| Nestled in the Flint Hills, is an old deserted dairy farm. The rolling hills are dotted and lined with trees. The entire length of Jack�s semi-tractor trailer is swallowed up by the huge dairy barn. Brian is stashing his motorcycle in a clump of trees adjacent to the road. He pulls out his binoculars to get a closer. Sapperstein, wearing overalls, pulls the barn door closed and a man is put on guard outside. He walks into the kitchen and begins to play host with serving sandwiches and hot tea to Melanie and Blake. Patiently waiting, Jack looks out the kitchen window and slip his tea. �So, now will somebody just tell me what the fuck went wrong?� Sapperstein asks. The heat from Jack�s tea steams over the window. ...FLASHBACK COSTA RICA A scared seven year old Brian makes his way out of one of the small houses and runs down the street towards an older model limousine. He is dressed in a night shirt tucked into pants and shoes with no socks. There is a bullet hole in the driver�s side door window. Even though, Brian is scared half to death, he forces himself to investigates. The driver is dead with a shot through the head. Carefully and quietly, Brian opens the back door of the car. His mother is a bloody heap lying across the beat seat. She has been shot several times. �Momma, Momma!� Brian screams. He sits beside his mother crying when he hears the men in the alley nearby. Three in cheap suits have abducted Jack and are beating him. Jack clearly put up a tough fight because all are bloodied. An angry Brian closes his dead mother�s eyes and roots around the dead driver�s jacket until he finds the man�s gun. He examines the revolver and removes the safety before slipping into the shadows of the alley. The man with a gun pointed at Jack�s head says, �You are such a greedy hombre. You think you can double cross us and go into business for yourself? Deliver our guns to our enemies! We will take our guns back, keep our money, and kill you.� �You are fools,� replies Jack. �This is our country! You think you can keep coming back here, take what you want, pay what you want, then threaten us...� says the man who is holding a stone. �You�re nothing but a small mined peasant. How long do you think you will live when Garth discovers you have stolen weapons he paid for? A day maybe two? You need me to negotiate!� The man with the gun places it�s nozzle against Jack�s temple. Jack continues, �Kill me and my operatives will hunt you down without mercy.� The man with a broken nose chuckles, �They are already dead. We arranged it. We are the army of the people. We are taking our rightful place.� �They call you a devil who kills for hire. Say hello to your namesake,� the man says as he cocks the hammer back on his gun, but, before the man can fire, he is shot through his eye. Then the man with the broken nose is shot in the heart. Jack grabs the gun from the man as he collapses and shoots the other man. �Damn, Zach, it took you long enough. I thought I was a dead man.� Brian steps out from the shadows holding a revolver. The color has all drained from his face. �My mother is dead.� Zach rushes into the alley. His has been several beaten. The flesh around his left eye is torn and he is winded from running a long distance. Brian aims his gun at Zach. �Brian, no! He is a friend.� Jack kneels before Brian and looks the boy over carefully before taking the boy�s revolver and aiming it at Zach himself. �Where were you!� he demands. �Holy shit, Jack! I was doing like you told me keeping Mel happy. Right in the middle of it, four men in army fatigues rush in...� Zach puts his left hand over his injured left eye. �They�re dead now. Mel�s packing us up, all hell�s breaking loose. We�ve to rondeaux at the north pier.� �I see.� Jack lowers his revolver. �Brian, that was an excellent shot.� �Grandpa would take me hunting.� Zach continues, �I�m lucky that Mel always keeps a pistol under her pillow.� �I will make a donation to the church for your grandfather�s memorial.� Brian looks at the body of the men he has just shot. The sound of police whistle can be heard in the distance. �Mel is a master at being prepared,� he tells Zach. Then Jack looks at Brian again. �Brian, you can stay here, or you can come with us. But once you come with us there is no turning back. Do you understand?� �I think so.� The sound of the police whistle gets closer. Zach and Jack turn and run out of the alley. Brian hesitates for moment then runs after them. ...PRESENT �There is no turning back,� Jack coughs. Melanie who has her headset on says, �I say, Sir!� �What now?� �It�s Zach. He�s in the clear and wants to try for the boy.� �Excellent! Tell Zach and Mickey to proceed.� �Michael is dead.� �Good. One less partner.� �If you wish, Sir, I could go back to Custer.� �No,� Jack snaps at Blake. �Ask Zach what he needs.� |