The sun was still coming through the front windows of my cabin but I was starting to be able to make out what I thought was a silhouette of a man sitting on my couch. He might have something in his lap but I couldn't tell for sure. The sun still wasn't low enough that I could see his face but I knew it was Gorski.
My mind is flooded with thoughts of Vic. I think back on the last time I saw Gorski. He was driving away with Vic and Sean in the back of a borrowed car that belonged to Chance Gilbert. It was part of the hostage, my hostage, negotiations. I can still see the panic in Vic's eyes when Chance agrees to my terms. In the moment I thought it was because she had to get in the car with Gorski. Later in the hospital room while I was getting stitched up it occurred to me it was because she had to leave me there.
Donna speaks and it pulls me back to the situation at hand, "Ed, why are you doing this? Where have you been?"
"That little bitch," Gorski starts and I cringe every time he says it, even more now that I know who he is referring to, "she just can't help herself. I was doing great until she showed up at my hotel 4 weeks ago!"
For a moment I feel the heat of jealousy rousing in me. No, I can't do this right now. If I want to make it out of this I have to stay calm and let him think he can get away with this. I stay quiet.
Donna takes a couple of slow steps towards Gorski that I can now clearly see sitting on my couch cradling a semi-automatic handgun on his lap. His face looks calm. He is dangerous but I don't think he's going to do anything stupid if we can just keep him calm. Donna stops and looks at me standing barely out of the doorway of the bedroom, in only my jeans, holding the large revolver at my side.
She looks back at Gorski and says, "I think maybe this is good. Maybe this is the opportunity you need to vent your feelings about what happened at the Gilbert standoff."
I watch Donna controlling the emotions of Gorski. She is a really good manipulator. I admire how calm she can be with him sitting there with that gun on his lap. Donna is still looking straight at Gorski waiting patiently for his answer. She is about halfway between where she began beside me and from where Gorski is sitting. I wonder how much longer he will keep us waiting and think of how long I can draw my answers out when I don't want to answer a question.
Finally he speaks, "I don't think I want to talk anymore." He sat there and looked down to the gun in his lap. He still didn't make any quick movements and his face looked relaxed. I half expected him to just fall asleep right there on my couch.
Donna took a few more steps closer to Gorski and I used her distraction as a way to move a few more steps closer myself. I am now where she was standing and she is two steps from Gorski on the couch.
"You don't want to hurt me though, right Ed?" Donna squeaks in the highest pitch, scared, hurt voice I've ever heard her use. Most times she is just defensive or annoyed. She's playing him good. "Do you mind if I have a seat here?" She points to the spot next to him on the couch.
I don't usually feel quite so helpless but there isn't anything here I can control and Donna seems to be doing a great job of moving in on Gorski. It makes me a little nervous playing backup for Donna though. She's taking a lot of risks.
Gorski continues to stare at the gun in his lap. I assume he is contemplating if there is any way to get out of this situation and exactly what punishment he will face if he just stops now. So far there is just breaking and entering. He hasn't directly threatened either of us though he is armed and I'll use that to push for a tougher sentence and surely he knows that. He has to know I won't give him another chance to harass Vic.
Donna decides to sit without invitation. Gorski glances at her but still remains focused on the weapon in his lap. She prods him again, "What happened when Vic came to your hotel room?".
I don't want to hear this. I don't want to know what happened. I've been so caught up in my own hurt feelings and pushing her away this is all my fault. Why would she turn to Gorski? After our fight in the alley I thought she had turned to Eamon. I didn't like the idea of her with Eamon but it was better than having to deal with the feelings I have but shouldn't have for her. Why would she find Gorski? My heart is somewhere up in my throat and my stomach is doing flips like a tumbleweed in Texas on a windy day.
Gorski looks up from his lap and makes eye contact with me before slowly turning his blank gaze towards Donna. "She didn't come to my damn room. That bitch was looking for a room." He shifts his weight a little and starts to lift the gun up.
I bring the revolver up and level my sights on him but it's already too late.
Before I have a clear shot he wraps his arm around Donna and places the muzzle of the cold weapon on her temple.
"Stand up!" he barks at her "Do it slowly!"
Knowing that she can't argue with a gun she does as she is told. He moves slowly but confidently towards the front door of the cabin keeping Donna between me and him. He pauses at the table by the door where I took off my gun and emptied my pockets when I got home. He looks at me almost the whole time he slightly leans towards the items on my table. He is careful not to let Donna go or give me any room to take a clear shot.
I figure he is going to grab my weapon so that I would have a disadvantage while chasing them down. That's what any good cop would do but he doesn't. He grabs my keys instead. He must have noticed the puzzled look on my face because I almost think he winked at me.
He backed on out the door and to the Bronco. He never said another word to me. He barked a few quick orders at Donna, his hostage, but ultimately left me to my own thoughts and confusion.
As soon as I hear them start down the dirt drive towards the gate I grab my phone. I'm going to need a ride.
