"Oh,*," Columbus said, trying to see around Enid. "Holy *."
Enid grinned, exposing teeth that had been rotten and crooked long before the American Dental Association became zombie food. "Tell you what," he said. "Talk her down, and we'll let you have her back when we're done."
Branson shoved over the display stand, sending paint cans everywhere. "Enough play time," he said. "Final offer. Drop that gun, we let them go."
"You first," she said.
"Things don't work that way," he said as he advanced toward her. "We're the ones with the leverage." He stopped abruptly. Again, a troubled look was on his face. He looked at her hand, and especially the ring on her finger. A light of recognition dawned, followed by pure hate. "Good God. You're them. That's my own * gun. And I've still got your ring, you *!"
"Oh, God," Wichita said.
"You know, you gave me one of the best jobs I've ever had," he said. "Think you can do enough to pay for an Audi?"
"I'm sorry," she said.
"We're way past the time for that," he said. "You know the worst part? I was into you. I was ready to ask you to come all the way to Vegas with me. I was even thinking we might settle down there. But you cut that short, didn't you?"
"I wasn't into you," she said coldly. "You were a big, selfish prick. I could hardly wait to leave you by the road. You were the only one I ever wanted to die."
"So, so much for apologies!" he said. Pointing back with the butt of the shotgun, he added, "But I guess we both did pretty well for ourselves. I met Enid. You met that runt. Just in case you actually care, I don't think I'll hurt him, 'cause I pity him. How much longer were you planning to string him along?"
"Columbus?" Wichita said. Columbus didn't answer. "Columbus, I love you."
At almost the same moment, Tal shouted, "Wichita, behind y-!" He was cut short with a blow to the head from the only biker still outside. The other had used Branson's distraction to climb through the broken storefront, go around behind Wichita and grab her gun hand through the shelving.
The pistol fired.