
    "That's all I know. I swear,