“P238 Micro Compact chambered in .380 auto?”
“Yes, that’s it. Exactly.”
“Standard mag with it, or did she do something special?”
“No, standard.”
Decker nodded. “Call the police and wait for them by the front door.”
“What the hell are you two doing out there?” screamed Mitzi, followed by another shot through the door.
With one backward glance at the door, Gardiner did as Decker requested, sliding down the hall on his hands and knees. Then he rose and sprinted off. Decker straightened and, keeping well away from the bedroom door, said, “Mitzi, it’s Amos Decker.”
“I said to get out of my house, you bastard.”
“We need to talk.”
“About what? You’ve ruined my life. What the hell else is there to talk about, you shit!”
“How exactly did I do that?”
Another round blew through the wood and hit the opposite wall about a foot below the other two bullets.
“You know damn well how. You just…you just had to dig all this shit up, didn’t you? From all that time ago. You couldn’t give a crap how it might affect people. How it might affect me! You asshole!” she shrieked.
Another shot came through the door. Decker flinched with the impact against the wood but held his ground.
“That was not my intent.”
“Don’t you dare bullshit me. That’sexactlywhat you wanted.”
She fired another round through the door, ripping a big chunk off it as the wood around the other holes gave way.
“Look, if you stop shooting, we can have a conversation.”
“I’m not talking to you. I’m going to kill myself.”
“Why would you want to do that?”
“Because my life is over!”
“Your husband doesn’t think that. Or your son.”
“Don’t you dare talk about my son. He’s the only good thing I’ve ever done in my miserable excuse for a life.”
“I think wehaveto talk about him if you’re planning on leaving him motherless.”
Now she started to sob. He could hear the gut-wrenching noises coming through the door.
He took a chance and peeped through one of the holes. She was lying in bed, wearing only a long T-shirt; her uncovered legs were long and pale. The gun was in her right hand.
“Mitzi, I can help you if you let me.”
“N-nobody can help me. Not now.”
“I don’t see it that way.”
“I told you to get out.”