Born to Lose Read Online Free Page B

sentence.
    Ron wanted no part of murder. Bill was usually calm and calculating, but always, just under the surface, there lay a recklessness, a violence. Ron knew he couldn’t plead for the girl’s life. That would peg him as soft, too nervous, even unmanly. So instead, feigning unconcern, Ron said, “So what she lost her purse? We were just gonna fuck her and let her go anyway.”
    â€œNo,” Bill shot back, “you don’t get it. She got fucked but we were gonna scare her real good about sayin’ anything to her family or the cops, and, believe me, she wouldn’t say anything if she knew what was good for her. But now, whoever picked up that purse took it to her house, so her folks are gonna go nuts and call the police. When they see that purse and her missin’ they ain’t gonna wait no twenty-four hours to start lookin’. I’ll bet there’s cop cars combin’ the area for her right now. We can’t risk gettin’ caught with her in the car with us, ’cause you know why?” Without waiting for Ron to reply, Bill continued, “Because this ain’t just a rape. It’s kidnapping. And do you know what they do to kidnappers?” Bill traced his index finger across his throat.
    â€œAre you sure?” Ron countered. “Let’s just leave her here and take off. She don’t know us. She don’t know our names …”
    But Bill broke in, “No can do. I know we could’ve scared her into shuttin’ up, you know, that we’d come back, do something to her family, but with them havin’ her purse, they already know she was grabbed. If we let her go, she won’t keep her mouth shut. The cops’ll lean on her to tell, and she will. The whole thing’s too risky…. Best to kill her. That way there’ll be no blabbin’ on her part, and by the time they find her up here, the trail will be ice cold.”
    Stupefied, Kathy screamed, “No! No, you’re wrong! I won’t tell. I won’t say anything. Please, please let me go. I’ll never say anything, I promise!”
    â€œHey, let’s forget this broad. She’s scared stiff—look at her. She ain’t gonna say a damn thing. Besides, we leave her here, tie her up, it’ll be forever till she sees anyone to talk with.” Ron hoped his words might mediate, might break Bill’s intent. He waited, watching Bill’s face closely.
    It scared him when Bill said with perfect finality, “No good, not sure enough.” Bill then clutched a fistful of Kathy’s blouse and held her upright on the rough driveway, her back facing the farmhouse.
    â€œDon’t!” she cried weakly. “Oh God, don’t.” Ron stepped slowly away while looking into the girl’s contorted, tear-streaked face. Still holding tightly her blouse, Bill positioned the gun against her temple. He cocked the hammer.
    â€œWait!” Kathy shouted, “A car! A car!” Both men looked over their shoulders. In the distance, headlights were coming toward them, bobbing in the rough terrain. “Shit! Let’s go!” Bill yelled, and grabbed the girl’s hand to tug her along. All three ran to the rear of the farmhouse, then through some woods to a clearing on the very top of the hill, which led to a cliff. This fearful dash left them all dry-mouthed, lungs heaving. Bill forced Kathy to sit between him and Ron, all still for the moment getting their breath back.
    Bill and Ron discussed the car. Whose was it? Where was it now? Ron went down the hill to reconnoiter. Kathy again found herself alone with Bill. If she could talk to him, make some connection with him, maybe he would be less apt to kill her. Showing remarkable presence for one so young, she uttered his name. He brought his eyes around to stare at her. “Bill,” Kathy continued, gambling it all, “why would you do these things? Why did you have to hurt